TORONTO — A 16-year-old boy expelled from school after he read a threatening story he wrote to his class has filed a lawsuit against the school, his attorney said Thursday.
In a case that attracted national attention, the boy spent in jail after he read his story about a bullied teen-ager who plans to blow up his school.
The youth, who cannot be identified under Canadian law, became the subject of a freedom of expression campaign by well-known writers, including Margaret Atwood author of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and Michael Ondaatje, who wrote the “The English Patient”.
The teen, who has a minor speech impediment, says he was bullied because of the way he spoke. He was reportedly attacked by at least five students shortly before he read his story, called “Twisted.”
“There’s this boy who’s been harassed and tortured all his life until he was at the brink of insanity and sanity,” the story says, describing how the boy straps explosives to his body.
After he read it, his teacher at Tagwi Secondary high school in Cornwall, Ontario, notified authorities and he was arrested.
His brother, who is two years younger, was charged Dec. 21 with uttering death threats.
Lawyer Clayton Ruby said the lawsuit seeking $400,000 on behalf of the two brothers and their parents names the school board, the principal, other school officials and students who allegedly bullied the two boys.
The board refused to comment Thursday.
