Press & Publications
Renzulli Law Firm Achieves Substantial Victory in the Indiana Supreme Court
On April 24 2017, the Indiana Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in favor of Renzulli Law Firm, LLP’s clients KS&E Sports and Edward J. Ellis in a case that had been brought against them by Dwayne H. Runnels. KS&E Sports had sold a handgun to Tarus Blackburn, who was alleged to have straw purchased…
RLF Victory: “Privately” Maintained Social Media Information Found Discoverable
Renzulli Law Firm, LLP, on behalf of a Pennsylvania indoor shooting range, recently prevailed on a motion to compel the production of information that a personal injury plaintiff posted privately on Facebook. Plaintiff’s lawsuit alleges that he suffered hearing loss from gunshot noise he was exposed to while discharging firearms in defendant’s shooting range. We…
RLF Victory: Summary Judgment Granted on Injury Claims
RLF recently obtained summary judgment in a personal injury case on the basis that the plaintiff did not sustain “serious injury” as defined by Insurance Law § 5102(d). In granting the motion for summary judgment and dismissing the case, the Supreme Court of Nassau County held that defendants established their burden by proving plaintiff’s miscarriage…
4 Absolutely Critical Legal Issues For Mobile App Developers
With the “app economy” predicted to double by 2020 to an incredible $101 billion, and the number of new apps quickly rising, app developers (and, frankly, anyone else involved in app development from owners to investors) need to focus on critical legal issues to protect themselves and their apps. An article published by VentureBeat touts…
BREAKING NEWS: Renzulli Law Firm Achieves Major Victory In Sandy Hook Case
Connecticut Judge Barbara Bellis just granted the defendants’ motion to strike all of the plaintiffs’ claims in Soto v. Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC, et al. A copy of the decision can be found here. The Soto case arose from the December 14, 2012 shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Plaintiffs filed…
Another Victory For the Second Amendment: Federal Court Strikes Down Firearm Restrictions
On September 28, 2016, in Murphey v. Guerrero, Chief Judge Ramona Manglona of the U.S. District Court for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands declared several key aspects of the Weapons Control Act and Special Act for Firearms Enforcement of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (“CNMI”) to be unconstitutional on the basis…
Federal Appeals Court Hears Challenge To Hotly Contested D.C. Conceal Carry Law
This week, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard oral arguments in two closely-watched cases challenging Washington D.C.’s strict concealed carry laws, Wrenn et al. v. District of Columbia et al., and Grace et al. v. District of Columbia et al. Both cases involve challenges to the District of…
Protecting Your Federal Firearms License and Minimizing Violations During a Compliance Conference
Renzulli Law Firm, LLP regularly represents federal firearms licensees who receive a report of violations from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) based on a compliance inspection. We recently represented federally licensed firearms dealers in the ATF’s Dallas and Houston Field Divisions with regard to reports of violations they had received at…
Federal Law Opens Door To “Ex Parte” Seizures Under Trade Secrets Act
There is a new and potentially powerful tool available to protect trade secrets – ex parte seizures. The Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA), enacted May 11, 2016, implements a federal civil cause of action for trade secret misappropriation. Among its remedies, the DTSA permits injunctive relief, the recovery of damages for misappropriation, attorney’s fees for…
Hearing Loss Claims in Firearms Litigation
In recent months, we have seen an upward trend in claims being made by individuals alleging hearing loss as a result of firearm noise. Litigants have asserted such claims against firearms manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, as well as shooting ranges and the manufacturers of ammunition, suppressors, hearing protection, and other firearms accessories. Our Firm has…
Successfully Navigating the Complex Maze of Firearm Import and Export Laws
The laws governing the import and export of firearms are complex and regularly changing. Numerous federal agencies, including the Department of State, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Commerce have jurisdiction regarding the import and export of firearms. Renzulli Law Firm, LLP regularly counsels its firearms industry clients…
Massachusetts Attorney General Unilaterally Expands “Assault Weapons” Prohibition
As many readers know, Maura Healey, the Massachusetts Attorney General, recently issued an “Enforcement Notice” that attempted to “clarify” the definition of “assault weapons” in Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Law chapter 140, section 123 prohibits the sale of statutorily-defined “assault weapons” in the Commonwealth with certain exceptions. Although the Office of the Attorney General maintains that…
Christopher Renzulli Featured In Global News & Media
On February 22, Christopher Renzulli appeared before Judge Barbara Bellis in the Fairfield Judicial District Superior Court in Bridgeport, Connecticut to argue a motion to dismiss a major firearms distributor from litigation that arises out of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on December 12, 2012. The manufacturer, distributor and retailer of the AR-15 rifle…
Asbestos Litigation Victory for Manufacturer in New York
On January 27, 2016 a Lewis County, New York jury returned a defense verdict in favor of Copeland Corp, a refrigeration compressor manufacturer, in a personal injury and wrongful death case brought by Sarita Olley who claimed her late husband, David Olley, developed mesothelioma as a result of his alleged exposure to asbestos-containing products, including…
H.R. 6381: Will Congress Strip Class III Medical Device Manufacturers of Their Pre-Emption Defenses?
