Sheriffs Ask Judge To Dismiss Columbine Lawsuits
Family Sues Jefferson County, Claiming Sheriffs Could Have Prevented Tragedy
An attorney for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department asked a judge on Friday to dismiss lawsuits filed by familiesof the Columbine High School shooting victims, saying that
officers should not be held liable for their actions before or after the attack.
There are nine lawsuits filed by Columbine families against the sheriff's department and school district.
Attorneys for the Jefferson County sheriff's department argued in court Friday that they have "no legal obligation" to provide aid and "no duty" to investigate or prevent crimes," 7NEWS reported.
But the Columbine families and their lawyers claim that the sheriff's department and school district absolutely had an obligation to do more that day.
"I mean, I thought that's what they were there for," said Michael Schoels, the father of a Columbine victim. "If someone reports that something is going to happen and they don't react, well what's the use of having them?"
The families say that Jefferson County authorities knew about Eric Harris (pictured, above) and Dylan Klebold's threats on their Web site and knew about the pipe bombs. The families say that Jefferson County sheriffs should have taken action.
In court on Friday, the judge described Harris and Klebold's threats as "evil" and asked the Jefferson county attorneys, "If you're confronted with evil, what do you do about it? And if you do nothing, is that not an evil, of itself?'"
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shot and killed 12 students and a teacher and injured more than two dozen others before taking their own lives.
"I just think if we can figure out what went wrong here maybe we can prevent future events like this happening," victim Richard Castaldo said.
The sheriff's department and the school district claim that they are protected by governmental immunity.
Previous Stories:
NEW DOCUMENTS RELEASED
- April 24, 2001: Columbine Families Sue Video Game Companies For $5 Billion
- April 23, 2001: Columbine Fund-Raising Campaign Sought For Victims
- April 20, 2001: Columbine Families Reach Settlement
- April 19, 2001: Columbine Father Presses For New Federal Gun Rules
- April 19, 2001: Judge Denies Request To Erect Columbine Crosses
- April 18, 2001: Columbine Cross-Maker Threatens Lawsuit
- April 15, 2001: Columbine Principal Still Feels Effects Of Shootings
- April 13, 2001: Columbine Interviews Released, Grand Jury Requested
- April 12, 2001: Officials Deny Columbine Cover Up
- April 11, 2001: Newly Released Columbine Documents Spark Criticism
- April 2, 2001: No School On Columbine Anniversary
- March 13, 2001: Investigators Check Out Lead In Columbine Students' Murders
- March 6, 2001: Columbine Parents Surprised That Shooting Warnings Were Ignored
- March 6, 2001: Columbine Offers Help To California School
- February 15, 2001: Columbine Commission Re-Invites Jeffco Sheriff
- January 31, 2001: Columbine Autopsy Report Ordered Released
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