Custodian's 2020 Death From COVID Fault Of Hoboken Schools: Suit

HOBOKEN, NJ —The family of a Gary White, the head custodian at multiple Hoboken public schools, filed a lawsuit Friday against the Hoboken Public School District and the Hoboken Board of Education, claiming White's death last spring from COVID-19 was the direct result of the defendants' failure to protect their employees from the virus.

The suit was filed in Hudson County Superior Court by White's estate, his wife Christine, son Courtney and daughter Shucura, and it is seeking an unspecified amount of punitive and compensatory damages and legal fees and any such further relief as the court deems just, proper and equitable.

According to the complaint, White, who had suffered from diabetes for years, had been told to continue his job cleaning school buildings during the early days of the COVID-19 spread, with limited safeguards to protect him from exposure to the virus.

The suit lists several instances when the defendants would have been made aware of the severity of the virus, including from news reports and multiple executive orders relating to the virus by Gov. Phil Murphy in February and March of 2020.

The complaint states that during a meeting between the board of education and maintenance personnel during the second week of March 2020, a member of the board informed White and other employees that they were required to clean and disinfect all school buildings.

"At the meeting, Mr. White and/or other maintenance personnel asked the board representatives for personal protective equipment (PPE)," the complaint states. "The board representatives refused to supply Mr. White and/or other maintenance personnel any personal protective equipment. The board representatives only agreed to supply the maintenance staff with latex gloves."

Another request for PPE, specifically face masks, in late March 2020, also was rejected by the board of education, the suit alleges.

Around that time, the suit claims White started to exhibit weight loss, lack of appetite, fever, lethargy, cough and trouble walking, and he had to take time away from work.

During his absence, White again requested PPE, but was told by his supervisors that "the school district did not have any money in their budget to have the school professionally cleaned and sanitized" and it was "(White's) job to clean the schools and therefore he should perform his job despite his safety concerns."

White returned to work for one day, but experienced worsening symptoms.

During a tele-health visit, and based on his symptoms, White was diagnosed with COVID-19 by a doctor. Eventually, White's condition worsened and he required around-the-clock care, which was provided by his wife and children.

Unable to get to a hospital, White passed away at his home on April 10, 2020.

After White died, his daughter and son both tested positive for COVID-19, while his wife tested positive for the COVID antibodies, the suit claims.

According to NJ.com, the district and school board officials did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

The district paid tribute to White on Twitter at the time of his passing, calling him "a caring, gentle and spiritual man who carried himself with grace and dignity at all times," and saying "he will be missed by the entire community."

White also was heavily involved with local youth sports for more than four decades and is credited with helping create a long-running youth basketball league, according to NJ.com.

As a result, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, city council members and officials dedicated the basketball court at Church Square Park t0 White last summer.