DEVASTATED: Mom Lisbeth Babilonia, right, sobs near a memorial to her son Joel Morales, left, who killed himself. He was 12. (Warzer Jaff)
PS 102, where Joel Morales was allegedly tormented by bullies. (Warzer Jaff)
A devastated East Harlem mom whose 12-year-old son hanged himself after years of bullying has sued the Department of Education and the boys’ teachers and alleged teen tormentors.
Joel Morales killed himself in his family’s apartment at the Jefferson Houses in May 2012.
His mom, Lisbeth Babilonia, who said her son stuttered and had a hyperactivity disorder, complained to the DOE “multiple times,” but to no avail, according to the Manhattan Supreme Court suit filed yesterday.
She’s seeking an unspecified amount in monetary damages.
“While a student at PS 102 Joel was constantly physically and emotionally abused and harassed by students who targeted him because of his diminutive size, weight, intelligence, athleticism, hyperactivity, physical appearance, stutter, etc.,” the suit alleges.
Educators responded by complaining that her son “had difficulty concentrating, fidgeted and was not doing well at school,” according to the suit.
Babilonia’s attorney, Tedd Kessler, said the kids — who are identified by their first names only in the suit — are listed as defendants “to get the word out there so people will hold their children responsible for their actions.”
Shortly before he died Morales was transferred to another school a few blocks away but the city housing authority denied a request to move the family to a new project, and the bullies tracked him down.
A city Law Department spokeswoman couldn’t comment because of the pending litigation.