Hazing Victims in Owyhee County Deserve Justice — Attorney 911 Fights for Idaho Families
When your child leaves for college, you trust that the university will keep them safe. You trust that fraternities and sororities will uphold basic standards of human dignity. You trust that the Greek letters on their shirts represent brotherhood — not torture.
But for too many families in Owyhee County and across Idaho, that trust is shattered. Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” It’s a culture of abuse that sends students to the hospital — or worse. And it’s happening at universities near Owyhee County right now.
At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this battle in court right now. We’re currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston. Our client was waterboarded. Forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down. Struck with wooden paddles. Hospitalized with kidney failure.
This isn’t happening just in Texas. It’s happening at universities near Owyhee County. The same national fraternities operate in Idaho. The same negligence exists here. And we will fight for Owyhee County families with the same aggression we’re bringing to this case.
🚨 What Hazing Really Looks Like — The Case That Shows Owyhee County Families Why We Fight
Our client, Leonel Bermudez, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston. What followed was weeks of systematic abuse that nearly killed him:
- Waterboarding with a garden hose — simulated drowning
- 500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls — forced until he couldn’t stand
- Wooden paddles — physical beatings
- Forced eating until vomiting — then forced to keep running
- Another pledge collapsed unconscious — they kept going
- Result: Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure
- Hospitalized for 4 days fighting for his life
This happened in Houston. But the same hazing happens at universities near Owyhee County. The same fraternities operate in Idaho. The same negligence exists here.
Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America, including in the Northwest. If their Houston chapter was waterboarding students, how many other chapters are doing the same?
⚠️ The Truth About Hazing in Idaho
Hazing isn’t limited to fraternities. It happens in:
- Fraternities and sororities at universities near Owyhee County
- Sports teams — high school and college
- Marching bands and music programs
- ROTC and military training programs
- Student clubs and organizations
- Even honor societies
Common Idaho hazing activities include:
- Forced alcohol consumption (binge drinking)
- Extreme physical exercise (pushups, runs, calisthenics)
- Sleep deprivation
- Verbal abuse and humiliation
- Physical assault (paddling, beating)
- Sexual humiliation and assault
- Waterboarding and simulated drowning
- Exposure to extreme temperatures
- Forced consumption of non-food substances
These aren’t “pranks.” They’re assault. Battery. Torture. And they leave lasting scars — physical and psychological.
💔 The Human Cost — What Hazing Does to Owyhee County Families
When hazing goes wrong, the consequences are devastating:
| Injury | Medical Consequences | Idaho Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Rhabdomyolysis | Muscle breakdown → kidney failure → potential dialysis or transplant | Our client suffered this — it can happen to Idaho students |
| Alcohol Poisoning | Coma, brain damage, death | Common in forced drinking hazing |
| Traumatic Brain Injury | Permanent cognitive impairment, personality changes | From beatings or falls |
| Hypothermia/Hyperthermia | Organ failure, death | From exposure during hazing rituals |
| Cardiac Arrest | Sudden death | From extreme physical exertion |
| PTSD, Anxiety, Depression | Long-term therapy, medication, inability to function | Psychological trauma lasts years |
| Death | Irreversible loss of a child | Multiple hazing deaths every year in America |
These aren’t hypothetical risks. They’re real outcomes that destroy Idaho families every year.
🏛️ Who Is Responsible? Everyone Who Allowed It
When hazing happens, everyone who participated or allowed it shares responsibility. In our current case, we’re suing:
- The local fraternity chapter — for organizing and conducting the hazing
- The national fraternity organization — for failing to supervise despite knowing about “a hazing crisis”
- The university — for owning the fraternity house and failing to protect students
- Individual members — for participating in or failing to stop the abuse
- Former members and alumni — for hosting hazing at their homes
This same liability framework applies to Owyhee County cases. If your child was hazed at a university near Owyhee County, we can pursue:
- The local chapter
- The national organization
- The university or college
- Individual perpetrators
- Anyone who knew and didn’t stop it
⚖️ Idaho Law Protects Hazing Victims
Idaho has strong laws against hazing:
Idaho Code § 18-917 — Hazing Prohibited
(1) A person is guilty of hazing if he intentionally or recklessly engages in any act which:
(a) Endangers the physical health or safety of a student;
(b) Causes physical harm to a student;
(c) Causes extreme mental stress to a student;
(d) Causes extreme embarrassment or humiliation to a student; or
(e) Destroys or removes public or private property;
for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization.
