Hazing Lawyers in Hennepin County: Protecting Students from Greek Life Abuse

Hennepin County Families: Your Child Could Be Next

Hazing isn’t just “tradition” or “team bonding” – it’s abuse, torture, and sometimes murder. Right now, Attorney 911 is fighting a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a fraternity pledge was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure.

The same fraternities operate at Hennepin County universities. The same hazing happens here. And we will fight for Hennepin County victims just like we’re fighting in Texas.

What Hazing Really Looks Like in Hennepin County

Hazing isn’t just “drinking too much” or “a few pushups.” It’s systematic abuse designed to break students down. In our current case, Pi Kappa Phi members:

✅ Waterboarded a pledge with a garden hose (simulated drowning – a form of torture)
✅ Forced him to do 500 squats, 100 pushups, and bear crawls until he collapsed
✅ Made him eat until he vomited, then forced him to keep running
✅ Struck him with wooden paddles
✅ Hog-tied another pledge with an object in his mouth for over an hour
✅ Forced him to carry sexual objects in a fanny pack at all times
✅ Drove him to exhaustion by making him chauffeur members at all hours

This isn’t just hazing – it’s assault. And it’s happening at Hennepin County universities right now.

Hennepin County Universities with Greek Life Hazing Risks

Hennepin County is home to major universities where Greek life thrives, including:

• University of Minnesota (Minneapolis & St. Paul campuses)
• Augsburg University
• St. Thomas University
• Hamline University
• Metropolitan State University
• Minneapolis College

The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths nationwide – Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta – have active chapters at Hennepin County schools.

Fraternities Near Hennepin County with Documented Hazing Histories

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Hennepin County, they face the same risks.

Why Hennepin County Families Need a Hazing Lawyer

1. Universities Won’t Protect Your Child – They’ll Protect Themselves

• The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where our client was tortured.
• They had a prior hazing hospitalization in 2017 and did nothing.
• When a student was hospitalized, they closed the chapter quietly – not to protect students, but to limit their own liability.

Hennepin County universities are no different. They know hazing happens, but they won’t act until someone gets hurt – or dies.

2. Fraternities Will Lie, Destroy Evidence, and Intimidate Victims

• Our client is too afraid to speak publicly because of retaliation threats.
• Pi Kappa Phi closed the chapter 7 days before the lawsuit – they knew it was coming.
• They already said they plan to reopen – proving they don’t care about reform.

Hennepin County fraternities will do the same. They’ll:
✔ Delete texts and social media posts
✔ Pressure victims to stay silent
✔ Claim it was “consent” or “tradition”
✔ Offer lowball settlements to make it go away

3. The Law is on Your Side – But You Need a Lawyer Who Knows How to Fight

Minnesota has strong anti-hazing laws, but fraternities and universities exploit loopholes. You need a lawyer who:

✅ Has won multi-million-dollar hazing cases (we’re currently litigating a $10M case)
✅ Knows how fraternities operate (we track their corporate structures, insurance, and assets)
✅ Will sue everyone responsible – the chapter, national organization, university, and individuals
✅ Won’t back down – we take cases to trial if needed

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Hennepin County

⚠️ IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS ⚠️

1. Get medical attention – Even if injuries seem minor, rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and kidney failure can be delayed.
2. Preserve all evidence – Do NOT delete anything:
   • Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs
   • Photos/videos of injuries or hazing activities
   • Witness names and contact info
   • Any “pledge manuals” or rules given to your child
3. Do NOT talk to the fraternity, university, or their lawyers – Anything you say can and will be used against you.
4. Do NOT sign anything – Fraternities will try to get you to sign away your rights.
5. Call us immediately – 2-year statute of limitations in Minnesota – evidence disappears fast.

📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 for Hennepin County hazing emergencies)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

Who We Sue in Hennepin County Hazing Cases

We don’t just sue the fraternity – we sue everyone who let this happen.

In our current case, we’re suing:
✔ Pi Kappa Phi National (failed to enforce anti-hazing rules despite knowing about a “hazing crisis”)
✔ UH Beta Nu Chapter (directly hazed our client)
✔ University of Houston (owned the fraternity house where torture occurred)
✔ Individual members & officers (participated in or allowed abuse)

We will do the same for Hennepin County victims.

What Hennepin County Hazing Victims Can Recover

Hazing cases aren’t just about medical bills – they’re about justice, accountability, and preventing future victims.

Economic Damages (Financial Losses)

✔ Medical bills (ER, hospital stays, future treatment)
✔ Lost wages (time missed from work/school)
✔ Future medical costs (dialysis, therapy, potential kidney transplant)
✔ Educational disruption (tuition loss, delayed graduation)

Non-Economic Damages (Pain & Suffering)

✔ Physical pain (from beatings, forced exercise, waterboarding)
✔ Emotional trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression from abuse)
✔ Humiliation & shame (from forced nudity, sexual humiliation, degradation)
✔ Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in normal activities)

Punitive Damages (Punishing the Defendants)

If the conduct was especially egregious (like waterboarding), courts can award punitive damages to punish the fraternity and deter future hazing.

Precedent Cases Show Millions Are Possible:

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

Hennepin County Hazing Laws: Know Your Rights

Minnesota Anti-Hazing Law (Minn. Stat. § 121A.69)

Minnesota law bans hazing in schools and universities. It defines hazing as:

“Any act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a student organization.”

