A jury in Philadelphia ruled on Wednesday that a man deserves $11 million after his holstered Sig Sauer pistol discharged unexpectedly while he was descending stairs, resulting in severe leg injuries. This is the second significant ruling this year against Sig Sauer concerning its P320 model, which has come under scrutiny.
The case went to trial for three weeks, during which the jury decided that Sig Sauer, based in New Hampshire, acted negligently by marketing a defective firearm and holster. The plaintiff’s legal team argued that the P320 is susceptible to discharging without the trigger being engaged, a flaw that has reportedly caused numerous injuries across the nation. More than 100 individuals have reported similar incidents involving the P320 model. However, Sig Sauer maintains that their firearm is safe to use.
Robert W. Zimmerman, the lawyer representing the plaintiff, stated that they have been requesting a recall of the P320 from Sig Sauer for over three years. He urged the manufacturer to incorporate the same type of safety mechanisms that are standard among competitors. He emphasized that the jury’s decision sends a firm warning to Sig Sauer about the urgent need to take action regarding this firearm.
The lawsuit was filed by George Abrahams, a U.S. Army veteran and painting contractor from Philadelphia. Abrahams explained that he had secured his P320 in the pocket of his athletic pants before navigating the stairs when the gun suddenly discharged, inflicting damage to his right thigh and leaving him with lasting injuries, as outlined in the court filings.
During the trial, Sig Sauer attempted to attribute the accident to Abrahams himself and defended the safety of the gun’s design. Efforts to reach a company representative for comment on the verdict via email were made but not immediately successful.
Earlier this year, a federal jury awarded $2.35 million to another individual in Georgia who suffered injuries when his holstered P320 went off. Zimmerman’s law firm, Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky, represented that plaintiff as well and currently has multiple other claims against Sig Sauer pending. The company has indicated it intends to appeal the verdict from Georgia.
Ryan Hurd, co-counsel with Zimmerman, stated that juries are consistently making clear statements through their verdicts, highlighting that the P320 poses a threat to both gun owners and those nearby.
Abrahams’ lawsuit, initiated in 2022, detailed numerous accounts of unintended discharges related to the P320, estimated to have around half a million units in circulation in the U.S. The plaintiffs argued that this model is “the most dangerous pistol for its users sold in the United States market.”
While the military variant of the P320 is equipped with an external safety mechanism, plaintiffs claim that the version sold to police forces and civilians lacks this crucial feature. Notably, a 2019 incident involving a Philadelphia transit officer’s holstered P320 led SEPTA, the city’s transit agency, to withdraw the handguns from service and replace them with Glocks.
Sig Sauer has previously settled a federal class action lawsuit concerning the P320, which involved guns manufactured before 2017, by providing refunds or replacements to affected customers.