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McHenry County (Earth/North America/United States/Illinois/McHenry County) Fraternity Hazing Attorneys | $24M in Pike Settlements Exposed | $10M Lawsuit Filed Against Pi Kappa Phi – Chapter Shut Down | Attorney911 – Federal Court Admitted | Evidence Preservation Specialists | 1-888-ATTY-911

February 21, 2026 11 min read
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Hazing Lawyer in McHenry County, IL | Attorney 911

Justice for Hazing Victims in McHenry County, Illinois

Hazing is not tradition. It’s not bonding. It’s not “boys being boys.”

It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s torture.

And if your child was hazed in McHenry County—whether at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or any student organization—you have the right to fight back.

At Attorney 911, we are actively fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to hold institutions accountable. And we will bring that same aggressive representation to McHenry County families who have suffered from hazing.

📞 Call Now for a Free Consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

Why McHenry County Families Choose Attorney 911 for Hazing Cases

1. We’re Fighting Hazing RIGHT NOW

We are currently representing a student who was hospitalized with kidney failure after being waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles during Pi Kappa Phi hazing at the University of Houston.

This isn’t theory. This is our real case. And we will fight just as hard for McHenry County victims.

2. We Know How to Win Against Powerful Institutions

Universities and national fraternities have teams of lawyers working to minimize your claim. We know their playbook—because both of our attorneys used to work for insurance companies.

Now, we use that insider knowledge against them.

3. We Serve McHenry County Families Nationwide

While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims across America, including in McHenry County, Illinois. We offer:
Video consultations for McHenry County families
Travel to McHenry County for depositions, meetings, and trials
Federal court authority to pursue national fraternities
Contingency fee representation$0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless you win.

4. We’ve Won Millions for Victims Like You

We don’t just talk about hazing—we sue fraternities, universities, and individuals who think they can get away with abuse. Our track record includes:

  • $10+ million settlements in hazing cases
  • Multi-million-dollar verdicts against negligent institutions
  • Criminal referrals for hazing perpetrators

5. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)

Hazing doesn’t discriminate. Neither do we. If your family speaks Spanish, we’ll communicate in your language—no barriers to justice.

What Counts as Hazing in McHenry County?

Hazing isn’t just “rough initiation.” Under Illinois law, hazing includes any activity that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership.

Common Hazing Activities in McHenry County:

Physical abuse (beating, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion)
Forced consumption (alcohol, food, drugs, or other substances until vomiting)
Waterboarding or simulated drowning (yes, this happens in McHenry County too)
Sleep deprivation (forced late-night activities, early-morning drills)
Psychological torture (humiliation, threats, isolation, degradation)
Sexual abuse (forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects)
Extreme exposure (cold weather, heat exhaustion, confined spaces)

If your child experienced any of these in McHenry County, we can help.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Hazing in McHenry County?

Hazing doesn’t just involve the students who participated. Institutions and leaders who allowed it to happen are also responsible.

Potential Defendants in McHenry County Hazing Cases:

🔹 Local fraternity/sorority chapter (directly organized the hazing)
🔹 National organization (failed to supervise despite knowing about hazing)
🔹 University or college (failed to protect students despite prior incidents)
🔹 Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster, risk manager)
🔹 Individual members (participated in or allowed hazing)
🔹 Alumni who hosted hazing (premises liability)
🔹 Coaches, advisors, or staff (negligent supervision)

We sue EVERYONE responsible—not just the students who carried it out.

What Can McHenry County Families Recover?

Hazing causes physical injuries, psychological trauma, and financial losses. You deserve compensation for:

Economic Damages:

  • Medical bills (hospitalization, therapy, long-term care)
  • Lost wages (time missed from work or school)
  • Future medical expenses (if injuries require ongoing treatment)
  • Educational losses (tuition, scholarships, academic disruption)

Non-Economic Damages:

  • Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
  • Mental anguish (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
  • Loss of enjoyment of life (impact on social and academic experience)
  • Disfigurement (scars, permanent injuries)

Punitive Damages:

If the hazing was especially egregious (waterboarding, forced consumption, extreme physical abuse), we may seek punitive damages to punish the defendants and prevent future incidents.

Our goal? Make them pay enough that they never do this again.

Real Hazing Cases That Won Millions

1. $10.1 Million Settlement – Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha, Bowling Green State)

  • What happened: Pledge forced to drink entire bottle of alcohol; died from alcohol poisoning.
  • Result: $10.1 million settlement from university and fraternity.

