Montco Judge Tells Widow Of Slain Officer To Amend Lawsuit

By Justin Heinze:

Certain irrelevant language must be removed from a lawsuit against a West Norriton gun shop that sold the weapon used in the 2013 murder of a Plymouth Township police officer, Montgomery County Judge Thomas C. Branca said Tuesday.

Branca is allowing Lynsay Fox, the widow of slain officer Brad Fox, to pursue a civil lawsuit against In Site Firearms for selling weapons to a straw purchaser who in turn sold them to the murderer.

Straw purchasers illegally buy weapons for individuals who would not pass background checks or who do not want there to be a record of the sale in their name.

The suit alleges that In Site did not take the necessary steps to minimize the risk of making sales to straw purchasers, failing to utilize “reasonable care” and “best practices.”

But certain language which Branca said in court “pushes a social agenda” must have nothing to do with the suit. Fox and her legal representatives, the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, now have 20 days to amend their complaint.

The case is part of a nationwide campaign by the Brady Center targeting gun dealers who sold weapons used in crimes.

Some of the defendants in the suit had previously alleged the Brady Center was taking the suit too far by attempting to incriminate former business associates of In Site. One such associate is William Gordon, who stopped doing business with In Site six months before the illegal purchases, his attorney says.

“We were drug in here by an overzealous organization that that wants to punish Alibi Corporation (Gordon’s business) for an association that ended six months before the purchase ever happened,” Gottlieb said. ”He has nothing to do whatsoever with that miscreant’s purchase.”

In the wake of Fox’s death, the “Brad Fox Law” was passed, establishing required minimum sentences for repeat straw purchasers.

Read more about the lawsuit:

Norristown Gun Dealer Responsible For Death of Officer, Suit Alleges