Spokesperson for Victims’ Families Talks about Settlement Proposal

By Ashley Roberts
WSLS10 Reporter
Published: March 25, 2008

Governor Tim Kaine isn’t saying much about the reported settlement proposal, only that “...discussions have been going on for months…“

But, Vincent Bove, a board certified crime prevention specialist and spokesperson for several of the victims’ families and those hurt on April 16th is speaking out. “This is not a very impressive offer. It comes across as being hush money.“

WSLS 10 on your side caught up with Governor Kaine in Wytheville this afternoon where he was addressing members of the community at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon. While being careful not to discuss the specifics of the reported settlement, he admits it’s about more than money. “There’s a lot more than that and some of it is not even monetary. Some of it is focused on law reform efforts like the mental health reforms…it’s a broad discussion and again we’re trying to be creative about it.“

Bove says some of the families may have no choice, but to accept it. “They might have to take a settlement because they lost the bread winners in their families.“

Bove hasn’t talked to the families about this particular offer, but says if they ask for his advice he’ll tell them not to accept it.

“At the end of the day, everybody is going to have a choice to make,“ says Kaine. Some families are looking at lawsuits or whatever and they can choose. This is all voluntary.“

On the other hand Bove says “what they’ve always wanted from the beginning is not a financial settlement, but what they want is accountability and consequences for the lack of leadership that led to the tragedy.“

A tragedy Bove says could have been prevented, but Kaine says it’s now up to the families to decide where they want to go from here.

According to the Associated Press, the settlement proposal requires all the families to agree *and* says the state can withdraw the proposal if they don’t. As we’ve reported, at least 20 families have filed notice with the state that they may sue. The deadline is April 16.