Archive for the ‘Knockout Game’ Category

$1.6 million award in ‘knockout game’ lawsuit against frat – Southeast Missourian

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A former Missouri State University student who said he was the victim of a so-called "knockout game" attack outside a 2012 fraternity party has been awarded $1.63 million in damages, though he likely will collect only $630,000.

The lawyers representing Trevor Godfrey, 25, said in a news release the Omicron Kappa chapter of Omega Psi Phi didn't do enough to create a safe environment at the party before Godfrey was struck from behind and knocked unconscious, the Springfield News-Leader reported.

The Omicron Kappa chapter was the sole defendant after Omega Psi Phi and several individuals were dismissed from the suit before the case went to trial recently. Godfrey's attorney, Steve Garner, said $1 million in punitive damages aren't covered by the fraternity's insurance and can't be collected, though insurance covers the $630,000 in actual damages.

"MSU has great rules to protect those who attend fraternity and sorority parties and those who come in contact with the party. In fact, I cannot imagine any rules that are better," Garner wrote in an email. "This was an instance where the rules were not followed and there was no security to monitor this party. I have nothing negative to say about this fraternity."

Hal Meltzer, an attorney for the Omicron Kappa chapter, didn't immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press.

Springfield police said no charges were filed, and the case is closed. A Springfield police report said people attending the party reported they didn't see or know anything. A responding officer wrote in the report that besides finding Godfrey bloodied and "very disoriented," another person reported he also had been struck in the head.

MSU president Clif Smart said around the time of the attack the administration did everything it could to "help find out who the assailant is" but was unsuccessful.

Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com

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$1.6 million award in 'knockout game' lawsuit against frat - Southeast Missourian

James, Ronaldo woes don’t worry Zidane – ESPN FC

Shaka Hislop remains convinced Real Madrid are locks to win La Liga, even with mounting injury concerns. La Liga leaders Real Madrid hold on to their lead provided by Sergio Ramos' first-half brace to fend off Malaga.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane admitted that while the news of more injuries had him "annoyed," he is confident the squad will play well under pressure for Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarterfinal second leg at Celta Vigo.

Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to feature despite a painful foot problem, but James Rodriguez was ruled out with another calf muscle issue and Zidane said that the mood was low afterMarcelo and Luka Modric limped out of Saturday's underwhelming 2-1 La Liga win over Malaga.

Zidane's side travel to Vigo with an injury list which also includes first teamers Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Marcelo, Dani Carvajal and Pepe, and will face an in-form Celta side which were good value for their shock 2-1 first leg win at the Bernabeu last week.

At his prematch news conference, Zidane said that the team were now aiming to put injuries behind them and qualify for the last four.

"It's true I was down on Saturday when I saw players injured, and unhappy," Zidane said. "I am annoyed to be missing some players, yes. But we cannot do anything about it, during a season this happens.

"That affects me, but just for one day. Those players who have less chance to play, they have been doing well. It will be difficult, at 1-2 behind, but we like these type of games, to have a result to overcome. It is a good situation sometimes, knowing that it's a knockout game with everything on the line."

Zidane confirmed that Ronaldo had suffered a painful bang to his foot in Saturday's game, and sat out training on Monday, but there was no thought of holding the Portugal captain back for next weekend's La Liga fixture at home to in-form Real Sociedad.

"If Cristiano is fit he will be with us," he said. "He got a bang, has been feeling it until now, although it is not an injury. We are just thinking about tomorrow's game, we will not throw any competition, that is for sure."

Zidane confirmed reports from Colombia's Radio Caracol that James, who has already missed two weeks with what was first said to be a minor calf muscle problem, now faces a further three weeks out having suffered a similar injury to his other calf.

"James has a problem with his other leg, it is a strain, not a [serious] injury, which is the good part," Zidane said. "When you have something on one side it can affect the other, which has happened to James. We hoped to have him back on Monday, but it has not been possible. He is also upset as he wanted to be back."

Madrid's situation is also complicated by youth team full-back Alvaro Tejero facing a ban having spat at an opponent when playing for Castilla last weekend. Zidane said that little-used Fabio Coentrao could make a rare appearance, in a season in which he has found it difficult to get match-fit following a long layoff last term.

"Tomorrow [Coentrao] will be with us," he said. "After his long injury, the demands of the training can cause him problems. That is normal after five or six months out. He wants to play, but sometimes his body means he has to stop a bit. Which has happened lately."

Zidane dismissed a question asking whether he was worried that the demanding preparation methods of fitness coach Antonio Pintus were to blame for the current spate of injuries at the Bernabeu.

"If we need to work we work, if we should rest we rest," he said. "It's true we have many injuries lately. I am responsible for all this, all of the staff do their best for the players. We must not be worried and continue with the players we have. Physically we are very good and we will keep going like this."

Dermot Corrigan is a Madrid-based football writer who covers La Liga and the Spain national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @dermotmcorrigan

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James, Ronaldo woes don't worry Zidane - ESPN FC

$1.6 million award in ‘knockout game’ lawsuit against Missouri State frat – STLtoday.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. A former Missouri State University student who said he was the victim of a so-called knockout game attack outside a fraternity party in 2010 has been awarded $1.63 million in damages, though he is likely to collect only $630,000.

