A student at Northeastern University, Sarah Cox, along with her parents, is taking legal action against a sorority, its chapter president, and a landlord after Cox sustained severe injuries from falling out of a window at a party. Cox, who was a junior at the university and a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, fell approximately 20 feet while at a crowded party in March 2023. The lawsuit filed states that Cox’s injuries are extensive, requiring constant care round-the-clock on a permanent basis, with the family seeking $10.2 million in damages, as reported by The Boston Globe.

The legal action, filed in a Massachusetts court in March, alleges negligence on the part of the defendants for failing to prevent the fall and subsequent injuries. The lawsuit claims that the landlord did not intervene to prevent overcrowding in the apartment, and the sorority’s chapter president should have been aware of the consumption of alcohol at the party, creating unsafe conditions, court documents reveal.

According to court papers, Sarah Cox experienced “catastrophic and permanent injuries” due to the defendants’ negligence, a consequence of breaching their duties. Legal representatives for both sides have not commented on the case, including James Kelly, the attorney for the Cox family, and the attorneys for the defendants.

The defendants are moving to have the lawsuit dismissed, with the case scheduled to appear in court next month. Defense lawyers argued in court filings that there is no clear evidence or disclosure from the Cox family about the circumstances leading to the fall, casting doubt on the negligence allegations.

The lawsuit notes that the sorority utilized the apartment as its sorority house, where Cox was a member. The lawsuit’s targets include both the national sorority and its chapter at Northeastern University.

A GoFundMe campaign initiated for Cox has amassed nearly $130,000 towards its $150,000 objective, assisting with medical bills and long-term rehabilitation. Cox’s brother, Syed Ali, who set up the fundraiser, mentioned in the campaign that Cox aspired to become a doctor and had recently returned from a medical mission trip aiding communities with limited medical access.

Ali expressed hope for Cox’s recovery, emphasizing her dedication to helping others and the challenges she faces on the road to rehabilitation and achieving her goal of serving those in need.