NORCOTT, J.
In this appeal, we consider whether a national fraternity and one of its local Connecticut Chapters may be held liable in common-law negligence for the death of one of its members, which occurred while driving back to New Haven after a fraternity event held in New York City. On appeal,
The record, viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, the plaintiff in the present case, reveals the following relevant facts and procedural history. Beginning in the fall of 2002, Grass began pledging to become a member of Phi Chapter, Yale University's local chapter of Delta National. During the pledging process, Grass and the other pledges learned the history and traditions of the fraternity and participated in activities that required the pledges to submit to the control and authority of the fraternity members, and which were intended to prove their dedication to the organization and to create bonds with the fraternity members and their fellow pledges. At the beginning of the spring, 2003 semester, the pledging process culminated in what the fraternity members referred to as "`Hell Week,'" a weeklong series of events designed to push the pledges to their "`breaking point.'" Included in these events were ongoing efforts by the fraternity members to keep the pledges awake every night during the week. Every year, Hell Week concluded with an off-campus "search and rescue mission," during which a fraternity member would be "captured" by the pledges while the remaining members would try to locate their captured comrade, after which the fraternity members and the pledges would spend the rest of the evening socializing.
According to Nicholas Sinatra, the president of Phi Chapter from 2002 to 2003, the pledges were supposed to take a train back to New Haven after the conclusion of the search and rescue event. At approximately 3:30 a.m. on January 17, 2003, however, as the event concluded, Sinatra directed that, rather than have all of the pledges take a train, the fraternity members who had driven to New York City should take as many pledges as would fit in the vehicles back with them to Yale University. Although there apparently was no formal assignment of which pledges would ride in which vehicles on the return trip to New Haven, Grass rode in a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Sean Fenton, a member who had volunteered to be a designated driver at the start of the event.
On the drive back to New Haven, a series of unfortunate circumstances combined to cause Fenton to crash the Tahoe. First, prior to the group's departure from New York City, it began snowing, and Interstate 95(I95), the route Fenton traveled back to New Haven, was only partially plowed where the collision occurred. In addition to the inclement weather, during construction being performed on I-95 prior to Fenton's accident, a light pole had been knocked down, and the overhead lighting in the area of the collision had become disabled. Then, at approximately 4:50 a.m. that morning, a tractor trailer crashed into the concrete median barrier separating the northbound and southbound lanes of the highway. When the tractor trailer came to rest after it crashed, it blocked a portion of the northbound travel lanes. Finally, although Fenton had abstained from drinking alcohol during the course of that evening,
Thus, shortly after 5 a.m. on January 17, 2003, the slick, dark road conditions and Fenton's reduced reaction time due to his fatigue combined to create a situation in which Fenton was unable to avoid colliding with the disabled tractor trailer, which was blocking his travel lane. Four of the eight occupants of Fenton's vehicle, including Grass, died from injuries sustained in that collision, and the four other occupants suffered serious injuries.
Following the collision, the plaintiff filed several claims against the named defendant, the commissioner of transportation, and the companies responsible for the construction site on the highway (contractor defendants), grounded primarily on the safety hazards at the construction site that precipitated the accidents. See footnote 2 of this opinion. The contractor defendants, as apportionment plaintiffs, then filed apportionment complaints against the
In response to the plaintiff's second amended complaint, the fraternity defendants denied that they were negligent, and by way of a special defense, claimed that the accident and the injuries complained of were the sole, direct, proximate and substantial result of the negligence of the contractor defendants. Subsequently, the fraternity defendants also moved to
Thereafter, the fraternity defendants again moved for summary judgment on both the apportionment complaint and the plaintiff's complaint, claiming that neither complaint sufficiently stated a claim for negligent entrustment and that the fraternity defendants did not have a duty to protect Grass from injuries inflicted by another person because there was no special relationship between the fraternity defendants and their members. Specifically, the fraternity defendants claimed that they owed no duty to Grass unless they had violated § 53-23a, and there was no evidence that the search and rescue mission constituted hazing or even that Grass was required to participate in that event. They also contended that any conduct by the fraternity defendants was not the proximate cause of Grass' injuries and that the fraternity defendants could not be held vicariously liable for any negligent conduct by Fenton.
In response, the apportionment plaintiffs and the plaintiff in the present case
The fraternity defendants, in response, argue that, in the absence of a violation of § 53-23a, they had no duty to protect Grass from injury because there was no special relationship to justify imposing such a duty, that the judgment of the trial court can be affirmed on the alternate ground that any actions by the fraternity defendants were not the proximate cause of Grass' injuries, and that the trial court improperly denied their motion to dismiss the second amended complaint for lack of jurisdiction. For the reasons set forth herein, we reverse the summary judgment rendered in favor of the fraternity defendants.
We begin by setting forth the applicable standard of review. "Summary judgment is a method of resolving litigation when pleadings, affidavits, and any other proof submitted show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.... The motion for summary judgment is designed to eliminate the delay and expense of litigating an issue when there is no real issue to be tried."
The plaintiff first argues that the trial court, Blawie, J., improperly determined that the fifth count of the second amended complaint was deficient because the court misconstrued that count. We agree that the trial court improperly interpreted the plaintiff's complaint as alleging a claim of negligence per se, on the basis of a violation of § 53-23a; see Gore v. People's Savings Bank, 235 Conn. 360, 376, 665 A.2d 1341 (1995) ("[n]egligence per se operates to engraft a particular legislative standard onto the general standard of care imposed by traditional tort law principles... [and if] the relevant statute or regulation has been violated ... the defendant was negligent as a matter of law" [internal quotation marks omitted]); rather than a claim sounding in common-law negligence.
"The interpretation of pleadings is always a question of law for the court.... Our review of the trial court's interpretation of the pleadings therefore is plenary." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Boone v. William W. Backus Hospital, 272 Conn. 551, 559, 864 A.2d 1 (2005). Furthermore, "we long have eschewed the notion that pleadings should be read in a hypertechnical manner. Rather, [t]he modern trend, which is followed in Connecticut, is to construe pleadings broadly and realistically, rather than narrowly and technically.... [T]he complaint must be read in its entirety in such a way as to give effect to the pleading with reference to the general theory upon which it proceeded, and do substantial justice between the parties.... Our reading of pleadings in a manner that advances substantial justice means that a pleading must be construed reasonably, to contain all that it fairly means, but carries with it the related proposition that it must not be contorted in such a way so as to strain the bounds of rational comprehension." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Broadnax v. New Haven, 270 Conn. 133, 173-74, 851 A.2d 1113 (2004). "Although essential allegations may not be supplied by conjecture or remote implication ... the complaint must be read in its entirety in such a way as to give effect to the pleading with reference to the general theory upon which it proceeded, and do substantial justice between the parties." (Citation omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Travelers Ins. Co. v. Namerow, 261 Conn. 784, 795, 807 A.2d 467 (2002). "As long as the pleadings provide sufficient notice of the facts claimed and the issues to be tried and do not surprise or prejudice the opposing party, we will not conclude that the complaint is insufficient to allow recovery." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id.
