Victim's relatives hire lawyer who defended Kevorkian

By April M. Washington
Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer

Isaiah Shoels' family will file a wrongful death lawsuit against Columbine High School and the parents of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, Shoels' relatives said Monday.

Michael Shoels, the father of 18-year-old Isaiah who was killed April 20 at the school, expects the suit to be filed as early as Wednesday.

"I'm not doing this for money," Shoels said Monday. "Something needs to be done to make sure these institutions do a better job protecting our children, and parents do not shirk their responsibility."

The Shoels family hired high-profile attorney Geoffrey Fieger after meeting with the Southfield, Mich., lawyer at their home Saturday. He gained national recognition in several high-profile cases, including defending Dr. Jack Kevorkian.

Fieger was unavailable for comment Monday, said Lisa Macavey, Fieger's legal assistant.

Littleton attorney Jack Beam, who did not return phone calls Monday, also has been retained as local counsel.

Rick Kaufman, Jefferson County school district spokesman, contended Columbine officials could not have prevented the shootings.

"You're talking about two disenfranchised individuals who amassed a tremendous amount of firepower and a will to create a whole lot of mayhem, pain and heartache for a lot of people," Kaufman said.

Harris, 18, and Klebold, 17, both seniors at Columbine High, opened fired on the school two weeks ago, killing 13 and wounding 23 before shooting themselves.

Witnesses said Isaiah was singled out by the gunmen because he was black.

The Harrises' attorney, Benjamin Colkitt, did not return phone calls Monday. Linda Simon, a spokeswoman for the Klebolds, declined comment.

Fieger is no stranger to the limelight. He was in a Michigan courtroom Monday trying a $50 million lawsuit against talk-show host Jenny Jones, Macavey said.

Fieger's reputation as one of the country's best defense attorneys may not be enough to bring the Shoels family legal satisfaction, a local expert said.

Under Colorado law, the family will have to prove that Columbine officials and the killers' parents had detailed knowledge of the teens' plans and possessed the ability to stop the shooting rampage, said Arthur Best, professor of law at the University of Denver.

"From what I've read, it doesn't sound like this was conduct anyone could have prevented," Best said.

"This is just an example of parents who have suffered a grave loss, and they are trying to make sense of this tragedy through the legal system."