Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Utah Job Corps Center

On March 10, 2014, a 17-year-old girl — Isela Huerta Carranza —  died from diabetic ketoacidosis while she was in the care of the Clearfield Job Corps Center in Farmington, Utah. Nearly two years later in March 2016 the girl's mother, Adriana Delaluz, has hired a lawyer and filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The suit claims that the company was negligent in its care and treatment of Carranza. 

Isela Carranza's Death 

It is the job center’s policy that the minor students are not permitted to leave without permission. However, Carranza nonetheless left the center without any insulin to help her control her diabetes. In the wrongful death lawsuit, the the mother's lawyer explains that Carranza was gone overnight at a friend's home and began to have medical complications and the Clearfield Job Corps Center was contacted. 

In the lawsuit filed in Farmington, the mother's lawyer explains it took some time for an employee to arrive and pick up Carranza; however, the suit continues to say that the employee didn't bring any insulin for the medical conditions Carranza was experiencing. It continues to allege that the staff at Clearfield Job Corps Center knew it had been 24 hours since she had medication, but didn't call for medical help until she was in cardiac arrest. 

Who Is Responsible

Both Delaluz and the wrongful death lawyer whom she hired explain that more could've been done to prevent Carranza's death. In a KSL news report, a former student, Shaelyn Newman, explained that even though the center has a policy against minors leaving, they rarely enforce the rules; although this is one factor in the suit. For Delaluz, there are other errors that occurred. 

The lawsuit alleges, there were multiple instances when a higher standard of care could've been given. Emergency personal could've been called to help Carranza from the moment she was located, or the staff member who was sent to bring her back could've also brought the necessary medication. However, regardless of the fault, this is an unfortunate and sad situation for Carranza's family and friends both in Farmington and her neighborhood in Idaho. 

Ryan Muir is a legal writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Robert J Debry. Follow on Twitter.