Overview
- The Court of Appeals unanimously directed the trial court to dismiss the case, with Chief Judge Robert Altice writing the opinion joined by Judges Rudolph Pyle and Mary DeBoer.
- The ruling upholds HEA 1235, which gives only the State of Indiana authority to bring or maintain actions by or on behalf of political subdivisions against firearms industry defendants.
- The court held the statute is constitutional, characterizing it as a substantive reallocation of authority rather than special legislation, and found the city had no vested right blocking retroactive application.
- The decision reverses Lake Superior Court Judge John Sedia’s earlier ruling that deemed the new law unconstitutional.
- Attorney General Todd Rokita praised the outcome, while the Brady Center and city representatives expressed disappointment and said they are evaluating next steps, including possible further appeals.