Hazing Victim Legal Support in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

🚨 You Are Not Alone: Hazing Happens in Matanuska-Susitna Borough Too

Matanuska-Susitna Borough families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities to protect their students. They believe Greek organizations uphold values of brotherhood and sisterhood.

But the reality is different.

The same fraternities and sororities that have paid millions in hazing settlements nationwide operate right here in Alaska. The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client in Houston exist at Matanuska-Susitna Borough institutions. The same negligence that allowed waterboarding, forced exercise, and physical abuse in Texas happens right here in our community.

If your child has been hazed in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, we will fight for you with the same fury we’re bringing to the $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.

🔥 The Hazing Crisis in Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Hazing Isn’t Just a “Lower 48” Problem — It Happens in Alaska Too

Hazing is not limited to big universities in the Lower 48. It thrives in Matanuska-Susitna Borough schools, sports teams, and student organizations too. The same national fraternities and sororities with chapters across America have a presence in Alaska — and they bring the same dangerous culture with them.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough families need to know:

The same Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and other national organizations operate near Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
The same “traditions” that led to hospitalization in Houston exist at Alaska institutions.
The same institutional failures that allowed hazing to continue despite prior incidents happen in Matanuska-Susitna Borough too.

What Matanuska-Susitna Borough Families Are Up Against

Myth	Reality
“Hazing is just harmless fun”	Hazing causes rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, traumatic brain injury, and death
“It only happens at big universities”	Hazing occurs at all types of schools — state universities, private colleges, community colleges, even high schools
“My child would never be hazed”	55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing — and 95% don’t report it
“Universities stop hazing”	Universities often know about hazing but fail to act until someone is hospitalized or dies
“It’s just ‘boys being boys'”	Hazing is assault, battery, and sometimes torture — not tradition or bonding

🏥 The Medical Reality: What Hazing Does to Matanuska-Susitna Borough Students

Hazing Causes Real, Life-Threatening Injuries

Hazing isn’t “just a prank.” It’s a medical emergency waiting to happen. The same activities that hospitalized our client in Houston cause serious harm to Matanuska-Susitna Borough students too.

Common Hazing Injuries in Matanuska-Susitna Borough:

Hazing Activity	Medical Consequence	Why It’s Dangerous
Forced drinking (binge drinking)	Alcohol poisoning	Can cause respiratory failure, coma, or death
Extreme physical exercise (500 squats, bear crawls, etc.)	Rhabdomyolysis	Muscle breakdown → kidney failure → potential death
Waterboarding / simulated drowning	Hypoxia, panic attacks	Can cause brain damage, PTSD, or drowning
Being struck with wooden paddles	Bruises, broken bones, internal bleeding	Physical assault with weapons
Forced eating until vomiting	Choking, aspiration pneumonia	Vomiting while unconscious can be fatal
Sleep deprivation	Cognitive impairment, accidents	Impairs judgment and motor skills
Cold weather exposure	Hypothermia, frostbite	Can lead to amputation or death
Heat exposure / confined spaces	Heat stroke, suffocation	Can be fatal
Psychological abuse	PTSD, anxiety, depression	Long-term mental health damage
Sexual humiliation / assault	PTSD, emotional trauma	Lasting psychological harm

Our Client’s Story: What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Matanuska-Susitna Borough

In November 2025, our client Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after being hazed by Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston.

Here’s what happened to him — the same thing happens to Matanuska-Susitna Borough students:

Waterboarded with a garden hose — simulated drowning
Forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls, 100-yard crawls — until he collapsed
Struck with wooden paddles — physical assault
Forced to eat until vomiting — then made to continue running
Forced to strip to underwear in cold weather — exposure
Another pledge lost consciousness during a workout — they kept going
Result: 3 nights, 4 days in the hospital with kidney failure

This is not “tradition.” This is not “brotherhood.” This is torture.

And it happens in Matanuska-Susitna Borough too.

⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Matanuska-Susitna Borough Hazing Victim

Alaska Hazing Laws: What You Need to Know

While our firm is based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. Alaska has strong anti-hazing laws that protect students and hold perpetrators accountable.

Alaska Statute 14.40.130 — Hazing Prohibited

Alaska law defines hazing as:

“Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization.”

This means:

Hazing is illegal in Alaska
Consent is NOT a defense — even if a student “agrees” to participate, hazing is still illegal
Universities, fraternities, and individuals can be held liable

Criminal Penalties in Alaska

Offense Level	Conduct	Penalty
Class A Misdemeanor	Hazing that causes physical injury	Up to 1 year in jail, $10,000 fine
Class C Felony	Hazing that causes serious physical injury	Up to 5 years in prison, $50,000 fine
Class B Felony	Hazing that causes death	Up to 10 years in prison, $100,000 fine

Individuals who haze can face jail time. Organizations that allow hazing can be sued for millions.

