Virginia Tech Families, Survivors Agree to $11 M Settlement

By Dan Keane
10:05, April 11th 2008
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Virginia Tech Families, Survivors Agree to $11 M Settlement

Just days before commemorating the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre, most families of those involved in the shootings have agreed to an $11 million settlement for agreeing not to sue the state.

On April 16, 2007, Ceung-Hui Cho, a mentally disturbed student, killed 32 victims and wounded two dozen others at Virginia Tech, before committing suicide.

This settlement comes one month after the state made another one. At the time, the state was offering a settlement to the families of the Virginia Tech slaughter of approximately $100,000 for each of them if they accepted to drop any legal charge against the state government.

The $11 million will be used to compensate families who lost loved ones, pay survivors’ medical costs and avoid a court battle over whether anyone besides the gunman was to blame.

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine said Thursday that a “substantial majority” of the families of victims had approved the settlement, while others are undecided and considering their options. He further described the deal as “a reasonable resolution” to the needs of those directly affected by the massacre.

“The victims and victims' families, their counsel, Virginia Tech and officials of the commonwealth have worked with serious commitment and diligence toward a reasonable resolution and response to the legitimate needs, interests and concerns arising out of that horrific event,” Kaine said, as quoted by the Washington Post.

Lawyers Peter Grenier and Douglas Fierberg, representing a number of the families, said in a statement that it insured “that seriously injured victims will be well compensated and have their life-long health care needs taken care of forever. Families who lost loved ones will be similarly compensated and cared for.”

Kaine and the lawyers declined to release details of the settlement, which still awaits families’ signature.

If the settlement is signed, then the families approve not to sue the state government, Virginia Tech, the local governments serving Virginia Tech and the community services board that provides mental-health services on the area.

 

  



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