Family Files Suit After Daughter Has 'Catastrophic Injuries' in Fall They Blame on Sorority
Sarah Cox, a Northeastern University student, was at a party hosted by her sorority in 2023 when she allegedly fell out of a second-floor window
GoFundMe
Sarah CoxNortheastern University student Sarah Cox fell from the window of a second-floor apartment where her sorority Alpha Epsilon Phi was hosting a party in 2023, according to the complaint
The complaint accused the sorority and the building property manager of negligence
A GoFundMe fundraiser to pay for Cox's medical expenses has so far raised over $116,000
Parents are suing a Northeastern University sorority and a building property manager after their daughter was left with severe injuries following a fall from an apartment building window last year.
In a complaint filed in Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston on March 12 and reviewed by PEOPLE, the student, Sarah Cox, and her parents allege negligence and failure to warn against defendants Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority and Ramos Properties II.
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on March 31, 2023, at an apartment building in Boston managed by Ramos Properties II that the sorority used for its gatherings. At the time, Sarah Cox, a Northeastern junior, was a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi.
Cox was in a kitchen with her sorority sisters and friends at a sorority party at the apartment located on the second floor, per the complaint.
As the kitchen was crowded with party guests, Cox fell out of a window onto the driveway. "The distance from the window to the driveway was approximately 20 feet or more," added the complaint.
“Sarah has suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of the fall,” the complaint stated, which also added that there were 30 people in the apartment during the party.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Huntington News, an independent student newspaper at the university, reported that Cox has remained in a catatonic state since the fall and is currently in a pediatric nursing home, per court documents.
The complaint accused the Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority of negligence and failure to warn, stating that the sorority “had a duty to ensure that their members prevent dangerous conditions during Sorority related activities and events safe for those attending such events.”
It also asserts that the sorority should have known that its members “would use the Apartment to engage in drinking alcohol during Sorority related activities, including for Sorority related parties.”
Related: Gap Model's Mother Sues USC Fraternity Claiming 19-Year-Old Son Killed Himself After Being Hazed
Ramos Properties II was also accused of negligence and failure to warn in the complaint, which argues that the management company had “a duty to manage the Property to keep it safe for those lawfully within the apartments in it by keeping window screens securely installed in windows that are low enough for people to easily fall out of such windows."
The complaint also stated that Ramos Properties II “knew or should have known that a person could fall through such windows that are low enough for a person to easily fall out of such a window.”
Also named as defendants in the lawsuit were property manager Marcia Ramos of Ramos Properties II and Maggie Scales, who was the tenant of the apartment and served as the president of the sorority at the time.
PEOPLE contacted Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority, Northeastern University and an attorney representing Cox’s family for comments. PEOPLE also attempted to reach out to Ramos Properties II, but its listed phone number was not in service.
According to the complaint, Cox’s family is seeking a jury trial. Boston.com and NBC affiliate WBTS reported that Cox’s family is asking for over $10 million.
“As a result of the severity of her injuries, Sarah will continue to permanently rely on her parents,” the complaint stated.
“Batul Kazim and William Cox's lives are significantly restructured because they now have to provide care and support of every aspect of Sarah's life 24 hours per day and 7 days per week on a permanent basis,” the complaint added.
A GoFundMe was created by Cox’s brother, Syed Ali, to pay for her sister’s medical expenses. He wrote in the fundraiser description that Cox had wanted to become a doctor to help people and that she had returned from her third international medical mission trip before the incident.
PEOPLE contacted Ali for comment.
“She has a long road to recovery but we're praying she makes it through this and gets back on track towards her life goal of helping others,” Ali wrote.
As of Aug. 27, the fundraiser has generated over $116,000.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
