West Hartford to Pay $20 Million to Settle Suit Over Kindergartener’s Death

The West Hartford Town Council voted unanimously on July 14 to approve a $20 million settlement of a lawsuit over the death of 5-year-old kindergartener Romeo D. Pierre Louis, who collapsed during recess at Charter Oak International Academy in 2022.

Lawyers for the parents who sued said the settlement appears to be the largest ever paid buy a Connecticut municipality.

According to the town, the settlement will be completely covered by the town’s excess liability insurance coverage.

The lawsuit claimed the death resulted from inadequate supervision by school staff during outdoor recess, which caused a delayed response to his serious medical emergency.

School staff who were present explained they wrongly assumed the boy was “playing dead” which they said was a common play-acting game by the children.

The city was unsuccessful in initially seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed on the grounds it was shielded from liability by governmental immunity. A trial had been set to begin on September 10.

“This tragedy was not simply the result of an unforeseeable event,” said Joaquin Madry, the parents’ attorney. “It was the result of a failure to supervise. School districts should approach playground safety with the same seriousness they devote to every other aspect of student safety: clear policies, proper staffing, and continuous, diligent observation can save lives.”