Lawsuit filed against Pi Kappa Alpha for death of BGSU student
May 11—A law firm representing the family of Stone Foltz, a 20-year-old Bowling Green State University student who died after attending a hazing event, has filed a lawsuit against the fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha.
In a statement, Rex Elliott and Sean Alto, representatives for Cooper Elliott, the law firm representing Mr. Foltz's family, said the lawsuit is necessary to hold the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity, the local fraternity chapter, and individuals accountable for actions that led to Mr. Foltz's death.
"While nothing can bring Stone back to his family, we are confident the family will get justice and accountability through the legal system," the statement shows.
The lawsuit, filed in Franklin County, lists the international fraternity, local chapter, and individual members as defendants. It alleges that the fraternity's negligence led directly to Mr. Foltz's death.
It also details a "Long History of Hazing" at Pi Kappa Alpha at chapters across the country starting in 1965, when a Georgetown (Ky.) College student drowned during a fraternity initiation event.
Per the lawsuit, another Pi Kappa Alpha pledge was killed in 1976 at Texas Tech University during a scavenger hunt partially located on active railroad tracks, and in 2002, a pledge at the University of Nevada, Reno, drowned during suspected hazing activities.
Other incidents include suspended and banned chapters for hazing incidents and violations of alcohol rules.
Also referenced in the lawsuit was a 2018 incident at the BGSU chapter during which a student anonymously reported that Pi Kappa Alpha was hazing pledges. A year later, the university received another anonymous report about that same 2018 incident that claimed Pi Kappa Alpha pledges were forced to drink a mixed-alcohol concoction.
BGSU reported the allegation to the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity headquarters, which placed the chapter on probation, issued a fine, and required educational programming and anti-hazing training.
According to a letter dated April 9 from the university to the local chapter's president, the investigation into the most recent incident "revealed a deep culture of deception rooted in the organization, filled with dishonesty and disrespect for our community."
In April, BGSU permanently expelled Pi Kappa Alpha from campus.
Mr. Foltz died days after attending a "Big Brother Night" March 4 while pledging to become a member of the fraternity. At the event, members of the fraternity known as big brothers, or "bigs," took pledges who were assigned as their little brothers, or "littles," to a basement, covered their eyes with neckties, and had them consume an entire fifth of alcohol, authorities said.
According to the lawsuit, Mr. Foltz consumed the alcohol "in as little as 18 minutes."
That night, the sophomore was found unresponsive after he was dropped off by three individuals who were also at the event. A roommate found him face down on a couch and not breathing and called 911. He was pronounced dead three days later.
The Lucas County coroner ruled the death an accident caused by a fatal level of alcohol intoxication at a hazing incident.
Eight individuals were indicted in April by a Wood County grand jury on charges related to Mr. Foltz's death.
The lawsuit alleges that fraternity members planned the party during which Mr. Foltz was forced to drink and were ultimately responsible for his well-being. The family is seeking compensatory damages, and while $25,000 is the amount listed in the lawsuit, the plaintiffs plan to seek "substantially more at trial to reflect the value of the loss of this young life."
First Published May 11, 2021, 2:08pm
