Ex-Fraternity Members Not Liable In Pledge's Death

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — A jury has ruled that two former members of a University of Delaware fraternity are not liable for the alcohol death of an 18-year-old pledge.

Jurors said Friday that Jason Aaron, a former chapter president of Sigma Alpha Mu, and Matthew Siracusa, a former pledge master, were not responsible for the death of Brett Griffin in November 2008.

The fraternity and other members reached settlements in the case, but Aaron and Siracusa argued that they weren't liable because they didn't participate in any hazing of Griffin, and that no one forced him to drink.

Griffin died with a blood-alcohol level of .341, more than four times the threshold for drunken driving, hours after he and other pledges were introduced to their "big brothers" and their "family drink."

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