The story of 9-year-old Shaelynn Lehano-Stone is one of tragedy. It is a story that never should have happened.
In 2016, first responders found Shaelynn unconscious in her home. She was taken to the hospital but died just a few hours later.
Her death certificate noted: “She was denied food by her caregivers.”
Little Shaelynn was diagnosed as autistic and lived with her parents, grandparents, and two other siblings. There had been multiple reports of abuse and neglect and state workers stopped by multiple times.
Each time, they returned Shaelynn and her siblings to their grandmother. Shaelynn’s abuse never stopped.
Attorneys for family members outside of the home, who are suing for wrongful death, said that state workers noted Shaelynn was undernourished on several different occasions, yet they did nothing about it.
Cases like this are all too common. Yes, the parents and grandparents should be held accountable for the little girl’s death, but so should the state agency that should have recognized a problem and removed Shaelynn from the home.
What Is Wrongful Death?
Simply, wrongful death occurs when someone else’s willful or wrongful act, including negligence, causes the death of another person. Wrongful death cases can arise from a wide range of incidents, but here are a few examples.
Drunk Driver
Any time an impaired driver gets behind the wheel, they are a danger to other drivers and passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. They should be held responsible for their reckless decisions, and so should anyone who continued to serve them alcohol if they were visibly impaired.
Product Liability
If a product you or a loved one uses or consumes is poorly designed or manufactured or is labeled incorrectly, it can cause major injury or death. Companies should be held responsible for these deaths in order to prevent anyone else from getting hurt.
Medical Malpractice
Medical mistakes kill at least 250,000 people a year, making them the third leading cause of death in the United States. We come into contact with so many healthcare professionals each year, from our family doctors and ER nurses to dentists and EMS personnel. If they make a mistake, it can have deadly consequences.
What You Can Do
The death of a loved one is one of the hardest things a person will ever have to deal with. It is even more emotional when it should not have happened.
If someone else’s negligence or willful act has caused the death of someone you know, you may need a wrongful death attorney in Hawaii. At Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli, and Pratt, we know that no amount of money will stop the pain of losing someone, but we want to make sure those who are responsible are held accountable. We will work hard to ensure you are compensated for your loss, from funeral and burial expenses to pain and suffering damages. When you are ready, we are here. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 808-736-5035.