Attorney Brett Godfrey, who was not involved in the case, said the Cinemark verdict could impact a separate, federal civil trial slated for July against the theater chain.
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Nearly four years after the fatal Colorado theater shooting at Cinemark’s Aurora Century 16 multiplex, a state jury today decided that the nation’s third largest exhibition chain was not responsible for the tragedy.
He cited the absence of a silent alarm on the rear exit door through which the gunman launched his attack, or of security cameras. Among other things, the victims argued that Cinemark should have had armed guards at the theater the night of the shooting, when 1,000 people were expected to attend the midnight premiere of the Batman film, “The Dark Knight Rises”.
Jurors will resume deliberations Thursday morning in the Aurora theater shooting civil trial. After months of meticulous planning, he threw gas canisters into the crowd of more than 400 and then opened fire with a shotgun, assault rifle and semi-automatic pistol.
Marc Bern, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said he was “deeply disappointed” in the jury’s verdict and planned to challenge the result.
The massacre “was completely unpredictable, unforeseeable, and unpreventable”, Taylor told the media after Thursday’s ruling, adding that plaintiffs were just trying to get money from Cinemark.
The case focused on whether Cinemark should have done more to prevent the carnage at the multiplex in Aurora, Colorado. They believe it has violated their rights by refusing to reveal where Holmes is serving his 12 life sentences plus 3,318 years.
Jurors and victims left the courthouse without speaking to reporters Thursday.
“Such shootings are still so rare that the management could not have anticipated one at a theater with no history of serious violence”, Taylor said.
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Victims also are suing Holmes’ University of Colorado psychiatrist, arguing she and other university officials should have done more to stop the attack after Holmes confessed his homicidal thoughts.
