Excerpt: Brett Griffin, 18, of Kendall Park, N.J., died of alcohol poisoning early on Nov. 8, 2008. Witnesses testified that it was a tradition at the fraternity that pledges were supposed to consume an entire bottle of liquor at the “Big Brother” party. A medical expert testified that Griffin had the equivalent of a full 750ml bottle of Southern Comfort in his system when he died.
Timothy and Julie Griffin filed a hazing and wrongful death suit against the national fraternity and several fraternity brothers in 2009. All but former chapter president Aaron and former pledge master Matthew Siracusa either settled with the family or were dropped from the case before trial.
Siracusa rested his defense Wednesday without calling any witnesses.
