🚨 Hazing Victims in Cole County, Missouri — Legal Rights & How to Get Justice

If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or student organization in Cole County, Missouri — you have legal rights. Attorney 911 is fighting this battle right now in Texas, and we’re ready to bring the fight to Cole County.

⚠️ This Happens in Cole County Too

Cole County is home to Lincoln University, a historically Black university with a proud Greek life tradition. But the same national fraternities and sororities that have paid millions in hazing settlements nationwide operate right here in Cole County.

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sigma Gamma Rho, Zeta Phi Beta — these organizations have chapters at universities near Cole County, and they bring the same hazing culture with them.

The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client in Houston exist in Cole County fraternities and sororities.

💔 What Hazing Looks Like in Cole County

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys.” It’s abuse. In our current case, a University of Houston student was:

Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
Struck with wooden paddles
Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to keep running
Hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth
Hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure

This isn’t happening just in Texas. It’s happening at universities near Cole County too.

⚖️ Your Legal Rights in Missouri

Missouri has strong anti-hazing laws that apply to Cole County:

Missouri Revised Statutes § 578.360 — Hazing Defined

“Hazing” means any activity which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by an institution of higher education.

This includes:

Physical brutality (paddling, beating, branding)
Forced consumption of alcohol, food, or drugs
Sleep deprivation
Psychological abuse
Sexual humiliation
Any activity that creates a risk of physical or mental harm

Missouri Revised Statutes § 578.363 — Criminal Penalties

Class A Misdemeanor for hazing
Class D Felony if hazing creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury
Organizations can be fined up to $5,000

Civil Liability — You Can Sue

Even if criminal charges aren’t filed, you can sue for money damages in civil court. In Missouri, hazing victims can recover:

Medical bills (past and future)
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Lost wages
Punitive damages (to punish the wrongdoers)

Most importantly: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, Missouri law says that doesn’t matter.

🏛️ Who Can Be Sued in Cole County?

When hazing happens in Cole County, multiple parties can be held legally responsible:

Defendant	Why They’re Liable
Local Chapter	Directly organized and conducted hazing
National Organization	Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture
University/College	Failed to protect students; knew or should have known
Chapter Officers	Leadership responsibility; directed hazing
Individual Members	Participated in hazing
Alumni	Hosted hazing at their homes
Property Owners	Allowed hazing on their property

In our current case, we’re suing:

The local chapter
The national organization
The university (which owned the fraternity house)
Individual members
A former member and his spouse (hazing occurred at their home)

💰 How Much Is a Hazing Case Worth in Cole County?

Hazing cases can result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Recent cases nationwide:

Case	University	Outcome	Amount
Stone Foltz	Bowling Green State	Settlement	$10.1 million
Maxwell Gruver	Louisiana State	Jury Verdict	$6.1 million
Timothy Piazza	Penn State	Settlement	$110+ million
Andrew Coffey	Florida State	Settlement	Confidential (major)
Our current case	University of Houston	$10 million lawsuit pending

These results are possible for Cole County victims too.

What affects the value of your case:

Severity of injuries (hospitalization, long-term damage)
Egregiousness of conduct (waterboarding, paddles, forced consumption)
Pattern of abuse (was this a one-time event or ongoing?)
Institutional knowledge (did the university or nationals know about prior hazing?)
Evidence available (texts, photos, videos, witnesses)

📞 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Cole County

STEP 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately

Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis from forced exercise) may not appear immediately
Medical records are critical evidence

STEP 2: Preserve All Evidence

Save everything:

Text messages (GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram, WhatsApp)
Photos and videos (from hazing events, injuries)
Social media posts (even if deleted, screenshots help)
Emails
Fraternity/sorority documents (pledge manuals, schedules)
Witness names and contact information

DO NOT:

Delete anything
Post on social media about the incident
Talk to the fraternity/sorority or university without legal counsel

STEP 3: Report to Authorities

Police: File a report with the Cole County Sheriff’s Department or Jefferson City Police Department
University: Report to Lincoln University administration (if applicable)
Title IX: If sexual harassment or assault was involved, file a Title IX complaint

STEP 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately

The statute of limitations in Missouri is 5 years for personal injury, but:

Evidence disappears quickly
Witnesses forget
Organizations pressure victims to stay silent
The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be

🆘 Why Cole County Families Choose Attorney 911

We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing case against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to build these cases. We know how to win. Cole County families get the same aggressive representation we provide locally.

Our Advantages for Cole County Victims:

✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We know how insurance companies and institutions will fight back. We’ve seen their playbook from the inside — now we use that knowledge against them.

✅ Federal Court Authority — We can pursue Cole County cases in federal court, giving us more leverage against national organizations.

✅ Dual-State Bar Admission — Licensed in Texas and New York — strategic advantage for cases against national fraternities/sororities.

✅ Proven Track Record — We’ve won multi-million dollar settlements in personal injury cases, including a $10 million case currently pending.

✅ We Come to Cole County — For depositions, client meetings, and trials, our attorneys travel to Cole County. Distance is not a barrier.

✅ Contingency Fee — $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless you get paid. Cole County families pay nothing unless we win.

✅ Se Habla Español — We serve Spanish-speaking families in Cole County without language barriers.

