NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WTKR) – The family of a Virginia teenager who died after collapsing at school has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming it took nine minutes for someone to help her, and by then, it was too late.
Kaleiah “Mo” Jones, 16, died after collapsing at Menchville High School in February. Her family is now filing an $85 million wrongful death lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools, the city of Newport News and school personnel they claim could have helped save Jones’ life.
Jones’ family and attorneys Ben Crump and Mark Krudys claim the teenager’s death was avoidable if on-scene school personnel, including the school nurse, would have acted.
“It’s not until the passage of nine minutes that the school resource officer spontaneously starts CPR on Kaleiah but then, unfathomably, 17 seconds thereafter, just stops. Then, another seven minutes pass before the rescue squad arrives at the school,” said Krudys at a press conference Thursday announcing the lawsuit.
The school had three automated external defibrillators that the family’s attorneys claim weren’t brought out. Virginia law requires school employees to be certified or trained in CPR and the use of AEDs.
“Seconds matter. Time is of essence. We got defibrillators for this specific instance. That is exactly why they made the law,” Crump said.
Jones’ mother, Keyonna Stewart, says her daughter loved baking, babysitting, feeding the homeless and volunteering in the infant wing at church. The 16-year-old suffered from bradycardia, or a slow heart rate, a condition her family says the school knew about.
“Today and forever, my heart is broken. I wake up daily with the pain and sorrow that my sweet baby girl is not with me on this journey called life,” Stewart said. “I will never get the opportunity to see Kaleiah fulfill every parent’s dreams of getting her license, graduating high school or walking down the aisle on her wedding day.”
Jones‘ family say they’re filing the lawsuit because they want the teenager’s death to have meaning. Crump says the alleged inaction from staff should serve as a lesson for the city and state.
“The teachable moment starts now, just with the filing of the lawsuit, because you all are looking at Kaleiah’s face, and I hope you’re thinking about your children. But by the grace of God, it could be your child,” he said.
The school said in a statement it is unable to comment on the lawsuit until it’s been served.
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