Philly school district sued over girl’s asthma death
The family of a girl who died of an asthma attack after attending a school without a nurse has sued the Philadelphia School District.
The wrongful-death lawsuit filed Wednesday says 12-year-old Laporshia Massey was kept in school despite complaints about breathing problems.
Family lawyer Michael Pomerantz says Bryant Elementary School officials should have called 911, especially with no nurse on duty. The West Philadelphia school had a nurse just two days a week.
The federal lawsuit also said that students were not allowed to use inhalers or take medicine without a nurse present.
Laporshia’s father, Daniel Burch, has said the family got two late-day calls about their daughter on Sept. 25, 2013, but neither sounded urgent.
A school district spokesman did not immediately return a message.
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