Utah Supreme Court Reschedules Wrongful Death Hearings for December 9
The Utah Supreme Court has rescheduled oral arguments for two wrongful death lawsuits targeting municipal police departments, setting both cases for December 9, 2026, in Salt Lake City. Both legal actions directly challenge the state’s Governmental Immunity Act, which protects government entities and law enforcement agencies from liability when a death stems from the actions of a third party.
Lower courts previously dismissed both lawsuits by citing the immunity statute. The state supreme court postponed the original March hearings following the court’s expansion to seven justices, according to the announcement from Parker & McConkie, the personal injury and wrongful death law firm handling both dockets.
Petito Family Seeks Fifty Million Dollars in Moab Police Suit
Oral arguments for Petito v. Moab City Police Dept. (Supreme Court Case No. 20241368-SC) are scheduled for December 9 at 10 a.m. at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse. The Petito family is seeking $50 million in damages from the Moab City Police Department. The lawsuit alleges that officers failed to enforce Utah domestic violence laws and displayed improper training when they questioned Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie over an apparent domestic violence incident on August 12, 2021.
Gabby Petito was found dead approximately a month after the police encounter. Brian Laundrie subsequently admitted in a journal that he killed her before taking his own life.
Mayne Family Challenges Salt Lake City Police Accountability
Arguments for Mayne v. SLC Police Dept. (Supreme Court Case No. 20250388-SC) will follow the Petito hearing on the same day at 11 a.m. in the Supreme Court Courtroom on the fifth floor of the Matheson Courthouse. The family of Amanda Mayne, the cousin of Utah Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson, is seeking to hold the Salt Lake City Police Department accountable for allegedly failing to take necessary actions leading up to her killing at the hands of her husband in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions About the December Court Dates
Where will the Supreme Court hear the arguments?
Both hearings will take place in person on December 9, 2026, at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse located at 450 South State Street on the 5th Floor in Salt Lake City.
What legal statute are both lawsuits challenging?
Both cases challenge the Utah Governmental Immunity Act, which shields government and law enforcement agencies from wrongful death lawsuits when a death occurred as a result of the actions of a third party.
Which law firm is representing the plaintiffs?
Parker & McConkie, a personal injury and civil rights law firm operating in Idaho, Utah, and other western states, is handling both wrongful death matters.