While nothing can bring back the lives of those fatally woundedin the Aurora, Colo. movie theater shooting in July, the victims'families will soon receive some relief from a charitable fund setup on their behalf.

Gov. John Wright Hickenlooper (Colo-D) and the Community FirstFoundation established the Aurora Victim Relief Fund shortly afterthe July 20 shooting that killed 12 people and wounded 58 others,some of whom sustained permanent brain damage and physicalparalysis.

Immediate and Long-Term Relief

On Friday, Kenneth Feinberg, special master of the fund, finalizeddisbursements for victims' families, each of whom will receive$220,000 in the next few days. Of the 57 claims filed, 38 wereapproved by Feinberg, who has served as the “pay czar” for fundsset up for victims of several high-profile American crises,including the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the BP oil spillfollowing the Deepwater Horizon explosion.

Seventy percent—or $3.74 million of the fund's $5,338,360 totalbalance—will be distributed this week. Gov. Hickenlooper noted in astatement that 19 claims were denied because they did not qualifyunder “previously announced protocols.”

Sound Judgment

Over the years, Feinberg has navigated a string of complex casesstemming from fatal catastrophes. President Obama appointed him asspecial settlement master of the September 11 Victim CompensationFund, for which Feinberg donated 33 months of work. Feinberg laterworked in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech massacre of 2007, alsoon a pro-bono basis.

More recently, Penn State has sought the reliable “pay czar” todivide compensation among Jerry Sandusky's victims.

Meanwhile, Aurora shooting suspect James Holmes sits in theArapahoe County, Colo. jail awaiting trial. Holmes faces 152charges, including murder and weapons-related offenses.Amid reports of Holmes' “half-hearted suicide attempts,”a hearing slated for Nov. 15 was postponed because Holmes was“not in a condition” to appear in court.

See related article: Risk Management Lessons from the Colorado Shooting