Offer of Settlement Made by State to Families of Students Killed In Virginia Tech Massacre

Amy Rothschild

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Virginia State officials have offered about $100,000 to each of the the families of those killed in the April 16, 2007 Virginia Tech massacre if they waive their rights to sue the State of Virginia and Virginia Tech. The State has said that even if they were to be sued and found liable, a state law known as "sovereign immunity" which means that the state can do no wrong., each families' recovery would be limited to $100,000.

Under the current proposal, the State of Virginia would not admit any wrongdoing and intends to justify the renumeration on the basis that it is a way to avoid a potential series of lawsuits. The offer came after several weeks of private discussions between attorneys for the State of Virginia and for the victims' families. It has been reported that the family members have until March 31, 2008 to accept the offer.

As part of the proposed settlement, the State would also create a fund to help pay for the medical expenses of some of the more than two dozen students and faculty members injured in the shooting. The families of the 32 shooting victims who died, would each receive about $100,000. The monies would be paid for by the taxpayers.

Any settlement or payout from the state would be in addition to the $8.5 million in private donations that Virginia Tech distributed to the victims and their families last fall.