Sig Sauer’s $11 Million Misfire: What Gun Owners Need to Know

Last reviewed: September 2026.

Key Takeaways (updated September 11, 2026)

• The Sig Sauer P320 is the pistol at the center of the uncommanded-discharge litigation — 150+ alleged unintentional discharges and, by plaintiffs’ counsel’s count, 125+ claimants from 45 states.
• The verdict record is now split. Plaintiffs won in Georgia ($2.35M, Lang, 2024 — Sig Sauer’s appeal is still pending in the Eleventh Circuit) and Philadelphia (Abrahams, November 2024 — but the $10M punitive award was vacated in June 2025, leaving $1M). Sig Sauer won a defense verdict in Maine on August 7, 2026 (Cole), the first jury rejection of the holstered-discharge theory; the Coles moved for a new trial on September 8, 2026.
• A Massachusetts jury found the P320 defectively designed in July 2025 (Desrosiers) but awarded $0 because the officer kept carrying it knowing of the defect.
• The Missouri consumer class action was thrown out on July 16, 2026: the Eighth Circuit held a buyer whose pistol never misfired has no standing (Glasscock).
• New York matters most for our readers: on May 28, 2026 the Second Circuit revived Colwell v. Sig Sauer — a Troy police sergeant’s holster-discharge case — holding a New York jury may find a design defect without expert causation testimony. Trial is set for November 16, 2026 in Albany.
• No recall, no MDL. New Hampshire (Sig Sauer’s home state) passed a 2025 law barring defect claims based on the absence of an external safety; New York has no such law.
• New York statute of limitations: 3 years from injury under CPLR §214; 2 years for wrongful death under EPTL §5-4.1. Preserve the pistol, holster and ammunition immediately.
• If you were injured by a P320 that fired without a trigger pull, you may qualify for a product liability claim. Free consultation: (516) 750-0595.

If you own a Sig Sauer P320 and it fired without a trigger pull, you may be entitled to compensation. A Philadelphia jury awarded $11 million to a U.S. Army veteran whose holstered P320 discharged — an award the trial court later cut to $1 million by vacating the punitive damages — and more than 125 people have since brought similar claims. Juries have now gone both ways: Georgia, Philadelphia and a Massachusetts jury found the design defective; New Hampshire (2022) and Maine (August 2026) juries sided with Sig Sauer. Here is what a New York owner needs to know.

Which Sig Sauer misfires? The P320

The Sig Sauer P320 is the model at the center of the uncommanded-discharge lawsuits — the striker-fired pistol (and its X-Series variants) that owners say has fired while holstered, when dropped, or when bumped, with no finger on the trigger. That is what “misfire without a trigger pull” means in these cases: not a dud round or a jam, but a live discharge with the trigger untouched. A Philadelphia jury awarded $11 million on exactly that theory in Abrahams v. Sig Sauer (November 2024), and more than 120 similar federal suits are pending.

As of September 2026, more than 150 people have alleged the P320 fired without a trigger pull, and plaintiffs’ counsel count 125+ claimants across 45 states. The verdict record is split: plaintiffs’ verdicts in Georgia ($2.35M, 2024, on appeal) and Philadelphia (2024, reduced from $11M to $1M in June 2025), a Massachusetts defect finding with no damages (July 2025), and defense verdicts in New Hampshire (2022) and Maine (August 7, 2026). The Missouri consumer class certified in 2025 was vacated on appeal in July 2026. The civilian P320 lacks the external thumb safety found on the military M17/M18 — the design choice at the heart of every one of these cases — and for New York owners the case to watch is Colwell v. Sig Sauer, revived by the Second Circuit in May 2026 and set for trial in Albany on November 16, 2026.

P320 Misfire Defect: When Safety Mechanisms Fail

Firearms should protect and empower people who use them. But sometimes a trusted gun like the Sig Sauer P320 fires without warning. That happened to U.S. Army veteran George Abrahams. A jury in Philadelphia just handed him $11 million after his holstered pistol shot through his thigh, leaving permanent damage. It’s a harsh lesson in how small manufacturing slips can wreck lives. According to an AP report, the suit alleged the gun fired without the trigger being pulled.

