🚨 Hazing Victims in Humboldt County — You Are Not Alone
If your child has been hazed at a Humboldt County college or university, you have legal rights. We are fighting this battle right now — and we will fight for Humboldt County families.
🔥 This is happening in Humboldt County right now
Hazing isn’t just a problem at big universities in Texas or Florida. It happens at Humboldt State University, College of the Redwoods, and other schools across Humboldt County. The same fraternities that waterboarded a student in Houston have chapters near Humboldt County. The same culture of abuse exists here.
Your child could be next.
⚠️ What Humboldt County parents need to know about hazing
1. Hazing is illegal in California
California has strict anti-hazing laws. It is a crime to haze students — even if they “consented.” If your child was forced to drink, exercise to exhaustion, or endure physical or psychological abuse, that’s hazing. And it’s against the law.
2. Universities are responsible
Humboldt State University and other institutions have a legal duty to protect students. If they knew about hazing and did nothing — or if they should have known — they can be held liable. We are currently suing the University of Houston for exactly this reason.
3. National fraternities have deep pockets
The same national organizations that operate in Houston have chapters near Humboldt County. They have millions in insurance and assets. They can afford to pay for the harm they’ve caused.
4. You have a limited time to act
In California, you typically have 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
💔 What hazing looks like in Humboldt County
Hazing isn’t just “a few pushups” or “drinking games.” It’s systematic abuse designed to humiliate, degrade, and sometimes hospitalize or kill.
Humboldt County hazing can include:
- Forced alcohol consumption — binge drinking, chugging, alcohol poisoning
- Extreme physical punishment — hundreds of pushups, squats, bear crawls until collapse
- Waterboarding and simulated drowning — torture disguised as “tradition”
- Forced eating until vomiting — then forced to continue activities while sick
- Sleep deprivation — forced to drive members at all hours, leading to exhaustion
- Psychological torture — carrying humiliating objects, being hog-tied, threats of expulsion
- Sexual humiliation — forced nudity, sexualized hazing rituals
- Physical assault — being struck with paddles, belts, or other objects
This is not brotherhood. This is not sisterhood. This is abuse.
🏥 Medical consequences of hazing — Humboldt County students are at risk
Hazing doesn’t just cause bruises. It causes life-threatening injuries that Humboldt County hospitals see every year.
Common hazing injuries:
| Injury | What Happens | Humboldt County Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Rhabdomyolysis | Muscle breakdown from extreme exercise; causes kidney failure | High — Humboldt County outdoor culture makes students vulnerable |
| Acute kidney failure | Kidneys shut down from muscle breakdown or dehydration | High — seen in recent California cases |
| Alcohol poisoning | Binge drinking leads to coma or death | High — Humboldt County has high binge drinking rates |
| Traumatic brain injury | From falls, beatings, or lack of oxygen | Moderate |
| Hypothermia | Forced exposure to cold weather or water | High — Humboldt County’s climate increases risk |
| Heat stroke | Extreme exercise in hot conditions | Moderate |
| PTSD, anxiety, depression | Long-term psychological trauma | High — mental health crisis already exists among Humboldt County students |
Humboldt County’s rural location means medical help may be delayed. A hazing injury that might be treatable in a big city could become life-threatening here.
🔍 How to recognize hazing in Humboldt County
Hazing is often hidden. But there are warning signs:
Physical signs your Humboldt County child may be hazed:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, or burns
- Extreme fatigue or difficulty walking
- Vomiting or nausea without illness
- Dark or brown urine (sign of muscle breakdown)
- Sudden weight loss or gain
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Avoiding certain people or places
Behavioral signs:
- Sudden secrecy about activities
- Fear of retribution if they talk
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Anxiety or depression
- Sudden drop in academic performance
- Talking about “traditions” that sound abusive
What to do if you suspect hazing:
- Talk to your child — Create a safe space for them to open up
- Document everything — Take photos of injuries, save texts, record conversations
- Seek medical attention — Even if injuries seem minor, get them checked
- Contact an attorney — Know your legal rights before talking to the organization
- Report to authorities — Consider filing a police report or Title IX complaint
💰 Humboldt County families can sue for hazing — and win
We are currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. Humboldt County families can achieve the same results.
