University Sued Over Student Who Died From Pancake-Eating Contest
 

This happened during Greek Week. Her sorority organized the event to raise money for a children’s charity. Tragic story.


https://www.wsj.com/articles/univers...est-1540844251

Here's a different article for anyone who doesn't have a WSJ log-in:
A college student choked to death during a pancake-eating contest. Now, her family is suing the school.

The student's father was a Port Authority police officer who died on 9/11.

How awful. :( Miss Nelson was a Kappa Delta.

It'll be pretty difficult to get past an assumption of the risk defense.

Here it is with no pay wall.

https://6abc.com/family-sues-univers...death/4580420/

I guess in this sue happy time, it would boil down to was the Girl forced to participate or did it on her own?

To me the suit is a stretch to place blame on every body but not their daughter.:o It is the typical blame game that is going on in todays society. :rolleyes:

It’s absurd. “They didn’t consider safer alternatives like ice cream or whipped cream?”
Horrible tragedy, but...

One thing that does bug me is they said when first responders arrived her mouth was full to the teeth of pancakes that they had to scoop out. NO ONE thought to do that?

On the other hand, that would show that the girl was shoving food in her face so furiously that she began to force it down her own windpipe. I wonder if even a tracheotomy would have done any good?

Hmm.. this is one that can go to a jury, I think. The school can argue that the girl assumed the risk of choking by participating in an eating contest. State law is probably going to impose some sort of duty to the school, or maybe the school had a duty to at least have someone on hand who knew basic first aid? All kinds of questions, not nearly enough information.

Tom, I'm not upset with her parents at all for filing a lawsuit. Lawsuits are the only way private citizens can affect the behavior of institutions. If big bucks are paid on this thing, maybe schools in general will take a minute to consider safer alternatives, maybe their insurers are going to require that and maybe schools will train their personnel on hand to respond to these kinds of things in case of an emergency.

Having actually submitted a few trials to a juries, even though these things come down to money, it's not usually about the money [though we hope to be compensated for our services]. It's about justice.