UPDATE: A jury in Luzerne County has awarded the estate of Justin King a staggering $3.5 million following his tragic death after a fraternity rush party at Bloomsburg University. This verdict, delivered on Wednesday, is part of a larger $7.8 million ruling against the Alpha Sigma Tau national sorority, which was found to be 35 percent liable for the incident that occurred in September 2019.
The jury’s decision comes after a ten-day trial where jurors deliberated for just five hours. King, an 18-year-old freshman, attended a party on September 13, 2019, where he was allegedly encouraged to consume dangerous amounts of alcohol. The events led to King falling off a 75-foot cliff, resulting in severe injuries and ultimately his death.
King’s blood alcohol content was recorded at .22, nearly three times the legal limit for driving. His estate claimed that the sorority provided “highly-potent” drinks and organized drinking games that created an environment of excessive drinking. One of King’s attorneys, Benjamin Present, described the fraternity rush event as “out of control” and criticized the sorority for ignoring policy violations related to hazing and alcohol consumption.
In addition to Alpha Sigma Tau, the Kappa Sigma fraternity was also found responsible for 35 percent of the liability, while King himself was deemed 24 percent at fault. The sorority’s share of the liability, when including delay damages, is projected to exceed $3.5 million. Notably, six fraternity brothers had a minimal 1 percent fault assigned to them but will not have to pay their portions as the trial focused solely on the national sorority.
The lawsuit highlighted the negligence of both the national sorority and fraternity, pointing to violations of Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Statute. The jury’s ruling emphasizes the responsibility of Greek organizations to regulate their local chapters and prevent such tragedies from occurring.
In a statement following the verdict, Present noted the jury’s decision sends a clear message: “National Greek organizations cannot turn a blind eye to rampant drinking and policy violations on college campuses.” The attorneys for King’s estate asserted that the organization had previously ignored serious concerns about hazing and underage drinking at the Bloomsburg chapter.
King, who had just begun his college journey, was remembered by his family as a promising young man with a bright future. His brother, Drew King, spoke emotionally about the loss, saying, “He was just doing great things. I was really proud of him.”
Following this incident and others, Bloomsburg University officials terminated all sorority and fraternity programs at the state-run school in 2021.
As the legal repercussions continue to unfold, this case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with college drinking culture, urging institutions to take immediate action to protect students.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
