MORGANTOWN – A Maryland man blames a Morgantown fraternity for injuries he sustained at a party earlier this year.
Ryan Sweeney filed his complaint December 9 in Monongalia Circuit Court against Sigma Chi International Fraternity Inc and Sigma Chi House Corporation. Sweeney, whose was 19 at the time of the incident, is from Pittsville, Md.
According to the complaint, Sweeney attended a St. Patrick’s Day party March 2, 2024, hosted by the Sigma Chi fraternity house on High Street in Morgantown with his girlfriend. The party was open to the general public.
“During this party, excessive amounts of alcohol were served to numerous attendees, including some who were under the legal drinking age,” the complaint states. “Further, knowing that excessive amounts of alcohol were being served, defendants failed to provide adequate security at the party.”
Sweeney, who was under the legal drinking age, says he was served alcohol by agents or members of Sigma Chi. During the party, he says an altercation ensued because of the lack of security.
“Plaintiff was pushed from a high wall onto a sidewalk many feet below causing him to sustain personal injuries including but not limited to a fractured knee,” the complaint states. “Defendants are well aware of the illegal and dangerous activity that has taken place and continues to take place at the Sigma Chi fraternity house in Morgantown, West Virginia.”
Sigma Chi was suspended by West Virginia University in 2016 through 2018 because of multiple incidents.
“Rather than implement changes to meet the standards set by the university for officially recognized student organizations, Sigma Chi chose to disassociate itself from WVU,” the complaint states. “To this day, despite its tarnished history of parties ending in tragedy and serious injury, Sigma Chi, sanctioned by defendants, continues to rush new members and host parties on its premises.”
Sweeney says she suffered serious and permanent bodily injury, pain and suffering, medical procedures, medications and other medical expenses as well as loss of enjoyment of life. He accuses the defendants of negligence.
He seeks compensatory damages for past and future medical expenses, past and future pain and suffering, past and future loss of the ability to enjoy life, past and future emotional distress and mental anguish, past and future annoyance and inconvenience, court costs, court expenses, pre- and post-judgment interests and other relief.
Sweeney is being represented by Scott H. Kaminski of Ray Winton & Kelley in Charleston.
In 2018, Sigma Chi was one of five fraternities that disassociated itself from WVU to form an Independent Fraternity Council and was banned by WVU for 10 years.
“As president of West Virginia University, my first priority is always our students,” WVU President Gordon Gee said at the time. “I care deeply about every student on this campus.
“I am deeply concerned by the decision these chapters have made and can only hope that the chapter leadership has carefully considered the impact not being associated with the University will have on the chapter and its membership.”
The fraternities – Alpha Sigma Phi, Kappa Alpha Order, Phi Sigma Kappa, Sigma Chi and Theta Chi – have been unhappy with university regulations enacted over the last three years, primarily a ban on recruiting first semester freshmen.
Sigma Chi said WVU exercised bad faith and called the school’s review process “arbitrary and capricious.”
Monongalia Circuit Court case number 24-C-461