A Philadelphia jury recently awarded $11 million to a man whose holstered Sig Sauer pistol discharged while he was descending stairs, resulting in a severe leg injury. This marks the second significant verdict this year against the gun manufacturer over its P320 model.
Following a three-week trial, the jury determined that Sig Sauer, based in New Hampshire, was negligent in selling a defective gun and holster. The plaintiff's legal team argued that the P320 pistol has a tendency to discharge without the trigger being pulled, leading to numerous injuries across the United States.
Over 100 individuals have reported similar incidents involving the P320. Despite these claims, Sig Sauer maintains that the firearm is safe.
The plaintiff's lawyer emphasized the need for Sig Sauer to address the issue, stating that they have been urging the company for over three years to recall and rectify the problem with the P320.
The plaintiff in this case, a U.S. Army veteran and painting contractor, suffered permanent injuries when the gun discharged while holstered, causing a bullet to pass through his thigh.
Sig Sauer attempted to shift blame to the plaintiff during the trial, asserting that his negligence contributed to the accident. The company defended the P320 as a well-tested and successful handgun.
Earlier this year, another jury awarded $2.35 million to a man injured by an unintentional discharge from a holstered P320. The law firm representing both plaintiffs has additional claims pending against Sig Sauer.
The lawsuit highlighted numerous incidents of unintended discharges involving the P320, estimating that around half a million of these firearms are in circulation in the U.S. Plaintiffs argued that the P320 is the most dangerous pistol for its users in the American market.
While the military version of the pistol includes an external safety feature, the civilian model lacks this safeguard. In response to a previous incident, a transit agency in Philadelphia replaced its P320 handguns with Glocks.
Sig Sauer has settled a federal class action lawsuit related to the P320, offering refunds or replacement guns to purchasers of models made before 2017.
