Do you understand the concept of punitive damages?
If you can make the case but nothing in the article adds up to seven billion in my book
Very much so, which is why all "punitive damages" should never be allowed to go to plaintiffs or lawyers, but should instead go to the state.
And the idea that the company should be punished for hiring a class that the FEDGOV constantly threatens them for not hiring, is ridiculous.
The FEDGOV is the one partially or perhaps even wholly responsible for this.
Beyond that, there is a principle in law regarding the liability of a company and it's employee.
The Company is responsible for the actions of an employee if the employee is doing something within the constraints of his job. Murdering people is clearly not part of the Job description and therefore represents an employee acting beyond the scope of his job.
He is an independent actor for this crime, not an "agent" of the company.
The company should have only some liability if there is evidence they knew this guy would murder someone, and then let him work for them anyway.