Survivors of the 2022 Buffalo mass shooting at Tops Friendly Markets have received a partial legal victory as a New York appeals court permits them to pursue claims against MEAN LLC, the maker of a firearm accessory linked to the tragedy. This ruling allows the survivors to argue that MEAN LLC’s deceptive marketing contributed to the shooter’s ability to use a high-capacity magazine, challenging the protections typically afforded to the gun industry under the federal immunity statute.
While the court dismissed claims aimed at social media companies related to the shooter’s radicalization, the decision highlights an emerging shift against the gun industry’s legal defenses. Attorney Kristen Elmore-Garcia emphasizes that the ruling stands as a rejection of allowing such companies to evade accountability, as the court focused on unlawful actions in marketing practices. The survivors’ legal team is now assessing the possibility of appealing the dismissal of social media-related claims in a higher court.
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