WAUKEGAN, Ill. (April 1, 2024) – A Lake County Circuit Court judge denied a motion to dismiss Wednesday filed by the manufacturer of the M&P15 used in the Highland Park shooting and two gun dealers who sold the weapon to the shooter, Robert Crimo III. The ruling allows victims of the 2022 Fourth of July shooting to continue with their wrongful death lawsuits against the defendants.
Civil lawsuits pending in Lake County claim gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson continued to market and sell its M&P15 to young adults, despite its use in several mass shootings in recent years. Plaintiffs allege the defendant violated an Illinois consumer protection law in its promotion of the lethal and criminal use of the weapon.
On Wednesday, April 1, a Lake County judge denied motions to dismiss filed by Smith & Wesson and gun dealers BudsGunShop.com and Red Dot Arms.
Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard attorney Lance D. Northcutt represents the surviving son of a young boy who lost his parents in the shooting, Kevin and Irina McCarthy. Mr. Northcutt issued the following statement on the ruling Wednesday afternoon:
“Today represents a historic first in the State of Illinois. In two separate written orders, an Illinois court has ruled that the civil claims brought against Defendants, Smith and Wesson, Red Dot Arms and Budsgunshop.com, will proceed to discovery. This is a first, but critical step in securing justice for the murdered and injured victims, and the little boy whose life was ripped apart by the loss of his parents on July 4, 2022.”
Mr. Northcutt is available to discuss the ruling in more detail. Please contact Marcie Mangan at (312) 372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com to schedule an interview.
The family has asked for privacy at this time.