In the present case, the plaintiff clearly alleged a claim for common-law negligence in the fifth count of his second amended complaint rather than a claim founded on allegations of negligence per se. That count specifically included allegations that Phi Chapter "organized, sponsored, arranged, sanctioned and/or approved" the search and rescue mission from which Grass was returning when he was involved in the fatal crash; that, as part of the organization of the event, Phi Chapter "selected, appointed, mandated, chose and/or approved of an individual to drive some of the attendees back from New York City to New Haven"; and that the accident was
We next address the plaintiff's claim that Phi Chapter, independent of Delta National, owed Grass a general common-law duty to provide safe transportation for a mandatory fraternity event. The fraternity defendants, in response, argue that generally, there is no duty to act for the protection of others in the absence of a special relationship. They further claim that such a special relationship is generally established for fraternities only when they violate a state's statute that prohibits hazing, and the plaintiff did not allege such a violation in this case.
Because "[t]he essential elements of a cause of action in negligence are well established: duty; breach of that duty; causation; and actual injury"; RK Constructors, Inc. v. Fusco Corp., 231 Conn. 381, 384, 650 A.2d 153 (1994); and "[t]he existence of a duty of care is a prerequisite to a finding of negligence"; Gomes v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 258 Conn. 603, 614, 783 A.2d 462 (2001); in order to prevail, the plaintiff must demonstrate that he adequately alleged that the fraternity defendants owed Grass a duty of care. "The existence of a duty is a question of law and only if such a duty is found to exist does the trier of fact then determine whether the defendant [breached] that duty in the particular situation at hand.... If a court determines, as a matter of law, that a defendant owes no duty to a plaintiff, the plaintiff cannot recover in negligence from the defendant." (Citation omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. at 614-15, 783 A.2d 462. "Duty is a legal conclusion about relationships between individuals, made after the fact, and imperative to a negligence cause of action." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Lombard v. Edward J. Peters, Jr., P.C., 252 Conn. 623, 632, 749 A.2d 630 (2000). "We have stated that the test for the existence of a legal duty of care entails (1) a determination of whether an ordinary person in the defendant's position, knowing what the defendant knew or should have known, would anticipate that harm of the general nature of that suffered was likely to result, and (2) a determination, on the basis of a public policy analysis, of whether the defendant's responsibility for its negligent conduct should extend to the
"[T]here generally is no duty that obligates one party to aid or to protect another party.... One exception to this general rule arises when a definite relationship between the parties is of such a character that public policy justifies the imposition of a duty to aid or to protect another.... In delineating more precisely the parameters of this limited exception to the general rule, this court has concluded that, [in the absence of] a special relationship of custody or control, there is no duty to protect a third person...." (Citations omitted; emphasis in original; internal quotation marks omitted.) Murdock v. Croughwell, 268 Conn. 559, 566, 848 A.2d 363 (2004); see also 2 Restatement (Second), Torts § 314 (1965) ("[t]he fact that the actor realizes or should realize that action on his part is necessary for another's aid or protection does not of itself impose upon him a duty to take such action"); 2 Restatement (Second), supra, at § 314A (enumerating special relationships giving rise to duty to aid or protect, including "[o]ne who ... voluntarily takes the custody of another under circumstances such as to deprive the other of his normal opportunities for protection"); 2 Restatement (Second), supra, at § 315 ("[t]here is no duty so to control the conduct of a third person as to prevent him from causing physical harm to another unless... a special relation exists between the actor and the other which gives to the other a right to protection"). Importantly, the relationship between a fraternity and its members and pledges is not one recognized as imputing a duty to protect in all circumstances. Therefore, we conclude that in the absence of circumstances creating such a special relationship, Phi Chapter owed no general common-law duty to protect Grass, which would obligate the fraternity to provide him with safe transportation for fraternity events.
The plaintiff first argues, however, that the public policy of prohibiting hazing, as embodied in § 53-23a, supports the imposition of a general common-law duty of care in organizing and conducting fraternity events. We disagree. We acknowledge that the legislature has criminalized "any action which recklessly or intentionally endangers the health or safety of a person for the purpose of initiation, admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a student organization." General Statutes § 53-23a (a)(1). The public policy embodied in statutes prohibiting hazing has been described by other jurisdictions as "an understanding that youthful college students may be willing to submit to physical and psychological pain, ridicule and humiliation in exchange for social acceptance which comes with membership in a fraternity"; Morrison v. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, 738 So.2d 1105, 1115 (La.App.1999); and as designed to prevent "embarrassing or endangering our youth through thoughtless or meaningless activity." Haben v. Anderson, 232 Ill.App.3d 260, 265-66, 173 Ill.Dec. 681, 597 N.E.2d 655 (1992). Nevertheless, the public policy of prohibiting hazing, as embodied in § 53-23a, is inapplicable to the circumstances of the present
None of the activities that the plaintiff alleged as having caused Grass' injuries involved conduct that falls within the scope of hazing activity as defined by § 53-23a.
The plaintiff next argues that the public policy of encouraging participation in activities while promoting participant safety further supports the imposition of a duty on Phi Chapter given the circumstances of this case. We disagree.
First, the participation/safety inquiry is only one part of the test generally set forth for analyzing the public policy justifications for imposing a duty of care. We have stated that the four factors to be considered in determining the extent of any legal duty as matter of public policy include: "(1) the normal expectations of the participants in the activity under review; (2) the public policy of encouraging participation in the activity, while weighing the safety of the participants; (3) the avoidance of increased litigation; and (4)
Courts across the United States have determined that college students are adults capable of ensuring their own safety. See, e.g., Coghlan v. Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, 133 Idaho 388, 400, 987 P.2d 300 (1999) ("the modern American college is not an insurer of its students... [and] Idaho universities [do not] have the kind of special relationship creating a duty to aid or protect adult students from the risks associated with the students' own voluntary [acts]" [citation omitted; internal quotation marks omitted]); Beach v. University of Utah, 726 P.2d 413, 419
Therefore, we conclude that the simple policy objective of encouraging participation in activities while promoting the safety of the participants is insufficient to overcome the proposition that, generally, there is no duty to protect, or ensure the safety of, another individual. Imposing liability for negligent conduct in all circumstances, especially those that are unrelated to hazing induced injuries, would simply set the bar too high for fraternities — and potentially other voluntary associations as well. Cf. Jaworski v. Kiernan, supra, 241 Conn. at 409, 696 A.2d 332 (concluding that balance of tension between encouraging participation in recreational sports while promoting participant safety is best achieved by allowing actions only for reckless or intentional conduct, not negligent conduct).
