Army agrees to $900,000 settlement in Abigail Lobisch wrongful death case

HONOLULU (Hawaii News Now) – The Army has agreed to pay $900,000 to the parents of Abigail Lobisch as part of a settlement related to the infant’s death at a babysitter’s residence on Aliamanu Military Reservation in 2019.

Abigail, who was affectionately known as Baby Abi, was only 7 months old when she died from an overdose of diphenhydramine, a component in Benadryl. She was discovered unresponsive on February 24, 2019, by Dixie Denise Villa, the babysitter. Villa was later found guilty of manslaughter in November 2024 and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence but has appealed her conviction.

According to court records, the lawsuit involved claims against both the military and Island Palm Communities, asserting that they failed to stop unauthorized daycare operations at Villa’s home despite previous complaints. The Army had issued cease-and-desist letters regarding these operations in 2017 and 2018, indicating a known issue. Legal experts have commented that the military should enhance its proactive measures to ensure child safety on base.