AFRO Staff
Comedian and Actress Sheryl Underwood
(Photo Courtesy of sherylunderwoodandfriends.com)
(Aug. 16, 2008) - With nearly 100 women dressed in the royal blue colors of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority looking on, a Washington, D.C. judge on Friday ordered a mediation hearing to settle a challenge to comedian and actress Sheryl Underwood’s claim to the presidency of the group.
Underwood was elected the 23rd international president July 2 at the sorority’s Las Vegas convention (AFRO July 12-18). But Kim Sawyer, a resident of suburban Prince George’s County in Maryland, filed suit against the sorority and Underwood, arguing the comedian did not receive enough votes. Sawyer claims to have won the presidency in a subsequent runoff election.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Gerald Fisher ordered a mediation hearing for Sept. 17. If not settled then, the case will go to trial Nov. 13.
Zeta attorney R. Jonathan Charleston told the Washington Post he was confident the dispute would be resolved soon.
Zeta Phi Beta was founded on the campus of Howard University in 1920 and is incorporated in Washington, D.C. It has about 100,000 members.