logo
    • News
    • Classifieds
    • Free Subscription
    • Book Store
    • Submit
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Submit an Educational Announcement
      • Submit a letter to The Editor
    • Past Issues
    • Regional Trade Shows
    • Testimonials
    • Contact
    • News
    • Classifieds
    • Free Subscription
    • Book Store
    • Submit
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Submit an Educational Announcement
      • Submit a letter to The Editor
    • Past Issues
    • Regional Trade Shows
    • Testimonials
    • Contact
News
July 14, 2022
Two N.J. boys drown in schoolpool,familysuing

Less than a month after the drowning deaths of teenage brothers in a Bayonne, New Jersey, school swimming pool, the boys’ family has initiated the first steps in filing a $100 million lawsuit.

On June 8, Jack Jiang, 16, and 19-year-old Chu Ming Zheng drowned while swimming at the Lincoln Community School pool, which is open to the public during certain hours.

According to reports, the three lifeguards who were present at the pool at the time noticed that the brothers, who were in the deep end, did not surface, and entered the pool.

The lifeguards and then police officers and other first responders attempted lifesaving measures, but the brothers were pronounced dead at Bayonne Medical Center, about 6 miles south of Jersey City.

On June 25, the family of the brothers filed two tort claims each in the amount of $50,000, alleging that the drownings at the pool were the result of negligence and that if litigation is necessary after the investigations, “so be it.”

A tort claim is a precursor to a lawsuit that must be filed within 90 days of an occurrence when a claim against a public entity is made.

In addition to New Jersey, the city of Bayonne, Hudson County, tort claims were also sent to the Bayonne schools superintendent, the Board of Education and the Lincoln Community School principal. The claims say that these entities or their employees failed to protect the brothers.

The family’s attorneys, Daryl Zaslow and Barry Eichen of Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow LLP, said the family is awaiting results of the drowning investigation conducted by the school district and city. Zaslow, whose team has conducted their own investigation by interviewing witnesses, said the drownings were “100-percent preventable.”

'This is not a situation in which kids snuck into a closed pool in the middle of the night and somebody drowned. There were supposed to be three lifeguards on duty. It is impossible to come up with a situation in which two children die in a situation like this one when lifeguards are on duty,' Zaslow told NJ101.5.

Zaslow told the Bayonne Community News that the tort claims were necessary to reserve the family’s right to file a lawsuit in the future.

The Tort Claims Act requires anyone who plans to sue the state or a municipality to give them written notice within 90 days of a potential case.

If a tort claim is not filed, regardless of the merits of the case, it could be barred forever as a procedural penalty. The formal lawsuit itself cannot be filed until six months have passed.

“The fact that we can’t file a formal suit under the Tort Claims Act until some time passes has not hampered us in terms of our investigation,” Eichen said. “We’ve talked to various aquatic safety and rescue experts who can’t think of any scenario where this community pool is not responsible for negligence and not saving these young men.”

LATEST NEWS
Body found in backyard swimming pool
News
Body found in backyard swimming pool
A Suffolk County, NY police detective discovered a body in his swimming pool
June 14, 2025
A Long Island, New York, homeowner and his son discovered a body this May while opening their backyard swimming pool for the season. The body is belie...
this is a test
News
Need to raise prices? Read how to do it
June 14, 2025
This years’ Service Industry News survey revealed an interesting trend: Pool and spa small business owners have raised their average monthly prices. A...
this is a test
Florida pool builder sentenced to 20 years
News
Florida pool builder sentenced to 20 years
June 14, 2025
A Florida pool and spa builder has been sentenced to prison for defrauding customers. According to a press release from the Florida Attorney General’s...
this is a test
Las Vegas hotels discover Legionella in water
News
Las Vegas hotels discover Legionella in water
June 14, 2025
For many American families, the summer months signal a time for vacation. That’s why health departments are sounding the alarm about a hidden health t...
this is a test
News
Todrain,ornottodrain, that is the question
June 14, 2025
The state of Montana has enacted a new regulatory change concerning hot tub maintenance for short-term rentals that is expected to save the state mill...
this is a test
Minnesota struggles with backyard spas:  Public or private?
News
Minnesota struggles with backyard spas: Public or private?
June 14, 2025
When are residential pools, spas, or hot tubs actually public pools, spas, or hot tubs? It sounds like a riddle, but it’s a real question up for debat...
this is a test
Read Our Newsletter
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Free Subscription
View Current Print Ads
Educational Announcements
Aquatic Training Institute

Educational Leverage

Foundation For Pool Industry Education

Locey Pool

Pool Chemistry Training Institute

Pool & Hot Tub Alliance

Portofino University

Underwater Pool Masters
Trade Show Dates
  • The International Pool Spa Patio Expo
    Nov. 12-14, Dallas, Texas
  • The Pool and Spa Show
    Jan. 28-30, Atlantic City, New Jersey
  • 35th Annual National Plasterers Conference
    Feb. 26-28, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
  • The Southwest Pool and Spa Show
    Feb. 4-8, Houston, Texas
  • The Western Pool and Spa Show
    Feb. 6-8, Long Beach, California
Books to Order
About Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy
We use cookies to ensure that our website gives you the best experience possible. By continuing to use this website, you agree to this use of cookies.OK