The Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and its members settled lawsuits over an accident in 2011 killing a Graduate student, and injuring 2 others. Lawyer says the settlement was made in November, however, no formal documents have been filed yet.
According to Fox News, the Yale University and more than 80 of its members have settled lawsuits pertaining to the fatal 2011 incident which took the life of 30-year-old Nancy Barry and injured Sarah Short SOM '13 and a Harvard Employee Elizabeth Dernbach.
After the football game of Yale and Harvard for that year, A U-Haul truck loaded with beer kegs was being driven by Brendan Ross who was a member of the fraternity for their tailgate. He revved the engine of the truck to get the pedestrians to move. However, the vehicle sped up and instead of stepping on the brakes, Ross accidentally hit the gas which caused the fatal event.
As reported by Yale News, Short and Barry's family filed charges against U-Haul, Yale, and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity for unspecified damages. They separately filed lawsuits in 2013 against all members of the Yale chapter of the fraternity and those at the tailgate in 2011. It was eventually consolidated into one case.
In August report of Fox61, the fraternity aimed for a settlement with Barry's family as well as with Short but the other party was dedicated to bring the case to the jury. However, according to Ross, of O'Fallon, Barry's family and Short finally went for a settlement.
"The family is happy to have this behind them, to have some closure to this", Ralph Sbrogna said about Barry's family. "Whatever was gained from this settlement monetarily is not going to bring this young woman back." He added.
Sborgna further said that the defendants did not admit any wrong doing and terms of the settlement are confidential. He also clarified that the settlement was reached in November, but formal court documents are yet to be filed.
Charges against Ross were also erased after he completed 400 hours of community service during his rehabilitation program which was granted to him in 2013.
