Va. Tech families offered $100,000 each
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - March 25, 2008 Families of the 32 killed would also receive medical and
counseling expenses, said the relative, who asked Monday to remain
anonymous because those involved were told not to discuss the
settlement. Additional funds would be set aside for the dozens of
survivors.
In exchange for accepting the agreement, the family members
would give up the right to sue state government, including Virginia
Tech, said the relative.
Under the deal, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine would meet with victims
and relatives three more times over the next two years to review
legislative and administrative responses to the shootings.
Victims and families also could meet with senior Virginia Tech
officials within six months of the settlement to ask questions and
discuss changes made to the campus since the tragedy, as well as
memorials. They also would receive an update on the investigation
from the university and state police.
Seung-Hui Cho, a mentally disturbed student, killed the 32
victims and wounded several others at Virginia Tech on April 16
before committing suicide.
At least 20 families have filed notice with the state that they
may sue. They have until April 16 to file.
Attorneys for families and officials in the governor's office
did not immediately return calls from The Associated Press.
"My people are pretty unhappy with it, and I don't blame
them," Edward Jazlowiecki, a lawyer for the family of slain
student Henry Lee, told The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk.
Jazlowiecki said Lee's family faults Virginia Tech for not
warning those on campus sooner that a gunman may be loose.
Cho shot his first two victims in a dormitory just after 7 a.m.,
but university officials did not send an e-mail alert until more
than two hours later - just before Cho killed 30 others in a
classroom building across campus.
The proposal would require all claimants to agree and says the
state can withdraw the proposal if not enough parties do, the
family member said. Other relatives declined to comment.
In addition to the $100,000 payments to each of the families of
those killed, another $800,000 would be reserved for the injured,
with a maximum of $100,000 to any person.
The proposal also would set up a fund to reimburse or advance
expenses not covered by insurance for medical, psychological and
psychiatric care for victims and their immediate families.
In October, the families and surviving victims received payments
ranging from $11,500 to $208,000 from the Hokie Spirit Memorial
Fund, set up in the days after the April 16 shootings to handle
donations that poured into the Blacksburg school.
The proposed settlement would keep the fund, which had been
scheduled to close this past December, open to accept contributions
for at least five more years.
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Associated Press writer Sue Lindsey in Roanoke contributed to
this report.