Who Humboldt County families can sue:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local fraternity/sorority chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| National organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture |
| University | Failed to protect students; may own fraternity house |
| Individual members | Participated in or facilitated hazing |
| Alumni | Allowed hazing at their homes |
| Insurance companies | Provide coverage for institutional liability |
What Humboldt County families can recover:
| Damage Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Medical expenses | Hospital bills, rehabilitation, therapy |
| Future medical costs | Ongoing treatment, potential dialysis/transplant |
| Lost wages | Time missed from work or internships |
| Educational damages | Tuition refunds, scholarship loss |
| Pain and suffering | Physical pain from injuries |
| Emotional distress | PTSD, anxiety, depression |
| Punitive damages | To punish egregious conduct (e.g., waterboarding) |
🏆 Precedent cases — Humboldt County families can win millions
Hazing lawsuits result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Humboldt County families deserve the same justice.
| Case | Fraternity | University | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Pi Kappa Alpha | Bowling Green State | $10.1 million settlement |
| Maxwell Gruver | Phi Delta Theta | Louisiana State | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza | Beta Theta Pi | Penn State | $110+ million settlement |
| Andrew Coffey | Pi Kappa Phi | Florida State | Confidential settlement |
| Tucker Hipps | Sigma Phi Epsilon | Clemson | $500,000+ settlement |
These cases prove that hazing victims win. Humboldt County families can too.
🛡️ Why Humboldt County families choose Attorney 911
We are not just hazing lawyers. We are former insurance defense attorneys who know how the other side operates. We are fighting this battle right now — and we will bring the same expertise to Humboldt County.
Our advantages for Humboldt County families:
✅ 25+ years of litigation experience — Battle-tested in courtrooms across America
✅ Former insurance defense attorneys — We know their playbook and how to dismantle it
✅ Federal court authority — Can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction
✅ Dual-state bar licenses — Texas and New York; can litigate anywhere
✅ Currently litigating a $10M hazing case — We’re in the fight right now
✅ Se habla español — Humboldt County’s Spanish-speaking families welcome
✅ Contingency fee representation — $0 upfront; we don’t get paid unless you win
✅ Willing to travel to Humboldt County — For depositions, trials, and client meetings
We don’t just talk about hazing. We’re fighting it in court right now.
📞 Humboldt County hazing victims — call us now
Time is running out. Evidence disappears. Your rights expire.
Free, confidential consultation for Humboldt County families
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We serve Humboldt County from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Distance is not a barrier.
🚨 What to do if your Humboldt County child has been hazed
IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS:
- Ensure their safety — Remove them from the dangerous situation
- Seek medical attention — Even if injuries seem minor, get them checked
- Document everything — Photos, texts, social media, witness names
- Do NOT talk to the fraternity/sorority or university without legal counsel
- Do NOT post on social media about the incident
- Preserve all evidence — Do not delete anything
- Contact Attorney 911 immediately — 1-888-ATTY-911
🎯 Our message to Humboldt County fraternities and universities
We are watching. We are coming. We will hold you accountable.
To the fraternities operating near Humboldt County:
- Pi Kappa Phi
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- Pi Kappa Alpha
- Phi Delta Theta
- Beta Theta Pi
- Sigma Chi
- Kappa Sigma
- And all others
If your chapter hazes students in Humboldt County, know this:
- We are currently suing Pi Kappa Phi for $10 million
- We know how to build these cases
- We know how to find the money
- We know how to win
To Humboldt State University and other Humboldt County institutions:
- You own the fraternity houses
- You have the power to stop hazing
- You have the duty to protect students
- If you fail, you will pay
To the national fraternities:
- You knew about Andrew Coffey’s death in 2017
- You knew about Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization in 2025
- You had 8 years to fix your culture. You failed.
- Now you will pay for that failure
💬 Humboldt County parents — you are not powerless
This is what accountability looks like:
- Multi-million dollar settlements that force institutions to change
- Chapter closures that protect future students
- Criminal charges against individual perpetrators
- Legislative change that makes hazing a felony
- Public exposure that prevents future abuse
Your Humboldt County child deserves justice. Humboldt County families deserve peace of mind. Together, we can make Humboldt County safer.
📞 Call now — 1-888-ATTY-911
Humboldt County hazing victims — you are not alone. We are here to fight for you.
