The parents of Brett Griffin, a freshman Sigma Alpha Mu pledge who died at an off-campus, fraternity-organized party in November, have filed a wrongful death suit claiming fraternity members did not make an attempt to help Griffin after excessive alcohol consumption.
The wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the national fraternity and the local chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu. Timothy and Julie Griffin, Brett's parents, claim in the lawsuit the fraternity, both national and local, had a duty to the freshman and other pledges to manage the provision and use of alcohol in connection with bid, recruitment and pledge events. The Griffins feel as though the fraternity did not enforce the rules or abide by any safeguards.
According to court documents, "failing to discipline such events before the freshman's death, Griffin thus suffered conscious pain as he was compelled to drink with his brothers at the party, as a result."
The complaint also charges the national fraternity with failing to supervise the local chapter and neglecting to institute meaningful anti-hazing policies.
The Griffins said the fraternity neglected Griffin's well-being by forcing him to drink a large amount of alcohol on the night of Nov 7.
Student defendants named in the suit include Jason Aaron, the fraternity chapter president; Daniel Troper, the chapter's vice president; Matthew Siracusa and Daniel Okin, who are both identified as the alleged "pledge masters"; and Michael Bassett, Griffin's "Big Brother".
The suit claims Griffin had to attend a mandatory function for the fraternity and was forced to take part in a "family drink" with his brothers. According to the document, the dangerous amounts of alcohol consumed during this act are linked to successfully joining the fraternity family and creating a lifelong brotherhood.
The suit claims he was pressured into consuming an extreme amount of Southern Comfort during the social drinking.
Court papers say a number of pledges passed out as a result of hazing, while fraternity brothers watched over an incapacitated Griffin, examining him for hours.
"None of them [the fraternity brothers] made the slightest effort to dial 911 during this extended period of time to summon the emergency services Brett needed to survive," the suit read.
The suit was filed under seal in New Castle County Superior Court in early April, and opened to the public Thursday.
It does not name the university as a defendant.
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