Normal Fire Department Sued for Wrongful Death

Posted by: Curt Varone May 21, 2011 2 Comments

The horseplay related death of a junior high school student on May 18, 2010 has prompted a wrongful death lawsuit against the Normal (IL) Fire Department and the local school department.

The youngster, Donnie Hampton, 13, collapsed after engaging in a punching game called “body shots” in a school bathroom. The Normal Fire Department responded, treated and transported the youth, who died at Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital. An autopsy concluded that he had a heart condition that contributed to his death.  

Hampton’s mother, Jasmine Brooks, filed the suit on the one year anniversary of Donnie’s death alleging that school personnel failed to warn the students about the dangers of the game, and failed to properly monitor the bathrooms.   She also alleges that Normal FD paramedics failed to properly assess and treat Donnie in a timely manner.

For more on the story.  Here is a news video about the original incident back in May, 2010.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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