Nationally Known Firm Napoli Bern Representing Victims and Families of Aurora Shooting Victims

New York, NY, September 5, 2012, for immediate release: Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik, LLP, the well-known and nationally respected law firm that recently settled the claims of more than 10,000 first responders made ill by toxic exposures at the site of the World Trade Center following the 9/11 attacks, is representing numerous families of victims of the tragic movie theatre massacre in Aurora, Colorado on July 20, 2012.  Marc Jay Bern, a Senior Member of the firm, has been meeting with survivors who were in the theatre during the shooting and the surviving family members of those who were killed. Bern said that the firm continues to receive calls almost daily from victims and their families seeking representation.

“Sadly, it is usually the case that horrific events like the Aurora shootings do not occur in a vacuum,” said Bern.  “Some may find it comforting to believe that this was an unpreventable act of random violence but that is simply not the case,” Bern explained, “there were warnings from people around the shooter that something was seriously amiss and as a society, we have to look askance at how these warnings went unanswered.  Changes must be made to these systems to prevent similar acts in the future.  While it appears a single shooter carried out this terrible attack, he could not have carried out his plan without a series of failings along the way of the various checks and protections that should have prevented his ability to carry out these heinous acts.”  Bern says the firm is investigating any and all potentially responsible parties with respect to this tragedy. “We are hoping to be able to resolve this aspect of the tragic events of July 20 as quickly as possible; although the victims and their families will never really be able to put this event behind them, we can at least resolve this aspect of the matter for them.”  Bern said his firm is happy to speak with any survivor or family member seeking representation.  

Bern said he hopes the tragic Aurora shootings, together with the August 5, 2012 massacre in a Wisconsin Sikh temple and the most recent handgun violence that occurred, ironically, right outside the Napoli firm’s primary office in the Empire State Building in New York will focus the presidential candidates’ debate on the important issue of handgun violence in this country.  “How many innocent people must die or suffer serious injury as a result of uncontrolled weapons such as those used in these incidents in this Country?” Bern asked.  

The firm also represents many victims and survivors of the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster and since 1997 has recovered more than $3 billion for its clients. The Napoli firm often represents victims of high profile cases.  The firm is working with Acosta and Williams, a Pennsylvania law firm and with a local Colorado firm in prosecuting their clients’ claims.

Contact Information

Marc Jay Bern

Senior Partner

Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik, LLP

(1) 516-361-4909

MJBern@napolibern.com