Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr. Hazing Death Case

– Colorado District Court, Boulder County, Case No. 2006CV424

Case Details

Who: On September 17th, 2004, Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr. (“Gordie”) was found dead at the Chi Psi fraternity house at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

What Happened: On the evening of September 16th, Gordie and twenty-six other pledges, dressed in coats and ties for “bid night,” were blindfolded and taken to the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest, where they were “encouraged” to drink four handles of whiskey and six bottles of wine around a bonfire in 30 minutes.

When the group returned to the fraternity house, Gordie was visibly intoxicated and was placed on a couch to “sleep it off” at approximately 11 pm. His brothers proceeded to write on his body with permanent markers–a fraternity ritual meant to embarrass brothers who pass out. Gordie was left to “sleep it off” for 10 hours before he was found dead the next morning at 9 am, face down on the floor. No one had called for help.

Results

The case was filed against the fraternity and more than a dozen fraternity members resonsible for hazing Gordie and his death. The defendants claimed no responsibility for his death and sought to limit the damages received by the family based upon Colorado’s cap on non-economic damages. The family prevailed on all pre-trial motions and received a substantial financial settlement far in excess of Colorado’s cap on damages.

Impact

The family established the Gordie Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and has continually advocated against hazing and implemented programs to protect students.