Finicum family files wrongful death lawsuit against FBI, BLM, Oregon State Police and others

The family of Oregon occupation spokesman Robert "LaVoy" Finicum filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against the United States, the FBI, Oregon State Police, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Oregon's governor and others on the second anniversary of his death.
The complaint claims Finicum was shot "assassination style'' by "one or more militarized officers of the Oregon State Police and/or FBI'' as he was trying to drive "across the county border'' to seek the protection of Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer on Jan. 26, 2016.
The suit likened it to what happened to a North Korean soldier who was shot while running across the border last November to South Korea, though he survived.
"Finicum was deliberately executed by a pre-planned government ambush, after he had exited his vehicle with his hands up,'' the complaint says.
Document: Wrongful death lawsuit
Portland attorney Lisa Ludwig with Utah lawyer J. Morgan Philpot filed the complaint at 12:03 a.m. Friday in U.S. District Court in Pendleton on behalf of the Finicum family. It seeks more than $5 million in damages for Finicum's wife, Jeanette Finicum, and each of their 12 children and his estate.
The complaint lists as defendants Greg Bretzing, former FBI special agent in charge in Portland, indicted FBI agent W. Joseph Astarita, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada, Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward, Harney County commissioner Steven Grasty, the Center for Biological Diversity and multiple unnamed officers.

"These defendants were mentally predisposed and committed to using excessive lethal force, to solve a political dispute,'' the complaint says. "The result has been both haunting and tragic.''
It contends the defendants engaged in "widespread and systemic corruption'' and the "premeditated targeting'' of Finicum and others because of his association with Nevada cattleman Cliven Bundy and Bundy family members, his membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints and his political views and activism critical of federal land management and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
The suit contends police and the FBI set up a "Deadman's roadblock'' on rural U.S. 395 where Finicum was shot and killed. It accuses the FBI, Oregon State Police and Bureau of Land Management of negligence and failing to properly train and supervise its officers.
Finicum, a rancher from Canes Bed, Arizona, who served as spokesman for the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in early 2016, raced away from a police stop on the highway as he and other refuge occupiers were on their way to a community meeting in John Day. Finicum crashed into the side of a snowbank to avoid a police roadblock.

The suit contends Astarita fired at Finicum after he crashed and then stepped out of his white Dodge pickup "with his hands in the air in a surrender position.''
The shooting came as state police and FBI agents stopped and arrested key figures of the occupation.
The lawsuit follows an indictment against Astarita, who Oregon investigators allege lied about firing twice at Finicum's truck. Astarita's bullets didn't hit Finicum, 54, investigators said. They concluded that one of Astarita's shots hit the roof of Finicum's truck and that the second shot missed.
Seconds later, state troopers shot Finicum three times after he walked away from his pickup and reached for his inner jacket pocket, where police later said he had a loaded 9mm handgun, according to the investigation.
Finicum was shot in the left upper back, left shoulder and right lower back. A bullet pierced his heart, an autopsy found.
An investigation by local law enforcement authorities found the state police shots that killed Finicum were justified.
"Mr. Finicum repeatedly and knowingly made choices that put him in this situation," Harney County District Attorney Tim Colahan said after the investigation in March 2016. "It was not the outcome that any of us wanted but one he, alone, is responsible for."

Astarita has pleaded not guilty to three counts of making a false statement and two counts of obstruction of justice. He is accused of hiding from Oregon investigators that he fired his rifle and lying to the FBI about his shots.
Astarita, who was a member of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team, is accused of telling two different FBI supervisors on the night of Jan. 26, 2016, that he hadn't fired any gunshots. Later that night, state police detectives interviewed the five FBI agents on the team and none said they had fired their weapons.
Supporters of Finicum are planning to hold a vigil and memorial in downtown Portland at 5 p.m. Friday at what they've dubbed the "Patriot Corner'' on Southwest Third Avenue across from the Justice Center and downtown federal courthouse.
"There are no words to describe all that we've been through, or the depth of our loss, but I know that LaVoy is with our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ,'' Jeanette Finicum wrote on her Facebook page. " I know that he is happy and that he continues to live. I know that I will see him again and our life together will continue there. How grateful I am for this knowledge.''

http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2018/01/finicum_family_fi...

Views: 122

Reply to This

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Burbia posted a discussion

Trump Receives Marching Orders

Netanyahu has made 3 visits to the White house since Trump's second term as President of the United…See More
2 hours ago
Burbia commented on Burbia's video
Thumbnail

Ben Shapiro Just LOST HIS MIND — There's No Coming Back From This

"Omg. The Ben Shapiro voice that Luke is imitating here couldn't be any more comedic to…"
11 hours ago
Burbia posted a video

Ben Shapiro Just LOST HIS MIND — There's No Coming Back From This

Get the magnesium your body needs - https://wearechange.shop/product/magnesium-glycinate/Ben Shapiro Just LOST HIS MIND — There's No Coming Back From ThisHig...
12 hours ago
cheeki kea posted photos
20 hours ago
Doc Vega posted blog posts
yesterday
Burbia posted a video

A few reasons I don’t like jews. It’s not complicated.

These are the reasons I became antisemitic. It’s not complicated. Sure, I could go on for days, weeks, months outlining everything, but I don’t need to. This...
Monday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Unusual Discoveries and Headlines
"Less Prone, Thanks Buddy! I'd like to volunteer as a historical reconstructionist! "
Sunday
Less Prone left a comment for t.me/TheIntelligenceLibrary
"Welcome to a revolutionary concept in public communication, the truth."
Sunday
pohonemas33 team is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Sunday
Less Prone favorited cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
Sunday
tjdavis's 2 blog posts were featured
Sunday
Doc Vega's 7 blog posts were featured
Sunday
Less Prone commented on Doc Vega's blog post Unusual Discoveries and Headlines
"Some incredible pieces of history!"
Sunday
Less Prone favorited Doc Vega's blog post Unusual Discoveries and Headlines
Sunday
tjdavis posted a blog post
Sunday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

First Week of July 1947 an Inflexion Point for Humanity!

The year is 1947 and sometime around July 4th the anniversary of the birth our nation, when a…See More
Saturday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Government Issued Wearables? What’s Wrong With this Picture?
"cheeki kea Ha! Good one!"
Friday
tjdavis posted a video

This is Paris Now… You Won’t See This in the Tourist Brochures

In this video, I take you through Marché Barbès and its surrounding neighbourhoods — an area that reflects the modern, complex face of Paris most tourists ne...
Friday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Trump's Big Beautiful Bill Passes Amidst Democrat Lies About a Tax cut for the Rich Being Averted

AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.It’s over, folks. President Trump and congressional Republicans aimed to…See More
Thursday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Jul 2

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted