Suit planned against parents of Columbine High shooters Attorney plans to file a $250 million lawsuit against parents of Klebold, Harris
By Carl Hilliard
Associated Press
DENVER — An attorney for the relatives of a student slain in the Columbine High massacre said Wednesday he plans to file a $250 million lawsuit against the parents of student gunmen Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris.
Geoffrey Fieger, who is best known for representing Dr. Jack Kevorkian, said he will file the lawsuit Thursday in Denver on behalf of Isaiah Shoels' parents.
"Justice demands a full accounting of everyone who significantly contributed to this massacre," Fieger said in a statement. "Klebold and Harris could not have developed and executed their violence without the negligence of the parents and possibly others.
"It is inconceivable that two high school students could amass an arsenal of guns and bombs that would make a small country dangerous without help and the lack of supervision by parental authorities," he stated.
Fieger of Southfield, Mich., said other suits could be filed against anyone who assisted in the massacre, school authorities if they failed to take protective measures, the police and gun manufacturers.
The statement did not list specific arguments for the proposed suit or whether it would be filed in state or federal court.
Fieger was en route to Denver late Wednesday afternoon and unavailable for additional comment.
An attorney representing Wayne and Katherine Harris, Eric's parents, did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.
Lisa Simon, a spokeswoman for the law firm that represents Thomas and Susan Klebold, Dylan's parents, declined comment because she has not seen a copy of the proposed lawsuit.
Harris, 18, and Klebold, 17, scattered gunfire and bombs inside Columbine High School April 20, killing a dozen classmates and a teacher and injuring 23 students before they committed suicide.
Jefferson County sheriff's investigators are trying to determine if the gunmen had help in assembling dozens of bombs or storing them at the school.
A spokesman for Shoels' parents, Vonda and Michael Shoels, said they would be unavailable for comment until a news conference scheduled Thursday.
Earlier this month, Michael Shoels said he planned to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the Jefferson County School District and the parents of Harris and Klebold.
"Something needs to be done to make sure these institutions do a better job protecting our children, and parents do not shirk their responsibility," he said at the time.
May 27, 1999 | Print this page
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