Family of Fresno High student who died after in-class collapse asks court for help
Attorneys representing the family of Daniel Padilla Jr., the 14-year-old who died after collapsing at Fresno High earlier this year, are accusing the district of not properly responding to a records request regarding emergency response procedures.
According to a petition for a writ of mandate filed last month, attorneys for Padilla’s family filed a records request on March 18, followed by a supplemental request six days later.
The request sought records related to medical emergencies at Fresno High, including automated external defibrillator records, emergency response policies and risk management, according to the petition.
The district submitted a 14-day extension on April 13, followed by “limited” records releases. The district said it’d release records on a rolling basis and was working to narrow the scope of the request, as about 300,000 emails were flagged through its keyword search, the petition states.
However, the plaintiff’s attorneys are asking the court to order the district to comply with the records request and promptly produce all responsive, non-exempt records. The attorneys are also asking for the district to “provide a court-supervised date-certain production schedule.”
A petition for a writ of mandate is not a lawsuit but a formal request for the court to order a public entity to carry out an act — in this case, properly respond to a records request.
The plaintiffs are seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as attorneys fees.
Benjamin Drake, an attorney representing Padilla’s family, said the case is still in the early stages but would likely move forward to litigation.
Padilla died on March 9 after experiencing a medical emergency during a physical education class at Fresno High School. He passed out at the school and died at the hospital.
“Our hearts are with the student’s family, friends and the entire school community during this incredibly difficult time,” the district said in a statement after Padilla’s death.
A spokesperson for Fresno Unified said the district was unable to comment on the writ petition.
