Parents Sue West Hartford Schools After Son's 2022 Death

WEST HARTFORD, CT — One year after a 5-year-old boy collapsed at a West Hartford school and died in the hospital two days later, the parents are suing the school district and Town of West Hartford.

Alleging teachers and school staffers could have responded quicker on April 5, 2022, the parents of Romeo Pierre Louis filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Hartford Superior Court Wednesday, the one-year anniversary of a tragic playground incident.

According to the lawsuit — filed by Stamford-based Silver Golub & Teitell on behalf of Chantel T. and D'Meza Shultz Pierre Louis — Romeo died two days after his collapse on the Charter Oak International Academy Playground.

A recently-created website to honor Romeo, called "A Voice for Romeo," indicated the boy died of undiagnosed heart complications.

But, according to the lawsuit, quick actions by school employees that day could have saved Romeo's life.

The couple is seeking unspecified financial damages in excess of $15,000 in the wrongful death lawsuit for severe emotional distress, anguish and anxiety at the loss of their son.

According to the lawsuit, several teachers and staff members waited 10 minutes while Romeo lay unconscious, despite classmate pleas the boy needed medical attention.

The suit alleges teachers on the site claimed Romeo may have been playing a childhood game of "play dead" and delayed any response to the 10:45 a.m. playground medical emergency.

Teachers, according to the suit, eventually realized something was wrong.

"By the time the teachers ... realized that Romeo was not playing dead and needed emergency medical treatment — it was too late, and Romeo's life could no longer be saved," reads the suit.

The parents said in the lawsuit their son was taken to the Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, where he died two days later "despite significant and extensive efforts to save his life."

According to the suit, the West Hartford School System and Town of West Hartford are liable for the death, citing improper training and actions relative to addressing potential medical emergencies, including possibly providing life-saving medical treatment on site.

The suit also alleges Romeo "suffered severe emotional distress, anguish, anxiety and pain and suffering prior to his death."

Romeo was "in good health" prior to his collapse, according to the suit.

The family of Romeo Wednesday was expected to stand vigil at the school, located at 425 Oakwood Ave., West Hartford, on the one-year anniversary of Romeo's collapse.

School and town officials declined comment on the lawsuit, citing the pending litigation.

But they did say the tragedy of a year ago deeply affected pupils and staff members.

“The death of a child is a devastating and unimaginable loss, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Romeo Pierre Louis. This tragedy has deeply affected the Charter Oak International Academy community, and the school district continues to make grief support and emotional assistance available to any student or educator who needs it," said West Hartford Interim Superintendent of Schools Andrew Morrow in a statement late Wednesday afternoon. "Due to the pending legal claims, the school district will refrain from further comment.”

"The death of a child under any circumstance is a tragedy and we extend our condolences to the family and friends of Romeo. Out of respect for the legal process, the town and the board of education will not comment further," said West Hartford Corporation Counsel Dallas C. Dodge in a statement.

For the website set up to honor Romeo Pierre Louis, click on this link.

For the Facebook page honoring Romeo Pierre Louis, click on this link.