No, I'm sure he told them, "We'll try this on TV, Rachel Madcow will get hold of it, it won't cost you a dime!"
I feel sorry for these people if they were counseled to push for this in the suit. They've been violated twice, if that is the case. Once by the shooter, and again by the shyster.
Of course, a strong sense of justice, despite having experienced the grossly unfair, might have caused them to just say "no" instead of proceed.