A federal judge has ruled that most of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the widow of former Little Rock airport director Bryan Malinowski can move forward.
Maria Malinowski filed the lawsuit in May 2025 against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and at least 10 agents following the March 19, 2024, raid that resulted in her husband’s death.
According to an affidavit from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Malinowski purchased more than 150 firearms over a three-year period. Authorities said at least six of those firearms were later recovered at crime scenes across the country, while three others were purchased by undercover agents.
During the raid at Malinowski’s west Little Rock home, authorities said he fired at federal agents, who returned fire. Malinowski was struck during the exchange and later died.
The lawsuit challenges the planning and execution of the operation. The U.S. government sought dismissal of nine claims, but in an order issued this week, Judge Lee Rudofsky allowed eight of those claims—including wrongful death, negligence, assault and battery—to proceed.
The judge did dismiss one false imprisonment claim and removed the ATF as a defendant. However, the United States and the individual agents and officers named in the lawsuit remain parties to the case.
The 57-page order was issued about six months after a hearing in the matter. A date for the next hearing in the civil case has not yet been announced.
