UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT ALLOWS CASE AGAINST GUN MAKERS AND DISTRIBUTOR TO PROCEED

Ileto v. Glock remanded back to district court for further proceedings

(Washington, DC) - The Supreme Court of the United States declined to grant certiorari to review the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision to reinstate the Ileto v. Glock suit against certain gun industry members.  The case now returns to the trial court for further proceedings.

The Ileto case was dismissed in June 2002 by the trial court, but later reinstated on appeal in November 2003 by the Ninth Circuit.

Brought by the minor victims of a 1999 shooting at a Los Angeles Jewish Community Center and the family of slain postal worker Joseph Ileto, the suit alleges negligence and public nuisance claims against manufacturers and distributors of the firearms used by convicted felon and white supremacist Buford O. Furrow in these attacks, including Glock, North China Industries and RSR Distributors.  The suit also alleges that defendants' practices facilitate easy access to their deadly products by gun purchasers like Furrow.

"Today's decision is a victory for the victims of this terrible crime, and we look forward to these victims having their day in court," said Joshua Horwitz, Executive Director of the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence.  "It clearly shows why the gun industry's efforts to gain special protection through industry immunity should not be tolerated."

Sayre Weaver of The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence and Peter Nordberg of Berger & Montague represent the plaintiffs in the case.