A Cook County circuit-court jury, finding Chicago school officials and the city negligent, has awarded $2.5 million to a partially paralyzed 17-year-old boy. The boy, Daniel Barth, was injured six years ago when he collided with another boy during a kickball game at recess, according to press reports.
According to the reports, the jury found school officials negligent because they did not take Mr. Barth to a hospital across the street from the school, but followed a school policy that required that they wait for an ambulance. They waited for more than an hour. City officials were also found negligent for not dispatching an ambulance promptly.
The board of education is withholding comment on the verdict pending further study.--jh
