The sexual assault lawsuit against the University of Iowa fraternity Phi Gamma Delta, commonly known as FIJI, has been relocated from Johnson County to Tama County due to extensive media coverage. Makéna Solberg, a student at UI, filed the lawsuit, claiming that she was sexually assaulted by members of FIJI at a party in September 2020. According to court documents, Solberg accused Carson Steffen and Jacob Meloan, both former UI students and FIJI members, of sexually assaulting her while she was intoxicated. In addition to Steffen and Meloan, Solberg has also included the UI’s FIJI chapter in her lawsuit.
The defendants, the UI’s FIJI chapter, Steffen, and Meloan, had previously requested a change of venue for the trial due to media coverage that provided detailed information about the case. The trial was initially scheduled to begin in November 2024 but may be postponed due to the relocation. The change of location came with an $80 fee, which the defendants will need to pay.
The defendants filed a motion to change the venue on April 12, citing newspaper articles published in Iowa City and Johnson County as contributing to the extensive publicity surrounding the trial. The motion claimed that this publicity led to protests, resulting in nearly $200,000 worth of damage to the FIJI house.
Solberg has another lawsuit against UI student Broc Hawkins, scheduled to begin in January at the Johnson County Courthouse. The defendants argued that the continuous coverage of the trial, including Solberg’s motion to include the FIJI organization, justified moving the trial away from Johnson County.
According to court documents filed on August 30, the request for a change in venue has been granted. District Court Judge Kevin McKeever stated that although sexual assault cases can evoke strong emotions within communities, they typically do not receive extensive media coverage. However, in this case, the coverage has led to a presumption of prejudice against the defendants.
In summary, the sexual assault lawsuit against the UI fraternity FIJI has been moved from Johnson County to Tama County due to the widespread media coverage and the presumption of prejudice against the defendants. The trial date may be rescheduled as a result of the relocation. Solberg, the plaintiff, has included Steffen, Meloan, and the UI’s FIJI chapter in her lawsuit.
