Lawsuit Against Sig Sauer Continues in State Court
A Pennsylvania widow has seen her lawsuit against firearms manufacturer Sig Sauer move forward in state court, as a federal judge ruled that her husband’s death falls under state jurisdiction. This ruling was made by U.S. District Court Judge Anita Brody this week.
On Monday, Judge Brody sent the case back to the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, dismissing Sig Sauer’s argument that it should be handled federally due to the widow, Maria Gomerskaya, being a Pennsylvania resident. Sig Sauer, which operates out of New Hampshire and was founded in Delaware, had claimed that the estate should sue the federally licensed firearms dealer Spot4Guns instead of them.
In response, Gomerskaya argued that Spot4Guns was merely a conduit between her late husband, Roman Neshin, and an online seller based in Texas. Sig Sauer contended that Spot4Guns was included as a defendant solely to facilitate the move to federal court.
Judge Brody’s ruling indicated that delving into Sig Sauer’s claims would be inappropriate and could unjustly affect Spot4Guns concerning Gomerskaya’s strict liability allegations. She agreed to move the case back to state court, aligning with the widow’s wishes.
The lawsuit stems from the tragic death of Roman Neshin, who, at the age of 41, died on October 1, 2024. Gomerskaya states that a gunshot wound from his Sig Sauer P320, which unexpectedly discharged while in a holster, caused his death. She is claiming that deficiencies in the weapon’s design and safety features played a significant role.
She alleges that the gun fired unintentionally due to faulty components. Notably, the case references that Neshin was shot in the right groin area due to the firearm discharging from the holster, which has led to accusations of negligence against Sig Sauer.
Interestingly, Sig Sauer argues this issue is part of a broader pattern seen with over 100 incidents involving their P320 pistols and points out that they are unique in the market for lacking external safety mechanisms meant to prevent such accidents. While Gomerskaya seeks justice for her husband’s death, the legal battle continues to unfold in the Pennsylvania courts.
