Student’s ma sues British school for P100-M damages

MANILA, Philippines - The mother of a British School Manila (BSM) student who committed suicide last February filed a civil complaint for damages against the school with the Taguig City prosecutor’s office yesterday afternoon.

Maria Teresa Madamba said she is asking P100 million from the school for moral, actual and exemplary damages following the death of her son, Liam, 18.

Madamba blamed Natalie Mann, a teacher at the BSM, for the death of her son.

Liam, one of BSM’s top graduating students, jumped from the sixth floor of the Dela Rosa carpark building in Makati. He died while being treated at the Makati Medical Center.

Madamba said Mann – who accused Liam of committing an act of plagiarism – had allegedly threatened and bullied Liam to the point of humiliating him during their meeting on Feb. 6.

Madamba believes that her son, who is an introvert, was driven to commit suicide by Mann’s bullying.

According to Madamba, although she had already filed a complaint for obstruction of justice against the school’s officials before the Department of Justice on Oct. 5 and an administrative complaint before the Department of Education, she decided to file a civil suit for damages as the school has refused to issue an apology for the death of her son.

“We hold the school as an institution that is accountable for the death of our son,” Madamba told The STAR.

Madamba said an inquiry conducted by the Senate had established that the BSM was liable for Liam’s death.

She named in her civil suit the BSM’s council of trustees and board of governors – Wick Veloso, Anirvan Ghoush Dastidar, Nigel Boud, Sebastian Quinones, Simon Bewlay, Brendan Egan, Stein Melsbo, Bart Edes, Paul Ingram, Alison Doig Henderson, Alan Hearn, Anne Halsam, Josephine Melrose, Claire Carr, Diana Guild, Richard Khi.

Madamba also named Simon Mann, the school’s headmaster, in his individual capacity. “He is personally liable,” she said.

Madamba said the headmaster allowed Mann to leave the country for England on March 3 just as the inquiry into her son’s death was ongoing.

“We want to remain on the offensive. The schoolhas not reached out. We want them to apologize. It is business as usual for them,” she said.