In a pivotal hearing, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit evaluates whether expert testimony is essential in a case involving Sig Sauer Inc., following an injury suffered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Keith Slatowski. Slatowski argues that his P320 gun discharged unintentionally during a training drill, but a lower court dismissed his claims, citing insufficient expert analysis to establish causation linked to a potential defect.
During oral arguments, Sig Sauer’s counsel contended that experts must provide specific insights on how external factors, like a holster, could affect the gun’s trigger mechanism. The court probes the necessity of specialized testimony versus common knowledge in assessing liability, with judges questioning whether jurors can infer causation based solely on the incident details. This case echoes a similar ruling in the Sixth Circuit, raising significant implications on product liability standards in firearms.
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