Polymer80 Ghost Gun Case
Case name: Mayor and City Council of Baltimore v. Polymer80, Inc. and Hanover Armory, LLC
Case type: Public Interest Litigation
Filed in: Circuit Court for Baltimore City
Docket: Case No.: 24-C-22-002482
Case Summary
The Complaint alleges that manufacturer Polymer80, Inc. and retailer Hanover Armory, LLC violate Maryland and federal firearms law by manufacturing, advertising, and selling kits and parts with which consumers can easily and quickly assemble fully functioning, home-assembled, untraceable, and un-serialized ghost guns.
The Complaint alleges that Polymer80, which accounts for 91% of all ghost guns seized in the City, and Hanover Armory, one such dealer of Polymer80 firearms, have caused a public nuisance in Baltimore City, and that the City is entitled to monetary and injunctive relief as a result.
In February 2024, the City of Baltimore and Polymer80 reached a settlement of the lawsuit that imposes a permanent injunction against Polymer80, prohibiting the ghost gun manufacturer from selling or advertising its ghost gun kits in Maryland. Polymer80 additionally must pay the City $1.2 million in damages.
Litigation is continuing against ghost gun retailer Hanover Armory, LLC. On October 15, 2024, the Court denied Hanover’s motion for summary judgement and ordered the matter to proceed to trial. The trial is scheduled for December 2024.
Procedural History
News Coverage
- Baltimore City’s lawsuit against ‘ghost gun’ retailer will go to trial, The Daily Record (Maryland), October 21, 2024
- Baltimore’s case against Anne Arundel gun shop that sold thousands of ‘ghost gun’ kits to head to trial, The Baltimore Sun, October 18, 2024
- Ghost gun parts maker to stop selling in Maryland, pay $1.2 million, The Washington Post, February 21, 2024
- Baltimore settles lawsuit with manufacturer of ghost guns, WBAL, February 21, 2024
- Ghost gun manufacturer to halt sales to Maryland residents, The Hill, February 21, 2024
- Mayor Brandon M. Scott takes fight against ‘ghost guns’ directly
to build-kit manufacturer, Polymer80, The AFRO, August 20, 2022 - Baltimore sues ghost gun maker as state ban begins, Associated Press, June 1, 2022
- Baltimore Mayor: “Ghost gun” company fueled public health crisis, The Washington Post, June 1, 2022
- Baltimore Sues Ghost Gun Manufacturer, Gun Retailer, WJZ, June 1, 2022
Attorneys Involved in the Case
Brent Hannafan
Nashville Partner
James Hannaway
Senior Litigation Counsel
Albert Powell
Staff Attorney
Carrie B. Mutombo
Tom Henderson Civil Rights Fellow
Paul Winston-Cange
Associate