Kuo

BACKGROUND

DUSD held a distribution event on March 24, 2021 at one of its middle schools for the “Farmers to Families Food Box Program,” which provided fresh food to families negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kuo volunteered at this event. While she was loading a food box into the rear of one vehicle, another vehicle entered the parking lot and pulled up behind. A DUSD employee approached the second car and instructed the driver to open the rear hatch of the vehicle so he could load a food box into the rear cargo area of that vehicle. The driver suddenly drove forward, crushing Kuo between the two vehicles. Kuo was transported to a medical center and died later that day. Kuo’s family members and estate filed a complaint against DUSD asserting negligence and premises liability causes of action. The complaint alleged that DUSD was negligent by failing to implement basic safety protocols at the event, failing to communicate safety protocols to volunteers and others, and failing to train and/or supervise employees who were organizing and coordinating the event. It also alleged that DUSD had created a dangerous condition of public property by failing to implement such…