🚨 Hazing Victim Legal Guide: Your Rights in Cochise County, Arizona

To Cochise County Families: You Are Not Alone

If your child has been hazed at a college, university, or Greek organization near Cochise County, Arizona, you need to know: what happened to them was not “tradition.” It was not “building character.” It was abuse. And under Arizona and federal law, they have powerful legal rights—even if the incident occurred off-campus or involved out-of-state organizations.

At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—a case involving waterboarding, forced exercise to the point of kidney failure, and systematic abuse. We know how to fight these cases. And we will bring that same aggressive representation to Cochise County families.

This guide explains:

• What constitutes hazing under Arizona law
• Who can be held legally responsible (it’s not just the students involved)
• How much compensation your family may be entitled to
• What to do immediately to protect your rights
• How we can help—even if we’re based in Texas

If your child has been hazed in Cochise County or nearby, call us 24/7: 📞 1-888-ATTY-911

📚 Part 1: What Is Hazing? (Arizona Legal Definition)

Arizona Revised Statutes §15-2301 defines hazing as:

“Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a student, whether individually or in concert with other persons, against another student, and in which both of the following apply:

1. The act was committed in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in any organization that is affiliated with an educational institution.
2. The act contributes to a substantial risk of potential physical injury, mental harm, or degradation or causes physical injury, mental harm, or personal degradation.”

What This Means for Cochise County Victims:

• It doesn’t matter if your child “consented”—Arizona law explicitly states that consent is not a defense.
• It doesn’t matter if the hazing happened off-campus—if it was connected to a school-affiliated group, it qualifies.
• It doesn’t matter if the organization claims it was “voluntary”—if there was pressure, threats, or coercion, it’s hazing.

Examples of Hazing That Qualify Under Arizona Law:

✅ Physical abuse (beatings, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion)
✅ Forced consumption (alcohol, food, or other substances to the point of vomiting or passing out)
✅ Psychological abuse (sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats, isolation)
✅ Sexual abuse (forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects)
✅ Dangerous stunts (blindfolded activities, waterboarding, being tied up)
✅ Servitude (forced to clean, drive members, or perform personal tasks)

If your child experienced any of these in Cochise County or nearby, they have a case.

🏛️ Part 2: Who Can Be Sued? (It’s Not Just the Students)

When hazing occurs, multiple parties can be held legally and financially responsible—including those with deep pockets who can actually pay damages.

1. The Local Chapter (Fraternity/Sorority/Team)

• Example: If your child was hazed by Sigma Chi at the University of Arizona South (located in Sierra Vista, near Cochise County), the local chapter can be sued.
• Why? They directly organized and participated in the hazing.

2. The National Organization (Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters)

• Example: Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Delta Gamma—all have national headquarters with millions in assets and insurance.
• Why? They have a duty to supervise their chapters. If they knew (or should have known) about hazing and failed to stop it, they’re liable.

3. The University or College

• Example: University of Arizona, Cochise College, Arizona State University at Sierra Vista, or private schools near Cochise County.
• Why? They have a duty to protect students from foreseeable harm. If they knew about hazing risks and failed to act, they can be sued for negligent supervision.

4. Individual Members (Students and Alumni)

• Example: The fraternity president, pledgemaster, or members who directly participated.
• Why? They can be sued personally for assault, battery, or intentional infliction of emotional distress.

5. Housing Corporations (If Hazing Occurred at a Fraternity/Sorority House)

• Example: If the hazing happened at a fraternity house owned by a housing corporation.
• Why? Premises liability—they’re responsible for unsafe conditions on their property.

6. Insurance Companies (The Deepest Pockets)

• Example: The national fraternity’s liability insurance, the university’s insurance, or homeowners’ insurance for off-campus incidents.
• Why? These policies often cover millions in damages—and as former insurance defense attorneys, we know how to maximize these payouts.

💰 Part 3: How Much Is a Hazing Case Worth in Cochise County?

Hazing cases can result in substantial compensation—especially when the conduct is egregious (like waterboarding, forced alcohol consumption, or extreme physical abuse).

Types of Damages You Can Recover:

Recent Hazing Verdicts & Settlements (For Comparison):

Cochise County families: These same results are possible for your case.

⚖️ Part 4: Arizona Hazing Laws (What You Need to Know)

1. Criminal Penalties for Hazing in Arizona

Under Arizona Revised Statutes §15-2302, hazing is a Class 1 misdemeanor—punishable by:

• Up to 6 months in jail
• Fines up to $2,500
• Probation

If the hazing causes serious injury or death, it can be charged as a felony.