Penalties:
- Misdemeanor — up to 1 year in jail and $5,000 fine
- Felony — if hazing results in death or serious bodily injury
Importantly, Idaho law states:
(4) Consent is not a defense to a prosecution under this section.
This means: Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the hazing is still illegal. The law explicitly eliminates the “consent” defense that fraternities often try to use.
💰 Hazing Cases Win Millions — The Same Results Are Possible for Owyhee County Families
Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what juries and courts have awarded in recent years:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | $10.1 million total (university + fraternity) |
| Maxwell Gruver | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | $110+ million settlement |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Confidential settlement (same fraternity as our case) |
| Adam Oakes | Virginia Commonwealth | Delta Chi | $4+ million settlement |
Our $10 million demand for Leonel Bermudez is directly in line with these precedents. The same results are possible for Owyhee County families.
🎯 Why Owyhee County Families Choose Attorney 911
We’re Not Just Lawyers — We’re Fighters
While based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including Owyhee County and all of Idaho. Here’s why Idaho families trust us:
✅ We’re fighting this battle RIGHT NOW — $10M lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and UH
✅ Nationwide reach — Federal court authority, dual-state bar licenses, travel commitment
✅ Former insurance defense attorneys — We know how they think and how to fight them
✅ No upfront cost — We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win
✅ Aggressive representation — We sue everyone responsible: fraternities, universities, individuals
✅ Compassionate service — We understand the trauma you’re going through
✅ Proven results — Millions recovered for personal injury victims
We Come to Owyhee County
Distance is not a barrier to justice. We:
- Offer video consultations for Owyhee County families
- Travel to Idaho for depositions, trials, and client meetings
- Handle all communications with defendants so you don’t have to
- Work with local Idaho medical providers to document your injuries
We Speak Your Language
Our staff is bilingual — we serve Spanish-speaking families in Owyhee County without language barriers.
📞 Owyhee County Families: Have You or Your Child Been Hazed?
You are not alone. You have rights. And you have powerful legal options.
If you or your child has been hazed at a university near Owyhee County, contact us immediately for a free, confidential consultation.
📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com
We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win your case.
🔍 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Owyhee County
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
- Get medical attention — Even if injuries seem minor, document everything
- Preserve all evidence — Texts, photos, videos, GroupMe chats, Snapchats
- Do NOT talk to the fraternity/sorority — They will try to control the narrative
- Do NOT post on social media — Anything you post can be used against you
- Contact an attorney — Know your rights before making any statements
- Consider filing a police report — Hazing is a crime in Idaho
- File a Title IX complaint — If the hazing involved sexual harassment or assault
EVIDENCE TO PRESERVE:
| Evidence Type | What to Save |
|---|---|
| Medical Records | Hospital records, ER visits, doctor notes, therapy records |
| Photos/Videos | Injuries at all stages of healing, hazing activities, locations |
| Communications | Text messages, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, emails |
| Witness Information | Names and contact info of other victims and witnesses |
| Documents | Pledge manuals, schedules, rules given to your child |
| Financial Records | Medical bills, lost wages, tuition/fees paid |
| Academic Records | Impact on grades, enrollment, scholarships |
WHAT NOT TO DO:
❌ Don’t delete any messages or posts — This is destruction of evidence
❌ Don’t confront the organization directly — They will destroy evidence and intimidate witnesses
❌ Don’t sign anything from the fraternity/sorority — You may be waiving your rights
❌ Don’t talk to university administrators alone — They protect the institution, not you
❌ Don’t wait — Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, statutes of limitations expire
⏳ Time Is Critical — Idaho Statute of Limitations
Idaho law limits how long you have to take legal action:
- Personal injury: 2 years from date of injury
- Wrongful death: 2 years from date of death
DO NOT WAIT. Every day you delay:
- Evidence disappears
- Witnesses forget
- Organizations destroy records
- Your legal rights expire
Contact Attorney 911 today to protect your rights.
🏢 Universities Near Owyhee County — We’re Watching
Owyhee County families send their children to colleges and universities across the Northwest. We know which institutions have active Greek life. We know which fraternities and sororities have chapters. And we’re watching.
