According to the father of a murdered Marjory Stoneman Douglas student, the money will relieve financial stress but will not bring happiness or return their lost children. Another person stated that at least some money will most likely be donated to foundations in memory of the victims.
Attorneys for the victims' families announced the settlement in November, and the United States Department of Justice confirmed the agreement and the dollar amount on Wednesday.
The families of 16 of the 17 people killed, as well as the families of others injured in the shootings, had sued the government over the FBI's failure to investigate a tip received about a month before the Parkland, Florida, massacre.
The family of Martin Duque, a 14-year-old Mexican boy who participated in the JROTC program, chose not to participate in the federal lawsuit. His family was unable to be reached for comment. His family is, however, a part of another settlement in which the Broward County school district will pay $1 million to the families of victims who died.
Tony Montalto, who lost his 14-year-old daughter Gina in the shooting, said nothing can make up for what he and others lost. He is the founder of the advocacy group Stand With Parkland.
"Every day, I think about how much I miss my daughter. "I wish she was here," Montalto said. "From conversations and testimony, we know that the FBI failed to protect our children, students, and teachers." We hope they make changes to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again."
Montalto stated that he and other families have established foundations in memory of their loved ones. He had not discussed plans for the settlement money with other families, but he believes some will go to foundations that support programs related to what their children liked. Some people are also calling for gun safety reforms.
According to David Brill, an attorney representing four relatives and a survivor, the families of those killed agreed to receive equal amounts in the settlement, while those who suffered injuries received a different amount, which was also equal to other victims who were injured but survived. The figures have not been made public.
"They all recognize that they are members of a club that no one wants to be a member of," Brill said. "They all recognize that their respectful losses are neither greater nor lesser than the next person's."
Andrew Pollack, whose 18-year-old daughter Meadow was killed, said the settlement relieves some of the financial stress, but that many families' lives have changed and inflation has exacerbated matters.
"Money does not bring happiness, but it will help in a way where they are not as stressed," Pollack said. "It doesn't bring our children back or help. It's not something we say, 'Oh, that's great.' It's getting money for the murder of your child."
Pollack stated that some people had lost their jobs or had relocated away from Parkland. He now lives in the Oregon woods, claiming he needed to get away from Parkland.
"It's all about accountability," he explained. "They called me and admitted they made a mistake. It doesn't make it any better."
An FBI tip line received a call about five weeks before the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting, claiming that former Stoneman Douglas student Nikolas Cruz had purchased firearms and intended to "slip into a school and start shooting the place up."
Cruz was never contacted, and the information was never forwarded to the FBI's South Florida office. He'd been expelled from school a year before and had a history of emotional and behavioral issues.
Cruz, 23, pleaded guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder last year. After a penalty trial, which is set to begin on April 4, he will be sentenced to death or life in prison.