E’Mari Marshall-Woodard Wrongful Death Lawsuit, High Meadow Resort Accused of Pool Overcrowding

The family of 14-year-old E’Mari M. Marshall-Woodard of Springfield, Massachusetts, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against High Meadow Management Company and 311 LLC, the companies behind High Meadow Resort in Granby, Connecticut. The complaint alleges that overcrowding, inadequate lifeguard staffing, poor water visibility and other safety failures contributed to his drowning during a school field trip.

The suit was filed in Connecticut Superior Court, New Haven Judicial District, on September 30, 2026. Reports describe a 13-page complaint that seeks monetary damages and punitive damages, with the amount demanded stated as more than $15,000.

E’Mari died on June 10, 2026. The complaint alleges that more than 800 students from several school districts were at the facility and that more than 150 were allowed into a pool whose capacity had dropped to 105 because the diving area was closed.

Nothing in the complaint has been decided in court. No court has found that High Meadow Management Company or 311 LLC caused E’Mari’s death or broke any law.

E’Mari Marshall-Woodard Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Quick Facts

Field	Details
Decedent	E’Mari M. Marshall-Woodard
Age	14
Hometown	Springfield, Massachusetts
Date of drowning	June 10, 2026
Location	High Meadow Resort, Granby, Connecticut
Plaintiff	Maurissa Ann Marshall, as personal representative of E’Mari’s estate
Defendants	High Meadow Management Company; 311 LLC
Court	Connecticut Superior Court, New Haven Judicial District
Case number	Not independently verified from the court’s public system
Lawsuit filed	September 30, 2026
Claims reported	Wrongful death based on negligence and recklessness
Students at the facility (alleged)	More than 800
Pool capacity that day (alleged)	105 (normal capacity 142; diving area closed)
Students allowed in the pool (alleged)	More than 150
Lifeguards assigned (alleged)	Three
Damages requested	More than $15,000, plus punitive damages and attorney’s fees on the recklessness claims
Current status	Newly filed; active litigation
Settlement	None reported
Claim form	None
Class action	No

The reported complaint has four wrongful death counts: negligence and recklessness claims against each of the two defendants. It is an individual case brought on behalf of E’Mari’s estate, not a class action.

What Happened to E’Mari Marshall-Woodard at High Meadow Resort on June 10, 2026

E’Mari was an eighth-grade student from Springfield, Massachusetts, on an end-of-year field trip to High Meadow Resort. Early reports said he became unresponsive in the pool and was taken to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, where he was pronounced dead. Police described the incident as a drowning and said other students saw what happened.

The lawsuit adds a detailed account of what the estate says went wrong. According to the complaint, more than 800 schoolchildren from Springfield Public Schools and several Connecticut districts were at High Meadow, and the schools paid $53 per student for access to the facility, including the pool and lifeguards.

What the Lawsuit Alleges About Pool Capacity at High Meadow Resort

The complaint says the pool’s normal maximum was 142 occupants, but the usable capacity fell to 105 once the diving area was closed. Despite that, the estate alleges more than 150 students were allowed into the water.

It claims the crowd made it hard for swimmers to move safely and kept lifeguards and other staff from properly watching individual swimmers. It further alleges that E’Mari went under in the crowded pool and drowned in shallow water.

These figures are allegations. They are not a court finding that High Meadow actually exceeded a legally enforceable limit.

High Meadow Management Company and 311 LLC Face Negligence and Recklessness Claims

The complaint accuses High Meadow Management Company and 311 LLC of failing to keep the pool safe. Among other things, the estate claims the defendants:

• allowed the pool to go over its applicable capacity;
• failed to control how many swimmers were in the water;
• did not provide adequate supervision or enough lifeguards;
• did not position lifeguards so they could watch swimmers effectively;
• failed to maintain adequate water clarity;
• let the pool stay open despite alleged safety problems; and
• did not take corrective action when overcrowding interfered with supervision.

The complaint reportedly alleges that only three lifeguards were assigned to supervise and control access for the students using the pool. It also says the defendants knew or should have known how many students would attend and should have had a way to control pool access.

