Florida Father Sues High School, Claims Staff Caused His Teen Daughter’s Tragic Death
A 17-year-old’s life was tragically cut short after Florida school staff mishandled her severe nut allergy, leading her to an untimely death. 🌐 #News #JacksonvilleFL #Florida #Crime
JACKSONVILLE, FL – A Florida father is suing his daughter’s school district after she died from a severe allergic reaction to baklava. The tragedy unfolded when the 17-year-old high school student, who suffered from a life-threatening nut allergy, was told the dessert was nut-free. It wasn’t, and the school failed to act quickly enough, leading to her death. Now, her father is demanding justice.
Tragic Allergy Incident at Atlantic Coast High School
Kayleen Brown, a senior at Atlantic Coast High School in Jacksonville, Florida, had a severe nut allergy that she and her family had worked hard to manage.
The Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) had put a Food Allergy Management and Prevention Plan in place, ensuring that school staff would be trained to recognize allergic reactions, administer epinephrine, and alert emergency responders if necessary.
On April 27, 2023, Kayleen attended a school activity where baklava was served. She asked staff if it contained nuts, a question that was met with assurances that it did not. However, unbeknownst to her, the baklava contained pistachio nuts. After consuming the treat, Kayleen began showing signs of an allergic reaction and immediately informed a staff member that she had eaten nuts and was feeling unwell.
School’s Delayed Response Leads to Fatal Outcome
Despite knowing Kayleen was having a severe allergic reaction, allegedly the school staff did not follow the proper emergency protocol. They failed to take her to the school nurse, neglected to contact emergency responders, and didn’t activate her Food Allergy Management and Prevention Plan. Kayleen left the school and went to a nearby pharmacy to get Benadryl, hoping to ease her symptoms.
However, her condition continued to worsen, and she went into anaphylactic shock, which led to cardiac arrest. She fell into a coma and tragically passed away shortly after.
Lawsuit Claims School Negligence
Kayleen’s father, Steven Brown, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Duval County Public Schools district. The lawsuit claims that school staff were negligent in serving the baklava, particularly after Kayleen explicitly asked about its ingredients. It also accuses the district of failing to properly train staff on food allergy protocols and not following their own allergy management plan.
Brown is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 to cover medical bills, funeral costs, and the emotional toll on his family. The lawsuit paints a picture of neglect at a time when Kayleen’s life could have been saved with proper care.
Growing Concern Over Food Allergies in Schools
Food allergies are becoming a growing concern in schools nationwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 4%–6% of children in the United States are affected by food allergies.
The CDC urges schools to develop individualized plans to manage allergies, working closely with parents to ensure the safety of students at risk for anaphylaxis.
RELATED TOPICS: Crime | Florida | Kids and Family
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