Crime & Safety
Maren Sanchez Family Files Lawsuit Over Daughter's Death
The lawsuit, which claims Maren's death could have been prevented, was filed against the city of Milford, school board, and Plaskon family.
MILFORD, CT - The Estate of Maren Sanchez, the 16-year-old high school student who was fatally stabbed in the halls of Jonathan Law High School in April 2014 by a fellow student, brought a lawsuit against the Milford Board of Education and City of Milford as well as against, Christopher Plaskon, 18, and his parents, David and Kathleen Plaskon.
The lawsuit alleges that Maren reported to the high school guidance department her concern that Christopher Plaskon was emotionally disturbed and was threatening to commit suicide or acts of serious self-harm by cutting himself with a knife, and that she believed it was important for high school personnel to help Plaskon, then 16, to prevent him from engaging in potentially violent conduct dangerous to himself or to others.
According to the lawsuit, Plaskon’s guidance counselor failed to advise the school principal, school security or others in the school administration or the Connecticut Department of Children and Families of Maren’s report in violation of mandatory school policies and state law.
Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth Feser told Patch that "The Milford Public Schools has been made aware of civil litigation filed on behalf of Maren Sanchez.
Maren was an intelligent, vibrant, warm, caring and talented young woman whose life was tragically taken. Our hearts and prayers continue to go out for her, her family and all those still healing. With respect to the legal process, we will refrain on commenting on this case and allow the judicial system to determine the outcome," Feser said in an email response.
Mayor Benjamin G. Blake echoed Feser's statement and said, "Maren's life was tragically taken, and our hearts and prayers go out for her, her family and all those still hearing." He too declined to comment on the legal case.
The 17-page lawsuit filed in Superior Court, Milford states the plaintiffs are seeking in excess of $15,000.
The lawsuit further alleges that Christopher Plaskon’s parents, David and Kathleen Plaskon, were aware that their son was engaging in self-destructive conduct with knives that was potentially dangerous to himself and others and failed to obtain proper medical treatment for him or to prevent him from having access to knives.
According to the lawsuit, Christopher Plaskon was absent from school for a week after Maren’s report about him to the school guidance counselor and then returned to school and continued to engage in self-destructive behavior, including cutting himself with a knife, and began bringing a knife to school with him.
Plaskon, who is currently incarcerated at Manson Youth Institution, pleaded no contest to the murder of Maren Sanchez on March 7 and is to be sentenced on June 6. Plaskon is expected to receive a sentence of 25 years incarceration at that time.
Donna Cimarelli-Sanchez, Maren’s mother and the administratrix of her Estate, said in a statement about the bringing of the lawsuit, “We feel there was an opportunity here for the school system and Plaskon’s parents to intervene to prevent Maren’s death from happening.
We’re bringing this lawsuit to make sure that reports like the one Maren made are properly handled and that parents and school personnel will respond to protect minor children from terrible injury and death.”
According to court documents the motive for the murder was Sanchez’s rejection of Plaskon’s request to go to the junior class prom with him.
- Related stories: One Year After Maren Sanchez Tragedy, Milford Turns Grief to Compassion
- Milford ‘Thanks’ Maren Sanchez for Her Legacy of Love and Compassion
David S. Golub of the Stamford law firm of Silver Golub & Teitell, attorneys for the Estate, stated, “We waited until the conclusion of the criminal case against Christopher Plaskon to bring this action so that the criminal proceedings would not be affected by the civil case.
But we feel that this case involves important issues about the responsibility of a school system to respond to reports of potential student violence and to protect its students from harm from other students and the responsibility of parents to take affirmative steps to prevent their child from engaging in destructive behavior.”
Anthony Bonadies, Attorney for Maren’s father, Jose Sanchez said in a statement, "We know that Maren Sanchez's estate carefully reviewed the circumstances leading up to her stabbing death at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.
The lawsuit spells out the mistakes made by those who had the duty and power to prevent Maren's senseless death. Most notably, the count against the Milford Board of Education explains how the school disregarded its own policies and procedures that are intended to safeguard the student body and Maren specifically.
As a result, Maren was robbed of her adolescence and her entire adult life. Her death is a profound loss to her family and to those who knew and loved her. Maren's father, Jose, fully supports this lawsuit, which will prevent any other student and family from ever having to live this nightmare,” Bonadies concluded in his statement.
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