Bloomberg BNA Series Highlights Lack of Federal Oversight In Defective Gun Cases - Taurus Pistol Safety Defects

A two-part investigative series in Bloomberg BNA about the lack of federal regulatory oversight in defective firearms cases featured a lawsuit brought by Bailey Glasser attorney David Selby of the firm’s Birmingham, Alabama, office.

The article noted that, unlike with other consumer products, no federal agency has the authority to force a recall when a firearm is found to have a manufacturing defect, leaving class action lawsuits as oftentimes the only route to resolve potentially dangerous defects.

A class action lawsuit brought against Taurus by Selby on behalf of named plaintiff Chris Carter, a sheriff’s deputy in Iowa, alleged that a number of pistols sold by the manufacturer would fire when dropped, even with the manual safety engaged. In some cases, a trigger pull could discharge the weapon even with the safety engaged.

In that case, Taurus agreed in a preliminary settlement to have defective pistols repaired or replaced.