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The Matassini Law Firm, P.A. Your trusted legal advisors since 1976

Family Sues After Daughter Dies Of Adenovirus At College

PIClaim

The family of a University of Maryland student has filed a lawsuit against the university after their daughter died of the common adenovirus. Adenovirus is one of the viruses responsible for what folks call the common cold. Others include pink eye, stomach flus, and bronchitis.

The family believes that the university administration failed to tell staff and students that an outbreak of adenovirus had struck the campus. They allege that their daughter might still be alive had the university not hid that fact from the student body. They have accused the university of civil conspiracy, negligence, and wrongful death.

The family says that the University became aware of the outbreak on November 1st of 2018. They did not, however, announce an outbreak was occurring until the day after the girl died.

Mold in the dorms 

The family is investigating information related to mold in the dorm rooms. While adenovirus is not a product of household mold, the mold can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to respiratory infections. Most folks who get adenovirus, especially young folks, have a tough couple of days before completely recovering. They surround themselves in tissues and Nyquil and it all works out. However, much like the coronavirus, those with already present complications can die if they are not treated appropriately. The student who died was taking medication for Crohn’s disease.

According to the family, they reached out to the university for settlement talks, but the university refuses to admit any responsibility, so the talks were ultimately unproductive. An internal investigation found that the university complied with state and federal protocols but failed to warn the students of the spreading infection. The panel ultimately said that the university lacked a “mature program” for emergency response.

Since the death, the university has been more active removing the mold from the dorms. However, several students still complain of mold problems in the dorms. The situation is more critical now in 2021 than it was in 2018, two years before the coronavirus outbreak. Now, something as small as having respiratory inflammation due to toxic mold can cause either permanent damage due to COVID infections or death, even among college students.

The lawsuit 

State guidelines guide, but do not determine, what happens in tort lawsuits. While the report appears to indicate that the university met its minimum obligations under the law, it also includes 15 pages of recommendations and changes they could make to prevent a second occurrence. It will be up to the jury to decide what the university’s obligations were and whether the university met those obligations.

Talk to a Tampa Personal Injury Attorney Today 

If you’ve been injured due to the negligence of another party, the Tampa personal injury attorneys at The Matassini Law Firm will act as your tireless advocates in pursuing damages. Call today to set up a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.

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