Hazing Victim Legal Support in Ogemaw County, Michigan

🚨 You Are Not Alone: Legal Help for Hazing Victims in Ogemaw County

Hazing is not “tradition.” It is not “team bonding.” It is abuse, assault, and in many cases, a crime. If you or someone you love has been a victim of hazing in Ogemaw County, Michigan, you have legal rights—and you deserve justice.

At Attorney 911, we are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university. We know how to hold institutions accountable. And we are ready to bring that same fight to Ogemaw County.

📞 Call Now for a Free, Confidential Consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911

🔍 What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Illegal in Michigan)

Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining or maintaining membership in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them—regardless of whether the person consents.

Common Hazing Practices in Michigan (That Are Illegal)

✅ Physical abuse – Forced exercise, beatings, paddling, branding
✅ Forced consumption – Alcohol, drugs, food (to the point of vomiting or injury)
✅ Psychological torture – Sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats, isolation
✅ Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
✅ Dangerous stunts – Waterboarding, blindfolded activities, extreme weather exposure
✅ Servitude – Forced errands, cleaning, or personal services for members

💡 Michigan Law: Hazing is a misdemeanor under MCL 750.411t, punishable by up to 93 days in jail and fines. If hazing causes serious injury or death, it can be charged as a felony.

🏫 Where Hazing Happens in Ogemaw County & Nearby Schools

Hazing is not limited to fraternities and sororities. It happens in:

High school & college sports teams (football, wrestling, cheerleading, etc.)
Marching bands & performing arts groups
ROTC & military training programs
Honor societies & academic clubs
Student government & leadership organizations
Greek life (fraternities & sororities)

🎓 Schools & Universities Near Ogemaw County Where Hazing May Occur

While we cannot comment on specific incidents without evidence, hazing has been documented at schools across Michigan, including:

School	Location	Distance from Ogemaw County
Alma College	Alma, MI	~120 miles
Central Michigan University (CMU)	Mount Pleasant, MI	~100 miles
Ferris State University	Big Rapids, MI	~150 miles
Michigan State University (MSU)	East Lansing, MI	~180 miles
University of Michigan (UM)	Ann Arbor, MI	~220 miles
Western Michigan University (WMU)	Kalamazoo, MI	~200 miles
Oakland University	Rochester, MI	~180 miles
Grand Valley State University (GVSU)	Allendale, MI	~200 miles
Northern Michigan University (NMU)	Marquette, MI	~250 miles
Lake Superior State University	Sault Ste. Marie, MI	~280 miles

⚠️ If you or someone you know has been hazed at any Michigan school—even if it’s not listed above—you may have a case.

💔 Real Hazing Cases: What Happens When Institutions Fail

📌 Case Study: The $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit We’re Fighting Right Now

Victim: Leonel Bermudez (not a UH student yet—he was a “ghost rush” pledge)
Organization: Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at University of Houston
What Happened:

Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
Forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups until he collapsed
Struck with wooden paddles
Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to lie in his own vomit
Hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and kidney failure

Result:

$10 million lawsuit filed (November 2025)
Fraternity chapter shut down (but they’re already planning to return)
University of Houston named as defendant (they owned the fraternity house)

💡 Why This Matters for Ogemaw County:

The same fraternities and sororities operate at Michigan schools.
Universities near Ogemaw County have the same duty to protect students.
If it happened in Texas, it can happen in Michigan.

💰 What You Can Recover in a Hazing Lawsuit

If you’ve been hazed, you may be entitled to compensation for:

Type of Damage	Examples	Potential Compensation
Medical Bills	Hospital stays, ER visits, therapy, medications	$10,000 – $500,000+
Future Medical Costs	Long-term treatment, rehabilitation, dialysis (if kidney damage)	$50,000 – $1M+
Lost Wages	Time missed from work due to injuries	$5,000 – $100,000+
Pain & Suffering	Physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD	$50,000 – $5M+
Mental Anguish	Anxiety, depression, nightmares, fear of retaliation	$50,000 – $3M+
Punitive Damages	To punish the organization for gross negligence	$100,000 – $10M+
Educational Disruption	Tuition refunds, scholarship loss, delayed graduation	$10,000 – $100,000+

💰 Recent Hazing Settlements & Verdicts (Proof You Can Win Big)

$10.1 million – Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha)
$6.1 million – Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta)
$110+ million – Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi)
$4+ million – Adam Oakes (VCU, Delta Chi)

⚠️ Michigan Families: You Deserve the Same Justice.

