EspañolParents Concerned After Numerous Stabbings, Suspected Fentanyl Overdoses and Crashes In Los Angeles County
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (May 3, 2023) – Parents and LAUSD officials are on edge after a string of stabbings, suspected Fentanyl overdoses and car crashes, according to the Los Angeles Times.
A 17-year-old has been arrested in connection to two stabbings outside of Los Angeles High School. Both of the victims were students.
However, neither of the victims attended LA high school. The victims were described as 15 and 16 years old. They suffered stab wounds to the back, arms and legs.
Despite the fact that only one person was arrested so far, the attacker appears to have been part of a group of 10 or more people. LAPD officials said both students were expected to recover from their injuries.
The stabbings came around the same time that three students at Johnnie Cochran Middle School in Los Angeles were treated for a suspected Fentanyl overdose. All of the students responded well after being administered Narcan, which is used to reverse the effects of opioids.
Each of the students was transported to an area hospital where they received additional medical support. The L.A. Unified School Superintendent said that he encourages students and parents to report suspicious activity including drug trafficking and other safety concerns.
These incidents occurred shortly after a woman was killed and her 6-year-old child was critically injured in a crash near Hancock Park Elementary School. Authorities believe that the driver of the pickup truck that hit them may have suffered a medical emergency prior to the crash.
Liability For Various School Safety Incidents
Violence in schools across the United States is a lot more common than many people realize. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, “During the 2019–20 school year, 77 percent of public schools recorded that one or more incidents of crime had taken place, amounting to 1.4 million incidents. This translates to a rate of 29 incidents per 1,000 students enrolled in 2019–20. Not all recorded incidents of crime were reported to sworn law enforcement.” There are a number of common incidents that police deal with.
- Fights among students
- Sexual assaults
- Gang violence
- Stabbings
- Shootings
Schools have a legal obligation to take steps to protect students from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm from third parties. This includes instances of violent crime against students. Consider, for example, the landmark case of Dailey v. Los Angeles Unified Sch. Dist. , 2 Cal.3d 741. A 16-year-old died on school grounds after a fight broke out among students during recess. The teacher who was supposed to monitor the students instead took a lunch break. Attorneys for the deceased child presented evidence that the teacher could have prevented the lethal fight by properly monitoring the students. In the end, the court found that it was reasonably foreseeable that fights could break out among students who were not being monitored by a teacher.
A school could also be liable if a child in their care overdosed on Fentanyl or any other type of dangerous drug. Schools must properly monitor students for their protection. This has been affirmed in numerous court decisions. Consider, for example, Taylor v. Oakland Scavenger Co. , 17 Cal.2d 594. The court held, “It is the duty of the school authorities to supervise at all times the conduct of the children on the school grounds and to enforce those rules and regulations necessary to their protection.” Failing to properly monitor students could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any time a student is injured at school.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- An experienced personal injury attorney should be consulted.
Schools are supposed to be places of learning, development and growth for children. But far too often, safety concerns disrupt that process and jeopardize the well-being of students. Any person that is injured in the Los Angeles Unified School District may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the expenses that often come with a serious injury. Sadly, though, schools often fight hard to deny liability for any incident. This is why it is so important to speak with an experienced attorney as early as possible.
Investigating Accidents and Assaults In The Los Angeles Unified School District
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to the two students who were stabbed outside of Los Angeles High School. It is our sincere hope that these students and those injured at Johnnie Cochran Middle School will be able to make a full recovery. The LAUSD should consider many options to help prevent similar incidents.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in the Los Angeles Unified School District? You may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we may be able to help. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
