Tammy Schueler says she would have loved to hear the jury find Dr. James Corasanti guilty. But with the wrongful death lawsuit involving her daughter Alix Rice ending in a settlement, Schueler says she's moving forward.
Terms of the settlement between Rice's parents and Corasanti are confidential. But their attorney Terry Connors says the amount is at "the high end" of reported cases in New York involving the death of 18-year-olds.
Schueler says ending the litigation "is huge." She met with reporters Tuesday in Connors' Liberty Building office.
"It's something that's always been, since her death, looming there. It allows the grief process to be more personal now. Because that's not in the picture anymore," Schueler said.
Rice was struck and killed by Corasanti as she road her longboard on Heim Road in Amherst in July 2011. He was convicted of DWI but aquitted of manslaughter and tampering with evidence. Alix's father Richard Rice says given Corasanti's history - his absence for the announcement in court is not surprising. Rice says part of him wishes Corasanti would have taken the stand.
"But, quite frankly, I don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth. And, honestly, I don't know how anyone could," Rice said.
Defense attorney Richard Sullivan says Corasanti is very sorry for what happened. Sullivan says Corasanti will never put Rice's death behind him but he will continue practicing medicine.