POUGHKEEPSIE – Natasha Bush, the mother of Quraan Smith, 16, who was stabbed to death at Arlington High School, has filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit seeking punitive and compensatory damages. Bush is suing multiple defendants including Nestor Ortiz-Ocampo, 18, who was acquitted of murder by a jury in August. The lawsuit was filed in 2022 and has been slowly working its way through the process.
Quraan Smith was killed on September 17, 2021, during a fight at Arlington High School following the homecoming football game. Ortiz-Ocampo plunged a knife into Smith’s chest during the fight. The jury believed that it was self-defense. He was convicted on the charge of criminal possession of a weapon.
Bush, through her attorney Keith Rinaldi, says that Ortiz-Ocampo negligently caused the death of her son during the fight. Both punitive and compensatory damages are being sought from Ortiz-Ocampo.
Compensation is also being sought from the Arlington Central School District, Dutchess County, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, two individual deputies, Dutchess County Emergency Response, Town of LaGrange, and the LaGrange Fire District.
The lawsuit, filed in Dutchess County Supreme Court, alleges that the remaining defendants were negligent and reckless for not providing adequate supervision and security as well as not providing life-saving medical services during and after the fight between Ortiz-Ocampo and Smith.
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