Smith v. Sturm, Ruger and Co., Inc.

The United States District Court, Montana District, Great Falls Division, has certified a question for this Court to decide concerning the running of the statute of limitations against a minor.

The certification presents the following issue: whether a minor injured by an allegedly defective product when he was 15 years and 2 months old (2 years and 10 months before attaining majority) has a period of 1 year or 3 years after attaining majority in which to bring a cause of action against the manufacturer?

On March 6, 1975, Robert Smith (petitioner) was injured by an accidental discharge from an…