NEW YORK, June 28 (UPI) -- A New York woman has filed a lawsuit blaming her son's fraternity at Cornell University for his death from alcohol poisoning.
Marie Lourdes Andre says Georges Desdunes was forced to drink alcohol by his fraternity brothers and then left bound with zip ties on a couch, the New York Post reported Tuesday. She is seeking $25 million from Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
"With the death of my son, I find some comfort in knowing that this lawsuit may bring about changes in fraternities that will prevent other families from suffering as I have," Andre said.
Desdunes, her only child, died in February.
In court papers, Andre said her son was subjected to the hazing ritual even though he was already a full member because his brothers were testing whether he knew as much as pledges about the fraternity. She said full members are sometimes questioned and then forced to drink alcohol if they miss an answer.