The lawyers representing Trevor Godfrey, 25, said in a news release that the Omicron Kappa chapter of Omega Psi Phi didnt do enough to create a safe environment at the party before Godfrey was struck from behind and knocked unconscious, the Springfield News-Leader reported.

The Omicron Kappa chapter was the sole defendant after Omega Psi Phi and several individuals were dismissed from the suit before the case went to trial last week. Godfreys attorney, Steve Garner, said $1 million in punitive damages wasnt covered by the fraternitys insurance and couldnt be collected, though insurance covers the $630,000 in actual damages.

MSU has great rules to protect those who attend fraternity and sorority parties and those who come in contact with the party. In fact, I cannot imagine any rules that are better, Garner wrote in an email. This was an instance where the rules were not followed and there was no security to monitor this party. I have nothing negative to say about this fraternity.

Hal Meltzer, an attorney for the Omicron Kappa chapter, didnt immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press.

Springfield police said that no charges had been filed and that the case was closed. A Springfield police report said people attending the party reported that they didnt see or know anything. A responding officer wrote in the report that besides finding Godfrey bloodied and very disoriented, another person reported that he also had been struck in the head.

MSU President Clif Smart said around the time of the attack that the administration had done everything it could to help find out who the assailant is but was unsuccessful.

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$1.6 million award in 'knockout game' lawsuit against Missouri State frat - STLtoday.com

$1.63M awarded in ‘knockout game’ suit against fraternity – STLtoday.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) A former Missouri State University student who claimed to be the victim of a so-called "knockout game" attack outside a fraternity party has been awarded $1.63 million in damages.

The Springfield News-Leader (http://sgfnow.co/2kaq51L ) reports that the lawyers representing 25-year-old Trevor Godfrey said that the Omicron Kappa chapter of Omega Psi Phi didn't do enough to create a safe environment at the party before Godfrey was struck him from behind and knocked unconscious.

The Omicron Kappa chapter was the sole defendant after Omega Psi Phi and several individuals were dismissed from the suit before the case went to trial last week in Greene County Circuit Court. No criminal charges were filed in the attack.

An attorney for the Omicron Kappa chapter didn't immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com

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$1.63M awarded in 'knockout game' suit against fraternity - STLtoday.com

Jury awards $1.63 million in ‘knockout game’ suit against fraternity near MSU – Springfield News-Leader

Trevor Godfrey in November 2012.(Photo: News-Leader file photo)Buy Photo

A jury awarded $1.63 million in damages Friday after a man claimed to be the victimof a "knockout game" outside a 2012 fraternity party near Missouri State University, court documents show.

According to a lawsuit filed in Greene County court, Trevor Godfrey went outside to move his car on the 1100 block of East Elm Street on a January 2012 weekend when several men from a nearby fraternity party struck Godfrey from behind, knocking him unconscious.

The lawyers representingGodfrey said in a news release that the fraternity, the Omicron Kappa chapter ofOmega Psi Phi,did not do enough to create a safe environment at the party.

According to the release,Godfrey, who was an MSU student at the time of the incident, was awarded$1 million in punitive damages and $630,000 in actual damages.

A Greene County jury deliberated for nearly three hours Friday night before reaching a verdict, online court records show.

Steve Garner, Godfrey's attorney, explained that the punitive damages are not covered by the fraternity's insurance and can't be collected, though the actual damages are covered by insurance.

"MSU has great rules to protect those who attend fraternity and sorority parties and those who come in contact with the party. In fact, I cannot imagine any rules that are better," Garner wrote in an email. "This was an instance where the rules were not followed and there was no security to monitor this party. I have nothing negative to say about this fraternity."

A Springfield police report was admitted as part of the court record.

In that report, a Springfield police officer who responded to the 2012 incident wrote that Godfrey was found with blood on his face and mouth and was "very disoriented." Another person told the officer he, too, had been struck in the head by an unknown person outside the party.

According to the police report, people attending the party said they didn't see or know anything.

Godfrey's mother told the News-Leader in 2012 that her son "was left for dead, basically."

Police records indicate officers interviewed numerous people over the next two years, including MSU Athletic Director Kyle Moats, who told police his staff interviewed football players about the incident.

Around the time of the incident, MSU President Clif Smart said the university administration did everything it could to "help find out who the assailant is."

"We have not been successful, and neither have the police and neither has the Godfrey family," Smart said.

According to a police spokesman, no charges were ever filed in regard to the January 2012 incident and the case is closed.

In 2014, Godfrey filed a lawsuit against several individuals. Later, the Omicron Kappa chapter of Omega Psi Phi was added as a defendant in the case.

The attorney who represented the fraternity chapter said no judgment has been entered yet, as the jury's verdict can be appealed.

According to an MSU spokeswoman, there are active members of the fraternity on campus, though the fraternity has not fully registered with the university.

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Jury awards $1.63 million in 'knockout game' suit against fraternity near MSU - Springfield News-Leader