Bar Exam Candidate Suffers Cardiac Arrest; Proctors Allegedly Delayed Aid, Lawsuit Claims
A 36-year-old examinee collapsed during the New York State bar exam at Hofstra University and, according to a lawsuit, was not assisted promptly by proctors.
During the morning session of the New York State Bar Examination at Hofstra University, examinee Mary Jane Jung collapsed, lost consciousness and exhibited signs of cardiac arrest, according to court documents filed in Nassau County. The lawsuit asserts that proctors ordered the remaining candidates to keep working, discouraged bystanders, and failed to summon emergency responders or deploy an AED during the critical early minutes.
Hofstra University responded that its public-safety officers administered CPR and life-saving measures until paramedics arrived, allowing treatment only after the test concluded. The delay, plaintiffs argue, caused Jung’s heart to stop, resulting in a serious brain injury that later required a defibrillator implant. Jung’s attorney, Imran H. Ansari, says the case seeks compensation and aims to prompt changes in how bar exams handle medical emergencies. The Board of Law Examiners’ chair, Carmen Beauchump Ciparick, maintains the university acted within two and a half minutes of the incident.
Why it matters
The case highlights potential negligence in handling medical emergencies during high-stakes professional exams.
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