The college where a local teenager died while pledging a fraternity is claiming no responsibility for his death.
The family of Nolan Burch is suing the Kappa Sigma fraternity and West Virginia University after they claim the 18-year-old died in a hazing incident last year.
WVU’s Director of University Relations, John Bolt, said that the University has filed a response claiming no responsibility in the wrongful death lawsuit.
Police said the 18-year-old became highly intoxicated during an initiation on Nov. 12, 2014.
The investigation found Burch, a Canisius High School graduate and other pledges of the Kappa Sigma fraternity were told to drink a bottle of liquor as part of the initiation.
Testing determined Burch’s blood alcohol level was .493.
Two students, including one from Williamsville, were charged in his death.
Their lawsuit names the fraternity, the college, the students charged in his death and the owners of the fraternity house.
The college newspaper previously said the fraternity also claims no responsibility in Burch’s death.
At the time of Burch’s death, the Director of Chapter Services of Kappa Sigma said the operations of the WCU chapter had been suspended since October 2014 due to previous unrelated violations of Kappa Sigma’s Code of Conduct.
We’ve reach out to the fraternity and the Burch family lawyer for comment and are waiting for a response.