This verdict follows a $2.35 million award in Georgia earlier this year — a verdict the trial judge upheld in February 2025 by denying Sig Sauer’s request for a new trial; Sig Sauer’s appeal to the Eleventh Circuit is still pending. Both cases spotlight problems with Sig Sauer’s popular handgun. Plaintiffs say it discharges accidentally, even though the company insists on tough safety tests. And these aren’t isolated events – they highlight key ideas in product liability. Defects or weak safeguards put users at risk. People often need sharp lawyers to fight back and win justice.

The Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. handles tough personal injury and product liability cases like these. The firm holds manufacturers responsible. Call (516) 750-0595 to talk about what happened to you.

What makes a case like this so compelling? It shows how everyday items can turn deadly. Abrahams thought his gun was safe. Then it wasn’t.

P320 Fires Without Trigger: What Really Happened

Picture this: George Abrahams heads down some stairs. His Sig Sauer P320 sits holstered in his athletic pants pocket. Suddenly, the gun fires on its own. The bullet rips through his right thigh and comes out above the knee.

Court records paint a grim picture. This random shot caused lasting harm. A simple walk turned into a nightmare, exposing what critics call design flaws in the pistol.

Misfires aren’t like other gun problems – no jams or stuck casings here. This means the gun goes off without anyone pulling the trigger on purpose. Movement or pressure might set it off. That’s different from mistakes users make. The issue of potential accidental discharge has been a point of contention for the Sig Sauer P320.

Sig Sauer fights back hard. Company reps call the P320 one of the most dependable handguns out there. They pointed fingers at Abrahams’ handling. But the jury didn’t buy it. They ruled Sig Sauer sold a faulty product and holster, plain and simple.

Details on any settlement beyond the verdict? Scarce so far. Yet this case echoes more than 120 similar complaints across the country. People demand recalls and fixes. Sig Sauer plans to appeal, of course.

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? A company stands by its product, but juries keep siding with victims. Makes you wonder about trust in big manufacturers.

One short note: These incidents often start small. A bump, a twist – and boom. Life changes forever.

Injured by a firearm that discharged without a trigger pull? You may have a defective product claim. The Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. fights for victims of dangerous firearms and other defective products. Call (516) 750-0595 for a free consultation.

Can You Sue Sig Sauer? Product Liability Basics

Product liability laws protect consumers. They make manufacturers pay when defective goods hurt people. In many places, strict liability applies. That means victims just prove the product was dangerously flawed and caused the injury. No need to dig into the company’s mistakes or intentions.

Three main ways to claim liability stand out. First, manufacturing defects – that’s when a product comes off the line wrong, not matching the plans. Second, design defects. Here, the blueprint itself has problems, making the item unsafe no matter how well it’s built.

Third? Failure to warn. Companies skip proper labels or instructions about risks they know about.

Firearms get tricky. Courts see them as inherently risky – you can’t make a gun completely safe. Still, laws apply. Judges look closely at safety features. Take the P320: Military versions have external safeties. Civilian ones don’t. That gap raises questions about preventing accidents.

Plaintiffs carry the proof load. They show the defect was there from the factory and directly led to the harm. With guns, defendants might argue users knew the risks. Assumption of risk comes up a lot.

But here’s a twist – even with that defense, strong evidence wins out. Experts help a ton. They dissect designs, test failures, and explain to juries why something went wrong.

Think about it: Why do some guns have more safeties than others? Cost-cutting? Oversight? Cases like Abrahams’ force answers.

Expanding on this, let’s consider how these laws play out in real life. Say someone buys a car with bad brakes. The maker knew but didn’t fix it. Liability kicks in. Same with guns. If a design invites accidents, courts step up.

And product recalls? They happen when patterns emerge. The Sig Sauer issues have sparked talks of one. But companies drag their feet. Victims push through lawsuits to force change.

A quick aside (because it’s worth noting): Not every defect is obvious. Some hide in plain sight, like a trigger too sensitive to jostling.

Sig Sauer Settlement Amounts and Compensation

Shifting gears a bit – what about compensation? Verdicts like $11 million cover medical bills, lost wages, pain. But they also send messages. Manufacturers notice big payouts. They rethink designs.

Of course, not all cases win. Juries weigh evidence carefully. Plaintiffs need solid stories, backed by facts. Weak links break chains.

Still, progress happens. Laws evolve with technology. New gun designs incorporate better tech – think biometric locks or smarter triggers. But until then, incidents like this remind everyone to stay vigilant.

One more thing: States differ on these laws. Some lean strict, others require more proof of negligence. Know your local rules. It matters.