The plaintiff also argues that Phi Chapter owed a duty of care to Grass because it gratuitously undertook to provide transportation, and, therefore assumed a duty to do so safely. The fraternity defendants, in response, argue that, because the search and rescue event was nothing more than an undertaking in which a group of young adults met to play a game and socialize, such a voluntary activity by consenting adults creates no affirmative duty on the part of Phi Chapter to ensure the participants' safety. We conclude that, although Phi Chapter had no affirmative duty to provide transportation in the first place, once it undertook to provide transportation to Grass, it assumed a duty to do so safely.
"One who gratuitously undertakes a service that he has no duty to perform must act with reasonable care in completing the task assumed." Coville v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., 57 Conn.App. 275, 282, 748 A.2d 875, cert. granted on other grounds, 253 Conn. 919, 755 A.2d 213 (2000) (appeal withdrawn March 30, 2001). "If one undertakes to perform an act and performs it negligently ... it makes no difference whether ... the act was performed gratuitously...." Zatkin v. Katz, 126 Conn. 445, 450, 11 A.2d 843 (1940). "One who undertakes, gratuitously or for consideration, to render services to another which he should recognize as necessary for the protection of the other's person or things, is subject to liability to the other for physical harm resulting from his failure to exercise reasonable care to perform his undertaking, if (a) his failure to exercise such care increases the risk of such harm, or (b) the harm is suffered because of the other's reliance upon the undertaking." 2 Restatement (Second), supra, at § 323; see also id., at § 323, comment (b), p. 123 ("[A] contract to render services, or a gratuitous offer to render them, or even merely giving them at the other's request, may carry with it a profession or representation of some skill and competence; and if the actor realizes or should realize that his competence and skill are subnormal, he must exercise reasonable care to inform the other. If he does not do so, he is
Although whether a party may voluntarily assume a duty to provide safe transportation, and under what circumstances, has not yet been addressed by this court, the Appellate Court has concluded that a driver may voluntarily assume a duty to provide safe transportation when he takes custody or control over his passenger. Coville v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., supra, 57 Conn.App. 275, 748 A.2d 875. In Coville, the defendant driver forced his girlfriend to ride home from a bar with him and refused to let her out of the car despite several attempts on her part to exit the vehicle. Id. at 277, 748 A.2d 875. The Appellate Court concluded that the jury should have been instructed regarding the driver's voluntary assumption of custody or control over his girlfriend, which would have imposed additional duties of care other than merely the traditional duty of care owed by a driver to his passenger.
Furthermore, other jurisdictions recognize that a party who voluntarily undertakes to provide transportation for others must do so safely. For example, in EMI Music Mexico, S.A. v. Rodriguez, 97 S.W.3d 847 (Tex.App.2003), the Texas Court of Appeals concluded that injured band members had stated a valid claim for negligence against the record company that undertook to transport the band by alleging that the record company had sent an allegedly reckless, unfit, and exhausted driver to pick up the band. The court noted: "Texas courts have recognized that a duty to use reasonable care may arise when a person undertakes to provide services to another, either gratuitously or for compensation.... One who owes no legal duty, but who gratuitously acts assumes a duty to act with reasonable care so as to prevent harm to that person or to others." (Citation omitted.) Id. at 858.
In Terrell v. LBJ Electronics, 188 Mich.App. 717, 470 N.W.2d 98 (1991), appeal denied, 439 Mich. 1008, 485 N.W.2d 493 (1992), the Court of Appeals of Michigan considered the voluntary assumption of a duty to transport an individual safely in the context of a Boy Scout leader volunteering to drive his troop home after a troop meeting. The court noted that, "[w]hen a person entrusts himself to the control and protection of another and, consequently, loses control to protect himself, the duty to protect is imposed upon the person in control because he is best able to provide a place of safety.... Moreover, when a person voluntarily assumes the performance of a duty, he is required to perform that duty carefully." (Citation omitted.) Id. at 720, 470 N.W.2d 98. The court concluded that the defendant's duty of care "primarily arose out of the relationship which was created when [the] defendant voluntarily assumed the duty of driving
In addition, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin has recognized the fact that one who gratuitously undertakes to drive an intoxicated individual home assumes a duty to do so safely, despite the fact that the driver may be immune from suit under other principles of Wisconsin law. See Stephenson v. Universal Metrics, Inc., 251 Wis.2d 171, 190-91, 641 N.W.2d 158 (2002). With regard to the assumption of a duty, the court noted that, "[a]lthough one may have no duty to perform an act, if he attempts to do something to another even although gratuitously he must exercise reasonable care.... [L]iability may be imposed on a person who has no duty to act when that person gratuitously undertakes to act, then acts negligently." (Citation omitted.) Id. at 190, 641 N.W.2d 158. Similarly, the Supreme Court of Tennessee has determined that "[d]esignated drivers offer a valuable, but limited service to those who become intoxicated ... [namely] a duty to exercise reasonable care in driving the vehicle and remaining sober while performing this service," but not a general duty to aid or protect. Downs ex rel. Downs v. Bush, 263 S.W.3d 812, 824 (Tenn.2008).
Finally, the Supreme Court of Minnesota, in determining that an employer who directed that an employee travel to various job sites via transportation provided by the employer assumed a duty to provide safe transportation, recognized that, "where [one] undertakes [a] duty he at once assumes the burden of the proper performance. So here the defendant, having undertaken to transport the deceased from place to place, undertook to transport him safely. [The defendant], not [the deceased], selected the manner of such transportation, and undertook to make such manner safe.... [I]t was the ... duty of the defendant to exercise due care to secure [the decedent's] safe transportation." Headline v. Great Northern Railway Co., 113 Minn. 74, 82, 128 N.W. 1115 (1910).
In the present case, as discussed in part I A of this opinion, as a starting point, Phi Chapter owed no general duty to Grass regarding his transportation to or from New York City for the search and rescue event. Indeed, Sinatra testified at his deposition that, prior to the event, no arrangements had been made for the return transportation of the pledges who would participate in that event and that he expected them to take the train back to New Haven at the conclusion of the event. Once the decision was made that Phi Chapter would be coordinating and providing transportation back from the event, however, Phi Chapter voluntarily assumed a duty to do so safely. At that point, it was reasonable for Grass to rely on the fact that Phi Chapter had determined that Fenton had remained sufficiently sober and alert so that he could safely drive the participants home. It also was reasonable to rely on Phi Chapter to take practical measures to ensure that those assigned to drive could do so safely.
