The parent's of a 19-year-old boy that drowned after a drinking binge with college students all over 21, according to the Saratogian, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit naming nine men as responsible for their son's death and are seeking $5 million in damages.
Eight of the nine men named are currently attending classes at Skidmore College. Each his been cited as supplying the deceased, A.G., with alcohol before he died.
The suit was filed on April 19. Along with damages, the family also seeks court costs.
According to the suit on the weekend of March 6, 2011, A.G. traveled to Skidmore College to visit his friend M.P. On Saturday night the two spent some time drinking in a dorm room at the college with four of M.P.'s roommates, and later, drank more at a party on Church Street.
A.G. wasn't located until the following Tuesday – he had drowned in Putnam Creek.
According to police, it has been determined that sometime after A.G. was at the party he left alone and, while intoxicated, walked over to the Saratoga Springs Train station and walked down the tracks. Then he broke into a medical office building – severely injuring himself in the process – and finally ended up in the woods where he fell into the Creek.
Police have stated that A.G. was suffering with hypothermia and his blood-alcohol content was .16 percent.
Although M.P. was A.G.'s host, he has not been named in the lawsuit. However, M.P.'s four roommates were named as defendants, as well as the man they purchased the alcohol from, and four other men that hosted the party that A.G. had attended afterwards.
The lawsuit covers the course of events leading up to A.G.'s death, from the dorm room to the party, documenting that M.P. "expressly or by implication assured (A.G.) that he would guide him to 146 Church St. and back to (M.P.'s) dormitory room."
However, according to the suit, "due to his own intoxication, (M.P.) failed to observe that (A.G.) had left 146 Church" and "by reason of the intoxication or impairment of (M.P.), (A.G.) was placed in an unsafe and dangerous situation in that he was left alone and disoriented in an unfamiliar city, resulting in his tragic and horrifying death."
The suit further claims that A.G. and M.P. were known by the defendants to be under the legal drinking age. The wrongful death suit was filed because all of the defendants broke the law by supplying alcohol to a teen that resulted in his death.
District Attorney James A. Murphy III, working with the police department, has offered immunity to anyone that comes forward with information on A.G.'s death. Murphy said, "In consideration of court decisions and the facts of the case, a decision has been made not to charge any of the occupants of the room with a criminal offense."
Contact a personal injury lawyer to file a wrongful death case. A lawsuit of this kind can bring about your financial relief and emotional closure.