Efforts to settle a lawsuit filed by the parents of a local student who died during a track practice at Amarillo High School have failed, and the case is now expected to proceed to trial.
A report filed Monday by the attorney representing the parents of Jaxson Mendoza confirmed that mediation between the family and Amarillo Independent School District (AISD) did not result in an agreement. The report further states that all parties anticipate a jury trial will last approximately four days.
Mendoza, a student at Amarillo High, died three years ago after suffering prolonged seizures while warming up on the school track. The lawsuit alleges that although the school had a documented action plan for managing his medical condition, staff failed to follow it when Mendoza experienced seizures lasting more than 15 minutes.
The federal complaint accuses Amarillo ISD of negligence and failing to provide appropriate medical response, claiming that these failures contributed to the teen’s death.
This case is one of two federal lawsuits currently filed against the school district involving the deaths of Amarillo ISD students. The district formally denied responsibility in both cases through filings submitted in June.
In April, a federal judge denied Amarillo ISD’s motion to dismiss both lawsuits, allowing them to move forward toward trial. The court’s decision underscored the seriousness of the allegations and the potential for the district to be held accountable if negligence is proven.
No trial date has been officially set, but with mediation efforts exhausted, attorneys are expected to begin preparing for jury selection and witness testimony in the coming months.
Amarillo ISD has not issued a public comment on the failed mediation or the pending trial, citing ongoing litigation.
Jaxson Mendoza’s death and the resulting legal battle have sparked wider community discussions about student safety, emergency preparedness, and the responsibilities of school personnel in medical emergencies.
