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Judge OKs $11M Settlement for Va. Tech Families

Posted Jun 18, 08 7:44 AM CDT in Crime & Courts,  US 

(Newser) – A Virginia judge yesterday approved an $11 million settlement with 42 families of those killed or injured in last year's Virginia Tech shootings, the Washington Post reports. The families sued after a panel concluded that lives might have been saved if the university contacted students immediately after the first shootings. Instead, 2.5 hours passed before an email warning was sent, just 10 minutes before the second rampage, which claimed 32 lives.

The settlement, which eliminates any further legal action, includes $100,000 and medical expenses for each family. Some families expressed dissatisfaction and called for further investigation into the state and university roles in the April 16, 2007, shootings. "This has nothing to do with money and everything to do with seeking the truth and complete accountability," said one parent of a slain student.  

Source Washington Post

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The father of a Virginia Tech shooting victim speaks to media after a judge approved an $11 million state settlement, which will avoid a court battle over whether anyone but the gunman was to blame.   (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Mona Samaha, holds back tears as she listens during a news conference with her husband Joseph, right, concerning the Virginia Tech settlement in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, June 17, 2008.   (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Andrew Goddard, father of wounded Virginia Tech student, Colin Goddard, comforts Suzanne Grimes, mother of injured student Kevin Sterne, during a news conference concerning the Virginia Tech settlement...   (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
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school shooting  • Virginia Tech shootings  • Virginia Tech  • settlement  • Seung-Hui Cho  • Virginia Tech massacre  • wrongful death


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