🛡️ Hazing Victims in Stevens County, Minnesota: Your Legal Rights and How to Fight Back
If your child has been hazed at a college, university, or Greek organization near Stevens County, you are not alone. What happened to our client in Houston—waterboarding, forced exercise to kidney failure, and physical abuse—is happening to students across America, including right here in Minnesota. Attorney 911 is fighting this battle nationwide, and we will bring the same aggressive representation to Stevens County families.
🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Stevens County: What Parents Need to Know
Hazing is not just a “college tradition” or “boys being boys.” It is abuse, torture, and often a crime. In Stevens County and the surrounding region, students at colleges and universities face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Texas:
- Forced alcohol consumption leading to alcohol poisoning
- Extreme physical exercise causing rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and kidney failure
- Waterboarding and simulated drowning
- Beatings with wooden paddles
- Sleep deprivation and psychological torture
- Sexual humiliation and assault
These are not isolated incidents. National fraternities like Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Kappa Sigma have chapters at universities near Stevens County, including:
- University of Minnesota Morris (UMM)
- Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM)
- Concordia College (Moorhead)
- North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND – just across the state line)
- Other regional institutions where Greek life exists
Stevens County parents: If your child attends or plans to attend college in this region, they may be at risk. The same fraternities that waterboarded our client in Texas operate chapters near Stevens County. The same culture of hazing exists here.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Stevens County Hazing Victim
Minnesota has strong laws against hazing, and victims have the right to seek justice and compensation. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Minnesota Hazing Laws: Criminal and Civil Liability
Minnesota Statute § 121A.69 defines hazing as:
“Any act committed as part of a person’s initiation into, affiliation with, or continued membership in a group that risks physical or mental harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.”
Key provisions:
- Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds perpetrators accountable.
- Criminal penalties include fines and jail time for those who engage in hazing.
- Civil liability allows victims to sue for damages, including medical bills, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
Stevens County families: If your child was hazed, the individuals, fraternity, and even the university may be legally responsible.
2. Who Can Be Held Liable?
In hazing cases, multiple parties can be sued, including:
- The local fraternity chapter (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi at UMM or Kappa Sigma at MSUM)
- The national fraternity organization (they often have deep pockets and insurance)
- The university or college (if they knew or should have known about hazing and failed to stop it)
- Individual members (including chapter officers, pledgemasters, and active members who participated)
- Alumni or former members (if hazing occurred at their property)
Our Houston case proves this: We sued the local chapter, the national organization, the university, individual members, and even a former member and his spouse. Stevens County victims deserve the same comprehensive accountability.
3. Damages You Can Recover
Hazing victims in Stevens County may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses (hospitalization, therapy, future treatment)
- Lost wages (if the victim missed work or internships)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
- Punitive damages (to punish the defendants and deter future hazing)
- Educational disruption (if hazing caused academic setbacks)
Our Houston client was hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure. His medical bills, pain, and long-term health risks justify the $10 million we’re seeking. Stevens County victims with similar injuries deserve no less.
🏥 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Stevens County
If your child has been hazed, time is critical. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and legal deadlines approach. Here’s what to do right now:
1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Hazing injuries like rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) or alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening.
- Go to the emergency room if your child shows signs of:
- Severe muscle pain or weakness
- Dark or brown urine (sign of rhabdomyolysis)
- Confusion, vomiting, or inability to walk
- Signs of alcohol poisoning (slow breathing, unconsciousness)
- Document everything. Medical records are critical evidence.
2. Preserve All Evidence
Hazing cases are won or lost on evidence. Do not delete anything.
- Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence.
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, emails).
- Write down everything your child remembers (dates, times, names of perpetrators).
- Get witness information (other pledges or students who saw what happened).
⚠️ WARNING: Do NOT confront the fraternity or university alone. They will try to control the narrative, destroy evidence, and pressure your child to stay silent.
3. Do NOT Sign Anything Without Legal Counsel
- Universities and fraternities may try to get your child to sign waivers or confidentiality agreements.
- Do not sign anything without talking to an attorney first.
4. Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
- Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.
- We offer video consultations for Stevens County families who cannot travel to Houston.
- We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Minnesota’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is 6 years, but do not wait. Evidence disappears, and witnesses forget. The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.
💰 Why Stevens County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now
- We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
- Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure.
- The same fraternities operate near Stevens County. We know how to hold them accountable.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys—We Know Their Playbook
- Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides.
- We know how they minimize claims, delay payouts, and intimidate victims.
- We use that insider knowledge to maximize your compensation.
3. Nationwide Representation—Distance Is Not a Barrier
- While we’re based in Houston, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including Stevens County.
- We offer video consultations and travel to Stevens County for depositions, trials, and meetings.
