The family of a deceased California Polytechnic StateUniversity student and former Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) pledge has filed a wrongfuldeath lawsuit against the fraternity. The student died last year after bingedrinking with his fraternity during a hazing ritual.

According to the lawsuit filed on September 22 in San LuisObisbo, California, freshman Carson Starkey and the other SAE pledges were eachgiven a bag filled with an unknown alcoholic beverage(s) at an off-campuslocation. The SAE brothers gave the pledges 90 minutes to consume the entirecontents of the bag.

Starkey was later found unresponsive and was put into a carto be taken to a hospital, but when Starkey vomited he was taken home and putinto bed. A few hours later, Starkey was rushed to the Sierra Vista RegionalMedical Center, where the attending medical professionals pronounced him dead.An autopsy revealed that his blood alcohol level was five times over the legaldrinking limit, between 0.39 and 0.48. The blood alcohol level was theequivalent of surgical anesthesia.

In addition to damages the lawsuit is also seeking an injunctionprohibiting the fraternity from conducting future hazing activities.

If you or someone you know has suffered because of anaccident that resulted in the death of a loved one, contact the PennsylvaniaWrongful Death Lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams at 215-329-3511.