A Nevada mother has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Clark County School District (CCSD), alleging that gross negligence and a failure to provide emergencymedical care led to the death of her 8-year-old son. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court on March 3, 2026, claims a school official ignored the child’s obvious signs of distress and directed him to a bathroom to choke alone, rather than administering life-saving measures.
A Fatal Lapse in Protocol at Bass Elementary
The incident occurred on February 25, 2025, at Bass Elementary School. According to the complaint filed by Amanda Corbala, her son, Cruzito Ruiz, was in the school cafeteria at approximately 11:20 a.m. when he began to choke on a piece of food.
Security camera footage cited in the lawsuit reportedly shows Ruiz attempting to slap his own back and seeking help from a peer before approaching a school official. The complaint alleges that despite Ruiz “signaling for help with his hands to his mouth and displaying obvious signs of physical distress,” the official failed to intervene.
Allegations of Negligence and “Air Hunger”
The lawsuit paints a harrowing picture of the minutes leading up to the child’s collapse. Rather than performing the Heimlich maneuver or CPR—procedures the official was allegedly trained to execute—the staff member reportedly directed Ruiz to an isolated boys’ bathroom.
“The school official did not radio for help, call for the school nurse, alert any nearby adult staff, or contact emergency services before directing Cruzito out of sight,” the complaint states…