Judge to hear arguments in Sandy Hook rifle lawsuit

Bridgeport, CT — Companies that built, distributed and sold the rifle used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting could bear the responsibility for the crime if a lawsuit is allowed to move to trial.

A judge is expected to listen to arguments from the 2014 suit on Monday in Bridgeport.

Named in the suit are Bushmaster, Camfour Firearm Distributors and Riverview Gun Sales in East Windsor.

Some of the families involved in the suit said they will be present. They said they feel the companies played a big role in the tragedy.

"Bushmaster created this rifle and sold it knowing the damage that it does," said Jillian Soto, whose sister Vicki Soto was killed in the shooting.

"I think they should publicly apologize and they should accept responsibility before the losses that continue to come from their guns," said Carlos Soto, Vicki Soto's brother.

The family of Vicki Soto is one of nine that are going after the makers of the AR-15 rifle that shooter Adam Lanza used to kill 26 students and staff in Dec. 2012.

They said their belief is that the gun should never have been in the hands of a civilian. They claim it was designed for military and police use.

"Just because something is legal doesn't make it safe, or doesn't mean it should be sold and the people to best know that are not the elected leaders, they are the manufacturers who know the history of the weapon," Jillian Soto said.

The complaint said time and time again, mentally unstable individuals and criminals have acquired AR-15s with ease and have unleashed its lethal power on the streets, in malls, in places of worship and in schools.

The suit said Bushmaster should have know that the sale of the rifles posed an unreasonable and egregious risk of physical injury and would be used in mass shootings at places like schools, which are particularly vulnerable.

"Just because something is legal doesn't make it safe or doesn't mean it should be sold and the people to best know that are not elected leaders, they are the manufacturers who know the history of the weapon," said Joshua Koskoff, the attorney representing the families.

The husband of Mary Sherlach, a child psychologist killed in the school, said "these companies assume no responsibility for marketing and selling a product to the greatest population who are not trained to use it or even understand the power of it."

Eyewitness News asked the companies named in the suit for comment, but none have responded.

A motion to dismiss the case was filled by the gun companies, according to the plaintiff's attorney.

The hearing in Bridgeport is set for 2 p.m.