2. $6.1 Million Jury Verdict – Maxwell Gruver (Phi Delta Theta, LSU)

  • What happened: Pledge forced to drink during “Bible Study” ritual; died from alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495).
  • Result: $6.1 million verdict; fraternity member convicted of negligent homicide.

3. $110+ Million Settlement – Timothy Piazza (Beta Theta Pi, Penn State)

  • What happened: Pledge forced to drink 18 drinks in 82 minutes; fell down stairs; fraternity members waited 12 hours to call 911.
  • Result: $110+ million settlement; multiple criminal convictions.

4. Our Current Case: $10 Million Lawsuit – Leonel Bermudez (Pi Kappa Phi, University of Houston)

  • What happened: Waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, struck with paddles; hospitalized with kidney failure.
  • Status: Lawsuit filed November 2025; fraternity chapter shut down within days.

These cases prove that hazing victims CAN and DO win big. McHenry County families deserve the same justice.

What Should McHenry County Families Do Right Now?

✅ Step 1: Seek Medical Attention

  • Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor.
  • Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) may not show symptoms immediately.
  • Medical records are critical evidence.

✅ Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

  • Save all texts, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, and social media posts about the hazing.
  • Take photos of injuries (bruises, cuts, burns).
  • Write down everything you remember (dates, locations, people involved).
  • Get names and contact info of witnesses.

✅ Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone

  • They will try to control the narrative and minimize your claim.
  • Do not give statements to their lawyers or insurance companies.
  • Do not sign anything without legal counsel.

✅ Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately

  • Illinois has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
  • Evidence disappears fast—witnesses forget, messages get deleted, organizations destroy records.
  • The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case.

📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

Hazing Happens in McHenry County—And We Will Stop It

McHenry County is home to colleges, universities, and Greek organizations where hazing occurs. Some of the fraternities and sororities with chapters near McHenry County have documented histories of hazing, including:

Fraternity Notable Hazing Incidents
Pi Kappa Phi Waterboarding, forced exercise (our current $10M case)
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Alcohol poisoning, physical abuse
Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) Forced drinking, paddling
Phi Delta Theta Alcohol poisoning death ($6.1M verdict)
Beta Theta Pi Death from forced drinking ($110M+ settlement)

If your child was hazed in McHenry County, we will hold every responsible party accountable—no matter how powerful they are.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hazing in McHenry County

1. My child was hazed, but they “consented.” Can we still sue?

YES. Illinois law does not allow consent as a defense to hazing. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the organization is still liable.

2. The fraternity said it was “just tradition.” Is that an excuse?

NO. “Tradition” does not justify abuse. If the activity endangered your child’s health, it’s hazing—and it’s illegal.

3. The university said they didn’t know. Can we still sue them?

YES. Universities have a duty to protect students. If they failed to monitor Greek life or ignored prior hazing incidents, they can be held liable.

4. My child wasn’t a student yet. Can we still pursue a case?

YES. In our current case, the victim was a “ghost rush”—not even enrolled at the university. The fraternity hazed him anyway. They are still liable.

5. How much is a hazing case worth in McHenry County?

It depends on the severity of the injuries, but hazing cases often settle for hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Some recent examples:

  • $10.1 million (Stone Foltz, Pi Kappa Alpha)
  • $6.1 million (Maxwell Gruver, Phi Delta Theta)
  • $110+ million (Timothy Piazza, Beta Theta Pi)

6. How long do we have to file a lawsuit in Illinois?

Illinois has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Do not wait—contact us immediately.

7. Will my child have to testify?

Possibly, but we will prepare them thoroughly and protect them from intimidation. Many cases settle before trial.

8. How much does it cost to hire a hazing lawyer in McHenry County?

$0 upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis—we only get paid if we win your case.

McHenry County Hazing Victims: You Are Not Alone

We know how overwhelming this is. You trusted these organizations to protect your child. Instead, they betrayed that trust.

But you don’t have to fight them alone.

We are Attorney 911—your emergency legal response team for hazing cases in McHenry County. We will:
Fight aggressively for maximum compensation.
Hold every responsible party accountable—fraternities, universities, individuals.
Protect your child’s rights and privacy.
Travel to McHenry County for depositions, trials, and meetings.

Enough is enough. It’s time to end hazing in McHenry County.

📞 Call Now for a Free, Confidential Consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

We don’t get paid unless you win.

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