[FairOpinion]

I guess the stupidity of juries knows no bounds. When are they going to start suing knife manufacturers every time some idiot's hand slips and cuts themselves, or hammer manufacturers, when people hit their thumbs, not to mention car manufacturers every time some idiot causes an accident, as a result of driver negligence.

[coloradan]

"Never point the gun at something you aren't willing to destroy."

[daylate-dollarshort]

"...or hammer manufacturers, when people hit their thumbs...

I was about to tee off on this article, but your post changed my mind.

I'm going to be rich! I'm going to be rich!! I'm going to be fabulously RICH!!!.....

[Reeses]

it could be some time before Brandon sees any money, if ever.

You can safely bet Brandon's lawyer will see money, some way, some how. This isn't about Brandon, this is about money, that magical paper substance that bestows the grace of justice upon it's possessors, minus a small transaction cost.

[Publius6961]

.

[George W. Bush]

What kind of gun requires you to put its safety in 'fire' position to unload?

If that part of it is true, it's little wonder the jury decided to punish such a stupid gunmaker. Not that I would have voted for it on the jury since no one should be allowed to even handle a gun without understanding that you never point it at anything you don't intend to shoot. Especially another person.

It's always been said that these lawsuits are frivolous because the gunmaker was not at fault in producing a weapon that fired. But in this case, if the facts presented are correct, there would be a strong case that putting the safety on 'fire' to unload could result in a misfiring sooner or later.

I'd really like to know if the gun had to be put on 'fire' in order to unload. This sounds pretty crazy.

One has to wonder if the family has concocted this story just for the lawsuit too.

[Marauder]

I'm totally opposed to liability lawsuits against firearms manufacturers for their products being used in the commission of crimes, but on the other hand, where there's a documented safety defect:

http://www.firearmsid.com/Recalls/FA_Recalls%202.htm#BRYCO%20ARMS,%20MODEL%2038

[punster]

The gun manufacturer should not be blamed for the stupidity of the baby sitter. Whenever someone is handling a firearm, they must assume it is LOADED. Furthermore, THEY MUST NOT POINT GUN AT SOMETHING THEY DO NOT WISH TO SHOOT.

It is very common for firearms to require the safety to be off, when clearing the action.

[old school]

What can you say about jurors (registered voters), who return avowed socialists, Pete Stark and Barbara Lee to Congress every two years?

[discostu]

Gun makes CAN make defective products and should be help liable for them. I'm not sure if that's the case with this one though the information given would seem to indicate it (put it on fire to unload?!). This isn't like somebody sueing the gun manufacturer because their son got blown away while he was robbing a liquor store, this is a normal product liability case and should be judged on the merits of the product.

[just me]

"""I guess the stupidity of juries knows no bounds"""

And with a little help from the schools there will be more stupidity in the jury box.

[PISANO]

We can always SUE ranchers that breed cows for cholestoral related heart attacks or maybe even SUE thoroughbred breeders for MAKING people GAMBLE their life savings at the race track. Don't fret the lawyers of the world and the greed of their clients will make these seemingly impossible events to eventually occur.

[templar]

... or hammer manufacturers, when people hit their thumbs ...

Not really a relevant example. It would be more appropriate to use the example of a hammer with an improperly attached head having the head fly off during normal use and injure someone standing nearby.

[hoot2]

"partially liable in the accidental injury and crippling "

"shot Brandon in the jaw. "

crippling/jaw? darn guns...

Audio

[Teacher317]

MAN, this story is frustratingly short on pertinent details!!