Settlement Reached To Avoid Lawsuits Over Tech Shootings

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) – Lawyers for families of victims of the Virginia Tech shootings say they have agreed to a settlement the state proposed to prevent lawsuits.

Peter Grenier and Douglas Fierberg, who represent 21 families, said terms of the $11 million settlement were worked out Thursday with attorneys representing the state attorney general.

Grenier and Fierberg would not discuss terms until final settlement papers are drawn up. But an early copy of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press called for representatives of each of the 32 people killed by a student gunman last April 16 to receive $100,000.

Another $800,000 would be available to the injured, with a cap of $100,000 per person. The injured will have health-care expenses covered, and they and the families of those killed could seek additional money from a $1.75 million hardship fund.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)