Chapter 10: The Judiciary

4/5/99

In a recent decision in a civil lawsuit, a Brooklyn jury awarded $500,000 to a gun violence victim. This was pared down from the original award of $4 million. The jury found 15 gun manufacturers engaged in 'negligent distribution', and ordered three of them to pay the award. The jury was persuaded by the argument that gunmakers' practices allowed guns to fall into the hands of criminals. Bolstered by this verdict, several cities, including Chicago, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Miami, have filed lawsuits against gun manufacturers. Philadelphia, Boston, and Los Angeles are considering starting litigation. If these cities are victorious in their lawsuits, other cities and perhaps states will certainly jump on the bandwagon and take gun manufacturers to court. This may result in the gun industry facing a collective judgment similar to that imposed on the tobacco industry. For more information about these lawsuits go to Data Supports Lawsuits Against Gun Industry at http://www.prepcom.org/low/pc2/pc2c47.htm.

1/14/99

For current information about the issues that the U.S. Supreme Court is going to consider, the decisions just made by the Supreme Court, and general information about the Court, visit the Washington Post: the Supreme Court web site. The significant rulings by the Supreme Court made last term are listed by topics. When a specific topic is clicked on, then the decision of the Court is explained briefly in very understandable language.

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