🛡️ Hazing Victims in Linn County, Missouri: Your Legal Rights and How We Can Help
Linn County Families: Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines
If your child has been hazed at a college or university near Linn County, Missouri, you’re not alone—and you have powerful legal rights. While we’re based in Texas, our team at Attorney 911 represents hazing victims nationwide, including students from Linn County and the surrounding region. We’re currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston, and we’re ready to bring that same aggressive advocacy to Linn County families.
Hazing isn’t just “tradition” or “boys being boys.” It’s abuse, assault, and sometimes even torture—and the institutions that allow it must be held accountable. Whether your child attends Truman State University, Missouri Western State University, or another school near Linn County, we can help.
🚨 What Is Hazing? The Reality in Linn County
Hazing is any activity that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization. In Linn County and across Missouri, this often includes:
- Physical abuse (beatings, paddling, forced exercise until collapse)
- Forced consumption (alcohol, food, or non-food substances until vomiting)
- Psychological torture (waterboarding, humiliation, threats of expulsion)
- Sleep deprivation (forced late-night activities, driving members at all hours)
- Sexual humiliation (forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, degrading acts)
This is not tradition. This is not brotherhood. This is abuse.
💔 Real Cases, Real Consequences: Hazing Near Linn County
🔴 The Pi Kappa Phi Case (2025) – What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Linn County
We’re currently representing Leonel Bermudez, a young man who was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being hazed by Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston. The fraternity forced him to:
- Perform 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
- Endure waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
- Eat until vomiting, then continue running sprints
- Be struck with wooden paddles
- Carry a fanny pack with sexual objects at all times
Why This Matters to Linn County Families:
- Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at universities near Linn County, including Truman State University.
- The same national fraternity that failed to prevent Andrew Coffey’s death in 2017 allowed Bermudez to be hospitalized in 2025.
- Universities near Linn County face the same liability risks as the University of Houston—if they know about hazing and do nothing, they can be sued.
💰 Multi-Million Dollar Precedents: Hazing Victims Win Big
Hazing cases don’t just result in apologies—they result in millions of dollars in compensation for victims and their families. Here’s what juries and courts have awarded in recent years:
| Case | Fraternity | University | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (2021) | Pi Kappa Alpha | Bowling Green State | Settlement | $10.1 Million |
| Maxwell Gruver (2017) | Phi Delta Theta | Louisiana State | Jury Verdict | $6.1 Million |
| Timothy Piazza (2017) | Beta Theta Pi | Penn State | Settlement | $110+ Million |
| Andrew Coffey (2017) | Pi Kappa Phi | Florida State | Settlement | Confidential (major) |
| Adam Oakes (2021) | Delta Chi | Virginia Commonwealth | Settlement | $4+ Million |
Linn County Families: These cases prove that hazing lawsuits win. The same legal strategies apply to Linn County victims.
⚖️ Missouri Hazing Laws: What Linn County Families Need to Know
Missouri has strong anti-hazing laws that protect students. Under Missouri Revised Statutes § 578.360, hazing is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Key Missouri Hazing Law Provisions:
✅ Consent is NOT a defense – Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says that doesn’t matter.
✅ Organizations can be held liable – Fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and universities can be sued.
✅ Individuals can be held personally responsible – Chapter leaders, members, and even alumni who participated can be sued.
✅ Institutions can be held accountable – Universities that fail to stop hazing face premises liability and negligent supervision claims.
Linn County Families: If your child was hazed in Missouri, they have legal rights—and we can help you enforce them.
🏛️ Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Linn County?
When hazing happens, multiple parties can be held liable, including:
- The Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter – Directly organized and conducted hazing.
- The National Organization – Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite knowing about prior incidents.
- The University – Failed to protect students despite having the power to regulate Greek life.
- Individual Members – Participated in or facilitated hazing.
- Alumni & Advisors – Hosted hazing events or failed to intervene.
- Housing Corporations – Owned or controlled property where hazing occurred.
