On Jan. 23, 2015, plaintiffs’ decedent Steven Cruz, 14, a student, was meeting some friends when he was stabbed by a 13-year-old boy outside of Griffith Middle School, in Los Angeles. Steven was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his . The 13-year-old boy was arrested and charged with murder. In addition, a 14-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly providing the knife used in the stabbing. He was also charged with murder. Steven’s parents, Araceli Gonzalez and Miguel Cruz, sued the Los Angeles Unified School District; the dean at Griffith Middle School, Enrique Perez; and the middle school’s principal, Rose Anne Ruiz. Plaintiffs’ counsel claimed that the 13-year-old was expelled from Griffith Middle School twice before; once for bringing a machete to campus and once for having a shank at school. Counsel argued that, as a result, the defendants should have been aware of the 13-year-old’s prior violent actions, as the school district’s policy requires teachers to be told of a student’s dangerous propensities. Counsel also argued that the 13-year-old was negligently readmitted to the school, despite his history of violent behavior. In addition, counsel argued that Ruiz and Perez delayed in obtaining paramedic help for Steven, which led to a half-hour delay that contributed to Steven’s death. Defense counsel argued that despite any negligence on the part of the defendants, the 13-year-old was solely to blame for the incident, as he committed the attack., Steven sustained stab wounds and later died at a hospital. He was 14 years old. Steven’s parents, Araceli Gonzalez and Miguel Cruz, sought recovery of wrongful death damages for the loss of their son.