A California teacher died two years ago after suffering a devastating neurological and respiratory decline — but her case is making headlines now because her husband has filed a wrongful death lawsuit blaming toxic exposure at the high school where she worked.
Judith Van Fleet died on Aug. 12, 2024, at the age of 74. Her death certificate reportedly listed respiratory failure and hypoxic encephalopathy — brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen — as the immediate causes of her death.
Now, nearly two years later, her husband, Edwin Van Fleet, is taking legal action over what he claims happened inside Morro Bay High School.
Edwin filed a lawsuit on Aug. 11 alleging that Judith’s health began deteriorating after a construction company was hired to build a new swimming pool at the school, where she had taught for nearly 25 years.
The project began during the summer of 2016.
According to the lawsuit, construction was taking place immediately next to Judith’s classroom. The filing claims an Air Pollution Control District had recommended avoiding the work while school was in session.
But the lawsuit alleges construction continued while Judith was teaching, exposing her to diesel exhaust and potentially toxic construction dust for nearly three weeks.
It also claims the company involved in the project, Nadar, was aware that Judith had complained about the conditions.
Not long afterward, her health allegedly began to unravel.
According to the lawsuit, Judith developed trouble breathing, sinus congestion, headaches, a hoarse voice, weakness, memory problems and worsening cognitive issues.
Her difficulties reportedly became noticeable inside the classroom.
The filing claims Judith began struggling to remember the names of her students and had difficulty following her own lesson plans.
She eventually went to a MedStop clinic, where she was given oxygen and a rescue inhaler.
Despite the frightening symptoms, she reportedly returned to work the following day.
But her condition continued getting worse.
Judith eventually retired early in 2017 as doctors searched for answers.
According to the lawsuit, a pulmonologist diagnosed her with occupational asthma, vasomotor rhinitis and hypersensitivity to dust.
A neurologist later diagnosed her with a persistent cognitive disorder and recurring headaches.
Perhaps most alarming was the result of a neuropsychological evaluation.
The lawsuit says testing revealed “severe global cognitive deficits,” affecting Judith’s memory, language, concentration, reasoning, processing speed, mathematical ability and other basic functions.
Her condition continued deteriorating in the years that followed.
By the period before her death in 2024, the lawsuit claims Judith was bedridden, unable to speak, incontinent and dependent on around-the-clock care.
She died on Aug. 12, 2024.
Now her husband is seeking to hold those he believes were responsible accountable.
The lawsuit includes claims of wrongful death, strict liability failure to warn, strict liability design defect, loss of consortium and a survival action.
The allegations have not yet been proven in court.
While Judith’s death occurred two years ago, the newly filed lawsuit is bringing renewed attention to the circumstances surrounding her illness and the family’s claim that what began as a school construction project ultimately had devastating consequences.