✅ 24/7 Availability — Hazing emergencies don’t wait. Call us anytime.

🎯 The Attorney 911 Approach for Cole County Hazing Victims

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation

Send preservation letters to all defendants
Subpoena text messages, social media, videos
Interview witnesses before memories fade

2. Medical Documentation

Work with doctors to document all injuries
Obtain complete medical records
Consult with experts on long-term prognosis

3. Identify All Liable Parties

Local chapter
National organization
University
Individual perpetrators
Alumni
Property owners

4. Build the Pattern Evidence

National fraternity’s hazing history
University’s prior incidents
Other victims at the same chapter

5. Aggressive Negotiation

Demand policy limits from insurance carriers
Push for maximum settlement
Refuse lowball offers

6. Trial Preparation

If settlement can’t be reached, we’re ready to go to trial
We’ve tried cases to verdict and won
We’re not afraid of institutions with deep pockets

📋 Cole County Hazing Victim Intake Checklist

If you’re considering legal action, we’ll need:

Your child’s full name and contact information
Name of the organization (fraternity, sorority, team, club)
Name of the university/college (Lincoln University, etc.)
Dates of hazing incidents
Description of what happened (as much detail as possible)
Medical records (hospital visits, doctor notes, therapy records)
Photos/videos of injuries or hazing activities
Text messages, social media posts, emails about hazing
Names and contact information of witnesses
Any documents from the organization (pledge manuals, schedules)
Academic records (if hazing affected grades or enrollment)
Employment records (if hazing caused missed work)

🚨 Cole County Parents: This Could Happen to Your Child

The same fraternities that waterboarded our client in Houston have chapters near Cole County.

The same universities that failed to stop hazing in Texas have campuses near Cole County.

The same “traditions” that hospitalized a student in Houston exist in Cole County Greek life.

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

🔥 What Cole County Fraternities Need to Know

To fraternities operating near Cole County:

“We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter. Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — if your chapter operates near Cole County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America. We will pursue every liable entity. We already shut down the Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston. Your chapter could be next.”

📞 Cole County Hazing Victims: Call Us Now

Free, confidential consultation. No obligation. We come to you.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

We serve Cole County, Missouri and nationwide. We travel to Cole County for your case.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions for Cole County Families

Q: My child is afraid of retaliation. How can you protect them?

We understand the fear. Many hazing victims are intimidated into silence. We:

Handle all communication with the fraternity/university
Protect your child’s identity when possible
Take legal action against anyone who retaliates
Provide support throughout the process

Q: The fraternity says my child “consented.” Is that a defense?

No. Missouri law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the organization can still be held liable.

Q: The university says they didn’t know. Can they still be sued?

Yes. Universities have a duty to protect students. If they knew or should have known about hazing risks and failed to act, they can be held liable. In our current case, the university owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred — they can’t claim ignorance.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit in Cole County?

5 years from the date of injury under Missouri law. But don’t wait — evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and organizations destroy records. The sooner you act, the stronger your case.

Q: How much will this cost us?

$0 upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis — we only get paid if we win your case. You pay nothing out of pocket.

Q: Can you help if the hazing happened outside Cole County but my child is from Cole County?

Yes. We represent hazing victims nationwide. If your child was hazed at any university in America and your family is in Cole County, we can help.

Q: What if my child was hazed but not physically injured?

Psychological trauma is a serious injury. PTSD, anxiety, depression — these are compensable damages. We’ve helped clients recover for emotional distress even without physical injury.

Q: The fraternity says they’ve “suspended” the chapter. Does that mean they’re not liable?

No. Suspension or closure after an incident is damage control. It doesn’t erase liability for what happened. In our current case, Pi Kappa Phi closed the chapter 7 days before the lawsuit was filed — they knew they were liable.

🏆 Why Cole County Families Trust Attorney 911

We’re Not Just Lawyers. We’re Fighters.

Ralph Manginello:

25+ years of litigation experience
Former insurance defense attorney — knows how the other side thinks
Currently litigating a $10 million hazing case
Has won multi-million dollar settlements in personal injury cases
Will travel to Cole County for your case

Lupe Pena:

Former national insurance defense attorney (Litchfield Cavo LLP)
Knows how insurance companies value and fight claims
12+ years of litigation experience
Fluent in Spanish — can serve Cole County Hispanic families
Will fight for Cole County victims

Our Team:

Bilingual staff
24/7 availability
Compassionate approach
Aggressive representation

📢 Cole County Parents: You Are Not Powerless

The fraternities, sororities, and universities want you to think you have no options. They want you to stay silent. They want you to believe this is “just how it is.”

It’s not.

Hazing is abuse. It’s illegal. It’s preventable. And the people who allow it must be held accountable.

You have the power to:

Hold the perpetrators accountable
Get compensation for medical bills and suffering
Prevent this from happening to another Cole County family
Send a message that hazing will not be tolerated

🚨 Cole County: This Is Your Moment

The same week our lawsuit was filed, another hazing death lawsuit was filed against Sigma Chi at University of Texas.

The media is watching. Legislators are watching. The country is watching.

Cole County families: This is your moment to stand up. This is your moment to fight back. This is your moment to say “Enough is enough.”

📞 Call Now. The Clock Is Ticking.

Free consultation. No obligation. We come to Cole County.