Rift between Parkland massacre survivor and some families of the dead erupts in court

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A nasty rift between the most seriously wounded survivor of the 2018 Parkland school massacre and some families of the 17 murdered erupted in court on Thursday in a fight over dueling lawsuit settlements each side recently reached with the shooter as opposing attorneys accused each other of lying.

The immediate fight is over a June agreement survivor Anthony Borges and his parents reached with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz that would give Borges rights to Cruz's name and image, approval over any interviews he might do and a $400,000 annuity left Cruz by his deceased mother.

Attorneys for the families of slain students Meadow Pollack, Luke Hoyer and Alaina Petty, and survivor Maddy Wilford, quickly countered with their own $190 million settlement with Cruz.

But as Circuit Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips learned Wednesday, the mutual animosity started during negotiations over a $25 million settlement reached in 2021 with Broward County schools when the families of those killed insisted Borges receive $1 less than they would as an acknowledgement that they suffered the greater loss.

Borges' attorney, Alex Arreaza, believed his client deserved $5 million from that pot as Borges will have a lifetime of medical expenses. That resulted in his client being kicked out of the group when he wouldn't budge. The fight continued during negotiations over a $127 million settlement the families and surviving victims reached with the FBI. The Borgeses eventually reached their own settlements.

Borges, 21, was shot five times in the torso and legs. The once-promising soccer star nearly bled to death.

“The Borgeses are tired of being treated like second-class citizens,” Arreaza said after the hearing. “We never wanted to air that out before, but the reality is that they threw us out of the group because they wanted to dictate what we are supposed to get, and the Borgeses have every right to ask for what they asked for.”

But David Brill, the lead attorney for the Pollack, Hoyer and Petty families and Wilford, said Arreaza has insulted the families by telling them he was tired of hearing about their dead loved ones and that he exaggerated how much Borges' future medical costs will be.

“This bad blood, on our side we have repeatedly done what is right for the Borgeses, notwithstanding that history, at every turn, even on this one. And this is the thanks we get,” Brill said after the hearing.

Phillips had to step in numerous times during Thursday's 90-minute session as the sides yelled over each other and accused each other of dishonesty. In exacerbation, the judge at one point made a semi-joke that the animosity level was so high she felt like she was presiding over a contested divorce — and that she was granting it.

The immediate fight over the dueling settlements comes in two parts.

First, Brill argued state law precludes Borges from acquiring rights to Cruz's name and likeness and any money he might earn from his story as Cruz was stripped of those when he was convicted.

In any case, Brill said, one person should not have the right to decide whether Cruz should be allowed to give interviews. That should belong to all the families and survivors, he argued, which would ensure Cruz would never be heard from again. Cruz, 25, is serving a life sentence at an undisclosed prison.

Second, he said, Arreaza violated a verbal contract to work together in their lawsuits against Cruz, split the annuity money and donate it to charity, if it ever materializes. Instead, Brill said, Arreaza surreptitiously got the killer to settle without telling anyone until it was done.

Arreaza insists that Brill is lying about a verbal contract and that Borges needs the possible annuity money to help with his future medical care. He insists that state law does not bar Cruz from signing over his name and any future earnings, but also said Borges would never agree to let Cruz give an interview, so the other families shouldn't worry about that.

Phillips said she would rule later on whether Borges, the families or anyone owns Cruz's publicity rights, but urged the sides to negotiate a settlement over the annuity. Otherwise, she will schedule a hearing that she said will be painful for both the families and Borges and again give Cruz the attention he craves.

She said she was particularly saddened Thursday's hearing came a day after four people were killed in a Georgia school shooting and that she thinks the sides are letting their animosity toward each other push aside the immense tragedy they all experienced.

“Everybody should look deep into their thoughts,” she told the lawyers. “Is this what everyone wants to focus on?”

Tom Hoyer, center, pauses outside of court after a hearing on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Broward County, Fla. Tom Hoyer's son Luke was killed in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day 2018. The families of the Parkland victims are in court to debate whether one plaintiff, the family of Anthony Borges, has the right to unilaterally negotiate a settlement entitling him to the rights to Nikolas Cruz's name and inheritance. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Tom Hoyer talks to the media outside of court after a hearing on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Broward County, Fla. Tom Hoyer's son Luke was killed in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day 2018. The families of the Parkland victims are in court to debate whether one plaintiff, the family of Anthony Borges, has the right to unilaterally negotiate a settlement entitling him to the rights to Nikolas Cruz's name and inheritance. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Anthony Borges and his parents exit court on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Broward County, Fla. Borges was shot five times in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day 2018. The families of the Parkland victims are in court to debate whether one plaintiff, the family of Anthony Borges, has the right to unilaterally negotiate a settlement entitling him to the rights to Nikolas Cruz's name and inheritance. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Tom Hoyer listens to testimony in court on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, Broward County, Fla. Tom Hoyer's son Luke was killed in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day 2018. The families of the Parkland victims are in court to debate whether one plaintiff, the family of Anthony Borges, has the right to unilaterally negotiate a settlement entitling him to the rights to Nikolas Cruz's name and inheritance. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel) /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips' speaks to Anthony Borges' attorney, Alex Arreaza in her Broward County, Fla., Courtroom on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Borges was shot five times in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day 2018. The families of the Parkland victims are in court to debate whether one plaintiff, the family of Anthony Borges, has the right to unilaterally negotiate a settlement entitling him to the rights to Nikolas Cruz's name and inheritance. (Mike Stocker /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Anthony Borges listens to testimony in Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips' courtroom on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Broward County, Fla. Borges was shot five times in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day 2018. The families of the Parkland victims are in court to debate whether one plaintiff, the family of Anthony Borges, has the right to unilaterally negotiate a settlement entitling him to the rights to Nikolas Cruz's name and inheritance. (Mike Stocker /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Attorney David Brill gives testimony in court on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, Broward County, Fla. Brill is representing family members in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day 2018. The families of the Parkland victims are in court to debate whether one plaintiff, the family of Anthony Borges, has the right to unilaterally negotiate a settlement entitling him to the rights to Nikolas Cruz's name and inheritance. (Mike Stocker /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Anthony Borges listens to testimony in Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips' courtroom on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Broward County, Fla. Borges was shot five times in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day 2018. The families of the Parkland victims are in court to debate whether one plaintiff, the family of Anthony Borges, has the right to unilaterally negotiate a settlement entitling him to the rights to Nikolas Cruz's name and inheritance. (Mike Stocker /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Anthony Borges listens to testimony in Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips' courtroom on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Broward County, Fla. Borges was shot five times in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day 2018. The families of the Parkland victims are in court to debate whether one plaintiff, the family of Anthony Borges, has the right to unilaterally negotiate a settlement entitling him to the rights to Nikolas Cruz's name and inheritance. (Mike Stocker /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Lamar Jackson was solid in Baltimore's biggest game of the season so far.

