17-Year-Old Girl Dies of Cardiac Arrest After Eating Popular Dessert
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The father of Kayleen Brown, a 17-year-old Florida high school senior, has filed a lawsuit against Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) following her tragic death from an allergic reaction during a school event. According to the lawsuit, Kayleen attended a school meeting at Atlantic Coast High School in April 2023, where she unknowingly consumed baklava, a dessert that contained nuts.
Kayleen, who had a severe nut allergy, quickly began experiencing symptoms and informed staff at the event that she needed treatment. Despite notifying staff, the lawsuit alleges that no emergency measures were taken. Kayleen left the event on her own to purchase Benadryl at a nearby pharmacy. While at the pharmacy, she suffered anaphylaxis and went into cardiac arrest.
Emergency responders were called, and Kayleen was rushed to a hospital, where she fell into a coma and later passed away. Her father, Steven Brown, has accused DCPS of negligence, claiming that the school staff failed to follow the district’s Food Allergy Management and Prevention Plan.
The plan was designed to train staff to recognize and respond to allergic reactions, including administering epinephrine and notifying emergency services. It also stated that no student experiencing an allergic reaction should be left unattended or allowed to walk alone.
The lawsuit alleges that the staff assured Kayleen that the baklava was nut-free despite knowing her allergy and failed to provide proper emergency care when she reported symptoms. “It’s hard to imagine sometimes that someone can die from something like this, but they can and they do,” said the family’s attorney, Ted Pina, in a statement to WJAX.
The lawsuit also criticizes the school district for not ensuring that allergen-free foods were properly labeled and safe for students with severe allergies like Kayleen. Kayleen, described as an ambitious student with dreams of becoming an anesthesiologist, was known for her dedication and strong academic performance.
A GoFundMe page has been created to support her family and cover legal expenses. Her grandmother wrote on the page, “Kayleen had the ambition of becoming an anesthesiologist and had the grades to accomplish this and anything she could put her mind to.”
The case serves as a devastating reminder of the importance of food allergy awareness and strict adherence to safety protocols in schools.
