South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
The parents of Amanda Collette have settled their Fort Lauderdale wrongful death case with the Broward County School Board for $525,000. Collette, 15, died in November 2008 after she was fatally shot by fellow Dillard High School student Teah Wimberly.
In their Broward County wrongful death complaint, Thomas Crowther and Joyce Collette contented that their daughter’s death could have been prevented if only a teacher who knew that Wimberly had threatened to use a gun had reported the information and the school had used their metal detector wands. The teacher in question has sworn that he never knew that Wimberly had a gun.
WImberly, 17, has been convicted of second-degree murder in Collette’s shooting. She is serving a 25-year-sentence. Wimberly is said to have had a crush on Collette and the shooting was retaliation because her feelings were unrequited. By agreeing to settle, the school board is not admitting to or denying wrongdoing in Collette’s shooting.
Unfortunately, in this day and age, violent crimes are known to occur on school campuses. Preteens, teens, and young adults have been known to bring knives, guns, and other weapons to school. Over the years, sexual assault, physical assault, and shootings have caused serious injuries, emotional trauma, and death.
Schools are aware that these incidents can happen and it is their responsibility to adequately supervise the grounds and students so that no one gets hurt. Failure to provide adequate supervision and security can be grounds for a Ft. Lauderdale personal injury case.
Broward School District to pay $525,000 to family of girl killed at Dillard High, Sun-Sentinel, September 8, 2011
Family Of Slain Dillard High Student Settles With Broward School Bd., CBS Miami, September 9, 2011
Broward County School Board
More Blog Posts:
Mother Files Broward County Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over 2009 Coral Springs Car Crash that Killed Her Teenage Son, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, August 5, 2011
$10M Florida Wrongful Death Verdict Awarded to Parents of Ereck Plancher Against UCF, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, July 12, 2011
Palm Beach Wrongful Death Lawsuit Seeks Damages from Yamaha Over Fatal WaveRunner Accident That Killed One Teen, Leaving Another With Brain Damage and Physical Injuries, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, May 20, 2011