7 Hazing Tragedies That Spurred Harsher Anti-Hazing Laws in 9 States

Andrew Coffey – Florida

In Sept. 2018, David Bianchi, a Miami attorney who helped write Florida’s 2005 hazing law, the Chad Meredith Act, announced he wanted to toughen the legislation and close loopholes.

Bianchi also represented the parents of Andrew Coffey, a Florida State student who died in 2017 after pledging the school’s Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Coffey died of acute alcohol poisoning and had a blood alcohol content of .447 at the time of his death.

Effective Oct. 1, 2019, Andrew’s Law strengthens the Chad Meredith Act in several ways, including:

• Provides immunity for the first person who calls 911 or administers aid to a hazing victim
• Provides for the prosecution of event coordinators where hazing causes injury, even if coordinators don’t attend
• Provides for prosection of hazing that causes permanent damage

In Coffey’s hazing death, nine Pi Kappa Phi fraternity members were charged with misdemeanor or felony hazing. All served jail time ranging from 30 days to one year.

(Photo credit: Adobe Stock)