Court issues opinion in Bailey case

Gordie’s mother fails to receive more compensation for son’s death

Gordie Bailey’s mother will not be receiving the compensation she desired for her son’s death.

The Colorado Supreme Court issued an opinion Jan. 22 in the case of the 2004 death of CU freshman Lynn Gordon “Gordie” Bailey.

Bailey died as a result of excessive drinking during his initiation into the Chi Psi Fraternity – an event prompting new university policies including in-house advisors and spring formal recruitment. The fraternities chose to disassociate from the university, rather than adhere to the new rules.

In the opinion, Justice Allison Eid discharged the court’s rule to show cause. The court issued the rule to show cause in response to Leslie Lanahan’s filing of a Rule 21 petition seeking further recovery of noneconomic damages in the death of her son.

The Colorado Wrongful Death Act states the maximum recovery of noneconomic damages Lanahan could have received is capped at $250,000. Lanahan’s petition aimed to increase the recoverable amount of money so that it would be based on a per-defendant basis rather than on a per-claim basis.

There are eight defendants including Chi Psi Fraternity in the case.

Visit the Supreme Court’s Web site to view the court’s opinion.

Stay with the Campus Press for more information.

Contact Assistant News Editor Katherine Spencer at [email protected]