Federal Appeals Court Revives ICE Officer Lawsuit Against Sig Sauer Over Accidental P320 Discharge

A U.S. appeals court revived a $10 million lawsuit brought by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Keith Slatowski against firearms manufacturer Sig Sauer, following an accidental discharge of his P320 pistol during a 2020 training drill. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that testimony regarding potential design flaws of the P320 should have been admitted, allowing the case to proceed to a jury despite initial exclusion of expert evidence. Slatowski, a former Marine, was injured when the holstered gun discharged after his hand hit the grip, with the lack of an external safety feature cited as making the weapon unsafe. The court emphasized that the technical nature of the gun’s design requires explanation for the jury to consider, reinstating the possibility of corporate liability for Sig Sauer. Slatowski and his wife are plaintiffs in the case, which continues to raise significant safety and accountability concerns regarding the widely adopted P320 model. Sig Sauer has faced multiple lawsuits over similar alleged unintentional firings.