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Jury Awards $10M To Family Of Boy Who Suffocated On Bus Ride Home From School

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — A jury in Orange County awarded $10 million to the family of a 3-year-old boy who died on a bus ride home from school in 2011.

Kevin Cisler, a special needs student, had "Angelman Syndrome" -- a neurological and genetic disorder that affected his growth.

He died on a Capistrano School District bus on the way from his special ed class in March 2011.

The family charged district employees with not strapping Cisler into his wheelchair properly.

The lawsuit alleged that he slipped down in his wheelchair and suffocated on his chest harness.

The day he died, he was also placed on the bus directly behind the driver in such a way the driver was unable to see him.

The parent of another child ultimately saw that Cisler was not breathing but it was too late to save him, according to the suit.

The family's lawyers told the Orange County Register that the $10 million judgement is believed to be the largest judgement rendered in the death of a child in the county.

The jury decided on the award after deliberating two days.

The family's attorney told the Register Cisler's parents were "overwhelmed and honored" by the jury award.

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