Patrick J. Giese, Robert J. Napleton and Rory J. Cannon secured a $7.925 million settlement for the family of a 15-year-old student with profound cerebral palsy/spastic quadriplegia who was neglected on a Special Education Transportation bus.
Shortly after the bus departed, the student showed signs of labored breathing that went unnoticed. Several minutes later, the driver observed he had stopped breathing and directed the aide to check on him. The aide recognized the need for emergency care, contacted dispatch, and first responders were sent. The student was transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance and pronounced dead approximately one hour later.
The family alleged inadequate training of the driver and aide in passenger monitoring, and that the company’s policy requiring calls to dispatch, rather than directly to 911, was negligent.