HOUSTON – A lawsuit filed in response to an American teenager’s drowning death at a school in Thailand was elevated to the federal level.
Recent Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas records show that International School Bangkok and International School Association sought the removal of John and Tara Faseler’s suit from the Harris County 234th District Court. Houston federal court received the case on Aug. 11
The Faselers allege their 16-year-old son, Anthony, perished during water polo practice at the defendants’ campus on Apr. 5, 2016. According to the couple’s initial complaint, a school employee who purportedly was a certified lifeguard neglected to watch the boy.
The suit was amended to include Chevron U.S.A. Inc. because of its alleged relationship with the school.
In a seven-page document, the institution claims “there is complete diversity between the parties” since it is based in Thailand while the plaintiffs are Texas citizens and Chevron has Pennsylvania and California connections. Chevron consents to the removal, per the notice.
Attorneys Darrell L. Barger and J. Reid Simpson of the law firm Hartline Dacus Barger Dreyer LLP in Corpus Christi are representing the school.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case No. 4:17-CV-2465
Harris County 234th District Court Case No. 2017-22331