Bushmaster to pay 2.5 million

[molonlabe]

Judge OKs sniper gun deal



by C. Benjamin Ford
Staff Writer


The dealer and manufacturer of the rifle used by the Washington-area snipers will pay $2.5 million to the families of six victims and two surviving victims under a settlement approved Friday by a Washington state judge.

The settlement, reached in September, marked the first time a gun manufacturer paid damages for negligence that led to violence, said David Beninger, one of the attorneys representing the families.

Washington state Superior Judge Frank Cuthbertson signed the settlement agreement, which will be divided among the eight plaintiffs. The amount to be received by each is still to be determined, said Daniel R. Vice, an attorney with the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

The October 2002 sniper attacks plunged the suburban D.C. area into fear for more than three weeks until John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo were captured at a rest stop along Interstate 70 in Myersville.

You can read the rest here. I thought Bushmaster voluntarily settled with them. If they don't appeal this they will set a dangerous precedent

http://www.gazette.net/200450/princegeorgescty/state/249371-1.html

 

[big poppa]

they should have NEVER paid!!now their will be no end to it!!how is a gun manufacture responsible for what someone does with their product??!!
the gun dealer in question should have his a## thrown in jail!!once again the brady center shows its stupity!! :banghead:

 

[Pilgrim]

Generally the attorneys for the defendants in these kind of cases are hired by the insurance companies. The insurance companies make the decision to settle when they decide that it isn't worth the money to pay the attorneys to protect the insurance company's liability limit. Once the insurance company makes that decision and conveys it to their clients, the clients are now faced with the decision to keep fighting with their own attorneys, or see if the other side is willing to accept the insurance policy limit as final payment.

The other side is faced with a similar decision. Accept what the defendants' insurance companies offer, or go for more hoping the defendants don't declare bankruptcy. If the plaintiffs keep going, they do so knowing full and well their attorneys will get paid first. If the plaintiffs keep pushing and the defendants declare bankruptcy, then another court steps in and decides who gets what.

Pilgrim

 

[Zundfolge]

blood sucking sons of .... appologies to Art's Grammaw

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

In a strict sense, a settlement is not a precedent. This one was, however, signed by da Judge. I am sure there is some kind of "no wrong doing" declaration.

 

[PMDW]

Bushamster released a statment about this a while back. From what I remember, they got $10M from their insurance company. Most was spent on court fees, and $2.5M was left. The insurance company told them to do whatever they wanted with it. So, rather than having the money go to the evil VPC (or whatever they call themselves), the settled and gave the money to the families.

 

[molonlabe]

Thats what I thought but I just saw this on the evening news tonight like it just happen. The news WBAL said the judge ordered they pay. I beleive that is also mirrored on join togethers web site. I would go check there but I don't want to have to take a shower after I visit it.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Who said assault lawyers never get rich quick on the blood of murder victims?

 

[Tory]

Consider the source

"The news WBAL said the judge ordered they pay. I beleive [sic] that is also mirrored on join togethers web site."

Does the term "spin" mean anything to you?

The court did NOT order Bushmaster to pay anyone. Bushmaster cleverly CHOSE to use the balance of its insurance policy limits to pay the real victims instead of the anti-gunners funding the lawsuit.

Bushmaster is now free to go back to its business of making AR-15's and is doing so.

 

[big poppa]

another reason why we need tort reform in this country,low life lawyers making money off of other peoples misery.

 

[enfield]

Armed Robbery!!

 

[WT]

Chump change.

The victims will be lucky to clear $150,000 each once the lawyers are done.