The parents of 19-year-old Texas A&M student Brianna Aguilera are seeking $1 million in damages against two Austin organizations for allegedly serving her alcohol in the hours before her death on Nov. 29, according to a lawsuit filed in Travis County District Court on Tuesday.
Aguilera, a political science sophomore, died outside of 21 Rio apartments after falling 17 stories, according to court documents. Police found her at approximately 1 a.m., according to a statement from the Austin Police Department. APD said the investigation is ongoing in a statement to the Texan.
APD ruled the death a suicide in a Dec. 4 press conference. Members of Aguilera’s family and their attorney, Tony Buzbee, have contested the finding over social media.
The suit alleges that Aguilera was served alcohol hours before falling at a tailgate hosted by the UT Latin Economics and Business Association in the parking lot of an Austin Blacks Rugby Club facility. The suit alleges that the alcohol contributed to Aguilera’s death and that the two groups were negligent in serving alcohol to an underage individual, according to court documents.
Neither organization responded to requests for comment.
“Brianna’s senseless death is the direct result of Defendants’ providing a minor with alcohol and overserving her to the point of extreme intoxication,” Buzbee wrote in the lawsuit.
According to HornsLink, UT Latin Economics and Business Association is a registered student organization in the McCombs School of Business. According to University rules, registered student organizations are considered “private entities and are not viewed as extensions of … the University.”
The University declined to comment.
