The parents of a 15-year-old boy have launched a wrongful death lawsuit against an exclusive Los Angeles private school, alleging its negligence led to their son being fatally crushed between two vehicles in the school's car park.
A Fatal Last Day of Term
Cosmo Silverman had just finished his freshman year at Campbell Hall, a prestigious institution charging over $54,000 (£43,100) annually, and was joyfully heading to start his summer holiday. The tragedy occurred as the teenager navigated the school's busy pickup lane on 6 June. According to a complaint filed at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Cosmo was crossing through moving traffic when a Rivian R1S pinned him against a stationary Volvo SUV.
His parents, renowned artists Adam Silverman and Louise Bonnet, allege the school's dangerous traffic layout directly violated California law, which states vehicle and foot traffic patterns must not interfere with each other. The filing, seen by the Daily Mail, states the school lacked a designated crosswalk, forcing students to weave between intermittently stopping and accelerating cars.
Allegations of Ignored Warnings
The lawsuit claims Campbell Hall had received multiple complaints about the perilous parking lot setup prior to the incident. One unnamed parent reportedly texted Adam Silverman after the accident, saying, "We have raised issues many times about the safety of the drop-off and pick-up, and the school is on notice and would not change things."
Critically, the parents allege the school only implemented basic safety measures after their son's death. These belated steps included installing a crosswalk, a stop sign, and protective fencing. "Only after Cosmo Silverman’s death did it take belated and elementary steps to remedy hazards that had long been apparent," the legal complaint asserts.
A Family's Unbearable Loss
The Silverman family, who live in a $2.5m Los Angeles home, described their son as their "pride, their hope, their purpose." Adam Silverman has previously called Cosmo the "most beautiful boy in the world" and spoken of the "impossibly, crushingly sad" six months since his death.
The legal document poignantly outlines their grief: "For Adam and Louise, the death of their son was not just the loss of a life, it was the loss of every heartbeat that filled their home with joy... The quiet now is unbearable: an empty chair at dinner, a phone that does not ring, a smile they still expect to see walking through the door."
Having found attempts to resolve the matter outside court unsuccessful, the parents are now seeking a trial by jury. Campbell Hall, whose alumni include celebrities like the Olsen twins and Elle and Dakota Fanning, has been contacted for comment by the Daily Mail.
