Movie and Video Game Companies Win Dismissal in Columbine-Related Suit

March 1, 2002 at 12:58 am - by Dale Dietrich

Categories: Decisions • Game Violence Cases

In a thorough 30-page opinion, Chief Judge Lewis T. Babcock rejected the plaintiffs’ negligence and strict liability claims on both state law and First Amendment grounds. On the negligence claims, the court held that the movie and video game defendants did not owe a duty to the plaintiffs and that, in any event, Harris and Klebold’s actions were a superseding cause of Sanders’ death. On the strict liability claims, the court held that the expression in the movies and video games was not a “product” subject to strict liability and that, again, the shooters’ actions were a superseding cause. In addition, the court held that the First Amendment barred all of plaintiffs’ claims.