Moreover, providing transportation to the pledges was a "[service] to another which [Phi Chapter] should [have] recognize[d]
We note, however, that whether Phi Chapter's actions in assigning or approving Fenton to drive Grass to New Haven at the conclusion of the final event of Hell Week were reasonable under the circumstances, or whether such actions constituted a breach of its duty of care, presents a question of fact for the jury. See e.g., Gomes v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., supra, 258 Conn. at 614, 783 A.2d 462 ("the trier of fact ... determine[s] whether the defendant [breached] that duty in the particular situation at hand" [internal quotation marks omitted]). Accordingly, we decline to express any opinion concerning the reasonableness of Phi Chapter's actions in assigning or approving Fenton as a driver, and conclude only that Phi Chapter voluntarily assumed a duty to provide reasonably safe transportation to Grass. Therefore, we conclude that the trial court improperly granted summary judgment in favor of Phi Chapter, and leave to the jury the determination of whether Phi Chapter breached its duty of care in assigning or approving Fenton as a driver for Grass.
We next address the plaintiff's argument that Delta National also may be held liable for Grass' injuries for inadequately supervising and controlling the actions of the Phi Chapter members because Delta National maintained a significant level of control over Phi Chapter. Delta National contends, in response, that it had no duty to protect Grass from the Phi Chapter members' actions because Delta National had very little interaction with Phi Chapter, and therefore was not in a position of control over Phi Chapter or the organization of the search and rescue event.
Although the question of whether a national fraternity may be held liable for an injury to a fraternity pledge is a matter of first impression for this court, both the Superior Court for the judicial district of Fairfield, and courts in other jurisdictions have conditioned liability on the level of control that the national fraternity exerts over the relevant local chapter. A sufficient level of control is necessary in order to impose liability on the national chapter because there generally is no duty that obligates a party to aid or protect another party absent a relationship of custody or control. See part I B of this opinion; see also Murdock v. Croughwell, supra, 268 Conn. at 566, 848 A.2d 363; 2 Restatement (Second), supra, at §§ 314, 314A, 315.
For example, In Morrison v. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, supra, 738 So.2d at 1118, the Court of Appeal of Louisiana determined that a national fraternity that was aware of prior hazing activities at a local chapter, and knew that the national
In contrast, in Pawlowski v. Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, Superior Court, judicial district of New Haven, Docket No. CV-03-0484661, 2010 WL 3326707 (July 28, 2010) (50 Conn. L. Rptr. 307), the trial court determined that a national fraternity owed no duty of care to a university student who was struck and killed by a motor vehicle while crossing the street after leaving a fraternity party because the national fraternity did not control the day-to-day activities of its local chapters, did not authorize or sponsor that party, and was unaware that alcohol would be served there. In rendering summary judgment for the national fraternity, the court stated that, "in the absence of control of the day-to-day activities of the local chapter, a national fraternity does not have the duty to supervise the activities of a local chapter in order to prevent harm to third parties." Id., at 308.
Ultimately, whether a national fraternity may be held liable for the actions of one of its local chapters depends both on its ability to exercise control over the local chapter as well as its knowledge either that risk management policies are not being followed or that the local chapter is engaging in inappropriate behavior. Compare Butler v. Gamma Nu Chapter of Sigma Chi, 314 S.C. 477, 482, 445 S.E.2d 468 (1994) (national fraternity owed duty to injured guest in fraternity house because local chapter retained members who national fraternity was aware had violent tendencies, failed to train members in appropriate conduct toward guests, and failed to provide supervisory personnel necessary to prevent violent occurrences in fraternity housing) with Coghlan v. Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, supra, 133 Idaho at 401, 987 P.2d 300 (evidence that national sorority had policy against underage drinking and exercised limited influence over local sorority members found insufficient to create affirmative duty to aid or protect new local member from injuries resulting from her voluntary intoxication) and Walker v. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity (Rho Chapter), 706 So.2d 525, 529 (La.App. 1997) (national fraternity with no notice of hazing activities and no authority to control day-to-day actions of local chapter did not have duty to protect new local member from hazing injuries despite providing local members with manual and training that prohibited hazing because national fraternity was unaware that policies against hazing were ineffective).
Delta National contends that it had very little interaction with Phi Chapter. Specifically, it claims that any funding provided to Phi Chapter was devoted almost entirely to improvements to the fraternity house on campus. Delta National also contends
These factual arguments notwithstanding, we conclude that the plaintiff presented evidence sufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact that Delta National was sufficiently involved with the activities of Phi Chapter to owe Grass a duty of care. For example, the plaintiff presented evidence that Delta National supported Phi Chapter financially by owning and funding improvements to Phi Chapter's fraternity house. Furthermore, he presented testimony that alcohol, available at the fraternity house for consumption by both pledges and members, was paid for out of the members' dues, and documented as an "official frat expense." In addition, the plaintiff presented evidence that Delta National was a member of national organizations that promulgate industry standards for risk management harm reduction in fraternal groups and, not only conducted training for Phi Chapter leadership regarding these policies, but also provided Phi Chapter members with policies and guidelines to regulate their conduct. These guidelines included regulations of alcohol use, hazing, and rush activities, which prohibited alcohol at any fraternity ritual, including Hell Week, and also prohibited the practice of "quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities carried on outside or inside the confines of the chapter house...." Indeed, the plaintiff also presented the affidavit of Norman Pollard, an expert witness for the plaintiff, indicating that Delta National knew or should have known that Phi Chapter was not following these policies.
This failure was particularly glaring given that Delta National maintained supervisory authority over Phi Chapter, with the ability to review Phi Chapter's policies, revoke its charter if it failed to follow Delta National's risk management policies, and to make recommendations regarding Phi Chapter's activities. Indeed, Sinatra testified that, following the January 17, 2003 accident, a Delta National representative recommended that, if Phi Chapter intended to continue conducting the search and rescue mission as part of the pledging activities, only public transportation should be utilized for future events. Phi Chapter subsequently changed the policy regarding transportation to the event, requiring that only public transportation be used. Cf. Smith v. Greenwich, 278 Conn. 428, 446, 899 A.2d 563 (2006) (subsequent remedial measures are relevant to issue of control); Hall v. Burns, 213 Conn. 446, 458, 569 A.2d 10 (1990) (same); Killian v. Logan, 115 Conn. 437, 439, 162 A. 30 (1932) (same).
