Huh?

Pi Kapp 142 · #1 05-21-2003, 11:56 PM

http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0305/21/m03.html
The news says Sigma Phi, but then names the Sigma Phi Epsilon Alumni Association. Also, the SigEp National website says that that school is their Mississippi Beta. And does anyone know how bad this could get? i.e. Anyone heard from their Nationals how likely this lawsuit is going to go to court?

DeltAlum · #2 05-22-2003, 12:20 AM

"In addition to Sigma Phi, the Mississippi Beta Sigma Phi Epsilon Alumni Association is named in the lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks the corporate death penalty, the total assets of the national fraternity."

OK brothers and sisters -- it's time to be blunt again.

This is damn scary! But it isn't a possibility that hasn't been brought up here before.

Heaven help us all if this "corporate death penalty" is really imposed. The TOTAL assets of the national fraternity.

That means it will be gone. Over. Kaput. Finished.

It doesn't matter that drinking isn't only a Greek problem. It didn't even happen on campus!

Those of you who fight dry or damp housing -- those of you who disagree with your fraternity or sorority "dry" policy -- those of you who say this is a right of passage -- ARE YOU LISTENING?

If the fraternity loses this suit, it is GONE!

God forbid that it will happen -- but it could.

Then, the next time there is a Greek related fatal accident, another fraternity could be gone. Before long the whole system is gone.

So, for those of you who think that all of us who have been concerned about Risk Management and all of the things that go with it are "crying wolf" -- read the article on the other end of the link above.

If Greek Life is going to survive, we have to save it!

The only way to do that is to moderate our activities and obey the law.

Shit!

I hope that some manner of sanity prevails in the courts, and this doesn't happen -- but it easily could.

What an ugly wake up call.

Kevin · #3 05-22-2003, 12:29 AM

The scary thing is, without national organizations, then Greeks will really be a different type of creature!

No national programming, no national dry initiatives and best of all no one looking over your shoulder that says hazing is bad!

The legal system could end up doing INjustice here. A few individuals will come out with large settlements, the lawyers will get their cuts..

Does anyone think fraternities and sororities will disappear from the face of the Earth? Nope. We'll just have new ones that can do basically what they want, a la Sigma Chi Omega.

Peaches-n-Cream · #4 05-22-2003, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Tabereaux of Brandon pleaded guilty to two counts of DUI homicide in 1998. Tabereaux was given a 10-year sentence, but then-Circuit Judge Robert Goza suspended about nine years, with Tabereaux having to spend six months in jail and six to eight months under house arrest or in a halfway house.

I find it profoundly disturbing that this grown man drove drunk killing two people and served only six months in prison. That is ridiculously lenient.

DeltAlum · #5 05-22-2003, 12:36 AM

I wish I could agree, Snake. But no organization will be able to afford liability insurance. The nationals barely can now.

The system would most likely die.

JerzeeBoy26 · #6 05-22-2003, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pi Kapp 142
http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0305/21/m03.html

Is this SigEp, or Sigma Phi? And does anyone know how bad this could get? i.e. Anyone heard from their Nationals how likely this lawsuit is going to go to court?

According to their national website, Mississippi State IS the Miss Beta chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. This lawsuit could have unbelievable consequences for SigEp

SAEalumnus · #7 05-22-2003, 01:12 AM

Holy Sh*t!

See this is why everyone is paying so damn much for insurance! If you ran in ins. company, would you want to write a policy for a group like that? Hell no! I don't know about the rest of your organizations, but I can tell you that in one recent fiscal year, SAE nationally paid on the order of three quarters of a million dollars ($750,000!!!) in insurance claims. Nearly all of them were likely to have been related to risk MISmanagement issues. As a response, the national office has closed over 30 chapters since 1990 (17 of those just since 2000) for just this reason. They've also created some seriously stiff penalties for chapters who do stupid isht like this. I could NOT imagine being the person responsible for the death of even a national fraternity that's been in existance for a century and a half, much less the death of another person! Who could live with themselves after that?!?

All of our respective organizaitons' founders are probably rolling in their graves over what some people are turning their dreams into!

