Washington, D.C. 7/6/1988

The Washington Post

$11 Million Awarded for Boy Burned in School Lab

By Amy Goldstein and Victoria Churchville
Washington Post Staff Writers

Wednesday, July 6, 1988 - A D.C. Superior Court jury has awarded $11 million to the family of a Silver Spring boy who has critically burned three years ago when a chemistry experiment exploded during a summer program in a District elementary school.

The judgment, widely though to be the largest for compensatory damage every awarded in Superior Court, will be appealed by at least one of two defendants.

The jury found Friday that both the District and American University, which provided the chemicals that exploded, were responsible for the burns that Dedrick Howell suffered as he and 13 classmates were mixing combustible powders in a science laboratory to make small fireworks called "sparklers."

Howell, now 12, was the most severely burned of four children injured in the August 1985 accident at Murch Elementary School at 36th and Ellicott streets NW. He received extensive burns over about 30 percent of his body, including his face, neck, torso and arms.

Most badly burned were Dedrick's hands. An avid pianist and flautist, he'll never play again, according to Jeremiah Collins, attorney for the Howells.

"You can imagine a 9-year old kid --what it did to his soul, his mind, his spirit," Collins said yesterday. "He's a nice little kid but now he's a loner."

Dedrick took the stand briefly during the trial. The jury was shown extensive photographs of the burns and the painful treatment process that included wearing girdle-like garments for more than a year on the treated areas to firm the skin.

Dedrick's father, Roy Howell, said in an interview that the boy spent months shuttling between Children's Hospital and a rehabilitation hospital in Charlottesville, undergoing a series of skin grafts and several forms of therapy some of which still is continuing. Skin grafts also left Dedrick with severe keloid scars.

"It was a real hard battle said Howell, an adjunct professor at Howard University Law School. It sort of broke my heart. You say to yourself in life you take risks," he said. "But when you take your kid to school, you expect everything is okay."

The explosion occurred during a two-week summer program for gifted youngsters touted in a letter from school officials to parents when the accident took place.

Calling the jury decision "emotional", Edwin Sheridan, an attorney for American University, said that he will appeal the "extremely excessive" verdict.

Everyone can identify to some extent with a child that small having such horrible injuries and what he's got to face for the rest of his life," Sheridan said yesterday. "The verdict was improper and the amount of the verdict extremely excessive... it will definitely be appealed on the issue of the amount if not on other issues.

Attorney for the District Contended during the 2½ week trial that the school system was not responsible for the program and thus not liable for the injuries.

But the jury found that both the District and the university were responsible and awarded $8 million to the boy and $3 million to his father and mother, Darlene Howell.

Beverly Burke, special counsel and spokeswoman for the D.C. corporation counsel said the office is weighing whether to appeal the verdict.

CHEMIS - Chemical Health & Environmental Management Information System -
	The Washington Post $11 Million Awarded for Boy Burned in School Lab By Amy Goldstein and Victoria Churchville Washington Post Staff Writers Wednesday, July 6, 1988 - A D.C. Superior Court jury has awarded $11 million to the family of a Silver Spring boy who has critically burned three years ago when a chemistry experiment exploded during a summer program in a District elementary school. The judgment, widely though to be the largest for compensatory damage every awarded in Superior Court, will be appealed by at least one of two defendants. The jury found Friday that both the District and American University, which provided the chemicals that exploded, were responsible for the burns that Dedrick Howell suffered as he and 13 classmates were mixing combustible powders in a science laboratory to make small fireworks called "sparklers." Howell, now 12, was the most severely burned of four children injured in the August 1985 accident at Murch Elementary School at 36th and Ellicott streets NW. He received extensive burns over about 30 percent of his body, including his face, neck, torso and arms. Most badly burned were Dedrick's hands. An avid pianist and flautist, he'll never play again, according to Jeremiah Collins, attorney for the Howells. "You can imagine a 9-year old kid --what it did to his soul, his mind, his spirit," Collins said yesterday. "He's a nice little kid but now he's a loner." Dedrick took the stand briefly during the trial. The jury was shown extensive photographs of the burns and the painful treatment process that included wearing girdle-like garments for more than a year on the treated areas to firm the skin. Dedrick's father, Roy Howell, said in an interview that the boy spent months shuttling between Children's Hospital and a rehabilitation hospital in Charlottesville, undergoing a series of skin grafts and several forms of therapy some of which still is continuing. Skin grafts also left Dedrick with severe keloid scars. "It was a real hard battle said Howell, an adjunct professor at Howard University Law School. It sort of broke my heart. You say to yourself in life you take risks," he said. "But when you take your kid to school, you expect everything is okay." The explosion occurred during a two-week summer program for gifted youngsters touted in a letter from school officials to parents when the accident took place. Calling the jury decision "emotional", Edwin Sheridan, an attorney for American University, said that he will appeal the "extremely excessive" verdict. Everyone can identify to some extent with a child that small having such horrible injuries and what he's got to face for the rest of his life," Sheridan said yesterday. "The verdict was improper and the amount of the verdict extremely excessive... it will definitely be appealed on the issue of the amount if not on other issues. Attorney for the District Contended during the 2½ week trial that the school system was not responsible for the program and thus not liable for the injuries. But the jury found that both the District and the university were responsible and awarded $8 million to the boy and $3 million to his father and mother, Darlene Howell. Beverly Burke, special counsel and spokeswoman for the D.C. corporation counsel said the office is weighing whether to appeal the verdict.	Back to Top


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