In Detroit, a judge has approved a $13 million settlement in a lawsuit regarding an unannounced active shooter drill at the Hawthorn Center, a Michigan psychiatric hospital for children. The drill caused terror among the kids and staff as they were informed through a speaker system that two armed men were inside the facility and shots were fired, prompting a chaotic response of seeking cover, contacting family, and calling 911. Despite the drill being fake, it caused significant distress and fear among those involved.
As part of the settlement, each of the fifty children at the hospital will receive approximately $60,000, while staff members will be compensated based on their trauma exam scores, with an average payout of over $50,000 for 90 individuals. The state acknowledged that the drill was a poor decision that harmed many people, leading to the settlement agreement.
Police responding to the 911 calls were unaware of the drill and arrived on the scene anticipating a real active shooter situation. Two individuals posing as shooters were apprehended, but they were not armed. The settlement was approved by Court of Claims Judge James Redford, with over $3 million going to attorneys in the case.
The Department of Health and Human Services expressed regret over the incident and stated that settling the matter was in the best interest of all parties involved. The drill was organized by the hospital’s safety director, who still works for the state, and the hospital was subsequently closed for unrelated reasons.
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