Did High Meadow Resort Have Farmington Valley Health District Authorization to Open the Pool?

The estate alleges that, as of June 10, High Meadow had not received the required annual authorization from the Farmington Valley Health District to open the pool for the season.

The lawsuit also describes an inspection two days after E’Mari’s death, on June 12. According to the complaint, the district found multiple deficiencies and ordered the pool to stay closed until it could be inspected again. The publicly reported complaint does not give enough detail to say that any particular deficiency caused the drowning. That link would have to be proven with evidence as the case moves forward.

What Damages Is the Marshall-Woodard Family Seeking From High Meadow?

The complaint seeks monetary damages for the alleged wrongful death. It states that the amount demanded is more than $15,000, and it asks for punitive damages and attorney’s fees on the recklessness counts.

That figure is the amount stated in the demand, not a prediction of what the family will recover. Any outcome could depend on liability, the evidence, damages, insurance coverage, settlement talks and court rulings.

Is the E’Mari Marshall-Woodard Lawsuit a Class Action?

No. It is an individual wrongful death action brought by E’Mari’s estate. There is no class, no settlement fund and no claim form. A student who attended the same June 10 field trip does not automatically become a plaintiff or receive money from this case.

For background on how these cases work, see What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit? Everything Families Need to Know and What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit? What You Must Know Before Filing.

Can Other Families Sue High Meadow Management Company or Join the Marshall-Woodard Case?

No verified court filing sets up a way for other families to join. The complaint concerns E’Mari’s death and was filed by his estate through his personal representative, Maurissa Ann Marshall.

Other students on the same trip could have their own legal questions, depending on whether they were hurt and what happened to them. A separate claim would turn on different facts, deadlines and Connecticut law, so those families should get advice about their own situation instead of relying on this lawsuit.

Is There a Marshall-Woodard Lawsuit Claim Form or Settlement?

No. This is an individual wrongful death lawsuit, not a class action or consumer settlement. There is no claim form, settlement administrator or deadline for the public, and no settlement had been reported as of October 1, 2026.

If you searched for an “E’Mari Marshall-Woodard settlement claim form,” you may have mixed this newly filed case up with a class action settlement. They are different things.

What Happens Next in the E’Mari Marshall-Woodard Lawsuit in New Haven Superior Court?

The case is at an early stage. The defendants will be served and can respond by denying the allegations, raising defenses or challenging particular claims. From there, the parties could move into discovery, which can cover pool and staffing records, inspection records, school-trip agreements, training materials, surveillance footage and witness testimony, or they could negotiate a settlement. If nothing is resolved, the case could head toward trial.

Publicly reported docket information as of the September 30 filing showed no defense response or scheduled court event yet. That can change quickly once the defendants are served. Filing a complaint does not mean the estate has proved negligence or recklessness.

High Meadow Management Company and 311 LLC Have Not Been Found Liable

In a newly filed wrongful death case, the gap between an allegation and a court finding matters. No court has found the defendants liable, and they can contest the claims or settle before trial. NBC Connecticut reported that it asked High Meadow for comment and had not received a response when its story was published.

What Happened Before the E’Mari Marshall-Woodard Lawsuit Was Filed?

After the drowning, police said there was no initial indication of a crime. The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood also investigated because High Meadow operates a youth camp, although the drowning happened before its regular licensed summer-camp period. The wrongful death complaint now puts specific allegations about capacity, staffing, supervision and authorization before a civil court, where they will have to be tested.

E’Mari Marshall-Woodard Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Key Dates

Date	Event
June 10, 2026	E’Mari Marshall-Woodard drowns at High Meadow Resort during a school field trip
June 12, 2026	Farmington Valley Health District reportedly inspects the pool and orders it closed pending further inspection, according to the lawsuit
September 30, 2026	Maurissa Ann Marshall files the wrongful death lawsuit for E’Mari’s estate, naming High Meadow Management Company and 311 LLC
October 1, 2026	Case remains newly filed; no settlement or public claim process reported

E’Mari Marshall-Woodard Wrongful Death Lawsuit FAQ

Who filed the E’Mari Marshall-Woodard wrongful death lawsuit?