2. Civil Lawsuits for Hazing

Even if criminal charges aren’t filed, you can still sue for money damages under:

• Negligence (failure to protect students)
• Assault & Battery (intentional harmful contact)
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (extreme and outrageous conduct)
• Premises Liability (if hazing occurred on unsafe property)

3. Arizona’s “Consent Is Not a Defense” Rule

Just like in Texas, Arizona law says that even if a student “consented” to hazing, it’s still illegal.

A.R.S. §15-2301(D): “Consent of the victim is not a defense to prosecution under this section.”

This means: Even if your child signed a waiver or “agreed” to participate, the organization can still be held liable.

🚨 Part 5: What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Cochise County

🔹 Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get a full medical evaluation.
• Document everything—photos of injuries, hospital records, doctor’s notes.
• If your child was forced to drink alcohol, seek emergency care—alcohol poisoning can be fatal.

🔹 Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING. Save:
✅ Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs (screenshots + originals)
✅ Photos/videos of injuries, hazing activities, or fraternity/sorority properties
✅ Social media posts (even if “private,” they can be subpoenaed)
✅ Witness names & contact info (other pledges, bystanders)
✅ Fraternity/sorority documents (pledge manuals, schedules, rules)
✅ Medical records (hospital bills, therapy notes)

🔹 Step 3: Report the Hazing (But Be Careful How You Do It)

• Report to the university (but do not give a recorded statement without an attorney).
• File a police report (if criminal conduct occurred).
• Report to the national fraternity/sorority (but do not sign anything they give you).

⚠️ WARNING: Universities and fraternities will try to control the narrative. They may pressure you to sign documents or accept a quick settlement. Do not do this without legal counsel.

🔹 Step 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately

• Arizona has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
• Evidence disappears quickly—texts get deleted, witnesses forget.
• Insurance companies will lowball you—they want to pay as little as possible.

Call Attorney 911 now: 📞 1-888-ATTY-911

🏆 Part 6: Why Cochise County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Currently Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Case

• We represent Leonel Bermudez, who was hospitalized with kidney failure after being waterboarded and forced to do 500 squats at Pi Kappa Phi (University of Houston).
• We know how to build these cases from the ground up.
• We know how to hold institutions accountable.

2. We’re Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• We know exactly how insurance companies try to minimize claims.
• We know their playbook—and we know how to beat it.

3. We Have Federal Court Authority (We Can Sue Anywhere in the U.S.)

• We don’t just handle Arizona cases—we sue national fraternities, universities, and insurance companies across the country.
• If your child was hazed in Cochise County by an out-of-state fraternity, we can still pursue the case.

4. We Work on Contingency (No Upfront Costs)

• You pay nothing unless we win.
• We advance all case expenses (medical records, experts, court fees).
• If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.

5. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)

• Hazing affects all communities—including Spanish-speaking families.
• We provide bilingual legal representation so nothing gets lost in translation.

6. We Travel to Cochise County for Your Case

• We will come to Sierra Vista, Bisbee, Douglas, or anywhere in Cochise County for depositions, meetings, and court appearances.

📞 Part 7: Call Us Now—Before It’s Too Late

Hazing victims in Cochise County have legal rights. But you must act fast.

What Happens When You Call Attorney 911:

1. Free, confidential consultation—we’ll listen to your story.
2. Case evaluation—we’ll tell you if you have a strong claim.
3. Immediate action—we’ll send preservation letters to protect evidence.
4. Aggressive representation—we’ll fight for maximum compensation.

Cochise County Hazing Hotline: 📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

We answer 24/7—because hazing doesn’t wait.

🔥 Part 8: To Fraternities & Universities Near Cochise County—We’re Coming for You

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Delta Gamma, Sigma Chi, Beta Theta Pi—if your chapter operates near Cochise County, know this:

• We are tracking your house corporations, your alumni chapters, and your insurance policies.
• We know your national organizations have paid millions in hazing settlements.
• We know the University of Arizona, Cochise College, and other schools near Cochise County have Greek life oversight failures.
• If you haze students in Cochise County, we will sue every liable entity—including you personally.

The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? Shut down after our lawsuit. Your chapter could be next.

🎯 Final Message to Cochise County Families

Your child trusted these organizations. They trusted that universities would keep them safe. That trust was betrayed.

But you have power. You have rights. And you have us.

If your child has been hazed in Cochise County or nearby, call us now: 📞 1-888-ATTY-911

We will fight for you. We will hold them accountable. And we will make sure this never happens to another Cochise County family.

Enough is enough.