Federal Court Dismisses Oxford High School Shooting Lawsuits

Federal lawsuits filed on behalf of victims of the 2021 Oxford High School shooting have been dismissed with prejudice by U.S. District Court Judge Mark Goldsmith, following a March ruling by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court found insufficient evidence that school employees, including counselor Shawn Hopkins and dean of students Nicholas Ejak, acted negligently or increased the immediate risk of danger leading up to the shooting, noting their efforts were aimed at mitigating risk rather than exhibiting callous indifference. Plaintiffs had alleged that the officials' actions, such as returning the shooter’s backpack and threatening to involve child protective services, exacerbated the danger, but the appellate court ruled these actions did not meet the legal threshold of being "conscience shocking." The shooter was sentenced to life without parole, and his parents received prison terms for involuntary manslaughter. Families of the victims, including those of the four students killed and survivors, had hoped to hold the school officials accountable, but the courts concluded that the officials’ conduct did not violate constitutional rights. This dismissal closes a significant legal chapter stemming from Michigan’s deadliest school shooting, despite the tragic loss and ongoing impacts on the community.