Lawsuits-
After the shock and denial stages of dealing with school shootings or attacks, change to the anger stage, the lawsuits come. You have seen the news. The pictures are now predictable. Shock, tears, people mingling in disbelief, the prayer vigils (which would be mocked or declared un-Constitutional at other times). But anger will set in. It is during this stage that many lawsuits are filed in the cases.
Sometimes people start filing right away. There are time limits so filing against public entities is usually done within certain time frames. Notice of Tort Claims are filed before lawsuits. Lawyers are generally involved.
People want answers after the massacres or attack. They want to hold someone accountable. Fortunately, the killer (if not killed or commits suicide in the action) generally is held accountable in a criminal court but they don't have the money. So, the businesses and entities are targeted. Parents, school districts, communities and law enforcement are always named.
I cannot find fault in that. But the targeted defendants have to be realistic. Some will go after the gun manufacturers. I am not familiar with any lawsuits filed against car manufacturers or knife manufacturers when the damage is done with an automobile or steak knife.
The Hribal parents, in their video explaining the events of the time they learned that their son acted out the attack at Franklin Regional High School, explained that the mother noticed two kitchen knives missing after they learned the who, how and where of the attack. Per the video, Alex took two knives from the block of knives on their kitchen counter.
Unfortunately, we do not find out the results of some court cases. Settlements out of court are made to "save the victims from a lengthy trial". Truthfully, the settlements are reached so that no one has to admit, "Hey, we got it wrong."
In the last few weeks, lawsuits have been announced from parents in Parkland, Florida; Orlando, Florida (Pulse Nightclub- two years ago this weekend) and now in Murrysville, Pa.
Las Vegas, Columbine, Virginia Tech, Penn State- pending and settled lawsuits brought about from the victims of the violence. Sandy Hook Elementary School parents went after the gun industry.
I hope the pending lawsuits go forward and are not settled. Everyone deserves their day in court in an honest or dishonest lawsuit.
I had my days in court with Northfield. Neither the parents nor the school district offered any defense.
In the last few weeks, lawsuits have been announced from parents in Parkland, Florida; Orlando, Florida (Pulse Nightclub- two years ago this weekend) and now in Murrysville, Pa.
Las Vegas, Columbine, Virginia Tech, Penn State- pending and settled lawsuits brought about from the victims of the violence. Sandy Hook Elementary School parents went after the gun industry.
I hope the pending lawsuits go forward and are not settled. Everyone deserves their day in court in an honest or dishonest lawsuit.
I had my days in court with Northfield. Neither the parents nor the school district offered any defense.
This article link is about the lawsuit filed against the parents of the shooter in Sante Fe, Texas. It asks some questions. Sante Fe lawsuit. The publication date is today. When was the Sante Fe shooting? Answer- May 18, 2018.
From the article: "The lawsuit filed against the Santa Fe shooting suspect's parents aims to hold gun owners responsible for the way they store their firearms around their troubled children. Experts say it fits into a nationwide pattern of gun liability cases that aspire to keep gun owners and manufacturers accountable through fear of high-cost lawsuits."
Marian R. Carlino
June 8, 2018