The families of four children injured in the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting have sued the shooter’s estate for $100 million.
According to Fox News, injury attorney Thomas Henry, who is representing the four families, said they were seeking damages for a child shot in the leg, a child shot in the shoulder, a child shot in the face, and a fourth child shot in the back, leg, and shoulder by 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos.
‘Each of these children have undergone extensive medical care. Some have undergone multiple surgeries,’ the lawsuit states. ‘They have all suffered severe physical injuries and unimaginable emotional trauma.
‘They witnessed their friends and teachers being shot and dying in front of them.’
Christopher Salinas, Oscar Orona, Cristina Olivarez, and Angelica Rodriguez are among the claimants.
Ramos’ mother, Adriana Reyes, is named as a potential defendant in the complaint because the gunman, who was slain by police, does not yet have legal representation over his estate.
Ramos is accused of assault and battery with a lethal weapon, as well as deliberate infliction of emotional distress and malice, according to the plaintiffs.
The family are also asking for a jury trial.
‘This preliminary complaint will allow us to gather evidence and, if required, add other parties to the lawsuit,’ Henry said in a statement on Monday.
‘The discovery process will focus on the school system, law enforcement, social media, and gun and ammunition manufacturers,’ he added, stressing that he was also looking into the guns and ammo used by Ramos in the May 24 Robb Elementary School massacre, which killed 19 kids and two teachers.
At least 17 other children and adults were hurt, according to reports.
The family will also consider legal action against “all responsible parties” for “potential constitutional rights breaches, gun law violations, and violations of laws, regulations, and procedures relevant to school safety,” according to Henry.
This might include legal action against local cops who entered the school an hour later after mistakenly assuming Ramos had stopped his rampage and holed himself in a classroom when they arrived.
‘Right now, the most important thing in our country is that our children go to school and come home safe,’ Henry remarked. ‘We want justice for the families who have been crushed by this shooting, and we want to make sure that we have immediate improvements in place to protect our children while they are at school,’ says the group.
The personal injury lawyer had already secured $230 million for numerous victims of the November 2017 Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church shooting in a case against the federal government.
After the father of one of the victims stated earlier this week that he had hired the lawyers who helped families from the Sandy Hook school shooting sue a gun manufacturer for $73 million, the lawsuit might be the first of many.
Alfred Garza, who lost his daughter Amerie in the killing, has recruited lawyers from the Connecticut company Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder to represent him in a lawsuit against Daniel Defense, the makers of the firearms used by Ramos in last month’s shooting.
They filed a lawsuit against Remington, the manufacturer of the gun used in the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, and won a $73 million settlement for their clients.
‘We have to respect her and make sure we do the right thing.’ In a recent interview with David Muir on ‘World News Tonight,’ Garza said, “From this day forward, I want to live my life for my daughter.”
‘My reason for coming here is to pay tribute to Amerie Jo,’ Garza stated in the statement. ‘She would want me to do everything I can to ensure that this never happens to another child,’ I said. ‘I’m going to have to battle her.’
‘Daniel Defense has expressed their condolences to the Uvalde families. Lawyer Josh Koskoff stated, “They should back up their prayers with concrete action.”
‘If they truly want to help these families, they will supply Mr. Garza with the information he has asked without delay or justification.’ In any case, we will conduct a comprehensive investigation, leaving no stone unturned.’
Koskoff lawyers filed a plea last Friday requesting any correspondence between Daniel Defense and Ramos prior to his rampage.
They’ve also asked the Georgia-based gunmaker for marketing materials, notably those aimed at teenagers and children.
Despite federal rules protecting gun manufacturers, the petition letter is a forerunner to a lawsuit that could seek to hold the gunmaker accountable.
‘We are extremely saddened by the recent awful events in Texas,’ Daniel Defense wrote in a blog post on its website.
‘Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and communities affected by this senseless act of violence. In their investigations, we will work with all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.’
Emilia Marin, a teacher who survived the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, has also filed a suit with Daniel Defense, CNN reported.