Washington.- A Boston judge on Wednesday dismissed Mexico’s lawsuit against U.S. arms manufacturers seeking $10 billion, saying they were partly responsible for criminal violence on its territory, according to information published by the Agence France-Presse news agency.
In his decision, Judge Dennis Saylor of the Boston District Court (northeast) argued that there was “lack of jurisdiction” under US law, ruling in favour of six defendant manufacturers.
For the judge, the main question in this case was whether Mexico’s claim against the gun makers “arose” out of their business dealings in Massachusetts.
And he concludes in a 28-page memo that the connection to the state “is, at best, very tenuous.”
“Plaintiff has failed to present sufficient evidence to establish a sufficient connection between the alleged damages and the business dealings of any of the six defendants in Massachusetts,” it said.
Nor does the court have “authority to relax the requirements of personal jurisdiction, even in cases against unpopular or controversial parties,” the judge concluded.
In August 2021, Mexico sued seven manufacturers including Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Colt, Glock, Century Arms, Ruger and Barrett, as well as the seller and distributor Interstate Arms, alleging that their “negligent and illicit” trade encourages drug trafficking and violence in the country.
In September 2022, a Boston judge dismissed Mexico’s lawsuit, which decided to appeal the decision.
Last January, an appeals court judge recognized his right to sue gun manufacturers, reviving the case that Judge Saylor again threw out on Wednesday.
According to the Mexican Foreign Ministry, between 200,000 and 750,000 weapons manufactured by these companies are smuggled into Mexico each year from the United States, and the vast majority are found at crime scenes in the country.
Mexico has recorded more than 340,000 murders and some 100,000 disappearances, most attributed to criminal organizations, since the launch of a controversial anti-drug military offensive in December 2006.
The Mexican government has filed another lawsuit in an Arizona court, citing a new U.S. law that penalizes front men who purchase weapons for a third party.
Mexico’s fight against US armories will continue – SRE
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) announced on Wednesday that it will continue its legal battle against eight arms manufacturing companies that sell and import their products into the country.
“The Mexican government has taken note of the decision of the federal judge in Boston on Wednesday regarding the lawsuit filed by our country. As this is a broad litigation strategy, the next steps to follow will be analyzed,” it said.
The SRE said it is considering appealing the decision of the Boston-based judge or filing a new appeal in other courts in the United States.
“The actions against these six companies continue. Mexico is considering, among other actions, whether to file an appeal or file a lawsuit in other U.S. courts,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the judge’s ruling only has an impact on six of the eight companies sued by Mexico, so the appeal filed in Boston will continue against the companies Smith and Wesson and Interstate Arms.
“This decision does not affect the lawsuit against these two companies nor does it absolve the other six companies from liability,” he added.
With information from AFP.
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