Philadelphia, PA: A Philadelphia jury awarded $11 million on Wednesday to a man who sustained a severe leg injury after his holstered Sig Sauer P320 pistol discharged without being triggered. The verdict marks the second significant legal blow this year against the gun manufacturer over its controversial firearm model.
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Negligence and Defective Design Alleged
After a three-week trial, the jury found New Hampshire-based Sig Sauer negligent for selling a defective gun and holster. According to attorneys, the P320 pistol is prone to discharging without the trigger being pulled, a defect that has reportedly resulted in numerous injuries across the U.S.
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“We’ve been asking Sig for over three years now to recall this gun, to fix it, and frankly to use the same type of safeties that other manufacturers are using that Sig Sauer is not,” said Robert W. Zimmerman, the plaintiff’s attorney, after the verdict.
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Zimmerman represented George Abrahams, a U.S. Army veteran and Philadelphia painting contractor, who testified that his holstered P320 discharged while he was descending a staircase. The bullet tore through his right thigh and exited above his knee, causing permanent damage.
Manufacturer of Sig Sauer Responds to Verdict
Sig Sauer disputed the jury’s decision, stating that the P320 is “among the most tested, proven, and successful handguns in recent history.” The company claimed the jury acknowledged that Abrahams’ actions contributed to the incident.
“We strongly disagree with the verdict in this unintended discharge lawsuit … and will be appealing the decision on multiple grounds,” Sig Sauer said in a statement posted on its website.
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Growing Concerns Over the Sig Sauer P320
More than 100 individuals have made similar claims against Sig Sauer, alleging unintended discharges involving the P320. The model’s military version includes an external safety feature to prevent accidental firing, but this safety is not included in the version sold to police departments and civilians.
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In 2019, after a Philadelphia transit officer’s holstered P320 unintentionally discharged, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) removed all P320 pistols from service and replaced them with Glocks.
Zimmerman’s firm, Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky, also represented a Georgia man awarded $2.35 million earlier this year for a similar incident involving the P320. The firm continues to handle multiple pending claims against Sig Sauer, which plans to appeal the Georgia verdict as well.
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Lawyers Call for Recall
Ryan Hurd, Zimmerman’s co-counsel, called for immediate action, stating: “Juries are now speaking loud and clear with their verdicts; this gun is a danger to gun owners and anyone within the vicinity of this gun.”
Abrahams’ 2022 lawsuit highlighted dozens of similar incidents and described the P320 as “the most dangerous pistol for its users sold in the United States market.”
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Settlements and Class Actions
Sig Sauer has previously settled a federal class-action lawsuit over P320 pistols manufactured before 2017, offering refunds or replacements. Approximately half a million P320 pistols are believed to be in circulation in the U.S.
As litigation against the manufacturer mounts, this latest verdict sends a clear message: consumers and advocates are demanding accountability for firearm safety standards.
