Family of Injured Mizzou Pledge Sues Fraternity, Brothers
Family of Injured Mizzou Pledge Sues Fraternity, Brothers
The family of a University of Missouri student who suffered brain damage in a hazing incident has filed a lawsuit against the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and two individual students.According to NBC News, the parents of Daniel Santulli on Wednesday named Alec Wetzler and Samuel Gandhi as defendants in the civil lawsuit.The civil lawsuit, notes NBC News, was originally filed against the fraternity and 22 students.While the family reached a settlement last month, the terms of the agreement were not made public.Santulli was an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Missouri when he attended a pledge event called “Pledge Dad Reveal Night” last October.During the event, Santulli was pressured to consume an entire bottle of Tito’s vodka by himself. Surveillance footage from the fraternity house captured Santulli trying to finish the vodka. Meanwhile, fraternity brothers poured beer down the teenager’s throat using a tube and funnel.NBC News reports that each Phi Gamma Delta “family” has its own “family bottle,” with Santulli’s being Tito’s vodka.By 10:55pm the same night, Santulli was unable to stand.Fraternity brothers carried Santulli to a sofa, where he lay for at least an hour and a half.Several of the brothers then tried to transport Santulli to a car but dropped him on his head.By the time that the 18-year-old arrived to University Hospital, he was in cardiac arrest and not breathing. He had a blood alcohol level of .486.
Gavel on copy of lawsuit; image by Wirestock, via Freepik.com.
Sources
Danny Santulli's family on 'Good Morning America': Prosecute the Fiji brothers responsibleHazing incident leaves University of Missouri student unable to see, talk or walkParents sue 2 more Univ. of Missouri students in alleged hazing that left son brain damaged
About Ryan J. Farrick
Ryan Farrick is a freelance writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. Passionate about international politics and world affairs, he’s an avid traveler with a keen interest in the connections between South Asia and the United States. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics.