The family of a South East High School football player who died after suffering a brain injury during a game has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District, alleging the district failed to provide safe conditions.
Christopher Garcia, a 16-year-old junior varsity football player, suffered the injury in 2024 after making a defensive tackle during a game. Attorneys for the family on Tuesday released footage of the play.
The video shows Garcia tackling a receiver before his head struck the field. He was later placed into a medically induced coma and died 11 days later.
According to the lawsuit, Garcia’s family alleges the district failed to provide “safe facilities, proper equipment, and adequate supervision,” which they contend led to their son’s death.
Garcia’s sister, Kimberly Garcia, spoke on behalf of the family regarding the lawsuit they have filed.
“We want justice,” said Garcia. “It’s completely unfair my brother lost his life due to the negligence of the school district.”
The sister said it took five to six days for a coach and the school principal to show up to the hospital.
Following Garcia’s death, LAUSD said that, under district policy, games cannot be played without qualified medical personnel present.
The district said that at the time of the incident, two medical staff members were on site and that both “immediately provided medical attention.”
The family disputed those statements on Monday, arguing that there should have been an ambulance on site and claiming that there was not one present.
In a statement sent to ABC7, LAUSD said it “does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation.”
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