Court: Army Not Liable in Shooting by Pennyslyvania Recruit

July 25, 2008

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A federal appeals court says the Army isn’t liable for more than $1 million in medical bills for a Pittsburgh-area man paralyzed in a shooting by an unstable Army recruit.

Twenty-three-year-old Marty Armstrong Jr., of Springdale, is serving a 25- to 50-year sentence for shooting 55-year-old Michael Lahoff in a Pittsburgh parking garage. Armstrong and another man took $15 from Lahoff during the robbery.

An insurance company sued the Army saying Armstrong’s record of juvenile court and psychiatric problems made him unsuitable for military service. The company says the Army was partly to blame for the shooting because Armstrong inadvertently obtained the pistol he used as a result of his service.

The appeals court says the Army couldn’t have reasonably foreseen that Armstrong would rob someone.

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Latest Comments

  • July 30, 2008 at 11:12 am
    Yo says:
    The "recruit" didn't obtain the weapon used "during service" - The Recruiting officer allowed the early entry candidate (17 years and still in HS) move into his apartment wher... read more
  • July 28, 2008 at 8:39 am
    Ray says:
    Seems to me that only the folks that sold it, if they sold it like in a bar or gave it directly to him in some other venue, should be considered liable. Otherwise, seems thoug... read more
  • July 28, 2008 at 8:33 am
    Matt says:
    Agree with this decision wholeheartedly. It is sad however that if the death involved alcohol, the people that made it, sold it, distributed it, provided it and served it coul... read more
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