An Atlanta man has filed suit against Alpha Phi Alpha, the fraternity that boasts the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and former mayor Andrew Young among its alumni, saying the organization wrongly removed him from the general presidency.
Herman "Skip" Mason Jr., a DeKalb County author and historian, alleges the Baltimore-based fraternity violated its constitution and bylaws when it removed him as its 33rd general president "without due consideration or due process."
Also named in the complaint are 14 board members and members of the nonprofit social organization.
Neither the fraternity nor its lawyers could not be reached for comment.
James L. Walker Jr., one of attorneys representing Mason, said their position is that Mason is still the current president. "We feel he never lost the job because it was done improperly," he said. An emergency hearing is scheduled Tuesday before DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Mark Anthony Scott.
The suit, which seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, said that, without permission from fraternity membership, some erroneous information from an audit was leaked. That information made references to unauthorized credit card expenses.
But Mason says that the charges were allowed as part of his general president allotment.
Walker said Mason, who was elected in 2008, wants to finish out the final months of his term. He also said Mason offered to pay the fraternity$20,000. "Not that he did anything wrong," Walker said. More "to keep the peace."
The fraternity rejected the offer, Walker said.
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