Our Nationwide Cases

Adam Oakes, a VCU freshman featured in the documentary Death of a Pledge, died in a 2021 Delta Chi hazing ritual. We secured a $4.2 million settlement for his family.

Gary DeVercelly Jr., a Rider University freshman, died of alcohol poisoning during a Phi Kappa Tau initiation. The family's settlement with Rider forced the university to publish fraternity misconduct on its website — a historic first.

George Desdunes, a Cornell student, died during an SAE hazing ritual, setting New York precedent. His mother's wrongful-death suit was resolved through a confidential, multi-million-dollar settlement.

Matt Carrington died during a Chi Tau hazing ritual that required him to consume fatal amounts of water. His mother secured substantial settlements and jail time for those responsible, and our firm helped draft and enact Matt's Law. She now leads AHA! Movement, the anti-hazing nonprofit she founded.

Max participated in an alcohol-fueled hazing ritual at LSU during which he was required to consume excessive alcohol.

His blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.372%, nearly five times the legal limit, at Washington State University.

A settlement with the Commonwealth of Virginia and Virginia Tech brought a measure of closure for our clients.

Alex Beletsis died during a Theta Chi drinking ritual; we set California precedent holding national fraternities liable. The family resolved the case through multiple substantial financial settlements.

A football club owner featured on Below Deck Sailing Yacht allegedly groomed a teenage boy.

Four Butler University student athletes were sexually abused and photographed because the University lacked and failed to supervise protocols for protecting female athletes. The case was resolved in a confidential settlement.

Caleb Wilson, a Southern University junior, died after being struck during an Omega Psi Phi hazing ritual ruled a homicide.

Carson Starkey, a Cal Poly freshman, died of alcohol poisoning during a Sigma Alpha Epsilon initiation. His family obtained numerous substantial settlements and established California precedent holding fraternities liable for hazing, then founded the nonprofit Aware Awake Alive to prevent alcohol-poisoning deaths.

Misconduct at the prestigious Bronx private school took place following volleyball sessions, cinema outings, and at home.

Ex-MLB player Chad Curtis sexually assaulted teenage students while coaching at a high school.

Gordie was visibly intoxicated and left on a couch to sleep it off during a Chi Psi initiation.

Luke Tyler, a WSU freshman, died by suicide using an antidepressant a Hims telehealth provider prescribed and doubled.

An Isidore Newman student was sexually assaulted by a classmate, then ridiculed after the school shielded him.

Joshua was placed into a vehicle driven by an impaired fraternity member that crossed the center line and struck a tree.

Marquise Braham was subjected to severe and dangerous hazing while pledging a fraternity at Penn State Altoona. His family reached settlements with the university, the fraternity, and the individual defendants.

During a fraternity retreat, Michael Deng was hazed as part of a violent ritual known as the glass ceiling. His death was ruled a homicide and led to criminal prosecutions and civil litigation.

Noah was directed to consume the entire contents of a 375 ml bottle of Jack Daniels as part of a UC Irvine fraternity tradition, and died with a 0.331% blood alcohol level. His family held the fraternity and every member involved in his hazing legally responsible through numerous, substantial confidential settlements.

A hazing event at Michigan State aimed to get pledges as drunk as possible so they would black out and be reborn as members.

Our work uncovered numerous legal and factual flaws in the allegations against Rolling Stone.

Jane was targeted and secluded in a bedroom of the fraternity house and sexually assaulted. She prevailed against both the university and the fraternity, reaching a substantial settlement.