PhiBetaSigma uses wood, ruptures kidney

[hoosier]

SIUE paddling victim files suit

STEVE HORRELL, Of the Intelligencer March 11, 2003

Phi Beta Sigma put on the spot
A man whose kidney was ruptured when members of a fraternity at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville allegedly paddled him, has filed a negligence lawsuit against the fraternity.

The paddling left 22-year-old Prentice L. Motley, of Decatur, in intensive care at a local hospital for several days.


On Monday, Motley filed the suit in Madison County Circuit Court against Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.


The incident occurred during March, April, and May of 2002. Afterward, Madison County State's Attorney Bill Haine filed hazing and perjury charges against Malike Perkins, 23 of East St. Louis; Frederick J. Spencer, 20 of Chicago; Richard Harris, 20 of Chicago; Doue Carter, 22 of Edwardsville; Deanthony A. Moore, 23, of the Cougar Village, SIUE; and Adedamola Oshin, 19, of Oak Park.


Perkins faces a jury trial next month before Circuit Judge Charles Romani. He was indicted by a Madison County grand jury in May on one count of felony hazing and two counts of misdemeanor hazing.


Greg Conroy, a spokesman for SIUE, declined to comment Monday about whether the university has taken disciplinary action against Phi Beta Sigma but said that hazing has always been prohibited by the university's student code of conduct.


The alleged hazing took place as Motley was pledging Phi Beta Sigma. Motley, a junior who is majoring in management information systems, is taking six semester hours of classes at the university and plans to carry a full load in the fall, Conroy said.


The suit alleges that the fraternity was negligent by:


• hazing Motley;


• physically assaulting and battering him during the process of accepting him into the fraternity;


• not properly supervising fraternity members during the pledge process; and


• not properly training its members in the proper methods of pledging.


The suit alleges that Motley suffered severe and permanent injuries, internally, externally, and emotionally.


The suit, filed by Collinsville attorney Steven C. Giacoletto, seeks in excess of $50,000.