2008 Woodie Awards
VT offers settlement to victims of shootings
Overture brings spectrum of reactions from families of deceased, wounded
Kristen Genineau and Sue Lindsey
The Associated Press
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: News
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Families of the victims have until Monday to say whether they'll accept the settlement, which would give $100,000 to representatives of each of the 32 killed and ensures that families will have the chance to talk to the governor and university officials about the shootings.
Under the proposal, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, $800,000 would be available to injured victims. They and the families of those killed could seek additional money from a $1.75 million hardship fund.
Roger O'Dell, whose son Derek was among two dozen wounded April 16, said while he considers the proposal a very reasonable offer, he is concerned about how the money would be split among the survivors. The proposal only states that the money would be distributed "based on a matrix acceptable to the commonwealth, with a maximum payment of $100,000 to any individual."
"I'm inclined to believe this will not be settled by April 15th," O'Dell said. "I think there are too many question marks in the proposed offer."
Seung-Hui Cho, a mentally disturbed student, killed two people in a dormitory just after 7 a.m. 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 and then committed suicide.
Twenty-two families have filed notice with the state that they may sue. They have until Apr. 16 to file. Families of all deceased victims and the survivors would be eligible for a payout under the settlement.
By accepting the proposal, family members would give up the right to sue the state government; Virginia Tech; the town of Blacksburg, where Virginia Tech is located; Montgomery County; and the New River Valley Community Services Board, which provides mental-health services in the area.
Cho had been ruled a danger to himself during a court commitment hearing in 2005 and was ordered to receive outpatient mental health care. He never received the treatment.
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