Steagall
Steagall v. The Alpha Epsilon Pi Foundation CA2/3
Opinion
Opinion
BACKGROUND
I. Steagall attends a party at the Alpha Epsilon Fraternity
On March 28, 2015,1 Steagall was 18 years old and a high school senior. That night, he and friends were walking around UCLA’s fraternity row, looking for a party. On hearing music coming from the Alpha Epsilon fraternity house, Steagall and his friends asked if they could come in, and Gideon Wolder, who was hosting his birthday party, told them they could. Wolder was a fraternity member and on the fraternity’s judicial board. Alcohol was served at the party, and Steagall played beer-pong, consuming ten cups of beer and some vodka. At some point, a fight broke out. When Steagall stood to see what was happening, someone sucker punched him in the head, causing him to lose consciousness. The person continued to beat Steagall as he lay
1School was not in session, presumably because it was Spring Break.
2 on the floor.2 The next thing Steagall recalled was waking in the hospital. In 2019, Steagall sued the fraternity-related defendants, alleging, as relevant here, causes of action for negligence and premises liability.3 He alleged that the fraternity defendants failed to maintain the premises in a safe…