Sandy Hook Parents Lose State Court Appeal in School Safety Lawsuit

Sandy Hook Parents Lose State Court Appeal in School Safety Lawsuit

Sandy Hook plaintiffs alleged the school failed to follow a mandated security protocol in the December 2012 shooting. The appeals court agreed with a lower court judge that governmental immunity shielded the defendants.

  • By Kaitlyn DeHaven
  • July 16, 2019

The appeals court ruled 3-0 against the parents of Jesse Lewis and Noah Pozner on Friday, agreeing with a lower court judge that governmental immunity shielded the defendants. The two families alleged negligence and inadequate school-safety protocols contributed to the death of their children during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012.

The parents alleged that school officials failed to follow a mandated security protocol and order a lockdown that may have saved lives immediately after the gunman shot his way into the school. Moreover, they faulted the school for having classroom doors that could not be locked from inside the classroom.

In May 2018, at trial, Danbury Superior Court Judge Robin Wilson focused her decision primarily on government immunity. The appellate court agreed with Wilson and affirmed her ruling.

“The plaintiffs also claim that the trail court erred in rendering summary judgement because the school security guidelines adopted by the defendants imposed upon the school faculty and staff a ministerial duty to act in a prescribed manner during the shooting,” Judge Thomas Bishop wrote for the appellate panel. “The language in the guidelines referenced by the plaintiffs contradicts this claim.”

According to law.com, the plaintiffs claimed in their appellate oral argument that the defendants left the school’s faculty and staff in a position in which they failed or could not adhere to mandatory school security guidelines. However, the defendants’ rebuttal was a successful motion for summary judgment statin they were entitled to government immunity pursuant to the Connecticut General Statutes, and that there was no genuine issue of material fact regarding the alleged negligence.

“The school security guidelines contained qualifying language such as ‘may’ or ‘should,’ which indicated that the school faculty and staff had discretion to exercise judgment in following them,” Bishop wrote in the ruling.

About the Author

Kaitlyn DeHaven is the Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Electrified Latch Retraction Locks Key Benefits for Retrofits

    Building owners and facility managers increasingly rely on electrified hardware to enhance security while meeting accessibility standards. Among these technologies, electrified or motorized latch retraction locks are especially effective for retrofit projects where existing door and frame conditions complicate upgrades. Latch retraction capable locks combine security, accessibility and code compliance benefits, making them ideal for retrofitting fire-rated and non-rated openings in schools, healthcare facilities, commercial buildings and more. Read Now

  • How Cloud Security Solutions Are Transforming Campus Safety

    Campus administrators today face a challenging mandate: deliver stronger security across their facilities while working within tighter budget constraints. From school districts focused on student safety to hospitals protecting patients and staff, the question remains the same: how do you build security infrastructure that evolves with your needs without requiring massive capital investments? Read Now

  • Rethinking Campus Security From the Inside

    For decades, campus security strategies focused on keeping threats outside school walls. But since the tragedy at Columbine High School, data has shown that many attacks begin inside the building, often in classrooms and corridors. This shift has prompted schools to rethink security from the inside and place greater emphasis on interior elements such as classroom doors. This shift is evidenced by a new generation of classroom door systems engineered to delay inside intruders and an ASTM standard that raises the bar on how these systems must be designed to defend against attack. Read Now

  • AI in Security: Advancing Campus Safety and Considerations for Implementing

    Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to capture attention across every sector, and the physical security industry is no exception. Once seen as experimental, AI-enabled analytics now underpin how organizations monitor environments, detect threats, and make decisions. What was once futuristic is now a practical necessity for safety professionals managing growing volumes of data, tighter resources, and increasing expectations for faster, more accurate responses. Read Now

Most   Popular