Lawsuit Alleges Hazing (Tulane Sigma Alpha Mu)

[exlurker]

A lawsuit has been filed alleging post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of alleged hazing by a Tulane fraternity:

http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=10001731

Excerpts from longer article ^:

Curtis Mertensmeyer, 21, of the Kansas City suburb of Mission Hills, Kan., filed a a federal lawsuit earlier this month . . . against Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and its chapter at Tulane . . . . Mertensmeyer was a student and fraternity pledge there last year.
Mertensmeyer pleaded guilty in November to involuntary manslaughter in the May 11 hit-and-run death of pedestrian Daniel Riemann, 25, of Lansing, Kan. Mertensmeyer admitted he had been drinking and was speeding. He received a five-year sentence in February, but the judge will consider probation after he serves 120 days.
The lawsuit . . . claims Mertensmeyer was hazed at Tulane two months before the incident and that he has developed post-traumatic stress disorder . . . .

Tulane spokesman Michael Strecker said the university has a zero-tolerance policy toward hazing and that the fraternity's Tulane chapter is facing a student conduct hearing for allegedly violating that policy, although he could not say if the allegations involved Mertensmeyer's case.

The lawsuit claims Mertensmeyer was left for hours in a dog crate with his hands and feet tied while fraternity members threw things at him, poured unknown liquids into the crate and abused him verbally.

When he was released . . . he went outside the chapter house with his hands and feet still tied, fell on the concrete and hurt himself, the lawsuit states. Fraternity members continued to threaten him, the suit says, adding that he was told that if he reported the hazing "the entire Greek system would be out to 'get him' on campus."

The result, the complaint maintains, was permanent emotional and mental damage.
"Because of the post traumatic stress syndrome, when faced with stressful situations, (he) fails to make decisions in an appropriate and thought-out manner," the lawsuit said.
The suit seeks undisclosed damages.

. . . Strecker said the local chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu was placed on temporary suspension shortly after university officials learned of hazing allegations against the fraternity on Jan. 15. While suspended, the fraternity can't hold events at the chapter house or off campus and any meetings must be supervised by a representative of the national organization.
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A separate bit of commentary on the allegations of hazing:

http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_sc...d-run-d-1.html


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And, for what it may be worth, a completely separate recent story from the Hullabaloo about Tulane fraternities:
http://thehullabaloo.com/?p=4834

[knight_shadow]

This is a load of crap. Post traumatic stress, my ass. I would really love to know what happened to personal responsibility.

For the lawyers on the board: The article says he's suing SAM at Tulane. Although the chapter is a separate entity, is it separate in the sense that it can be sued? I was under the impression that any legal action taken would have to be against the national organization or against individual members.

[msl2008]

knight shadow i'm surprised but we actually agree on something lol....

if he wins this case then i guess every fraternity member can use hazing as an excuse for crimes they commit lol

[exlurker]

Update: Hearing Board Clears Sigma Alpha Mu Chapter of Hazing and Alcohol Charges

http://thehullabaloo.com/?p=4979

Excerpt:
The Tulane Joint Hearing Board found the Sigma Gamma chapter of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity not responsible for four of five charges related to hazing allegations and alcohol violations at Monday’s hearing. The conduct board found the fraternity responsible for violating their interim suspension and not responsible for charges relating to hazing and alcohol violations. . . .

Certainly good news for the Tulane chapter.