Hazing Victims in Benewah County, Idaho: Your Legal Rights and How to Fight Back
If your child was hazed at a college or university near Benewah County, you are not alone—and you have powerful legal options.
Hazing is not just “tradition” or “harmless fun.” It is abuse, assault, and often criminal behavior that can leave victims with permanent physical and emotional scars. In the most tragic cases, hazing has led to deaths, hospitalizations, and life-altering injuries—just like what happened to a young man in Houston who was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure after pledging a fraternity.
The same fraternities and sororities that operate at universities near Benewah County have paid millions in settlements for hazing. If your child was harmed, you deserve justice—and we can help you get it.
🚨 Hazing in Benewah County: What Families Need to Know
1. Hazing Is Illegal in Idaho
Under Idaho Code § 18-917, hazing is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death, it can be charged as a felony.
Idaho’s definition of hazing includes:
- Physical brutality (beatings, paddling, forced exercise)
- Forced consumption (alcohol, food, drugs)
- Psychological abuse (humiliation, sleep deprivation, threats)
- Any act that endangers a student’s health or safety
Important: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds the organization accountable.
2. Universities Near Benewah County Have Greek Life—and Hazing Risks
While Benewah County itself does not have a major university, nearby institutions with active Greek life include:
| University | Location | Greek Life Presence |
|---|---|---|
| University of Idaho | Moscow, ID (~1.5 hours from Benewah County) | Strong Greek system (fraternities & sororities) |
| Washington State University | Pullman, WA (~2 hours from Benewah County) | Large Greek community |
| Gonzaga University | Spokane, WA (~2.5 hours from Benewah County) | Active Greek life |
| Eastern Washington University | Cheney, WA (~2 hours from Benewah County) | Fraternities & sororities |
The same national fraternities and sororities that have paid millions in hazing settlements operate chapters at these schools. If your child was hazed at any of these institutions, you have legal rights.
3. The Same Hazing That Happened in Houston Could Happen Here
In November 2025, a University of Houston fraternity pledge was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being:
✔ Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
✔ Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
✔ Struck with wooden paddles
✔ Forced to eat until vomiting
✔ Threatened with expulsion if he stopped
The fraternity’s national organization admitted to “violations of risk management policies” but is already planning to reopen the chapter.
This is not an isolated incident. The same fraternity (Pi Kappa Phi) had a pledge die from forced alcohol consumption in 2017—yet they did nothing to stop the abuse.
If your child was hazed at a university near Benewah County, we will fight for you with the same aggression we’re using in the Houston case.
💰 What Hazing Victims Can Recover in a Lawsuit
Hazing lawsuits can result in multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts, including compensation for:
| Type of Damage | Examples | Potential Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Bills | Hospital stays, ER visits, therapy, future treatment | $50,000–$500,000+ |
| Pain & Suffering | Physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD | $500,000–$5,000,000+ |
| Lost Wages | Missed work, lost internships, career setbacks | $50,000–$500,000+ |
| Punitive Damages | To punish the organization for reckless behavior | $1,000,000–$10,000,000+ |
| Wrongful Death | If hazing resulted in death | $5,000,000–$50,000,000+ |
Precedent Cases (What Hazing Victims Have Won):
- $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)
If your child was hazed near Benewah County, you could be entitled to the same level of compensation.
🔍 Who Can Be Held Liable for Hazing?
Hazing cases are not just about suing individual students—they’re about holding institutions accountable. We pursue every responsible party, including:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter | Directly organized and participated in hazing |
| National Fraternity/Sorority Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing risks |
| University/College | Failed to protect students; may own the fraternity house |
| Chapter Officers (President, Pledgemaster, etc.) | Leadership responsibility; directed hazing |
| Individual Members | Participated in or failed to stop hazing |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their homes |
| Insurance Companies | Provide coverage for institutional liability |
Example: In the Houston hazing case, we are suing:
- The local fraternity chapter
- The national fraternity organization
- The University of Houston (which owned the fraternity house)
- Individual members and officers
- A former member and his spouse (who allowed hazing at their home)
If your child was hazed near Benewah County, we will identify and sue every responsible party.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Benewah County
✅ Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, document everything (rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, and other hazing injuries can be life-threatening).
- Keep all medical records—they are critical evidence.
✅ Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence.
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs).
- Get witness names and contact info (other pledges, bystanders).
- Do NOT delete anything—even if it seems embarrassing.
✅ Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Without a Lawyer
- They will try to control the narrative, destroy evidence, or pressure your child into silence.
- Anything your child says can be used against them in a lawsuit.
✅ Step 4: Contact an Experienced Hazing Lawyer Immediately
- Statute of limitations: In Idaho, you typically have 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit.
- Evidence disappears fast—witnesses forget, texts get deleted, and organizations destroy records.
- The sooner we act, the stronger your case will be.
🏛️ Why Benewah County Families Should Choose Attorney 911
1. We Are Fighting a Hazing Case RIGHT NOW—and Winning
- We are currently representing a University of Houston student who was hospitalized after being waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles.
- We are suing the fraternity, the national organization, the university, and individual members for $10 million.
- This is the same fight we will bring to Benewah County.
2. We Know How to Beat the “Consent” Defense
- Fraternities and sororities will argue: “He/she agreed to participate.”
- Idaho law says consent is NOT a defense.
- We will destroy this argument in court.
3. We Have Former Insurance Defense Attorneys on Our Team
- Both of our attorneys (Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena) used to work for insurance companies.
- We know exactly how they try to minimize or deny claims—and we know how to beat them.
4. We Will Travel to Benewah County for Your Case
- While we are based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve hazing victims nationwide.
- We will travel to Benewah County for depositions, meetings, and trials.
- We offer free video consultations for Benewah County families.
5. We Work on Contingency—No Upfront Costs
- You pay nothing unless we win your case.
- We only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
📞 Benewah County Families: Call Us Now for a Free Consultation
If your child was hazed at a university near Benewah County, we can help.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit: attorney911.com
We are available 24/7. Your consultation is free and confidential.
🚨 Warning to Fraternities and Sororities Near Benewah County
To the leaders of Greek organizations at the University of Idaho, Washington State, Gonzaga, and Eastern Washington:
We are watching. We know your chapters. We know your national organizations have paid millions in hazing settlements—and we will hold you accountable if you harm another student.
If your chapter hazes students near Benewah County, we will sue you for everything you have.
The choice is yours: Clean up your act now, or face the consequences in court.
📢 Final Message to Benewah County Families
Hazing is not tradition. It’s not brotherhood. It’s abuse—and it must stop.
If your child was hazed, you don’t have to stay silent. You don’t have to accept excuses. You deserve justice, accountability, and compensation for what your family has endured.
We are Attorney 911. We are fighting this battle right now. And we will fight for you.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today.
