Martinez, Estate of Samuel H. vs. Washington State University, Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and Individual Defendants
Washington State University freshman, Samuel Martinez, 19, died from alcohol poisoning in November 2019 while attending an event at the Alpha Tau Omega.
Martinez and another pledge were allegedly ordered to finish a half-gallon of rum between them and his blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.372 after his death, nearly five times the legal limit.
Pullman Police originally ruled out hazing, but later rescinded that statement following witness interviews. The coroner later ruled Martinez died accidentally from acute alcohol intoxication and said 911 was not called until four hours after he died.
– Superior Court of the State of Washington, Kings County, Case No. 20-2-11998-9 SEA
Washington State University was initially dismissed from the matter, but In January 2025, “in a landmark decision, the Washington State Court of Appeals ruled that Washington State University (WSU) bears responsibility for the 2019 alcohol-related death of a freshman student, marking the first time a university has been held accountable for a hazing-related fatality in the state.”
The Court of Appeals found WSU was aware of ATO’s problematic past but didn’t implement effective measures. University and law enforcement documents reveal that despite numerous reports about ATO’s conduct filed to campus authorities in the five years before Sam died, disciplinary actions were minimal.