Claudio Mandia, pictured above, was a 17 year old Italian student attending EF Academy in Thornwood this year when he committed suicide on Feb. 17, 2022. The circumstances surrounding Mandia’s death are now the subject of a lawsuit filed against the school by the family and estate of Madia.
The lawsuit claims that Claudio was forced into solitary confinement at the boarding school, located on Columbus Ave. in Thornwood, for four days before he took his own life.
The statement from the family and their attorney George Bochetto reads, “Claudio was 17 years old when he committed suicide after being forced into solitary confinement against his will for nearly four days after EF Academy accused of cheating on a math assignment. “I was appalled upon learning of the circumstances leading up to this horrific and unnecessary tragedy. I am equally horrified at the lack of oversight of private boarding schools in New York State by its Department of Education,” Mr. Bochetto said.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Estate of Claudio Mandia, will raise awareness of the horrific conditions and suffering Claudio was subjected to in his final days and moments of life by EF Academy, which represented to him, his mother and father that he would be in safe hands while attending the boarding school.
Both of Claudio’s parents, Mauro Mandia (father) and Elisabetta Benesatto (mother), who are with me today, begged EF Academy and the other named defendants by e-mail, telephone, and video call to remove Claudio from solitary confinement and to stop treating him like a criminal to no avail.
Notwithstanding the entreaties of Claudio’s parents, as well as highly visible ligature marks and/or periligature injuries (clear indications of an attempted suicide) on Claudio’s neck, EF Academy continued to keep him in solitary confinement without the necessary intervention, counseling, guidance, medical care mental health care and supervision.
Mr. Bochetto concluded by saying: “I will fight for sweeping changes to NY law and will assist the family in holding EF Academy fully responsible on all levels for its inhumane treatment of this 17-year-old student in its care.”
The school issued a brief statement, “we have been and continue to be in compliance with all regulatory requirements.”
Several employees are also named in the lawsuit; Dr. Vladimir Kuskovski, Wayned Walter, Chelsea Lovece and Jenna Korn.