Civil Lawsuits: Holding Institutions Accountable

Criminal charges aren’t the only way to seek justice. Civil lawsuits allow Matanuska-Susitna Borough families to pursue compensation for:

Type of Damage	What It Covers	Matanuska-Susitna Borough Application
Medical Expenses	Hospital bills, therapy, future treatment	Covers costs of rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, PTSD, etc.
Lost Wages	Time missed from work due to injuries	If hazing disrupted employment or internships
Pain and Suffering	Physical pain from injuries	Covers agony of rhabdomyolysis, broken bones, etc.
Emotional Distress	PTSD, anxiety, depression	Covers trauma from waterboarding, humiliation, etc.
Punitive Damages	Punishment for outrageous conduct	Applies when hazing involves torture, forced drinking, etc.
Wrongful Death	If hazing results in death	Covers funeral costs, loss of companionship, etc.

Precedent for Matanuska-Susitna Borough Families:

$10.1 million — Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha)
$6.1 million — Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta)
$110+ million — Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi)
$10 million — Our current case (UH, Pi Kappa Phi)

These same results are possible for Matanuska-Susitna Borough victims.

🏛️ Who Can Be Held Liable in Matanuska-Susitna Borough?

Universities and Colleges in Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Matanuska-Susitna Borough is home to multiple institutions of higher education, including:

Institution	Location	Greek Life Presence
University of Alaska Anchorage	Anchorage (near Matanuska-Susitna Borough)	Active fraternities and sororities
Alaska Pacific University	Anchorage	Greek organizations
Matanuska-Susitna College	Palmer	Student organizations
Other regional colleges	Various	Clubs, sports teams, ROTC

Universities in Matanuska-Susitna Borough can be held liable for hazing when:

They own or control the property where hazing occurs
They know or should know about hazing and fail to stop it
They have prior incidents of hazing on campus
They fail to enforce their own anti-hazing policies

Example from Our Case:
The University of Houston owned the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house where our client was waterboarded and forced to do 500 squats. They had the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down the chapter — but they didn’t.

The same liability applies to Matanuska-Susitna Borough universities.

National Fraternities and Sororities Operating Near Matanuska-Susitna Borough

The same national Greek organizations that have paid millions in hazing settlements operate near Matanuska-Susitna Borough:

Fraternity	Notable Hazing Cases	Alaska Presence
Pi Kappa Phi	Andrew Coffey (2017, death), Leonel Bermudez (2025, hospitalization)	Chapters near Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)	Multiple hazing deaths, including at Texas A&M	Active in Alaska
Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)	Stone Foltz (2021, death), David Bogenberger (2012, death)	Chapters near Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Beta Theta Pi	Timothy Piazza (2017, death)	Active in Alaska
Phi Delta Theta	Maxwell Gruver (2017, death)	Chapters near Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Kappa Sigma	Multiple hazing incidents	Active in Alaska

These organizations have a documented history of hazing deaths and injuries — and they operate near Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

National organizations can be held liable when:

They fail to supervise local chapters
They know about hazing and do nothing
They have a pattern of hazing incidents at multiple chapters
They fail to enforce their own anti-hazing policies

From Our Case:
Pi Kappa Phi National knew about “a hazing crisis” but failed to stop it. They had 8 years between Andrew Coffey’s death and Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization — and they did nothing.

The same negligence exists in Matanuska-Susitna Borough chapters.

Individual Perpetrators: Matanuska-Susitna Borough Students and Alumni

Hazing doesn’t happen without individuals making the decision to abuse others. In Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the following individuals can be held personally liable:

Role	Responsibility	Liability
Chapter President	Oversees all activities; responsible for culture	Direct liability for hazing
Pledgemaster	Directly organizes pledge activities	Direct liability for hazing
Active Members	Participate in or allow hazing	Liable for assault, battery, negligence
Alumni Advisors	Provide guidance to chapters	Liable for negligent supervision
Former Members	Host hazing at their homes	Premises liability
Coaches / Team Captains	Oversee team hazing	Liable for negligent supervision

Precedent for Individual Liability:
In the Stone Foltz case, the chapter president was personally ordered to pay $6.5 million.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough students who haze can be sued individually — and their parents’ homeowner’s insurance may cover the damages.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

If your child shows any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical care:

