Family Sues U. Arizona, State In Dorm Room Stabbing Death

This story was written by Ethan Williams, Arizona Daily Wildcat

The parents offormer University of Arizonafreshman Mia Henderson, the victim of a residence hall stabbing last year, sued the University of Arizona, the Arizona Board of Regents and the state through the Maricopa County Superior Court, on the grounds that the university's negligence was the cause of their daughter's death.

The lawsuits states that the university failed to intervene and separate the two girls after Henderson filed complaints about her roommate, Galareka Harrison.

The Henderson family hopes the lawsuit will get compensation for funeral costs, losses and whatever else the court deems appropriate, they said in the suit.

Last year on Sept. 5, Henderson and Harrison were placed together in a residence hall room as part of the First Year Scholars program, a Native American program that has since been moved to Kaibab-Huachuca residence hall.

In the weeks that followed, Henderson accused her roommate of theft, in which Harrison allegedly took Henderson's social security card, debit card and an unsigned check for $500.

According to the lawsuit, on Aug. 28, 2007, Henderson reported these crimes to multiple authorities. A few days later, Henderson asked the university to move Harrison from the dorm room, but the UA declined her request.

The lawsuit states that Henderson's family believes retribution from Harrison toward Henderson was foreseeable and required simple precautions for Henderson's protection.

All legal representatives involved in the case, as well as Residence Life and UA officials, have declined to comment on the lawsuit.