$10.3 MILLION TRAGEDY: CHILD MOWED DOWN FAMILY TO PROMOTE SAFETY WITH PART OF AWARD BY JURY.Byline: BRAD A. GREENBERG Staff Writer ENCINO -- Michael Sandels Michael Sandel (1953-) is a contemporary political philosopher and the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government at Harvard University. Education Sandel graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Brandeis University in 1975, and received his doctorate from Balliol College at held his little girl's hand as they walked on the sidewalk A Microsoft service that was launched in 1997 to provide online arts and entertainment guides on the Web for major cities worldwide. In 1999, Microsoft sold Sidewalk to Ticketmaster, which continued to provide guides, ticketing and other information to the MSN network. next to the parking lot at Lanai Lanai (lənī`), island, 141 sq mi (365 sq km), central Hawaii, W of Maui island across the Auau Channel; Mt. Lanaihale (3,370 ft/1,027 m) is the island's highest point. For many years the island was used for sugarcane raising and cattle grazing. Road Elementary School elementary school: see school. . Jordan Sandels was 6 and, as little girls do, was gabbing about the most trivial thing. Anything was fodder fodder feed for herbivorous animals, usually used to describe dried leafy material such as hay. See also forage. fodder beet a root crop grown solely as a source of feed for cattle, possibly sheep. for conversation with her father, even the obstacle course obstacle course n. 1. A training course filled with obstacles, such as ditches and walls, that must be negotiated speedily by troops undergoing training or participants in an obstacle race. 2. she had run during school that day, Jan. 13, 2005. Only Jordan couldn't say ``obstacle.'' She pronounced it ``obstibable.'' That is the only thing Sandels remembers about their final conversation. ``We were in the middle of a sentence, and suddenly she was just gone,'' he recalled Wednesday. ``I looked to the side and behind me, and I totally just panicked. ``But then I saw her. She was pinned underneath a minivan that had crashed into a car on the curb.'' Last Thursday, a jury in Van Nuys Superior Court held the Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. liable for Jordan's death, issuing a $10.3 million verdict because it determined the parking lot was a safety hazard that district officials were aware of. But the money won't bring back Jordan or the Sandels' joyful lives. It won't bring back Shawn Sandels' big sister. ``We didn't go to church much before that, but I chose not to blame God,'' Sandels said. ``I believe he was watching on, horrified hor·ri·fy tr.v. hor·ri·fied, hor·ri·fy·ing, hor·ri·fies 1. To cause to feel horror. See Synonyms at dismay. 2. To cause unpleasant surprise to; shock. , with us.'' If so, what God saw was Lauri Dowling make a tragic mistake as she attempted to pull out of a parking space for the handicapped. Dowling, who lawyers said suffers from multiple sclerosis and drove a vehicle with hand-operated brakes, told authorities she lost control of the van after putting it in reverse. Traveling backward, the van careened onto the sidewalk and ripped Jordan from her father's hand, not stopping until it hit a parked car. Jordan was pronounced dead at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center. Jurors found Dowling 20 percent responsible, but she will not have to pay, said Mark J. Henderson, the Sandels' attorney. LAUSD LAUSD Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles, CA) officials are considering whether to appeal. ``At the end of the day, it remains a tragedy and one we don't think the district should have been held liable for,'' said Kevin Reed Kevin Bruce Reed (born May 7, 1955) is an American Presbyterian author, theologian, and publisher. Reed grew up in Dallas, Texas, and attended the Richardson, Texas public schools. , the district's general counsel. ``This little girl was exactly where she should have been that day. You just can't foresee a car is going to come screaming at high speeds in reverse up a sidewalk.'' If there is no appeal or an appeal fails, LAUSD's insurers will cover the payout after $3 million, Reed said. Sandels said he hopes the size of the jury verdict will spur school districts nationwide to better ensure student safety. Sandels said he and his wife, Nicky, are establishing the Jordan Sandels Foundation, to which they will donate up to half of the payout. The foundation will focus on improving traffic safety at grade schools. The Sandels also plan to lobby for federal legislation regarding zero- tolerance for traffic hazards near schools. ``Maybe the awareness of this could save children's lives we don't even know about,'' Sandels said. ``That is what my wife and I are going to dedicate our lives to doing from now on.'' Sandels' relationship with Jordan transcended the typically special father-daughter bond. He wasn't just her hero. While his wife was away at work, Michael Sandels, a freelance writer and actor, played Mr. Mom. After Jordan died, the Sandels tried to stay in their Valley Glen home. But the burden was too heavy, and last year they moved to West Orange, N.J. ``The house and Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. will always be sacred to us,'' Sandels said. ``But it was just too difficult, too painful. After a while, a lot of our friends started to seem uneasy around us. It was just too painful to stay.'' brad.greenberg(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3634 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: JORDAN SANDELS |
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