http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=529&u=/ap/20020305/ap_en_bu/columbine_violent_media_5Columbine Suit Against Game Dismissed
Tue Mar 5,12:35 AM ET
By NICK WADHAMS, Associated Press Writer
DENVER (AP) - A judge dismissed a lawsuit Monday that claimed several video game and movie makers shared blame for the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.
The lawsuit was filed by the family of slain teacher Dave Sanders and on behalf of other Columbine victims. It alleged student gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had been influenced by violent video games and movies.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock granted motions to dismiss filed by Time Warner Inc. and Palm Pictures, as well as 11 video game makers, including Sony Computer Entertainment America, Activision and Id Software, the maker of "Doom."
In his ruling, Babcock said there was no way the makers of violent games and movies could have reasonably foreseen that their products would cause the Columbine shooting or any other violent acts.
"Setting aside any personal distaste, as I must, it is manifest that there is social utility in expressive and imaginative forms of entertainment, even if they contain violence," Babcock wrote.
During the investigation into the April 20, 1999, shootings, police found a videotape that shows one of the killers with a sawed-off shotgun he called "Arlene" after a character in the video game "Doom."
The plaintiffs also said Harris and Klebold had watched the Leonardo DiCaprio movie "The Basketball Diaries," in which a student kills his classmates.
Sanders' wife Linda refused to comment on Babcock's ruling. Her lawyer, John DeCamp, said he hadn't seen the decision but would almost certainly appeal it.
Authorities say the gunmen killed Sanders and 12 students before killing themselves.
