Osborn Machler Files Claim Against Wenatchee School District on Behalf of Family of Wenatchee Drowning Victim

Alleges criminal negligence and malfeasance by school officials

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Osborn Machler has filed a claim against the Wenatchee School District on behalf of the family of Antonio Reyes, a 14-year-old freshman at Wenatchee High School, alleging criminal negligence following their son’s drowning during a physical education class in the high school’s pool.

“We believe that school officials failed even the most basic duties regarding Antonio’s safety and well-being”

The claim, filed by Seattle attorney Simeon Osborn, is the first step to a civil lawsuit and alleges that the school was criminally negligent in Reyes’ death.

“We believe that school officials failed even the most basic duties regarding Antonio’s safety and well-being,” said Osborn. “We cannot bring him back to his family, but our goal is to raise awareness of this horrific tragedy in the hopes that we can spare other families from this pain.”

Reyes drowned in the high school’s pool on Thursday, November 17, 2011. According to published reports, Reyes was participating in an aquatic P.E. class that occurred between 9:13 and 10:09 a.m. Witnesses reported seeing him present for some of the class, but could not remember him being there for the final activity of the class, water polo.

Reyes could not swim, according to his parents.

Students in the next scheduled class found his body lying on the bottom of the deep end of the pool at 10:53 a.m., according to the Wenatchee Police Department. He may have been underwater for as long as 40 minutes before school officials pulled his body from the pool.

“This was a senseless, preventable tragedy,” said his father, Juan Jose Reyes. “We want to find out what went wrong in Antonio’s case so no other parents have to go through the heartbreak we are feeling.”

“Filing this claim is the only way to truly hold accountable those responsible for this breach of trust and prevent this from happening again,” said Osborn.

Reyes reportedly enjoyed sports, especially soccer, dancing and joking with friends. In addition to his father and mother, he was survived by his twin brother.

Washington law mandates that before any public agency can be sued, that agency must first be served with a claim. If the school district and the Reyes family do not reach a settlement after the claim is filed, they can then file a civil lawsuit.

About Osborn Machler

The attorneys at Osborn Machler represent plaintiffs in personal injury, products liability, and professional malpractice cases. Osborn Machler is noted for taking difficult cases and successfully taking them to settlement or trial. The firm has extensive experience representing injured persons against federal, state, and local governments. You can learn more about the firm, its cases and expertise at www.osbornmachler.com.