A judge has approved a $13 million settlement in a lawsuit over an unannounced active shooter drill at a psychiatric hospital for children in Michigan. The drill, which took place on Dec. 21, 2022, involved a false announcement that two armed men were inside the Hawthorn Center in suburban Detroit, causing panic among the staff and children. People hid under desks, barricaded doors, and called 911 in a frenzy to protect themselves.
Fifty children at the hospital will receive roughly $60,000 each, while 90 staff members will receive over $50,000 based on a trauma exam score. Two dozen others will get smaller amounts as part of the settlement. Police were not informed about the drill, leading to a large response from officers with body armor and high-powered weapons, only to find out it was a false alarm.
The settlement was approved by Court of Claims Judge James Redford, with over $3 million going to attorneys in the case. The state Department of Health and Human Services agreed to the settlement, acknowledging that the drill had harmed patients, staff, and the community. The drill was organized by the safety director of the Hawthorn Center, who still works for the state. The hospital was later closed for reasons unrelated to the incident.
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