In recent weeks, the country has seen the suffering of dozens of families in the aftermath of the music festival shootings out West. It seems people in every state, including Texas, had some connection to one of the innocent victims of the rampage that left 58 people dead and injured more than 500. Now, at least one family is ready to enter probate litigation to ensure the shooter’s estate is secured for the victims of the tragedy.
Apparently, in the chaos of the shooting, the man accused of the heinous acts took his own life in the hotel room from which the shots originated. By all accounts, the gunman was a successful gambler who left behind more than $5 million in winnings. The heirs to that fortune appear to be the shooter’s girlfriend and his brother. However, one family has filed a lawsuit to freeze the estate and preserve the assets for families of the victims.
The lawsuit was filed by the family of a father who was enjoying the festival when the shooting began. He suffered a fatal bullet wound in the back while attempting to protect another spectator from injury. His family wants the court to prevent the shooter’s assets from being distributed in case future court cases direct the assets to go to victims and their survivors.
Such tragedies may leave Texas families with many questions. However, one of those questions should not involve how they will meet their financial obligations following the injury or death of a loved one. With the help of an attorney, probate litigation may help to certain assets that they may be able to access through future legal actions.
Source: miamiherald.com, “Family of Las Vegas shooting victim files lawsuit to freeze gunman’s assets“, Donovan Harrell, Oct. 7, 2017