Suspended Collegiate Fraternity to Sue University of Miami
ByA collegiate fraternity has sued the University of Miami, Ohio for a whopping amount of $10 million, claiming that the university officials acted with 'malice, hatred and ill will' when they imposed the suspension, reports Cincinnati Enquirer.
Phi Kappa Tau, a 106-year old collegiate fraternity filed the lawsuit Tuesday at U.S. District Court in Cincinnati and seeks $10 million in punitive damages.
The university suspended Phi Kappa Tau along with another fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, last week for the possession of marijuana and explosions. The Oxford police said the two fraternities shot fireworks at each other on Aug. 19 which led to the discovery of the cannabis and few pipes.
The lawsuit filed by the fraternity says that the university officials disregarded the constitutional rights by suspending the fraternity without providing them an opportunity to appeal despite the fact that police had not filed charges, reports AP.
But, the university defended its action as being taken in the 'best interest of student safety.' The university spokesperson Claire Wagner said the university had followed the written policy by suspending the fraternity and asking the sophomores to move back into on-campus housing.
"Any activity that so readily may cause harm to people or their homes, we have to be aware of and do our best to protect those students," Wagner said to AP.
The leaders of the Phi Kappa Tau chapter at Miami told the Enquirer that the suspension interferes with the fraternity's business operations and unfairly burdens student members.
But, the Chief Executive Officer of the national fraternity told AP that the incident did not involve entire 80-plus members of Miami chapter, hence those responsible for the incident will be held accountable. He also added that he shares the university's concern for students' safety.
Judge Susan Dlott has rejected the fraternity's request for a temporary restraining order that would have lifted the suspension. But, the law suit will proceed, Enquirer reports.
No criminal charges have been filed in the court pending the ongoing university investigation. As of now it could not be determined whether the other suspended fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon will be filing a suit too.