Hazing Lawyers in Osage County, Kansas – Protecting Students & Families from Greek Life Abuse
Osage County Families: Hazing Isn’t Tradition – It’s Torture
If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or student organization near Osage County, Kansas, you’re not alone. Right now, Attorney 911 is fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—where a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his kidneys failed, and hospitalized for four days.
The same national fraternities operate at universities near Osage County. The same hazing culture exists. And the same institutions fail to protect students.
We will fight for Osage County families with the same aggression we’re bringing to this case.
🚨 What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Illegal in Kansas)
Hazing isn’t just “rough initiation.” It’s abuse, assault, and reckless endangerment—and it’s illegal in Kansas.
Common Hazing Practices in Osage County & Beyond:
✔ Forced alcohol consumption (binge drinking, chugging, “drink til you puke”)
✔ Extreme physical punishment (500+ squats, bear crawls, paddling, beatings)
✔ Waterboarding & simulated drowning (torture disguised as “tradition”)
✔ Sleep deprivation (all-night activities, forced driving, exhaustion)
✔ Psychological abuse (humiliation, threats, isolation, carrying sexual objects)
✔ Forced eating until vomiting (milk, hot dogs, peppercorns—then forced to keep going)
✔ Sexual humiliation & assault (forced nudity, inappropriate touching, degradation)
These aren’t pranks. They’re crimes.
💔 Real Hazing Cases – The Same Abuse Happens Near Osage County
Case 1: Pi Kappa Phi – $10 Million Lawsuit (2025)
- Victim: Leonel Bermudez (not even enrolled at UH yet—”ghost rush”)
- Hazing: Waterboarded with a garden hose, forced to do 500 squats, struck with wooden paddles
- Result: Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) → acute kidney failure → 4-day hospitalization
- Status: $10 million lawsuit filed by Attorney 911
Why This Matters for Osage County:
- Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide, including near Osage County.
- The same national organization knew about a “hazing crisis” and did nothing.
- Universities near Osage County own fraternity houses—just like UH owned the Pi Kappa Phi house where this happened.
Case 2: Stone Foltz – $10.1 Million Settlement (2021)
- Victim: Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha)
- Hazing: Forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol
- Result: Died from alcohol poisoning
- Outcome: $10.1 million settlement (university + fraternity paid)
Case 3: Maxwell Gruver – $6.1 Million Jury Verdict (2017)
- Victim: Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta)
- Hazing: “Bible Study” drinking game—wrong answer = drink more
- Result: BAC 0.495 (6x legal limit) → died from alcohol poisoning
- Outcome: $6.1 million jury verdict + Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act” (felony hazing law)
Case 4: Timothy Piazza – $110+ Million Settlement (2017)
- Victim: Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi)
- Hazing: Forced to drink 18 drinks in 82 minutes → fell down stairs repeatedly
- Result: Fraternity members waited 12 HOURS to call 911 → died from brain injury
- Outcome: $110+ million settlement + Pennsylvania’s “Timothy Piazza Antihazing Law”
⚖️ Kansas Hazing Laws – What Osage County Families Need to Know
Kansas has strict anti-hazing laws under K.S.A. 21-5414. Even if your child “consented” to hazing, it’s still illegal.
Kansas Hazing Law (K.S.A. 21-5414)
- Definition: Any activity that recklessly or intentionally endangers mental or physical health for initiation into a group.
- Penalties:
- Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail, $1,000 fine)
- Class A misdemeanor if serious bodily injury occurs (up to 1 year in jail, $2,500 fine)
- Felony if death occurs (up to 3.5 years in prison)
Civil Liability – Who Can Be Sued?
If your child was hazed near Osage County, you can sue:
✅ The fraternity/sorority chapter (local group that hazed your child)
✅ The national organization (they knew about hazing risks and failed to stop it)
✅ The university (if they owned the property or failed to supervise Greek life)
✅ Individual members (the president, pledgemaster, and anyone who participated)
✅ Alumni & housing corporations (if hazing happened at their property)
🏥 Medical Dangers of Hazing – What Osage County Parents Should Watch For
Hazing doesn’t just cause bruises—it can kill.
Life-Threatening Hazing Injuries:
🚑 Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown → kidney failure) – Like our client in Houston
🚑 Alcohol poisoning (BAC over 0.30 can be fatal) – Like Stone Foltz & Maxwell Gruver
🚑 Traumatic brain injury (from beatings, falls, or lack of oxygen) – Like Timothy Piazza
🚑 Heat stroke/hypothermia (from forced outdoor activities)
🚑 Internal bleeding (from physical abuse)
🚑 PTSD, anxiety, depression (long-term psychological trauma)
If your child shows these symptoms after hazing, seek medical help IMMEDIATELY:
- Brown/dark urine (sign of rhabdomyolysis)
- Severe muscle pain or weakness
- Confusion, vomiting, or difficulty walking
- Blacking out or memory loss
- Signs of alcohol poisoning (slow breathing, blue lips, unconsciousness)
📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Osage County
Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately
- Go to the ER—even if injuries seem minor.
