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Madison, Wisconsin (AP) — A federal judge in Wisconsin said Wednesday that a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the father of a man Kyle Rittenhouse shot dead during a 2020 protest could proceed against Rittenhouse, police officers and others. made a judgment.
The father of Anthony Hoover, one of two men shot dead by Rittenhouse, filed a lawsuit in 2021, pleading guilty to violating his son’s constitutional rights and allowing the dangerous circumstances that led to his death. accused the police of Anthony Hoover’s father, John Hoover, also alleged that Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, conspired with law enforcement to harm protesters. It seeks unspecified damages from Rittenhouse.
U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman on Wednesday dismissed a motion filed by the Rittenhouse and government defendants to dismiss the civil rights lawsuit.
In allowing the case against Rittenhouse and others to proceed, the judge said Anthony Hoover’s death was “most likely caused by the actions of the government defendants.”
Rittenhouse Attorney Shane Martin said in a telephone interview that it was important to note that the ruling does not address the merits of the case, but only allows it to proceed to the next stage.
“While we respect the judge’s decision, we do not believe there is any evidence of collusion. As the Kenosha jury discovered, Kyle’s actions that night were not illegal and were in self-defense. I’m pretty sure it was done in 2008,” said Martin.
John Huber’s attorneys and private investigators spent more than 100 hours locating Rittenhouse, tracking addresses in seven states before finding his mother and sister’s home in Florida. The complaint went to Rittenhouse’s sister, who said he was not home. Adelman said that was enough to qualify as a service.
Rittenhouse had argued that the lawsuit against him should be dismissed because he had not properly received a complaint. Adelman brushed it off, stating that Rittenhouse is “almost certainly avoiding service.”
“Rittenhouse has deliberately concealed his whereabouts,” Adelman writes. “Although he denies living in Florida, he has not identified where he believes to be his residence.”
Attorneys for the law enforcement agencies and government officials accused did not immediately return email messages seeking comment.
The ruling brings Anthony Hoover’s family “one step closer to justice for his son’s needless death,” said Anand Swaminathan, one of the attorneys for John Hoover and Karen Bloom’s parents.
“The Kenosha officials who created the powder keg situation by their actions tried to argue that they cannot be held accountable for their unconstitutional actions. said in a statement.
Rittenhouse is accused of murdering Anthony Hoover and Joseph Rosenbaum and injuring a third party with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle during a rowdy night of protests against the shooting of black men in the summer of 2020. He was charged with attempted attempted and reckless endangerment. , Jacob Blake by a white Kenosha police officer.
Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges in November 2021 after testifying that he acted in self-defense.Rittenhouse’s actions sparked debate over guns, vigilantes and racial injustice in the US
Rittenhouse traveled to Kenosha from his home near Antioch, Illinois. After the company was ransacked and burned on the night following Blake’s shooting. He joined other armed civilians on the street with weapons that authorities say were illegally purchased because he was a minor.
Rittenhouse first killed Rosenbaum, 36, in the car dealership parking lot, tripping and falling as Rittenhouse fled the scene. Anthony Hoover, 26, hit Rittenhouse with a skateboard and tried to disarm him.
This case is one of several ongoing civil lawsuits filed following the shooting. Grosskreutz filed a similar lawsuit against Rittenhouse last year.
Rittenhouse maintains a high profile, especially on social media, and is an outspoken advocate for gun rights. He has nearly a million followers on his Twitter and has spoken at conservative rallies.
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