Sorority Student Who Suffered Serious Personal Injury Sues Fraternity for Prank
A Missouri State University student and sorority sister is suing a fraternity for a prank that led to serious personal injury to her eye.
Emma Rapp, a senior psychology major and Delta Zeta Epsilon sister, says in her personal injury lawsuit that, in September of 2011, members of the fraternity Phi Delta Theta were firing water balloons at the Delta Zeta house where members were having a meeting.
The frat brothers were using a “high-powered slingshot launcher” to launch the water balloons “at a high rate of speed.”
The women in the Zeta house asked the Theta students to stop launching the balloons, but the frat students did not stop.
“After the Phi Delta Theta members launched balloons for several minutes, Emma poked her head out the door, and stepped outside, to see if she could leave,” the documents said. It was then that a water balloon hit Emma in the eye, causing severe personal injury.
“Emma’s eye began bleeding and hemorrhaging,” the documents said. “Emma was in pain. Emma’s eye swelled shut. She suffered extensive swelling and confusion throughout her eye, hemorrhaging in her eye, fracture of her right orbital wall, and herniation of the orbital fat of her eye.” Since the incident, she suffers headaches, double vision, traumatic cataract, iridodialys, and mydriasis. She has dysfunction of her pupil, posterior capsule opacification, vision problems, loss of visual activity, physical change and disfigurement, light sensitivity, hyphema and corneal edema.
Because of the severity of her injury, Rapp will require continued future medical care and treatment. She seeks damages from Phi Delta Theta to make up for lost wages and her injury.
Personal Injury Lawsuit Is Not A Vendetta
Although Rapp issued the personal injury lawsuit against Phi Delta Theta, she does not seek to penalize the fraternity members who injured her, or the fraternity as a whole. According to her lawyer, the personal injury lawsuit was issued because Phi Delta Theta’s insurance provider refused to pay for Rapp’s injuries.
“What occurred was neglectful, but it is not a criminal matter and Emma seeks only to recover what she has lost,” said Steve Garner, Rapp’s lawyer. “Emma did not want to bring suit. She was hopeful that the fraternity’s insurance company would resolve the claim and everyone could move on with their lives … Unfortunately, the Phi Delt’s insurance carrier said they would not cover this loss. They offered nothing, despite recognizing that there was neglect that caused Emma’s injury and that Emma did nothing wrong.”
Garner also stated that the personal injury lawsuit was intended to prevent more injuries caused by the water balloon launcher.
“For years the consumer product safety commission has been sending out warnings about these water balloon launchers,” he said. “They launch the balloons at 50 mph and have killed people, gone through the sides of houses and as in this case, caused severe eye damage…Emma knows that the boys were not trying to hurt her, but like we were told by our mothers, “You are going to put someone’s eye out.’”
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Personal Injury Lawsuits
Although the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm are based in Columbia, SC, we are also licensed to practice in Georgia and New York. We handle a variety of personal injury cases including:
- automobile accidents,
- burn injuries,
- brain injuries,
- motorcycle accidents
- construction type accidents,
- defective products arising from medical devices,
- toys and childrens’ products,
- medical malpractice claims,
- nursing home neglect and abuse,
- slip and fall,
- wrongful death, as well as
- injuries sustained while working on the job.
If you or a loved one suffered serious personal injury, you may be entitled to compensation. The Strom Law Firm offers free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your personal injury lawsuit, so do not hesitate to contact us. 803.252.4800.
