Paralyzed Woman Sues Over Fall At UI State Board, Greek Houses Blamed For Intoxication That Led To Accident

A former sorority pledge paralyzed by a fall after rush week activities has sued the University of Idaho, state Board of Education and Greek organizations.

Rejena Coghlan, 20, and four family members filed suit Friday in 4th District Court in Boise. The complaint comes almost exactly two years after the accident involving the Spokane freshman.

Coghlan, then 18, was served alcohol at two fraternities during parties, and later fell from a fire escape at the Alpha Phi sorority house, school officials said.

“Plaintiff Rejena Coghlan prior to Aug. 19, 1993, was a vivacious, happy 18-year-old who was energetic and outgoing,” the suit reads. “Today, Plaintiff Rejena Coghlan sits in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down.”

“The university was expected to provide a reasonably safe education in a reasonably safe environment for paying students such as Coghlan,” the lawsuit says.

Defendants also include the national and local chapters of Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternities, and Alpha Phi sorority. Linda M. Wilson and Chris Wuthrich, university employees and Greek advisers, also are listed.

The suit said Coghlan went to a “Jack Daniels Birthday” party at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house, co-sponsored by Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. She later attended the “50 Ways To Lose Your Liver” party at Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

Wilson and Wuthrich were at the parties to monitor them. Wilson saw Coghlan and congratulated her for pledging Alpha Phi, the suit said.

The advisers knew or should have known that Coghlan was intoxicated and should have taken action at the time, according to the complaint.

Coghlan was helped back to her sorority and put to bed, but was discovered later in the bushes below the fire escape.

The damages for medical expenses so far are more than $150,000 and the loss of past wages is over $25,000. All other damage amounts are to be set at trial. In a claim filed against the university last year, her lawyer estimated total damages at more than $2.5 million.

At the University of Idaho, Coghlan’s accident prompted sanctions against two fraternities, a reform movement in the Greek system and school-sponsored dry activities during the week before classes.

“We do not discuss personnel or student-related issues related to potential litigation,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Hal Godwin.

“Today’s the first day I’ve heard of it,” said Mike Larsen, the state Board of Education’s attorney, on Monday. “We’ll be obtaining a copy of the complaint and then making the board aware of it.”

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