The mother of a student who lost his life during a hazing ritual is filing a lawsuit against the college. The mother claims that the New York college failed to prevent injury-causing accidents due to hazing. The mother is attempting to claim $25 million in damages for her son’s loss of life.
On Dec. 8, 2013, the members of the fraternity took a trip to the Poconos. However, when the young men arrived, the fraternity members forced the pledge to carry a backpack that was filled with sand as the members tackled him. The hazing ritual caused the pledge to suffer a traumatic brain injury. The fraternity members did not call 911 and instead drove him to a nearby hospital themselves where he ultimately lost his life.
When his body was examined by the coroner, the coroner allegedly pronounced that his death was a homicide. However, over a year later, no arrests have yet been made. The mother tried to file a claim in 2014 that was rejected, but she has been approved to file another claim. The original claim names the college as the defendant in the suit and accuses them of negligence for not taking action to prevent the hazing ritual.
The mother has also reportedly filed a wrongful death suit against the fraternity. In the suit filed against the New York college, the mother is attempting to claim $25 million in damages because the college was negligent in preventing any injury-causing accidents. If any other parents have lost loved ones due to illegal hazing rituals, they may also be able to pursue legal action such as this mother has.
Source: dnainfo.com, “Mother of Baruch Student Who Died in Hazing Ritual Plans To Sue for $25M“, Sybile Penhirin, April 28, 2015
