The legal battle surrounding the 2018 Parkland school shooting continues as an appeals court has ruled that civil lawsuits against former Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson can move forward.
Peterson was the school resource officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of 17 students and faculty members. He has been accused of failing to adequately respond to the attack, and families of the victims have filed lawsuits seeking to hold him accountable.
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Peterson’s attorneys had argued that a circuit judge should have granted summary judgment in his favor, effectively ending the lawsuits. They claimed that Peterson had no legal “duty of care” and was shielded from liability by a state sovereign immunity law that protects government employees from personal lawsuits for actions taken while on the job.
However, the 4th District Court of Appeal rejected Peterson’s argument without providing a detailed explanation. This decision allows the lawsuits to proceed, potentially leading to a trial where Peterson’s actions during the shooting will be further scrutinized.
Peterson’s attorneys maintain that he cannot be held liable for failing to stop the shooter, Nikolas Cruz. They argue that Florida law provides immunity for governmental employees in such situations.
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Conversely, attorneys for the plaintiffs contend that Peterson had a clear duty to respond to the active shooter situation by locating, engaging, and neutralizing Cruz. They argue that a police officer has a mandatory obligation to respond to such a threat.
The appeals court panel, consisting of Judges Dorian Damoorgian, Spencer Levine, and Alan Forst, did not elaborate on their decision to uphold the lower court’s ruling. This leaves the door open for the lawsuits to proceed and potentially shed further light on the actions and inactions of those responsible for ensuring the safety of students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on that tragic day.
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