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(AP) - Many allegations made in a wrongful
death lawsuit arising out of the Rocori High School shootings are
wrong, an attorney for the school district said Tuesday.

      Shamus O'Meara, who represents the district and former
principal, said much of the "information referenced about the
school district is inaccurate and false ... and that criminal
investigative agencies have determined to be baseless."

      Jason McLaughlin was 15 when he brought a .22-caliber pistol
that belonged to his father to school Sept. 24, 2003 and killed
Seth Bartell, 14, and Aaron Rollins, 17. He was sentenced last year
to life in prison, but could be paroled after 30 years.

      The lawsuit filed by the parents of Rollins and Bartell claims,
among other things, that the district and the principal were told a
week before the shootings that "an unidentified other student
planned to bring a gun to Rocori for the purpose of carrying out a
shooting at Rocori High School the week of the eventual actual
shooting."

      O'Meara said he couldn't be more specific about what parts of
the lawsuit he was calling inaccurate. But when asked if one of
them involved the alleged alert, he said: "That's an example of
one of them."

      The district believes its crisis management and response plans
in place at the time of the shooting were sound, O'Meara said.

      The lawsuit names the district, former principal Doug Standke,
McLaughlin, and his father, David McLaughlin, a Stearns County
sheriff's deputy.

      Rollins' father, Tom Rollins, said filing it was one of the
toughest decisions they've had to make.

      "It took us (the Rollins and Bartells) two years to decide to
do it," he said. "It's not about the money. It's about getting
the truth out."

      He said he knows some in the community don't agree with their
decision.

      But, he said, "We'd all like to know if there were things that
could have been done to prevent it. Any concerned parent would say
if there were indications there was a threat, what was done?"

      O'Meara said the district was surprised to receive the lawsuit.
There had been no communication between the district and the
families about any potential lawsuit or intent to pursue claims, he
said.

      O'Meara also represented the Red Lake district, which agreed in
July to pay $1 million to 21 families of those killed or injured in
the March 2005 shootings at Red Lake High School that left 10 dead.
In that settlement, he said, there was no formal lawsuit from the
families.

      He cautioned against drawing any comparisons between the Rocori
and Red Lake cases. "The only thing they have in common is that
they were school shootings," he said.

      In the Rocori lawsuit, the families also allege that the
district and its employees did not enforce rules prohibiting
duffle-type bags like the one in which McLaughlin concealed his
weapon. It also alleges that McLaughlin's father provided his son
with easy access to the gun and ammunition used in the shooting.

      Joseph Daly, a Hamline University law professor, said the key
question is whether the school knew or should have known that
McLaughlin was dangerous. He said this is the kind of case
defendants often want to settle because there is so much emotion
and risk of a large jury award.

      After the 1999 Columbine shootings in Colorado, 13 families of
the victims split a $285,000 settlement.

      Daniel Eller, who was John Jason McLaughlin's defense attorney,
said this lawsuit comes as a surprise.

      "Things have been quiet in the Cold Spring area for some time,
but it's not out of the minds of the parties," Eller said.

      The defendants have until Oct. 11 to respond to the allegations,
O'Meara said.

Gallery

Crime, Law and Justice

Shamus O'Meara, who represents the district and former
principal, said much of the "information referenced about the
school district is inaccurate and false .

Attorney for Rocori school district calls allegations 'baseless'

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