🛡️ Hazing Victim Legal Guide for Brown County, Illinois Families
You Are Not Alone. Justice Is Possible.
If your child has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or other student organization in or near Brown County, Illinois, you need to know: what happened to them was not “tradition” — it was abuse. And in Illinois, as in most states, hazing is both a crime and a civil offense, meaning you can hold the perpetrators and institutions accountable.
At Attorney 911, we are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston — a case involving waterboarding, forced exercise to kidney failure, and extreme physical abuse. While we are based in Texas, our federal court authority and commitment to hazing victims means we can represent Brown County families too.
This guide will help you understand:
- What hazing really is
- Your legal rights in Illinois
- Who can be held liable
- What compensation you may be entitled to
- How to preserve evidence
- Why you should act now
🚨 What Is Hazing? The Illinois Legal Definition
Illinois law defines hazing in 720 ILCS 120/0.01:
“Hazing” means any act directed toward a student that:
- Endangers the physical health or safety of the student
- Is for the purpose of initiation or admission into any group, organization, or society
- Includes but is not limited to:
- Forced consumption of alcohol, drugs, or food
- Physical brutality
- Exposure to extreme weather
- Sleep deprivation
- Sexual abuse or humiliation
- Psychological abuse
This includes:
- Waterboarding or simulated drowning
- Forced exercise until collapse (like our client who did 500 squats)
- Beating with paddles or other objects
- Forced alcohol consumption leading to alcohol poisoning
- Sleep deprivation causing exhaustion
- Humiliation rituals
- Sexual assault or harassment
In Illinois, hazing is a crime — and consent is NOT a defense.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights in Illinois
1. Criminal Liability — Hazing Is a Crime
Under 720 ILCS 120/5, hazing is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by:
- Up to 1 year in jail
- Fines up to $2,500
If hazing causes great bodily harm or death, it becomes a Class 4 felony, punishable by:
- 1-3 years in prison
- Fines up to $25,000
Brown County families: You can report hazing to local law enforcement. While criminal prosecution is separate from civil lawsuits, a criminal conviction can strengthen your civil case.
2. Civil Liability — You Can Sue for Money Damages
Even if no criminal charges are filed, you can file a civil lawsuit to recover compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Lost wages
- Future medical care
- Punitive damages (to punish the wrongdoers)
In Illinois, there is no cap on pain and suffering damages — meaning juries can award millions for severe cases.
🏛️ Who Can Be Sued? The Deep Pockets
Hazing cases often involve multiple defendants, each with their own insurance or assets:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Example from Our Case |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at UH |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew of hazing culture | Pi Kappa Phi National — knew about “hazing crisis” |
| University/College | Failed to protect students; may own property where hazing occurred | University of Houston owned the fraternity house |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility; directed activities | Chapter president, pledgemaster |
| Individual Members | Participated in or facilitated hazing | Members who waterboarded, forced exercise |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their property | Former member and spouse named in our lawsuit |
| Housing Corporations | Owned property where hazing occurred | Pi Kappa Phi Housing Corporation |
Brown County families: Even if the hazing occurred at a private home or off-campus location, the national organization and university may still be liable if they failed to prevent it.
💰 What Compensation Can You Recover?
Economic Damages (Actual Financial Losses)
- Past and future medical bills (hospitalization, therapy, medications)
- Lost wages (if victim missed work due to injuries)
- Educational expenses (tuition lost due to dropping out, transferring)
- Rehabilitation costs (physical therapy, mental health treatment)
Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)
- Physical pain from injuries (e.g., rhabdomyolysis, broken bones)
- Emotional trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
- Humiliation and shame from hazing rituals
- Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in normal activities)
Punitive Damages (To Punish and Deter)
- Awarded when conduct is intentional, malicious, or grossly negligent
- Meant to send a message that hazing will not be tolerated
- No cap in Illinois for punitive damages in hazing cases
Our Houston case: We are seeking $10 million for our client who suffered kidney failure from forced exercise. Similar compensation is possible for Brown County victims.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Brown County
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked
- Some conditions (like rhabdomyolysis) may not show symptoms right away
- Medical records create critical evidence
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
✅ Take photos/videos of:
- Injuries at all stages of healing
- Locations where hazing occurred
- Any items used in hazing (paddles, alcohol bottles, etc.)
✅ Save all communications:
- Text messages
- GroupMe, Snapchat, WhatsApp chats
- Emails
- Social media posts
✅ Get witness information:
- Names and contact info of other victims
- Names of bystanders who saw what happened
✅ Do NOT:
- Delete any messages or posts
- Talk to the fraternity/sorority or university without legal counsel
- Sign anything from the organization
- Post about the incident on social media
Step 3: Report the Hazing
- To the police: File a report with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office or local law enforcement
- To the university: Report to the Dean of Students or Title IX office
- To the national organization: If a Greek organization, report to their national headquarters
Step 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately
- Statute of limitations in Illinois: 2 years from the date of injury
- Evidence disappears quickly
- Witnesses forget details
- Organizations may destroy records
- Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation
🎯 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Brown County Hazing Case?
1. We’re Fighting This Fight Right Now
- We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston
- Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure
- We know how to build these cases and win
2. We Have Insider Knowledge of Greek Organizations
- Both of our attorneys are former insurance defense lawyers — we know how fraternities and universities try to avoid liability
- We understand the national organization structures, insurance policies, and legal defenses they use
- We know where the money is — and how to get it
3. We Can Represent Brown County Families
- While based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide
- We have federal court authority and can pursue cases in Illinois
- We offer video consultations and travel to Brown County for depositions and trials
- We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win
4. We Have a Proven Track Record of Big Wins
- Multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts in personal injury cases
- Experience with BP Texas City explosion litigation — taking on massive corporate defendants
- 4.9-star Google rating from over 250 clients
- Aggressive, compassionate representation
5. We Speak Spanish — Se Habla Español
- Many hazing victims are Hispanic or from immigrant families
- We provide full Spanish-language support — consultations, case updates, court proceedings
- No language barriers to justice
📞 Brown County Families — Call Now for a Free Consultation
If your child has been hazed in or near Brown County, Illinois, you have legal rights. We can help.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We offer:
✅ Free, confidential case evaluation
✅ No upfront costs — we work on contingency
✅ Video consultations available
✅ Spanish-speaking attorneys and staff
✅ Aggressive representation against universities and national organizations
Brown County universities with Greek life we can investigate:
- Western Illinois University (Macomb, ~30 miles from Brown County)
- Illinois College (Jacksonville, ~40 miles)
- Quincy University (Quincy, ~50 miles)
- University of Illinois Springfield (~90 miles)
- Bradley University (Peoria, ~100 miles)
- And others across Illinois
The same fraternities and sororities that operate at these schools have chapters nationwide — including the ones we’re suing in Texas. If your child was hazed in Brown County, we can help.
⚠️ The Clock Is Ticking — Act Now
Illinois has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. That means you have 2 years from the date of the hazing incident to file a lawsuit.
Every day you wait:
- Evidence disappears
- Witnesses forget
- Organizations destroy records
- Your legal rights expire
Don’t let the people who hurt your child get away with it. Call Attorney 911 today.
🔥 Enough Is Enough. Brown County Families Deserve Justice.
We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. And we are ready to fight for you.
