Selecting multiple messages setting?

Is there a settings somewhere for doing this? My dad has a 8800 from ATT and I have the 8830WE from verizon, hes will let you select multiple messages and mine wont.

I have tried wiping and installing 4.2 and I've tried wiping and installing 4.5. Both don't do anything when I hold shift+trackball. I've looked and looked and not found any settings the deal with this and it's driving me up the wall. I've tried changing themes to see if that had something to do with it but that did nothing either. Can anyone offer some sort of advice or someone at RIM that I can call?