Legal News

Residents take UC Berkeley frats to court

By Richard Binder

Residents near UC Berkeley's southern edge filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in Alameda County Superior Court against dozens of fraternities, contending that they make life miserable for neighbors by encouraging underage drinking, littering sidewalks and streets, partying all night and shooting pellet guns at residents. The suit asks for unspecified monetary damages and an end to the noise and destruction.

Berkeley residents asked a judge to grant a temporary restraining order against the fraternities, but the judge said the group must wait for their day in court.

Attorneys for the fraternities said the national organizations that run the UC Berkeley chapters are serious about preventing the problems raised in the suit. Walnut Creek attorney Stephen Fowler, who is representing some of the fraternities, said it is unfair to blame the organizations for the behavior of several individuals.

Fraternity behavior has long been an issue for UC Berkeley, and Berkeley residents have a history of success turning to the courts to end problems raised by that behavior.

Full story here.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on January 21, 2010 (boomark / email).