Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Penn State University hosted a pledging event on February 2nd where a large quantity of alcohol was purchased for the party. Many are calling the death of a pledge that night a hazing tragedy. Pledges were required to drink a large amount of alcohol in a relatively short amount of time. After this had occurred, one of the pledges was so incapacitated by the amount of alcohol that had been consumed, he fell down the stairs.
Sadly, no phone call was made that night. The next day, his fellow fraternity members finally called for help. It was too late, as the pledge ended up passing away from his injuries the day after arriving at the hospital. The physician treating him told the victim’s father that he might not have died if they would have gotten him medical treatment after the first fall.
There has been a lot of coverage on this incident. The University banned the fraternity permanently due to this and prior misconduct, and there are criminal cases pending against 18 members of the fraternity that had played a part in the evening. Some of the charges include aggravated assault, manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and tampering with evidence. No matter the final outcome, in this case, the family will continue to miss their loved one who went away to college to never come home.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a personal injury or wrongful death case, it’s important to talk with a legal representative. Often, when going through a loss there can be a sense of shock, and you may find it hard to really consider your options in these circumstances. Contact Baldwin Matzus, LLC to learn more about your rights and legal recourse if such a “worst case nightmare” occurs to you or a family member.
