The fatal mass shooting in Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24 left 19 students and two teachers dead. Three months after the incident, no one is being held liable and accountable.
“People have a right to life under the 14th Amendment and what we’ve seen here is that the law enforcement agencies have shown conscious disregard for life,” Attorney Charles Bonner, with the California-based law firm Bonner & Bonner, said.
He is filing a lawsuit amounting to $27 billion.
Bonner said that everyone allegedly responsible will be sued for negligence. Eight defendants will be included in the lawsuit: Daniel Defense, the gun manufacturer that produced the AR-15; Oasis Outback, where the gun was bought; Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Department; Uvalde Police Department; Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office; Texas Department of Public Safety; Border Patrol; and the gunman’s uncle, who drove and was with him when he picked up the gun from the shop.
Attorney Bonner served the school district Monday night, and served the city officials Tuesday during a City Council meeting.
According to a Texas House committee report, which was published in July 2022, it was concluded that the gunman was able to enter the classroom due to “systemic failures and egregious poor decision making.” This was also said to be the cause of the delay in law enforcement’s response. According to reports, Uvalde School Police Chief Pete Arredondo waited for more than an hour to take action and to shoot the 18-year-old gunman dead. His statement showed that he did not consider himself to be the commanding officer during the incident. He stepped down from his position in July.
The $27 billion class action lawsuit against civil rights violations will be filed on behalf of the victims’ families, as well as the survivors. Nine families are involved so far, but others are expected to join in the lawsuit. The huge amount is to ensure that it is expensive enough to draw action from those accused. It also aims to cover expenses for counseling of those affected, as well as compensation for those who were involved and present during the massacre. If the lawsuit fails, Bonner ensures parents that he will not ask them to pay for his fees.
The claim is the first step before a class-action lawsuit and it puts the served parties on notice of a potential suit. Attorney Bonner said he would prefer to reach a settlement and hopes the parties are willing to negotiate. If not, he will file the federal lawsuit in September.
“The theme of this invitation to negotiate is accountability, responsibility and justice, and that’s what we want for everyone in that class. We will leave no victim behind,” Bonner said.
