UVA Phi Kappa Psi sues the Rolling Stone for $25 million

[Sciencewoman]

This was announced on the Today Show this morning. Here's a link to the Washington Post article. It looks like this is the 3rd lawsuit filed, but the other two were filed by individuals.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...rolling-stone/

[DubaiSis]

I saw this too. If nothing else, this gets their innocence out there which would otherwise go unstated. Bad news travels like wild fire. Good news withers on the vine.

I hope these guys know to be absolute undeniable gentleman since the first whiff of inappropriate behavior will land them back in the hot seat.

[Kevin]

Excellent. Glad to see this. Only when we start winning lawsuits will college administrators start to realize that our organizations and members have rights too.

[pinksequins]

I have only skimmed the news at this point, but has the reporter been sued in her individual capacity by any of the plaintiffs?

[33girl]

That would probably be like trying to get blood from a turnip. I can't imagine that she is getting (or will get) any paid writing gigs.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by pinksequins

I have only skimmed the news at this point, but has the reporter been sued in her individual capacity by any of the plaintiffs?

Reporters and media companies have insurance for this sort of thing. I'm not sure about the university administrator though. Having sued one recently, all I can say is that University General Counsel was the only legal entity we dealt with.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Reporters and media companies have insurance for this sort of thing. I'm not sure about the university administrator though. Having sued one recently, all I can say is that University General Counsel was the only legal entity we dealt with.

I wonder if the University administrator is covered under a Directors and Officers liability policy. If so, the defense costs are included within their limits (unlike a General Liability policy where defense costs are in addition to the limit), and the policy is much more limited in what it covers (e.g. no explicit duty to defend the insured, excludes bodily injury and property damage, etc.).

ETA: I just re-read the article. Is there a university admin. who is being sued by the fraternity? It looks like there's one who's suing Rolling Stone...

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

ETA: I just re-read the article. Is there a university admin. who is being sued by the fraternity? It looks like there's one who's suing Rolling Stone...

The complaint does not name anyone connected with the university as a defendant. The defendants are Rolling Stone LLC, its sole shareholder Wenner Media LLC, Wenner Media's sole shareholder Straight Arrow Publications LLC, and the author.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

The complaint does not name anyone connected with the university as a defendant. The defendants are Rolling Stone LLC, its sole shareholder Wenner Media LLC, Wenner Media's sole shareholder Straight Arrow Publications LLC, and the author.

I wonder if there was a strategic reason for not suing the university or any administrators, or if they simply didn't feel as good about potential claims against it.

[pinksequins]

She may well be judgment-proof, but the action would not be about damages as much as accountability. Just going through litigation can be painful.

[pinksequins]

I just want the reporter to have to tell the truth to a third party, even if it is her defense counsel. Of course, that doesn't mean she'll be forthright then, but she will have to replay the scenario time and again mentally.

[Kevin]

What makes you think she'd tell her attorney the truth? To think people tell their lawyers the truth is pretty naive stuff

[pinksequins]

h, I agree, Kevin, hence my second sentence on not being forthright. I just would hope she would go through some protracted discomfort with litigation.

[pinksequins]

I also don't anticipate any form of genuine apology (for a host of reasons), so the best remedy at this point is a bit retributive in making her go through a long process and wondering when it will end.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by pinksequins

I also don't anticipate any form of genuine apology (for a host of reasons), so the best remedy at this point is a bit retributive in making her go through a long process and wondering when it will end.

Well, I'm guessing she now spends her days asking whether folks want to upgrade that drink to a Venti rather than acting as a professional writer, so there's that. Even the folks who still maintain that "something happened" here (despite having zero evidence to support that) have ceased defending the author.