Wrapping back to Abrahams – his win builds on others. It pressures Sig Sauer. More suits could follow, each chipping away at denials.

Deeper Dive into Firearm Liability

Firearms aren’t just any product. Their dangers demand extra care from makers. Yet slip-ups occur. The P320 saga illustrates that.

Critics point to the lack of a manual safety in civilian models. Soldiers get one; why not everyone? Sig Sauer says the gun’s internal mechanisms suffice. Juries disagree.

Expert witnesses play key roles. They test guns, recreate scenarios. In Abrahams’ trial, they likely showed how a holstered pistol could fire from impact or movement.

And the holster? Sig Sauer sold it too. If it didn’t secure the gun properly, that’s another defect layer.

Broader picture: Over 120 lawsuits allege similar misfires. Some settled quietly. Others head to court. Patterns like this often lead to class actions or mass torts.

What drives these claims? Partly, the P320’s popularity. Law enforcement uses it widely. When issues hit pros, civilians take note.

Sig Sauer upgraded the design in 2017, adding a trigger pull upgrade program. Voluntary, though. Not everyone participated. Questions linger: Was it enough?

A mild contradiction here – the company touts safety, yet pays out millions. Actions speak louder.

For gun owners, this raises practical tips. Inspect gear regularly. Choose holsters that fit snugly. Train properly. But even then, defects lurk.

Legal side: File claims quickly. Statutes of limitations apply. Evidence fades.

The Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. guides clients through this maze. The firm gathers experts, builds cases, fights for fair outcomes. Reach out at (516) 750-0595.

Timeline: The Sig Sauer P320 Crisis

The P320’s problems didn’t start overnight. Here is a comprehensive timeline of incidents, lawsuits, and responses stretching back nearly a decade.

Were you or a loved one injured by a Sig Sauer P320 or any firearm that discharged without a trigger pull? The clock is ticking. The Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. handles product liability and defective firearm claims across Long Island and New York. Call (516) 750-0595 for a free case review.

2025–2026: A Split Record — and a New York Trial Date

The P320 litigation landscape shifted dramatically in 2025 and 2026, and not in one direction. What started as individual injury claims has evolved into a multi-front legal assault — with class actions, consolidated proceedings, and investigative bombshells piling pressure on Sig Sauer.

September 2026: Sig Sauer Wins in Maine — What It Does and Doesn’t Mean

On August 7, 2026, a nine-person federal jury in Bangor, Maine returned a verdict for Sig Sauer in Cole v. Sig Sauer, Inc. (D. Me., No. 1:23-cv-00327). Somerset County Sheriff’s detective David Cole alleged that on May 4, 2022 his holstered duty P320 fired while he was executing a search warrant, sending a round through his right thigh and calf into his ankle. After nine trial days, the jury answered “no” to both strict liability (design defect or inadequate warning) and negligence; the damages and punitive questions were never reached. Judgment was entered August 10. Sig Sauer’s counsel called the verdict a validation of “the engineering and design of the P320 and the extensive independent testing behind it.”

Three things a New York owner should take from it:

1. It is one jury, on one record. Before trial the court excluded evidence of the 2017 Voluntary Upgrade Program and, in general, evidence that police agencies have banned the pistol. Juries in Georgia, Philadelphia and Massachusetts, who heard broader records, found the design defective. Jury verdicts do not make law; they decide a case.
2. It is not final. The Coles filed a motion for a new trial on September 8, 2026; Sig Sauer’s response is due September 29. An appeal to the First Circuit remains available.
3. It changes nothing about New York law. The Second Circuit’s May 2026 decision in Colwell, discussed below, is the ruling that governs how a P320 case is tried here — and it went the other way.

The honest scoreboard after Maine: two plaintiffs’ verdicts (Georgia and Philadelphia), one defect finding with no damages (Massachusetts), two defense verdicts (New Hampshire in 2022 and Maine in 2026), and roughly twenty cases Sig Sauer has had dismissed, including several where the officer ultimately conceded the trigger was pulled. Sig Sauer’s position has not moved: “The P320 cannot, under any circumstances, discharge without a trigger pull.” The plaintiffs’ bar has not moved either — more than 125 claimants are on file.

