The U.S. Department of Justice has moved to dismiss a class-action lawsuit filed by participants of the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot [1].
The motion seeks to end a legal challenge brought by individuals who were involved in the events at the Capitol. The outcome will determine if these participants can seek damages from the government for their treatment or actions during the riot.
According to the Department of Justice, the plaintiffs failed to meet the mandatory filing deadline established by the Federal Tort Claims Act [2]. This act governs how individuals can sue the federal government for certain torts, requiring that legal actions be initiated within a specific timeframe following the incident [2].
The DOJ said that the deadline for filing this specific lawsuit was Jan. 6, 2023 [1]. Because the participants did not file their claim by that date, the government argues the case should be dismissed on procedural grounds [2].
The lawsuit stems from the events of Jan. 6, 2021 [1], when a crowd of supporters of then-President Donald Trump breached the U.S. Capitol. The class-action suit represents a group of those participants seeking legal recourse against the state.
Legal representatives for the Department of Justice have not provided further details on whether they will pursue other motions should the deadline argument be contested in court. The court must now decide if the statute of limitations under the Federal Tort Claims Act applies strictly to this group of plaintiffs.
“The Justice Department has moved to dismiss a class-action lawsuit filed by participants of the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.”
This legal maneuver by the DOJ relies on the Federal Tort Claims Act's strict statute of limitations to prevent the case from proceeding to trial. If the court upholds the Jan. 6, 2023 deadline, it effectively closes the door on these participants seeking government compensation or damages, regardless of the merits of their specific claims regarding the events of 2021.
