Hazing Victims in Morrison County, Minnesota: Your Legal Rights and How to Seek Justice
The Hazing Crisis in Morrison County: What Families Need to Know
Hazing is a serious and often hidden problem in colleges and universities across America—including those near Morrison County, Minnesota. What may seem like harmless “tradition” or “team bonding” can quickly escalate into physical abuse, psychological trauma, or even life-threatening injuries.
If your child has been a victim of hazing at St. Cloud State University, the College of St. Benedict, St. John’s University, or any other institution near Morrison County, you have legal rights. Attorney 911, based in Texas but serving hazing victims nationwide, is currently fighting a $10 million lawsuit against a national fraternity and university for hazing that led to severe injuries. We can bring the same aggressive legal representation to Morrison County families.
What Is Hazing? (Minnesota Law Explained)
Minnesota law defines hazing as any activity that:
- Endangers the physical or mental health of a student
- Involves humiliation, degradation, or abuse
- Is used for initiation, membership, or maintaining status in a group
Examples of hazing include:
✔ Forced alcohol consumption (binge drinking, chugging)
✔ Extreme physical exertion (500+ squats, pushups until exhaustion)
✔ Waterboarding or simulated drowning (a form of torture)
✔ Beatings with paddles or other objects
✔ Sleep deprivation and psychological abuse
✔ Forced eating until vomiting
✔ Sexual humiliation or assault
Under Minnesota law, consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, hazing is still illegal and grounds for legal action.
Real Hazing Cases: What Happened (And What It Means for Morrison County)
Case 1: University of Houston – $10 Million Lawsuit (2025)
Victim: Leonel Bermudez (a “ghost rush” pledge—not even enrolled at UH yet)
Fraternity: Pi Kappa Phi
Injuries: Severe rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure requiring 4 days of hospitalization
What Happened?
- Forced to perform 500 squats, 100+ pushups, bear crawls, and “suicides” (running drills)
- Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
- Struck with wooden paddles
- Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to continue exercising
- Another pledge collapsed and lost consciousness—yet hazing continued
Why This Matters for Morrison County:
- Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at universities across Minnesota, including some near Morrison County.
- The same fraternity that waterboarded Bermudez may be hazing students near you.
- Universities near Morrison County have the same duty to protect students—and the same liability when they fail.
Case 2: Bowling Green State University – $10.1 Million Settlement (2021)
Victim: Stone Foltz (died from alcohol poisoning)
Fraternity: Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)
Outcome: $10.1 million settlement (largest public university hazing payout in Ohio history)
Why This Matters for Morrison County:
- Pike has chapters at Minnesota universities, including some near Morrison County.
- If a fraternity has a history of hazing deaths, they are on notice—and liable for future incidents.
- $10 million is not an outlier—it’s what hazing cases are worth when institutions fail to act.
Case 3: Penn State – $110+ Million Settlement (2017)
Victim: Timothy Piazza (died after fraternity members waited 12 hours to call 911)
Fraternity: Beta Theta Pi
Outcome: $110+ million settlement (one of the largest hazing payouts in history)
Why This Matters for Morrison County:
- Security cameras captured the entire incident—just like many hazing incidents today.
- Universities and fraternities cannot claim ignorance when they have evidence of abuse.
- Juries and courts are outraged by hazing—and they award massive damages to send a message.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Hazing in Morrison County?
If your child was hazed, multiple parties may be responsible, including:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Morrison County Application |
|---|---|---|
| Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter | Directly organized and participated in hazing | Chapters at St. Cloud State, St. John’s, etc. |
| National Fraternity/Sorority | Failed to supervise, enforce anti-hazing policies | Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, others operate near Morrison County |
| University/College | Owned the property, failed to prevent hazing | St. Cloud State, College of St. Benedict, St. John’s, etc. |
| Individual Members | Participated in hazing, failed to stop it | Students at Morrison County-area schools |
| Chapter Advisors/Alumni | Knew or should have known about hazing | Often involved in pledge activities |
| Housing Corporations | Owned the fraternity/sorority house where hazing occurred | Many Greek houses near Morrison County are university-owned |
What Should You Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Morrison County?
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Hazing injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) can be life-threatening.
- Document everything—hospital records, photos of injuries, witness statements.
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs).
- Take screenshots of social media posts about hazing.
- Document the location where hazing occurred (fraternity house, off-campus residence, etc.).
- Get witness names and contact info—other pledges, bystanders, friends.
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, University, or Their Lawyers
- They will try to minimize the incident, shift blame, or pressure your child into silence.
- Anything you say can be used against you in court.
Step 4: Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately
- Minnesota has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
- Evidence disappears fast—witnesses forget, messages get deleted, fraternities destroy records.
- The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.
Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Morrison County Hazing Case?
✅ Nationwide Experience – We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit and have handled cases across the U.S.
✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We know how fraternities and universities try to avoid liability—and how to beat them.
✅ Federal Court Authority – We can pursue cases in federal court, giving us more leverage against national fraternities.
✅ No Upfront Costs – We work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
✅ Willing to Travel to Morrison County – We’ll come to you for depositions, meetings, and trials.
✅ Proven Results – We’ve won millions for victims of negligence and abuse.
What Compensation Can Morrison County Hazing Victims Recover?
If your child was hazed, you may be entitled to:
| Type of Damage | Examples | Potential Value |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, ER visits, therapy, future treatment | $50,000–$500,000+ |
| Pain & Suffering | Physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD | $100,000–$5,000,000+ |
| Lost Wages | Missed work, lost internships, career setbacks | $10,000–$500,000+ |
| Educational Damages | Tuition refunds, scholarship losses, academic disruption | $20,000–$200,000+ |
| Punitive Damages | Punishment for egregious conduct (e.g., waterboarding, forced drinking) | $1,000,000–$10,000,000+ |
Total Potential Recovery: $100,000–$15,000,000+ (depending on severity of injuries and institutional negligence)
Fraternities Near Morrison County: We Are Watching
If your fraternity chapter operates near Morrison County, St. Cloud, Collegeville, or anywhere in Minnesota, know this:
⚠ **Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, and others
