LAUNDRIE LIST
BRIAN Laundries’ parents have taken a jab at the Petito family in a new request amid the already tense legal battle.
Chris and Roberta Laundrie filed a motion on Friday to request evidence from Gabby Petito's parents Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt.
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The request seeks communication that Gabby’s parents had with state and federal agencies, and any contact they had with Gabby, Brian, or the Laundrie family.
Brian’s family is also seeking all phone records from Gabby and her parents between July 2, 2021, to September 30, 2021.
Also, any documents or communication in regard to compensation or contracts related to publishing rights, movie rights, or television rights is also requested.
A total of 21 requests have been filed by the Laundrie family, giving Petito and Schmidt 30 days to produce the evidence, according to the document.
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A hearing on the request hasn’t been scheduled at this time.
Petito and Schmidt have filed a civil lawsuit against the Laundries, which is set to go to a jury trial in August.
Judge Hunter W Carroll denied the Laundries’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit in pre-trial hearings last year.
Their request to limit questions asked during depositions was also denied.
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Another pre-trial hearing is scheduled for January to determine if the Laundries’ longtime family attorney, Steven Bertolino will be added as a co-defendant to the lawsuit.
KILLER CONFIDANT
The news comes as the Laundrie family reportedly turned on Bertolino, saying he knows too much about Gabby’s case to be involved in the Petito family’s lawsuit.
The lawsuit filed in March claims that Chris and Roberta Laundrie were aware their 23-year-old son had murdered his partner Gabby, 22, and chose not to act.
Months after the complaint was filed, the Petito family filed a motion in December to include the Laundries' family lawyer Bertolino as a co-defendant in the suit.
The Petito family decided to file the Second Amended Complaint to add Bertolino, believing he was also aware of Gabby's murder before her body was found.
Pat Reilly, a lawyer for the Petito family, explained in December: “It is believed that at the time the September 14, 2021 statement was issued, the Laundries and Steven Bertolino knew that Gabby Petito was deceased.
"And that under those circumstances, the statement was insensitive, cold-hearted, and outrageous."
On September 14, 2021, a lawyer representing the Laundries released the following statement: “On behalf of the Laundrie family it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is re-united with her family."
“On the advice of counsel the Laundrie family is remaining in the background at this juncture and will have no further comment."
Before Gabby's remains were discovered on September 19, 2021, the Petitos' lawyer read a letter at a news briefing begging the Laundrie family for help in the case.
“Please, if you or your family have any decency left, please, tell us where Gabby is located,” Richard Stafford said.
“Tell us if we are even looking in the right place. All we want is for Gabby to come home. Please help us make that happen.”
Brian was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound on October 20, 2021, along with a notebook where he allegedly confessed to killing Gabby.
The Laundries claim, in part, that making Bertolino a co-defendant in the lawsuit will turn the family and their lawyer against one another.
“Pitting the Laundries and Mr. Bertolino as co-defendants undoubtedly creates a conflict because both have interest in defending themselves to the potential detriment of the other,” the response said.
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“The Laundries should be able to defend this case without worrying whether their attorney will take an antagonistic position against them.”
“The Plaintiffs must choose to either proceed against the Laundries or Mr. Bertolino because they cannot both be liable.”
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