$26M settlement reached in N.J. school pool drowning deaths of teenage brothers
The family of two teenage brothers who drowned in a public school pool in Bayonne has agreed to a $26 million settlement, ending a civil case that uncovered what their attorneys claim was a pattern of lies, coverups and reckless disregard for safety by school district staff.
Attorneys for the family of Chu Ming Zheng, 19, and Jack Jiang, 16, say depositions, surveillance video and witness statements revealed the Bayonne Board of Education failed to properly staff the Lincoln Community School pool during an open swim session on June 8, 2022, and then misled police about it.
Darryl L. Zaslow, the family’s attorney, told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday that the family had rejected an earlier settlement offer of $14 million.
“Obviously, everything pales in comparison to the loss of these two children,” Zaslow said. “But they realize the boys are not coming back, and the family has decided to settle.”
The $26 million settlement was reached on Nov. 13 during a hearing between attorneys for both sides that was moderated by the judge in the case.