Legal Showdown: Parkland Survivor Faces Off with Victims’ Families

At a Glance

Anthony Borges, a Parkland survivor, reached a legal agreement with the shooter, sparking tension with victims’ families.
The families countered with their own $190 million settlement proposal involving Cruz.
The conflict began during negotiations over a $25 million settlement with Broward County schools in 2021.
Borges’ attorney argues Borges requires substantial funds due to lifelong medical expenses.
The court session featured high emotions, with the judge comparing it to a contested divorce.

The Rift Over Settlements

Anthony Borges, a survivor of the 2018 Parkland school massacre, has ignited courtroom tensions by reaching a June agreement with the shooter, Nikolas Cruz, for rights to his name and image, approval over interviews, and a $400,000 annuity. This legal stance has created a rift with some families of the 17 victims who were murdered in the tragedy.

The families of Meadow Pollack, Luke Hoyer, Alaina Petty, and survivor Maddy Wilford responded with a $190 million settlement proposal. They argue that state law prohibits Borges from acquiring these rights and that all families should collectively decide on Cruz’s interviews to ensure he remains unheard. This sentiment underscores the deep divisions stemming from the school shooting tragedy.

A lawyer for families of the dead and injured in the Parkland shooting said a dispute over the killer’s inheritance and intellectual property rights is being forced by the “greed” of the attorney for the most seriously injured survivor. https://t.co/ubwZZpbHcv

— NBC 6 South Florida (@nbc6) September 6, 2024

Historical Context of the Dispute

The animosity between Borges and the families began during negotiations over a $25 million settlement with Broward County schools in 2021. The families insisted that Borges receive $1 less. Borges’ attorney, Alex Arreaza, argued that Borges deserved $5 million due to lifelong medical expenses, leading to their exclusion from the group.

“The Borgeses are tired of being treated like second-class citizens,” Arreaza said after the hearing. “We never wanted to air that out before, but the reality is that they threw us out of the group because they wanted to dictate what we are supposed to get, and the Borgeses have every right to ask for what they asked for.”

The conflict continued when negotiating a $127 million settlement with the FBI, resulting in the Borges family eventually reaching separate settlement agreements. Borges, who was critically injured and nearly bled to death after being shot five times, argued for additional consideration due to extensive medical and mental health expenses.

A nasty rift between Parkland massacre survivor Anthony Borges and some families of the dead erupted in court Thursday. (More than six years later, this tragedy sadly still generates news and likely will for at least another year or two) https://t.co/Yz5wiswTEy

— Terry Spencer (@terryspen) September 5, 2024

Courtroom Confrontations

The legal disagreement extends beyond settlements to include whether Borges can claim rights to Cruz’s name, likeness, and the annuity money. Borges’ attorney, Arreaza, insists that Borges requires the annuity for ongoing medical care, further escalating the tensions. In contrast, David Brill, representing the other families, accused Arreaza of insulting the families and inflating Borges’ medical costs.

“This bad blood, on our side we have repeatedly done what is right for the Borgeses, notwithstanding that history, at every turn, even on this one. And this is the thanks we get,” Brill said after the hearing.

The contentious courtroom session saw multiple interventions by Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips, who compared the animosity to a contested divorce. She expressed sadness over the hearing coinciding with a school shooting in Georgia and urged the parties to reconsider their focus.

Cruz, who retains rights to his image, likeness, and story, signed away his annuity and intellectual property rights in separate agreements: one with Borges and his family, and another with the families represented by Brill. Borges’ attorney, Arreaza, contends that his clients are seeking a fair share. The court’s immediate legal battle will determine the ownership of Cruz’s publicity rights, with Judge Phillips set to rule on the matter later.