New York Loses a Top Legal Ally in Suit Over Guns [View All]

"New York City is preparing for the first trial of a civil suit by an American city claiming that the gun industry fosters an illegal market in the firearms criminals use to deliver death to the city's doorsteps.

Gun industry representatives say the case is crucial, and the companies have some of the country's top law firms defending them. Until a few weeks ago, the city had a powerful legal weapon, too: another of the country's top law firms, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, had agreed more than two years ago to work on the case for free.

But now the law firm is withdrawing from the case, acknowledging that at least one of its corporate clients had complained about its role. In a statement, the firm said that "certain potential `positional conflicts' " had been "brought to our attention." Some industry critics say the disruption in the city's legal team may have been intended to weaken the city's chances in what is certain to be a bitterly fought trial"

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/17/nyregion/17GUN.html


What is this suit about? Anyone know? How can a city sue the gun industry over the criminal activity of a few, and get away with it? Isnt this like suing the auto industry over drunk driving deaths?