Wrongful Death

George Desdunes, a Sophomore at Cornell University who had aspirations of being a doctor, was pronounced dead on the morning of February 25, 2011 at Cayuga Medical Center. Desdunes was a pledge of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity who died with a blood alcohol level of .409 after being subjected to a fraternity hazing ritual. Members of SAE allegedly kidnapped him by blindfolding him and binding his hands and feet. They then forced him to drink so much alcohol that he passed out and died. After his mother filed a $25 million wrongful death lawsuit against the fraternity and 11 of its members, Cornell promised to change the way students pledge fraternities and sororities, and now they’re finally taking steps toward that end.