UPDATE ON RIDER HAZING DEATH

Daniel McCarthy, Manley Burke

As previously reported in Fraternal Law, Gary DeVercelly, an 18-year-old pledge of Phi Kappa Tau at Rider University, died in March 2007 after drinking a large amount of vodka.  Four fraternity members and two Rider administrators were charged criminally.  While the charges were dismissed against the school administrators, the prosecutor continued to pursue criminal charges against the fraternity members.

Michael Torney, the former president of the chapter, pleaded guilty in October to one count of hazing, which is a disorderly person or misdemeanor charge in New Jersey.  A more serious charge of aggravated hazing will be dropped against Torney.  In December, Torney will be sentenced to three years probation, ordered to attend alcohol counseling, and perform 100 hours of community service.

While this concludes the criminal charges stemming from Mr. DeVercelly’s death, a civil lawsuit is still pending.  His parents sued the fraternity, several individual members, Rider University and several school administrators.  The lawsuit alleges that two Rider administrators, including one of the two previously criminally charged, knew of hazing at the chapter but failed to stop it.

The plaintiffs have already settled with several of the individual defendants, including Torney.  According to the Times of Trenton, online at nj.com, Torney settled with the plaintiffs for $150,000 through his parents’ insurer, while another student, Vincent Cagulero, settled for $375,000 through his insurer.