Families of Uvalde Victims Secure $2M Settlement as Legal Battles Continue 

Uvalde Report BELatina Latinx
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As the second anniversary of the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, approaches, the city has reached a $2 million settlement with most of the victims’ families. This announcement was made on Wednesday, just two days before the anniversary of one of the deadliest school shootings in US history, where 19 children and two teachers lost their lives on May 24, 2022. The majority demographic of Uvalde is Latino descent.  

Josh Koskoff, a lawyer representing the families and known for his work with the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims, confirmed the settlement during a briefing. “The city of Uvalde has agreed to pay its insurance of $2 million, which is all that there was,” Koskoff stated. The settlement involves the families of 17 children who were killed and two children who survived the horrific event. 

In addition to the settlement, the families of 19 victims have launched a $500 million federal lawsuit against nearly 100 state police officers involved in the failed law enforcement response.  

According to Al Jazeera, Erin Rogiers, a partner at Guerra LLP, who is representing the families alongside Koskoff and Bieder PC, revealed that 92 Texas Department of Public Safety officers are being sued for their actions during the incident. “State and federal officers made up the majority of the 376 law enforcement operatives who waited 77 minutes before confronting and killing the 18-year-old gunman,” Koskoff said. 

Unpacking the Uvalde Tragedy

The lawsuit seeks at least $500 million in damages and is the latest in a series of legal actions demanding accountability for the law enforcement response. It follows a comprehensive 600-page report released by the US Department of Justice in January. 

The report highlighted how local police ignored standard procedures by failing to confront the attacker and waiting outside the classroom for over an hour, despite desperate calls for help from the children inside. 

Families and their lawyers emphasized in a statement that state troopers did not follow their active shooter training, leaving the trapped students and teachers completely reliant on law enforcement for their safety. “The protocols trap teachers and students inside, leaving them fully reliant on law enforcement to respond quickly and effectively,” the statement read. 

In December 2022, families of the victims filed a separate lawsuit against local and state police, the city, and other school and law enforcement officials, seeking at least $27 billion in damages and class-action status for survivors. This lawsuit also aims to address the systemic failures that contributed to the tragic loss of life and ensure that such a disaster never happens again. 

It is important to note that though the pursuit of justice and accountability continues, the need for substantial reforms in law enforcement practices during active shooter situations is paramount. 

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