section_path: Lawsuits
section_name: Lawsuits
paragraph_text: Lawsuits
  
  On November 17, 2022, a wrongful death claim brought by Petito's estate against Laundrie's estate resulted in an award of $3 million. The recovery of this amount was doubtful due to Laundrie's minimal assets.
  
  Petito's parents sued Laundrie's parents and their attorney Steve Bertolino, claiming pain and emotional distress because Laundrie's parents and their attorney withheld information regarding Petito's death. This lawsuit was settled after mediation on February 21, 2024; terms were not disclosed.
  
  In November 2022, Petito's parents filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the Moab police department. They amended the complaint in 2023 to include allegations that officer Eric Pratt admitted that he was aware Laundrie was a threat but decided to ignore the law, and that the department did not abide by its own Lethality Assessment Protocol. On November 20, 2024, the judge dismissed the lawsuit, citing the Governmental Immunity Act of Utah which provides for sovereign immunity, though he acknowledged the case met the early standard to suggest the officers' conduct could have contributed to her death. The parents plan to appeal the dismissal, claiming that the Governmental Immunity Act of Utah is unconstitutional.
  
  On November 17, 2022, a wrongful death claim brought by Petito's estate against Laundrie's estate resulted in an award of $3 million. The recovery of this amount was doubtful due to Laundrie's minimal assets.
  
  Petito's parents sued Laundrie's parents and their attorney Steve Bertolino, claiming pain and emotional distress because Laundrie's parents and their attorney withheld information regarding Petito's death. This lawsuit was settled after mediation on February 21, 2024; terms were not disclosed.
  
  In November 2022, Petito's parents filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the Moab police department. They amended the complaint in 2023 to include allegations that officer Eric Pratt admitted that he was aware Laundrie was a threat but decided to ignore the law, and that the department did not abide by its own Lethality Assessment Protocol. On November 20, 2024, the judge dismissed the lawsuit, citing the Governmental Immunity Act of Utah which provides for sovereign immunity, though he acknowledged the case met the early standard to suggest the officers' conduct could have contributed to her death. The parents plan to appeal the dismissal, claiming that the Governmental Immunity Act of Utah is unconstitutional.