As the deadline to file a civil lawsuit approached, Jim and Evelyn Piazza put out a sweeping announcement on Friday that they are suing 28 former Beta Theta Pi brothers — this coming nearly two years after their son, Timothy Piazza, died during a hazing-fueled bid-acceptance night at the now-banned fraternity.

According to a press release issued by the law firm of Thomas Kline, the Piazza family's lawyer, the brothers have been named individual defendants in the wrongful death, negligence and conspiracy complaint.

The battery counts in the complaint, according to the release, relate to claims that several former brothers physically assaulted — through slapping and punching — Piazza while he was incapacitated.

According to the release, the complaint also alleges they “planned, orchestrated, organized, oversaw, participated in, facilitated, or directed the hazing of pledges, including Timothy Piazza.”

The same release detailed that the Piazzas have also signed an out-of-court settlement with Penn State over Piazza's death.

“This lawsuit filing, and announcement of our sweeping out-of-court settlement with the university, marks two milestone developments in this long and difficult journey of Jim and Evelyn Piazza as they fight for the full measure of justice – and permanent greek life reforms - in memory of their son following his preventable death," Kline said in the press release.

In February 2017, sophomore pledge Piazza fell down the fraternity's basement stairs and died from the injuries he sustained. Since then, numerous brothers have pleaded guilty in court, while others await trials in the upcoming months.

According to the release, Kline said the Piazzas' settlement with the university demonstrates their acknowledgement and endorsement of the steps the university has taken to reform greek life. The monetary terms of the settlement are confidential.

The settlement stipulates several criteria the university must take to ensure greek life reformation— including enhanced greek life accountability and safety, alcohol control, ensuring Beta Theta Pi expulsion and enhanced bystander efforts.

The agreement was also announced in a Penn State-issued press release, which formalized Penn State’s initiative to reform greek-letter organizations.

Since Piazza’s death, the school has seen a decrease in alcohol-related emergency room visits and reductions in alcohol-related crimes and noise violations in areas where fraternity houses are located, according to the release.

The university has also made a commitment to build upon the progress it has made in instituting reform measures in the greek community.

The agreement comes in the wake of Penn State’s announcement of the creation of the Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform.

In addition, in October, the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Bill was signed into Pennsylvania law. The law creates tiers for hazing and stipulates that universities and high schools must report all known instances of hazing. Penn State released its first hazing report on Jan. 15.

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