The families of three students who died after being hypnotized by their Florida high school principal will each receive $200,000.
The Sarasota County School District’s board of education unanimously agreed to a $600,000 settlement Tuesday, bringing to an end a bizarre, years-long lawsuit that began when former Northport High School Principal George Kenney admitted to hypnotizing 16-year-old Wesley McKinley the day before his suicide in April 2011.
A subsequent investigation found that Kenney had hypnotized as many as 75 students and staff members between 2006 and McKinley’s death, the Herald Tribune reported.
One of the school’s basketball players said Kenny hypnotized him 30 to 40 times to help him concentrate.
Former Northport High School principal George Kenny was found to have hypnotized as many as 75 students.
Among those hypnotized were 17-year-old Brittany Palumbo and 16-year-old Marcus Freeman, who committed suicide in 2011.
Freeman also died in a car accident in 2011 after using self-hypnosis techniques taught by Kenny.
School board attorney Art Hardy said after the board approved the agreement by a 4-0 vote that commissioners were “just happy this is over.”
Brittany Palumbo committed suicide after being hypnotized by George Kenny. Source: Facebook.
Damien Mallard, an attorney representing the families of McKinley, Palumbo and Freeman, said the parents aren’t suing for money, but to hold the school district accountable and to prevent something like this from happening again.
“For them, this is something they’ll never get over. Probably the worst loss a parent can have is losing a child, especially needlessly, to someone who decides to perform medical procedures on their child without being licensed,” Mallard said.
“He altered the brains of underdeveloped teenagers and they all died because of it.”
Following the suicide of Wesley McKinley (pictured), an investigation was launched into George Kenny’s hypnosis sessions.
Mallard said the family and the school district reached a settlement agreement on Oct. 1 as the case neared trial.
Kenney was placed on administrative leave in May 2011 and resigned in June 2012.
He was indicted in 2012 on two misdemeanor charges, including practicing therapeutic hypnosis without a license.
He entered a not guilty plea as part of a deal that sees him placed on probation for a year, during which he is barred from practicing hypnotism without a license.
Marcus Freeman was in a fatal car accident after practicing self-hypnosis in 2011. Source: YouTube.
Kenney surrendered his teaching license in 2013 under pressure from the Florida Department of Education and cannot reapply.
“They’re not happy that Mr. Kenny didn’t take action,” Mallard said of the student’s family.
“What is most disappointing to them is that he has never apologized, never admitted wrongdoing and is now living a comfortable retirement life in North Carolina on a pension.”
Legally, school district employees are considered an extension of the school board, so the families could not sue Kenney himself.
The only entity the family could sue was the school district.
Mallard noted that the $200,000 provided to each household is the maximum amount any Florida governmental entity can pay out without special approval from the Legislature and the governor.
Morning News Flash – October 8th