The Philadelphia Verdict Today: $1 Million, Not $11 Million

This article’s headline dates from the November 2024 Abrahams verdict: $1 million in compensatory damages plus $10 million in punitive damages against Sig Sauer for a holstered P320 that fired into a veteran’s leg. On June 17, 2025, the trial judge vacated the $10 million punitive award, leaving the $1 million compensatory verdict standing. Sig Sauer has said it will seek dismissal of the remainder. The Georgia verdict (Lang, $2.35 million, upheld against a new-trial motion in February 2025) is on appeal to the Eleventh Circuit, with no decision as of this update. We have corrected every figure in this article accordingly.

Desrosiers: A Defect Finding Worth $0

On July 30, 2025, a federal jury in Boston found the P320 defectively designed and that the defect caused Cambridge police officer Timothy Desrosiers’ injury — then awarded nothing, finding he “voluntarily and unreasonably” kept using the pistol knowing of the defect. Final judgment for Sig Sauer, including on the consumer-protection claim, entered September 9, 2026. The lesson for owners is blunt: once you know of the problem, keep carrying the pistol at your own legal risk. Assumption of the risk is a live defense, and it can zero out a winning liability case.

New York: The Second Circuit Revives Colwell — Trial November 16, 2026

The most important development for our readers is a New York case. Troy Police Sergeant Michael Colwell’s department-issued P320 fired in its holster during a June 2021 training exercise, striking his right leg. The Northern District of New York excluded his experts’ causation opinions and granted Sig Sauer summary judgment. On May 28, 2026, the Second Circuit reversed (Judge Lynch, joined by Judge Leval; Judge Sullivan dissenting). The court held that under Voss v. Black & Decker New York does not always require expert causation testimony in a design-defect case: a jury may combine the unchallenged design-defect opinions with its own examination of the P320 and the holster. The court also refused to let Sig Sauer win on the Scarangella optional-equipment doctrine, because Sig Sauer identified no normal use of the P320 that avoids the alleged defect. On remand, the case is set for a firm trial date of November 16, 2026 in Albany.

Two other New York dockets are worth knowing: Jinn v. Sig Sauer (S.D.N.Y.), a federal agent’s Bronx range injury, ended in summary judgment for Sig Sauer in 2023; and Farrell v. Sig Sauer (E.D.N.Y., filed October 2025) is pending in Brooklyn.

The New Hampshire Immunity Law — and Why It Doesn’t Reach New York

Sig Sauer is headquartered in New Hampshire, and on May 23, 2025 Governor Ayotte signed HB 551, which bars any product-liability claim — design defect, failure to warn, negligence or strict liability — premised on a firearm’s lack of a magazine disconnect, loaded-chamber indicator, authorized-user technology, or external mechanical safety, including a tabbed trigger. Manufacturing-defect and express-warranty claims survive, and the law is prospective only. Plaintiffs’ counsel responded by refiling 34 claimants from 23 states in Pennsylvania in November 2025. Copycat bills in Florida and Georgia died in 2026. New York has no such statute. P320 cases here proceed under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act’s product-defect exception (15 U.S.C. §7903(5)(A)(v)) and New York’s Voss risk-utility test.

Agencies and the Military, 2025–2026

ICE barred the P320 for its officers in July 2025; Houston Police pulled it for roughly 1,200 officers in August 2025; Chicago, Denver, Milwaukee, Dallas, SEPTA and San Francisco had restricted or phased it out earlier. Washington State’s police academy banned it permanently in February 2025, and Sig Sauer sued the academy in July 2025. New Jersey’s Attorney General sued Sig Sauer in October 2025 seeking a recall, citing a police lieutenant’s 2023 death. On the other side of the ledger, after the July 2025 death of an airman at F.E. Warren Air Force Base — which courts-martial later attributed to another airman pointing the pistol and pulling the trigger — the Air Force inspected 113,479 M18s, found none capable of an uncommanded discharge, and in August 2026 the Department of War declared the M17/M18 “safe and reliable.” The distinction the article has always drawn holds: the military pistols carry an external thumb safety; the standard civilian P320 does not.

Missouri’s Class Action: Certified in 2025, Thrown Out in 2026

On July 28, 2025, U.S. District Judge Douglas Harpool certified the first statewide consumer class action against Sig Sauer in Glasscock v. Sig Sauer, Inc. (Case 6:22-cv-03095-MDH). The certified class includes all Missouri purchasers of P320 pistols without an external thumb safety from September 2017 to the present.

