Parklands School Shooting: Financial Disagreement Between Victims Over Killer’s Inheritance

By now, the families of those who lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018 had wanted to move past memories of the murderer. But on Thursday, in a contentious court proceeding in Broward County Circuit Court, his money and deeds surfaced again, even though he is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Money Dispute Between Victims

A lawyer representing the relatives of the deceased and injured said that the greed of the lawyer representing former pupil Anthony Borges, the most gravely injured survivor, is forcing a disagreement over the killer’s bequest and intellectual property rights. However, Borges’ lawyer claimed that the goal was to ensure that his clients received a just portion of any money they win from the murderer’s civil lawsuit. While incarcerated at the Florida State Prison, the murderer has little to his name. However, he is entitled to his likeness, image, and tale, as well as approximately $450,000, which is his portion of an annuity that his mother left for him and his brother.

The Assailant Signed Away His Property Rights

This year, he signed away his own intellectual property rights as well as the annuity, but in two separate agreements: one with the family of Anthony Borges, whom he almost killed, and another with family represented by lawyer David Brill. Of the approximately $150 million that the FBI and school board have paid out in settlements, the Borges are now settled for more than $7 million. Additionally, lawyer Alex Arreaza arranged a bargain for the additional almost $450,000 after Zoom this summer deposed the killer.

Agreement For Annuity

According to Brill, this violated the agreement they had hammered out, in which his clients agreed to donate their 80 percent annuity to charitable organizations and to prevent the killer’s intellectual property rights from being used. The Borges claim they are entitled to the entire $450,000 as well as the rights that the murderer gave up. Brill contended that because a state statute forbids criminals from making money off of their crimes, any money obtained through a contract like this for the rights would legally go to the victims or the state.

Hoyer and the others claim that the Borges consented to accept about $85,000 in exchange for the killer’s name and story rights being buried in prison beside him. Judge Phillips stated that if a settlement cannot be reached, she will have to convene a formal hearing complete with testimony and supporting documentation, but she would rather that everyone find a way to move past this.