Ohio University Hazing Death: Holding Wilberforce University Accountable
The phone call no parent should ever receive is the one that comes from a university morgue. At Wilberforce University, the tragic death of 18-year-old Savanna Jones has exposed a systemic failure of safety and supervision that leaves a family searching for answers and justice. When a student is forced to consume an entire bottle of liquor as part of an interrogation in a residence hall, it isn’t a “tradition” or a “ritual.” Under Ohio law, it is a crime—and it is a failure of the institution that promised to keep her safe.
We have spent years fighting for families in their darkest hours, and we know that the university’s first response is often to protect its reputation rather than tell the truth. If your family is facing the aftermath of a student safety failure, you are not just fighting the individuals involved; you are fighting a multi-million-dollar institutional machine. At Attorney911, we act as the protector that levels that playing field.
The Savanna Jones Incident: Institutional Failure in Plain Sight
The details of Savanna’s death are not just heartbreaking; they are a documentation of “conscious disregard” for human life. Reports indicate that Savanna and at least ten other students were coerced into consuming high quantities of alcohol during a residence hall interrogation. Digital evidence—photos and videos taken by those present—depicts a terrifying timeline of her losing consciousness.
The most damning part of this story is what happened after she passed out. Instead of calling 911, instead of seeking the medical intervention that toxicologists agree could have saved her life, individuals allegedly carried her unconscious body across campus to her own dorm room. She was found deceased at 2 a.m.
This was not a secret event held in a dark basement. It happened in university-managed housing, often in the presence or near the duty stations of Resident Advisors (RAs). When a university provides the stage for these events and fails to provide the “adult supervision” required by law, it shares the blame for the outcome.
Understanding Collin’s Law and University Liability in Ohio
In the past, universities often escaped liability for hazing by claiming it was a “voluntary” or “secret” act. That era ended with the passage of Senate Bill 126, known as Collin’s Law. This landmark legislation transformed how our state handles these cases.
“Ohio’s Collin’s Law (Senate Bill 126) expands the definition of hazing, elevates it to a felony in cases where drugs or alcohol cause serious physical harm, and imposes a mandatory duty on university officials to report any knowledge of hazing to law enforcement.”
For Savanna’s family, Collin’s Law is a central tool for accountability. It means that any university employee—from the administration to the residence hall staff—who knew or should have known this was happening and failed to act, can be held liable. At The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, we use this statute to prove that the university’s failure to implement and enforce anti-hazing policies was a direct cause of death.
Why a Wrongful Death Claim is Different in Ohio
In Ohio, a wrongful death claim under O.R.C. § 2125.02 allows the family to recover for the loss of their loved one’s society, companionship, and future earnings. But there is a second, equally important claim: the Survival Action under O.R.C. § 2305.21.
A survival action seeks damages for the pain, suffering, and terror the victim experienced between the start of the incident and the moment of death. For Savanna, this includes the moments of coercion and the physical distress of alcohol poisoning. Because the individuals involved chose to carry her to a room rather than a hospital, the case for “conscious disregard” is clear. This opens the door for punitive damages—damages meant specifically to punish the university and the participants for their actions.
The Evidence Clock: Proving the Case Before the Truth Is Deleted
In a university setting, evidence has a way of disappearing the moment a lawyer is mentioned. In Savanna’s case, we identify four critical sources of proof that must be frozen immediately:
- Student Cell Phones: The videos and photos of Savanna becoming unconscious are the most powerful evidence of the timeline. These are at IMMEDIATE risk of being deleted or the hardware being destroyed.
- Residence Hall Keycard Logs: These logs prove exactly who entered and exited the dorm and at what time, establishing the “carry” to her room. This is CRITICAL data that is often overwritten every 30 to 90 days.
- RA Duty Logs and Internal Emails: To prove that the event was “not secretive,” we must obtain the communications between staff. This carries a HIGH risk of “revisions” or being lost if not subpoenaed.
- Toxicology and Autopsy Reports: These confirm the biological cause and timing of death.
The day you call us, the preservation letter goes out. We move to freeze these records before the university’s routine data purges or “administrative errors” make them unavailable.
The Insurance Adjuster Playbook: How They Will Try to Devalue Your Loss
The university’s insurance carrier has a standard set of plays to try and minimize a wrongful death settlement. You must recognize these tactics before they are used against you:
- The “Voluntary” Choice: They will argue that Savanna “chose” to drink. Our counter is the psychological coercion inherent in campus “tradition” and the power imbalance that Collin’s Law was built to address.
- The “Secret Event” Defense: They will claim the university had no way of knowing what was happening in a dorm room. We use RA duty logs and witness testimony to show that the event was visible and should have been intercepted.
- The Early Lowball Offer: They may offer a quick settlement to cover funeral costs and a modest sum, hoping you sign a release before the full extent of the institutional negligence—and the potential for punitive damages—is discovered.
Never give a recorded statement to the university’s investigators or its insurance carrier. Everything you say is being used to build their defense.
