Taurus Settlement Details Released

15th Oct 2015

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida has authorized the release of details about a proposed class action settlement about alleged safety defects in certain Taurus-branded pistols. See previous reporting about the suit in the Shooter’s Log here. Further details are available on the settlement website here.

The proposed class-action settlement is about alleged safety defects in certain Taurus-branded pistols. The settlement doesn’t include Taurus G2 model pistols. This lawsuit alleges that Class Pistols (defined below) may unintentionally fire with the safety in the “on” or “safe” position, and may unintentionally fire when dropped or bumped. The Taurus Companies1 (“Taurus”) stand by the Class Pistols and deny all allegations of wrongdoing and liability.

You may be a Settlement Class Member and have rights under this settlement if you are a resident or entity of the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Guam and own one or more of the following Taurus-branded firearms on July 30, 2015:

PT-111 Millennium
PT-132 Millennium
PT-138 Millennium
PT-140 Millennium
PT-145 Millennium
PT-745 Millennium
PT-609
PT-640
PT-24/7

Settlement Class Members may return their affected pistol to Taurus (with shipping paid by Taurus) and receive up to $200 per pistol, depending on the total number returned, not to exceed $30 million. The exact payment amount will be determined after the return deadline has passed and the exact number of returned Class Pistols is known. If you return your Class Pistol for a payment, it will not be returned to you even if the payment is less than you want.

Also, Taurus will provide a free, transferrable lifetime enhanced warranty that will allow owners to submit warranty claims at any time. Taurus will pay shipping and inspection costs, and will repair or replace the pistol as necessary. Taurus will also provide safety training to all Settlement Class Members.

To ask for a payment, you must submit a claim form and return your Class Pistol to receive a payment. Shipping is prepaid by Taurus. You can only submit a claim form after the settlement is finally approved and any appeals are concluded. This date is not yet known. You may register now through the website to get information about when you can submit a claim form. Visit the website to determine when you can submit a claim. If the Court approves the settlement and there are no appeals, the claims period will run from approximately February 24, 2016 until June 23, 2016.

If you don’t want to be bound by the settlement, you must exclude yourself by December 14, 2015, or you won’t be able to sue, or continue to sue, Taurus about the legal claims in this case. If you exclude yourself, you can’t get money from this settlement. You may object to this settlement by sending an objection by December 14, 2015 and you may have to give a deposition. Objections and opt-outs will be public record, even if they contain the identity of Settlement Class Members. If you do nothing, you will still receive the lifetime enhanced warranty and safety training but will not receive a payment, and you will still be bound by the settlement.

Before money is paid, the Court will hold a Final Approval hearing on January 20, 2016, to consider whether to approve the settlement. You may attend the hearing, but you don’t have to.

For detailed information, you may also call toll-free 1-(844) 528-0180, or write to Carter v. Forjas Taurus, c/o Heffler Claims Group, P.O. Box 230, Philadelphia, PA 19107-0230.

Click the links below to see other information related to the settlement: