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Attorney Richard J Buturla Leads DKE To Victory In Trial Over Fraternity House Closure

A jury recently sided with Delta Kappa Epsilon in its claim against Wesleyan University over the closure of the DKE fraternity house on High Street in Middletown, CT, in 2015. Attorney Richard J. Buturla was lead trial counsel for DKE, assisted by Attorney Bryan L. LeClerc.

The six-member jury spent about six hours deliberating before finding that Wesleyan violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, made negligent misrepresentations and interfered with the fraternity’s business relationships.

The jury awarded damages of $386,000 to the Kent Literary Club, DKE’s Wesleyan alumni chapter. The verdict does not automatically reopen the fraternity house, but allows DKE to seek “equitable relief” in court to argue for reinstating the fraternity’s housing status.

Kent Literary Club President Gary Breitbord said he hopes the fraternity and Wesleyan can resolve the remaining issues outside of court.

The fraternity sued Wesleyan in 2015 after administrators revoked DKE’s program housing status when it claimed the chapter did not submit an adequate plan to meet a requirement for fraternities to admit women. DKE members have not been allowed to live in the house at 276 High St. since the start of the 2015-16 school year.

To read the entire story by Shawn R. Beals published in the Hartford Courant on June 15, 2017click here.