Maurissa Ann Marshall, identified as E’Mari’s mother and the personal representative of his estate, filed the lawsuit against High Meadow Management Company and 311 LLC.

Where was the E’Mari Marshall-Woodard lawsuit filed?

In Connecticut Superior Court, New Haven Judicial District, on September 30, 2026. The case number has not been verified from the court’s public system, so it is not listed here.

What does the E’Mari Marshall-Woodard lawsuit allege against High Meadow Resort?

It alleges that overcrowding, inadequate lifeguard staffing, insufficient supervision, poor water clarity and other safety failures contributed to E’Mari’s drowning on June 10, 2026.

How many students were allegedly at High Meadow Resort on June 10, 2026?

The lawsuit alleges more than 800 schoolchildren from several school districts were at the facility.

How many students were allegedly in the High Meadow pool, and what was its capacity?

The complaint alleges more than 150 students were in the pool even though the capacity had been reduced to 105 because the diving area was closed. The normal capacity was 142.

How many lifeguards were allegedly supervising the High Meadow Resort pool?

The complaint reportedly alleges three lifeguards were assigned to supervise and control access to the pool.

How much money does the E’Mari Marshall-Woodard lawsuit seek?

The amount demanded is more than $15,000, plus punitive damages and attorney’s fees on the recklessness counts.

Is there an E’Mari Marshall-Woodard settlement or claim form?

No. No settlement has been reported as of October 1, 2026, and this is not a class action, so there is no claim form.

Has High Meadow Resort been found responsible for E’Mari Marshall-Woodard’s death?

No. The allegations have not been adjudicated, and the defendants can contest them.

What happened to the High Meadow pool after E’Mari’s death?

According to the lawsuit, the Farmington Valley Health District inspected it two days later, found multiple deficiencies and ordered it to stay closed pending another inspection.

What to Watch Next in the E’Mari Marshall-Woodard Lawsuit

The next developments will most likely come from the court docket: whether High Meadow Management Company or 311 LLC disputes the alleged capacity, staffing, authorization and water-clarity facts, and whether they dispute that any of those conditions caused E’Mari’s death. Check later filings, inspection findings and rulings against the actual court record, not just the opening complaint.

Sources for the E’Mari Marshall-Woodard Lawsuit

1. Patch: Lawsuit Blames Crowded Granby Pool For Teen’s Death: court, parties, counts, capacity figures, damages and inspection allegations.
2. Law & Crime: Resort’s overcrowded pool led 14-year-old to drown, lawsuit says: the 13-page complaint and its allegations.
3. WFSB: Family of drowning victim files lawsuit against day camp in Granby: supervision, lifeguard staffing and water-clarity allegations.
4. Boston Globe: Family sues High Meadow Day Camp over Springfield teen’s death: attendance and per-student payment.
5. NBC Connecticut: Overcrowding, safety failures led to teen’s drowning at Granby resort, lawsuit says: complaint coverage and High Meadow’s lack of response.
6. Connecticut Post: Teen who died in apparent Granby drowning was math whiz, loved to cook: hospital and early account of the incident.
7. News-Times: Mass. 14-year-old dies in apparent drowning at Granby camp: June 2026 police statement.
8. CT Insider: CT Office of Early Childhood investigating after 14-year-old drowned at Granby resort: state youth-camp investigation.

Disclaimer: This article reports allegations in a newly filed civil complaint. A lawsuit is not proof that the defendants did what it alleges, and no court has decided liability as of October 1, 2026. It is for information only and is not legal advice.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against contemporaneous reports of the filed complaint (Patch, Law & Crime, WFSB, Boston Globe and NBC Connecticut) and the June 2026 Connecticut Post, News-Times and CT Insider coverage, as of October 1, 2026. The complaint itself and the case number could not be pulled from the court’s public system. Last Updated: October 1, 2026.