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Law Firm Withdraws From NYC Gun Lawsuit
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-gun-lawsuit,0,7699295.story
By Associated Press
NEW YORK -- One of several lawsuits against the gun industry by an American city suffered a setback when a top law firm that had offered to represent New York reportedly withdrew from the case, citing potential conflicts of interest.
The firm, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, had agreed to work for free on the case, which alleges that the gun industry's sales and distribution practices create a black market for firearms that has become a public nuisance. The lawsuit, which names 40 gun companies and distributors, is likely to go to trial this fall.
Since 1998, at least 33 municipalities, counties and states around the country have sued gun makers, many claiming that manufacturers, through irresponsible marketing, allowed weapons to reach criminals.
Weil, Gotshal said in a statement it was withdrawing because of "certain potential 'positional conflicts' involving the position of long-term existing clients and those being advanced in the gun case," The New York Times reported in its Saturday editions.
The issue arose after a lawyer for one of the gun companies, Smith & Wesson, called one of his corporate clients that also is a client of Weil, Gotshal, the Times said, citing lawyers who have been involved in the case or who have been briefed on it.
That client then questioned Weil, Gotshal about whether the gun case could set precedents that would be detrimental to the client's interests, and the firm decided to withdraw, according to the Times.
Michael Cardozo, the city's corporation counsel, said he regretted that Weil, Gotshal "needed to withdraw as co-counsel" but praised the firm for volunteering on the case.
He said the city planned to "continue prosecuting this case vigorously."
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-gun-lawsuit,0,7699295.story
By Associated Press
NEW YORK -- One of several lawsuits against the gun industry by an American city suffered a setback when a top law firm that had offered to represent New York reportedly withdrew from the case, citing potential conflicts of interest.
The firm, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, had agreed to work for free on the case, which alleges that the gun industry's sales and distribution practices create a black market for firearms that has become a public nuisance. The lawsuit, which names 40 gun companies and distributors, is likely to go to trial this fall.
Since 1998, at least 33 municipalities, counties and states around the country have sued gun makers, many claiming that manufacturers, through irresponsible marketing, allowed weapons to reach criminals.
Weil, Gotshal said in a statement it was withdrawing because of "certain potential 'positional conflicts' involving the position of long-term existing clients and those being advanced in the gun case," The New York Times reported in its Saturday editions.
The issue arose after a lawyer for one of the gun companies, Smith & Wesson, called one of his corporate clients that also is a client of Weil, Gotshal, the Times said, citing lawyers who have been involved in the case or who have been briefed on it.
That client then questioned Weil, Gotshal about whether the gun case could set precedents that would be detrimental to the client's interests, and the firm decided to withdraw, according to the Times.
Michael Cardozo, the city's corporation counsel, said he regretted that Weil, Gotshal "needed to withdraw as co-counsel" but praised the firm for volunteering on the case.
He said the city planned to "continue prosecuting this case vigorously."