It did not last. On July 16, 2026 the Eighth Circuit vacated the certification and ordered the case dismissed: the named plaintiff’s pistol had never misfired, so he had suffered no injury and had no Article III standing. The ruling is a real setback for consumer class actions by uninjured owners — it does not touch injury cases, which have always been fought one by one. Whether the Washington class action (Schreiber) survives the same standing analysis is the open question. Sig Sauer’s counsel said the ruling “adds to our approximately 20 case dismissals.” It had been a landmark: class certification meant Sig Sauer faced a single proceeding representing potentially thousands of Missouri gun owners — and the ruling could have served as a blueprint for class actions in other states.

Washington State followed in November 2025 when Schreiber v. Sig Sauer Inc. was filed with similar design-defect allegations, opening another class action front.

Meanwhile, in June 2025, a federal court denied Sig Sauer’s motion to sever and transfer claims from Texas law enforcement officers — keeping those cases consolidated in New Hampshire federal court. Sig Sauer wanted to scatter the cases across different jurisdictions. The court said no.

What This Means for P320 Owners

If your P320 has injured you or a family member, nothing in the 2026 rulings changes your right to bring an individual claim — the Maine verdict decided one case, and the Eighth Circuit’s standing ruling concerns uninjured buyers. If you own a P320 that has not misfired, the Missouri decision means a consumer class claim for the pistol’s diminished value is now an uphill fight. Even if you haven’t experienced an unintentional discharge, certified class actions can cover economic losses like diminished value of a defectively designed product.

Owners in other states should watch closely. The Missouri certification creates legal precedent that plaintiffs’ attorneys in other jurisdictions will cite. More class actions are likely.

If you’re a P320 owner who has experienced an unintentional discharge or are concerned about your rights, consult with a personal injury attorney who handles product liability claims. The Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. can help you understand your options — contact us or call (516) 750-0595.

The Georgia Verdict Survives Appeal

In February 2025, a federal judge upheld the $2.35 million verdict in the Robert Bryan Lang case, denying Sig Sauer’s request for a new trial. Sig Sauer had argued that gunsmith testimony should have been excluded. The court disagreed. Sig Sauer’s appeal to the Eleventh Circuit (Nos. 25-10810 and 25-10812) was fully briefed in early 2026 and remains undecided as of September 2026.

This matters because it signals that P320 design-defect claims can survive not just trial but post-trial challenges. For plaintiffs in pending cases, it reinforces that juries’ findings against Sig Sauer will hold up under appellate scrutiny.

The Trace Investigation: What Insiders Say About Sig Sauer

A February 2026 joint investigation by The Trace and Bloomberg Businessweek pulled back the curtain on Sig Sauer’s manufacturing culture. Insiders alleged that pressure to increase production led to shoddy manufacturing practices dating back to at least 2010 — years before the P320 even launched.

The investigation documented quality control failures even on the P226 DAK during internal testing. The reporting painted a picture of a company where speed and volume were prioritized over precision.

The numbers continue to climb. As of the investigation’s publication, over 150 people have alleged unintentional P320 discharge — up significantly from previously reported figures. In 2025 alone, 18 additional injuries were reported, including three ICE agents wounded by their duty-issued P320s. A Pennsylvania father was killed by an alleged unintentional P320 discharge.

These insider revelations could prove devastating in ongoing litigation. Evidence that a manufacturer knew about systemic quality problems — across multiple product lines — and continued pushing production is exactly the kind of evidence that supports punitive damages.

Military Developments: The M17/M18 Paradox

The military’s relationship with the P320 platform remains complicated. After the July 2024 death of an airman at a Wyoming base, Air Force Global Strike Command suspended M18 use and inspected its entire 7,970-handgun inventory. In August 2025, the Air Force cleared the M18 and reinstated it for duty.

Then in November 2025, the U.S. Army approved a general forces configuration with modular accessories for the M17/M18, signaling continued institutional investment in the platform.

The paradox is hard to miss: the military keeps doubling down on the P320 while civilian courts keep finding it defective. The difference? Military M17/M18 variants include an external thumb safety that civilian P320s lack — the very feature at the heart of most lawsuits.

Lessons from the Case

This verdict isn’t just about one man. It spotlights systemic issues in product safety.

Manufacturers must prioritize users over profits. When they don’t, courts intervene.

For victims, hope exists. Skilled representation turns tragedies into triumphs.

But prevention beats cure. Push for better standards. Demand accountability.

In the end, cases like Abrahams’ reshape industries. They save lives down the line.

