New York: Hazing Death

 

Estate of Deceased College Student v. Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Numerous Defendants.  Retained by the mother of a Cornell sophomore who died as a result of hazing at the hands of the SAE pledges.  The lawsuit alleges that early in the morning of February 25, 2011, George, of Brooklyn, New York, was kidnapped by fraternity pledges of SAE as part of a long-standing fraternity ritual.  The pledges bound George at his wrists and ankles with zip ties and duct tape.  The pledges quizzed George about SAE and compelled him to consume alcohol until he lost consciousness and passed out numerous times. He required prompt, emergency medical treatment.  Instead, SAE pledges and members took him to the fraternity house, still bound at the wrists and ankles, and dumped him on a couch where he was left to die.  George was found later that morning by Cornell personnel, with zip ties still around his wrists and ankles.  One SAE pledge tried to interfere with the crime scene by having the zip ties removed before police arrived.  George’s blood alcohol level was .409%, and his death was a result of hazing.  See full press release.