How to Hold Universities Accountable for Hazing Deaths
Holding an institution like Wilberforce University accountable requires more than just filing a lawsuit. It requires a trial strategy that tells the story of Institutional Failure. The university provides the stage, the recruits, and the “adult supervision” (RAs) who failed to act.
We look for patterns of “willful blindness.” Did the university have previous hazing complaints that it ignored? Was there a culture of looking the other way to preserve “tradition”? Our discovery process prioritizes internal emails and prior disciplinary records to show that this tragedy was predictable—and therefore preventable.
What Is a University Hazing Case Worth?
Evaluating the value of a life is a somber task. For an 18-year-old student with her entire future ahead of her, the damages in an Ohio wrongful death case are substantial.
Based on our analysis of institutional negligence, the violation of Collin’s Law, and the presence of video evidence, the case value range for this incident is estimated between $2,500,000 and $12,000,000.
The lower end of this range typically reflects cases where sovereign immunity complexities might apply or insurance policy limits are reached. The high-end values are driven by the potential for punitive damages and the extreme mental anguish of the surviving family. We work with forensic economists to project her lifetime earnings and life-care planners to document the full human loss.
The Attorney911 Advantage: Expert Trial Lawyers for Your Family
When you are grieving, you need more than just a lawyer; you need a team that knows how the other side thinks.
Ralph Manginello brings 27+ years of experience in courtrooms, including federal court. He is a competitor who hates to lose and a former journalist who knows how to find the facts that others hide. He is a member of the Million Dollar Member of the Trial Lawyers Achievement Association and brings that same intensity to every student safety case.
Lupe Peña provides our clients with a distinct advantage. Before joining us, he was an insurance-defense attorney at a national firm. He knows how adjusters value claims, the delay tactics they use, and exactly how they set their reserves. He now uses that insider knowledge to fight for families, ensuring they aren’t outmaneuvered by the insurance company’s playbook.
We serve families in their language. Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish and conducts full consultations without the need for an interpreter. Hablamos Español.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue a university for a hazing death in Ohio?
Yes. Under Ohio’s Collin’s Law and wrongful death statutes, universities can be held liable for failing to prevent hazing, failing to report it, or providing the environment where it occurred through negligent supervision.
What is Collin’s Law?
Collin’s Law (Senate Bill 126) is Ohio’s strict anti-hazing statute. It makes hazing a felony in certain circumstances, requires university officials to report hazing to police, and creates a civil path to hold institutions accountable for these safety failures.
What is the statute of limitations for wrongful death in Ohio?
In Ohio, the statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim is generally two years from the date of death under O.R.C. § 2125.02. However, other claims, such as those for personal injury or civil rights violations, may have different clocks. You must act quickly to preserve evidence.
What if my child “agreed” to the hazing activity?
Consent is rarely a valid defense in a hazing case. Ohio law recognizes the psychological coercion and power dynamics involved in these situations. Collin’s Law was created precisely because students cannot truly “consent” to dangerous and illegal activities mandated by a group.
How much does it cost to hire an Ohio hazing lawyer?
We work on a contingency fee basis. This means our fee is 33.33% if settled before trial or 40% if we go to trial. We don’t get paid unless we win your case. Our consultations are always free and confidential.
Can Resident Advisors (RAs) be held liable?
Yes. RAs are often considered agents or employees of the university. If an RA knew about the hazing and failed to report or intervene, the university can be held vicariously liable for their negligence.
How do we prove “conscious disregard” in a hazing case?
Evidence of conscious disregard often comes from the actions taken after an injury occurs. In Savanna’s case, carrying an unconscious person to a dorm room instead of calling an ambulance is a textbook example of a reckless failure to render aid.
Is a brain injury claim part of a hazing lawsuit?
If a student survives a hazing incident but suffers oxygen deprivation (anoxia) due to alcohol poisoning, they may have a catastrophic brain injury claim. This requires a life care plan to account for millions of dollars in future medical needs.
First 72 Hours: A Roadmap for Grieving Families
If you have just lost a loved one to a campus incident, here is what you must do to protect your rights:
- Demand Evidence Preservation: Tell the university in writing to preserve all video, keycard logs, and internal staff communications.
- Identify Witness Devices: If other students were present, their phones contain the “black box” data of the event. We move to subpoena this data before it is encrypted.
- Do Not Sign Anything: The university’s insurance carrier may offer to pay for the funeral in exchange for a signature on a “release.” Do not sign any document without a legal review.
- Seek a Personal Representative: A court must appoint a representative for the estate to bring a lawsuit. We handle this administrative process for our clients.
- Call 1-888-ATTY-911: We are available 24/7. Our live staff can help you begin the process of evidence preservation immediately.
The tragedy at Wilberforce University was not an accident—it was the result of a culture that prioritized tradition over a young woman’s life. We are here to make sure that the truth comes out and that the institution is held to the highest standard of the law.
Past results depend on the facts of each case and do not guarantee future outcomes. If you need immediate help, contact us today for a free consultation. We work for you, and we won’t stop until the people responsible for your loss are held accountable.
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