A federal choose dismissed two out of 5 counts in a lawsuit in opposition to former President Donald Trump and two different males over the demise of a Capitol Police officer throughout the Capitol assault on Jan. 6, 2021.
In a break up choice on Thursday, U.S. District Court docket Decide Amit Mehta dismissed the wrongful demise and negligence civil counts of the lawsuit filed final January by Sandra Garza, the longtime accomplice of Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick.
The choose determined that Garza, who was Sicknick’s fiancée, lacked the standing to file such claims since she wasn’t his partner and didn’t match the authorized definition of a home accomplice, NBC News reported.
Sicknick died shortly after the 2021 Capitol riot, the place he had collapsed whereas defending the Capitol constructing and was transported to the hospital. A medical expert confirmed that he died of natural causes after having a number of strokes.
According to the Department of Justice, video footage from the riot confirmed two rioters, Julian Elie Khater and George Pierre Tanios, assaulting cops together with Sicknick by spraying a substance of their faces.
The 2 males have been arrested and charged with assaulting U.S. Capitol officers, amongst different expenses, although neither of them have been charged with Sicknick’s demise, CBS News reported.
Khater, who admitted to spraying Sicknick, pleaded responsible and was sentenced to greater than six years in jail. Tanios admitted to purchasing the substance within the spray and pleaded responsible to lesser expenses, and was additionally sentenced to serve time.
In her lawsuit final 12 months, Garza alleged wrongful demise, conspiracy to violate civil rights and assault, amongst different claims in opposition to Trump, Khater and Tanios, and sought at the very least $10 million in damages from them.
Whereas the wrongful demise and civil negligence counts have been dismissed, the choose has allowed Garza’s different claims in opposition to Trump to proceed beneath D.C.’s Survival Act, which permits a person’s authorized consultant to pursue authorized motion on behalf of them after their demise. (Garza is the consultant of Sicknick’s property).
“We’re happy to see that our lawsuit in pursuit of justice for the late Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died within the aftermath of the January sixth rebellion, has been permitted to proceed. We are actually contemplating our subsequent step choices, to incorporate deposing former President Trump,” Mark Zaid, an legal professional for Garza, mentioned in a press release on Thursday, in accordance with CBS Information.
Trump is at present dealing with a prison case relating to his actions main as much as the Jan. 6 riot and his try to stay in energy after his 2020 election loss. The previous president has pushed again on the case, arguing that he had “presidential immunity” that protects him from being criminally prosecuted for his actions.
