BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — People who file civil lawsuits in Louisiana when someone dies from hazing could be in line for higher penalty payments, under a bill that won easy passage from the state Senate.
Senators voted 28-3 Wednesday for Sen. Dan Claitor's bill, which came after the death of an LSU student allegedly subjected to a hazing ritual.
The Baton Rouge Republican's proposal would allow those who file the civil lawsuits to claim additional legal damages if a hazing death is determined to be caused by reckless disregard for the victim's safety — even if the person being sued wasn't criminally prosecuted.
LSU student Maxwell Gruver's death prompted several hazing-related bills this session, including one awaiting House floor debate to make hazing that kills someone a felony crime.
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Senate Bill 91: www.legis.la.gov
