Renzulli Law Firm is nationally recognized as one of the premier law firms in the country serving the Firearms Industry. We have an experienced, full-service firearms defense team that handles all legal issues and regulatory concerns that affect Industry members.
Product Liability
Our experience in defending product liability claims filed against our clients is unmatched. Our firm has tried numerous firearms cases to defense verdicts in federal and state courts throughout the country. Our attorneys have logged more court hours on firearm product liability cases in the last decade than any other law firm in the United States. We have also obtained summary judgment and early dismissals of cases on numerous occasions for our clients. Our superior understanding of firearms, products, product liability law, evidentiary issues and our aggressive approach to case handling gives us a strategic advantage over the plaintiffs’ bar. Through our extensive litigation experience gained over the years, we have developed a team of preeminent experts in the areas of firearms design, manufacturing, and handling, as well as warnings and forensic firearms analysis. We have an extensive library of authoritative texts, periodicals and articles concerning these Industry-related issues. We have successfully cross-examined, in depositions and at trial, the most frequently retained plaintiffs’ firearms experts and have created a library of prior deposition and trial testimony that enables us to effectively neutralize and often capitalize on their opinions.
Ground-Breaking Litigation
Our firm has successfully defended numerous firearms manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers in ground breaking firearms public nuisance litigation initiated by various municipalities, local governments and The Brady Center throughout the country. We have also successfully defended our clients against warranty and product-based national class actions. Renzulli Law Firm has prevailed in nationally publicized lawsuits against distributors and dealers for alleged improper firearms sales.
In particular, we are experts in the area of the application of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (“PLCAA”) to various criminal shootings across the country. In fact, we argued and won the first PLCAA case that was presented to an appellate court (Ileto v. GLOCK –Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals). We have achieved numerous other PLCAA victories since that time.
FFL Training & Instruction
Our firm provides training and instruction to Federal Firearm Licensees on a national basis on the many regulatory issues (including record keeping and ATF compliance) affecting their businesses. We are familiar with the complex laws and regulations that govern the manufacture, importation and sale of firearms. We have extensive experience representing manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers of firearms in connection with proceedings brought by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and related state agencies. In addition, our firm provides counseling to the firearms industry on compliance with federal and state firearms laws and regulations to minimize the chance of unintentional violations. We also offer our clients risk assessment and prevention recommendations and often lecture on these issues.
Firearms Industry Legislation
Our firm continually monitors legislation concerning the design and sale of firearms which are continually being introduced and adopted throughout many states in the US and we regularly advise our clients on these issues. We advise all our Industry clients through email updates and personalized reports concerning specific issues that may affect their particular business. We interact with the appropriate officials in these states to insure that our clients’ products can be sold in these states and seek the appropriate approvals for our clients’ products where necessary.
Government Contracts & Bid Protests
We also represent our clients in bid protests before the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Our experience includes representing clients as both protestors and intervenors. We understand that government contracts are often critical to our clients’ businesses. We have extensive knowledge of federal regulations and the federal procurement process. We structure protests and interventions to maximize successful strategies for each client. Our attorneys apply their litigation expertise to find effective solutions to complex procurement issues.
Insurance
We often assist our Industry clients to obtain the appropriate insurance for their business needs through our significant contacts in the InsuranceIndustry. Our firm also has created and currently manages an off‐shore captive insurance company for one of our clients. In addition, we have protected the interests of our Industry clients in insurance coverage disputes.
Intellectual Property, Media & Trade Secrets
We provide a broad range of services to members of the firearms Industry to develop, establish and protect valuable rights in and to their intellectual property. Ownership of intellectual property carries with it tremendous benefits, but also significant responsibilities. Owners must protect their intellectual property rights by objecting to all forms of unauthorized use and prosecuting all forms of infringement because the failure to do so can result in the loss of those rights or negatively impact the value of the intellectual property. Our intellectual property attorneys take a proactive approach to identify and stop infringement wherever it occurs. We have extensive experience prosecuting all forms of infringement, including trademark infringement, trade dress infringement, patent infringement and the dilutive use of marks by manufacturers and suppliers of aftermarket firearms products, parts, and accessories. We are often able to achieve our clients’ objectives quickly and efficiently through cease and desist letters, take down notices and other means. We also have significant experience enforcing our clients’ intellectual property rights through litigation, proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and arbitration proceedings under the Uniform Domain‐Name Dispute‐Resolution Policy seeking to transfer ownership of Internet domains to trademark owners. Additionally, we have developed comprehensive programs designed to efficiently detect and identify all forms of infringement as they arise and to ensure that the infringers we successfully halted remain in compliance with our clients’ demands. Our attorneys also have extensive experience developing and establishing intellectual property rights on behalf of our clients, such as through brand development and trademark clearance. We also work closely with our clients to exploit their intellectual property rights through the development of strategic licensing programs as well as the acquisition of new intellectual property assets.
Product Protection: From Product Literature to Recalls and Upgrades
We prepare and review all forms of product literature for our Industry clients (including warnings, instruction manuals, advertisements, safety materials and websites) in an effort to preempt litigation emanating from these company documents. Our firm also counsels clients on the institution of recalls, retrofits and safety upgrades. In particular, we work with our clients to ensure that their product warnings comply with the American National Standards for Product Safety Information in Product Manuals, Instructions and other Collateral Materials, and for Product Safety Signs and Labels. We have successfully launched and monitored recall and retrofit campaigns for our clients. Although firearms are not regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, firearm recalls present their own unique challenges, based in part on the ability of a manufacturer to determine the identity of the initial retail purchaser of a firearm based on its serial number and federal gun control regulations mandating that certain records be maintained. We also regularly counsel our clients on the content of their manufacturer, distributor and retailer agreements in order to address the current legal landscape.
Ranges
Our firm has extensive experience with shooting ranges and the defense of claims of improper design and usage leading to errant bullets, excessive noise, personal injury, nuisance, and a host of other charges by neighbors, neighborhood associations and local governments. These claims often seek injunctive relief, the closing of a range, changes to its operations or monetary relief.
Regulatory Compliance: ITAR and Local Laws
In addition, we assist individuals and companies entering into the business of manufacturing, importing or selling of firearms to obtain necessary licenses, including a federal firearms license, and to register pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act if required to do so. We also counsel clients with respect to state and local laws that will apply to their new businesses.
Regulatory Counseling: Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Anti-Corruption
We have extensive knowledge and experience in Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (“FCPA”) and antibribery enforcement and compliance. We routinely advise Industry clients in the development and implementation of FCPA compliance programs and have conducted FCPA training programs for Industry clients around the globe. We have also represented Industry clients in criminal proceedings brought by the U.S. Department of Justice.
For more information please contact John Renzulli (jrenzulli[at]renzullilaw.com).