🛡️ Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Ogemaw County Hazing Case?

✅ Nationwide Experience – Local Ogemaw County Focus

We are based in Texas, but we fight for hazing victims across America, including Michigan. We understand Ogemaw County’s unique culture and how to hold local institutions accountable.

✅ We’re Already Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Case

We don’t just talk about hazing cases—we’re actively litigating one right now. We know how to:

Preserve evidence before it disappears
Depose fraternity members & university officials
Negotiate with insurance companies (who will try to lowball you)
Take cases to trial if needed

✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Tricks

Both of our attorneys used to work for insurance companies. We know how they:

Try to blame the victim (“You consented!”)
Destroy evidence (deleting texts, hiding records)
Delay and deny claims to pressure you into settling for less

We know their playbook—and we use it against them.

✅ We Come to You in Ogemaw County

Free consultations (in-person or video call)
We travel to Ogemaw County for depositions, meetings, and court appearances
24/7 availability – Hazing emergencies don’t wait

✅ No Upfront Costs – We Only Get Paid If You Win

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning:
✔ $0 upfront
✔ We cover all case expenses
✔ You pay nothing unless we win your case
✔ If we don’t win, you owe us nothing

🚨 What to Do If You’ve Been Hazed in Ogemaw County

🔹 Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

Go to the ER or urgent care (even if you think you’re “fine”)
Document all injuries (photos, medical records)
Get a copy of your medical report – This is critical evidence

🔹 Step 2: Preserve Evidence

✅ Save all texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, DMs (screenshots + originals)
✅ Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any objects used
✅ Write down everything that happened (dates, times, people involved)
✅ Get names & contact info of witnesses (other victims, bystanders)
✅ Do NOT delete anything – Even old posts can be used as evidence

🔹 Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization or Their Lawyers

Fraternities, sororities, and universities will try to silence you.
They may offer you money to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA).
Do NOT sign anything without a lawyer.
Do NOT give a statement to their insurance company.

🚫 What NOT to Do:
❌ Don’t post about it on social media (they’ll use it against you)
❌ Don’t confront the organization alone (they’ll coordinate their story)
❌ Don’t wait too long (Michigan has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury)

🔹 Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately

📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com

We will:
✔ Protect your rights
✔ Handle all communications with the organization, university, and insurance companies
✔ Investigate the case thoroughly (gather evidence, interview witnesses)
✔ Fight for maximum compensation

📅 Michigan Statute of Limitations: Don’t Wait Too Long

Michigan law gives you limited time to file a lawsuit:

Type of Claim	Deadline	Michigan Law
Personal Injury	3 years from the date of injury	MCL 600.5805(10)
Wrongful Death	3 years from the date of death	MCL 600.5805(10)
Criminal Charges	Varies (report to police ASAP)	MCL 750.411t

⚠️ The clock starts ticking the day the hazing happens. If you wait too long, you lose your right to sue forever.

🏛️ Who Can Be Held Liable in an Ogemaw County Hazing Case?

Hazing cases are not just against the individuals who hurt you. We pursue everyone responsible, including:

Defendant	Why They’re Liable	Example
Local Chapter	Organized and conducted the hazing	Pi Kappa Phi at CMU, Sigma Chi at Alma College
National Organization	Failed to supervise, ignored warnings	Pi Kappa Phi National, Sigma Chi National
University/College	Failed to prevent hazing on campus	Central Michigan University, Alma College
Individual Members	Participated in or allowed the hazing	Chapter president, pledgemaster, active members
Alumni/Advisors	Hosted hazing events, failed to stop abuse	Former members who allowed hazing at their homes
Coaches/Leaders	Knew or should have known about hazing	Sports team coaches, ROTC commanders
Insurance Companies	Must pay valid claims	Fraternity’s liability insurance, university’s policy

💡 In our $10 million case, we are suing:
✔ The fraternity national organization
✔ The local chapter
✔ The university (for owning the fraternity house)
✔ Individual members (including the president and pledgemaster)
✔ Former members & their spouses (for hosting hazing at their home)

📢 What If Others Were Hazed Too?