Kevin · #8 05-22-2003, 02:58 AM

Many NPC sororities seem to have taken a much more proactive approach to this problem. It seems like their HQ's are always looking over their shoulder. I'm afraid that it will eventually come to that with us as well if insurance doesn't kill us first.

Sigma Nu has actually begun an interesting experiment. Our chapters have to turn in paperwork each year that proves we are participating in national programming. It also requires that we get a certain number of points by attaining specified goals (and providing documentation) in order to remain in good standing.

MoxieGrrl · #9 05-22-2003, 09:06 AM

Sororities have taken a very proactive stance in regards to drinking. We have tons of rules about social events, and it seems as if most sororities are serious about following them.

If fraternities are going to move to a more strict alcohol policy, then sororities need to make a conscious effort to help them. I don't know how many times I've seen or heard, "Well, we can't drink in our house, so let's go over to the guys' place!" If a woman was killed after drinking at a fraternity house or event, there is nothing to stop her family from pursuing this "corporate death penalty" or huge lawsuit against a fraternity.

Munchkin03 · #10 05-22-2003, 09:27 AM

I know there was a case similar to this, I hope this is the same one. A fraternity had a party, drunk driving on the part of members resulted in deaths, and everyone in the chapter EXCEPT the one guy who voted against having the party is being sued. Our national consultant told us all about it...does anyone else know anything?

33girl · #11 05-22-2003, 10:28 AM

Call me a cynic, but I think Sig Ep has enough $$$ to pay these families off if worst comes to worst. If not the fraternity itself, they also have lots of famous alums that would probably be willing to help the cause (check out the list on their site). Not to mention one of the alums of this chapter is a justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court.

They will tie this up in court for years, possibly decades (they also have enough $$$ to do that) and eventually the family will give in, withdraw their suit and take a settlement.

Sorry, I just don't see this as the immediate trauma that everyone else does. Maybe I watch too much Law & Order.

Although the a-hole driver should definitely be spending the rest of his life in prison instead of 6 months.

DeltAlum · #12 05-22-2003, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl
Call me a cynic, but I think Sig Ep has enough $$$ to pay these families off if worst comes to worst.

That may be one of the only hopes -- the families accepting an out of court settlement. If they don't, the alumni -- wealthy, famous, powerful or not -- will not be a factor.

The suit is for the "total assets" of the fraternity. That means everything -- probably even buildings they might own. Everything.

And, if these people even come close to winning, everyone in the future will try the same thing until some jury will probably make that kind of award.

Consider the tobacco company suit this week -- I think it was in Florida -- where a judge had to overturn a jury verdict that would have sent the company into bancrupcy.

I think we've got to take this one very seriously. There have been a lot of excellent points made above. I'm afraid this will have a profound effect on all of our organizations.

texas*princess · #13 05-22-2003, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum

The suit is for the "total assets" of the fraternity. That means everything -- probably even buildings they might own. Everything.

And, if these people even come close to winning, everyone in the future will try the same thing until some jury will probably make that kind of award.

Consider the tobacco company suit this week -- I think it was in Florida -- where a judge had to overturn a jury verdict that would have sent the company into bancrupcy.

I think we've got to take this one very seriously. There have been a lot of excellent points made above. I'm afraid this will have a profound effect on all of our organizations.

I definately agree that this is scary. People nowadays [and their lawyers] get way over their heads in lawsuits and it makes me sick. Like DeltAlum said, I believe this will definately have an effect on all our organizations and it makes me so mad that everyone suffers because of a couple of dumb people.

What happened at the chapter summer rush party was definately NOT OK, but I don't understand why they are going after the entire organization and alum. association?

The lawyer said there was "proof" that the national fraternity knew that the chapter was serving alcohol to minors as far back as years before.. my question is, how does he prove that?

I guess I am really naiive in thinking how things work at the inter/national level, but if a school or even the nationals knew about underage drinking, wouldn't they let the chapter know they were watching?

moe.ron · #14 05-22-2003, 11:28 AM

gawd, this is bad. I think the lawyer are using "entire asset" as a leverage when it come down to negotiating.

33girl · #15 05-22-2003, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Arya
I think the lawyer are using "entire asset" as a leverage when it come down to negotiating.

EXACTLY.