- We have federal court authority, so we can pursue cases against national fraternities anywhere in America.
4. We Speak Spanish—Se Habla Español
- Hazing affects students from all backgrounds, including Hispanic and immigrant families.
- We provide bilingual legal services—no language barriers, no miscommunication.
5. We Work on Contingency—$0 Upfront Costs
- You pay nothing unless we win your case.
- No hourly fees, no retainers—just a percentage of your settlement or verdict.
- This levels the playing field against universities and fraternities with deep pockets.
📋 What to Expect When You Call Attorney 911
- Free Case Evaluation – We’ll listen to your story and explain your legal options.
- Evidence Collection – We’ll help you gather medical records, photos, texts, and witness statements.
- Filing the Lawsuit – We’ll file your case in the appropriate court (state or federal).
- Discovery – We’ll demand documents, emails, and depositions from the defendants.
- Negotiation – We’ll fight for the maximum settlement.
- Trial (if necessary) – If the defendants refuse to settle fairly, we’ll take your case to court.
Our goal: To hold the perpetrators accountable, secure fair compensation for your family, and prevent this from happening to another Stevens County student.
🔥 The Message to Stevens County Fraternities and Universities
To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, and all other fraternities operating near Stevens County:
We are watching. We are coming for you.
The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapters. The same waterboarding, forced exercise, and physical abuse that hospitalized our client in Houston is happening in Stevens County. And when you haze students here, we will find every liable entity—your chapter, your nationals, your university, and your individual members.
You cannot hide behind “tradition.” You cannot claim ignorance. You cannot pretend this is harmless. Hazing is torture. Hazing is a crime. And you will pay.
To the University of Minnesota Morris, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Concordia College, and other institutions near Stevens County:
You own the buildings. You collect the rent. You have the power to stop this.
When you allow hazing to happen on your campus, you are complicit. When you fail to protect your students, you are liable. When another Stevens County family loses their child to hazing, the blood is on your hands.
We will hold you accountable.
📞 Stevens County Families: Call Us Today
If your child has been hazed, you have legal rights. You have options. And you have allies in this fight.
Call Attorney 911 now for a free, confidential consultation:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We serve Stevens County and all of Minnesota. Distance is not a barrier. Justice is our mission.
📌 Frequently Asked Questions for Stevens County Families
Q: My child was hazed, but they don’t want to report it. What should I do?
A: Hazing victims often fear retaliation or social ostracism. You don’t need your child’s permission to seek legal advice. Call us—we can explain your options confidentially and help your child understand their rights.
Q: The fraternity says my child “consented” to the hazing. Does that matter?
A: No. Minnesota law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the law still holds the perpetrators accountable.
Q: The university says they didn’t know about the hazing. Can we still sue?
A: Yes. Universities have a duty to protect students. If they knew or should have known about hazing and failed to act, they can be held liable. Our Houston case proves that universities can be sued even if they claim ignorance.
Q: How much is my child’s case worth?
A: Every case is different, but hazing cases with serious injuries (like hospitalization or long-term trauma) often result in multi-million-dollar settlements or verdicts. Our Houston case seeks $10 million for a victim with kidney failure. Stevens County victims deserve the same justice.
Q: What if my child was hazed at a school outside of Minnesota?
A: We represent hazing victims nationwide. If your child was hazed at a college in another state (e.g., North Dakota State University), we can still pursue your case. Federal court authority allows us to sue national fraternities anywhere in America.
Q: The fraternity already suspended the chapter. Is it too late to sue?
A: No. Suspending a chapter is often a damage control tactic to limit liability. It doesn’t erase what happened, and it doesn’t prevent you from seeking justice. The time to act is now.
📢 Spread the Word: Protect Stevens County Students
Hazing thrives in secrecy. Break the silence.
- Share this page with Stevens County parents, students, and educators.
- Talk to your child about the dangers of hazing.
- Report hazing to your child’s school or local authorities.
- Demand accountability from universities and fraternities.
Together, we can end hazing in Stevens County and beyond.
🏆 We Don’t Just Talk About Justice—We Fight for It
Attorney 911 is not your typical law firm. We are Legal Emergency Lawyers™—we move fast, we fight hard, and we don’t back down.
- 25+ years of litigation experience (Ralph Manginello)
- Former insurance defense attorneys—we know how the other side thinks
- Federal court authority—we can sue national fraternities anywhere
- Dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York)
- Bilingual services—Se habla español
- Proven results—millions recovered for personal injury victims
Stevens County families: When your child is hazed, you need a legal team that will fight for justice, not just a settlement. You need attorneys who will stand up to universities and fraternities with deep pockets. You need Attorney 911.
🚨 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911
Your child’s future starts with justice. Let’s fight for it together.
