Parents File Wrongful Death Suit Over Daughter's Death at Community Pool

By Daniel Hawn

Published on November 30, 2005

Keith and Diana Appleby filed the lawsuit on behalf of the death of their daughter, Kiana. On May 5, Kiana was swimming at a pool managed by the Westchase Community Association when a storm moved in the area. She along with others in the pool were ordered to get out and seek shelter nearby.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, one of the children discovered that Kiana was missing. A member of the pool staff then counted the children, checked the bathrooms and encircled the pool before Kiana was discovered in the deep end.

The wrongful death suit claims that the head and assistant coaches of the swim team Kiana belonged to, as well as the lifeguard on duty, were negligent in not ensuring that each child made it safely out of the pool.

The suit also alleges that the Westchase Community Association failed to establish obvious safety guidelines for staff members to follow and failed to ensure that sufficient personnel were present at the pool to oversee the children.

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