LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — The Michigan Supreme Court has declined to take up civil lawsuits tied to the 2021 Oxford High School shooting, leaving in place rulings that shield the district and its employees from liability.

Limits of legal responsibility.

The order, issued May 28, did not include an explanation. The decision ends a state-level legal challenge brought by the families of seven students who were killed or injured in the attack.

MORE NEWS: Judge Drops Case Against MSP Trooper Accused of Hitting Fleeing Suspect

Attorney Tim Mullins, who represents the district and its staff, said the decision reflects the limits of legal responsibility. 

“I don’t think the liability extends to those who didn’t commit a criminal act,” Mullins said. “If you’re going to extend the law to make a government employee liable for acts of third parties, the extension of liability would be monumental.”

“Sweep it under the rug.”

The lawsuits argued that Oxford staff—including teachers, counselors, and security personnel—acted negligently and failed to prevent a foreseeable threat, according to The Detroit News. Oakland County Circuit Judge Mary Ellen Brennan dismissed the cases in 2023, citing governmental immunity. The Michigan Court of Appeals upheld that ruling in September.

“I’m shocked. I just can’t believe that with a tragedy of this nature, our government can just sweep it under the rug and say ‘sorry for your luck’ when it was preventable,” Buck Myre, whose son Tate was among the students killed, said during a press conference.

No further recourse.

Attorney Chris Desmond, representing several families, said the high court’s refusal leaves no further recourse at the state level; the ruling effectively ends the state challenge. “The courts essentially have said today through this ruling is that governmental immunity is not going to change by their hand at this stage,” Desmond said.

A separate set of federal lawsuits was also dismissed last week. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals found that Oxford staff had not acted with “callous indifference.” U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith issued the final order on May 21.