NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – An $85 million lawsuit has been filed after the death of a 16-year-old Menchville High School student, who died after lawyers say multiple adults failed to act after she passed out at school.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and co-council Mark Krudys held a press conference on Thursday to announce the lawsuit.
They claim that Kaleiah Jones — who collapsed on Feb. 20, 2024 from a cardiac issue at Menchville High School — was left without critical medical care for 16 minutes until medics arrived.
“We filed this lawsuit because we can’t just let people simply say ‘oh that was unfortunate’ and sweep it under the rug. If it was your child, would that be acceptable to you?” asked Crump. “… this lawsuit is about saying Kaleiah’s life mattered. And we must do better.”
Krudys said a video taken at the school, which has not been released, shows the events unfold. Jones was leaving a driver’s education class and smiling when she collapsed against a locker and fell to the ground.
“A number of people responded, but they failed to act,” Krudys said. “… Kaleiah is down for 16 minutes, only for 17 seconds does somebody provide CPR to her, and nobody obtains the AED. There are three of them in that school and none were brought to the scene.”
Krudys says it took nine minutes after Jones collapsed before a school resource officer jumped in to start CPR, but the officer “unfathomably” stopped after 17 seconds. Another seven minutes would pass until the arrival of the rescue squad, who appeared to be “perplexed and angry” about the lack of response, Krudys said.
Krudys emphasized that teachers and administrators are required to know CPR and how to operate an AED, an automated external defibrillator.
“Kaleiah needed her teachers, the principal, the assistant principal, the SROs and the police on the scene to come forward and take charge of this matter,” Krudys said. “They are the individuals that, when you send you child out, you’re trusting that they will take care of your children. But no one unfathomably does anything other than the 17 seconds when the SRO provides CPR.”
Krudys added that the school nurse was also at the scene.
“The school nurse, the video shows, was kneeling right next to the SRO when he halted giving CPR. She was there the entire time period.”
At the time, Jones, who had a known medical condition, had just recently had surgery. Jones’ mother claims the school was aware and was given documentation for Jones’ accommodations.
“There’s not a second of any day that goes by when Kaleiah’s not on my mind and her name is not coming out of my mouth,” said Jones’ mother, Keyonna Stewart. “I miss her tremendously and this daily pain is unbearable.”
Stewart said she wants the legacy of her daughter to mean something.
“We’re standing here to be the voice of Kaleiah and hope that no other parent will have to stand in my place as the voice for their child,” Stewart said.
Jones’ family alleges gross negligence by school officials and staff led to her preventable death. The lawsuit names the Newport News School Board and the City of Newport News as defendants, as well as nine individuals.
You can read the full lawsuit below.
