Oregon Court Rules Fraternity Can Be Sued by Rape Victim

The Oregon Court of Appeals has ruled that an Oregon State University fraternity can be held liable for failing to shield a rape victim from harm.

The Oregonian reported that the court ruled Wednesday that the woman can go forward with her lawsuit based on the argument that the local Phi Kappa Psi chapter did not go far enough to stop the attack despite a known pattern of sexual assaults by drunken fraternity members at colleges across the country.

The woman says Phi Kappa Psi allowed 19-year-old Gregory Sako to get drunk in his room before a 2008 party and return to the party with the woman when the party was over. Sako was found guilty in 2009.

Phi Kappa Psi says there are policies in place to stop underage members from drinking alcohol.