Judge OKs ex-prosecutor's racketeering suit against gun manufacturer Gaston Glock
A Georgia judge has given a green light to the bulk of a former federal prosecutor’s racketeering lawsuit against his one-time employer Gaston Glock, the founder of the Glock firearms company.
Also named as defendants in the Fulton County case brought by James Harper III are several Glock lawyers and two Glock companies in Georgia: Glock Inc. and Consultinvest Inc. In addition to ruling against a motion to dismiss by the defense, Judge Jane Morrison also nixed a request to move the case to Cobb County, Georgia, where Glock has its North American headquarters.
Harper spent three years under indictment in Cobb County in a racketeering and theft case related to his work as outside legal counsel for Glock. The case was resolved in his favor by the state’s top court in 2013.
His suit alleges that the defendants set him up for prosecution in order to try to cover up a tax-evasion scheme that he discovered while working as an internal investigator for Glock Inc.
The judge said allegations by Harper that the defendants “have considerable influence with law enforcement personnel and the Cobb County district attorney’s office” are central to Harper’s case, explains the Daily Report (sub. req.).
However, she dismissed a malicious prosecution claim by Harper, agreeing with the defense that the deadline for bringing it had expired.
Lawyers for the defendants either could not be reached for comment or did not respond to requests for comment by the Daily Report.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Ex-prosecutor sues Glock, says gunmaker and lawyers framed him in racketeering case”
