Suit filed against gunmaker in death of Gaylesville boy

A shooting accident that claimed the life of a Gaylesville boy and injured both his parents has led to  a lawsuit against the handgun’s manufacturer — one of a number of cases alleging defects in the safety and trigger mechanisms of the guns.

D.J. Simms was fatally injured in February when a handgun his father was cleaning discharged. The bullet went through his father’s hand, passed through the 11-year-old’s body and struck his mother in the elbow, according to information from investigators at the time of the incident.

Lawsuits were filed this week against gun manufacturer Taurus International over Simms’ death. The suit, filed in Dade County, Florida, alleges faulty design in the pistol that directly led to the death of Simms and severe injuries to both his parents. Specifically, the suit focuses on a design flaw that makes certain types of Taurus pistols likely to discharge in two instances: when the pistol is subjected to an impact or is dropped, the trigger moves backward, which can lead to the gun firing, even with the safety is engaged; and when the manual safety lever appears to be in the safe position, the gun remains capable of being fired by a trigger pull.