🚨 Hazing Victims Legal Support in Ramsey County, Minnesota
Attorney 911: Nationwide Legal Advocacy for Hazing Victims – Now Serving Ramsey County Families
⚠️ The Hazing Crisis in Ramsey County: What Families Need to Know
Hazing isn’t just a problem happening elsewhere—it’s happening right here in Ramsey County. Whether your child attends a major university like the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, a private college like Hamline University or Macalester College, or a community college like Saint Paul College, they face real risks from Greek organizations, sports teams, marching bands, and other student groups.
The same fraternities involved in high-profile hazing cases nationwide—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and others—have active chapters at Ramsey County institutions. These organizations operate under the same national structures that have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries across the country. If your child has been hazed in Ramsey County, you have legal rights—and we can help you fight back.
🏢 Why Ramsey County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. Nationwide Hazing Litigation Experience
We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston, where our client was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles. This isn’t just a case we’re handling—it’s a fight we’re leading right now, and we bring the same aggressive representation to Ramsey County families.
2. Proven Results in High-Stakes Litigation
Our attorneys have secured multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts in complex personal injury cases, including:
- BP Texas City explosion litigation (mass tort experience with large institutional defendants)
- Wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases (experience with life-altering harm)
- Federal court cases (U.S. District Court admission allows us to pursue Ramsey County cases in federal jurisdiction)
3. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena previously worked for insurance defense firms, giving us insider knowledge of how insurance companies value claims, delay settlements, and try to deny liability. We know their playbook—and we use it against them to maximize your recovery.
4. Dual-State Bar Admission (Texas & New York)
Our dual-state licensing allows us to pursue national fraternity and sorority organizations headquartered across the country, no matter where your Ramsey County hazing incident occurred.
5. Willingness to Travel to Ramsey County
We don’t let distance stop us from serving Ramsey County families. Our attorneys will travel to Ramsey County for depositions, client meetings, and trials. We also offer remote consultations via video call, so you can get the legal help you need without leaving home.
6. Bilingual Services (Se Habla Español)
Hazing affects students from all backgrounds, including Spanish-speaking families. Our staff is fluent in Spanish, ensuring that language barriers don’t prevent Ramsey County families from accessing justice.
7. Contingency Fee Representation
We understand that the cost of legal representation can be a concern for Ramsey County families. That’s why we take hazing cases on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we win your case.
📚 Understanding Hazing in Ramsey County
What Is Hazing?
Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization. Under Minnesota law, hazing includes:
- Physical brutality (e.g., beatings, paddling, forced exercise)
- Forced consumption of alcohol, drugs, or food
- Sleep deprivation
- Psychological abuse (e.g., humiliation, threats)
- Sexual abuse or harassment
- Any activity that creates a risk of serious harm
Minnesota Statute 121A.69 explicitly prohibits hazing and requires schools to implement anti-hazing policies. If your child was hazed in Ramsey County, the organization—and potentially the school—may be liable for their injuries.
Common Hazing Activities in Ramsey County
Hazing takes many forms, and it’s not always obvious. Some common hazing activities reported in Ramsey County and across Minnesota include:
- Forced alcohol consumption (binge drinking, chugging, drinking games)
- Extreme physical exertion (e.g., forced calisthenics, running drills until exhaustion)
- Waterboarding or simulated drowning (as seen in our current case)
- Beatings or paddling (with wooden paddles or other objects)
- Sleep deprivation (late-night activities, forced sleepovers)
- Humiliation rituals (e.g., carrying embarrassing objects, wearing degrading clothing)
- Servitude (e.g., cleaning fraternity houses, running errands for members)
- Sexual harassment or assault (e.g., forced nudity, inappropriate touching)
If your child experienced any of these activities—or any other form of abuse—during an initiation or membership process, they may be a victim of hazing.
⚖️ Legal Rights for Ramsey County Hazing Victims
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Hazing cases often involve multiple defendants, all of whom may share liability for your child’s injuries. In Ramsey County, we pursue claims against:
- The local chapter (e.g., the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at the University of Minnesota)
- The national fraternity or sorority organization (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters)
- The university or college (e.g., University of Minnesota, Hamline University, Macalester College)
- Individual members (e.g., chapter president, pledgemaster, active members who participated)
- Alumni or former members (if hazing occurred at their residence or under their supervision)
- Housing corporations (if the hazing occurred in a fraternity or sorority house)
Types of Legal Claims
We pursue multiple legal theories to hold defendants accountable, including:
- Negligence – Failure to protect students from foreseeable harm
- Premises Liability – Dangerous conditions on property (e.g., fraternity houses owned by universities)
- Negligent Supervision – Failure to monitor or regulate Greek organizations
- Assault and Battery – Intentional harmful or offensive contact
- Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress – Extreme and outrageous conduct causing severe emotional harm
- Civil Rights Violations – If the hazing involved discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics
Damages You Can Recover
Hazing victims in Ramsey County may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses (past and future, including therapy for PTSD)
- Lost wages (if the victim missed work or internships due to injuries)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional distress)
- Mental anguish (anxiety, depression, PTSD)
- Loss of enjoyment of life (impact on academic and social experiences)
- Punitive damages (in cases of egregious conduct, to punish the defendants)
In wrongful death cases, families may also recover damages for loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and future earnings.
