Matthew Carrington Hazing Death

Carrington, Estate of Matthew vs. Chi Tau, et al.

Case Details

Who: Matthew Carrington was a college student and fraternity pledge whose death occurred during a hazing ritual tied to his efforts to join a fraternity. His mother, Debbie Smith, pursued accountability on his behalf.

What Happened: Fraternity members attempted to portray Matt’s death as the result of his own voluntary drinking. The lawsuit exposed those claims as false and demonstrated that Matt died as a result of a hazing ritual that required him to consume fatal amounts of water to prove his commitment to becoming a fraternity member.

Results

Matt’s mother received substantial justice in the form of substantial financial settlements and jail time for the fraternity members responsible for Matt’s death.

Impact

The firm helped draft and enact “Matt’s Law” in California, which made groundbreaking advances in preventing hazing and punishing the individuals and organizations that violate the law. Debbie Smith continues to lead the AHA! Movement, the anti-hazing nonprofit she founded in 2015 on the tenth anniversary of Matt’s death.