A federal judge in Washington has dismissed a claim of wrongful death brought against Donald Trump by the partner of police officer Brian Sicknick, who died after the January 6 attack on the US Capitol three years ago.
Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Sicknick’s long-term partner, Sandra Garza, did not have the legal standing to bring the claim against the former president because she was not his wife.
However, the judge has allowed a separate claim in Garza’s lawsuit against Trump and two men who assaulted Sicknick outside the Capitol in 2021 to go ahead. Garza is seeking $10 million in damages from each of the three men.
Sicknick, 42, died the day after the riot, when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in a last-ditch effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. He had been sprayed with a chemical irritant while attempting to protect the building.
In his ruling, Judge Mehta acknowledged the tragic loss of Officer Sicknick but stressed that under the District of Columbia law, only a spouse or personal representative has the standing to bring a wrongful death claim. Garza’s claim was therefore dismissed on these grounds.
The judge’s decision does not diminish the severity of the attack on the Capitol or the tragic loss of Officer Sicknick. It solely focuses on the legal requirements for pursuing a wrongful death claim.
Nonetheless, Garza’s lawsuit will move forward on the claim that Trump, along with two individuals, directly contributed to Sicknick’s injuries by assaulting him outside the Capitol. This separate claim alleges that the former president’s words and actions, including his repeated false claims of election fraud, incited the mob that attacked the Capitol and ultimately led to Sicknick’s death.
Sicknick’s death, alongside the injuries suffered by numerous other law enforcement officers and the damage inflicted on the Capitol itself, became a focal point in the aftermath of the attack. His passing highlighted the sacrifices made by law enforcement personnel in their efforts to protect the democratic process.
The outcome of Garza’s lawsuit could have broader implications beyond her specific claims. It may set important precedents regarding the legal responsibilities of public figures in relation to the consequences of their words and actions.
While the dismissal of the damages claim against Trump concerning Officer Sicknick’s death brings a measure of closure to this specific aspect of the case, the overall legal battle is far from over. The continued pursuit of justice by Garza and her legal team will shed further light on the events surrounding Sicknick’s tragic passing and the accountability of those responsible for the attack on the Capitol.
