Steyr Arms Must Face Suit Over Teen’s Death From Dropped Gun

Steyr Arms Inc. was denied an early exit from a lawsuit alleging a teenager died after dropping a recalled pistol on the floor, causing it to discharge a bullet that hit him in the chest, a Tennessee federal court order says.

Dalin Spencer’s parents plausibly alleged Steyr was both a seller and a manufacturer of the Caracal LY 426 handgun, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee said. It rejected the company’s arguments that state product liability law—which generally prohibits lawsuits against non-manufacturing sellers—bars the claims.

Spencer, then 19, died in 2018. His parents, Dwayne and Tammy ...