NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — The parents of a 16-year-old from New Jersey are filing a lawsuit after they say their son with Rett syndrome was neglected during a routine bus trip and died.
Landon Goff’s parents filed a catastrophic negligence lawsuit against Sheppard Bus Services in New Jersey after they say he choked on his saliva and became unconscious during his 40-minute ride from Galloway to Cape May County Special Services on Dec. 1, 2022.
Their Attorney, Alexa D’Amato Barrera, says the onboard camera was not working that day, so they do not know exactly what happened.
But when Landon arrived at the school, the resource officer was called because he was “unconscious and unresponsive.”
Landon, who was “vibrant and full of light," died three days later from hypoxic brain injury and upper airway obstruction.
Three other students were on the bus at the time, as well as the bus driver and an aide.
Barrera says law requires that school bus drivers and aides be trained in emergency procedures.
Robyn Kazatsky, the attorney representing Sheppard Bus Services confirmed “there is an ongoing investigation into this tragic situation,” but could not provide additional information.
Barrera says with this lawsuit, the family now has subpoena power over information obtained through earlier investigations conducted by the Cape May County prosecutor’s office and the Department of Children and Family Services.