Hazing Lawyers Serving Greene County, Illinois – Attorney 911
When College Traditions Become Torture: Your Legal Rights After Hazing in Greene County
Greene County parents and students: If your child was hazed at a college, university, fraternity, or sorority near Greene County, Illinois, you have legal rights – even if the incident didn’t happen in Illinois. Attorney 911 is currently fighting a landmark $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston, and we’re bringing that same aggressive representation to families in Greene County and across the country.
The Hazing Crisis in Greene County’s Backyard
Hazing doesn’t stop at state lines. The same national fraternities with chapters at universities near Greene County have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries nationwide. Just this November, we filed suit against Pi Kappa Phi for waterboarding, forced consumption, and extreme physical abuse that hospitalized a student with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
This could happen at any college near Greene County. The University of Illinois system, Southern Illinois University, and other regional colleges all have active Greek organizations with the same national affiliations as the fraternities we’re currently suing.
What Is Considered Hazing in Illinois?
Illinois law defines hazing as any intentional or reckless act that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation, admission, or affiliation with any organization. This includes:
- Physical abuse: Beatings, paddling, branding, or forced exercise to exhaustion
- Forced consumption: Alcohol, food, or non-food substances until vomiting or passing out
- Psychological torture: Waterboarding, humiliation, sleep deprivation
- Sexual abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, or carrying sexual objects
- Extreme servitude: Forced cleaning, driving members, or other personal services
Illinois law is clear: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the organization can still be held legally responsible.
The Medical Reality of Hazing: What Greene County Families Need to Know
Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” It causes real, lasting medical damage:
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown that can lead to kidney failure)
- Acute alcohol poisoning (potentially fatal)
- Traumatic brain injuries from beatings or falls
- Hypothermia or heat stroke from exposure
- Cardiac arrest from extreme physical exertion
- PTSD, anxiety, and depression from psychological abuse
Our current client spent 4 days in the hospital with kidney failure after being waterboarded and forced to do 500 squats. This is what hazing looks like in 2025 – and it’s happening at colleges near Greene County.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Hazing in Greene County?
When hazing occurs, multiple parties share responsibility:
- Local fraternity/sorority chapter – The individuals who organized and carried out the hazing
- National organization – The parent fraternity/sorority that failed to supervise and prevent abuse
- University/college – The institution that allowed hazing to occur on their property or under their watch
- Individual members – Each person who participated in or facilitated the hazing
- Alumni/hosts – Individuals who allowed hazing to occur at their homes
In our current case, we’re suing:
- Pi Kappa Phi National
- The local UH chapter
- The university (which owned the fraternity house)
- Multiple individual members
- A former member and his spouse who hosted hazing at their home
What Compensation Is Available for Greene County Hazing Victims?
Hazing victims may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses (hospital stays, rehabilitation, future treatment)
- Lost wages (time missed from work or school)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
- Psychological treatment (therapy for PTSD, anxiety, depression)
- Educational disruption (impact on academic performance)
- Punitive damages (to punish egregious conduct)
Our current case seeks $10 million – an amount consistent with recent hazing verdicts and settlements nationwide.
Recent Hazing Cases That Prove Greene County Families Can Win
| Case | Fraternity | University | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Pi Kappa Alpha | Bowling Green State | Settlement | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver | Phi Delta Theta | Louisiana State | Jury Verdict | $6.1 million |
| Timothy Piazza | Beta Theta Pi | Penn State | Settlement | $110+ million |
| Andrew Coffey | Pi Kappa Phi | Florida State | Settlement | Confidential |
| Adam Oakes | Delta Chi | Virginia Commonwealth | Settlement | $4+ million |
These cases prove that juries and courts take hazing seriously. The same legal strategies that won millions in these cases apply to Greene County victims.
The University of Houston Case: A Warning for Greene County Institutions
In November 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for hazing that hospitalized our client with kidney failure. The lawsuit details:
- Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
- Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he couldn’t stand
- Struck with wooden paddles
- Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to continue exercising
- Another pledge collapsed and lost consciousness during workouts
- Hazing occurred in a university-owned fraternity house
This same fraternity has chapters at universities near Greene County. The same national organization oversees these chapters. The same culture of abuse exists across state lines.
What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed Near Greene County
1. Seek medical attention immediately – Even if injuries seem minor, get documentation
2. Preserve all evidence – Texts, photos, videos, social media posts
3. Do NOT talk to the organization or their lawyers – Anything you say can be used against you
4. Do NOT sign anything – The organization may try to get you to waive your rights
5. Contact an attorney – Time is critical; statutes of limitations apply
Greene County families: We offer free consultations and work on contingency – you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Why Greene County Families Choose Attorney 911
- We’re fighting this battle right now – Our current $10 million hazing lawsuit is active
- Former insurance defense attorneys – We know how fraternities and universities try to avoid liability
- Federal court authority – We can pursue cases nationwide, including in Illinois
- Dual-state bar admission – Licensed in Texas and New York
- Proven track record – Multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts
- We come to Greene County – For depositions, meetings, and trials
- Bilingual services – Se habla español
The Attorney 911 Difference: We Know How to Beat the “Consent” Defense
Fraternities and universities will argue: “He agreed to participate. He knew the risks. He could have left.”
Illinois law says: Consent is NOT a defense to hazing.
We’ve successfully defeated this argument in court before, and we’ll do it again for Greene County families.
Greene County Hazing Resources
Illinois Anti-Hazing Law: 720 ILCS 120/0.01 – Makes hazing a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail
Illinois College Hazing Hotline: 1-888-END-HAZE (1-888-363-4293)
National Hazing Hotline: 1-888-NOT-HAZE (1-888-668-4293)
Greene County Mental Health Resources: Call 217-942-6961 for local support
Contact Attorney 911 for Greene County Hazing Cases
If your child was hazed at any college or university near Greene County, Illinois, call us immediately for a free consultation.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We work on contingency – you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Greene County families: Don’t let distance be a barrier to justice. We serve hazing victims nationwide and will travel to Greene County for your case.
The same fraternities that waterboarded our client in Houston have chapters at universities near Greene County. The same universities that failed to protect students in Texas are failing students in Illinois. We will hold them accountable.
