Scheffel v. Oregon Beta Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity

Plaintiff brought a negligence action against defendants Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity (Phi Psi) and Phi Psi’s local chapter (Beta Chapter)1 at Oregon State University (OSU) after she was raped by Gregory Sako, a chapter member, during a Halloween party at the chapter’s fraternity house in Corvallis.2 Plaintiffs claim against the local chapter was based on theories of premises liability, “failure to control,” and negligence per se. She asserted a claim against Phi Psi on the theory that Phi Psi was vicariously liable as the chapter’s principal and, separately, that Phi Psi had negligently…