Avonte Oquendo's Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against NYC

Avonte Oquendo’s Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against NYC

The family of 14-year-old autistic teen Avonte Oquendo who went missing from his school last October before his body sadly turned up on an NYC beach three months later is keeping good on their promise to hold the city accountable for his death.

via NY Daily News

Avonte Oquendo’s mother has filed a wrongful death suit against the city, charging its negligence led to the autistic boy’s awful death.

The suit, which was filed last week in Queens Supreme Court, says the city, the Department of Education, NYPD and numerous individuals at the 14-year-old’s Long Island City school all share the blame for allowing him to leave the facility last October 4.

His badly decomposed body was found on a Queens beach three months later. The city Medical Examiner was not able to determine the cause of death.

The suit does not list the dollar amount his mom, Vanessa Fontaine, is seeking, but lawyer David Perecman has said they’re asking for $25 million.

A spokesman for the city Law Department said the case is “a tragic incident” and “we will review the lawsuit.”

Avonte’s family definitely deserve some answers as to what really happened to their son. Hopefully this lawsuit will bring out the truth.