Student sues college, claims cries for help ignored as she spent night in pool of blood from near-deadly infection

A student is suing the University of Minnesota, claiming that a resident assistant failed to respond to her cries for help after she fell while recovering from surgery — leaving her to nearly die of sepsis.

Eve Lizotte was found unresponsive on April 24 in her school-owned apartment bathroom, where she was lying in a pool of blood with a fever of 106 degrees, the Star Tribune reported, citing the lawsuit.

She had developed an infection from major knee surgery and called the on-duty resident assistant (RA) at 2:30 a.m. because she’d fallen and could not get up, the lawsuit said.

The RA claimed she had knocked on Lizotte’s door — and left when she got no response from the student, who was unconscious inside the apartment, where she lived alone.

Her parents eventually contacted authorities after becoming concerned that they had not heard from the senior communications major.

The student remained on the floor for 16 hours until police arrived — and ended up staying in a coma for 10 days, according to the suit.

news, colleges and universities, coma, infections, lawsuit, lawsuits, minnesota, students, surgeries, student sues college, claims cries for help ignored as she spent night in pool of blood from near-deadly infection
6

University of Minnesota student Eve Lizotte, seen while in a coma, is suing the school, alleging that a ​resident assistant failed to properly respond to her plea for help after she fell and nearly died from sepsis while recovering from knee surgery. Genevieve Lizotte / Instagram

news, colleges and universities, coma, infections, lawsuit, lawsuits, minnesota, students, surgeries, student sues college, claims cries for help ignored as she spent night in pool of blood from near-deadly infection
6

Eve Lizotte called the RA and not 911 because she was sick and could not think straight, her lawyer says. Genevieve Lizotte / Instagram

news, colleges and universities, coma, infections, lawsuit, lawsuits, minnesota, students, surgeries, student sues college, claims cries for help ignored as she spent night in pool of blood from near-deadly infection
6

The senior communications major has undergone six surgeries, her family says. Genevieve Lizotte / Instagram

The student said it upended her life, affecting her physical and mental health and leaving her a year behind in her studies.

“She had both strep and staph bacteria which is unheard of,” an online fundraiser says, adding that her mom, Becca, was told she might not make it.

The student eventually had three surgeries to clean out her leg and three additional ones later.

She is suing for unspecified damages for pain and suffering, reimbursement for medical expenses, as well as other losses and punitive damages.

news, colleges and universities, coma, infections, lawsuit, lawsuits, minnesota, students, surgeries, student sues college, claims cries for help ignored as she spent night in pool of blood from near-deadly infection
6

Lizotte shared a TikTok video showing the effects of her hospitalization. @eve_lizotte / tiktok

“I don’t want this to ever happen to someone else,” Lizotte told the Star Tribune in a statement.

The lawsuit, filed in Hennepin County District Court, notes that the school describes its housing as offering “24/7 staff support” and that students are told to alert their advisers if they need medical attention.

Her attorney, Lori Peterson, said she was frustrated by the “lack of care for Eve.”

news, colleges and universities, coma, infections, lawsuit, lawsuits, minnesota, students, surgeries, student sues college, claims cries for help ignored as she spent night in pool of blood from near-deadly infection
6

Lizotte is suing the school for unspecified damages for pain and suffering. Genevieve Lizotte / Instagram

news, colleges and universities, coma, infections, lawsuit, lawsuits, minnesota, students, surgeries, student sues college, claims cries for help ignored as she spent night in pool of blood from near-deadly infection
6

Eve Lizotte Genevieve Lizotte / Instagram

She was discharged on May 26, but needed to continue getting blood work on her “long road to a full recovery,” her fundraiser said.

Lizotte is active on TikTok, where she posted a video captioned: “When I woke up from my coma and couldn’t remember my mom.”

The university declined to comment to the Star Tribune and did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment Friday.

An attorney for the school-owned Radius Apartments also declined comment to the outlet, but a response filed in court denies the allegations and asks for the suit to be dismissed.

News Related

OTHER NEWS

Man held for offering $1.4m bounty to assassinate Malaysia’s PM Anwar and Cabinet

KUALA LUMPUR – A 34-year-old man has been detained for threatening Malaysia’s Prime Minister via social media. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the man was detained on ... Read more »

Pig hunters deny drug trafficking theory on missing man

A member of a pig hunting group that was in remote Queensland when Jeremiah Rivers went missing has denied trafficking cannabis, in testimony given by video as there is a ... Read more »

Dutton gives Christmas 'gift' of running Lego gauntlet

Christmas is a time for giving, and for Peter Dutton that means sharing one of life's most excruciating pains. The opposition leader is donating some of his much-loved Lego to ... Read more »

Lawsuit seeks $16 million against Maryland county over death of pet dog shot by police

A department investigator accused two of the officers of “conduct unbecoming an officer” for entering the apartment without a warrant, but the third officer was cleared of wrongdoing, the suit says. Read more »

Heidi Klum shares rare photo of all 4 of her and Seal's kids

Heidi Klum posted a rare picture with husband Tom Kaulitz and her four kids: Leni, 19, Henry, 18, Johan, 17, and Lou, 14, having some quality family time. Read more »

European stocks head for flat open as markets struggle to find momentum

This is CNBC’s live blog covering European markets. European markets are heading for a flat open Tuesday, continuing lackluster sentiment seen at the start of the week in the region ... Read more »

How Qatar mediators helped save shaky Israel-Hamas truce

The deal seemed on the verge of unravelling. Hamas had accused Israel of failing to keep its side of the bargain and Israel was threatening to resume its lethal onslaught ... Read more »
Top List in the World