Gruver, Estate of Maxwell vs. Louisiana State University, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and Individual Defendants

Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Louisiana State University freshman Max Gruver, 18, died in September 2017 following a hazing incident called “Bible Study” at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. At the time of his death, Max’s blood-alcohol level was still 0.495, more than six times the legal limit.

Max’s death led Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards to sign into law a set of anti-hazing measures in 2018 that made hazing a felony.

As lead counsel for Stephen and Rae Ann Gruver, we prevailed in our wrongful death lawsuit and obtained a $6.1 million verdict. The verdict is one of the largest ever recorded in Louisiana for the wrongful death of a child.

The jury’s award will allow the family to continue to honor Max by educating young people on the dangers of hazing through the Max Gruver Foundation, which was founded by the family to make sure hazing-related deaths do not continue.

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