Gabby Petite's family files $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Utah police

The family of Gabby Petitofiled a proceeding against police in Moab, Utah, accusing him of his negligence in causing his death at the age of 22 last year. They are seeking $ 50 million in damages.

A proceeding filed by lawyers representing Joseph and Tara Petite, Nicole and Jim Schmidt nominated the Moab Police Station. Three of its officers: "Palmer," "Platt," and Daniel Robins. Ten other unnamed defendants accused Petite of being a "fault of negligence" in an investigation into alleged assault between Petite and her fiancé Brian Laundrie weeks before the murder. 

They also accused all defendants of "wrongful death" and stated that Petite's "death was caused by their tort or negligence."

Petito's body was on September 19th. It was discovered. 2021, just a week after her family reported her missing, near a remote campsite in the Grand Teton National Forest. She was on a cross-country trip with Laundry. Laundry was found in a protected area of ​​Floridaa few weeks laterafter going to Lambauthorities said he Placed a note near his body and confessed thathad killed his fiancée

Previously her death,Petite spoke with Moab Police Stationand several officers after her and Laundry had a verbal and physical battle in August 2021. did. A lawyer hired by Petite's parents claims that the officer "failed." He has a duty to protect Gabby. "

According to the proceedings, the 911 caller reported seeing Laundry hit Petite and hit her while chasing Moab's sidewalk. Another witness said, "Something seemed wrong," when they saw the two "talking aggressively."

A police officer identified as Daniel Robins in the proceedings found a couple's van speeding down the freeway and crossing the central yellow line with a curb. I found that I bumped into. The proceedings said. Van then stopped outside Arches National Park, where Robins separated the two and spoke.

Robins was later joined by his boss and two park rangers, who were identified in the proceedings as Pratt officers.

Bodycam photos from officer interviews with the two were previously publicly available, but the proceedings show that the photos do not give a complete picture of what actually happened. An unpublished photo of Petite that day is said to show the blood on her cheeks and her left eye, and the fact that Laundry grabbed her nose and mouth. The proceedings also included publicly available photographs, one of which showed traces on her skin. When asked about it, Petite told her officers that Laundry grabbed her.

According to the proceedings, Petite showed "classical characteristics of the abused partner" during the interrogation. He tried to take responsibility for the case and asked him to stay in the laundry.

Then Laundry told her police that Petite tried to slap him, and he pushed her. At one point he said he didn't have his phone and tried to bring Petite's phone, but later he showed his phone to the officers. Laundry also claimed that he and Petite wanted to take a walk separately while in Moab. This contradicts the witness's statement that he tried to drive him away with a van.

The proceedings accuse officers of not asking Laundry about his contradictions. Instead, they realized that Petite was the "major invader" and Laundry was the victim. At this point, Pratt told them that Petitio had to be arrested, but neither wanted.

Pratt called his boss, Palmer's assistant, who "read the assault law carefully" and told him to decide what to do. In the proceedings, Pratt read only part of it, claiming he had misunderstood the law. He believed that assault was a crime only if it was "intended to cause personal injury." 

Pratt spoke to Robins. It was his junior to decide. Robins said he didn't believe in Petite and decided to give it to a city lawyer without prosecution. Meanwhile, Pratt warned Robins that if the couple disagreed with his decision, they "may hear about it in a very negative way."

The Park Ranger also opposed this decision, saying, "She should seek the decision I made rather than the decision I made." They think you have completely neglected your decision. " Pratt went on to support Robins' decision.

Then, while Robins was submitting the quote, Pratt asked if he would answer another phone that had just arrived. Robins stayed, but he said he didn't know what to do. 

In consultation with Pratt, Robins separated Laundry and Petite that night. Mr. Pratt said that if the couple later found a way to return to each other, it was not their responsibility, the proceedings allege. Shortly thereafter,

Laundry strangled him and beat Petite to death in the Grand Teton National Forest in Wyoming. 

Petite's family conducted an independent investigation into the officer's response, saying, "The officer made some mistakes and Gabby's murder was prevented if the officer handled the situation properly. I couldn't deny that it could have been missed. "

Petito family lawyers also included an article in a local newspaper alleging the Moab police station issue. One was accused of several police officers drinking alcohol with minors at work. No article mentions any of the officers nominated in the proceedings.

"Complete evidence has not yet been published, but when it is published, Gabby clearly shows that he is still alive today if the officers are properly trained and obey the law. "James McConkey, one of the family lawyers, said in a statement. "If you don't follow the law, as in this case, it can have fatal consequences."

The family is seeking $ 50 million in damages.

Petite's family also filed a proceedingagainst Laundry's parents. They claim they knew what had happened to her daughter. Where her body was while she was still missing. They are seeking $ 30,000 in damages.

Christopher and Roberta Laundrie responded to the proceedings in March, calling for "groundless" and "flirty" claims, andsought to dismiss the proceedings

In:
• Gabby Petito's disappearance
• Utah
• Proceedings
• Brian Laundrie

Sophia Don

Sophie Reardon is a news editor on CBS News. sophie. reardon @ viacomcbs. com