On the basis of the evidence presented, we conclude that the plaintiff raised a genuine issue of material fact regarding the extent of Delta National's control over Phi Chapter's actions. Accordingly, we conclude that the determination of the level of control that Delta National exerted and the extent to which it was aware that Phi Chapter was not following Delta National's risk management policies is a question of fact that was inappropriate for resolution on summary judgment.
We now turn to the fraternity defendants' argument that the summary
On the record before us, we cannot conclude that the trial court would have been forced to rule in favor of the fraternity defendants regarding the proximate cause of Grass' injuries. Indeed, "[t]he issue of proximate causation is ordinarily a question of fact for the trier.... Conclusions of proximate cause are to be drawn by the jury and not by the court.... It becomes a conclusion of law only when the mind of a fair and reasonable man could reach only one conclusion; if there is room for a reasonable disagreement, the question is one to be determined by the trier as a matter of fact." (Citations omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Trzcinski v. Richey, 190 Conn. 285, 295, 460 A.2d 1269 (1983). Although this is not a case where the facts dictate that a jury must find that the fraternity defendants' acts were the sole proximate cause of Grass' injuries, it is also not a case where the fraternity defendants' actions "were so far removed from the actual occurrence producing the injury that they become mere incidents of the operating cause." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. at 296, 460 A.2d 1269. Ultimately, the issue of whether any acts of the fraternity defendants were the proximate cause of Grass' injuries is fundamentally one of fact and inference that would be inappropriate for resolution on summary judgment. See id.
Finally, because we reverse the trial court's summary judgment in favor of the fraternity defendants, we must address their argument that the trial court improperly denied their motion to dismiss the plaintiff's second amended complaint. The fraternity defendants argue that, because the plaintiff specifically stated that he did not believe that the fraternity defendants were in any way negligent in his original amended complaint, but included that claim solely for purposes of apportionment, the second amended complaint, which did allege a negligence claim, did not relate back to the original amended complaint. Accordingly, the fraternity defendants claim that the second amended complaint,
Before examining the pertinent allegations of the operative complaint, we note that this court has yet to determine the appropriate standard of review when determining whether amendments to a complaint relate back for purposes of a statute of limitations. We have noted that a few of our cases have indicated that an abuse of discretion standard applies, but the majority of cases simply compare the pleadings to determine whether the new allegations relate back to the operative complaint, suggesting de novo review. See Dimmock v. Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, Inc., 286 Conn. 789, 799-800, 945 A.2d 955 (2008). In the present case, we conclude that the fraternity defendants cannot prevail even under de novo review, and we, therefore, leave the determination of the applicable standard of review until another day. See id. at 800, 945 A.2d 955.
"Our relation back doctrine provides that an amendment relates back when the original complaint has given the party fair notice that a claim is being asserted stemming from a particular transaction or occurrence, thereby serving the objectives of our statute of limitations, namely, to protect parties from having to defend against stale claims." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Deming v. Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co., 279 Conn. 745, 775, 905 A.2d 623 (2006). To relate back to an earlier complaint, "the amendment must arise from a single group of facts." Keenan v. Yale New Haven Hospital, 167 Conn. 284, 285, 355 A.2d 253 (1974). In determining whether an amendment relates back to an earlier pleading, we "construe pleadings broadly and realistically, rather than narrowly and technically.... [T]he complaint must be read in its entirety in such a way as to give effect to the pleading with reference to the general theory upon which it proceeded, and do substantial justice between the parties.... Our reading of pleadings in a manner that advances substantial justice means that a pleading must be construed reasonably, to contain all that it fairly means, but carries with it the related proposition that it must not be contorted in such a way so as to strain the bounds of rational comprehension." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Broadnax v. New Haven, supra, 270 Conn. at 173-74, 851 A.2d 1113. Finally, in the cases in which we have determined that an amendment does not relate back to an earlier pleading, the amendment presented different issues or depended on different factual circumstances rather than merely amplifying or expanding upon previous allegations. See, e.g., Dimmock v. Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, Inc., supra, 286 Conn. at 808-809, 945 A.2d 955 (allegation of negligence related to failure to inform plaintiff of surgical options did not relate back to allegation of negligence related to failure to ensure sterile surgical environment and failure to diagnose and treat plaintiff's resulting infection); Alswanger v. Smego, 257 Conn. 58, 61, 776 A.2d 444 (2001) (allegation of lack of informed consent regarding resident's participation in surgery did not relate back to allegation that defendants had failed to disclose all material risks in connection with plaintiff's surgery, care and treatment).
In comparing the fifth count of the original amended complaint with that of the second amended complaint, we conclude that the second amended complaint clearly related back to the original amended complaint. The fifth count of the original amended complaint set forth the following allegations in relevant part: "1. The plaintiff... brings the cause of action alleged
The fraternity defendants' argument centers on the fact that the plaintiff stated, in the first paragraph of count five of the original amended complaint, that he did not believe that the fraternity defendants were in any way negligent. Essentially, the fraternity defendants argue that this statement negated any claim of negligence incorporated by reference to the apportionment complaint, and, therefore, that count five simply contained a claim for apportionment, which is not a valid claim. Accordingly, they argue that, because the original amended complaint contained no viable allegations of negligence, the second amended complaint, alleging a claim for negligence, could not relate back to the original amended complaint because that negligence claim was a new cause of action. We disagree.
Reading the original amended complaint "broadly and realistically, rather than narrowly and technically ... in such a way as to give effect to the pleading with reference to the general theory upon which it proceeded"; (internal quotation marks omitted) Broadnax v. New Haven, supra, 270 Conn. at 173-74, 851 A.2d 1113; it is clear that the plaintiff intended to incorporate the allegations of negligence against the defendants therein. The apportionment complaint, which the plaintiff wholly incorporated in count five of his original amended complaint by reference, clearly set forth allegations that the fraternity defendants negligently caused Grass' injuries. See footnote 6 of this opinion. Count five of the second amended complaint, while deleting the statement that the plaintiff did not believe that the fraternity defendants were in any way negligent, and including the specific allegations of negligence that the apportionment plaintiffs had set forth, also wholly incorporated the apportionment complaint by reference. The second amended complaint, therefore, "did not inject two different sets of circumstances and depend on different facts"; (internal quotation marks omitted) Alswanger v. Smego, supra, 257 Conn. at 66, 776 A.2d 444; which would preclude the second amended complaint from relating back to the original amended complaint. See id.
To the contrary, the allegations of negligence contained in both complaints are identical in that they both wholly incorporated by reference the negligence allegations made in the apportionment complaint. Therefore, the fraternity defendants were on notice, as of the
The judgment is reversed and the case is remanded with direction to deny the fraternity defendants' motion for summary judgment and for further proceedings according to law.