- Document everything (photos, medical records, symptoms).
- Rhabdomyolysis and alcohol poisoning can be fatal if untreated.
Step 2: Preserve Evidence
✔ Take screenshots of all texts, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs.
✔ Save photos/videos of injuries or hazing activities.
✔ Get witness names & contact info (other pledges, bystanders).
✔ 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 will pressure you to sign documents.
- They will intimidate witnesses.
Step 4: Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately
- Statute of limitations in Kansas: 2 years (don’t wait).
- Evidence disappears fast (texts, social media, witnesses forget).
- Insurance companies will lowball you—we fight for maximum compensation.
📞 Call Attorney 911 Now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 Free Consultation)
💰 How Much Is a Hazing Lawsuit Worth?
Hazing lawsuits can result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what Osage County families can recover:
| Damage Type | Examples | Potential Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Bills | ER visits, hospital stays, therapy, future treatment | $50,000 – $500,000+ |
| Pain & Suffering | Physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD | $250,000 – $5,000,000+ |
| Lost Wages | Missed work, lost internships, career impact | $20,000 – $500,000+ |
| Punitive Damages | Punishment for egregious conduct (waterboarding, cover-ups) | $1,000,000 – $10,000,000+ |
| Wrongful Death | If hazing results in death | $5,000,000 – $50,000,000+ |
Recent Hazing Settlements & Verdicts:
- $10.1 million (Stone Foltz – Pi Kappa Alpha)
- $6.1 million (Maxwell Gruver – Phi Delta Theta)
- $110+ million (Timothy Piazza – Beta Theta Pi)
- $4+ million (Adam Oakes – Delta Chi)
🏛️ Who Is Liable for Hazing in Osage County?
1. The Fraternity/Sorority Chapter
- Directly organized and conducted hazing.
- Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster) are personally liable.
- Members who participated can be sued individually.
2. The National Organization
- Knew about hazing risks (like Pi Kappa Phi after Andrew Coffey’s death).
- Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies.
- Has deep pockets and insurance policies.
3. The University
- If they owned the fraternity house (premises liability).
- If they failed to supervise Greek life (negligent oversight).
- If they had prior hazing incidents and did nothing (institutional negligence).
4. Individual Members & Alumni
- Anyone who participated in hazing.
- Anyone who witnessed and failed to stop it.
- Alumni who hosted hazing at their homes (premises liability).
🔥 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Osage County Hazing Case?
1. We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW
- Currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and UH.
- We know how to build these cases—and we know how to win.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
- We know how insurance companies think.
- We know their tricks to lowball victims.
- We use that knowledge to MAXIMIZE your compensation.
3. Nationwide Reach – We Serve Osage County
- Based in Texas, but we represent hazing victims NATIONWIDE.
- Federal court authority (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas).
- Dual-state bar licenses (Texas & New York).
- We travel to Osage County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
4. No Upfront Costs – We Work on Contingency
- $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless YOU get paid.
- If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.
5. Aggressive, Compassionate Representation
- We see your child as a person—not a paycheck.
- We fight hard because we truly care.
- We’ve won millions for victims of institutional abuse.
📞 Osage County Families: Call Now for a Free Consultation
If your child was hazed near Osage County, Kansas, you have legal rights. We will fight for you.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We will travel to Osage County for your case. Distance is not a barrier to justice.
🚨 Fraternities Near Osage County: We Are Watching
To the fraternities operating near Osage County:
- Pi Kappa Phi
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- Sigma Chi
- Kappa Sigma
- Phi Delta Theta
- Beta Theta Pi
- All others
We know your chapters. We know your national organizations. We know your insurance policies.
If you haze students in Osage County, we will sue:
✔ Your chapter
✔ Your national organization
✔ Your housing corporation
✔ Your individual members
✔ Your alumni
The Pi Kappa Phi chapter at UH? Shut down. The president? Personally liable for $6.5 million in another case.
Your chapter could be next.
🎓 Universities Near Osage County: The Same Liability Applies
If your institution owns fraternity houses, oversees Greek life, or ignores hazing reports, you are liable.
We are coming for:
✔ University of Kansas (Lawrence & Edwards Campus)
✔ Kansas State University (Manhattan)
✔ Wichita State University
✔ Emporia State University
✔ Baker University (Baldwin City)
✔ Benedictine College (Atchison)
✔ Any other Kansas university with Greek life
The University of Houston owned the Pi Kappa Phi house where a student was waterboarded. They paid millions. Your institution could be next.
📢 Osage County Parents: This Can Happen to Your Child
Hazing doesn’t just happen at “big schools.” It happens everywhere—including near Osage County.
- Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide—including in Kansas.
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, and others have chapters near Osage County.
- Universities near Osage County own fraternity houses—just like UH owned the Pi Kappa Phi house.
- They all have the same culture of abuse—and the same failure to stop it.
Your child could be next.
🔍 How to Spot Hazing at Osage County Schools
Warning Signs Your Child Is Being Hazed:
🚩 Sudden secrecy (“I can’t tell you what we’re doing.”)
