BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) — A Maryland man alleges manufacturing defects on a Winchester XPR rifle caused him to suffer serious injuries after it exploded on the gun range.
Ronald Appler filed a complaint Oct. 28 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland against Browning Arms Company alleging liability, negligence and other claims.
Appler, according to his complaint, was using a new Winchester XPR rifle on Nov. 29, 2020, at the Hap Baker Firearms facility in Westminster, Maryland. He alleges that the gun's defective "body of the bolt" and locking lugs caused it to explode after the 24th shot and drive the bolt off the gun and into his face, where it was lodged and pierced his check.
Appler alleges as a result of the gun's exploding, he suffered "catastrophic" injuries to his face, eye, hand and shoulder. He further alleges inspection by a professional firearms expert concluded the rifle's locking lugs failed, which allowed the bolt to be blown backwards through his face and into his shoulder.
Appler claims several other failures and design defects were found with the rifle including lack of a receiver vent to limit pressure. He alleges the defendant's negligence in the design, testing, manufacturing, marketing and selling of its XPR rifle and for its failure to warn of the dangers associated with the rifle.
Appler seeks monetary relief of more than $75,000, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Eric Rowe, Erik Bolog, C. Allen Foster and Jeffrey Leon of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP in Washington, D.C.
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland Baltimore Division case number 1:22-CV-02794