Fast and Furious Leads to Wrongful Death

Clore Law · November 1 2011

An Arizona sheriff says that two guns seized as part of a major drug smuggling bust have been connected to a botched federal investigation known as "Fast and Furious." "Fast and Furious" was a controversial Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' investigation that lost track of up to 1,400 weapons that were sold in Arizona gun stores to suspected straw buyers for Mexican drug gangs. A number of guns have been recovered at crime scenes in Mexico and two were found at the scene of a Border Patrol agent's death. Now Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu says two more "Fast and Furious" guns have been seized in Arizona from members of the Sinaloa cartel, Mexico's most powerful. The two guns were among 108 weapons seized in three busts in September and October that authorities said effectively dismantled a major drug smuggling ring tied to the Sinaloa cartel. Read more: https://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/01/arizona-sheriff-says-2-guns-found-in-bust-linked-to-fast-and-furious/#ixzz1cYd1KOMj

Fast and Furious Negligence

The ATF's plan was to release criminals, many of whom were known to be violent, in order to track the weapons. This way they would be able to determine how smugglers have been able to get guns in and out of the US. Negligence seems rather apparent when weapons sold in the program were found at the scene of a border patrol man's death. What will prove increasingly difficult for the government to defend is there are still more than 1,000 missing weapon. All the weapons have been cataloged, so we may be seeing wrongful death lawsuit for years and years.

Wrongful Death Claims from Fast and Furious

The families of those killed due to another party's negligence are entitle to seek financial damages for the loss of there loved one. These damages include medical expense and future lost earnings. There is also the potential for pain and suffering. These damages are intended as an additional punishment for the defendants. A federal agent killed by weapons supplied by another federal agencies negligent plan or negligent execution of a plan may find pain and suffering damages available to them. The first expected wrongful death lawsuit arising from the Fast and Furious investigation should be the family of US Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.