In a significant ruling, the 4th Panel of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) in Brazil has mandated that the Waldorf Rudolf Steiner School in São Paulo pay a R$ 1 million compensation for moral damages to the father of Victoria Mafra Natalini, who died at the age of 17 from asphyxiation during a school excursion in 2015. The father's statement highlights the importance of this decision, suggesting that while no monetary sum can truly replace the loss of his daughter, the ruling serves as a substantial legal victory. This reflects a broader concern regarding safety measures during school activities, especially in outdoor and less controlled environments.

The case reached the STJ after Natalini challenged a previous ruling by the São Paulo Court of Justice (TJ-SP), which had reduced the original compensation amount set by a first instance judge from R$ 1 million to R$ 400,000. The decision by the STJ, therefore, reinstates the higher compensation, reinforcing the legal stance on the responsibilities schools have in ensuring the safety of their students during organized trips. The incidents surrounding Victoria's death have drawn attention to the existing policies and protocols schools must implement to avoid similar tragedies in the future.

This ruling not only seeks justice for the Natalini family but potentially sets a precedent for other cases involving school negligence regarding student safety. The case emphasizes the ongoing dialogue about educational institutions' accountability and the need for stringent adherence to safety regulations during field trips. As the school did not respond to inquiries from media sources regarding this matter, further scrutiny into their practices is likely to follow, as public concern about student safety in educational outings grows.