The mother of a 13-year-old high-school basketball player who drowned in the East River while watching an after-school soccer game is suing the city, claiming it failed to supervise her son.
Laquana Badger Godfrey, the mom of tragic Kavion Brown Godfrey, says her son’s drowning in October was a result of “gross negligence” by the Department of Education, the Public School Athletic League and a supervising coach, according to the suit — which follows a notice of claim suggesting the family would seek $40 million.
Laquana Badger Godfrey and Donnell Godfrey, the parents of tragic drowned city teen Kavion Brown Godfrey, hold mementos of their beloved son. Stephen Yang for the New York Post“It’s like each day you’re living in a nightmare,” Godfrey recently told The Post, nearly a year after her first-born child died.
“I’m in disbelief, I’m in pain, and my heart is completely broken,” she said. “I saw my son that Friday morning when he left for school, and then I haven’t seen my son again alive.
“Somebody needs to be held accountable. My son is dead, and nobody has answers.”
The city declined to comment on the newly filed suit.
“Kavion was a respectful, well-mannered, smart young man, and he had a lot of things going for himself,” his mother told The Post. Gabriella BassOn Oct. 20, Godfrey had gotten a call from Kavion, a freshman at Lower East Side Preparatory School, asking if he could go with his basketball team to watch the school’s soccer team play at a nearby park.
The mom of four boys didn’t give her OK until after Kavion passed the phone to hoops coach Joseph Asad, who is also a named defendant in her lawsuit.
This basketball award is from Kavion’s room, which his parents have left largely untouched. Stephen Yang for the New York Post“‘Don’t worry,’” Godfrey recounted the coach promising. “‘Kavion is going to be with us, we’re traveling as a group.’”
Coach Joe then brought Kavion and his basketball team to watch the after-school soccer match at the John V. Lindsay East River Park Track, just blocks from the young teen’s Alphabet City home.
But despite the coach’s promise, the 13-year-old boy was “left unsupervised near the waters adjacent to the park, where he tragically drowned,” the suit claims.
Kavion (left) poses with his mother, father and three younger brothers in a family photo. Courtesy of Laquana Badger Godfrey“He was nowhere to be found,” Godfrey said of the coach.
“My son wasn’t with you, and it ultimately led to my son’s demise,” she said, addressing Asad.
Kavion’s body was found 2 miles downriver a week later.
His parents both blamed the DOE for his death last year as police were still combing the river for his body.
Asad did not respond to Post messages left on numbers listed under his name.
Kavion played basketball for his Manhattan high school. Stephen Yang for the New York Post“Kavion was a respectful, well-mannered, smart young man, and he had a lot of things going for himself,” Godfrey told The Post.
His three younger brothers all looked up to him as a role model and have been devastated since his death, the mom said.
“My son was my world, and now I don’t have my son,” Godfrey said.
Godfrey said that in addition to monetary damages, she’s still desperate for answers and closure. Nobody from the city has spoken to her since her son’s death, and even police investigators demurred when pressed for information, she told The Post.
“My son is dead and nobody has answers,” Kavion’s mother told The Post. Courtesy of Laquana Badger Godfrey“Since this happened, I can’t even allow my kids to go on [DOE] trips because I don’t trust the safety,” Godfrey said.
One of her boys, a fifth-grader, asked if he could sign up for the soccer team at school. She said no.
“I don’t trust the DOE anymore,” Godfrey said.
“A parent whose child is under the supervision of the DOE has to be able to rely on promises made by teachers, coaches and administrators,” said Godfrey’s lawyers, Sanford Rubenstein and Mark Shirian, in a statement.
“Here, the coach promised he would be with the child, supervise the child — clearly he did not do that. This tragedy never would have occurred if he kept his promise to this grieving mother.”
Kavion’s mother said she wants accountability for her son’s death and to make sure this never happens to another child. Stephen Yang for the New York PostIn her notice of claim — a legal precursor to filing a lawsuit against a city agency — Godfrey states she intends to sue for $40 million, although her lawsuit filed Friday in Manhattan Supreme Court does not name a specific dollar figure.
But above all, she said, she wants accountability for what happened to her first-born son. And for what happened to her to never happen to another child.
“There has to be some type of accountability because we trust the DOE when we leave our children’s lives in your hands, and then for one of your children not to come home — It’s devastating,” she told The Post.
“I’m so sad about this because something has to happen.”
