The Michigan Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit against Oxford High School staff following the tragic 2021 mass shooting, reinforcing Michigan’s strong governmental immunity statutes.
At a Glance
- The Michigan Supreme Court upheld a ruling that Oxford school staff are immune from civil liability in the 2021 shooting
- The court cited the shooter’s independent actions as the legal cause, shielding school employees
- Despite warning signs, staff did not check the shooter’s backpack or send him home
- The shooter is serving life in prison; his parents are jailed for firearm negligence
- Families and attorneys are calling for changes to Michigan’s immunity laws
Court: Staff Not Liable for Tragedy
Michigan’s top court ruled in favor of Oxford High School administrators, shielding them from lawsuits filed by families of the four students killed in the 2021 mass shooting. The court reaffirmed that Ethan Crumbley’s actions—not staff decisions—were the legal cause of the massacre, citing a longstanding governmental immunity statute that protects public employees from civil suits unless gross negligence can be proven.
The decision echoes a 2023 Court of Appeals ruling that had already blocked litigation against the school. Plaintiffs’ attorneys argued that school staff ignored clear warning signs and failed to take basic safety precautions.
Watch a report: Father of Oxford school shooting victim speaks out after ruling.
Missed Signs and Missed Accountability
On the morning of the shooting, Crumbley was seen drawing violent imagery and writing disturbing messages. A meeting with school staff and his parents ensued—yet no one searched his backpack, nor was he sent home. Prosecutors later revealed the weapon used was secured at home only after the fact, by which point Crumbley had carried it to school.
“I can’t believe that a tragedy of this nature, our government can just sweep it under the rug and say, ‘Sorry for your loss,’” said William Myre, whose son Tate was among the victims. “It was preventable.”
Law Favors the Public Sector
Attorney Chris Desmond, representing multiple victims’ families, blasted Michigan’s governmental immunity statutes. He argued that had this happened at a private school, staff would face accountability. “If this event… were to happen in a private school,” Desmond said, “this case would have been resolved by now.”
Michigan law sets a high bar for suing public employees, requiring not just negligence but proof of “gross negligence” that is the “proximate cause” of harm. The courts found that Crumbley’s choice to pull the trigger broke the chain of liability—even if school staff failed to act decisively.
Shooter and Parents Punished—But No Civil Justice
Ethan Crumbley is serving a life sentence without parole. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, each received 10-year sentences for involuntary manslaughter, a groundbreaking case that held parents criminally liable for failing to secure a firearm and ignoring their son’s mental health struggles.
With school staff off the hook legally, families are pushing for legislative reforms. The case sets a chilling precedent for future school tragedies—raising the question of whether institutions can ever be held accountable under Michigan law.
