Parents of 12-Year-Old Who Drowned on School Trip to Sue City

City law department issues statement calling incident very tragic

The parents of a 12-year-old girl who drowned on a school trip are blaming New York City for the tragic death.

Attorney Oliver Storch says the family of Nicole Suriel filed a notice of claim this week that they intend to file a $20 million lawsuit.

The city Law Department issued a statement calling the incident very tragic.

Nicole was one of 24 students from Harlem's Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science and Engineering on the June outing to Long Beach, Long Island.

A teacher who chaperoned the kids was later fired and the school's principal was placed on probation. The Department of Education found that parents never signed permission slips for the trip and the teacher apparently did not notice signs that said "No lifeguard on duty.''

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us