The mother of University of Colorado student Lynn “Gordie” Bailey, who died of acute alcohol poisoning in September 2004 after a fraternity-initiation ritual, has settled her lawsuit with the fraternity on the eve of the trial.
According to the lawyer who represented Leslie Lanahan, Bailey’s mother, said a settlement was reached with both the Chi Psi fraternity and the Alpha Psi Delta Corporation of Chi Psi, which owned the fraternity house in Boulder.
Bailey died the morning of Sept. 17, 2004, of acute alcohol poisoning. His blood-alcohol level was 0.328 percent.
The night before, he and 26 other Chi Psi fraternity pledges at CU were blindfolded and taken to the woods near Boulder, as part of an initiation ritual.
The pledges were told to drink large amounts of whiskey and wine, police said at the time. After he was driven back to the fraternity, Bailey lapsed into unconsciousness.
None of the fraternity members called 911 for hours afterward. Instead, some scrawled vulgar phrases and drawings on his body.
The lawyer said that one reason he believes the settlement was appropriate was because all a jury could do is decide liability and award damages. A settlement, on the other hand, can bring reform.
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