Parents reach $2 million settlement with fraternity over hazing death

DALLAS - The parents of a University of Texas student who died of alcohol poisoning have reached a $2 million settlement with a fraternity and 11 of its members.

Jack and Judith Ivey of Plano alleged that Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity members tricked their son, Jack Ivey Jr., 23, into drinking too much, stripped him down to his underwear and tied him up before driving him around in back of a truck on the night of his death in 1998.

The Iveys filed the lawsuit in April 1999 against the fraternity's national offices, the University of Texas Austin chapter and 16 members. A lawsuit still is pending against five other fraternity members.

The settlement was reached last month, said Jerry White, an attorney for the Iveys.

Robert Miller, the executive vice president of the fraternity's national offices, referred all calls for comment to attorney Jim Ewbank. Ewbank was out of the state and did not return phone calls.