Trial Starts Today in Baltimore City’s Lawsuit Against Maryland Gun Dealer Hanover Armory

The trial on behalf of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore against firearm retailer Hanover Armory LLC starts today in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. The Mayor and Baltimore City Council allege claims of public nuisance and negligence for the alleged sale of ghost gun kits that have increased violent crime in Baltimore City. Ghost guns are unserialized, untraceable firearms sold as kits. The City alleges that Hanover Armory sold these kits, which are firearms under the law, without ID checks or background checks.

Lawsuits such as these are integral to the City’s multi-pronged approach to tackling violent crime, especially gun violence.  That strategy, recently lauded by The Guardian, has led to historic reductions in crimes of violence, but the danger persists.  “We are committed to ending the epidemic of gun violence in Baltimore and across our country—which means holding all those who contribute to this crisis accountable,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Dealers like Hanover Armory have knowingly put dangerous, untraceable weapons on our streets. We won’t stand for that. As was the case when we successfully went after manufacturers like Polymer80, we’re committed to getting justice for our residents and all those impacted by Hanover’s actions.”  The City settled with Polymer80 last year, obtaining an unprecedented agreement by the company to discontinue selling ghost gun kits to Maryland residents not only in Maryland, but in neighboring states.

The trial before Baltimore City Circuit Judge Shannon Avery is expected to last two weeks. Jury selection begins today, followed on Tuesday, by opening statements. 

The City of Baltimore is represented in the matter by Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight’s Washington, D.C. Co-Managing Partner Schwanda Rountree, partner Saba Bireda, and fellow Raevyn Walker; James Hannaway of Berger Montague; Douglas Letter, Jenna Klein, Philip Bangle, and Erin Davis of Brady: United Against Gun Violence; and Thomas P.G. Webb, Deputy Chief of the City Law Department’s Affirmative Litigation Division.

Berger Montague is one of the nation’s preeminent law firms focusing on complex civil litigation, class actions, and mass torts in federal and state courts throughout the United States. With more than $2.5 billion in 2025 jury verdicts alone, the Firm is a leader in the fields of complex litigation, antitrust, consumer protection, defective products, environmental law, employment law, securities, and whistleblower cases, among many other practice areas. For over 55 years, Berger Montague has played leading roles in precedent-setting cases and has recovered over $50 billion for its clients and the classes they have represented. Berger Montague is headquartered in Philadelphia and has offices in Chicago; Malvern, PA; Minneapolis; San Diego; San Francisco; Toronto, Canada; Washington, D.C., and Wilmington, DE.

Brady has one powerful mission — to protect communities from gun violence. Brady’s legal team has been litigating cases for 30 years in courts across the country to ensure all Americans can live in cities free of violence and that firearm industries follow the law.