NORTHAMPTON — The mother of a University of Massachusetts Amherst student who died of a heroin overdose three years ago is suing the university.
Francesca Sinacori, of New Jersey, through her attorneys David Hoose and Luke Ryan, wrote in the complaint filed in Hampshire Superior Court Oct. 3 that the campus police department’s “confidential informant” program, of which her son, Eric, was a part, hindered her ability to become informed of her son’s illegal drug activity.
The 20-year-old’s father, who was visiting his son for parents weekend on Oct. 4, 2013, found him dead in his off-campus apartment, police said.
Listed as a defendant in the suit are UMass, an unidentified campus police officer and Jesse Carrillo — a former graduate student who has pleaded not guilty to providing Eric Sinacori with the lethal heroin. Carrillo, whose criminal case is still pending in Hampshire Superior Court, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and distributing heroin.
Francesca Sinacori is seeking $6 million — $5 million from the university, alleging that it breached contract when it failed to notify her of her son’s drug use. In addition, she is seeking $1 million from Carrillo.
Eric Sinacori agreed to participate in the now defunct confidential informant program in the fall of 2012 after he was allegedly caught selling LSD to an undercover officer and was in possession of a hypodermic needle. As an informant, he agreed to help campus police catch another dealer.
In exchange for his participation, police never filed charges or informed his parents of his drug use following his arrest.
UMass Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy suspended the informant program in 2014 after a Boston Globe story brought the program to the attention of the public.
Sinacori alleges in the complaint that her son’s specific violation of the student code of conduct should have meant parental notification.
“I think our client just came to a place in her life where she was ready to proceed with this action,” attorney Luke Ryan said. “I think it’s an important case … I think any time a young man, like our client’s son, loses his life, it’s a terrible tragedy.”
Ryan added:
“This lawsuit is based on an effort to hold people responsible for the thing that led to this tragedy.”
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.
