I believe that a judge could declare the sale to be void if it is just to shelter the organization from having to pay a claim.

Most HQ buildings are owned by the organization's foundation anyhow. Usually the actual organziation leases them.

Could this lawsuit go after the Foundation as well? It's my understanding that foundations are usually a seperate entity from the GLO itself.

Some good questions. I would guess that the "Foundation" would be vulnerable since the entire fraternity benefits from it and donates to it. What might not be touched is chapter houses which are totally owned by separate housing corporations. If they're like many of ours, they get no money (except possibly loans repayable with interest) from the Fraternity and are stand-alone corporations registered with the state.

Of course that doesn't mean that the plaintiff couldn't name the housing corporation in the suit as well.

JD's, help us out here.

Sig Ep Lawsuit
 

The recent lawsuit filed in Mississippi seeking the "corporate death penalty" against Sigma Phi Epsilon has been settled. The terms will not be released but were described as "amicable".

Re: Sig Ep Lawsuit
 

It's still scary to see them use the death penalty as a bargaining chip. If the settlement was too heavy in favor of the plaintiff in this one (we may never know), it might become standard practice.

Re: Re: Sig Ep Lawsuit
 

I definately agree.

I cannot wait to hear the outcome!

These sue happy people are driving us all craqzy. I am not saying that there was not a problem with the death of any student of a Greek Organization.

But to try to drive a Greek Org. out of being is to much to beleive.:(

Please post as soon as anything s announced!!!

Lawsuit
 

As noted above the case was settled.

Before you indict these 'sue happy people' realize that the GLO's in many cases give them damned good reasons to sue.

If your child dies in a hazing incedent, damned right you're going to want to sue that organization (the chapter) out of existance. If killing its own members is the organization's contribution to society, it deserves to go.

If a national organization doesn't do everything it can to ensure that its chapters are safe for members and new members alike then I think it is neglecting its duty.

At what point does $$$$$$ instead of $$$ compensate for the loss of a child. No monetary figure can bring anyone back. If you want to make a difference then rally a cause to stop further incidents from happening again. Punishing an entire organization in which 99.9% of the members had nothing to do with such incident is not justified, it's vindictive.

I think hazing lawsuits would be one thing, and others involving 'wrongful deaths' involving alcohol are different.

While the person might have been under 21, I'm sure he knew he was under 21 and drank anyway... now unless that alcohol was forced down their throats, why should the chapter/national org. be held responsible if the person drank out of their own free will?

Maybe I just don't get it? :confused:

The allowed it to happen. In the case of the chapter, maybe even encouraged it -- or at least didn't stop it.

The chapter knew he was under 21 also, and still allowed him/her to break the law.

If the national organization allowed this to go on, I think they should be held accountable. The $$ not necissarily to bring retribution, more to punish the organization for wrongdoing.

For example, if ABC fraternity comes in and 'handles' a situation after hazing allegations have taken place and fails to adequately address the issue, then some pledge dies of alcohol poisoning during hell week... Well yes, we should hold the national organization responsible as well as the chapter.

ktsnake, what I am refering to as sue happy people is the amount of frivolus law suits that are being persued today, not that a death is not overwhelming to the parents.

I do no say that the National knew about the situation or did not know.

That is not for us to decide. But, this type of thing could end Greek Org. life as we know it, the Brother/Sisterhood of the % of members who are doing the Right things.

I know, I had never find out My Chapter ever did anything like this or I guarantee there would be HELL TO PAY! The Chapters that I have been in contact with have never talked about the subject even though I have mentioned things done by other Orgs.

I always love the ambicale decision was made. We still do not have any idea how bad the Fraternity was hurt.

For those who think that Greek Orgs have deep pockets, how little you know!!:confused:

Being one of the longest of longevity on GC I have seen a whole lot that makes me cringe at what has been done. But, I also know what has been done for the good and what has been done with My Brothers, Members of GC from all over the country and Orgs. This is what is all about and I hope that We an make sure the good will out!:cool:

Tom, I think the point of my post was that if organizations are proactive and just essentially smart, they can for the most part avoid taking on too much liability.

Sure anyone can sue for anything (and scarily enough, win sometimes). However, the huge awards initially granted are nearly always a fraction of what the party actually recieves due to Judges, etc. whittling it down to something reasonable.

It sucks that they actually pulled that one out as a bargaining chip. It would be even worse to see it again. I hope this is a wakeup call, but just as with any organization or individual in denial, I'm afraid it'll take something pretty cataclysmic to get people to change their behavior.