HOUSTON - Academy Sports + Outdoors proved that it did not violate any legal standard that caused a woman’s death and that her suicide, which was committed with a gun purchased from the store, was the sole cause of her death, opined 14th Court of Appeals yesterday.
The lawsuit was brought by Guadalupe Rodriguez, who appealed a summary judgment ruling dismissing his claims against appellee Academy.
The 14th Court found that at least one of the grounds raised in Academy’s summary-judgment motion was meritorious, affirming the trial court’s judgment.
According to the opinion, Academy sold a handgun to Rodriguez’s daughter, who within hours used it to take her life by suicide. He sued Academy, alleging negligence.
Rodriguez’s appellate brief states that Academy sold his daughter, who was 29 years old, the handgun after hours while she was experiencing a severe mental health crisis.
Court records show Academy moved for traditional summary judgment on two grounds: the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act barred Rodriguez’s claims; and that suicide is an affirmative defense to Rodriguez’s claims under Texas law.
The 14th Court concluded that Academy met its initial summary-judgment burden by establishing that the woman’s suicide was the sole cause of the damages sustained because Academy complied with the applicable legal standards alleged by Rodriguez.
Appeals case No. 14-23-00234-CV