Family of Teen Who Died of Drug Overdose Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against LAUSD
Wrongful death can leave a family looking for answers. This is the case with the family of Melanie Ramos, who died tragically in September at her high school. The Los Angeles Unified School District is being sued for wrongful death by the family of a 15-year-old girl who overdosed on drugs and died.
Student Found Dead in Helen Bernstein High School After School Officials Failed to Look for Her
Melanie Ramos, a student at the school, was discovered dead in a school bathroom at Hollywood’s Helen Bernstein High School in September. A fentanyl-laced medication overdose was the cause of her death.
Family of Teen Who Died of Drug Overdose Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against LAUSD: Elena Perez Wants Justice for Her Daughter’s Death
Elena Perez claims she seeks restitution for her daughter’s tragic death. The district is charged with carelessness in the case for allegedly failing to search for the adolescent after notifying her mother that she was absent from school on September 15. Eight hours later, the parent of another student discovered Melanie in a restroom at the school.
Attorney Michael Carrillo said that Melanie Ramos’ death proves that students could be doing drugs in the school bathroom, and the school district and officials will do nothing about it.
Children Are Not Safe At School, Says Aunt
Melanie’s aunt, Gladys Manriquez, said that parents believe their children are safe when they send them to school, but that is not the case. She stated that if it weren’t for the other party, she would not have been found until long after.
Teenagers from Apex Academy Charter School Apprehended
The Los Angeles Police Department reported the arrests of two young boys after Melanie’s passing: a 15-year-old boy accused of distributing the substance to the two Bernstein pupils and a 16-year-old boy believed to have been selling drugs to a different student at nearby Lexington Park.
Both young people attended Apex Academy, which is situated on the grounds of Bernstein High School.
Additionally, since the incident, the school has made improvements, including making Narcan accessible on all campuses.
The LAUSD said in a message to Eyewitness News that Los Angeles Unified doesn’t offer any comments on pending or ongoing litigation. However, the kids’ and employees’ security and health remain their primary concern.
An Ongoing Problem
At least 16 pupils in the system have overdosed this year, and 13 of these cases involve fentanyl, according to L.A. schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
In September, a 15-year-old STEM Academy of Hollywood pupil from the Bernstein campus was discovered unresponsive at home. In October, another student was sent to the hospital after a school employee found him to be unconscious.
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