Newtown Lawsuit Against Gun Maker Can Go Forward, Judge Rules

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut Superior Court judge has ruled that a lawsuit can go forward against the maker of the rifle used in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings.

Judge Barbara Bellis ruled Thursday that a federal law protecting gun-makers from lawsuits does not prevent lawyers for the families of Sandy Hook victims from arguing that the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle is a military weapon and should not have been sold to civilians.

A lawyer for the families had argued there is an exception in federal law that allows litigation against companies that know, or should know, that their weapons are likely to be used in a way that risks injury to others.

Twenty children and six educators were killed in the December 2012 shooting.

A memorial to victims of the Sandy Hook elementary school victims is seen in front of a house in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 13, 2013 (Photo credit Emmanuel Dunand/Getty)

The sides are due back in court Tuesday.