A Florida Atlantic University student has filed a civil lawsuit accusing the FAU chapter of Delta Tau Delta and the fraternity’s national office of negligence after an off-campus hazing ritual last fall that he says left him permanently injured. The complaint alleges the student was blindfolded and forced to drink a powerful alcoholic beverage, then blacked out and suffered cuts when his hand went through broken glass. The suit seeks damages for what it describes as permanent physical harm and related losses.
What the lawsuit alleges
According to WPBF, the complaint says the student was blindfolded and forced to consume three-fifths of a 49.5% alcohol-by-volume drink, identified in the suit as a Four Loko, within nine minutes. He allegedly blacked out and sustained a severe hand laceration when his hand went through broken glass. The filing states that fraternity members drove him to a hospital and left him there without calling 911 and that the episode produced lasting injuries. The suit was filed in Palm Beach County civil court, according to the report.
University response and suspension
According to Florida Atlantic University's hazing transparency report, the Delta Tau Delta chapter was suspended after an incident listed as occurring in Fall 2025 while the matter was reviewed. The university reiterates a zero-tolerance approach to conduct that recklessly or intentionally endangers student health and spells out sanctions and educational steps required for reinstatement. FAU has said some investigatory records are exempt from disclosure while inquiries remain active.
Accusations against the national fraternity
The complaint also names Delta Tau Delta’s national organization, alleging negligence on the theory that the national body "was or should have been aware" of a pattern of hazing tied to the chapter. WPBF reports the suit points to prior problems, including an incident at FAU in 2015, as evidence the national organization failed to curb dangerous initiation practices. Attorneys for the plaintiff argue that history shows a broader failure to address risky hazing rituals.
Fraternity and campus statements
Delta Tau Delta’s national office told the FAU student paper it was "aware of an injury sustained by one of its members last fall" and that it was working with chapter leadership and university staff, according to FAU University Press. The student paper also reported that the university’s public records office denied some requests for documents while the investigation is active. The civil case remains pending.
Legal context
Florida law prohibits hazing and explicitly includes forced consumption of alcohol among banned conduct. The statute also states that a victim’s consent is not a defense, according to Florida's anti-hazing statute. Civil claims like the one filed in this case typically assert negligence or intentional torts and seek monetary damages, while criminal prosecutors may pursue separate charges if evidence supports them. Universities can also impose disciplinary penalties independent of any criminal or civil outcome.
The lawsuit arrives amid a broader wave of hazing allegations that have renewed scrutiny of Greek-life practices on college campuses. As the civil case moves forward, campus discipline and any potential criminal inquiries will determine next steps and possible penalties.