In this opinion PALMER, ZARELLA, McLACHLAN and HARPER, Js., concurred.
EVELEIGH, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I agree with parts I A, C, D, E, and II of the majority opinion. I also agree with the majority's decision to reverse the summary judgment rendered in favor of the defendants Delta Kappa Epsilon National Fraternity and its Delta Kappa Epsilon Phi Chapter (Phi Chapter)
I agree with both the factual and procedural history presented in the majority opinion. I, however, present the issue differently than does the majority. In my view, the issue is not whether Phi Chapter owed a general duty to protect Grass, which would obligate the fraternity to provide him with safe transportation to and from fraternity events. I agree that a fraternity or any voluntary association should not be obligated to provide safe transportation to and from events that may be sponsored by the association. Rather, I would frame the issue as follows: Did Phi Chapter owe a duty to provide Grass with safe transportation from the fraternity activity under the facts of this particular case, wherein Grass was required to attend a mandatory fraternity function whose purpose was to cause sleep deprivation as part of the fraternity initiation
Section 53-23a (a)(1)(B) defines hazing as "[r]equiring any activity that would subject the person to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation or extended isolation from social contact...." Further, § 53-23a (e) provides that "[t]his section shall not in any manner limit or exclude prosecution or punishment for any crime or any civil remedy."
As stated by the majority, the events that preceded the tragic accident were part of the pledging process referred to as "Hell Week, a weeklong series of events designed to push the pledges to their breaking point. Included in these events were ongoing efforts by the fraternity members to keep the pledges awake every night during the week. Every year, Hell Week concluded with an off-campus search and rescue mission, during which a fraternity member would be captured by the pledges while the remaining members would try to locate their captured comrade, after which the fraternity members and the pledges would spend the rest of the evening socializing. Phi Chapter officers arranged for the search and rescue event in which Grass and his fellow pledges were expected to participate to take place in New York City beginning on the night of January 16, 2003." (Internal quotation marks omitted.)
I disagree with the majority's conclusion that none of the activities at issue herein involved conduct that falls within the scope of hazing activity as defined by § 53-23a. I understand that there is no claim of an intentional or reckless act in this case and that the statute criminalizes reckless and intentional conduct. While I believe that analysis would be appropriate if there were a claim of a per se in violation of the statute, I do not think we can dismiss the fact that the statute may well establish a public policy against hazing that is applicable to the facts of this case. Specifically, the facts of the present case involve an activity that caused sleep deprivation in the context of a fraternity initiation process. I note that the prohibition contained in the statute regarding the definition of hazing proscribes "any action which recklessly or intentionally endangers the health or safety of a person for the purpose of initiation, admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a student organization." General Statutes § 53-23a (a)(1). It refers to "any action" instead of any person who recklessly or intentionally causes someone sleep deprivation. In my view, there can be no question that the events on the night of January 16, 2003, by Phi Chapter were designed to cause sleep deprivation as part of the fraternity admission process. As such, the ultimate result was to cause sleep deprivation. The labeling of the act as reckless or intentional may be important in any analysis of a claimed violation of the act in a criminal context.
Section 53-23a, however, demonstrates a public policy that any action that recklessly or intentionally causes sleep deprivation in a fraternity initiation setting constitutes hazing. It is a decision for the plaintiff and his attorney whether to ask the state to pursue criminal charges under the statute and to allege intentional or reckless action on the part of the fraternity defendants.
It is well settled that the existence of a duty under Connecticut law is determined from the particular factual circumstances that define the relationship between a plaintiff and a defendant in the context of the tortious conduct in question. "Duty is a legal conclusion about relationships between individuals, made after the fact...." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Murdock v. Croughwell, 268 Conn. 559, 566, 848 A.2d 363 (2004). "The nature of the duty, and the specific persons to whom it is owed, are determined by the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the individual." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Allen v. Cox, 285 Conn. 603, 609, 942 A.2d 296 (2008). "[T]he test for the existence of a legal duty of care entails (1) a determination of whether an ordinary person in the defendant's position, knowing what the defendant knew or should have known, would anticipate that harm of the general nature of that suffered was likely to result, and (2) a determination, on the basis of a public policy analysis, of whether the defendant's responsibility for its negligent conduct should extend to the particular consequences or particular plaintiff in the case." Murdock v. Croughwell, supra, at 566, 848 A.2d 363. Any consideration of the first prong of the test involves an inquiry as to "the measure of attenuation between [the defendant's] conduct, on the one hand, and the consequences to and the identity of the plaintiff, on the other hand." RK Constructors, Inc. v. Fusco Corp., 231 Conn. 381, 387, 650 A.2d 153 (1994); see also Monk v. Temple George Associates, LLC, 273 Conn. 108, 115, 869 A.2d 179 (2005) ("The ultimate test of the existence of the duty to use care is found in the foreseeability that
The operative complaint in this matter alleges, among other things, that the fraternity defendants: (1) failed to exercise reasonable care in selecting and approving Sean Fenton, a member of Phi Chapter, to drive attendees back from the fraternity event in New York City; (2) failed to act in a reasonably prudent manner to ensure the safe return of the individuals attending the event that was sponsored, arranged, sanctioned and/or approved by Phi Chapter; (3) failed to ensure that Fenton could safely operate the Chevrolet Tahoe used to transport the attendees and/or was not excessively fatigued; and (4) knew or should have known that Fenton was incapable of safely operating the Chevrolet Tahoe. In support of this claim, the plaintiff, in opposing the fraternity defendants' motion for summary judgment, submitted evidence, including expert testimony, describing: Fenton's sleep patterns and the resulting sleep deprivation caused by his participation in the fraternity events; Phi Chapter's responsibility for planning the event and designating drivers to transport participants; how Phi Chapter required Fenton as a driver; and how Phi Chapter required the event attendees to ride with Fenton in inclement weather. In my view, it is evident that an ordinary person in the fraternity defendants' position, knowing what they knew or should have known, would have anticipated that a car accident may have resulted from the circumstances existing at that time and should have anticipated that harm of the general nature that was suffered was likely to result. Therefore, I would conclude that the first prong of the test for a common-law duty has been satisfied.
The second prong to consider is whether judicial recognition of a legal duty would "be inconsistent with public policy." Monk v. Temple George Associates, LLC, supra, 273 Conn. at 116, 869 A.2d 179. We have listed four factors to be "considered in determining the extent of a legal duty as a matter of policy: (1) the normal expectations of the participants in the activity under review; (2) the public policy of encouraging participation in the activity, while weighing the safety of the participants; (3) the avoidance of increased litigation; and (4) the decisions of other jurisdictions." Murillo v. Seymour Ambulance Assn., Inc., 264 Conn. 474, 480, 823 A.2d 1202 (2003).