One final thought: Guns empower, but flaws endanger. Stay informed, stay safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which Sig Sauer misfires?

A: The Sig Sauer P320 is the model at the center of the uncommanded-discharge litigation. The P320 is a striker-fired modular pistol that launched in January 2014 and was selected by the U.S. Army in 2017 as the M17/M18 Modular Handgun System. The civilian P320 — unlike the military M17/M18 — has no external thumb safety. That single design choice is the focal point of nearly every lawsuit, including the November 2024 $11 million Philadelphia verdict in Abrahams v. Sig Sauer. Other Sig Sauer models (P226, P229, P365) have not been subject to the same systemic uncommanded-discharge litigation.

Q: Has Sig Sauer been sued for P320 misfires?

A: Yes — extensively. As of the February 2026 Trace/Bloomberg Businessweek investigation, more than 150 people have alleged unintentional P320 discharge and 120+ federal lawsuits have been filed. The Philadelphia firm Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky alone represents approximately 100 plaintiffs. Two major plaintiffs’ verdicts have been entered: a $2.35 million Georgia verdict in Lang v. Sig Sauer (June 2024, upheld on appeal February 2025) and an $11 million Philadelphia verdict in Abrahams v. Sig Sauer (November 2024 — $10M punitive, $1M compensatory). Sig Sauer has appealed Abrahams and continues to deny the P320 is defective.

Q: Is there an MDL or class action for the Sig Sauer P320?

A: No federal MDL has been formed — as of September 2026 the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has not consolidated P320 injury cases — and the only certified class, Glasscock v. Sig Sauer (W.D. Mo., certified July 28, 2025), was vacated by the Eighth Circuit on July 16, 2026 because the named plaintiff’s pistol never misfired and he therefore lacked standing. Schreiber v. Sig Sauer (W.D. Wash., filed November 2025) is still pending under the same theory. Injury cases are unaffected and continue as individual lawsuits; plaintiffs’ counsel refiled 34 claimants in Pennsylvania in November 2025 after New Hampshire’s immunity law took effect.

Q: What should I do if my Sig Sauer P320 misfired and I was injured?

A: Take five steps immediately. (1) Get medical care first and document every treatment. (2) Preserve the pistol, holster, and any ammunition exactly as they were at the time of the discharge — do not clean the weapon, do not let police destroy it without preserving chain-of-custody documentation, and have an attorney issue a spoliation letter. (3) Photograph the pistol, the holster, the carry position, and the wound. (4) Identify witnesses and collect their statements while memories are fresh. (5) Contact a New York product liability attorney before talking to insurance adjusters or Sig Sauer representatives. New York’s three-year statute of limitations under CPLR §214 starts running on the date of injury, and evidence degrades quickly.

Q: Can I sue if my P320 fired on its own?

A: Yes, if the discharge injured you or a family member. The claim is a product liability action — design defect, manufacturing defect, or failure to warn — and under New York’s strict liability doctrine you do not have to prove Sig Sauer was careless, only that the pistol was defective when it left the factory and that the defect caused the discharge. The Lang and Abrahams verdicts were built on the design-defect theory: a pre-cocked striker pistol sold without an external safety. File within three years of the injury under CPLR §214, and keep the pistol and holster exactly as they were.

Q: How much have Sig Sauer P320 settlements been worth?

A: Public jury verdicts to date: $2.35 million in Lang v. Sig Sauer (Georgia, June 2024 — upheld by the trial court in February 2025; Sig Sauer’s Eleventh Circuit appeal is pending) and $1 million in Abrahams v. Sig Sauer (Philadelphia, November 2024). The Abrahams jury originally awarded $11 million, but the $10 million punitive award was vacated on June 17, 2025. A Massachusetts jury (Desrosiers, July 2025) found the design defective but awarded $0 because the officer kept using the pistol knowing of the defect, and juries in New Hampshire (2022) and Maine (August 2026) returned defense verdicts. Settlements are confidential; Sig Sauer says it has never paid to settle a P320 claim and counts roughly 20 dismissals. The number to remember for a New York case is not an average — it is what your medical records, lost earnings and the holster-discharge facts will support.

Q: Does the Sig Sauer P320 have a safety?

