Victims of the January hit-and-run filed a lawsuit against former Cal Poly student Ishan Pandhare along with Cal Poly fraternity Kappa Sigma. The court documents claim that Kappa Sigma’s hazing activities are partly responsible for Pandhare’s alleged intoxication. 

The two Cal Poly students seriously injured during the collision, Zoey Archibald and Lilianne Burke, filed their lawsuit on July 10, about seven months after the incident which occurred on Jan. 8. Pandhare was arrested on Jan. 9 and is currently facing three felony criminal charges, to which he pleaded not guilty. 

Archibald and Burke are seeking monetary remedies through the civil lawsuit for their personal injuries.

They stated that they were left with serious physical injuries and emotional distress after the incident in the court documents. They were “shocked and traumatized by being treated as worthless and left potentially to die” following Pandhare’s actions. 

READ MORE: Witnesses recount hit and run that injured two Cal Poly sophomores

The court documents allege that on the day of the collision, Kappa Sigma hosted an event including alcohol that Pandhare attended, according to the court documents. Archibald and Burke alleged that encouraging alcohol consumption is a form of hazing, which means Kappa Sigma violated California’s hazing regulations. 

Other defendants named in the lawsuit include Cal Poly alum Aidan Jameson Kennedy and economics master’s student Kip Stackle. The court documents allege that Kennedy and Stackle are members of Kappa Sigma and provided alcohol to Pandhare, who was under age. 

The court documents allege that Kennedy owns the car Pandhare drove the night of the hit-and-run. They claim Kennedy knew or reasonably should have known of Pandhare’s intoxicated state when permitting him to use the car. 

The court documents additionally name Anna Grillo, a computer science senior, as a defendant. The documents allege that Grillo hosted a birthday party, which Pandhare attended before the incident. They allege that Grillo additionally provided alcohol to Pandhare before the incident occurred. 

Archibald and Burke are demanding a trial by jury. The first hearing is on Nov. 16. 

Editor’s Note: Mustang News originally kept the names of the victims concealed but has included them in this story due the public nature of the lawsuit. 

Editor’s Note: Mustang News is awaiting comment from Cal Poly Interfraternity Council and Kappa Sigma. We will update this story as we receive more information.

Riya Minglani is first-year journalism major. She covers local SLO politics and can be found attending bi-weekly city council meetings. She is driven by curisoity, education, and accountability.