Landmark Safety Initiative Will Reach Tens of Thousands of School Bus Drivers Nationwide
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (April 27, 2026) — The law firm of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C., in cooperation with Student Transportation of America, has announced the creation of “Finn’s Rule,” a national school bus safety initiative established as part of a settlement reached on behalf of the family of Finn Katona, the five-year-old boy who was tragically killed on January 2, 2025, at Silver Spring Intermediate School in Sussex, Wisconsin.
Finn was run over by a school bus when he slipped off the curb of a raised island as he was transferring buses. This was during what his legal team has described as a chaotic and dangerous bus transfer process; a group of four and five-year-old students were required to walk in the opposite direction of older students, directly next to moving buses on a narrow concrete island.
As part of the settlement reached with Student Transportation of America (STA), Dairyland Bus Company, the Hamilton School District, and other parties, 23,000 STA bus drivers will receive a card bearing Finn’s photo and reminding them of Finn’s Rule: to check all danger zones and blind spots around their vehicles before putting them in motion, to account for every child expected to disembark, and to always proceed with caution.
The initiative will also be introduced to the National School Transportation Association, the National Association of Pupil Transportation, and other organizations, potentially reaching up to 130,000 school bus drivers nationwide.
“It is such an unspeakable loss that no word is sufficient to convey its horror,” said Timothy S. Trecek, Habush Habush & Rottier Attorney and CEO. “When I first met with Zach and Ally, those were my marching orders: ‘We want Finn’s life and Finn’s death to have meaning and greater purpose.’ Finn’s Rule is a huge step toward implementing the change this family has always sought.”
The Katona family, through Trecek, shared their grief and the meaning behind this initiative:
“Finn simply tripped in an environment that was not set up to be safe for him. It cost him his life, his future, and changed our family’s lives forever. Our children are treasures and they
deserve to be kept safe while in the care of our education system. More than anything, we miss our son, Finn. He was such a big part of our family and our hearts ache every day without him. Finn was a sweet soul, who brightened all of our lives.”
Habush Habush & Rottier extends its deepest condolences to the Katona family and to every child and adult who witnessed Finn’s death that January morning. Our firm believes that the safety of children must never be an afterthought. When institutions fail to protect the most vulnerable in their care, accountability must follow. Finn’s Rule is a testament to what one family’s courage and resolve can accomplish, and we are honored to have stood alongside Zach and Ally in their pursuit of justice and meaningful change.
The monetary terms of the settlement are confidential.
About Habush, Habush & Rottier
Habush, Habush & Rottier is a Wisconsin-based personal injury law firm serving clients for more than 95 years. The firm represents individuals and families in matters including car accidents, workplace injuries, and medical negligence, with 13 offices located throughout the state. Committed to client-first advocacy, Habush, Habush & Rottier prides itself on delivering trusted legal guidance and results-driven representation when it matters most. Learn more at Habush.com.