On Wednesday, a significant legal battle for Gabby Petito's family concluded with a ruling that has closed one path but suggests another may yet unfold. Seventh District Court Judge Don Torgerson found in favor of the Moab Police Department, dismissing a lawsuit filed by Petito's family, as reported by Fox13.
The lawsuit stemmed from a domestic violence incident involving Petito and her boyfriend Brian Laundrie in Moab, Utah. According to ABC4, eyewitnesses had reported a fight between the couple. Petito's family contended the police failed to take necessary actions that could have prevented her subsequent murder by Laundrie. However, with the judge's ruling, the Moab Police were cleared of the claims brought against them.
Judge Torgerson, while sympathizing with the Petitos on the possibility that an inadequate investigation could be a contributing factor to Petito's murder, explained that under the state's Governmental Immunity Act and prevailing case law, officers and governmental entities were protected from such lawsuits. As stated by KUTV, the judge acknowledged the plaintiff's prima facie case but was bound to adhere to the legal precedents set.
In the courtroom, City of Moab attorney Mitchell Stephens argued the distance in both time and space between the domestic abuse incident and Petito's murder made it speculative to draw a direct causative line as claimed by the Petitos. "Gabby Petito died 38 days after the domestic abuse incident 400 miles away in another state," Stephens pointed out, as reported by ABC4. Stephens' defense rested on the proposal that this speculation necessitated the court to rule in favor of Moab under state law, which mistakenly seemed to suggest that the implication of Petito's death was a mere supposition.
The family, however, may pursue an appeal. Torgerson himself hinted at the possibility of a closer examination at the appellate level, recognizing the limitations at the district court level but opening the door to further scrutiny. The Petito family now stands before the next legal hurdle, should they decide to take this route in their continued quest for accountability.
