A federal judge dismisses part of a lawsuit brought against former President Trump by the partner of Brian Sicknick, the Capitol Police officer who died just one day after responding to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. did.
Sicknick's longtime partner, Sandra Garza, filed a lawsuit last year against Trump and rioters Julian Carter and George Tanios, claiming they were “directly and vicariously responsible” for the police officer's death. woke up.
Mr. Garza had also sought $30 million in damages from Mr. Trump and two rioters for alleged wrongful death in his lawsuit, but U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled Tuesday that Mr. He said he lacked “legal standing” to sue.
“Officer Sicknick's assertion that a 'domestic partnership' was established simply by identifying Garza as a 'domestic partner' in her will finds no basis in the plain text of the statute,” the order states. is written. “Therefore, Garza cannot personally recover damages.” We ask based on the law. Accordingly, the wrongful death law claim is dismissed. ”
Sicknick died of natural causes after suffering two strokes the day after defending the Capitol in 2021.
Mehta dismissed two charges of negligence filed by Garza against Trump.
However, he allowed a lawsuit filed against the former president under the D.C. Survivorship Act to move forward. According to court documents, the law allows a “legal representative” of a deceased person to file a claim on his or her behalf after death.
Mehta also threw out Trump's claim that he has immunity from lawsuits.
The judge pointed to a recent ruling by District Judge Tanya Chutkan, which concluded that Trump lacked presidential immunity from lawsuits related to the insurrection.
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