One of the victims of a New York subway shooting is suing Glock, the manufacturer of the firearm used in the attack, saying its marketing appeals to criminals.
Ilene Steur was one of 10 people shot on April 12 as a crowded subway train pulled into a Brooklyn station.
Her lawsuit comes after New York state in 2021 passed a law allowing people affected by gun violence to sue gunmakers for creating a “nuisance” that endangers public safety and health. Ms Steur asked a judge to order Glock to “eradicate the effects” of its marketing practices.
New York police said Frank James used a Glock pistol he bought in Ohio to open fire after setting off two smoke bombs during the rush hour attack. James has pleaded not guilty.
Ms Steur's civil suit — which was filed in federal court on Tuesday — accuses Austria-based Glock of employing “marketing that emphasises firearm characteristics such as their high capacity and ease of concealment, that appeal to prospective purchasers with criminal intent”.
It also says the company intentionally supplied “more firearms than the legitimate market could bear in order to induce sales in the secondary market”, and failed to train dealers on how to avoid illegal firearms purchases.
“They are aware that their marketing strategies are empowering purchasers with ill intent and endangering the lives of innocent people. This lawsuit seeks to hold the gun industry accountable,” Mark Shirian, a lawyer for Ms Steur, said in a statement.
Glock's US subsidiary did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
The suit follows a wave of recent mass shootings in the US, including one that left 10 dead at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, and another at a Texas elementary school in Uvalde that left 21 dead, including 19 children.
Ms Steur's lawsuit echoes the legal battle that followed the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, which killed 26 pupils and teachers.
US gun manufacturer Remington — a subsidiary of which made the rifle used in that attack — agreed to a $73 million settlement with the families of nine of the victims earlier this year.
The lawsuit had alleged that Remington and the other two defendants were culpable because they knowingly marketed a military grade weapon that is “grossly unsuited” for civilian use, yet it had become the gun most used in mass shootings.
Agencies contributed to this report
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
The biog
Name: Mohammed Imtiaz
From: Gujranwala, Pakistan
Arrived in the UAE: 1976
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Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
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Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
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Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
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New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5