Major Universities Near Owyhee County with Greek Life:
| University | Location | Greek Organizations Present |
|---|---|---|
| Boise State University | Boise, ID | Multiple fraternities and sororities |
| University of Idaho | Moscow, ID | Extensive Greek system |
| Idaho State University | Pocatello, ID | Active Greek life |
| College of Idaho | Caldwell, ID | Greek organizations |
| Northwest Nazarene University | Nampa, ID | Greek organizations |
| Lewis-Clark State College | Lewiston, ID | Greek organizations |
The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths nationwide have chapters at these universities:
- Pi Kappa Phi
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- Pi Kappa Alpha
- Beta Theta Pi
- Phi Delta Theta
- Sigma Chi
- Kappa Sigma
- Delta Chi
- And many others
If your child attends or plans to attend any of these universities, they face the same hazing risks that hospitalized our client.
📢 A Message to Idaho Fraternities and Sororities
To the fraternities and sororities operating at universities near Owyhee County:
We are watching. We are documenting. And we are coming for you if you haze.
The same legal strategies that are securing $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know how to sue you.
Pi Kappa Phi just learned this the hard way. Their Houston chapter is shut down after our lawsuit. Their national organization is facing $10 million in liability. And they’re already planning to come back — because they don’t think they’ve been punished enough.
Your chapter could be next.
To the national organizations:
You have the power to stop this. You have the authority over your chapters. You have the resources to implement real oversight.
Andrew Coffey died at a Pi Kappa Phi event in 2017. Eight years later, Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized at another Pi Kappa Phi chapter. How many more students have to be harmed before you act?
To the universities near Owyhee County:
You own the buildings. You collect the rent. You have the power to inspect and regulate. You have the duty to protect your students.
A student was hospitalized from hazing at University of Houston in 2017. Eight years later, another student was hospitalized at the same university. How many more Idaho students have to be harmed before you act?
🎓 A Message to Idaho Students
If you’re being hazed at a university near Owyhee County:
You are not alone. You have rights. You have options.
What’s happening to you is not “tradition.” It’s not “brotherhood.” It’s abuse. And it’s illegal.
You don’t have to endure it. You can say no. You can walk away. And you can fight back.
Many students don’t report hazing because they:
- Fear social retaliation
- Don’t want to be seen as “weak”
- Feel loyal to the organization
- Don’t recognize it as hazing
- Think “everyone goes through it”
But here’s the truth:
- You have the right to be safe
- You have the right to say no
- You have the right to report it without fear
- You have the right to seek justice
If you’re being hazed, contact Attorney 911. We will protect your identity. We will fight for you. And we will hold the people who hurt you accountable.
🏛️ Idaho Legislators — It’s Time for Action
Hazing deaths and injuries lead to legislative change. After Timothy Piazza died at Penn State, Pennsylvania passed the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law. After Maxwell Gruver died at LSU, Louisiana passed the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony.
Idaho needs stronger hazing laws. Current penalties are insufficient to deter this dangerous conduct.
Attorney 911 supports:
- Increasing penalties for hazing that causes serious injury or death
- Requiring universities to publicly report hazing incidents
- Strengthening criminal consequences for individual perpetrators
- Providing immunity for students who report hazing in good faith
If you’re an Idaho legislator, contact us. We can provide expert testimony on the need for stronger hazing laws in Idaho.
📞 Contact Attorney 911 Today
Owyhee County families — if you or your child has been hazed, we can help.
📞 Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com
Free consultation. No upfront cost. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
We serve Owyhee County and all of Idaho. Distance is not a barrier to justice.
🔥 Idaho Hazing Victims: Enough Is Enough
Hazing has destroyed too many lives. It has taken too many children from their families. It has left too many students with permanent scars — physical and psychological.
But there is hope.
Our $10 million lawsuit is sending a message. The Stone Foltz family’s $10.1 million settlement sent a message. The Maxwell Gruver family’s $6.1 million verdict sent a message.
It’s time for Idaho to send a message too.
If you or your child has been hazed at a university near Owyhee County, stand up. Speak out. Fight back.
Contact Attorney 911 today. Let’s hold them accountable. Let’s protect the next student. Let’s end hazing in Idaho.
Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
📍 Serving Owyhee County and all of Idaho
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We don’t just talk about justice. We fight for it.
