Nearly 50 notices of possible lawsuits over the mass killings at Virginia Tech have been filed with the state.

A spokesman for the Virginia attorney general's office, Tucker Martin, said in an e-mail yesterday that 48 notices were filed by Wednesday's deadline. A notice of intent to file suit was required within one year of the slayings of 32 people on April 16, 2007, by a mentally disturbed student.

Most of the families of victims agreed last week to an $11 million state settlement that will compensate those who lost loved ones, pay survivors' medical costs and avoid a court battle.

Martin said then that the attorney general's office had received 40 notices of possible lawsuits. Most of the later filings said that notice was made to ensure continued participation in the claims process.