OXFORD, Mich. (Audacy) — A pair of lawsuits seeking $100 million each will be the first filed on behalf of two survivors of the deadly mass shooting at Oxford High School in Oakland County, Michigan's Oxford Township.
High-profile attorney Geoffrey Fieger is filing the suits on behalf of the two Oxford students: Riley Franz, 17, a senior, and her little sister Bella Franz, 14, a freshman.
The Oxford Community School District and various school employees are named in the suits, one already filed in federal court and a second to be filed in Oakland County Circuit Court on Friday.
Riley was shot in the neck during the Nov. 30 mass shooting and Bella was standing right next to her when it happened, the lawsuits state.
Defendants included in the lawsuit are Superintendent Timothy Throne, Oxford High School Principal Steven Wolf, Dean of Students Ryan Moore as well as two counselors, one staff member, and two teachers.
The lawsuit accuses school officials of failing to stop an attack that inflicted physical and psychological injuries on students.
The litigation argues that the two students are protected under the 14th Amendment, which means they have the right to be free from danger created or increased by those named in the suit.
Fieger said school officials disregarded concerns from parents and students about alleged shooter Ethan Crumbley's social media accounts prior to the mass shooting, which included threats of bodily harm and/or death -- a "warning of violent tendencies and murderous ideology."
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Fieger said no one considered the safety of other students when they allowed Crumbley to return to class after a meeting with counselors and his parents in the hours before the shooting to discuss a disturbing drawing of a gun, blood and people being shot.
"He had told them as much! He had written as much! He had drawn pictures of his plan...and he was allowed to carry it out," Fieger told reporters as a news conference.
"There's a responsibility that our society shares in protecting our children," he added. "There is a responsibility among teachers, counselors and school administrators who could easily, easily have prevented and stopped the slaughter."
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According to the suit, Riley was an honor roll student preparing for college and Bella was a "star" athlete getting ready to start driver's training.
"The horror of November 30, 2021 was entirely preventable," Fieger said.
Four students were killed and seven students and teachers were wounded before prosecutors the shooter put his hands up and surrendered to deputies.
The 15-year-old suspect now faces terrorism, murder and other charges. His parents, who allegedly gave the teen the pistol he used as an early Christmas gift, are facing charges of involuntary manslaughter.
