Verdicts & Settlements
Va. Tech Families Agree to $11M Settlement
Posted Apr 10, 2008, 12:24 pm CST
By Molly McDonough
In a deal meant to prevent further lawsuits, families of the victims in the Virginia Tech shootings have reportedly reached a $11 million settlement with the state.
Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Thursday that a "substantial majority" of families of the shooting victims have agreed to the settlement, the Associated Press reports.
Peter Grenier and Douglas Fierberg, who represent 21 families, also confirmed the settlement to the AP, but apparently wouldn't discuss any terms.
A spokesman for the governor's office told the news service that there's a confidentiality agreement barring all parties from going into detail about the settlement at this time.
More than 20 families had filed notice that they intended to sue the state after Seung-Hui Cho, a mentally disturbed student, killed 32 and wounded two dozen others at Virginia Tech nearly a year ago before committing suicide.
By accepting a settlement, family members would likely give up the right to sue the state government, the school, the local governments serving Virginia Tech and the community services board that provides mental-health services in the area, the Associated Press notes.