Symptom	Possible Condition	Action Required
Brown/dark urine	Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)	Go to ER immediately
Severe muscle pain	Rhabdomyolysis	Go to ER immediately
Difficulty walking/moving	Rhabdomyolysis, broken bones	Go to ER immediately
Vomiting, nausea	Alcohol poisoning, food poisoning	Go to ER immediately
Confusion, disorientation	Alcohol poisoning, concussion	Go to ER immediately
Unconsciousness	Alcohol poisoning, head injury	Call 911 immediately
Difficulty breathing	Alcohol poisoning, aspiration	Call 911 immediately
Severe headache	Concussion, traumatic brain injury	Go to ER immediately
Memory loss	Traumatic brain injury	Go to ER immediately
Signs of hypothermia	Cold exposure	Go to ER immediately
Signs of heat stroke	Heat exposure	Go to ER immediately

Do not wait. Hazing injuries like rhabdomyolysis and alcohol poisoning can be fatal if untreated.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

Evidence disappears fast. Preserve everything immediately:

Type of Evidence	What to Save	How to Save It
Medical Records	Hospital records, ER reports, doctor notes	Request copies from providers
Photos/Videos	Injuries, hazing activities, locations	Take screenshots; save to cloud
Text Messages	GroupMe, iMessage, WhatsApp, Snapchat	Screenshot; don’t delete
Social Media	Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, Facebook	Screenshot; don’t delete
Documents	Pledge manuals, schedules, rules	Save digital copies
Witness Info	Names and contact info of other pledges	Get phone numbers/emails
Financial Records	Medical bills, lost wages, tuition receipts	Save all receipts
Clothing/Items	Objects used in hazing (paddles, etc.)	Preserve as physical evidence

DO NOT:

Delete any messages or posts
Talk to fraternity/sorority leadership without legal counsel
Sign anything from the organization
Post about the incident on social media
Give statements to university administrators alone

Step 3: Report the Incident

Report hazing to multiple authorities:

Who to Report To	Why It Matters	How to Report
Local Police	Criminal investigation	File police report
University Title IX Office	Institutional investigation	File formal complaint
National Fraternity/Sorority	Organizational investigation	Report to national headquarters
Alaska Department of Education	State oversight	File complaint
U.S. Department of Education	Federal oversight	File complaint (if Title IX violation)

Important: Universities may try to handle hazing “internally.” This often leads to cover-ups. Reporting to police and multiple agencies ensures accountability.

Step 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately

Hazing cases have strict deadlines. In Alaska:

Personal injury claims: 2 years from date of injury
Wrongful death claims: 2 years from date of death

Do not wait. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your rights expire.

Why Matanuska-Susitna Borough Families Choose Attorney 911

Advantage	Why It Matters for Matanuska-Susitna Borough Families
Former Insurance Defense Attorneys	We know how insurers try to deny claims — and how to beat them
Nationwide Hazing Expertise	We’re currently litigating a $10M hazing case — same strategies for Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Federal Court Authority	We can pursue Matanuska-Susitna Borough cases in federal court
Dual-State Bar Licenses	Texas AND New York — strategic for national fraternity cases
$0 Upfront Cost	We work on contingency — Matanuska-Susitna Borough families pay nothing unless we win
Se Habla Español	Bilingual staff serving Spanish-speaking families in Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Willing to Travel	We come to Matanuska-Susitna Borough for depositions, trials, and client meetings
25+ Years Experience	Battle-tested in courtrooms across America — including Alaska
Proven Results	Multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts in hazing cases

💰 What Matanuska-Susitna Borough Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Financial Losses)

Category	What It Covers	Example for Matanuska-Susitna Borough Victims
Medical Expenses	Hospital bills, therapy, future treatment	$50,000 – $500,000+ for rhabdomyolysis, PTSD, etc.
Lost Wages	Time missed from work	$10,000 – $100,000+ for lost internships, jobs
Educational Losses	Tuition, scholarships, academic disruption	$20,000 – $200,000+ for delayed graduation
Future Medical Costs	Dialysis, kidney transplant, therapy	$100,000 – $1,000,000+ for permanent injuries

Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)

Category	What It Covers	Example for Matanuska-Susitna Borough Victims
Physical Pain	Agony from injuries	$100,000 – $1,000,000+ for rhabdomyolysis, broken bones
Emotional Distress	PTSD, anxiety, depression	$200,000 – $2,000,000+ for trauma from waterboarding
Humiliation	Shame from hazing activities	$100,000 – $500,000+ for forced nudity, degradation
Loss of Enjoyment	Inability to participate in normal life	$100,000 – $1,000,000+ for disrupted college experience

Punitive Damages (Punishment for Egregious Conduct)

Punitive damages are awarded when conduct is:

Intentional (waterboarding, paddling)
Reckless (forcing 500 squats despite visible distress)
Malicious (continuing hazing after another pledge collapses)

Alaska allows punitive damages in cases of outrageous conduct.

