Denton Loudermill Jr., of Olathe, Kansas, filed a federal lawsuit against U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, alleging that the congressman falsely accused him on social media of being one of the shooters at a Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl rally. The shooting outside Union Station in Kansas City resulted in the death of a DJ and injuries to over 20 individuals, many of whom were children. Loudermill, who was briefly handcuffed but not charged, is seeking more than $75,000 in damages for defamation.
According to the lawsuit, Loudermill froze in the chaos of the shooting and was eventually handcuffed by police after trying to leave the area. Despite not being detained, cited, or arrested in connection to the shooting, a picture of Loudermill was posted on Burchett’s social media account with the false claim that he was an illegal alien involved in the shooting. The lawsuit claims that the inaccurate information was reposted and widely circulated to over 1 million people worldwide, leading to death threats and emotional distress for Loudermill.
The lawsuit emphasizes that Loudermill, who was born and raised in the U.S., had no involvement in the shooting and did not know any of the individuals involved in the altercation that led to the violence. Despite this, Burchett’s social media posts continued to label Loudermill as one of the shooters, causing further harm to his reputation and well-being. Loudermill is described in the lawsuit as a car wash employee and a contributing member of his African-American family with deep roots in his Kansas community.
The congressman’s office declined to comment on the pending litigation, but the lawsuit alleges that Burchett’s remarks were “highly offensive, derogatory in the extreme, and defamatory.” Loudermill’s legal action seeks to hold Burchett accountable for spreading false information that led to significant harm and distress for an innocent individual caught up in the aftermath of a tragic event. The lawsuit also highlights the impact of social media posts on individuals’ lives and the importance of verifying information before sharing it online.
The lawsuit details the emotional toll that Loudermill experienced as a result of the false accusations, including death threats and disruptions to his daily life. Loudermill’s attorney argues that Burchett’s actions were irresponsible and negligent, leading to severe repercussions for an innocent individual who was already traumatized by the events surrounding the shooting. The legal action aims to seek justice for Loudermill and hold Burchett accountable for his actions in spreading misinformation that harmed an innocent individual’s reputation and well-being.
In conclusion, Denton Loudermill Jr.’s lawsuit against U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett highlights the damaging consequences of spreading false information on social media. The lawsuit seeks to hold Burchett accountable for falsely accusing Loudermill of involvement in a deadly shooting, resulting in death threats and emotional distress for an innocent individual. This case underscores the importance of verifying information before sharing it online and the potential harm that inaccurate posts can cause to individuals’ lives and reputations. Loudermill’s legal action aims to seek justice and reparation for the harm caused by Burchett’s irresponsible and defamatory social media posts.
