HARTFORD — The Connecticut Supreme Court on Thursday, March 14, ruled in favor of ten Sandy Hook families in their lawsuit against the manufacturer, distributor, and seller of the assault-style rifle used in the 2012 Sandy Hook School shooting, thus allowing that lawsuit to proceed in state Superior Court.

The Supreme Court ruling overturns a state Superior Court dismissal of the case and allows the families to proceed toward trial based on the theory that Remington Arms’ reckless marketing violates the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, according to a statement from the lawyers for the plaintiffs.

Josh Koskoff, one of the families’ attorneys, issued a statement on the court decision.

“The families are grateful that our state’s Supreme Court has rejected the gun industry’s bid for complete immunity, not only from the consequences of their reckless conduct, but also from the truth-seeking discovery process,” according to Mr Koskoff of the law firm Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder.

“The families’ goal has always been to shed light on Remington’s calculated and profit-driven strategy to expand the [assault-rifle] market and court high-risk users, all at the expense of Americans’ safety. Today’s decision is a critical step toward achieving that goal.”

The lawsuit, which first filed in December 2014, alleges that the gun companies’ conduct in marketing and selling the assault weapon used in the Sandy Hook shooting constitutes a negligent entrustment under the common law as well as a violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA).

The families allege there is strategy by Remington Arms Company to further expand the gun market by targeting a younger, high-risk male demographic through militaristic marketing and astute product placement in violent first-person shooter games.

Remington entered bankruptcy proceedings in March 2018, after which the Supreme Court case was suspended. Remington later exited bankruptcy.