Parents of 13-Year-Old Boy Sue Hartford School District in Fentanyl Overdose Case

November 14, 2023

Silver Golub & Teitell and co-counsel have filed a wrongful death lawsuit for the parents of Ethan Hernandez-Reyes, a 13-year-old student who died after teachers and staff at a Hartford school failed to notice he was suffering from the effects of a fentanyl overdose. 

Ethan was participating in gym class at Sports and Medical Sciences Academy on January 15, 2022, when he became unwell, according to a complaint filed by the parents against the City of Hartford. While the students and teacher played floor hockey, Ethan lay on a gym mat until the end of the class, when he was found to be unresponsive.  

“The Hartford school district was negligent in Ethan’s death,” said Silver Golub & Teitell Partner Joaquin Madry, who represents Ethan’s father, Ivan Hernandez. “They had no Narcan policy, no Narcan training and no Narcan on the premises,” Mr. Madry said.  

At the end of the class, the teacher called the school nurse, who tried to resuscitate him until paramedics arrived. He was pronounced dead at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center later that day. 

“The teacher failed to send Ethan to the school nurse, she failed to check on him during the class, and she failed to get prompt emergency medical assistance,” said Paul Iannaccone of RisCassi & Davis, who represents Ethan’s mother, Malany Reyes. 

Mr. Hernandez and Ms. Reyes are co-administrators of the estate of their son.  

The lawsuit, Ivan Hernandez and Malany Reyes v. City of Hartford, was filed in Superior Court in Hartford on November 13, 2023, seeking damages for Ethan’s death and for the pain and suffering he underwent.