Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen charged with fatally shooting two people and injuring a third during a 2020 Kenosha, Wisconsin, protest, is facing a civil lawsuit from the man he shot.
Joseph Rosenbaum was one of two people killed during a clash between protesters and armed counterprotesters in Kenosha on August 25. Anthony Huber, 26, was also killed and Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, was wounded.
Rosenbaum’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Kenosha County Circuit Court against Rittenhouse and his mother Wendy, accusing them of negligence and carelessness.
Rittenhouse’s attorney, John Pierce, said the lawsuit came as a surprise.
“It was a little bit of a shock,” Pierce told The Associated Press. “We are going to fully defend this case and we look forward to the opportunity to get Kyle’s side of the story out in court.”
The lawsuit claims Wendy Rittenhouse was negligent in allowing her son to be at the protest and that she provided him with an AR-15-style rifle and ammunition, despite knowing that he was underage and inexperienced with firearms. It also accuses Kyle Rittenhouse of failing to act with reasonable care and failing to use the weapon safely.
The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for the wrongful death of Rosenbaum and for his children’s loss of support, companionship, and guidance from their father.
Rosenbaum’s family attorney, William Blumenfeld, said the lawsuit is about seeking justice for Rosenbaum and his children.
“This is about holding Kyle Rittenhouse and his mother accountable for the death of Joseph Rosenbaum,” he said.
Rittenhouse is facing criminal charges of homicide in Wisconsin. His attorney has said the teenager acted in self-defense. His trial is set to begin in March.
