The family of a 12-year-old boy who hanged himself in his East Harlem bathroom after years of bullying is suing the city and the teens who allegedly picked on him.
Family members say Joel Morales killed himself at his home last year because he had been repeatedly picked on by other students for being small and sometimes stuttered.
His mother, Lisbeth Babilonia, is seeking unspecified monetary damages.
Relatives said the bullying didn't end when Joel transferred from one East Harlem school to another. They said they asked to be moved to another housing project but were turned down.
The city Law Department declined to comment citing the pending litigation.
A classmate told Morales’ family that the boy had said he was tired of the bullying and told them a remark about his father, who also committed suicide, sent him over the edge.
School officials previously declined to comment on the alleged bullying, citing privacy issues.
Police said Morales left no suicide note.
