Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Ind. Supreme Court dismisses wounded officer's claims against gun shop

The Indianapolis Start reports:
The Indiana Supreme Court ruled Monday that a wounded Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer cannot sue an area sporting goods shop for damages stemming from an injury involving a weapon it sold.

In an opinion filed Monday afternoon, the court dismissed Dwayne Runnels' 2013 lawsuit claiming damages against KS&E Sports, an Indianapolis-based sporting goods store, and the store's owner, Edward J. Ellis. Runnels alleged the store sold a handgun to an individual who resold it to another man who used it to injure him months later. He also claimed the shop was a public nuisance.

Gun shops are provided widespread immunity under a section of the Indiana Code that states a person cannot bring a suit against a gun or ammunition manufacturer, trade association or seller for damages resulting from criminal use of the gun by a third party.
A civil rights victory.