In its February 20, 2008 decision in Riegel v. Medtronic, Inc., 552 U.S. 312, 128 S.Ct. 999, 169 L.Ed.2d 892 (2008) the United States Supreme Court affirmed that the express pre-emption clause in the Medical Device Amendments (MDA) of 1976, 21 U.S.C. § 360k(a), completely bars certain lawsuits against Class III medical device manufacturers. Just…
Firearms Sales to Individuals on the “No-Fly” List Raises Questions
Questions continue to surface concerning the prohibition on firearms sales to individuals on the federal no-fly list. January 4, 2016; Evidence continues to mount that prohibiting individuals on the federal governments no-fly list from purchasing firearms would prevent many innocent Americans from exercising their Second Amendment rights. Following President Obama’s push for legislation to prohibit…
Licensing Continues To Be A Dominant Marketing And Retail Force
Saying that licensing is a dominant marketing and retail force might be an understatement. In 2014, licensing accounted for $241.5 billion in the global marketplace. However, that’s not to say other marketing channels should be neglected or not used at all. It’s very important that businesses still maintain a strong webpage by implementing great SEO…
NYAG Announces Settlement with Major Retailers over Sale of Imitation Firearms
August 4, 2015; On August 3, 2015, the New York Attorney General’s office issued a press release announcing agreements with Amazon, Kmart, Sears, Walmart, and California-based ACTA for violating New York State law concerning the sale of toy or imitation firearms. An investigation between 2012 and 2014 found that these retailers, and numerous third-party sellers…
Christopher Renzulli and Peter Malfa Featured in For The Defense
June 16, 2014: Defense Research Institute (DRI) recently featured an article co-authored by Christopher Renzulli and Peter V. Malfa, Construction Contracts: Personal Jurisdiction and Forum Selection Clauses, in its June 2014 Construction Law issue of For The Defense magazine, which can be found here. The article addresses recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that redefine the…
Kaine Introduces New Firearms Transfer Legislation; Kalashnikov Announces Plan to Enforce Patents
Kaine Introduces New Firearms Transfer Legislation September 16, 2015; United States Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia has introduced legislation seeking curb “straw sales” and other firearms sales to prohibited persons under federal law. The Responsible Transfer of Firearms Act would require any transferor of a firearm to take “reasonable steps” to make sure that the…
Congressional Research Service Debunks “Epidemic” of Mass Public Shootings
Congressional Research Service Debunks “Epidemic” of Mass Public Shootings On July 30, 2014, in the wake of several high-profile public shootings, the Congressional Research Service published a report on mass shootings. The report challenges media characterizations of the mass public shootings as an “epidemic” and instead shows no significant increase in mass shootings in the…
Los Angeles Bans Large-Capacity Magazines
July 31, 2015; On Tuesday, July 28, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to ban the possession of firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. California already bans the manufacture and sale of large-capacity magazines, however possession of large capacity magazines remains legal. Los Angeles lawmakers saw this as a loophole. Once Mayor…
Tennessee Lawmaker Pushes for Repeal of Bill that Disallows Armed Military Personnel at Recruitment Stations
July 20, 2015; In the wake of the tragic shootings at a military support center in Chattanooga, TN, Rep. Scott DesJarlias of Tennessee seeks to repeal the ban on military personnel carrying firearms at recruitment stations and on base. The proposed legislation is titled “Enhancing Safety at Military Installation Act.” The ban is the result of a…
No Background Checks for Ammunition Under NY SAFE Act; Concealed Carry Amendments in Mississippi
No Background Checks for Ammunition Under New York SAFE Act July 14, 2015; Background checks will not be required under the New York SAFE Act pursuant to a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) signed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s director of state operations, James Malatras, and State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan. Although the provision was…