A: The civilian P320 has internal safeties — a striker safety, a disconnect safety, and a “tabbed” trigger — but no external manual thumb safety in the standard configuration. The military M17/M18 variants do include an external thumb safety, which the U.S. Army required as a condition of the 2017 Modular Handgun System contract. Plaintiffs’ theory in Abrahams and the Missouri Glasscock class action is that Sig Sauer knew an external safety would prevent uncommanded discharges (because the company built the M17/M18 with one) but chose not to include it on the civilian P320 — and that this design choice violated Sig Sauer’s own internal safety policy requiring external safeties on pre-cocked striker pistols.

Q: Has the military or police banned the P320?

A: Use has been suspended in some agencies, restricted in others, and continued in still others. Dallas Police suspended P320 duty carry after the August 2017 drop-fire videos. Milwaukee PD documented eight P320 accidental discharges in seven months in 2020 — including one officer’s holstered weapon firing into his partner’s knee. After the July 2024 death of an Air Force airman at a Wyoming base, Air Force Global Strike Command suspended the M18 and inspected its 7,970-handgun inventory; the M18 was reinstated in August 2025. Charlottetown Police (Canada) offered all 72 officers the option to swap back to Beretta sidearms in September 2025. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army approved a general-forces modular-accessory configuration for M17/M18 in November 2025 — continued institutional investment in the platform. 2025–2026 update: ICE barred the P320 for its officers in July 2025; Houston Police pulled it in August 2025; Chicago, Denver and San Francisco restricted or phased it out in 2025; Washington State’s police academy banned it permanently in February 2025. The U.S. military went the other way: after inspecting 113,479 M18s following the July 2025 airman death at F.E. Warren AFB, the Department of War declared the M17/M18 “safe and reliable” in August 2026 — those pistols carry the external thumb safety the standard civilian P320 lacks.

Q: What is the X-Macro / X-Series concern?

A: The P320 X-Macro, X-Five, and other X-Series variants are higher-capacity / competition-oriented configurations of the same core striker mechanism. They share the same lack of an external manual safety as the standard P320, and uncommanded-discharge complaints have been reported across the X-Series. Plaintiffs’ counsel generally treat all civilian P320 variants without an external thumb safety as part of the same defective-design family — which is exactly how the certified Missouri class is defined (“P320 pistols without an external thumb safety from September 2017 to present”).

Q: What is the Sig Sauer voluntary upgrade program?

A: In August 2017 — after independent testers posted videos of brand-new P320s discharging twice in three drops onto the beavertail — Sig Sauer announced a “Voluntary Upgrade Program” that replaced six trigger-group components with parts derived from the M17 design. The upgrade was voluntary, not a recall, and Sig Sauer continued to assert the unmodified P320 was safe. Plaintiffs’ counsel and firearms experts argue the upgrade did not fix the core design defect because it did not add an external manual safety. Uncommanded discharges have been documented on both pre-upgrade and post-upgrade pistols, and lawsuits filed after 2017 routinely include both groups of plaintiffs.

Q: Does my Sig P320 need to be sent in for a recall?

A: There is no formal recall as of September 2026. Sig Sauer has consistently maintained the P320 is safe, won the August 2026 Maine trial on that position, and has refused to issue a recall despite the Georgia, Philadelphia and Massachusetts defect findings and the New Jersey Attorney General’s October 2025 lawsuit seeking one. The 2017 Voluntary Upgrade Program is not a recall — it is opt-in, addresses drop safety, and uncommanded discharges have been alleged on upgraded pistols. If yours has fired without a trigger pull, do not send it anywhere: preserve it exactly as it is and call a lawyer.

Q: Has Sig Sauer won any P320 lawsuits?

A: Yes. Sig Sauer won jury verdicts in Guay v. Sig Sauer (D.N.H., July 2022) and Cole v. Sig Sauer (D. Me., August 7, 2026), took a $0 result in Desrosiers (D. Mass., July 2025) despite the jury’s defect finding, and has obtained roughly twenty dismissals or summary judgments — including Jinn in Manhattan federal court (2023) and a Georgia state case dismissed in August 2026 after the officer admitted pulling the trigger. Plaintiffs won in Lang (Georgia, 2024) and Abrahams (Philadelphia, 2024), and appellate courts revived cases Sig Sauer had won below in Davis (Sixth Circuit, January 2025), Slatowski (Third Circuit, August 2025) and Colwell (Second Circuit, May 2026). The pattern: these cases are won or lost on the specific holster, the specific pistol, and the specific record — not on a national verdict trend.