💰 Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Big
Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts when victims have strong legal representation. Here are just a few examples that show what’s possible for Ramsey County families:
1. Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha) – $10.1 Million
- What happened: Stone Foltz, a 20-year-old pledge, was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a fraternity event. He died from alcohol poisoning.
- Outcome: The family received $10.1 million in settlements from the university and fraternity. The chapter president was also held personally liable.
- Why it matters: This case shows that $10 million settlements are achievable for hazing victims, even when the victim is not a student at the university (similar to our Ramsey County client’s “ghost rush” status).
2. Maxwell Gruver (Louisiana State University, Phi Delta Theta) – $6.1 Million Jury Verdict
- What happened: Maxwell Gruver, an 18-year-old pledge, died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink during a “Bible Study” hazing ritual. His blood alcohol content was 0.495—more than six times the legal limit.
- Outcome: A jury awarded the family $6.1 million, and the state of Louisiana passed the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony.
- Why it matters: Juries award millions in hazing cases, especially when the conduct is egregious.
3. Timothy Piazza (Penn State University, Beta Theta Pi) – $110+ Million (Estimated)
- What happened: Timothy Piazza, a 19-year-old pledge, was forced to drink 18 alcoholic drinks in 82 minutes. He fell down a flight of stairs multiple times and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling 911.
- Outcome: The family received a confidential settlement estimated at over $110 million. Multiple fraternity members were convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
- Why it matters: When evidence is strong (e.g., security camera footage), settlements reach nine figures.
4. Andrew Coffey (Florida State University, Pi Kappa Phi) – Confidential Settlement
- What happened: Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old pledge, died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon.
- Outcome: The fraternity chapter was permanently closed, and the family received a confidential settlement.
- Why it matters: This case involved the same national fraternity as our current lawsuit. It proves that Pi Kappa Phi had actual knowledge of deadly hazing practices but failed to stop them.
🔍 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Ramsey County
If your child has been hazed in Ramsey County, time is critical. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and statutes of limitations expire. Here’s what you should do immediately:
1. Seek Medical Attention
- Even if your child says they’re “fine,” hazing injuries (e.g., rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, head trauma) can have delayed symptoms.
- Go to the emergency room or urgent care and document all injuries.
- Save all medical records—these will be critical for your case.
2. Preserve Evidence
Hazing cases are won or lost based on evidence. Do not delete anything. Save:
- Text messages, emails, and social media posts (GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram, etc.)
- Photos or videos of injuries, hazing activities, or fraternity/sorority events
- Names and contact information of witnesses (other pledges, bystanders)
- Fraternity/sorority documents (pledge manuals, schedules, rules)
- Medical records (hospital bills, doctor’s notes, therapy records)
3. Do NOT Confront the Organization
- Do not talk to fraternity/sorority leadership, university administrators, or their lawyers without legal representation.
- Do not sign any documents from the organization.
- Do not post about the incident on social media.
4. Report the Incident
- File a police report with your local Ramsey County law enforcement agency.
- Report to the university (e.g., University of Minnesota’s Office of Student Conduct, Hamline University’s Title IX office).
- Report to the national fraternity/sorority organization (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters).
5. Contact an Attorney Immediately
- Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.
- We will guide you through the legal process, preserve evidence, and protect your rights.
- Minnesota has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, so do not wait.
🏛️ Ramsey County Institutions and Greek Life
Ramsey County is home to several colleges and universities with active Greek life organizations. Here are some of the institutions where hazing may occur:
University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
- Greek Life: One of the largest Greek systems in Minnesota, with 30+ fraternities and 15+ sororities.
- Fraternities with National Hazing Histories:
- Pi Kappa Phi
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)
- Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)
- Beta Theta Pi
- Phi Delta Theta
- Sororities with Hazing Risks:
- Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delta)
- Kappa Alpha Theta
- Alpha Phi
Hamline University (St. Paul)
- Greek Life: Smaller but active Greek system with fraternities and sororities.
