Appellate Court rejects Sandy Hook parents' lawsuit against Newtown; families plan appeal to Supreme

Appellate Court rejects Sandy Hook parents’ lawsuit against Newtown; families plan appeal to Supreme Court


The state Appellate Court Friday affirmed a lower court’s decision to throw out a lawsuit against the town of Newtown and its school district by the parents of two children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings on the grounds of government immunity.

The lawsuit, brought by the parents of Jesse Lewis and Noah Pozner, claimed school officials didn’t follow security procedures, including immediately ordering a school lockdown after Adam Lanza shot his way in. It also claimed school officials failed to adequately train staff for lockdowns, which it said may have saved lives.

The suit also alleged the school’s classroom doors could only be locked from the outside in the hallway, making it impossible for teachers to safely lock them as Lanza approached their classrooms.

In 2018, Superior Court Judge Robin Wilson granted the town’s request for summary judgement in the case, essentially throwing out the case. In the ruling, Wilson found the school officials’ actions are protected by government immunity in the same way police officers and other government employees are protected.

Read more: https://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-appellate-court-sandy-hook-20190712-tosl7i2ktbaxtc24g4ypb5a5fi-story.html
(Hartford Courant)