Last fall, in an action to enforce its anti-hazing policy, Omega Psi Phi expelled a number of its members who violated that policy.

The fraternity has initiated action in a Louisville, KY case in which a prospective member is suing the fraternity because of injuries sustained in an alleged hazing incident. The alleged hazing occurred during an unauthorized intake activity.

The plaintiff in the case alleges that he was participating in a new member intake program and that the fraternity members who committed the alleged hazing led him to believe that the actions were requirements for becoming a member of the fraternity.

During the court hearing it was learned that the participants misrepresented their actions to the prospective member, and that their group included persons who were not even members of the fraternity.

The fraternity recently received a favorable ruling from a Jefferson County (Louisville) court to add the persons who committed the alleged hazing as a third party in the suit. The court also ruled that the third parties could be liable for any sums awarded the plaintiff.

Omega Psi Phi also has filed a counter claim against the plaintiff, claiming he knowingly participated in the alleged hazing and then conspired with others to conceal from law enforcement officials and representatives of the fraternity the identities of those involved in the illegal hazing activity.

"We are taking this action to protect Omega Psi Phi from those who fraudulently use our name to commit illegal acts, "said Dr. Miller, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

We will not sit idly by and let Omega’s good name be tarnished and our long record of service and community leadership be diminished. We intend for this action to be a message to those who violate rules that they will pay a stiff penalty and be held accountable for their actions," Dr. Miller said.

Omega Psi Phi is an international civic and fraternal organization with members and chapters throughout the U.S., and in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

The fraternity has numerous community and social action programs, awards annual scholarships to high school and college students, endows chairs at historically clack colleges and universities, and participates with Habitat for Humanity in building houses for the economically disadvantaged.