On a spring night in 1991, a college prank turned tragic in Scranton’s Nay Aug Park. Two students from the University of Scranton were chased by Community Medical Center (CMC) security guards into the woods. In the darkness and confusion, they fell from a 75-foot cliff. One of them—Peter Graybar—lost his life. The other—Jerome Majeski Jr.—survived but sustained serious injuries that changed his life forever.
What followed wasn’t just a tragedy—it was a fight for answers.
A Complex Case with Life-Altering Consequences
The students had been attempting to remove a street sign as part of a prank when they encountered security guards from Community Medical Center. Instead of diffusing the situation, the guards pursued them into Nay Aug Park. The chase ended in a catastrophic fall from a cliffside path.
Hospital officials and security staff initially denied the existence of a chase. Reports were missing. Testimonies conflicted. Questions were raised about whether the guards had the authority to pursue the students into the park at all.
Attorney Neil O’Donnell, part of the legal team representing Jerome Majeski, helped shine a light on the truth. He questioned the lack of documentation, the guards’ coordination with the hospital’s PR department before speaking to police, and the absence of any sign that the students had tampered with vehicles or committed any serious crime.
“They were herding these kids like animals,” O’Donnell told the jury.
“Who runs 200 yards into a dark park without being chased? No one.”
Justice Delivered
In March 1997, nearly six years after the incident, a Lackawanna County jury found Community Medical Center and its guards 65% responsible for the death of Peter Graybar and the injuries to Jerome Majeski.
The verdict reflected not only the actions of the guards but the institutional failure to take responsibility in the wake of the tragedy.
A Firm That Fights for Families
At O’Donnell Law Offices, we understand that wrongful death cases are not just about compensation—they’re about accountability, truth, and justice. Families deserve answers. Survivors deserve support. And institutions must be held responsible when their failures lead to tragedy.
This case—rooted in our community, our streets, and our courts—remains a powerful example of why we do what we do.
If your family has suffered a tragic loss and you’re searching for answers, we’re here to help.
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