The Apex Times
Above the Noise
Kentucky Wire
KentuckyMan fatally shot in downtown Louisville alley; Louisville Metro Police investigating homicideThe Apex TimesKentuckyACLU report says ICE has relied on force as a routine tactic in first year of Trump return, prompting renewed scrutiny after fatal shootingsThe Apex TimesKentuckyLouisville family holds gathering to honor 14-year-old Jahlil Brown after Cloverleaf shootingThe Apex TimesKentuckyLMPD investigating shooting at Elliott Park that sent man to hospitalThe Apex TimesKentuckyMidway Business Association hosts free block party on East Main Street to kick off summerThe Apex TimesKentuckyFamily of Joshua Wethington, 28, remembers Lake Cumberland drowning victimThe Apex TimesKentuckySomerset toddler airlifted to Nashville after crockpot incident leaves him with third-degree burnsThe Apex TimesKentuckyLa Familia holds off The Ville in TBT opener, takes key step toward championshipThe Apex TimesKentuckyFayette Heating & Air holds “It’s Cool to be a Vet” giveaway in Lexington, continuing annual support for veteransThe Apex TimesKentucky29th annual Shaker Village Craft Fair set for Harrodsburg, drawing regional artisansThe Apex TimesKentuckyLEX18 highlights Palmers Fresh Grill as part of Lexington Restaurant Week at Lexington GreenThe Apex TimesKentuckyBuilding Industry Association of Central Kentucky marks 74th year with Grand Tour of Homes at Lexington WinnelsonThe Apex TimesKentuckyMan fatally shot in downtown Louisville alley; Louisville Metro Police investigating homicideThe Apex TimesKentuckyACLU report says ICE has relied on force as a routine tactic in first year of Trump return, prompting renewed scrutiny after fatal shootingsThe Apex TimesKentuckyLouisville family holds gathering to honor 14-year-old Jahlil Brown after Cloverleaf shootingThe Apex TimesKentuckyLMPD investigating shooting at Elliott Park that sent man to hospitalThe Apex TimesKentuckyMidway Business Association hosts free block party on East Main Street to kick off summerThe Apex TimesKentuckyFamily of Joshua Wethington, 28, remembers Lake Cumberland drowning victimThe Apex TimesKentuckySomerset toddler airlifted to Nashville after crockpot incident leaves him with third-degree burnsThe Apex TimesKentuckyLa Familia holds off The Ville in TBT opener, takes key step toward championshipThe Apex TimesKentuckyFayette Heating & Air holds “It’s Cool to be a Vet” giveaway in Lexington, continuing annual support for veteransThe Apex TimesKentucky29th annual Shaker Village Craft Fair set for Harrodsburg, drawing regional artisansThe Apex TimesKentuckyLEX18 highlights Palmers Fresh Grill as part of Lexington Restaurant Week at Lexington GreenThe Apex TimesKentuckyBuilding Industry Association of Central Kentucky marks 74th year with Grand Tour of Homes at Lexington WinnelsonThe Apex TimesKentuckyMan fatally shot in downtown Louisville alley; Louisville Metro Police investigating homicideThe Apex TimesKentuckyACLU report says ICE has relied on force as a routine tactic in first year of Trump return, prompting renewed scrutiny after fatal shootingsThe Apex TimesKentuckyLouisville family holds gathering to honor 14-year-old Jahlil Brown after Cloverleaf shootingThe Apex TimesKentuckyLMPD investigating shooting at Elliott Park that sent man to hospitalThe Apex TimesKentuckyMidway Business Association hosts free block party on East Main Street to kick off summerThe Apex TimesKentuckyFamily of Joshua Wethington, 28, remembers Lake Cumberland drowning victimThe Apex TimesKentuckySomerset toddler airlifted to Nashville after crockpot incident leaves him with third-degree burnsThe Apex TimesKentuckyLa Familia holds off The Ville in TBT opener, takes key step toward championshipThe Apex TimesKentuckyFayette Heating & Air holds “It’s Cool to be a Vet” giveaway in Lexington, continuing annual support for veteransThe Apex TimesKentucky29th annual Shaker Village Craft Fair set for Harrodsburg, drawing regional artisansThe Apex TimesKentuckyLEX18 highlights Palmers Fresh Grill as part of Lexington Restaurant Week at Lexington GreenThe Apex TimesKentuckyBuilding Industry Association of Central Kentucky marks 74th year with Grand Tour of Homes at Lexington WinnelsonThe Apex TimesKentuckyMan fatally shot in downtown Louisville alley; Louisville Metro Police investigating homicideThe Apex TimesKentuckyACLU report says ICE has relied on force as a routine tactic in first year of Trump return, prompting renewed scrutiny after fatal shootingsThe Apex TimesKentuckyLouisville family holds gathering to honor 14-year-old Jahlil Brown after Cloverleaf shootingThe Apex TimesKentuckyLMPD investigating shooting at Elliott Park that sent man to hospitalThe Apex TimesKentuckyMidway Business Association hosts free block party on East Main Street to kick off summerThe Apex TimesKentuckyFamily of Joshua Wethington, 28, remembers Lake Cumberland drowning victimThe Apex TimesKentuckySomerset toddler airlifted to Nashville after crockpot incident leaves him with third-degree burnsThe Apex TimesKentuckyLa Familia holds off The Ville in TBT opener, takes key step toward championshipThe Apex TimesKentuckyFayette Heating & Air holds “It’s Cool to be a Vet” giveaway in Lexington, continuing annual support for veteransThe Apex TimesKentucky29th annual Shaker Village Craft Fair set for Harrodsburg, drawing regional artisansThe Apex TimesKentuckyLEX18 highlights Palmers Fresh Grill as part of Lexington Restaurant Week at Lexington GreenThe Apex TimesKentuckyBuilding Industry Association of Central Kentucky marks 74th year with Grand Tour of Homes at Lexington WinnelsonThe Apex Times
Back to front
Kentucky jury awards $104 million to family in lawsuit over illegal online gun sale
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Kentucky/The Apex Times/Jul 16, 2:45 PM EDT

