The parents of a 15-year-old boy have launched a legal action against his prestigious private school in Los Angeles, claiming its negligence led to his tragic death in the school's car park at the start of the summer holidays.
A Fatal Last Day of School
Cosmo Silverman, a freshman at the exclusive Campbell Hall school, had just finished his last day of the academic year on 7 June. He was joyfully leaving the campus to begin his summer break when he was struck and fatally pinned between two vehicles in the school's pick-up lane.
The teenager was navigating through a line of intermittently moving cars when a Rivian R1S pinned him against a Volvo SUV. The incident occurred in an area where students were forced to cross moving traffic, as the school had not provided a designated pedestrian crosswalk.
Parents Allege School Broke State Law
On Tuesday, Cosmo's parents, renowned artists Adam Silverman and Louise Bonnet, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The legal complaint alleges that Campbell Hall, a private institution charging $54,100 per year, violated California law by allowing vehicle and foot traffic patterns to dangerously intersect.
The lawsuit states that California law clearly mandates that 'vehicle traffic patterns must not interfere with foot traffic patterns.' The parents claim the school's layout forced students to weave through a live traffic lane to reach the other side of the car park, creating a known and persistent hazard.
Safety Measures Only Implemented After Death
According to the legal documents seen by the Daily Mail, the school only took 'belated and elementary steps' to address the danger after Cosmo's death. These measures 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 complaint reads. It further alleges that the school had received multiple complaints from parents about the unsafe pick-up and drop-off procedures but had failed to act.
One parent reportedly texted Adam Silverman after the incident, stating: 'We have raised issues many times about the safety... and the school is on notice and would not change things.'
A Family's Unbearable Loss
The Silverman family, who live in a $2.5 million home in Los Angeles, are described as utterly devastated. The lawsuit poignantly describes Cosmo as his parents' 'pride, their hope, their purpose.'
'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 filing states. Adam Silverman has previously described his son as the 'most beautiful boy in the world' and spoken of the 'impossibly, crushingly sad' six months since his death.
The family claims attempts to resolve the matter with the school outside of court were unsuccessful. They are now seeking a trial by jury. Campbell Hall, whose alumni include the Olson twins and actresses Elle and Dakota Fanning, has been contacted for comment by the Daily Mail.
