Vol. 60 No. 4

Trial Magazine

Verdicts & Settlements: Schools

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Improper hiring of playground supervisor

April 2024

The Los Angeles Unified School District hired Tyler Brand to serve as a playground supervisor, including conducting sporting activities for an elementary after-school program. Kenya Taylor hired Brand to babysit her son Dayvon, 6, during a school vacation. While in Brand’s care, the child suffered near-fatal injuries and was brought to a hospital, where he later died. He is survived by Taylor.

Taylor sued the school district, alleging that it negligently supervised Brand and allowed him to solicit parents for babysitting jobs, a policy prohibited in the district. The plaintiff also asserted that the school employee who group-interviewed Brand was not trained on how to properly hire employees, including Brand, who had no experience with children.

The jury awarded $30 million, finding Taylor 10% at fault.

Citation: Taylor v. Los Angeles Unified Sch. Dist., No. 20STCV33128 (Cal. Super. Ct. Los Angeles Cnty. Aug. 31, 2023).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Steve Vartazarian and Matthew Whibley, both of Calabasas, Calif.

Plaintiff expert: William Bainbridge, school-related incidents, Jacksonville, Fla.