Slidell, Louisiana – A Louisiana jury awarded $129 million in damages to the family of Emma Savoie, a 6-year-old girl who was tragically killed by a car near her school in late 2022. The incident occurred while Emma was partaking in a running group activity at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Slidell, and has since spurred discussions about traffic safety in school zones.
The group Emma was part of, which included her older brother, Beau, routinely followed a path that required crossing traffic lanes. Emma was trying to catch up to her brother when she was struck. The substantial verdict reflects significant findings against the school’s safety protocols, with the jury determining a lack of adequate traffic measures contributed directly to the fatal accident.
Following a five-day trial, the St. Tammany County jury concluded late Friday, awarding various damages to Emma’s family members for their profound losses. Emma herself was posthumously awarded $29 million for the suffering endured during her final moments, while her brother received $50 million for enduring severe mental anguish as a witness to the tragedy. Emma’s parents, Amy and Brent Savoie, each were awarded $25 million in damages respectively.
Amy Savoie reacted to the verdict as a form of validation, expressing to local media that the decision acknowledged her daughter was not responsible for her own demise. This notion underpins the family’s broader struggle with the profound implications of the event.
Frank Swarr, the attorney representing the Savoies, noted that the awarded sum was unprecedented in the country for a general damages payout. Meanwhile, the family’s legal action, initially filed in February 2022 in Baton Rouge, was later transferred to Covington. While the trial has concluded, an appeal by the school and its insurance carrier is anticipated.
In response to the ruling, the Archdiocese of New Orleans, overseers of Our Lady of Lourdes though not a party to the lawsuit, released a statement expressing their sadness over Emma’s death and extending their support to the grieving family.
Following her daughter’s death, Amy Savoie channeled her grief into advocacy, seeking to enhance traffic safety measures in schools across Louisiana and the wider United States. Her efforts include forming the Emma Bell Foundation, which has actively lobbied for state-wide regulations on school traffic safety.
“The money has never been a factor for me,” Amy Savoie told reporters. “It’s always been about accountability and responsibility.” Through the tragic loss and the subsequent legal proceedings, the Savoie family remains dedicated to ensuring safer environments for children in educational settings.
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