Lawrence Boucvalt III filed a legal petition April 3 against Nicholls student William Ledbetter III after a March 6 incident in which Ledbetter was allegedly charged with one count of second-degree battery. According to the petition filed, Ledbetter, 22, along with the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, Mu Zeta chapter was served and made defendants.

Ledbetter contacted The Nicholls Worth and responded with “no comment.”

The petition filed by the plaintiff states that on March 6, Boucvalt, 38, was “visiting” The Library, a bar located in Downtown Thibodaux. Upon entering the bar, Boucvalt was allegedly battered suddenly and violently without warning by Ledbetter, in the form of a “sucker punch.” Following the alleged attack, Boucvalt was knocked unconscious, and when he regained consciousness he was bleeding profusely.

As stated in the petition, Boucvalt received medical treatment from his doctor who said his nose was broken and from an ear, nose and throat specialist who said he received a nasal fracture.

The petition also states Boucvalt learned he was involved in a competition allegedly called “the TKE lottery” or “pick ’em and stick ’em.”

The lottery allegedly involved a competition in which fraternity members contribute various amounts of money or drugs into a pool as a prize that can only be won by beating a random person who is unaware of the lottery.

The Chief Executive Officer of TKE, Kevin Mayeux, said the national headquarters has not yet been served with any petition.

“We have engaged local council there (Thibodaux),” Mayeux said. “We do not believe there is any merit to the lawsuit.”

Mayeux, who has been CEO for eight years, said this is the first time he has had anything filed against the Mu Zeta chapter.

According to the warrant of arrest, Ledbetter was released from police custody on a $5,000 bond.

After the March 6 event, TKE fraternity was put on temporary suspension by the University until a formal investigation was completed, Eugene Dial, vice president of Academic Affairs and Enrollment Services, said.

Dial said the fraternity is still under suspension and will be until the current administration investigation decides what the organization’s role was.

“It doesn’t say someone is guilty or innocent,” Dial said. “We want to determine if something did or did not happen.”

Dial said the criminal investigation is complete and that the City of Thibodaux Police Department along with the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Kim Favalora, released an official statement to the University March 19 saying there was no connection between the alleged crime and TKE.

“My investigation involved interviewing more than 10 people, and I could not find any connection to this fraternity,” Favalora said.

Also in the letter, Favalora stated Ledbetter took full responsibility for his actions.

“Ledbetter maintains his actions were of his own accord and not involved in any way with any sort of prank or initiation gag involving the TKE fraternity,” Favalora said.

As stated in the petition: “That after all legal proceedings are had, that this case be tried before a jury and that there be judgment herein in favor of petitioner, Lawrence Boucvalt III, and against defendants, William “Trey” Ledbetter, ABC Insurance Company, TKE Fraternity and DEF Insurance Company, for all damages as are reasonable in the premises, together with judicial interest from date of judicial demand until paid.”

The council for TKE is Leslie Clement, Mayeux said. Clemet said he is going to represent the local chapter of the TKE fraternity.

Nicholas Zeringue submitted the petition on behalf of defendant.