Two lawsuits totaling $20 million have been filed against authorities in Kenosha claiming their "negligence" resulted in suspect Kyle Rittenhouse allegedly shooting his victims.
The family of 26-year-old Anthony Huber, one of two people allegedly killed by Rittenhouse, and injured victim Gaige Grosskreutz have both filed separate $10 million in damages in connection to the shootings which occurred at Black Lives Matter protests on August 25, 2020.
Rittenhouse, then aged 17, is accused of traveling from his hometown in Antioch, Illinois, to the Wisconsin city to join up with militia groups as people protested the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse is accused of shooting dead Huber and 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum as well as injuring Grosskreutz during what he claims were acts of self-defense.
The suits from Grosskreutz and Huber's family, obtained by WTMJ, each issued notice of claim against the City of Kenosha, Kenosha County, the sheriff's department, Sheriff David Beth, Police Chief Daniel Miskinis as well as a "as-yet unknown" number of current or former City and law enforcement employees.
The suit said that on the night of the shooting, Kenosha police and the sheriff's department were "aware of, condoned, cooperated with and enabled the actions" of the armed vigilante groups who took it upon themselves to patrol the city in August, with law enforcement even filmed thanking the militia groups for their presence and handing out water.
The suit accuses the City of Kenosha and law enforcement of negligence of "intentional infliction of emotional distress" for their response on the night of the shooting which resulted in Grosskreutz being shot, among other claims.
Grosskreutz is requesting $10 million as compensation over loss of income and future earnings as well as the permanent physical damage, pain and suffering over the shooting.
In the suit filed on behalf of Huber, it is also noted that police failed to apprehend Rittenhouse as he walked down the streets with his hands in the air as people yelled out that he had just shot Huber.
His parents, John Huber Jr. and Karen Bloom, are also suing for $10 million compensation for damages including the loss of companionship of their son.
"We're basically looking to sue different actors within the city of Kenosha as well as the city of Kenosha itself who we believe were negligent in their allowing of Mr. Rittenhouse to indiscriminately run around during the week and protest with a loaded weapon," attorney for Grosskreutz, Kimberly Motley, told WTMJ.
Rittenhouse is due to stand trial accused of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety.
"The primary objective is that we believe that Mr. Rittenhouse should be convicted of all the charges that he's facing," Motley added.
The City of Kenosha and law enforcement officials have been contacted for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, domestic policy ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
