A judge has approved a $13 million settlement in a lawsuit over a terrifying unannounced active shooter drill at a Michigan psychiatric hospital for children. The drill occurred on December 21, 2022, when someone at the front desk falsely announced that two armed men were inside the Hawthorn Center and shots had been fired, causing panic among the staff and children. People hid under desks and barricaded doors, with many fearing for their lives.
As a result of the settlement, each of the 50 children at the hospital will receive roughly $60,000, while 90 staff members will receive more than $50,000 based on their trauma exam scores. The state recognized the harm caused by the drill and decided to settle the case. Police responded to 911 calls without knowing it was a drill, causing additional distress. Two individuals acting as shooters were captured, but they were not armed.
The settlement was approved by Court of Claims Judge James Redford, with over $3 million going to attorneys involved in the case. The state Department of Health and Human Services expressed regret over the incident and stated that the settlement was in the best interest of all parties involved. The drill was organized by the safety director of the Hawthorn Center, who is still employed by the state. The hospital was later closed for unrelated reasons.
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