The family of a Muslim teenager arrested in Texas for bringing a homemade clock that was mistaken for a bomb to school are demanding $US15 million ($A20.87 million) in damages and an apology to avoid a lawsuit, lawyers say.
Lawyers representing the family of Ahmed Mohamed, 14, a student who dabbles in robotics and attended a Dallas area high school, say the teen was wrongfully arrested, illegally detained and questioned without his parents.
His September arrest sparked controversy, with many saying he was taken into custody because of his religion.
Lawyers have written to the city of Irving seeking $US10 million in compensation and a further $US5 million from the Irving Independent School District or they will file civil lawsuits in 60 days.
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"Understandably, Mr Mohamed was furious at the treatment of his son - and at the rancid, openly discriminatory intent that motivated it," one of the letters said.
The school district said its reviewing the letter and will respond appropriately. City officials were not immediately available for comment.
The teen's family said in October they would be moving to Qatar after their son accepted an offer to study an innovators program at the Qatar Foundation.
It also came hours after he attended an astronomy night at the White House hosted by President Barack Obama.
Ahmed won support from Obama and other major US figures, including Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg, who said "having the skill and ambition to build something cool should lead to applause, not arrest."
The family, now living in Doha, have travelled the world to meet foreign dignitaries.
Sudanese state radio reported that Ahmed's father took him to meet Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. The Sudanese leader is accused by the International Criminal Court of masterminding genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes during Sudan's Darfur conflict.
