CPHV Sues Gun Industry on Behalf of Family of Shooting Victim
U.S. Newswire
20 Jun 16:21 http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/Current_Releases/0620-143.html
Center to Prevent Handgun Violence Sues Gun Industry on Behalf of
Family of Shooting Victim Helen Foster-El
To: National Desk
Contact: Web site: http://www.cphv.org
WASHINGTON, June 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, the Legal Action
Project of the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence announced the
filing of a wrongful death lawsuit against the gun industry on
behalf of the family of Helen Foster-El.
The lawsuit names several gun companies as defendants under the
District of Columbia's assault weapons law, which imposes strict
liability on manufacturers for shootings involving firearms that
hold more than 12 rounds of ammunition.
Exactly one year ago, on June 21, 1999, shots rang out behind
Helen Foster-El's home in Washington, D.C., where her family and
neighbors were enjoying the evening. Concerned for the safety of
her grandchildren and their friends, Mrs. Foster-El ushered the
children into their homes. Tragically, before she herself could
reach safety, Helen Foster-El was shot several times and died in
her daughter's arms.
During the trial of two men involved in the shooting, it was
established that at least one weapon banned in the District of
Columbia -- a semi-automatic handgun with a 21-round magazine --
was used in the shooting. Under the District's Assault Weapons
Manufacturing Strict Liability Act of 1990, makers of assault
weapons and other high-firepower guns are strictly liable for
damages when those guns are used to injure or kill innocent people
in the District. The statute applies to any gun that can fire more
than 12 rounds without the need to reload. Thus, the scope of the
statute extends beyond the class of guns usually thought of as
"assault weapons" because it includes all high-capacity
semiautomatics -- precisely the guns that have terrorized
neighborhoods in the District for years.
"Gun manufacturers and dealers continue to reap profits by
making and selling weapons that they know appeal only to criminals
and by failing to control the sales of their products to
criminals," said Dennis Henigan, Director of the Legal Action
Project. "Innocent people like Helen Foster-El, her family, and her
community are the ones who pay the price. This lawsuit, like the
District's, seeks to correct that injustice and reduce the plague
of gun violence by holding the industry accountable for its
irresponsible business practices."
The law firm of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering and the Washington
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs are co-counsel
in this lawsuit, which was filed in the Superior Court for the
District of Columbia.
On Jan. 20, 2000, the District of Columbia became the 30th local
entity to sue the gun industry. A pioneer in gun industry reform
litigation, the Legal Action Project has represented victims of gun
violence pro bono for more than 10 years. The Legal Action Project
currently serves as co-counsel for 25 of the 32 cities and counties
suing the gun industry, including the District of Columbia.
------
The Center to Prevent Handgun Violence was founded in 1983 to
reduce gun violence through education, legal advocacy, research,
and outreach to the entertainment community. Chaired by Sarah
Brady, the Center's national initiatives include violence
prevention programs for youth, education programs on the risks
associated with guns, legal representation for gun violence
victims, reform of the gun industry, and research on the risks
associated with guns and on the efficacy of gun control laws. More
information about CPHV and its sister organization, Handgun
Control, can be found on the website at www.cphv.org.
-0-
/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
06/20 16:21
Copyright 2000, U.S. Newswire
U.S. Newswire
20 Jun 16:21 http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/Current_Releases/0620-143.html
Center to Prevent Handgun Violence Sues Gun Industry on Behalf of
Family of Shooting Victim Helen Foster-El
To: National Desk
Contact: Web site: http://www.cphv.org
WASHINGTON, June 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, the Legal Action
Project of the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence announced the
filing of a wrongful death lawsuit against the gun industry on
behalf of the family of Helen Foster-El.
The lawsuit names several gun companies as defendants under the
District of Columbia's assault weapons law, which imposes strict
liability on manufacturers for shootings involving firearms that
hold more than 12 rounds of ammunition.
Exactly one year ago, on June 21, 1999, shots rang out behind
Helen Foster-El's home in Washington, D.C., where her family and
neighbors were enjoying the evening. Concerned for the safety of
her grandchildren and their friends, Mrs. Foster-El ushered the
children into their homes. Tragically, before she herself could
reach safety, Helen Foster-El was shot several times and died in
her daughter's arms.
During the trial of two men involved in the shooting, it was
established that at least one weapon banned in the District of
Columbia -- a semi-automatic handgun with a 21-round magazine --
was used in the shooting. Under the District's Assault Weapons
Manufacturing Strict Liability Act of 1990, makers of assault
weapons and other high-firepower guns are strictly liable for
damages when those guns are used to injure or kill innocent people
in the District. The statute applies to any gun that can fire more
than 12 rounds without the need to reload. Thus, the scope of the
statute extends beyond the class of guns usually thought of as
"assault weapons" because it includes all high-capacity
semiautomatics -- precisely the guns that have terrorized
neighborhoods in the District for years.
"Gun manufacturers and dealers continue to reap profits by
making and selling weapons that they know appeal only to criminals
and by failing to control the sales of their products to
criminals," said Dennis Henigan, Director of the Legal Action
Project. "Innocent people like Helen Foster-El, her family, and her
community are the ones who pay the price. This lawsuit, like the
District's, seeks to correct that injustice and reduce the plague
of gun violence by holding the industry accountable for its
irresponsible business practices."
The law firm of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering and the Washington
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs are co-counsel
in this lawsuit, which was filed in the Superior Court for the
District of Columbia.
On Jan. 20, 2000, the District of Columbia became the 30th local
entity to sue the gun industry. A pioneer in gun industry reform
litigation, the Legal Action Project has represented victims of gun
violence pro bono for more than 10 years. The Legal Action Project
currently serves as co-counsel for 25 of the 32 cities and counties
suing the gun industry, including the District of Columbia.
------
The Center to Prevent Handgun Violence was founded in 1983 to
reduce gun violence through education, legal advocacy, research,
and outreach to the entertainment community. Chaired by Sarah
Brady, the Center's national initiatives include violence
prevention programs for youth, education programs on the risks
associated with guns, legal representation for gun violence
victims, reform of the gun industry, and research on the risks
associated with guns and on the efficacy of gun control laws. More
information about CPHV and its sister organization, Handgun
Control, can be found on the website at www.cphv.org.
-0-
/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
06/20 16:21
Copyright 2000, U.S. Newswire
