Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity settles wrongful-death lawsuit

Jet, Feb 17, 1997

Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and members of its chapter at Southeast Missouri (Cape Girardeau) State University recently settled a wrongful-death lawsuit for $2.25 million.

Several members of the fraternity also were convicted of hazing, a misdemeanor at the time. This incident prompted the Missouri General Assembly to pass a law making it a felony.

Family members of Michael Davis, who was a 25-year old pledge at the school, filed the suit against the fraternity. Davis died of injuries from a hazing incident in 1994, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported.

Court documents said Davis and two other pledges were repeatedly slapped, hit, and bodyslammed. Davis lost consciousness and later died of a brain injury. An autopsy showed that he had broken ribs, a lacerated kidney and liver and bruises over his upper body, the paper said.