The parents of two women who were killed in the Virginia Tech shootings on April 16, 2007, have dropped negligence claims filed against employees of the university’s counseling center. But the wrongful death lawsuits against the university authorities seeking $10 million are continuing because the parents allege the officials failed to provide warnings before Seung-Hui Cho shot 32 people dead.
The Roanoke Times reported that the parents of Julia Pryde and Erin Peterson had alleged that members of the counseling center failed to properly assess and treat Cho for mental health issues 2 years before the massacre.
As experienced Virginia (VA) wrongful death attorneys, my colleagues and I are concerned about any action or inaction by an educational institution that may lead to lives being lost. My colleague John C. recently reported on safety concerns at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA and how the university has a duty to protect its students.
The terrible event at Virginia Tech raises questions whether university authorities could have done more. Sadly, this seems to be the case. The U.S. Department of Education issued a lengthy final determination report in 2010 in which investigators found that Tech officials failed “to issue adequate warnings in a timely manner in response to the tragic events.”
To learn more about what to do if you or a loved one is seriously injured or wrongfully killed, check out our Frequently Asked Questions devoted to the subject.
DM