State Offers Settlement To Families Of Victims

[flashl]

RICHMOND, March 24 -- State officials are offering the families of those killed in the April 16 Virginia Tech massacre about $100,000 each if they give up their right to sue the state and university, officials and family members familiar with the agreement said last night.

Under the proposed offer, the state would not admit liability but would justify the payments as a way to avoid a series of lawsuits. The offer came after several weeks of closed-door talks between attorneys for the state and attorneys for families of the victims.

The office of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) declined to comment last night. Several family members refused to comment publicly last night, describing the offer as something that could change. The Associated Press reported last night the family members have until March 31 to accept the offer.

As part of the deal, the state would 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, state officials familiar with the offer said. The families of the 32 victims killed by the shooter would get about $100,000 each. The money would come from taxpayers.

Washington Post