Colo. theater owner seeks to recoup legal fees from shooting victims
The owner of the Aurora, Colo., theater where a gunman opened fire in 2012, killing 12 people, is going through the courts to recoup $700,000 in legal fees from the survivors, according to various reports.
Lawyers for multiplex owner Cinemark filed a "bill of costs" for almost $700,000 earlier this month in Arapahoe County District Court to win back legal costs from several surviving victims who unsuccessfully sued the chain, the Denver Post reported. Entities can file such suits in civil court if they win a case. Last month, a jury sided with the Plano, Texas-based theater company after more than two dozen survivors and parents of those who died sued Cinemark in state court, claiming security lapses contributed to the shooting. The jury found Cinemark was not liable for the shooting, the Post reported.
Seventy people were hurt in the incident.
Survivors interviewed in the past for Paste BN could not be reached for reaction.
A judge in charge of a similar case filed by surviving victims also last week ruled in favor of Cinemark.
On July 22, 2012, authorities say James Holmes opened fire at the Century 16 theater, sending people huddling in front of their seats or scrambling for doors.
Holmes confessed but pleaded guilty by reason of insanity. He was convicted of murder in April 2015 and given 12 life sentences on Aug. 26 last year, plus 3,318 years for attempted murder and other charges.