Kyle Rittenhouse Faces Lawsuit Over 2020 Shooting Incident
Kyle Rittenhouse is dealing with a legal challenge from the estate of Joseph Rosenbaum, a man Rittenhouse claims he shot in self-defense during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020. The estate of Rosenbaum is suing Rittenhouse, along with Kenosha officials, local sheriff’s departments, the City of Kenosha, the City of West Allis, and multiple counties. They are seeking both “compensatory and punitive damages” for what they deem a “wrongful death,” as reported by Texas Scorecard.
Rittenhouse expressed the toll these lawsuits have taken on him, stating, “These lawsuits are making it harder and harder for me to move on with my life. It is extremely difficult to go outside without fear of being harassed or assaulted because of the lies spread in these lawsuits. No one should have to continue to defend the fact that they acted in self-defense.”
Background and Trial
The incident in question occurred during a Black Lives Matter riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum. Rittenhouse testified in court that he believed Rosenbaum threatened his life and tried to take his gun. In a trial that followed, Rittenhouse faced charges for the deaths of Rosenbaum and another individual during the riot. Ultimately, he was found not guilty in 2021.
Before the encounter in Kenosha, Rosenbaum had been released from a local hospital after attempting suicide, according to The Washington Post.
Legal History of Rosenbaum
At the time of his death, Rosenbaum had pending charges in Wisconsin related to alleged domestic abuse and jumping bail. Additionally, court records from Pima County, Arizona, indicate that Rosenbaum had been convicted of child molestation in 2002, serving a prison sentence of over 14 years and committing multiple disciplinary infractions.
The Lawsuit and Emotional Distress
The lawsuit was filed in a federal district court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. It alleges that Rosenbaum’s death was wrongful and resulted in significant emotional distress and harm for his survivors. The suit claims that they have suffered the loss of companionship with Rosenbaum.
Gaige Grosskreutz, another individual shot by Rittenhouse during the 2020 Kenosha riots, has also filed a lawsuit against Rittenhouse and Wisconsin police earlier this year.
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