David P. Thiruselvam and Keith Thomas West of The Victims’ Recovery Law Center have secured a $30 million civil award against Polymer80, Inc. in a Philadelphia court on behalf of the family of a 14-year-old shooting victim. According to case documents from the Newtown Square-based litigation firm, the ruling marks a significant legal development in holding ghost gun manufacturers accountable for distributing untraceable firearm components to individuals legally prohibited from owning weapons.
The Legal Basis for Polymer80 Liability
Ghost guns are firearms assembled from component kits sold directly to consumers, yielding weapons that lack serial numbers and cannot be traced by law enforcement agencies. While federal law typically shields standard firearm manufacturers from civil suits, ghost gun litigation establishes a narrow legal exception. According to records from The Victims’ Recovery Law Center, civil liability attaches because manufacturers sell these un-serialized kits to prohibited purchasers, including convicted felons and minors, leading directly to foreseeable acts of violence.
The Role of The Victims’ Recovery Law Center
Founded in 2007, The Victims’ Recovery Law Center restricts its practice exclusively to representing crime victims in civil courts across Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City. Firm founder David P. Thiruselvam and associate attorney Keith Thomas West managed the extensive ghost gun litigation against Polymer80, Inc. West, who serves as the lead attorney for the firm’s ghost gun practice, handled the substantial majority of the civil claims filed on behalf of affected families across Pennsylvania.
Independence from Criminal Proceedings
Civil lawsuits involving third-party liability operate entirely separate from criminal prosecutions. According to firm filings, a shooting victim civil lawsuit can proceed regardless of whether a criminal shooter was arrested, charged, or convicted. Civil claims are determined by a preponderance of the evidence, which establishes a lower legal threshold than the standard required in criminal court.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can shooting victims sue ghost gun manufacturers in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Victims and their families can pursue product liability and negligence claims against manufacturers like Polymer80 when components are sold to prohibited persons, as demonstrated by the $30 million Philadelphia award secured by David P. Thiruselvam and Keith Thomas West. -
What is the statute of limitations for these claims in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania maintains a strict two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims, which begins on the date of the incident and does not pause during criminal proceedings.
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