Father Sues Duval County Schools Over Daughter’s Nut Allergy Death

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The father of a high school student who died in 2023 after suffering a severe allergic reaction to nuts at a school function has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Duval County Public Schools (DCPS). The lawsuit, filed in July 2024, alleges that the school district failed to follow necessary protocols to ensure the safety of 17-year-old Kayleen Brown, a senior at Atlantic Coast High School.

According to the lawsuit, Brown attended a school activity meeting on April 27, 2023, where food was provided, including baklava. Brown, who had a known severe allergy to nuts, asked if the baklava contained nuts and was told it did not. After consuming the dessert, she discovered it contained pistachios and began experiencing allergic symptoms. Despite informing a DCPS employee of her condition, Brown was not taken to the school nurse, and emergency services were not notified. She later went to a local pharmacy to obtain Benadryl but suffered anaphylaxis and cardiac arrest, falling into a coma and passing away on April 30, 2023.

The lawsuit claims that DCPS failed to adhere to its Food Allergy Management and Prevention Plan, which required staff training on recognizing allergic reactions, administering epinephrine, and notifying emergency services. The plan also mandated that students experiencing allergic reactions should not be allowed to walk alone or ride the school bus. The lawsuit seeks at least $50,000 in damages and demands a jury trial, alleging that Brown’s death was a direct result of DCPS’s negligence.

In a statement to News4JAX, DCPS expressed condolences to Brown’s family but declined further comment due to pending litigation. Brown, who loved the beach, painting, and drawing, had plans to start her first job and attend Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) before transferring to the University of Central Florida (UCF).