The family of a student musician hurt in the crash of a Farmingdale High School bus last month has filed a notice of claim against the school district, in what appears to be the first legal action taken against the district stemming from the tragedy.
The Oct. 3 filing also appears to be the first to put a value on the damage caused by the crash: $10 million for injuries including broken bones, head wounds and disfigurement to a 14-year-old freshman saxophone player, along with $2 million for damages to her parents and the cost of her medical and psychological care.
“The district had a responsibility to act as parents would in making a reasonable choice in selecting the bus operator company to transport their children, and parents relied on that – to their detriment,” said Manhattan-based lawyer Joel Robinson, representing parents Kimberly and Corey Ellis, of Farmingdale, and their daughter, identified only by the initials V.E.
In an unsigned statement provided by a representative, district officials said lawyers had advised them not to comment on the particulars of the lawsuit. “Our focus has been and will continue to be, doing whatever we can to bring our community together and provide the resources that will help us all cope with the emotions and trauma associated with this tragedy, both individually and collectively,” said the statement, in part.
Kimberly Ellis, reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, declined to comment.
Two earlier lawsuits targeted bus operator Nesconset-based Regency Transportation and driver Lisa Schaffer.
The notice of claim, served Tuesday on school district clerk Mary Rogers, does not name them or say where the lawsuit will be filed, though Robinson said it would likely be in Supreme Court for Nassau County, where the district is located.
Farmingdale “recklessly” failed to tell parents that Regency had been placed by New York State “in the unacceptable rated category of bus operators” and failed…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply