Gabby Petito lawsuit twist after Brian Laundrie family lawyer pushes back on claim he was involved in cover-up of death
THE lawyer representing Brian Laundrie's parents has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought against him by Gabby Petito's family.
Steven Bertolino was added to the Petito family civil lawsuit against the Laundries, which alleges Brian's parents Chris and Roberta knew he had killed the 22-year-old vlogger.
Gabby's parents Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt have accused Bertolino and the Laundries of inflicting emotional distress on the Petito family after Gabby went missing last year.
WFLA reporter JB Biunno shared Bertolino's petition on Wednesday, adding that a hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Back in December, a judge ruled that Bertolino could be added to the suit against the Laundries.
Gabby's family has already been awarded $3million from Brian Laundrie's estate for a wrongful death lawsuit.
Read More News
However, Laundrie's parents are still facing legal trouble as the mourning family claims the pair refused to release crucial information that would have implicated their son.
The case is scheduled to go on trial in August.
The lawsuit claims Bertolino and the Laundries knew that Gabby was dead when the lawyer issued a statement in September 2021, five days before Petito's body was found in Grand Teton National Park.
Bertolino issued a statement on behalf of Laundrie's parents that expressed hope she would be found alive and reunited with her parents.
Most read in The US Sun
Pat Reilly, the attorney for Petito and Schmidt, told local NBC affiliate WFLA: “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."
After Bertolino was added to the suit, Gabby's parents were "happy," Reilly said.
“They’ve been through a lot. They’ve had to listen to a lot of statements made by Mr. Bertolino on behalf of the family, statements that were sometimes hurtful to them.
“And so, they believe by bringing Mr. Bertolino in, they ultimately will get justice for what has occurred.”
Schmidt told WFLA: “Gabby was there with us. I could feel her.”
Bertolino himself responded to the approval of the motion, telling WFLA: "The decision was not unexpected. This incident, like all others, will work out in the end. One way or the other."
“Once I am [served] I will engage counsel and proceed accordingly.”
