BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Alix Rice's parents can now focus on celebrating her life after reaching a settlement Tuesday in their civil case against Dr. James Corasanti.
"I'll never be satisfied. That's impossible. I'm glad it's over," said Alix's mother, Tammy Schueler.
She and Alix's father, Richard Rice, sued Corasanti for negligence after he hit and killed Alix with his car while driving drunk in July 2011.
"We just thought it was in everybody's best interest to just bring this case to an end," said Richard Sullivan, Corasanti's attorney.
"While we are and will not reveal the total number of the settlement involved, it is clearly at the top end of all reported cases in the state of New York for the death of an 18-year-old," said Terry Connors, Alix's parents' attorney.
The settlement was reached after six days of testimony in the trial. It's a combination of insurance money, a settlement with Transit Valley Country Club, which is where Corasanti was drinking the night Alix was killed, and a personal contribution from Corasanti.
"We know that he had to borrow funds, but that is the greatest signal you can send, that at this point, I'm accepting responsibility," said Connors.
Though Corasanti was involved in the negotiations, he was not in the courtoom as the settlement was announced, and it came before he was called to testify. In fact, Connors said he was the next witness.
"I don't know this man, he's never introduced himself to me, never spoken a word to me, and as far as what he feels, he pays for everything that he does in his life, this is just another expense I think, for him," said Rice.
"He is a private person and he's going to deal with this in his own way. He's very sorry for what happened. There's no question about that," said Sullivan.
Through this process, Connors said they've accomplished their goals; by holding Corasanti accountable, establishing Alix's actions played no part in the crash, and bringing a conclusion for her parents.
"This terminates any appeals," he said.
Despite the deal, Connors said they're confident the jury would have ruled in their favor.
"I feel the man's guilty, and I would have loved to have heard a jury say, 'yes, he's guilty,'" said Schueler.
Connors said the concern with that was the wrongful death statute's limitations on the amount of damages that can be awarded.
"So if a jury were to say $10 million, the appellate court in Rochester would likely reduce that."
Schueler said, with the litigation over, the grief process can be more personal now, as she and Rice remember their daughter. They say a portion of the settlement will be used for the Alix Rice Peace Park, which they hope to break ground on this year. The next fundraiser for the project is on March 8.