Overview
- A Luzerne County jury returned the verdict Wednesday in the wrongful-death case over the 2019 fall that killed 18-year-old Justin King after a fraternity rush event.
- Jurors allocated fault at 35% to Alpha Sigma Tau, 35% to Kappa Sigma, 24% to King, and 1% to each of six fraternity members.
- Kappa Sigma and dozens of individual defendants had previously reached confidential settlements, leaving the national sorority as the only party at trial.
- Plaintiffs cited Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Statute and described coercive drinking practices including potent ‘Jungle Juice,’ ‘Blackout Water,’ and crate races; an autopsy ruled the death accidental with a .22 blood alcohol level.
- The 10-day trial before Judge Lesa S. Gelb focused on alleged oversight failures by national Greek organizations, and jurors characterized the sorority’s conduct as reckless.