FIJI brother, fraternity and chapter reach a "resolution" in 2020 sexual assault case
A former Phi Gamma Delta fraternity brother, the University of Iowa Phi Gamma Delta fraternity as a whole, and the Mu Deuteron chapter have been dismissed from an ongoing sexual assault lawsuit citing a "resolution" in mediation.
Makena Solberg filed a civil lawsuit in 2021 for damages against Carson Steffen and Jacob Meloan as well as their fraternity, accusing the two members of sexually assaulting her and filming it while she was intoxicated at a party in 2020.
The dismissal comes less than six weeks before the trial is scheduled to begin in Tama County District Court.
More: Lawsuit dismissed for FIJI brother accused of sharing photos, videos of alleged sexual assault
A settlement was reached, lawyer says
Solberg's lawyer, Eashaan Vajpeyi, approved the dismissal of the University of Iowa Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and the Mu Deuteron chapter "with prejudice" on Sept. 25, which means no further legal action will be brought against those defendants.
Vajpeyi told the Press-Citizen that the case "between Ms. Solberg and the fraternity defendants was resolved at mediation."
Vajpeyi also filed a motion removing Jacob Meloan from the case on Monday.
"The case against Jacob Meloan was voluntarily dismissed after a settlement was reached with him," Vajpeyi told the Press-Citizen on Monday.
Vajpeyi did not release details of the mediation process and declined to comment further on the case. Meloan's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
From January: Lawsuit dismissed for FIJI brother accused of sharing photos, videos of alleged sexual assault
One defendant remains in civil case
Broc Hawkins, a former Fiiji member, was also dismissed from the case in January after he was added to the suit for allegedly "distributing the sexually explicit images of Solberg to others."
The removal of the fraternity and Meloan does not dismiss the case in its entirety.
The lone remaining defendant is Carson Steffen. He is scheduled to head to trial on Nov. 5 in Tama County.
The original civil filing accused both Meloan and Steffen of sexual assault. The filing also said the pair "planned and conspired to lure" Solberg into one of their bedrooms. Meloan and Steffen then "filmed or photographed" the assault, "caused the videos or photographs to be shared" and "deliberately caused (Solberg) harm" by doing so.
Frat previously alleged to have 'aided and abetted' accused members
Filed in 2021, Solberg said that Meloan and Steffen "engaged in" and "photographed" themselves and Solberg participating in sexual activity while Solberg was "intoxicated, physically impaired and physically vulnerable."
The alleged photos and videos were then shared with members of the fraternity and others. The original filing alleges that members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, also known as FIJI, instructed others to delete any photos and videos. Rather than reporting the incident, FIJI leaders allegedly told members to "not report the incident" and "maintain silence and solidarity on the matter."
The lawsuit accused the fraternity and its members of "aiding and abetting" Steffen and Meloan's actions after the incidents and said it had "failed to take appropriate preventative action".
An attorney for the fraternity declined to comment on Friday. As of Monday afternoon, the Press-Citizen had not secured comment from the fraternity's co-counsel or the Mu Deuteron chapter attorneys.
From 2023: A judge has moved UI's Phi Gamma Delta sexual assault trial to Tama County
Protestors gathered in 2021
The allegations sparked consecutive nights of protest in 2021 as hundreds gathered outside Phi Gamma Delta's frat house on the west side of campus. Some protesters threw small rocks at the windows. The word "Rapists" was spray-painted on the front of the house.
In the years since the incident, the fraternity has appeared on multiple University of Iowa Dean of Students "action reports," published after each school year. However, the fraternity is active, according to the latest action report.
Steffen faces criminal harassment charge
Steffen is also facing a criminal charge in a separate case.
He was charged in December 2021 with one count of first-degree harassment for allegedly sharing a photo of an unnamed individual "engaged in a sexual act with another male" in the early morning hours on Sept. 5, 2020, the same night Solberg attended a party at the FIJI house.
That case is scheduled to go on trial in Johnson County on Dec. 3.
A motion to "bifurcate" this case was filed in early August, and a hearing on that motion is set for Oct. 18. Court filings do not indicate exactly what prompted this motion.
No criminal charges have been filed against Meloan in Johnson County.
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Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Phi Gamma Delta dismissed from sexual assault case after mediation
