Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced today that New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against firearm manufacturer Sig Sauer, Inc., accusing the company of violating the State’s Firearms Industry Public Safety Law and the Consumer Fraud Act by selling a defective handgun responsible for multiple injuries and at least one death in the state.
The lawsuit, filed by the Statewide Affirmative Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Office and the Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA), seeks to halt the sale of the Sig Sauer P320, mandate a statewide recall, and stop what officials describe as false and deceptive advertising.
According to the Attorney General, the P320 handgun has a “well-documented propensity to fire unintentionally,” even when holstered and untouched — a flaw that has caused serious injuries to law enforcement officers and civilians across New Jersey.
“We ask law enforcement officers to put their lives on the line every single day to protect the public. Gun manufacturers have a moral duty to ensure those brave officers are not put in harm’s way because of defective weapons,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Officers and civilians alike have suffered immense harm because of Sig Sauer’s actions and brazen deceptions. No one is above the law — and if you break our laws, we will hold you accountable.”
The complaint details how Sig Sauer launched the P320 in 2014, promoting it as safe and reliable, claiming that “the P320 won’t fire unless you want it to.” Yet, state investigators say evidence shows the gun can discharge unintentionally during normal movements such as walking, bending, or sitting — even while in a holster.
One of the most tragic incidents cited in the lawsuit occurred on April 8, 2023, when Detective Lieutenant Walter Imbert of the Orange Police Department was fatally shot by his P320 while cleaning the firearm at work. Evidence indicated his finger was not on the trigger when it fired.
“In any other industry, when a product causes severe injuries and deaths, its manufacturer would swiftly investigate and issue a recall,” said SAFE Director Ravi Ramanathan. “Instead, Sig Sauer chose to double down and blame victims for the P320’s flaws. That indefensible choice puts the public and our law enforcement at risk, and we will hold Sig Sauer accountable for it.”
“This lawsuit is about Sig Sauer prioritizing profit over consumer safety,” added Elizabeth M. Harris, Acting Director of the DCA. “Any company doing business in New Jersey will be held accountable for making false claims about products that put our residents in grave danger.”
The state’s complaint highlights that the U.S. Army identified safety issues with the P320 during testing in 2016 and 2017, ultimately requiring Sig Sauer to add an external safety for military versions of the firearm — the M17 and M18. However, the civilian and law enforcement versions sold in New Jersey lack that same safety feature, despite Sig Sauer’s marketing implying they are identical to the military models.
The lawsuit also points to Sig Sauer’s recent “Truth About Sig Sauer P320 Safety” campaign, which officials say deflects blame onto victims and labels concerns about the weapon as part of an “anti-gun agenda.”
Across New Jersey, unintended discharges involving the P320 have been reported in West Orange, Montville, Phillipsburg, Howell, and at various county prosecutor’s offices and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The P320’s dangers have led numerous police agencies nationwide — including departments in Denver, Houston, Chicago, San Antonio, Milwaukee, and San Francisco — to stop using the firearm.
New Jersey’s filing demands that Sig Sauer recall all P320s sold in the state, halt deceptive marketing, and pay damages and restitution.
Filed in New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division, the case is being handled by Assistant Attorney General David Leit and a team of Deputy Attorneys General from the Division of Law’s Special Litigation and Consumer Fraud Prosecution Sections.
The SAFE Office, created by Attorney General Platkin in 2022, is the first of its kind in the nation and focuses on holding the firearms industry accountable for violations of public safety laws.