- Fraternities:
- Phi Delta Theta
- Sigma Chi
- Sororities:
- Alpha Phi
- Delta Gamma
Macalester College (St. Paul)
- Greek Life: Smaller Greek presence, but hazing can still occur in other student organizations (e.g., sports teams, clubs).
Saint Paul College (St. Paul)
- Greek Life: Limited Greek presence, but hazing can occur in other groups (e.g., sports teams, honor societies).
Other Ramsey County Institutions:
- Bethel University (Arden Hills)
- University of Northwestern – St. Paul
- Concordia University (St. Paul)
No matter where your child attends school in Ramsey County, if they’ve been hazed, we can help.
🎯 How We Fight for Ramsey County Hazing Victims
1. Immediate Evidence Preservation
- We send preservation letters to all defendants, demanding they retain all evidence (texts, photos, videos, documents).
- We work with forensic experts to recover deleted messages and social media posts.
- We interview witnesses and document their statements.
2. Comprehensive Investigation
- We gather medical records, police reports, and university documents.
- We identify all liable parties (individuals, chapters, nationals, universities).
- We uncover pattern evidence (prior hazing incidents at the same chapter or university).
3. Aggressive Negotiation
- We demand full and fair compensation from insurance companies and defendants.
- We leverage our insurance defense experience to counter lowball offers.
- We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial—so defendants know we’re serious.
4. Trial-Ready Litigation
- If defendants refuse to settle, we take your case to court.
- We present powerful evidence to judges and juries.
- We fight for maximum compensation, including punitive damages.
5. Protecting Your Privacy
- We understand that hazing victims often fear retaliation or social stigma.
- We protect your identity and handle your case with discretion.
- We work to minimize public exposure while still holding defendants accountable.
📞 Ramsey County Families: Call Us Now
If your child has been hazed in Ramsey County, you don’t have to face this alone. We are here to fight for you—and we won’t stop until justice is served.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.
Email: ralph@atty911.com
We serve Ramsey County families remotely and in-person.
We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.
🔥 Putting Ramsey County Fraternities on Notice
To fraternities and sororities operating in Ramsey County:
We are watching.
The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter. If you haze students in Ramsey County, we will pursue every liable entity—your chapter, your national organization, your university, and every individual member who participated.
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi—if your chapter operates in Ramsey County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America.
We are fighting this battle right now in Texas, and we will bring the same fight to Ramsey County. Clean up your chapters—or we will shut them down in court.
📅 Ramsey County Hazing Resources
Reporting Hazing in Minnesota
- Minnesota Hazing Hotline: 1-800-NOT-HAZE (1-800-668-4293)
- University of Minnesota Office of Student Conduct: https://conduct.umn.edu/
- Hamline University Title IX Office: https://www.hamline.edu/titleix/
- Macalester College Student Affairs: https://www.macalester.edu/studentaffairs/
Minnesota Anti-Hazing Laws
- Minnesota Statute 121A.69: Prohibits hazing and requires schools to implement anti-hazing policies.
- Minnesota Statute 609.2247: Criminal penalties for hazing, including fines and imprisonment.
Support for Hazing Victims
- National Hazing Prevention Hotline: 1-888-NOT-HAZE
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): 1-800-656-HOPE (for sexual assault victims)
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (for mental health support)
🏆 Why Ramsey County Families Trust Attorney 911
Client Testimonials
“Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer regarding my case.” — Dame Haskett
“One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello and they said that they would take it. And in the next few months, I got a call to pick up this handsome check.” — Donald Wilcox
“If you’re ever in a car accident, I highly recommend you give them a call 10/10. The staff provides great customer service and show they are a firm that cares about their clients!” — Devin Hebert
“I was in a very bad vehicle accident last year… when they picked up my case they were on it it did not take a very long time for us to settle… the settlement was in my favor in my opinion they did a great job.” — Sharon Giron
Media Coverage of Our Hazing Case
Our current $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston has been covered by:
- ABC13 Houston
- KHOU 11
- Houston Chronicle
- Houston Public Media
📞 Ramsey County Families: Take Action Now
Hazing is not tradition. It’s not bonding. It’s abuse—and it’s illegal.
If your child has been hazed in Ramsey County, call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911. We will fight for justice, hold the responsible parties accountable, and ensure this never happens to another Ramsey County family.
You are not alone. We are here to help.
Attorney 911
📍 Serving Ramsey County from Houston, Austin, and Beaumont
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We don’t just talk about justice. We fight for it.
