U.S. District Jude Juan R. Sanchez has refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the city of Easton, Pennsylvania by a police officer’s widow. The suit concerns the March 5, 2005 tragedy in which Officer Jesse Sollman was accidentally killed by his co-worker Matthew Renninger, whose gun went off while he was cleaning it. The city government has denied any liability on their part, claiming that Sollman’s death was a tragic accident but not a sign of negligence.

Carin Sollman and her attorney disagree. Their lawsuit claims that the Easton Police Department condoned an atmosphere of lax safety standards. Their record on gun safety, the lawsuit claims, is particularly negligent. As evidence, the suit sites an incident in which Renninger left a loaded gun on top of his police car while it was parked on a city street. He did not face any disciplinary measures when this accident was discovered. He has not faced criminal charges related to Sollman’s death, but he has resigned from his job.

For more information about workplace safety and the law, contact Pennsylvania wrongful death lawyers Lowenthal & Abrams at 610-667-7511.