Mass. District Court Sets Hearing Over Motion to Dismiss Mexico's Gun Damages Lawsuit

The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ordered a hearing to be held Jan. 27 over a motion from gun manufacturers to dismiss a case brought by the Mexican government over their alleged illegal gun selling practices. Mexico brought the case against the American gun manufacturers and distributors for marketing and selling their guns in a way that arms the drug cartels in Mexico, including the use of corrupt gun dealers and the trafficking of weapons across the U.S.-Mexico border (see 2108050037). The defendants argue that, among other things, the Mexican government lacks standing to sue them in a U.S. federal court (see 2111230047). In a Nov. 24 order, Chief Judge Dennis Saylor ordered the Mexican government to file any opposition to the motion to dismiss by Dec. 23 (Estados Unidos Mexicanos v. Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., et al., D.C. Mass. #21-11269).