University of Houston fraternity sued; man claims beer-can kick cost him an eye

Fraternity Scandals: Passed out man loses eye when frat member tries to kick beer can off his head

A row of townhouses at the University of Houston is occupied by several campus fraternal organizations. A new lawsuit claims that in 2013 inside one of these townhomes, he passed out at a Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity party, then was propped up and kicked so hard in the head that he lost an eye. The fraternity member who allegedly kicked the man was attempting to kick a beer can off the passed out victim's head.

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A row of townhouses at the University of Houston is occupied by several campus fraternal organizations. A new ... more Photo: Google Streetview Photo: Google Streetview Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close University of Houston fraternity sued; man claims beer-can kick cost him an eye 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

A North Texas man has sued Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at the University of Houston, claiming that a member's attempt to kick a beer can off his head at a party left him with permanent eye damage.

Brenton Griffin, of Anna, filed the suit Sept. 16 in Harris County's 334th State District Court. In addition to the fraternity, the complaint also named seven individual members, some of whom were officers at the time of the incident on Sept. 19, 2013.

According to the complaint, Griffin was invited to attend a party at the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity house, Texas Delta Chapter, in the 5000 block of Calhoun.

Party guests were provided liquor and beer from kegs, and Griffin passed out in the fraternity house, the complaint stated.

Fraternity members and other party guests were present when one of the individual defendants physically moved Griffin and propped him up in a sitting position, the complaint stated. The defendant then placed a beer can on top of Griffin's head and tried to kick it off as the plaintiff sat unconscious.

The intoxicated kicker missed the can, striking Griffin in the right eye, which was "irreparably damaged and had to be surgically removed," the complaint alleged.

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Sigma Phi Epsilon knew or should have known that alcohol would be served at the party, that people would get drunk and some might take negligent actions that would injure others, the complaint stated.

Griffin, who is represented by Mark McCraw of McCraw Gantt in McKinney, is seeking more than $1 million in damages.

Sigma Phi Epsilon could not immediately be reached for response to the allegations.