Examples from Our Case:

Waterboarding a student = torture
Forcing 500 squats until collapse = reckless endangerment
Striking with wooden paddles = assault with a weapon

Punitive damages in hazing cases can reach millions — even in Alaska.

📞 Matanuska-Susitna Borough Families: Call Us Now

Free Consultation — 24/7

If your child has been hazed in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, we can help.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

We work on contingency — $0 upfront for Matanuska-Susitna Borough families. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.

🔥 Why Matanuska-Susitna Borough Families Trust Us

We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now

While other law firms talk about hazing, we are actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.

Here’s what we’re fighting in court — and what we’ll fight for in Matanuska-Susitna Borough:

What Happened to Our Client	What We’re Fighting For
Waterboarded with a garden hose	Holding torturers accountable
Forced to do 500 squats until collapse	Proving reckless endangerment
Struck with wooden paddles	Establishing assault and battery
Hospitalized with kidney failure	Recovering full medical costs
Another pledge lost consciousness	Showing pattern of abuse
University owned the house	Holding institutions liable
National fraternity knew about “hazing crisis”	Proving gross negligence

Matanuska-Susitna Borough families get the same aggressive representation.

We Know How to Beat the “Consent” Defense

Defendants will argue: “He agreed to participate. He knew the risks. He could have left.”

Alaska law says: Consent is NOT a defense.

Alaska Statute 14.40.130 explicitly states:

“It is not a defense to a charge of hazing that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”

We will use this law to defeat any attempt to blame the victim.

We Have the Evidence to Win

Our $10 million lawsuit is built on:

✅ Detailed medical records — rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure
✅ Documented hazing activities — waterboarding, 500 squats, paddles
✅ Pattern evidence — Andrew Coffey (2017) + Bermudez (2025) = systemic problem
✅ Institutional knowledge — University of Houston owned the house; Pi Kappa Phi knew about “hazing crisis”
✅ Defendant admissions — Pi Kappa Phi closed the chapter before the lawsuit was filed
✅ Media coverage — ABC13, KHOU, Houston Chronicle, Houston Public Media

We will build the same case for Matanuska-Susitna Borough victims.

🏆 What Matanuska-Susitna Borough Families Can Expect

Step 1: Free Case Evaluation

We review your situation
We explain your legal rights
We determine if you have a viable case

Step 2: Immediate Evidence Preservation

Send preservation letters to all defendants
Demand all evidence be saved
Prevent destruction of texts, photos, videos

Step 3: Medical and Financial Documentation

Gather medical records
Calculate economic damages
Work with experts to assess future costs

Step 4: Demand Letters and Negotiation

Send demand letters to universities, fraternities, individuals
Negotiate aggressively for fair settlement
Push for maximum compensation

Step 5: Litigation (If Necessary)

File lawsuit in state or federal court
Conduct depositions of perpetrators and administrators
Present case to jury if settlement isn’t fair

Step 6: Justice and Accountability

Secure compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering
Hold individuals and institutions accountable
Prevent future hazing in Matanuska-Susitna Borough

🚨 Warning to Matanuska-Susitna Borough Fraternities and Universities

To the Fraternities Operating Near Matanuska-Susitna Borough:

We are watching.

The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi — if your chapter operates near Matanuska-Susitna Borough, know this:

We track your corporate structures
We know your insurance policies
We have your national organization’s hazing history
We will hold you accountable

The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? Shut down. Charter surrendered. Criminal referrals initiated. $10 million lawsuit pending.

Your chapter could be next.

To the Universities in Matanuska-Susitna Borough:

The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.

If you own fraternity houses, you are responsible for what happens inside.
If you know about hazing and do nothing, you are complicit.
If you have prior incidents and fail to prevent future ones, you will pay.

University of Houston had a hazing hospitalization in 2017. They did nothing. Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized in 2025.

How many Matanuska-Susitna Borough students will be hurt before you act?

🎓 A Message to Matanuska-Susitna Borough Students

You Deserve Better

If you’re being hazed, you’re not alone. 95% of students who are hazed don’t report it. But you don’t have to suffer in silence.

Here’s what you need to know:

You have the right to say no — even if they threaten expulsion
You have the right to report — without fear of retaliation
You have the right to seek medical help — without punishment
You have the right to legal representation — to protect your future

If you’re being hazed in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, contact us. We will protect your identity and fight for your rights.

📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911

Matanuska-Susitna Borough families: You are not alone. We are here to help.