Kristin Hussey

Since the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I have covered the shooting itself and its ongoing impact on victims, their survivors and the Newtown community’s gradual recovery and healing.

A lawsuit filed by some of the families in 2014 against Remington, which made the rifle used in the attack, is perhaps the most consequential on a national level. This lawsuit was one of very few that was allowed to move forward, because a special shield law protects gun manufacturers from being sued for crimes committed with their products.

For seven years, I attended nearly every court hearing, and closely followed the case through Connecticut Superior Court, Connecticut Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. Remington also twice declared bankruptcy during the lawsuit.

This story ran when the justices declined Remington’s request for the court to hear an appeal of the Connecticut Supreme Court decision that allowed the case to move forward.

Through the case, I read every brief, spoke with experts about the relevant law, the culture surrounding gun manufacturing and marketing, crunched numbers and built extensive reference materials for our reporting team to use for such a long-term story.

After nearly seven long years, the families who filed the 2014 lawsuit accepted a $73 million settlement, which includes provisions to shed light on the gun industry and its marketing and sales practices.