I don't really see the connection to the organization either, but then again, I know only what has been printed in the papers.

$15,000 in damages doesn't seem very high at all - anyone with more experience in these matters care to comment?

And if Delta Tau Delta had previous problems at the house, what would/should they have done in terms of closer supervision? I realize you can't prevent all idiotic behavior - but if there is a history of problems with behavior that could open the chapter up to liability issues I'd think SOMETHING - education, supervision, SOMETHING -could be done. I hate to see any GLO in a position of having to deal with this kind of problem.

Oh stop it. You're obviously a friend, or a friend of a friend, or maybe you're one of the jerks. I don't know who you are, but the only posts you've made on Greekchat are in THIS thread. Why would you be Googling the case, or the victim/perps, if you didn't know any of the parties involved? And then come on here, register, and defend the guys you don't know?

In a Florida tort action, the plaintiff does not pray for a sum certain. The plaintiff only pleads that she seeks more than $15,000, the jurisdicitional threshhold for the circuit courts.

Just for the sake of clarity, it appears to me that the suit is against the two members and the chapter, not the fraternity.

Let's remember that there's a difference that we, as members of Greek Letter Organizations, all should understand.

Right?

That's why I said Who will be called in to give depositions? The president of the chapter? Other officers? The voluntary chapter alumni advisors? Who will pay for the legal fees for all those people? If it is them, individually, then that is patently unfair, and just plain sux.

And, ultimately, if the chapter's "powers that be" decide to settle because it is just too damned expensive to fight a lawsuit, who will pay the judgement? Since this chapter is part of a national fraternity, I'm assuming that the liability insurance or umbrella policy is bought through their national headquarters, so regardless of whether the "national fraternity" is named, the payout will come from monies paid by the chapter to nationals for whatever insurance fund they have. This will cause the insurance rates for every chapter of this organization to be raised (possibly, depending on their carrier), thus, all are affected.

I may be totally wrong, and each individual chapter buys their own policies, but somehow I doubt that. Let me know if I'm wrong.

the answer that i can give you involves a criminal, rather than civil, case.
and i could be wrong but i think in general the system works somewhat the same.
yes, everyone was called in to have a conversation with at least one branch, if not more, of law enforcement. members of the house including officers of course, administrators from the school, chapter advisers, alumni, and national.
yes, it did suck. but it is part of our legal system.
violations of rm does not have to be part of our system. however judging from comments made elsewhere in rm, seems as if some just to not wish to understand and get that point. and thus we all will pay in one form or another at some time or another.