Victims of Parkland shooting file new lawsuits against Broward County

Parents whose children were shot last year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school have filed 22 new lawsuits against the Broward County School Board, the Broward Sheriff’s Office and others including retired Deputy Scot Peterson. From the Sun-Sentinel:

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Announcing a slew of lawsuits against the Broward School District, Broward Sheriff’s Office and others, attorney Todd Michaels said the school district is trying to block claims bills in the Legislature that would release millions of dollars for compensation and punitive damages…

Mitch Dworet, whose lawsuit is being handled by attorney MIchael Goldarb, said he has been disappointed with the school district’s actions since the shooting.

“The first thing they are responsible for is the safety of our children,” said Dworet, whose son, Nick, was among those killed. “They failed. They failed me that day.”

The Miami Herald published one of the lawsuits in full. Along with the Broward School Board and Sheriff’s Office, the lawsuit also blames Henderson Behavioral Health, the facility that treated Nikolas Cruz. The court filing contains this list of dates on which people at Henderson had some interaction with Cruz, starting when he was just 11-years-old:

HENDERSON, its employees, agents, independent contractors and/or counselors, therapists, case managers, and mental health personnel had interactions either with CRUZ
and/or his mother on the following occasions, including but not limited to: October 6, 2009, October 8, 2009, October 16, 2009, December 3, 2009, March 9, 2010, January 15,
2013, April 15, 2013, May 2, 2013, May 10, 2013, May 21, 2013, May 22, 2013, June 4, 2013, June 26, 2014, July 3, 2013, September 19, 2013, October 19, 2013, October 29,
2013, November 1, 2013, November 5, 2013, February 18, 2014, February 19, 2014, February 26, 2014, March 20, 2014, April 11, 2014, April 11, 2014, April 11, 2014, April
15, 2014, May 9, 2014, May 20, 2014, June 10, 2014, June 24, 2014, July 1, 2014, July 7, 2014, August 27, 2014, September 8, 2014, September 9, 2014, September 22, 2014,
November 5, 2014, December 10, 2014, December 23, 2014, December 17, 2014, December 23, 2014, February 12, 2015, March 9, 2015, April 2, 2015, June 23, 2015,
August 11, 2015, August 18, 2015, January 2016, February 5, 2016, September 23, 2016, September 28, 2016, September 29, 2016, October 26, 2016, November 8, 2016,
November 22, 2016, December 20, 2016, and December 27, 2016.

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The lawsuit argues that Henderson should have diagnosed Cruz as a psychopath and/or a sociopath and let others know that he was a potential danger to those around him.

As for Scot Peterson, his attorney told the Miami Herald, “We are confident that any lawsuit related to the Parkland shooting lacks merit; we will vigorously contest the factual and legal assertions made therein.” Peterson’s attorney has previously argued that under Florida law a Deputy can only be held accountable for the results of his actions when taking control of a scene. And since Peterson hid and did nothing, he can’t be responsible for what happened.

Last year a group of 15 parents filed lawsuits against the school and law enforcement officials but that case was dismissed in December.

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