If multiple people were hazed in the same organization, we may be able to file a class action lawsuit or multi-district litigation (MDL).

Signs of a Pattern of Hazing:

Multiple victims at the same school
Similar incidents over multiple years
Whistleblowers coming forward
University/fraternity ignoring complaints

💡 Example: In our current case, another pledge collapsed unconscious just weeks before Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized. This shows a pattern of abuse—not an isolated incident.

🎯 Our Promise to Ogemaw County Families

We will listen to you – No judgment, no blame.
We will protect you – From retaliation, intimidation, and lies.
We will fight for you – Against powerful institutions that think they can get away with abuse.
We will get you justice – Whether through settlement or trial.

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

🚫 Common Myths About Hazing Cases (Debunked)

🔴 Myth #1: “I Consented, So I Can’t Sue.”

✅ Truth: Michigan law says consent is NOT a defense to hazing. Even if you “agreed” to participate, the organization can still be held liable.

🔴 Myth #2: “It’s Just ‘Tradition’—No One Gets in Trouble.”

✅ Truth: Hazing is illegal in Michigan and can result in criminal charges, lawsuits, and multi-million-dollar verdicts.

🔴 Myth #3: “The University Will Protect Me.”

✅ Truth: Universities protect themselves first. They may:

Cover up incidents to avoid bad publicity
Pressure victims to stay quiet
Blame the victim (“You knew what you were getting into”)

🔴 Myth #4: “I Can’t Afford a Lawyer.”

✅ Truth: We work on contingency—you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.

🔴 Myth #5: “It’s Too Late to Do Anything.”

✅ Truth: Michigan gives you 3 years to file a lawsuit. Call us today—we’ll review your case for free.

🏆 Our Track Record: We Win Big for Victims

Case Type	Result	Location
Hazing Lawsuit	$10 million lawsuit filed (ongoing)	University of Houston
Wrongful Death	Multi-million dollar settlement	Texas
Trucking Accident	$3.2 million settlement	Houston, TX
Brain Injury	$1.8 million jury verdict	Beaumont, TX
DWI Accident	$950,000 settlement	Austin, TX

💡 We don’t just settle cases—we change institutions. Our current hazing case has already led to:
✔ The fraternity chapter being shut down
✔ National media coverage exposing the truth
✔ Pressure on universities to reform Greek life

📞 Ogemaw County Families: Take the First Step Today

You don’t have to fight this alone. We are here to help.

🔹 Free, Confidential Case Review

🔹 No Obligation – No Pressure

🔹 Available 24/7

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

📍 Serving Ogemaw County, Michigan & Nationwide

📜 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

❓ Q: What if I was hazed years ago? Can I still sue?

✅ A: Michigan’s 3-year statute of limitations starts from the date of the hazing incident. If it’s been less than 3 years, you may still have a case. Call us to check.

❓ Q: What if I don’t live in Texas? Can you still help me?

✅ A: Yes! We represent hazing victims nationwide, including in Ogemaw County, Michigan. We offer video consultations and travel to you for depositions and meetings.

❓ Q: What if the hazing didn’t cause serious injury?

✅ A: Even if you weren’t hospitalized, you may still have a case for:

Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
Medical expenses (therapy, counseling)
Lost wages (if you missed work/school)
Punitive damages (to punish the organization)

❓ Q: Will I have to go to court?

✅ A: Most cases settle out of court. But if we need to go to trial to get you justice, we are ready.

❓ Q: What if I’m afraid of retaliation?

✅ A: We protect our clients from retaliation. We handle all communications with the organization so you don’t have to face them alone.

❓ Q: How much does it cost to hire you?

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

📢 Final Message to Ogemaw County Hazing Victims

You did not deserve this.

What happened to you was not your fault. It was not “tradition.” It was not “harmless fun.”

It was abuse. It was assault. And it was wrong.

You have the power to stop it from happening to someone else.

Call us today. Let’s fight back together.