$25M Settlement For Florida High School Shooting Victims

$25M Settlement For Florida High School Shooting Victims

Introduction

A federal jury has awarded a $25 million settlement to the families of 52 people who were killed, injured or traumatized in the shooting incident at a Florida high school.

The incident took place in 2018 when a former student walked onto the campus of the school shot 34 people, killing 17 and wounding 17 others. One of the severely injured students is seeking a separate settlement with the school district.

As per the agreement, the maximum amount from the settlement would be awarded to the families of the 17 students and adults killed in the mishap. The plaintiffs' attorney stated that the agreement would provide fair justice and compensation to the affected families. The agreement will also cover 19 people present at the high school and suffered from trauma because of the shooting. The claim would not require approval from Florida's legislature, considering the severeness of the mishap.

The defendant's lawyers said their client would plead guilty on 34 counts of murder and attempted murder. It will further determine if the defendant will receive a death penalty in the crime.

Earlier, a federal jury has announced a $5.5 million settlement to a man who got paralyzed due to an accidental shooting in Poconos.

The incident took place at Threat Assessment and Tactical Solutions (TATS), a Stroudsburg shooting range that is closed post the episode. The 48-year-old plaintiff was a target, and the aggressor shot him as a part of the simulation. The aggressor shot him from behind the car, and the bullet got lodged in the plaintiff's spinal cord.

The suit claimed that the host and the organizers of the event failed to follow standard safety procedures before the exercise, which resulted in the mishap. The plaintiff's lawyer argued that the $5.5 million settlement is comparatively less, as compared to his lifetime care and lost earnings which are estimated at more than $11 million.

In a similar lawsuit, the family of a man who was shot by police in Louisiana has agreed to receive a $4.5 million settlement after five years of his death.

The deceased man was a 37-year-old father of five who got killed on July 5, 2016, outside a convenience store by Baton Rouge police officers. The man's death resulted in nationwide protests. Attorneys for the man sued the city, its police department and former police chief, and the two officers for the incident.

The officer who shot the man was fired in March 2018. Another officer was suspended for three days who wrestled the deceased to the ground. 
The lawyers of the family said that the settlement would provide financial stability to the man's family. Earlier, three settlement offers were rejected by East Baton Rouge Metro Council, and the final agreement was approved in February.

The family has even alleged that the shooting was a part of racist behavior and excessive force by Baton Rouge police. The Mayor of the city said that the settlement is important for the community and will also ensure that no such offense takes place with any other family in Baton.

East Baton Rouge Parish’s insurance reserve funds will be used to pay $1 million to the deceased children, whereas the remaining money will be paid in installments from the annual operating budget over the next four years.