CRANDON, Wis. (AP) -- An attorney says Forest County will deny the claims filed by families seeking damages in a shooting rampage by an off-duty deputy sheriff that left six young people dead and another severely injured.

Corporation Counsel Paul Payant said Tuesday the sheriff's department had no knowledge that Tyler Peterson was capable of causing such a tragedy.

12 notices of claim were filed with the county Monday, alleging negligence by Peterson's employers contributed to last October's tragedy.

Payant says the next step once the county board of supervisors denies the claims is for the families to file a civil lawsuit for wrongful death.

Similar claims were filed with the city of Crandon.

City attorney Lindsay Erickson has declined to comment on what the city might do next.