SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — A choose has denied a motion to dismiss a civil lawsuit stemming from the loss of life of Gabby Petito by the hands of her fiance, Brian Laundrie.
Chris and Roberta Laundrie tried a number of occasions, most lately final week, to have the lawsuit filed by Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt tossed.
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Gabby’s dad and mom declare intentional infliction of emotional misery by the Laundries. They allege the Laundries knew their son strangled Gabby to loss of life and left the physique in Wyoming after which did not give the Petitos information that might have given them closure sooner.
In the June 22 listening to, Judge Hunter Carroll repeatedly requested in regards to the authorized obligation that the Laundries had to volunteer any information that they had to Schmidt and Petito.
The Laundries’ lawyer said that that they had no authorized obligation to converse up to Schmidt and Petito, since nobody was compelling them to converse (i.e. with particular questions).
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
However, the choose identified that the Laundries had spoken publicly, by the auspices of lawyer Steven Bertolino.
During the seek for Petito’s whereabouts in Sept. 2021, Bertolino issued the next assertion.
“This is understandably an extremely difficult time for both the Petito family and the Laundrie family. It is our understanding that a search has been organized for Miss Petito in or near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. On behalf of the Laundrie family, it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is reunited with her family. On the advice of counsel, the Laundrie family is remaining in the background at this juncture and will have no further comment.”
“If the facts of this case truly were about silence,” the choose’s opinion continued, “the Court would have resolved this case in the Laundries’ favor.”
“Because the Laundries’ statement by their attorney in the context of the unique facts of this case is objectively outrageous, the Court concludes that Plaintiffs have stated causes of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress against the Laundries. The Court denies the Laundries’ motion to dismiss,” the choose wrote.
Pending any additional filings, a jury trial is about to start in August 2023.