Pontiac — An Oakland Circuit Court jury determined Tuesday no damages should be assessed against a Macomb County couple who allowed a May 2009 handgun safety class on their property in which the instructor accidentally shot a student in the face.

The injured man, Terry Gonser, 65, of Oakland Township sued Mitchell and Deborah Washer of Addison Township; the National Rifle Association; the instructor, Thomas Simpson; and Simpson's assistant, Gary Chapman.

In out-of-court agreements, the 78-year-old Simpson, who didn't check a handgun to see if it was loaded, settled for $255,000. His assistant, Chapman, settled for $101,000 and the NRA paid $75,000 to be dismissed from the lawsuit, according to court records and Gonser's attorney, James O. Elliott

Elliott said while the jury found the Washers negligent in permitting the concealed permit license safety class in their garage, members did not feel the couple were the proximate cause of injuries suffered by Gonser, or that they should be assessed any damages.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121017/METRO02/210170432#ixzz29ggl3nVY