Then, after one of the star quarterback's rare slip-ups, one of his teammates delivered the play of the day.

Jackson threw three touchdown passes and Marlon Humphrey scored on a fourth-quarter interception return to help the Ravens pull even with Pittsburgh atop the AFC North with a 34-17 victory over the Steelers on Saturday.

Pittsburgh (10-5) would have clinched the division with a victory, but now the teams are deadlocked after the Ravens (10-5) won for just the second time in the last 10 games in this series. Baltimore clinched a playoff berth. The Steelers had already done so.

“It was cool to get a pick-6, but clinching a spot in the playoffs, to beat the Steelers, I'm just happy that the guys came in, put in the work, and we just took care of business,” Humphrey said. “I felt that this team has had our number over the years. Just take care of business, man. I felt like the performance we put on wasn't perfect, but I felt like that's what we were supposed to do.”

Russell Wilson threw two touchdown passes, the second of which tied the game at 17 with 5:14 left in the third quarter. Jackson answered with a 7-yard scoring strike to Mark Andrews, and after Pittsburgh turned the ball over on downs, a 44-yard run by Derrick Henry put the Ravens in the red zone.

That drive came to nothing when Jackson was intercepted for just the fourth time this season, but then Humphrey — who was celebrating the recent birth of his son Duke — picked off Wilson and went 37 yards to the end zone to give Baltimore a cushion in a series that’s been razor-thin of late. The previous nine games between the Steelers and Ravens were decided by seven points or fewer.

“My whole family's in town to help out with my wife and everything,” Humphrey said. “I was texting her before. I'm supposed to go pick her up from the hospital, discharge her with the baby. So there's a lot of just great things that happened this week.”

Jackson improved to 2-4 against Pittsburgh as a starter. This was his first time facing the Steelers at home since 2020.

“I feel like we've been busting our behind all season long, had ups and downs throughout this whole season, but to clinch a playoff against a great team like that, that's great,” Jackson said. “That means we're moving in the right direction.”

Henry rushed for 162 yards.

Pittsburgh entered the game with a plus-18 margin in turnovers, but the Ravens had the edge in that department Saturday. Baltimore recovered three of its own fumbles and had two big takeaways.

“We didn’t control the run game. We never did. When you don’t, you’ve got to do some splash plays or win the turnover battle in a significant way, and we didn’t do that either,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “There were some balls on the ground that we didn’t get. Then obviously we turned the ball over going in -- it took seven points off the board -- and they had a pick-6. The rest is history, as they say.”

Jackson found Isaiah Likely for a 9-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Wilson answered with a 1-yard scoring pass to MyCole Pruitt, and the Steelers appeared poised to take the lead when the veteran quarterback broke loose for a 19-yard run in Baltimore territory.

But Ar'Darius Washington delivered a punishing hit on Wilson at the end of that play, jarring the ball loose. Kyle Van Noy recovered for the Ravens at the Baltimore 4.

The Ravens then drove 96 yards and took a 14-7 lead on Jackson's 14-yard touchdown toss to Rashod Bateman.

Wilson threw a 12-yard TD to Cordarrelle Patterson to tie it in the third.

Jackson set a team record with his 37th touchdown pass of the season, and he's now up to a career high of 3,787 yards.

Ravens receiver Zay Flowers had five catches for 100 yards, surpassing 1,000 on the season.

Henry has exceeded 1,500 yards rushing for the fourth time. He's now up to 1,636, a mark he's only surpassed once — in his 2,027-yard campaign of 2020.

Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. injured his calf, and WR Ben Skowronek hurt his hip. ... Baltimore RB Justice Hill left the game because of a concussion.

Both teams play on Christmas Day to wrap up stretches of three games in 11 days. Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City on Wednesday and Baltimore plays at Houston.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson, left, gestures while scrambling against Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Broderick Washington during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) celebrates with wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers reacts after making a catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry runs with the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry busts a long run against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Cordarrelle Patterson (84) catches a touchdown pass as Baltimore Ravens linebacker Malik Harrison defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh talks to an official during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, and wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) react after connecting for a touchdown pass and catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) celebrates his pick-6 interception score with teammates during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson, bottom right, hits the turf as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, left, returns an interception for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)