Zion Grove man, ex-Philly cop, suing gun manufacturer for “drop-fire” injury
SCRANTON – A Ringtown Valley man is suing a gun manufacturer in federal court after he was wounded last year in a “drop-fire” incident.
James Hall, of Zion Grove, is seeking damages from Sig Saurer, a New Hampshire-based gunmaker, after his P320 pistol fell from his waist and discharged, striking him in the arm and shoulder, according to Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky, the law firm representing him.
The Philadelphia County-based law firm said the gunshot shattered Hall’s bones and he spent 63 days in the hospital undergoing surgery. The firm said eight bullet fragments remain in his shoulder “that may never be able to be removed.
According to Hall’s complaint, the incident happened on Sept. 20, 2022 at his home, which is just across the Schuylkill County line in Beaver Township, Columbia County. He waited 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive after calling 911, the complaint states.
The complaint alleges that Sig Sauer was aware that its pistols “were prone to ‘drop-firing’ and should have issued a recall and removed them from the market and did not do so.
“Sig Sauer instead issued what it termed a ‘Voluntary Upgrade,’ where customers could return their P320s for company-modified versions,” the firm said in a media release. “Despite identifying the drop-fire hazard and redesigning the weapon, Sig Sauer astonishingly told its customers the P320 was still safe in its current configuration and design. It is believed that less than 10% of P320 owners opted for the ‘Voluntary Upgrade.'”
The firm adds that Hall was unaware of the voluntary upgrade notice.
Hall is a retired lieutenant of 25 years from the Philadelphia Police Department and specialized in SWAT operations.
“He has always greatly respected firearms safety and purchased the P320 because he thought the gun would protect him, not endanger him,” the firm wrote in a release.
“Lt. Hall dedicated his life to protecting and serving his community. He retired with honor, and like many retired law enforcement officers, purchased a pistol for personal protection,” Attorney Robert W. Zimmerman said following the filing. “Tragically, Sig Sauer left a minefield of defective guns in our communities rather than issuing a safety recall of the weapon when it learned of the dangers.”
The complaint adds that, “Sig Sauer manufactures the only single-action pistols on the market that are not equipped with any form of external manual safety.”
The lawsuit is the latest in a slew of similar suits filed by the Philadelphia-based law firm.
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