First, the normal expectations of the participants in the activity involved in the present case would be that the fraternity defendants would act in a manner to promote and protect the safety of the participants. The majority concludes that "because, in the absence of circumstances creating a special relationship between Phi Chapter and its members, Phi Chapter had no obligation to ensure the members' safety by providing any transportation to or from the search and rescue event, an expectation that Phi Chapter would provide safe transportation for the fraternity members, under the circumstances of the present case, is reasonable only because Phi Chapter voluntarily undertook to provide return transportation in the first place." See footnote 15 of the majority opinion. In my view, although I agree that Phi Chapter can be responsible because it voluntarily undertook to provide return transportation, the majority bootstraps its original conclusion that there was no obligation to provide safe transportation into a corollary rejection of the first prong, thereby negating
As I indicated previously, § 53-23a makes hazing illegal in Connecticut and imposes fines for conduct falling within the statute's scope. In my view, the majority takes a far too restrictive view of the public policy underlying the statute when it suggests that it is limited to those actions caused recklessly or intentionally. Although it may be necessary to prove one of these elements in order to support a violation of the statute, § 53-23a certainly is not intended to limit relief available to victims of hazing, or to provide the exclusive means of vindicating such claims. The statute expressly reflects the opposite intention: "This section shall not in any manner limit or exclude prosecution or punishment for any crime or any civil remedy." General Statutes § 53-23a (e). The majority notes that the statute "does not create a civil cause of action where one does not exist." See footnote 14 of the majority opinion. Although this may be true, my disagreement with the majority is that the cause of action may already exist, in these circumstances, under our common law. If so, § 53-23a does not prevent a civil action to be instituted for common-law negligence.
Indeed, in my view, it is counterintuitive to conclude that the legislature would make such a strong public policy statement against hazing in § 53-23a, yet limit that policy only to reckless or intentional actions. In my view, the more likely interpretation is that the legislature was proscribing only criminal conduct in the statute through the usage of the terms reckless and intentional. Its position against any hazing, however, is demonstrated by the fact that the statute "shall not in any manner limit or exclude prosecution or punishment for any crime or civil remedy." General Statutes § 53-23a (e). Does it make any sense that the legislature would proscribe hazing in the form of sleep deprivation for intentional or reckless activity, but suggest that hazing is not against public policy if it is only negligent conduct that causes the sleep deprivation? I do not wish to subscribe to such a construction of public policy.
Indeed, I note that, previously, we have taken an approach similar to the one I suggest herein. Specifically, in Craig v. Driscoll, 262 Conn. 312, 813 A.2d 1003 (2003), this court concluded that the Dram Shop Act, General Statutes § 30-102, did not provide the exclusive remedy against a seller for negligently furnishing alcoholic beverages because there was nothing in the language of the statute or in its legislative history to suggest that the legislature intended to occupy the field.
Second, the public policy of encouraging participation in the activity while protecting the safety of participants supports the public policy considerations for imposing a duty of care. I agree with the plaintiff that: "[t]here is nothing about fraternity life that justifies any special exemption from ordinary rules of conduct"; "[e]ncouraging young people to join social organizations makes policy sense if the organization engages in socially [acceptable] activities"; and "the activities have social utility, if at all, only when due care is exercised."
Third, any concern about increased litigation is misplaced. The majority notes that "the plaintiff's argument that imposing a duty under these circumstances will not increase litigation because the duty here is simply an application of `age-old common-law principles' that `a social organization that has undertaken the responsibility for organizing, arranging and conducting an off-site social event' ... has a duty to do so safely, actually highlights the fact that imposing a general duty of care for the safety of fraternity members in all fraternity activities certainly might increase litigation not only for injuries sustained in connection with all fraternity events, but also with members of all manner of voluntary associations. Indeed, if a voluntary association such as a fraternity has a general duty of care regarding the safety of the participants in all events, even those not designed to haze any of the participants, one could imagine that organizing and conducting any event on a wintry evening might lead to liability
Fourth, the majority attempts to distinguish the cases cited by the plaintiff by stating that they "are inapposite because they all strictly involve injuries arising from hazing activities." See footnote 15 of the majority opinion. Herein lies the crux of our disagreement. In my view, the injuries alleged in this case were the direct result of hazing activities, i.e., sleep derivation. Numerous cases from our sister states support the imposition of a duty in similar situations. In Haben v. Anderson, 232 Ill.App.3d 260, 266, 173 Ill.Dec. 681, 597 N.E.2d 655 (1992), the Appellate Court of Illinois held that a sports club had a duty of care arising from alleged hazing activities that "had been conducted by the [c]lub members for a number of years and had become a `tradition of, and a de facto requirement for, membership in the [c]lub,' and that the pressure to consume dangerous quantities of alcohol created a hazardous condition threatening the initiate's physical welfare." The court in Haben found a common-law duty had been violated, concluding that the harm to the plaintiff was foreseeable based on the history of hazing in the club and that "recognizing a cause of action in such a situation is consistent with the policy against embarrassing or endangering our youth through thoughtless or meaningless activity" as embodied by that state's statute banning hazing. Id. at 265-66, 173 Ill.Dec. 681, 597 N.E.2d 655. The Illinois hazing statute, 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. § 120/5 (West 2010), defines hazing as follows: "A person commits hazing who knowingly requires the performance of any act by a student or other person in a school, college, university, or other educational institution of this [s]tate, for the purpose of induction or admission into any group, organization, or society associated or connected with that institution if: (a) the act is not sanctioned or authorized by that educational institution; and (b) the act results in bodily harm to any person."
Similarly, the Missouri Court of Appeals also concluded that the plaintiffs in a wrongful death action arising from initiation activities stated a cause of action under a common-law negligence theory. See Nisbet v. Bucher, 949 S.W.2d 111, 117 (Mo.App.1997). In doing so, the court relied on the state's statute prohibiting hazing that "evinces a public policy" and is "the legislature's ... [indication of] a social policy against embarrassing or endangering our youth through thoughtless and meaningless activity." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. The Missouri statute, 1994 Mo. Laws § 578.360(2) (West 2011),
"(a) Any activity which recklessly endangers the physical health or safety of the student or prospective member, including but not limited to physical brutality, whipping, beating, branding, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance or forced smoking or chewing of tobacco products; or
"(b) Any activity which recklessly endangers the mental health of the student or prospective member, including but not limited to sleep deprivation, physical confinement, or other extreme stress-inducing activity; or
"(c) Any activity that requires the student or prospective member to perform a duty or task which involves a violation of the criminal laws of this state or any political subdivision in this state." Thus, the Missouri Court of Appeals found that a public policy existed against hazing supporting a common-law negligence action, even though the policy was based upon a criminal statute that required a wilful or reckless act.
