Hazing Injury Lawyers in Iowa: Legal Help for Fraternity & Sorority Abuse Victims

Iowa Families: Your Child Was Hazed. Now What?

If your child was injured, hospitalized, or traumatized by hazing at a fraternity, sorority, or other student organization in Iowa, you’re not alone. What happened to Leonel Bermudez—a University of Houston student who was waterboarded, forced into extreme physical punishment, and hospitalized with kidney failure—happens in Iowa too.

The same national fraternities and sororities operate at Iowa universities. The same dangerous “traditions” exist in Iowa Greek life. The same institutional failures allow hazing to continue. And Iowa families deserve the same aggressive legal representation we’re providing in Texas.

At Attorney 911, we’re currently fighting a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for what they did to our client. We will fight just as hard for Iowa victims.

Hazing in Iowa: The Reality

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless fun.” It’s abuse, torture, and sometimes manslaughter. And it happens at Iowa colleges.

Iowa Universities with Greek Life & Hazing Risks

While we cannot confirm specific incidents at every Iowa school, these institutions have active Greek organizations where hazing has occurred nationwide:

The same fraternities involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta—have active chapters in Iowa. If your child was hazed at any of these schools, you have legal rights.

What Counts as Hazing in Iowa?

Iowa law defines hazing as any activity that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation, membership, or affiliation with a group. This includes:

✅ Physical abuse – Beatings, paddling, branding, excessive exercise (e.g., 500 squats until collapse)
✅ Forced consumption – Alcohol, food, or non-food items (e.g., eating until vomiting)
✅ Psychological torture – Waterboarding, sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats
✅ Dangerous stunts – Blindfolded activities, extreme weather exposure, confinement
✅ Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects

Even if your child “consented,” Iowa law says consent is NOT a defense. If they were pressured, threatened, or coerced, it’s still hazing—and it’s still illegal.

Iowa Hazing Laws: What You Need to Know

Iowa Code § 708.10 – Hazing

Iowa law makes hazing a serious misdemeanor, punishable by:

• Up to 1 year in jail
• Fines up to $2,560
• Expulsion from school

If hazing causes serious injury or death, charges can escalate to felony assault or manslaughter.

Civil Lawsuits for Hazing Injuries

Beyond criminal charges, Iowa families can sue for:

• Medical bills (hospitalization, therapy, future care)
• Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
• Lost wages (if injuries affect employment)
• Punitive damages (to punish the organization for reckless conduct)

Who can be sued?

• The local fraternity/sorority chapter
• The national organization (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Chi)
• The university (if they knew about hazing and failed to stop it)
• Individual members (those who directly participated)

Real Hazing Cases: What Iowa Families Can Learn

1. Pi Kappa Phi – University of Houston ($10M Lawsuit – 2025)

What happened?

• A pledge was waterboarded with a garden hose
• Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
• Struck with wooden paddles
• Hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure

Why it matters for Iowa:

• Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at Iowa universities
• The same national organization failed to stop hazing after a 2017 death
• Universities that own fraternity houses (like UH) can be held liable

2. Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State ($10.1M Settlement – 2021)

What happened?

• Forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol
• Died from alcohol poisoning

Why it matters for Iowa:

• Same fraternities operate in Iowa
• Universities and nationals both paid millions
• Individual members were held personally liable

3. Maxwell Gruver – LSU ($6.1M Verdict – 2017)

What happened?

• Forced to drink during a “Bible Study” hazing event
• Died with a BAC of 0.495 (6x the legal limit)

Why it matters for Iowa:

• Juries award millions for hazing deaths
• Criminal charges can accompany civil lawsuits
• Hazing is a felony in many states—including Iowa

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Iowa

🚨 Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and alcohol poisoning can be deadly
• Medical records are critical evidence

📱 Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

• Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any objects used
• Save all texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, and social media posts about hazing
• Write down names of witnesses and participants
• Do NOT delete anything—even if it’s embarrassing

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

• They will try to control the narrative
• They may pressure your child to stay silent
• Anything you say can be used against you in court

📞 Step 4: Call an Iowa Hazing Lawyer Immediately

• Statute of limitations: You have 2 years to file a lawsuit in Iowa
• Evidence disappears quickly—witnesses forget, messages get deleted
• We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win

📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9111) for a free consultation

Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Iowa Hazing Case?

✅ We’re Already Fighting This Battle

• We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi
• We know how fraternities operate, how they hide evidence, and how to win

✅ We Have Insider Knowledge

• Former insurance defense attorneys—we know how they try to deny claims
• Federal court admission—we can pursue cases nationwide, including Iowa
• Dual-state bar licenses (Texas & New York)—strategic advantage against national fraternities

✅ We Travel to Iowa

• We come to you for depositions, meetings, and trials
• Video consultations available if you can’t meet in person
• No distance is too far—we represent hazing victims nationwide

✅ We Work on Contingency – $0 Upfront

• You pay nothing unless we win your case
• No hourly fees, no retainers
• We take the risk—you get the justice

✅ We’ve Won Millions for Injury Victims

• BP Texas City explosion litigation (mass tort experience)
• Multi-million dollar settlements for personal injury cases
• Former insurance defense insight—we know their playbook

What’s Your Iowa Hazing Case Worth?

Every case is different, but hazing lawsuits often result in six- or seven-figure settlements. Factors that increase compensation:

✔ Severity of injuries (hospitalization, surgery, permanent damage)
✔ Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
✔ Pattern of abuse (if the chapter had prior hazing incidents)
✔ University negligence (if they knew and failed to stop it)
✔ Criminal conduct (waterboarding, forced drinking, assault)

Recent hazing settlements & verdicts:

• $10.1M (Stone Foltz – Pi Kappa Alpha)
• $6.1M (Maxwell Gruver – Phi Delta Theta)
• $110M+ (Timothy Piazza – Beta Theta Pi)
• $4M+ (Adam Oakes – Delta Chi)

Iowa families deserve the same justice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Iowa Hazing Lawsuits

❓ Can I sue if my child “consented” to hazing?

Yes. Iowa law says consent is not a defense. Even if your child agreed to participate, the fraternity and university can still be held liable.

❓ What if the hazing happened off-campus?

You can still sue. Hazing is illegal whether it happens on or off campus.

❓ Can I sue the national fraternity, not just the local chapter?

Yes. National organizations know about hazing risks and often fail to supervise chapters properly. They can be held liable for millions.

❓ What if my child was drinking?

Forced drinking is still hazing. If the fraternity pressured your child to drink, they can be held responsible for alcohol poisoning or other injuries.

❓ How long do I have to file a lawsuit in Iowa?

2 years from the date of injury. If your child was hazed recently, do not wait—evidence disappears quickly.

❓ Will my child get in trouble for reporting hazing?

No. Iowa has anti-retaliation laws protecting students who report hazing. The fraternity and university cannot punish your child for speaking out.

❓ Can I afford a lawyer?

Yes. We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win. There are no upfront costs.

Iowa Hazing Hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911

If your child was hazed in Iowa, you have legal rights. The same fraternities that tortured our client in Texas operate in Iowa. The same universities that failed to stop hazing in Texas exist in Iowa. And Iowa families deserve the same aggressive legal representation.

📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9111) for a free, confidential consultation
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit: attorney911.com

We come to Iowa. We fight for Iowa families. And we won’t stop until justice is served.

🚨 Iowa Parents: This Could Happen to Your Child

Hazing doesn’t stop at state lines. The same fraternities that waterboarded our client in Texas have chapters in Iowa. The same universities that failed to protect students in Texas exist in Iowa. If your child is in Greek life, they are at risk.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. If your child was hazed, call us now.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com