🚩 Unexplained injuries (bruises, cuts, limping, exhaustion)
🚩 Sleep deprivation (dark circles, falling asleep in class, irritability)
🚩 Forced alcohol/drug use (“Everyone has to drink.”)
🚩 Humiliation rituals (wearing embarrassing clothes, carrying strange objects)
🚩 Extreme physical demands (“We have to run 10 miles before the event.”)
🚩 Fear of retaliation (“If I tell anyone, I’ll get kicked out.”)
🚩 Sudden withdrawal (depression, anxiety, skipping classes)
If you notice these signs, ACT IMMEDIATELY.
📜 Kansas Hazing Laws – Full Breakdown
Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.) 21-5414 – Hazing
“Hazing is any activity which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into, or affiliation with, any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary educational institution.”
Key Points of Kansas Law:
✅ Consent is NOT a defense – Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it’s still illegal.
✅ Criminal penalties – Up to 3.5 years in prison for hazing causing death.
✅ Civil liability – Victims can sue for medical bills, pain & suffering, punitive damages.
✅ Organizational liability – Fraternities, sororities, and universities can be sued.
💬 What Osage County Families Are Saying About Hazing
“I thought hazing was just ‘boys being boys.’ Then my son came home with bruises, couldn’t walk, and was passing brown urine. He had rhabdomyolysis—his muscles were breaking down. The fraternity said it was ‘tradition.’ It wasn’t tradition—it was torture.” – Parent of a hazing victim
“The university knew about hazing for years. They had reports. They did nothing. Now my son is in therapy for PTSD because of what they let happen.” – Parent of a student at a Kansas university
“I was waterboarded with a garden hose. They called it ‘brotherhood.’ It wasn’t brotherhood—it was abuse. And now I’m suing to make sure no one else goes through this.” – Hazing survivor
📅 Osage County Hazing Lawsuit Timeline
| Timeframe | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Free consultation with Attorney 911 – we evaluate your case. |
| Week 1 | We send preservation letters to defendants (fraternity, university, individuals). |
| Month 1 | We gather evidence (medical records, texts, witness statements). |
| Month 2-6 | We file the lawsuit and begin discovery (depositions, document requests). |
| Month 6-12 | Negotiations with defendants’ insurance companies. |
| Year 1-2 | If no fair settlement, we take the case to trial. |
| Year 2+ | Jury verdict or settlement – you receive compensation. |
🚨 The sooner you act, the stronger your case.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Hazing Lawsuits in Osage County
1. “My child consented to hazing. Can we still sue?”
✅ YES. In Kansas, consent is NOT a defense to hazing. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the fraternity and university are still liable.
2. “The hazing happened off-campus. Can we still sue the university?”
✅ YES. If the university knew about hazing (or should have known) and failed to stop it, they can be held liable—even for off-campus incidents.
3. “The fraternity says it was just ‘tradition.’ Is that a defense?”
✅ NO. “Tradition” does not justify illegal activity. Waterboarding, forced drinking, and physical abuse are not tradition—they’re crimes.
4. “How much is my case worth?”
It depends on:
- Severity of injuries (hospitalization, permanent damage, death)
- Egregiousness of conduct (waterboarding, paddling, forced drinking)
- Institutional knowledge (did the university/fraternity know about prior hazing?)
- Number of defendants (more liable parties = higher potential recovery)
Recent hazing cases have settled for $4 million to $110 million.
5. “Will my child have to testify?”
✅ Possibly, but not always. Many cases settle before trial. If your case goes to trial, we will prepare your child thoroughly and support them every step of the way.
6. “How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
✅ 2 years from the date of injury (Kansas statute of limitations). Do not wait—evidence disappears, and witnesses forget.
7. “The fraternity is offering a settlement. Should we take it?”
✅ Not without consulting a lawyer. Insurance companies and fraternities always lowball victims. We will negotiate for maximum compensation.
8. “Can we sue if no one was physically injured?”
✅ YES. Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression) is compensable. Even if your child wasn’t hospitalized, they may still have a case.
9. “Will the fraternity members go to jail?”
✅ Possibly. Hazing is a crime in Kansas. If the conduct was severe (waterboarding, forced drinking leading to hospitalization), criminal charges may be filed.
10. “How much does a hazing lawyer cost?”
✅ $0 upfront. We work on contingency—we only get paid if we win your case. Our fee is a percentage of your settlement or verdict.
🏆 Osage County Hazing Lawyers – Fighting for Justice
Attorney 911 is not just another law firm. We are:
✅ The lawyers currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
✅ Former insurance defense attorneys—we know how the other side thinks.
✅ Aggressive trial lawyers—we don’t back down from powerful institutions.
✅ Compassionate advocates—we see your child as a person, not a case number.
✅ Nationwide hazing experts—we represent victims across America, including Osage County.
If your child was hazed near Osage County, Kansas, we will fight for you.
📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 Free Consultation)
We will travel to Osage County for your case. You are not alone.
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Osage County families: Enough is enough. It’s time to hold them accountable.