A Brooklyn judge has dismissed Iona College from a $21 million lawsuit regarding an alcohol-related hazing death last year, saying the school isn’t legally responsible for ensuring the well-being of its students.
The civil lawsuit will go forward against two Westchester County bars that served an allegedly already-drunk Kevin Lawless, 18, of Brooklyn. He died of alcohol poisoning in December 1999 while being pledged to an underground fraternity.
“The law is very clear: When you’re in college, you must own up to your own actions,” Iona attorney Anthony Dougherty said.
College President James Liguori said school administrators were “gratified” by the court’s decision.
“We also recognize the family’s grief, and our sympathies and prayers go to the Lawless family,” he said.
The Lawless family lawyer, Marc Oxman, said he plans to appeal the decision.
Phyllis Lawless, the student’s mother, who brought the suit, declined to comment yesterday on Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Muriel Hubsher’s ruling.
Kevin Lawless collapsed and died after consuming large quantities of beer, wine and vodka during the final night of an off-campus pledging ritual for a fraternity the college had banned since 1986.