Tag: fraternity
Mom of Rutgers U. freshman killed by train sues school, fraternity where he was partying
The mother of a Rutgers University student who was struck and killed by a train after leaving a fraternity party in 2017 has filed a wrongful death suit against the university, the police department, and the fraternity.
Claudia Patterson, the mother of freshman Kenneth Patterson, filed suit in Superior Court of Middlesex County in Dec. 2019, saying that Theta Delta Chi, the fraternity that threw the party, was under disciplinary action, and Rutgers should have known they were serving alcohol anyway.
A university spokesperson declined to comment on the pending litigation, but said Rutgers cooperated with the Amtrak Police Department during the investigation.
“The University was deeply saddened by the death of Kenneth Patterson and offered our condolences to his family and counseling services to our students affected by this tragic loss,” Neal Buccino said in a statement sent to NJ Advance Media.
Patterson, a native of Rockaway, was killed the night of Theta Delta Chi’s TDXmas party on Dec. 9, 2017, the suit says. He was drunk when he left the Huntington Street frat house, and was later struck and killed by an Amtrak train trying to walk back to his dorm room, a friend told the Daily Record.
Theta Delta Chi was under sanctions not to hold any parties or fraternity related events at the time, the suit says, but it’s not clear why. The fraternity did not return NJ Advance Media’s request for comment.
The fraternity “acted with complete disregard for the safety of others” in giving alcohol to underage students, the suit says. It also alleges that Rutgers failed in their duty to oversee fraternity events on campus.
In addition to the lawsuit, the Patterson family has launched the “Justice for KJP” initiative on social media, looking for more information on what happened between the time Kenneth Patterson left the party and his death.
“We still have no answers but you have great friends who celebrate your beautiful, vibrant life with us. I miss you every day and hope one day we find out the real story,” Claudia Patterson wrote on the second anniversary of his death.
Article via NJ
A fraternity member gave ‘step-by-step’ directions to 5 people who then killed themselves, a lawsuit alleges
A former fraternity member and student at Truman State University in Missouri allegedly provided “step-by-step” directions to five people who died by suicide in 2016 and 2017, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday against the university, the fraternity and the student. The member of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity told people he considered himself a superhero nicknamed “peacemaker,” parents of two of the deceased allege in the suit, which identifies the accused as Brandon Grossheim.
Grossheim counseled people with “step-by-step directions” for using their own free will and to “deal with depression,” according to a news release issued by lawyers for the parents of Alex Mullins, 21, and Joshua Thomas, 18. Grossheim gave no comment to CNN’s repeated requests.
“Both the University and the Fraternity were aware that the Plaintiff victims were vulnerable and suffered from depression, yet they still allowed this suspicious fraternity brother to be alone and have unfettered access to the victims,” the release states. “This tragedy was preventable.
“The lawsuit alleges negligence and wrongful death and seeks unspecified damages. “It is our understanding that a lawsuit has been filed by the parents of Alex Mullens and Joshua Thomas, two members of the Xi Chapter of the Fraternity of Alpha Kappa Lambda, in connection with their deaths. Our sympathy continues for the families and friends of our lost Brothers of the Xi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Lambda,” the fraternity said a statement.”
The death of these young men during the 2016-2017 school year greatly impacted the Xi Chapter and the surrounding community. Like Truman State University, The Fraternity of Alpha Kappa Lambda, Inc., the National Fraternity, strongly disagrees with the allegations in the lawsuit to the extent those allegations are directed against it and will vigorously defend the lawsuit. The Fraternity of Alpha Kappa Lambda does not comment on pending litigation and therefore, will not comment further.”
Article via CNN