Schietpartij tijdens Batman-premiere in Denver #4

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Overlevenden schietpartij moeten fortuin betalen aan bioscoop

Op 20 juli 2012 richtte James Holmes een bloedbad aan in een bioscoop in Aurora in de Amerikaanse staat Colorado. Terwijl de Batman-kaskraker 'The Dark Knight Rises' er werd afgespeeld, schoot hij twaalf mensen dood. Tientallen anderen raakten gewond. In de nasleep van de schietpartij spanden enkele slachtoffers rechtszaken aan tegen de bioscoop, maar die visten achter het net. Ze moeten nu de gerechtskosten ophoesten, en die zijn niet mals. Prijskaartje: 700.000 dollar (625.000 euro).

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Cinemark drops cost claims against all but four Aurora theater shooting victims who sued
Four victims in state court case still could have to pay $700,000 bill

Several dozen victims of the Aurora theater shooting will not have to pay the legal costs of the theater’s owner after reaching a settlement in a long-running lawsuit.

According to court documents filed Wednesday, theater owner Cinemark and most of the victims who are plaintiffs in a state-court lawsuit against the company have struck a deal in which Cinemark will drop the cost request if the victims drop their appeal. Cinemark had sought nearly $700,000 from the victims after a jury this year ruled in the company’s favor. Under Colorado law, the winning side in a civil case is entitled to recover its legal costs.
[..]
The lawsuits eventually consolidated into two cases — one in state court and one in federal court — with separate groups of victims as plaintiffs. Both lawsuits were then decided for Cinemark. After the jury verdict in the state court case this summer, the U.S. District Court judge presiding over the federal case also ruled in Cinemark’s favor.

Both cases are being appealed, and there is still a possibility some victims could be ordered to pay.

According to the court filings this week, all but four plaintiffs in the state court case have now agreed to the settlement. Those four remaining plaintiffs still could be ordered to pay Cinemark’s legal bills.

In the federal case, several victims — worried about the possibility of having to pay Cinemark’s costs — also settled. There are four victims in that case, as well, who are still appealing and could face the prospect of paying Cinemark’s costs. The company has not yet put a value on its costs in the federal case.