Gun Industry May be Sued for Public Nuisance

On New Year's Eve, the First District Appellate Court rendered an opinion which seized national attention. For the first time, surviving relatives of victims shot in Chicago by juveniles who had obtained handguns were permitted to sue firearm manufacturers, distributors, and dealers alleged to be responsible for the public nuisance of widely available handguns. Young v. Bryco Arms, Nos. 1-01-0739, 1-01-0740, and 1-01-0742, 2001 WL 1665427 (Dec. 31, 2001). Stay tuned.