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regular-article-logo Saturday, 23 November 2024

Texas school shoot out: Father of deceased initiates lawsuits against semi-automatic rifle maker

No lawsuits have yet been announced against Daniel Defense stemming from shooting

Reuters Published 05.06.22, 12:08 AM
Robb Elementary School

Robb Elementary School File Picture

The father of a 10-year-old girl slain in the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting and a school employee have taken initial steps that could lead to lawsuits against Daniel Defense, the maker of the semi-automatic rifle used in last week’s massacre that killed 21 people.

Lawyers for Alfred Garza, father of Robb Elementary School student Amerie Jo Garza, requested in a letter on Friday that Daniel Defense provide information about its marketing to teens and children.

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“We ask you to begin providing information to us now, rather than force Garza to file a lawsuit to obtain it,” said the letter.

No lawsuits have yet been announced against Daniel Defense stemming from the shooting.

The 18-year-old Uvalde gunman, Salvador Ramos, stormed the school on May 24 and killed 19 students and two teachers before he was killed by law enforcement, according to authorities. He legally purchased his first gun on his 18th birthday on May 17.

Josh Koskoff, Garza’s attorney, led the case over the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012, which led to a $73-million settlement by gunmaker Remington in February. It marked the first significant settlement over a mass shooting against a gunmaker, which are protected by a federal law from lawsuits.

“Sandy Hook is not binding on the Texas court but that doesn’t mean it lacks persuasive power,” said Koskoff.

Koskoff told Reuters he was applying what he learned from the Sandy Hook case to his current investigation, focusing on marketing to children and teens and product placements in first-person shooter video games.

“The shooter, essentially the day he turned 18, he knew exactly what weapons he was getting,” said Koskoff.

In a separate legal action, school employee Emilia Marin filed papers in Texas state court seeking an order to depose Daniel Defense and force the company to turn over documents, also related to its marketing. Marin is listed as a speech pathologist clerk on the school’s website.

Marin’s filing late on Thursday is a petition that allows a party to begin investigating potential claims. Reuters

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