Further, in Oja v. Grand Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity Inc., 174 Misc.2d 966, 968-69, 667 N.Y.S.2d 650 (1997), a New York Superior Court stated that hazing "assumes a degree of willingness by college youths to be bullied and humiliated in exchange for the social acceptance which comes with membership in a circle which, to the puerile, may seem alluring and even exalted.... [Pledges] however unwisely, trade their insecurities and free will for the promise of acceptance, and prestige, that fraternity membership appears to confer. A jury might find that the stoic acceptance of pain and discomfort by a pledge, as the price of admission to the fraternal mysteries, is not truly voluntary." (Citation omitted.) The New York statute prohibiting hazing, N.Y. Penal Law § 120.16 (McKinney 2009) provides: "A person is guilty of hazing in the first degree when, in the course of another person's initiation into or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person and thereby causes such injury. Hazing in the first degree is a class A misdemeanor." N.Y. Penal Law § 120.17 (McKinney 2009) provides that "[a] person is guilty of hazing in the second degree when, in the course of another person's initiation or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person. Hazing in the second degree is a violation." Thus, New York, because of public policy concerns underlying hazing, recognizes that, at least, questions of fact regarding responsibility and duty are appropriately left for the jury. The majority states that these cases from our sister jurisdictions are irrelevant because, in its view, this case involves safe transportation and not hazing. In my view, this case does involve hazing and the cases cited previously are directly on point.
Therefore, I would conclude that all of the public policy considerations support
Therefore, I respectfully dissent with respect to part I B of the majority opinion. I concur in all other aspects of the opinion.
Second, although the dissent argues that "[h]azing did, in fact, occur because sleep deprivation was involved," Fenton's sleep deprivation was not the result of him being hazed. Indeed, there is evidence that Fenton was involved in the sleep deprivation activities on two particular days earlier in Hell Week, but not as the subject of hazing. Furthermore, the evidence indicates that Fenton, who already was a member of Phi Chapter, was not required to participate in any of the Hell Week events, including those that caused sleep deprivation in the pledges, which would take him out of the ambit of § 53-23a. In fact, when asked what Fenton's job was during Hell Week, Sinatra testified that Fenton "[did not] have a specific role. He was just there to be involved in activities and to hang out with friends." Therefore, the statutory prohibition of sleep deprivation as a requirement of admission to or continued membership in a fraternity embodied in § 53-23a (a)(1)(B) does not apply to Fenton's voluntary participation in some of the Hell Week activities wherein he may have deprived the pledges of sleep.
Finally, in his brief to this court, the plaintiff painted a vivid picture by including an extensive discussion of pervasive underage drinking and hazing activities that occurred during the week leading up to January 16, 2003. It is important to note, however, that he did not allege, in his second amended complaint, that any of those activities caused, or even contributed to, Grass' death. Indeed, the plaintiff's complaint limits his negligence claim to the fraternity defendants' failure to ensure that Grass had safe transportation back to New Haven at the conclusion of the fraternity social event. In this context, how Fenton became sleep deprived is irrelevant to the disposition of the plaintiff's claims except to the extent that the fraternity defendants knew or reasonably should have known of his sleep deprived state when they assigned or approved him as a driver for Grass. Indeed, the issues we must resolve in the present case would be the same had Fenton been sleep deprived because he had worked through the night to complete his school work on several occasions during the week leading up to January 16, 2003, rather than staying awake to haze the incoming pledges. Given the facts of the present case, however, we need not decide whether Phi Chapter would owe a common-law duty supported by the public policy embodied in § 53-23a had Fenton been an unsafe driver because he had been the subject of hazing, and was therefore sleep deprived. The only question that we must answer is whether Phi Chapter knew or should have known that Fenton was an unsafe driver because he lacked adequate sleep — for whatever reason — when they assigned or approved him as a driver for Grass.
Because there were no allegations that the purpose of the search and rescue event was to haze the fraternity pledges, that Grass' injuries were caused by hazing activity, or that Fenton's sleep deprivation was the result of his being hazed, none of the conduct we must consider to determine whether Delta National owed a general common-law duty of care to Grass falls within the scope of hazing activity prohibited by § 53-23a, and, accordingly, that statute does not provide a sufficient public policy basis to impose upon Delta National a general duty to protect Grass.
Furthermore, the plaintiff's argument that imposing a duty under these circumstances will not increase litigation because the duty here is simply an application of "age-old common-law principles" that "a social organization that has undertaken the responsibility for organizing, arranging and conducting an off-site social event"; (emphasis added); has a duty to do so safely, actually highlights the fact that imposing a general duty of care for the safety of fraternity members in all fraternity activities certainly might increase litigation not only for injuries sustained in connection with all fraternity events, but also with members of all manner of voluntary associations. Indeed, if a voluntary association such as a fraternity has a general duty of care regarding the safety of the participants in all events, even those not designed to haze any of the participants, one could imagine that organizing and conducting any event on a wintry evening might lead to liability should participants encounter hazardous road conditions on the way to or from such an event. Moreover, imposing such a general duty upon the fraternity under the circumstances of the present case, where there are no allegations that the purpose of the event was to haze the participants, and no allegations that the injuries were caused by hazing, could also open up avenues of litigation for members of other voluntary associations who are injured while traveling to and from, or participating in, any variety of association events.
Finally, the cases that the plaintiff cites to support this claim that other jurisdictions would recognize a duty under these circumstances are inapposite because they all strictly involve injuries arising from hazing activities. See, e.g., Haben v. Anderson, supra, 232 Ill. App.3d at 263, 173 Ill.Dec. 681, 597 N.E.2d 655 (hazing practice of requiring consumption of dangerous amounts of alcohol was contrary to public policy against activities that embarrass or endanger youth embodied in statute prohibiting hazing); Nisbet v. Bucher, 949 S.W.2d 111, 117 (Mo.App.1997) (state's anti-hazing statute evinced public policy against embarrassing or endangering conduct); Oja v. Grand Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc., 174 Misc.2d 966, 969, 667 N.Y.S.2d 650 (1997) (hazing at least raises questions regarding duty of fraternity). Given that the conduct we must analyze in the present case is providing transportation — not hazing — these decisions from other jurisdictions do not support the imposition of a duty in this case.
