The person who allegedly picked up Daniel Santulli from the couch in the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house when he was nearly dead, held him upside and dropped him on the floor has been identified and sued, according to Santulli’s lawyer.
“Initially, we didn't know his name was Harrison Reichman,” said David Bianchi, who is representing the Santulli family. “We could see what happened on the surveillance video but we didn't know the names of everyone and it took us a while to put names to people.”
Santulli was an 18-year-old University of Missouri student when he became incapacitated last year as a result of a fraternity incident.
As previously reported in the St. Louis Record, Santulli was allegedly forced to drink a bottle of vodka and his blood-alcohol level was more than six times the legal limit for driving.
“Criminal charges have now been filed,” Bianchi told the St. Louis Record. “There are felony charges against 10 fraternity members, one of whom is Reichman and there are misdemeanor charges filed by the prosecutor against one fraternity member. They've all got lawyers and those criminal cases are underway.”
The Santulli family has settled with 25 defendants. Reichman was sued in the Circuit Court of Boone County on Aug. 29.
"He attempted to carry Danny still while holding him by the ankles down a hallway towards an exit door," Bianchi wrote in the complaint. "At that time, Danny could not speak or communicate in any way and was in extreme distress. Adding insult to injury, as Reichman approached the exit door of the fraternity house, he dropped Danny on his head, which would not have happened if proper care and assistance had been rendered to Danny at that time."
Santulli survived the incident however he requires full-time care, according to Bianchi.
“There's been no improvement in Danny's condition,” he said. “Unfortunately, he is blind. He has massive brain damage. He cannot speak. He cannot communicate in any way. He cannot walk and he cannot care for himself. He is now at home, being taken care of by his mother and family. It's a grueling undertaking, but they're determined to do it personally.”
Prior to the incident, which was part of the fraternity's pledging process, Santulli had received a bill for $1,356.
"Since then, Phi Gamma Delta has sent late notices to Danny showing the unpaid amount and the interest that is accumulating on it," the complaint states.