Packard v. Joint School District No. 171

BURNETT, Judge.

Alferd Aftan Packard was five years old when he died. The death occurred when Alferd disembarked from a school bus and, while attempting to cross the street, was struck as the bus moved forward. The driver of the school bus later testified that her attention had been temporarily diverted, and that she did not see Alferd when she put the bus in motion.

Alferd’s parents sued the school district for negligence. A jury returned a verdict of $212,500, less ten percent for comparative negligence attributed to Alferd. The trial judge further reduced the parents’ recovery to $100,000 —…