On February 13, 2023, a mass shooting occurred at Michigan State University (MSU) where shooter Anthony Dwayne McRae, 43, killed three students and critically injured five others.
The attack took place on campus, and McRae was found with two handguns, resulting in 14 shots fired at two different locations. After the shooting, McRae fled the scene and was found off-campus hours later and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
This Michigan State University shooting is just one of hundreds which marked a turning point in public awareness of mass shootings and shooters in the era of mass media.
Since 1966, 1,726 people have been killed and 2,688 injured in mass public shootings, and they are increasing. And they are increasing exponentially.
In this new “Justice in America” Network TV Special, our news team is on location in Michigan, with the Statly’s lawyers Mick Grewal and Scott Weidenfeller, to discuss how they successfully overcame the biggest hurdles in this mass shooting case because the current state of the law grants Universities broad governmental immunity for negligence in the State of Michigan. They will discuss the security failures MSU committed.
Mick and Scott cleverly framed the legal issue of their case as a failure to maintain a safe physical building condition (unlocked doors) rather than a general security negligence claim. They found a viable path around the university’s governmental immunity defense, which ultimately pressured MSU into the significant settlement.
They reached a settlement of $14,250,000 with MSU, in a little over 2 years.
This “Public Universities” immunity is not absolute and primarily applies to lawsuits from private parties in federal court, though it can be waived by the state or modified by Congress. A college’s actions and adherence to safety protocols are key factors in determining liability.
The alleged safety failures in the MSU shooting were cited as key factors that increased the danger and allowed the shooting to continue, leading to the victims and survivors reaching a nearly $30 million settlement with the university in June 2025.
Historically, courts have been reluctant to impose a general duty on colleges to protect adult students from harm caused by third parties. However, the specific circumstances of each case, including the actions of the college, are crucial. But as in all matters of life, the devil is always in the details.
In order to prevail, they needed to prove that an exception to governmental immunity applies. There were only a few potential exceptions, including a violation of civil rights and due process pursuant to both the U.S. Constitution – 14th Amendment, 42 USC Section 1983, and the Michigan constitution, Article 1 Section 17. They also pursued additional theories, including the gross negligence exception to governmental immunity located at: MCL 691.1407 and the public building exception located at: MCL 691.1406.
Mick and Scott have earned reputations as unyielding trial lawyers who repeatedly represent individuals and families against big companies and the Goliaths of the world. And repeatedly win.
And their amazing courtroom skills and headline grabbing success rate continue to provide their clients with the results they need……And the results they most deserve.
For additional information please contact Mick Grewal and Scott Weidenfeller @ Grewal Law https://www.4grewallaw.com/ or 517-372-1011