Kentucky jury awards $104 million to family in lawsuit over illegal online gun sale

The jury awarded $4.2 million in economic damages and $100 million in punitive damages to Laura Herp, alleging an online firearms sale involving Husky Armory LLC and its parent company, Up North Media LLC, resulted in the death of her son, Henry Willis.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

A Kentucky jury awarded Laura Herp $104 million in damages in a civil lawsuit alleging her son, Henry Willis, died as a result of an illegal online gun sale, according to an announcement by Everytown Law and Thomas Law Offices on July 16, 2026.

The lawyers said the jury awarded $4.2 million in economic damages and $100 million in punitive damages. The verdict was reached in the lawsuit filed by Herp against Husky Armory LLC and its parent company, Up North Media LLC, which the plaintiffs alleged were responsible for the online sale of a “ghost-gun” product.

Everytown Law and Thomas Law Offices said the case centered on the alleged sale of firearms components and/or devices connected to “ghost guns” through an online business model. The filing argued that the defendants’ conduct violated applicable legal requirements governing the transfer and sale of firearms and related products.

The announcement did not specify the court, county, or the date the case went to trial, nor did it describe the exact product or the specific transaction at issue. It also did not include details on how the jury instructions characterized the defendants’ alleged conduct, beyond the plaintiffs’ contention that the sale was illegal.

Husky Armory LLC and Up North Media LLC were named as defendants in the lawsuit. The plaintiffs argued that the online sales practices contributed to the circumstances leading to Willis’s death, and that punitive damages were warranted based on the alleged seriousness of the conduct.

The punitive damages component, which the lawyers said totaled $100 million, is designed to punish and deter wrongdoing rather than compensate for specific losses. In this case, the combined award reflects both the claimed economic harm and the jury’s determination of heightened culpability under the civil claims asserted.

The next steps after a jury verdict typically include post-trial motions and potential appeals, though the announcement did not detail any deadlines or whether the defendants have indicated an intent to challenge the ruling.

Why It Matters

  • The size of the award underscores the financial exposure that defendants may face in civil cases alleging illegal firearm sales and related public-safety harms.
  • The verdict may increase scrutiny of online firearm advertising and sales channels, including claims that “ghost-gun” products were marketed in ways that bypass legal requirements.
  • Families and attorneys may view large punitive damages awards as a report that juries can impose deterrent penalties beyond compensatory recovery.
  • The case will likely move to post-trial procedures, which can affect the timeline for any enforcement of the verdict or further court review.

Sources

Key Facts

  • A Kentucky jury awarded Laura Herp $104 million in damages in a civil lawsuit.
  • The award consisted of $4.2 million in economic damages and $100 million in punitive damages.
  • The lawsuit named Husky Armory LLC and its parent company, Up North Media LLC, as defendants.
  • The claims were brought by Herp in connection with the death of her son, Henry Willis.
  • Everytown Law and Thomas Law Offices announced the verdict on July 16, 2026.