School district, business targeted in girl's death
Detroit Free Press - 3/28/00
Attorney Geoffrey Fieger on Monday sued the Detroit Public Schools and the Robinson Bus Co. in the
death last week of a 10-year-old girl.
Delisa Dozier, a fourth-grade special-needs student at Houghten Elementary School in west Detroit, was killed about 7:40 a.m. Thursday when she was dragged by a bus. The circumstances remain unclear. But police say they think the sleeve of her turquoise coat may have been caught in the door.
Delisa was dragged about 35 feet. She was taken to Grace-Sinai Hospital and later to Children's Hospital. She died Friday.
The lawsuit, filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, alleges gross negligence, failure to maintain due care and caution and failure to train the bus driver properly, among other things. The case is assigned to Judge Susan Neilson.
Delisa's father, Quentin Dozier, declined to comment on the suit and referred questions to Fieger.
Fieger said he is seeking $100 million in damages.
"I think that this is a problem that is reaching epidemic proportions, because the bus drivers are not being appropriately trained," he said. "It is the bus driver's responsibility to make sure the children are free and clear from all areas of the bus."
Stan Childress, director of communication for Detroit schools, said the district had not been served with the legal papers. He added that it is the district's policy not to comment on suits.
"We're very sad about the whole tragedy," he said. "We are parents, and for the community it is a very sad tragedy."
Henry Foutner, general manager of Robinson Bus Co., said his office had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.
"Our thoughts are with the family," he said. "We are still cooperating with local authorities on the investigation."
The district has nearly 900 daily bus routes. Nearly two-thirds are handled by eight contractors.
Robinson Bus Co. is one of the larger contractors.
Girl killed exiting vehicle; lawsuit seeks $100 million
The Detroit News - 3/28/00
The family of a 10-year-old girl killed last week in a school bus accident on Monday filed a $100 million wrongful death suit against the district and its bus company.
Delisa Dozier died Friday afternoon in Children's Hospital in Detroit. Police said Dozier was getting off the bus about 7:50 a.m. Thursday at Houghten Elementary School in northwest Detroit when her clothing got caught in the bus door and she was dragged under the vehicle when it started up.
She was dragged 10 feet before Johnell Odom, the bus driver, realized what had happened and stopped, said Geoffrey Fieger, who is representing the girl's parents, Quentin Dozier and Deborah McLauran.
"It is clear that school officials are not paying proper attention to the safety of children," Fieger said, adding the suit will make them improve safety measures.
Robinson Bus Co. officials said Odom had a good driving record and had been employed by them for six months. Odom has been placed on leave. Police said the case still is under investigation.
The accident came two days after a similar fatal accident in Washtenaw County. On Tuesday a school bus struck and killed a 6-year-old Cornerstone Elementary School student as she crossed in front of it in Dexter. That case also remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, state Rep. Samuel "Buzz" Thomas III said he hopes his amendment to the state's Pupil Transportation Act will stop such tragedies. The Detroit Democrat said it includes teaching students how to get on and off buses safely.