The family of Kaleiah “Mo” Jones, a 16-year-old Virginia high school student who died after collapsing on campus, has filed an $85 million wrongful death lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools, the city of Newport News, and specific school personnel. The lawsuit alleges that the delay in providing life-saving assistance led to Jones’s tragic death—a situation her family and legal representatives believe was entirely preventable.

In February, Jones collapsed at Menchville High School, a moment that marked the start of a timeline her family claims exemplifies negligence. According to attorneys Ben Crump and Mark Krudys, school staff, including the school nurse, failed to act quickly enough. The lawsuit specifies that nine crucial minutes passed before a school resource officer initiated CPR, only to stop after just 17 seconds. Following this, another seven minutes elapsed before emergency responders arrived on the scene, by which time it was too late to save Jones.

The case highlights the fact that Menchville High School had three automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on hand, but none were reportedly brought out during the emergency. This has raised serious concerns from Jones’s family and their attorneys, as Virginia law mandates that school employees are trained and certified in CPR and AED use. “Seconds matter. Time is of the essence,” said Crump at a recent press conference, emphasizing the role AEDs are meant to play in situations exactly like this. “That is exactly why they made the law.”

Jones’s family is heartbroken, with her mother, Keyonna Stewart, mourning the life her daughter will never get to live. Stewart described her daughter as a kind-hearted teenager who loved baking, babysitting, feeding the homeless, and volunteering with infants at church. Kaleiah also suffered from bradycardia—a medical condition characterized by a slow heart rate. Her family claims the school was aware of this health condition and yet failed to act appropriately in the emergency.

Stewart shared a personal statement reflecting on the tremendous void left in her life. “Today and forever, my heart is broken. I wake up daily with the pain and sorrow that my sweet baby girl is not with me on this journey called life,” she expressed, devastated by the lost milestones—getting a driver’s license, graduating high school, and walking down the aisle—that her daughter will never experience.

The lawsuit, the family says, is a step toward making Jones’s death meaningful, ensuring that other students may not face the same tragedy. Crump emphasized that the alleged inaction from school staff must be seen as a powerful lesson for the entire city and state. “The teachable moment starts now, just with the filing of the lawsuit, because you all are looking at Kaleiah’s face, and I hope you’re thinking about your children. But by the grace of God, it could be your child,” he stated.

The Newport News school district has released a brief statement saying they are unable to comment on the case until the lawsuit is formally served.

A Honolulu Wrongful Death Lawyer can provide insight into how legal action may be pursued in cases like this, helping families seek justice and accountability when preventable loss occurs due to negligence.