DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Oxford school district on Thursday in a lawsuit that seeks to hold employees partly responsible for a shooting that killed four students and wounded others in 2021.
The court, in a 3-0 opinion, said lawyers for the families have not offered evidence that shows Oxford staff were the “proximate cause” of the tragedy.
While staff had expressed concerns about Ethan Crumbley, and a meeting was held with his parents on the day of the shooting, it was the teenager who “made the definite and premeditated decision” to take a gun to Oxford High School, the appeals court said.
The court affirmed a lower court decision that said governmental immunity applied. Under Michigan law, immunity is a high hurdle to overcome in lawsuits against a public body or staff. Lawyers typically have to show that gross negligence occurred.
A law firm representing the Oxford families said they'll next ask the Michigan Supreme Court to take an appeal. A separate lawsuit is in federal court.
Crumbley, who was 15 at the time, is serving a life prison sentence. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, are each serving 10-year sentences for involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors said they had ignored his mental health needs, bought him a gun as a gift and then failed to safely secure it.
Before the shooting, Ethan Crumbley had sketched images of a gun, a bullet and a wounded man on a math paper, accompanied by despondent phrases. The parents were quickly called to a meeting at school but declined to take him home. No one — parents or staff — checked the boy's backpack for a gun.
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FILE - Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, right, shakes hands with Oxford High School victim parents after Jennifer Crumbley was found guilty on four counts of involuntary manslaughter in the Oakland County courtroom, Feb. 6, 2024 in Pontiac, Mich. (Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press via AP, Pool, File)
Roma opened its women's Champions League campaign with an upset 1-0 win against two-time champion Wolfsburg, while record eight-time winner Lyon eased past tournament debutant Galatasaray 3-0 and Chelsea held on to beat Real Madrid 3-2 on Tuesday.
The most impressive performance belonged to Roma, considering it finished bottom in last season's group stage.
“It’s a huge victory, a result that we wanted at all costs,” Roma coach Alessandro Spugna said. “I think it is our best (result) in Europe. We delivered an intelligent performance, understanding the game and managing the difficult moments well."
All of Lyon's goals were headers, with France striker Kadidiatou Diani getting two of them in the other Group A match.
After Lyon lost the final to Barcelona last season, Lyon's coach Sonia Bompastor left to replace Emma Hayes at Chelsea.
Bompastor's new side was in charge for long spells at Stamford Bridge, before sloppy defending gave Madrid a late lifeline.
Roma took the lead early on at Tre Fontane stadium through captain Manuela Giugliano's 14th-minute penalty following a foul by right back Lynn Wilms.
Wolfsburg striker Alexandra Popp made her 99th competition appearance and is one away from becoming only the second player to reach 100, after Lyon’s Wendie Renard.
But it was defender Marina Hegering who was Wolfsburg’s most dangerous threat, and she twice went close with headers as the 2023 runner-up chased an equalizer.
Goalkeeper Camelia Ceasar made several saves to keep out the German side.
“We knew we were facing a top team, but we prepared well," Roma midfielder Giada Greggi said. "These games make you grow in every aspect: mental, technical, tactical.”
Lyon won the trophy five consecutive times during its heyday and was runner-up last season to Barcelona.
Diani headed in a 34th-minute cross from Mali winger Tabitha Chawinga, who assisted again moments before the break with a looping left-wing cross to give Canada's Vanessa Gilles an easy header from near the goal line.
Galatasaray goalkeeper Gamze Yaman denied Lyon before Diani nodded in Amel Majri's left-wing cross in the 77th.
Ada Hegerberg, who won the first women’s Ballon d’Or, went close to adding to her record 64 competition goals when she glanced a header wide in stoppage time.
Bompastor was replaced at Lyon by Joe Montemurro.
French hopes firmly rest with his side after Paris Saint-Germain — a semifinalist last season — was eliminated by Juventus in qualifying.
Hayes left Chelsea to lead the United States women and immediately made her mark with gold at the Paris Olympics.
Not seeing her patrolling the touchline must have felt unfamiliar for home fans after her 12 years in charge, which included a semfinal loss to Barcelona last season.
But they were cheering in the second minute when Sjoeke Nüsken forced the ball in after challenging for Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s cross with Madrid defender Sheila Garcia.
Midfielder Guro Reiten's crisp penalty made it 2-0, but Madrid pulled one back shortly before the break when forward Alba Redondo's low shot went through the legs of goalkeeper Zecira Musovic.
A looping header from Colombia striker Mayra Ramírez made it 3-1 early into the second half.
Chelsea looked in control but some muddled defending led to a scramble and Colombian Linda Caicedo pounced for the Spanish side in the 84th.
In Group B’s other game, midfielder Kayleigh van Dooren struck in each half as Dutch side Twente won 2-0 at Celtic.
Barca’s quest for a third straight title begins on Wednesday with a trip to Manchester City, while Swedish club Hammarby faces St. Pölten of Austria in the other Group D game.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Chelsea's Guro Reiten celebrates after scoring her side's second goal during the women's Champions League group B soccer match between FC Chelsea and Real Madrid in London, England, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)
FC Twente's Kayleigh van Dooren, right, celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage match between Celtic and Twente at New Douglas Park, Hamilton, Britain, Tuesday Oct. 8, 2024. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Lucy Bronze, left, and Real Madrid's Alba Redondo, right, challenge for the ball during the women's Champions League group B soccer match between FC Chelsea and Real Madrid in London, England, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)
Chelsea's scorer Mayra Ramirez and her teammate Guro Reiten, right, celebrate their side's thirrd goal during the women's Champions League group B soccer match between FC Chelsea and Real Madrid in London, England, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)
Chelsea's players huddle up before the women's Champions League group B soccer match between FC Chelsea and Real Madrid in London, England, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Guro Reiten scores her side's second goal during the women's Champions League group B soccer match between FC Chelsea and Real Madrid in London, England, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)
AS Roma's Elena Linari during a women's Champions League Group A soccer match between AS Roma and Wolfsburg at the Tre Fontane stadium in Rome, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
Wolfsburg's head coach Tommy Stroot during the women's Champions League Group A soccer match between Roma and Wolfsburg at the Tre Fontane stadium in Rome, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
Wolfsburg's Svenja Huth , left, kicks the ball past Roma's Giada Greggi during the women's Champions League Group A soccer match between Roma and Wolfsburg at the Tre Fontane stadium in Rome, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
AS Roma's Manuela Giugliano kicks the 1-0 goal against Wolfsburg during a women's Champions League Group A game between AS Roma and Wolfsburg at the Tre Fontane stadium in Rome, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
