PARENTS OF SHOOTING SURVIVORS FILE SUIT

The parents of two sisters who survived the Nov. 30 shooting at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the school district and its officials, including the superintendent, principal, dean of students, two guidance counselors and two teachers.

The plaintiffs are Jeffrey and Brandi Franz, parents of Riley, a 17-year-old senior, and Bella, a 14-year-old freshman. Riley was shot in the neck in front of her sister.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, seeks $100 million in damages. It claims constitutional violations under the 14th Amendment, and violations under Michigan state law because the teenagers “had a clearly established right to be free from danger.” The lawsuit also states that school staff members acted in “reckless disregard” for the victims’ safety.

A second suit will be filed in state court, said the parents’ lawyer, Geoffrey Fieger.

Four students were killed and several others were seriously injured in the Oxford shooting. Ethan Crumbley, 15, was charged with murder and terrorism. His parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, were charged with involuntary manslaughter. All have pleaded not guilty.

The lawsuit filed Thursday says that “Ethan Crumbley posted countdowns and threats of bodily harm” on social media and that parents complained to administrators about such social media messages in the weeks before the shooting but that the superintendent, Tim Throne, and principal, Steven Wolf, said the threats were not credible.

The suit also states that school officials did not involve the school safety officer in a meeting with Ethan and his parents on the day of the shooting.

In its defense, the school said in an earlier statement that Ethan was returned to the classroom because he “had no prior disciplinary infractions,” adding that the counselors “made a judgment based on their professional training and clinical experience and did not have all the facts we now know.”