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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSurvivors of the Aurora shooting have to pay at least $700,000 to theater chain
After a settlement deal fell apart, four survivors of the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting are left having to pay the Cinemark chain at least $700,000.
The failed settlement and financial repercussions were laid out Tuesday by the Los Angeles Times, which pieced together the story through interviews with people involved in the talks between the owners of the Century Aurora 16 mutliplex and 41 plaintiffs, including survivors and relatives of victims. A federal judge overseeing their case had advised the plaintiffs that they should settle with Cinemark within 24 hours. Another group of survivors had filed a state lawsuit, and a jury decided Cinemark could not have foreseen the shooting, which left 12 dead and more than 70 injured during a showing of The Dark Knight Rises. Because of that ruling, the judge said, he would most likely also find the chain not liable for the shooting.
As plaintiff Marcus Weaver told the Times, the group had to decide if they were willing to accept $150,000 split among 41 plaintiffs. He said he didn't think it was enough, but was satisfied that the company was going to have to take new measures to protect guests. The plaintiffs also knew if they rejected the deal and the case moved forward, under Colorado law they would be responsible for Cinemark's court fees.
http://theweek.com/speedreads/646024/survivors-aurora-shooting-have-pay-least-700000-theater-chain
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)What the consequences could be. That can happen when you go for the deep pockets in Colorado.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)Every time.
bluesbassman
(19,369 posts)Do you think Cinemark bears the resposibility for this? How were the supposed to prevent it?
And for the record I am in favor of common sense control.
padfun
(1,786 posts)Cinemark isn't to blame for this. Go after the nut who actually shot people.
If this were successful, you could make it easier to sue just about every property owner for every bad thing that happens. The theater company had nothing to do with the murders except that that is where they happened.
GeorgeGist
(25,318 posts)Some lawyer convinced them that Cinemark's deep pockets were ripe for the picking. He was wrong.
padfun
(1,786 posts)Adenoid_Hynkel
(14,093 posts)and no one died at Aurora, which was a plot by the gub'mint to take yer guns away.
WillowTree
(5,325 posts)Not sure what part of "Something is better than less than nothing" was unclear to them.
DeadLetterOffice
(1,352 posts)Heeeeers Johnny
(423 posts)prayin4rain
(2,065 posts)davidn3600
(6,342 posts)These people got bad legal advice.
Calculating
(2,955 posts)Suing the theater chain for this made no sense at all. Sucks for them.
ScepticD
(13 posts)Only difference is we're talking lawyers.
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)about half the cost of an average funeral in Colorado, per US Funerals Online:
http://www.us-funerals.com/funeral-articles/funerals-and-cremations-in-colorado.html#.V8fTUWBriCg
Maybe the theater chain didn't intentionally harm its customers, but it's insured against accidents occurring on its premises presumably, and stiffing survivors like this is adding insult to injury. JMHO.