Settlement offered in Va. Tech shootings

BLACKSBURG, Va., March 24 (UPI) -- Each family of the victims in the Virginia Tech shootings reportedly has been offered $100,000 by the state to settle all legal claims.

The yet-to-be-finalized multimillion-dollar settlement also would provide payment and insurance for medical and counseling costs for the families and surviving victims, The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk reported Monday. In addition, the families would have repeated opportunities to question the governor and university officials in person about the April 16, 2007, shootings in which Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 Virginia Tech students and professors and wounded 27 more before taking his own life.

"One hundred thousand dollars for a human life is an insult, an absolute insult," said Edward Jazlowieck, a lawyer representing one of those killed.

Families and victims already have received payments from a special fund created from more than $8 million donated to the victims and school following the shootings.

The proposed settlement seeks to have all agreements signed by April 15.