Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Father Holds Vigil at NRW Education Ministry, Presses €125,000 Suit in Daughter’s Death

After talks broke down, he pursues civil damages as the ministry says the case now lies with the courts.

Overview

  • Kay Schierwagen staged a vigil outside North Rhine-Westphalia’s Education Ministry, accusing authorities of failures and refusing meaningful dialogue over his daughter Emily’s 2019 death on a school trip.
  • A senior departmental head met Schierwagen at the ministry and expressed condolences, with officials stating that further decisions rest with the judiciary.
  • Schierwagen is suing the state for €125,000 in pain-and-suffering damages, with a hearing scheduled for February 2026, and the state formally disputing his claims.
  • According to the father’s side and local reporting, state lawyers have sought dismissal as time-barred and argued any potential award should be limited to about €2,000.
  • Two teachers’ convictions for negligent homicide are final after courts found they breached their duty of care by failing to collect written information on pre-existing conditions, which would likely have led to earlier recognition of Emily’s diabetic emergency.