SIG ordered to pay 11 million for AD

[lihpster]

Gunmaker Sig Sauer Inc. was ordered by a Pennsylvania jury to pay $11 million to a customer who alleged defects in one of the company’s pistols led it to go off without him pulling the trigger.
Story here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crim...S&cvid=2d2527d377f4491bb4ffeba2553a854a&ei=11

What do you guys think? Justified?

 

[BAM-BAM]

Well the Lawyer is looking at 40% of 100+ cases.

Looks like $4,400,000 on this one alone!

Need more details, I don't have a 320 or 365, but we all know you should use a pocket holster with striker fired guns

 

[sigp220.45]

I like Sigs and I own a P320 with both .357 and .40 barrels.

There is too much smoke for there not be a fire in this case.

Sig better think of something other than - not our fault!

 

[Rob613]

Over 80 documented cases and internal memos from Sig stating they know there’s a problem with the P320.

They deserve to pay for their negligence.

 

[BE Mike]

I read the article. It looks to me that the person assisted the pistol in firing. Anyone who puts a pistol in an athletic short pocket without a holster is asking for trouble. He didn't use due caution. These days it isn't hard to find jury members in big cities who either aren't the least knowledgeable about guns and/ or who are outright anti-gun. Remember, that in a law suit, the jury only has to come to a majority opinion. It isn't hard to find anti-Sig people on gun forums either.

 

[GnarlsR2]

A firearm manufacturer should be held to the highest level of design safety.

It appears, just like Ford and their Pinto that caused 27 people to be burned alive before they were required to pull the vehicle off the market and then admitted they knew about the defect in the gas tank, but valued profit over human lives.

Has it been explicitly proven that the handgun has a design flaw? If so, did Sig Sauer know about the issue and did nothing? Sig Sauer knew about the potential issue in August of 2017, over 7 years ago.

With that said, it is well documented, every day, you can be perfectly innocent of breaking any law and a jury of 12 can still find you guilty.

 

[pasound]

Seems like a very dumb decision to drop a loaded 320 in a loose pocket. Lawyers have a field day with cases like these. No mention of the model, but only the M17 and M18 versions have safeties.
I own three striker pistols, two Sig 365's, and a Ruger American 45, and all have safeties. None go on my body without a proper holster that covers the trigger, and for the 365's, even encloses the "on safe" safety. No chance to swipe it off accidentally. Never inside the belt, and never in a pocket.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Clearly, the jury got to hear more about this case than we ever will. It is an interesting question with respect to the appeal. Legal issues aside, the punitive judgment could easily be set aside or reduced depending on what the appellate court sees in the record.

As I would never carry any pistol in my pocket without a holster (and my EDCs are almost always in a pocket) I can see some contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff.

The issue of big city, anti-gun juries is another part of the equation. WE here would never be permitted to sit on that jury.

But it does sound like SIG has some responsibility here.

 

[bobsguns]

“Plaintiff ignored numerous safety rules and warnings in handling his gun and had never trained with or fired his gun before the discharge.”

This alone should have been enough to find for the defendant, Sig.

What IDIOT takes a brand-new gun, one he's NEVER fired before, loads it & carries it loose in his sweatpants pocket?

He got exactly what he deserved, IMO. Stupid should hurt.

I also use this as a perfect example of why gun owners should not shirk jury duty.

 

[Onomea]

What IDIOT takes a brand-new gun, one he's NEVER fired before, loads it & carries it loose in his sweatpants pocket?

Amen .

 

[Doug M.]

There is no excuse for pocket carry without a dedicated pocket and quality holster for the purpose. I am not sure that Sig should be on the hook for this one, but there are well documented problems with the 320 going back to the time it was introduced.

 

[Mike1647]

Is it only the 9mm and .40 320's that have this issue? I have not read or heard of the issue with a .45ACP 320. I have a full size .45 that I like very much but I don't carry it loose in my pocket. It wouldn't fit anyway.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I am fairly certain the news story specified that the pistol was placed in a SIG branded holster and then placed in the pocket in that fashion. I actually read the news story.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

I am fairly certain the news story specified that the pistol was placed in a SIG branded holster and then placed in the pocket in that fashion. I actually read the news story.

You beat me to it. At least two of us actually read up on the facts before commenting.

 

[Onomea]

Only mention of a holster in the linked story is "Jurors in state court in Philadelphia concluded on Wednesday that Sig Sauer was liable for selling a defective gun and holster..." in the second paragraph.

The seventh paragraph, which discusses the ND/AD, says "The gun went off after Abrahams put the pistol in the pocket of his athletic pants and went downstairs in his home. The accidental discharge sent a bullet into his thigh."

I guess from the second paragraph one can infer that he placed the gun in a holster before putting it in his pocket, but it is not immediately obvious, to me anyway, from how the story is written.

 

[LVSteve]

Abraham argued the P320 pistol was made with a dangerously easy-to-pull trigger and no safety mechanism to bar users from unintentionally pulling it.

But you still bought one, didn't you Mr Abraham.

 

[Valmet]

I won’t own an Sig that isn’t a P220, 225, 226, 228 or 229…the older the better.

 

[6string]

I won’t own an Sig that isn’t a P220, 225, 226, 228 or 229…the older the better.

Great point!

This controversy is a real blemish on SIG’s once sterling legacy.

Of course, we all know that the SIG name goes back to it’s founding as “Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft“ based in Switzerland. The original SIG pistol, is known as the SIG Neuhausen, or the P210. Sometimes you’ll hear it referred to by it’s early Swiss service pistol designation, the P49, or it’s civilian equivalent, the SP47/8.
These Swiss made pistols are still considered the benchmark of excellence.

Next, when SIG partnered with German manufacturer JP Sauer, there then emerged the well known “SIG Sauer” brand.
The pistols that Valmet mentions in the above quote are all SIG Sauers originally made in Germany (“W. Germany” as early ones are marked).
These pistols are all universally known for their excellent quality.

It seems that the quality, or, in this case, safety, of SIG products was never questioned or an issue until after U.S. production operations began.
Is that a correct observation?

I’m only vaguely familiar with the P320. Not a fan.

 

[petepeterson]

I know they have a safety, but if it isn't engaged, do the M17 and M18 have the same issue?

You would think, through sheer volume, that the military would be experiencing these issues, as well.

 

[S-W4EVER]

I won’t own an Sig that isn’t a P220, 225, 226, 228 or 229…the older the better.

You left out the P239. The only Sig’s I own are a P6, P226 Mk 25, P228, and P239 (all in 9mm). Only issue is the weight but the quality is there.