Ten Kappa Gamma Brothers Sue Gallaudet and Washington Post

Inside Higher Ed, a news website that focuses on higher education throughout the United States announced that ten “former students of Gallaudet University” are suing Gallaudet University and The Washington Post for alleged defamatory statements. Roberta Cordano, one of the defendants, previously shared an ASL message with the Gallaudet University community stating that the Kappa Gamma fraternity had become “the face of systemic racism in our community,” and The Washington Post picked up on the story, fueling its reach.

Four of the plaintiffs allege that because of the accusatory statements, they lost their jobs or were asked to resign because of their associations with Kappa Gamma. Six of the plaintiffs assert they were passed over for promotions or lost business opportunities due to what they say are defamatory statements by Cordano.

The plaintiffs and their claims are as follows:

Steven Florio – demand judgement against the defendants jointly and five million dollars

Patrick Costello – demand judgement against the defendants jointly and five million dollars

William Millios – demand judgement against the defendants jointly and three million dollars

Timothy Mallach – demand judgement against the defendants jointly and three million dollars

Scott Plummer – demand judgement against the defendants jointly and three million dollars

Roger Kraft – demand judgement against the defendants jointly and seventy-five thousand dollars

Joel Barish – demand judgement against the defendants jointly and three million dollars

Brandon R. Hill – demand judgement against the defendants jointly and one hundred fifty thousand dollars

James Beldon, Jr – demand judgement against the defendants jointly and four hundred thousand dollars

Ernest Willman – demand judgement against the defendants jointly and seventy-five thousand dollars

A sum of twenty-one million and seven hundred thousand dollars is being requested on top of the costs, disbursements and attorney fees incurred in the prosecution. For more information on this lawsuit, you can check the Inside Higher Ed article here (clickable link) and the official legal petition filed on June 6, 2021 here (clickable link).