College District Appeals Ruling in Student Death

A community college district is appealing a $2-million judgment for the death of a 35-year-old student who collapsed during a class and was left unconscious on the floor as his teacher advised students to leave him alone.

A Superior Court jury in March awarded more than $2 million in economic and punitive damages and nearly $51,000 in court costs to the widow and son of Darren Kinney of San Diego. The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District filed an appeal last month.

Kinney collapsed during an evening psychology class at Grossmont Community College in February 2003. Teacher Jake Henn told his class that Kinney was suffering from a narcoleptic seizure and would recover on his own, according to testimony from Henn and his students.