Judge Agrees to Va. Tech Payout

Douglas Fierberg, an attorney who represented families of the Virginia Tech shooting victims, reads a statement at a news conference in Richmond after a judge approved an $11 million settlement. With him are some family members. (By Steve Helber -- Associated Press)

About a dozen family members attended the hearing in downtown Richmond in a standing-room-only courtroom. Some cried silently during the hearing, while others shook their heads as attorneys read details of the settlement.

"I'm so sorry you have to be here," Circuit Court Judge Theodore J. Markow told Paul and Susan Turner, whose daughter Maxine was killed.

"So are we," Paul Turner replied.

Under the terms of the settlement, the state and Virginia Tech will set aside $3.85 million for one-time payments to families of the dead and wounded victims. The most the families will receive is $100,000, the maximum usually allowed in cases of state negligence, but they also could seek more money from a $1.9 million hardship fund.

Last fall, the families of the dead and surviving victims received one-time payments ranging from $11,500 to $208,000 from the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, which was created from private donations that poured in after the shooting. The fund will remain open for at least five more years, and funds will go toward scholarships.

The settlement also calls for families to meet with Kaine three times before he leaves office in 2010 and with Virginia Tech officials, campus and state police, and others within the next six months. It also requires that Virginia Tech create an electronic archive of its written records and that the state create a $3.85 million fund to pay for campus safety programs, remembrance activities and tributes, and donations to educational and nonprofit groups.

The settlement came after months of meetings with a mediator, the families, the governor's office, the attorney general's office and Virginia Tech officials.

"We are mothers and fathers, we are sisters and brothers, we are neighbors and friends," Mims said. "Since April 16, 2007, our thoughts and our prayers have been with those whose loss we cannot fully comprehend but which we will never forget.'' The state has almost finished negotiating settlements with 18 other families of the wounded. Mims said the victims with the most severe injuries would receive $100,000, and all of them will receive health insurance for life.

Susan Carney, whose daughter Katelyn was shot, said she welcomes the lifetime of health care.

"Thank goodness she'll have this," she said.

The settlement will be paid by the state, Virginia Tech, New River Valley Community Services Board, the town of Blacksburg and five nearby counties. The state is self-insured, which means any settlement will be paid for with taxpayer funds.

The state also agreed to pay Grenier's firm $750,000 and other lawyers $25,000.