Q: Does the Maine verdict mean a New York P320 claim can’t succeed?

A: No. The Maine jury decided the Cole family’s case on a record from which the court had excluded the 2017 upgrade program and agency bans, and the plaintiffs have moved for a new trial. It set no precedent for New York courts. The controlling New York decision is the Second Circuit’s May 28, 2026 ruling in Colwell v. Sig Sauer, which reversed summary judgment for Sig Sauer and sent a Troy police sergeant’s holster-discharge case to trial in Albany on November 16, 2026 — holding a New York jury may find a design defect without expert causation testimony. What the Maine and Massachusetts results do change is strategy: the pistol, holster and ammunition must be preserved untouched, and an owner who keeps carrying a P320 after learning of the alleged defect hands Sig Sauer an assumption-of-risk defense.

Q: What is the statute of limitations on a Sig P320 injury lawsuit in New York?

A: New York’s general personal-injury and product-liability statute of limitations is three years from the date of injury under CPLR §214. Wrongful-death claims have a two-year statute under EPTL §5-4.1. New York follows a discovery rule for some latent product defects, but in P320 cases the injury (the unexpected discharge and gunshot wound) is immediately apparent — so the clock typically runs from the date of the discharge. New York also has a pure comparative negligence regime under CPLR §1411, meaning you can recover even if a jury assigns you some percentage of fault for handling. Other states’ deadlines vary from one to four years, and federal claims (including any future MDL) follow the forum’s borrowing statute. Don’t wait — evidence and witnesses fade quickly.

Q: Why hire a New York product-liability attorney for a Sig Sauer case?

A: P320 cases are federal product-liability litigation that requires sophisticated handling: spoliation letters preserving the pistol and holster, expert firearms testing, depositions of Sig Sauer engineering and quality-control witnesses, FMCSA-style design-defect proof, and coordination with the active Missouri/Washington class actions and the New Hampshire consolidated cases. A general-practice attorney is not equipped for that workload. The Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. handles complex product liability cases and broader New York personal injury representation across Long Island, NYC, and statewide. Free consultation: (516) 750-0595. We work on contingency — no fee unless we win.

Injured by a Defective Firearm? Get Help Now.

If you or a loved one has been hurt by a Sig Sauer P320 or any firearm that discharged without a trigger pull, you don’t have to fight the manufacturer alone. The Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. has the experience to take on major manufacturers and hold them accountable for defective products that cause serious injuries.

Our firm handles Long Island product liability cases and broader personal injury claims across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Use our settlement calculator to get a preliminary estimate of what your case may be worth based on injury type and severity.

Statutes of limitations apply — the sooner you act, the stronger your case. Evidence can degrade and deadlines pass quickly.

Get your free case review today. Call the Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. at (516) 750-0595 or contact us online to discuss your defective firearm injury claim. We serve clients across Long Island and New York.

Primary Sources for the September 2026 Update

• Cole v. Sig Sauer, Inc., D. Me. No. 1:23-cv-00327 — docket (CourtListener) · jury verdict form, Doc. 220 · judgment, Doc. 225 · Bangor Daily News, Aug. 7, 2026 · Insurance Journal, Aug. 17, 2026 (Sig Sauer statement)
• Colwell v. Sig Sauer, Inc., 2d Cir. Nos. 24-2724 / 24-3047, decided May 28, 2026 — opinion (PDF)
• Glasscock v. Sig Sauer, 8th Cir. No. 25-2707, July 16, 2026 — analysis · Sig Sauer release
• Abrahams v. Sig Sauer punitive award vacated, June 17, 2025 — Sig Sauer release
• Desrosiers v. Sig Sauer, D. Mass., July 30, 2025 verdict — Union Leader
• Slatowski v. Sig Sauer, 3d Cir. No. 24-1639, Aug. 1, 2025 — opinion
• Lang v. Sig Sauer, 11th Cir. appeal — docket
• New Hampshire HB 551 (2025) — enrolled text
• New Jersey Attorney General v. Sig Sauer, Oct. 16, 2025 — NJ OAG release
• Department of War M17/M18 review, Aug. 2026 — Army Times

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• Long Island personal injury lawyer
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• settlement calculator
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• Hyundai’s phantom-braking recall and who’s at fault in a rear-end crash

If you have a case involving these issues on Long Island or in the New York City metropolitan area, the Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. offers free consultations. Call (516) 750-0595 or contact our office online.