Martin v. Harrington and Richardson, Inc.

Two men shot and killed Larry Martin and wounded Kenneth Jackson using a handgun made by Harrington and Richardson, Inc. (H&R) (defendant). Larry's wife, Brenda Martin (plaintiff), along with Kenneth and Karen Jackson (plaintiffs), sued H&R, arguing the gun itself was an unreasonably dangerous instrument and that H&R should be strictly liable — without alleging the gun was defective or bringing an ordinary negligence claim. The district court dismissed the complaint for failing to state a claim, and plaintiffs appealed.