Howie Sacks & Henry Targets US Gun Makers Over Trafficked Firearms

• Howie Sacks & Henry LLP launches new practice area targeting US gun makers over trafficked firearms.
• The firm aims to hold US gun manufacturers and distributors accountable for harm caused by their products in Canada.
• Canadian law firms are pushing back against the trend of near immunity from litigation for US gun companies.
• This development may prompt Canadian lawyers to advise clients on potential claims against US gun makers.

Howie Sacks & Henry LLP, a Canadian law firm, has launched a new practice area focused on targeting US gun makers over trafficked firearms. The move comes after a call from Jonathan Lowy, founder and president of Global Action on Gun Violence, who expressed interest in challenging US gun manufacturers and distributors for their role in firearm trafficking into Canada.

Lowy's concern is that these companies operate under laws that provide them with near immunity from litigation, allowing them to sell guns without regard for the consequences. Paul Miller, a partner at Howie Sacks & Henry, notes that these companies are aware of the potential for their products to be modified into automatic weapons, but they seem to shrug off responsibility once the guns leave their premises.

The firm's new practice area aims to hold US gun makers accountable for the harm caused by their products in Canada. This development may prompt Canadian lawyers to advise clients on potential claims against US gun makers and for compliance officers to review their company's exposure to cross-border litigation related to firearm trafficking.

The legal landscape surrounding firearm trafficking is complex, with different laws governing the sale and possession of guns in the US and Canada. While US gun manufacturers and distributors may enjoy near immunity from litigation, Canadian law firms like Howie Sacks & Henry are pushing back against this trend.

In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases involving firearm trafficking, including the case of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752, where the firm represented the families of passengers killed in a missile attack. The Ontario Superior Court ruled in their favour, leading to changes in how airlines evaluate conflict-zone airspace.

This experience has shown that civil litigation can be an effective tool for advancing public safety and holding companies accountable for their actions.

The launch of Howie Sacks & Henry's new practice area targeting US gun makers over trafficked firearms is a significant development in the fight against firearm trafficking. By challenging US gun manufacturers and distributors, Canadian law firms are pushing for greater accountability and responsibility from these companies.

This move may also have broader implications for public safety, as it highlights the need for greater regulation of the firearms industry and the importance of holding companies accountable for their actions. As Paul Miller notes, 'when our government doesn't take care of certain things, the lawyers have to.'

This development may prompt Canadian lawyers to advise clients on potential claims against U.S. gun makers, and for compliance officers to review their company's exposure to cross-border litigation related to firearm trafficking.

Source: Original reporting via Canadian Lawyer