Missouri Judge Certifies P320 Class Action
If you’ve followed my recent research into the Sig Sauer P320 litigation, you know the headlines keep piling up. Days after we learned an Air Force airman was fatally shot while unholstering his nearly identical M18 service pistol, a federal court in Missouri handed down another piece of news: the first statewide consumer class action over the P320 is officially moving forward.
On July 28, 2025, U.S. District Judge Douglas Harpool certified a class in Glasscock v. Sig Sauer, Inc.—a lawsuit that claims the striker‑fired handgun can discharge without anyone touching the trigger.
The Order at a Glance
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Case Number | 6:22‑cv‑03095‑MDH |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri |
| Plaintiff | Joshua Glasscock, on behalf of all similarly situated purchasers |
| Defendant | Sig Sauer, Inc. |
| Statute at Issue | Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA) |
| Ruling | Motion for Class Certification GRANTED (Rule 23 (b)(3)) |
Judge Harpool found that the conventional hurdles—numerosity, commonality, typicality, and adequacy—were all satisfied, and that group treatment is the “fairest and most efficient” path for the dispute.
Who’s In—and Who’s Out
“All persons who purchased a Sig Sauer model P320 pistol without an external thumb safety primarily for personal, family, or household purposes in Missouri from **September 1, 2017, to the present. ”
Automatic members
- Missouri residents who bought a non‑safety P320 for personal use after 9/1/2017.
Excluded
- Anyone who has already filed an individual lawsuit against Sig Sauer over the P320.
- Anyone who no longer owns the pistol.
Why Certification Matters
- Leverage for Owners – One plaintiff just became thousands, pooling evidence, experts, and negotiating power.
- Financial Exposure – Any verdict or settlement now applies to the whole class, ratcheting up potential damages.
- Procedural Momentum – Sig Sauer must overcome a common‑issues trial, not pick off claims one by one.
- Public Spotlight – Allegations that the pistol can fire without a trigger pull will now be litigated in a single, high‑profile forum.
What Happens Next
- Notice Campaign – Expect email, direct mail, and social‑media ads so owners can opt out.
- Discovery Phase – Both sides exchange documents and take depositions; Sig Sauer’s internal testing files (think FMECA) will be prime targets.
- Motions & Experts – The company will likely move for summary judgment; plaintiffs will line up ballistics and design‑defect experts.
- Settlement Pressure – Most certified class actions resolve before trial; the clock just started ticking.
Why I’m Watching This Case
For years, Sig Sauer has argued the P320’s “voluntary upgrade” fixed any drop‑fire risk and that uncommanded discharges are user error. This Missouri class action puts that narrative to a statewide test before a jury of consumers—not fellow law‑enforcement officers. How the company handles discovery in this suit could ripple into parallel federal cases and the civil‑military divide over the M18.
I’ll keep digging through the docket as the case progresses. Subscribe or follow my social feeds for real‑time updates.
Here is the full court order:
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, and nothing here is legal advice—just one writer’s effort to decode the court filings.