Key Points:
✅ Consent is NOT a defense – Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the fraternity is still liable.
✅ Criminal penalties – Hazing can be a misdemeanor or felony, depending on severity.
✅ Schools must report hazing – Universities that fail to act can be held liable.

Civil Lawsuits for Hazing in Hennepin County

Even if criminal charges aren’t filed, you can sue for:
✔ Negligence (fraternity failed to protect your child)
✔ Assault & Battery (physical abuse)
✔ Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (psychological torture)
✔ Premises Liability (hazing occurred on university-owned property)

Why Hennepin County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Currently Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Case

Most law firms talk about hazing cases. We’re actively litigating one right now.

• Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure.
• We’ve already shut down the UH Pi Kappa Phi chapter.
• We’re suing the national organization, the university, and individual members.

Hennepin County families get the same aggressive representation.

2. We Know How Fraternities Operate (Because We’ve Beaten Them Before)

• We track 125+ IRS-registered Greek organizations in Texas (and nationwide).
• We know their corporate structures, insurance policies, and assets.
• We’ve deposed fraternity leaders, university administrators, and insurance adjusters.
• We won’t let them hide behind “tradition” or “consent” defenses.

3. We’re Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Tricks

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides. We know:
✔ How they try to lowball settlements
✔ What evidence they’ll try to destroy
✔ How to force them to pay what victims deserve

4. We Serve Hennepin County – No Matter Where You Are

• Headquartered in Houston & Austin, but we travel to Hennepin County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
• Federal court admission – we can sue national fraternities anywhere.
• Video consultations – Hennepin County families can meet with us remotely.

5. No Upfront Costs – We Only Get Paid If You Win

We work on contingency – $0 upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.

Hennepin County families pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Hennepin County Hazing Cases We Handle

We represent victims of hazing in all types of organizations, not just fraternities:

Hennepin County Hazing Warning Signs

Is your child being hazed? Look for these red flags:

✅ Unexplained injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, sprains)
✅ Sudden exhaustion or sleep deprivation (dark circles, falling asleep in class)
✅ Withdrawal from friends/family (avoiding calls, secretive behavior)
✅ Mood changes (anxiety, depression, irritability)
✅ Unexplained expenses (paying for fraternity events, alcohol, “pledge fees”)
✅ Avoiding questions about their activities (“It’s tradition,” “You wouldn’t understand”)
✅ Physical signs of forced drinking (vomiting, blacking out, alcohol poisoning symptoms)
✅ Carrying strange objects (fanny packs with sexual items, paddles, etc.)
✅ Late-night “meetings” or “workouts” that leave them exhausted

If you see these signs, your child may be in danger. Call us immediately.

Hennepin County Hazing Resources

Emergency Contacts

🚨 If your child is in immediate danger, call 911.

📞 Hazing Hotline (National Anti-Hazing Hotline): 1-888-NOT-HAZE (1-888-668-4293)
📞 Attorney 911 Hazing Emergency Line: 1-888-ATTY-911

Hennepin County-Specific Resources

🏥 Hennepin Healthcare (HCMC): 612-873-3000 (for medical emergencies)
🏫 University of Minnesota Office of Student Conduct: 612-624-6073
🏫 Augsburg University Student Affairs: 612-330-1100
🏫 St. Thomas University Dean of Students: 651-962-6050
🏫 Hamline University Student Affairs: 651-523-2421

National Hazing Prevention Organizations

🔗 HazingPrevention.Org – www.hazingprevention.org
🔗 StopHazing – www.stophazing.org
🔗 Clery Center – www.clerycenter.org (campus safety resources)

Hennepin County Hazing FAQ

Q: My child “consented” to hazing. Can we still sue?

A: YES. Minnesota law explicitly says consent is not a defense. Even if your child agreed to participate, the fraternity is still liable for any harm caused.

Q: The fraternity says it was just “tradition.” Is that a defense?

A: NO. “Tradition” does not justify assault, battery, or torture. Waterboarding, forced exercise until collapse, and paddling are not traditions – they’re crimes.

Q: Can we sue if our child wasn’t hospitalized?

A: YES. Even if injuries weren’t severe, you can sue for:

• Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
• Humiliation (forced nudity, sexual humiliation)
• Lost academic time (missed classes, failed exams)

Q: The fraternity already punished the members. Why sue?

A: Because they won’t learn unless it hurts financially.

• Fraternities close chapters quietly and reopen under new names.
• They don’t care about “punishing” members – they care about protecting their reputation.
• Only lawsuits with financial consequences force real change.

Q: We’re in Hennepin County. Can you still help us?

A: ABSOLUTELY. While we’re based in Texas, we:
✔ Serve clients nationwide, including Hennepin County
✔ Travel to Minnesota for depositions and trials
✔ Offer video consultations for Hennepin County families
✔ Have federal court authority to sue national fraternities

Q: How much does it cost to hire you?

A: $0 upfront. We work on contingency – we only get paid if we win your case. Hennepin County families pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Hennepin County Parents: This Ends Now

Hazing has killed students in nearly every state. It’s hospitalized students in Hennepin County. And it will keep happening unless we stop it.

We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. And we are fighting this battle right now.

If your child was hazed in Hennepin County, call us before it’s too late.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 for Hennepin County hazing emergencies)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

We don’t just fight for compensation. We fight for change.

🚨 ACT NOW – THE CLOCK IS TICKING ⏳

Minnesota has a 2-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims. Evidence disappears fast. Witnesses forget. Your rights expire.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today. The consultation is free. The call could save your child’s life.