Father of slain student won't settle Columbine suit without first talking to killers' parents

By M.E. Sprengelmeyer
and Karen Abbott
Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writers

The father of a slain Columbine High School student wants answers, not money, before settling a lawsuit over his son's death.

Brian Rohrbough, father of the late Daniel Lee Rohrbough, said Wednesday he sees no reason to join a proposed $1.6 million group settlement offered by the parents of the two Columbine killers and a gun supplier.

The parents of teen gunmen Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris asked through their attorneys for public support for the negotiations.

A statement prepared by the Klebolds said a settlement would be "a blessing to our community."

The Klebolds' statement concluded: "We also ask for your patience and support as these negotiations continue."

C. Michael Montgomery said his clients, the Harrises, appreciate the settlement efforts of lawyers on both sides.

"We think it would be a good thing for all concerned and for our community if we could achieve that goal," Montgomery said, "but it is simply too early in the process for us to discuss the details or for us to predict whether or not our efforts will be successful."

The families of the two Columbine killers and one of the men who helped provide them a gun have offered $1.6 million to settle multiple lawsuits against them.

Lawyers in the case said they were dismayed by news coverage of their settlement efforts and pleaded for privacy while talks continue.

They said that the money available through the families' homeowners insurance won't even come close to covering all the victims' medical expenses — never mind any damages for pain and suffering and other effects.

But the chance to question the families of the gunmen is more important than the money to Rohrbough.

"I would like to talk to them. I'd like to have the candid discussions of what went on and try to understand their point of view," Rohrbough said. "I don't think there's any chance I'm going to settle with someone ... with anyone mentioned here — without having a chance to talk to them privately."

"The big issue is, I want the truth about what happened before, during and since April 20 (1999). I want questions answered," Rohrbough said.

Rohrbough said he would never accept a financial settlement unless it also included a private meeting with the parents of the gunmen.

"Clearly the Klebolds and the Harrises had enough warning signs, and to this point in time have denied having those," he said.

"The reason we filed the lawsuits is our intent was to go to trial," Rohrbough said. "I have no way of knowing if there might be some situation that would result in a settlement. I don't see that happening."

The lawyers said they were mentioning settlement possibilities among themselves even before the families of 16 victims filed lawsuits around the first anniversary of the April 20, 1999, attack on Columbine High School. The lawsuits are pending in Denver U.S. District Court.

High school seniors Harris and Klebold attacked their school with guns and home-made bombs, shooting 13 people to death and wounding more than 20 others. The teens then took their own lives in the school library.

The settlement discussions became more serious about three months ago, the attorneys said.

Stephen Wahlberg represents the families of injured students Sean Graves and Lance Kirklin. At a news conference Wednesday afternoon he said: "We are in the middle."

Wahlberg and Harris attorney Montgomery called the news conference in Montgomery's downtown Denver office. They read brief prepared statements, then answered a few questions after first insisting that TV cameras be turned off.

They said they and other lawyers involved in the settlement negotiations are struggling now to figure out how to include the 18 families of slain and injured victims who haven't filed lawsuits in any settlement. Lawyers already representing victims in court are ethically barred from contacting other victims, Wahlberg said. For one thing, adding more recipients could reduce the amount their clients get from a settlement.

Larry Munson's daughter Stephanie was shot in the ankle.

The Munsons were among the 18 who had yet to be contacted about the settlement proposal. They haven't sued anyone.

"I haven't even thought about it," he said. "I'm just trying to get my life back to normal. If they want me, then fine. It's not about money. I want my children's lives back to normal. "

Another problem, the lawyers said, is how to decide which family gets how much money. The 24 injured people identified in the settlement letter received wounds ranging from severe disabilities involving enormous lifetime medical costs to less serious injuries involving no future medical costs.

The settlement offer from the Harrises, the Klebolds and Manes doesn't involve the more than 30 other defendants also sued by victims and their families. Those defendants include the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the school district, individual sheriff's deputies and teachers and other young people who helped Harris and Klebold obtain guns.

Wahlberg said no counter-offer has been made, partly because he hasn't yet had a chance to discuss one with lawyers for other victims' families.

Specifically excluded from the settlement offer were six families of students who died, all represented by attorney Jim Rouse. The offer letter indicated Rouse had refused to join in settlement talks, but added that he and his clients would be welcome to participate.

"There were discussions among the various plaintiffs about how to approach a possible settlement," Rouse said Wednesday. "Those talks broke down as between my clients and some of the other clients, and apparently the injured and whoever else is out there decided to take their own run."

He said families of those who died — including all six of his client families — are in different legal circumstances than the families of the injured.

However, the settlement offer includes three families who sued over loved ones' deaths and four families who lost children but did not sue.

Staff writer Holly Kurtz contributed to this report. Contact M.E. Sprengelmeyer at (303) 892-2741 or sprengelmeyerm@RockyMountainNews.com.