Brady Applauds Ruling Allowing Baltimore Ghost Gun Case to Proceed to Trial

Brady Serves as Co-Counsel Representing the City of Baltimore Against Gun Retailer Hanover Armory in Lawsuit Over Alleged Contribution to Ghost Gun Crisis

Washington, D.C., October 18, 2024 — Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Shannon Avery has ruled that the City’s lawsuit against ghost gun retailer Hanover Armory can proceed to trial. The City’s suit alleges that Hanover Armory, located just ten miles outside of the City, flooded the local market with thousands of ghost gun kits and substantially contributed to the ghost gun crisis in Baltimore. Judge Avery denied Hanover Armory’s Motion for Summary Judgment and ruled that the City can present its case to a jury at a trial scheduled for December 2024.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said:

During this administration, we have always taken a comprehensive approach to reducing gun violence in Baltimore – which means holding accountable everyone from those who pull the trigger to those who help supply the weapons. As this next part of the case moves forward, I’m confident that the jury will see how devastating the impact of ghost guns has been on our city and help us hold those suppliers accountable. We’ve made progress since our settlement with Polymer80, but the fight is not over, and we’ll continue working to remove these weapons from our streets with every tool at our disposal.

Brady Senior Counsel and Director of Litigation Erin Davis said:

This is an important ruling that allows the city to have its day in court and protect its residents from gun violence and the damage caused by unserialized and untraceable ghost guns.

Senior Litigation Counsel at Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP James Hannaway said,

This is a tremendous victory for the City. We look forward to proving our case at trial and holding Hanover Armory accountable for its role in the City’s ghost gun crisis.

On June 1, 2022, the City filed a case alleging that Hanover Armory and Polymer80, Inc. caused a public nuisance by marketing and selling ghost gun kits and parts in a manner which caused a public health and safety crisis in Baltimore City. The Complaint alleged that Hanover Armory allowed prohibited purchasers like gun traffickers and teens in Baltimore to easily acquire ghost gun kits without serial numbers or background checks. On February 21, 2024, the City announced a settlement with Polymer80 that included $1.2 million in monetary relief and substantial injunctive relief.

At trial in December, the City will ask a jury to award damages and injunctive relief to remedy the terrible toll that ghost guns have taken on the City.

The trial is scheduled to begin on December 3, 2024

Baltimore City is represented by Thomas Webb and Sara Gross of the Baltimore City Department of Law, James Hannaway and Schwanda Rountree of Sanford Heisler Sharp LLP, and Philip Bangle, Jenna Klein and Erin Davis of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.