Linn County Example:
If your child was hazed at Truman State University, we could sue:
- The local chapter of the fraternity/sorority
- The national organization
- Truman State University (for failing to protect students)
- Individual members who participated
- Alumni who hosted hazing events
💰 What Compensation Can Linn County Families Recover?
Hazing victims in Linn County may be entitled to compensation for:
| Category | Examples | Potential Value |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, therapy, future treatment | $50,000–$500,000+ |
| Pain & Suffering | Physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD | $500,000–$5,000,000+ |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work or internships | $10,000–$100,000+ |
| Educational Damages | Disrupted college plans, lost scholarships | $50,000–$200,000+ |
| Punitive Damages | To punish egregious conduct (e.g., waterboarding) | $1,000,000–$10,000,000+ |
Linn County Families: Our team has recovered millions for hazing victims—and we’ll fight for maximum compensation for your child.
📋 What Should Linn County Families Do If Their Child Is Hazed?
✅ Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, document everything.
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening.
- Medical records are critical evidence in your case.
✅ Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Save all texts, GroupMe messages, and social media posts about hazing.
- Take photos of injuries (bruises, burns, cuts).
- Document witness names and contact info.
- Do NOT delete anything—even if it seems embarrassing.
✅ Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone
- They will try to control the narrative and minimize your claim.
- Do NOT sign anything without legal counsel.
- Do NOT give a recorded statement to their insurance company.
✅ Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
- Statute of limitations in Missouri: 2 years (but evidence disappears fast).
- We offer free consultations for Linn County families.
- We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.
📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 for hazing emergencies)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🎯 Why Linn 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. We know how to win these cases.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys = Insider Knowledge
Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena used to defend insurance companies—so we know exactly how they’ll try to deny your claim. Now, we use that knowledge to fight for victims.
3. Nationwide Representation for Linn County Families
- Federal court authority – We can sue national fraternities anywhere in the U.S.
- Dual-state bar licenses – Texas and New York (critical for national litigation).
- Willingness to travel – We’ll come to Linn County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
4. We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español
Many hazing victims in Linn County come from Spanish-speaking families. We provide full legal services in Spanish—no language barriers.
5. Contingency Fees – $0 Upfront
- You pay nothing unless we win.
- We cover all case expenses (medical records, experts, investigations).
- If we don’t recover money for you, you owe us nothing.
6. Proven Results in High-Stakes Litigation
- BP Texas City explosion litigation (mass tort experience).
- Multi-million dollar settlements in personal injury cases.
- Aggressive courtroom advocacy – We don’t back down from powerful institutions.
🔥 What Sets Us Apart for Linn County Hazing Victims?
We Don’t Just Sue—We Change the Culture
Our goal isn’t just compensation—it’s preventing the next hazing victim. That’s why we:
- Expose dangerous chapters in the media.
- Push for criminal charges when applicable.
- Demand university reforms to protect students.
- Support legislation to make hazing a felony.
Lupe Pena (our attorney) put it best:
“If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”
📞 Linn County Families: Call Now for a Free Consultation
If your child has been hazed at a college or university near Linn County, you have legal rights—and we can help you enforce them.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 for hazing emergencies)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit: attorney911.com
We don’t get paid unless you do. No upfront costs. No risk.
🚨 Fraternities Near Linn County: We’re Watching You
To the fraternities operating at Truman State University, Missouri Western State University, and other schools near Linn County:
We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your hazing histories.
If you haze students in Linn County, we will find every liable entity—your chapter, your nationals, your housing corporation, and every individual member.
The Pi Kappa Phi chapter that hospitalized our client? Shut down. The president who let it happen? Personally liable for $6.5 million.
Your chapter could be next.
🏆 Linn County Families: Let’s Fight Back Together
Hazing is not tradition. It’s not brotherhood. It’s abuse—and it has to stop.
If your child has been hazed, you don’t have to stay silent. You have legal rights. You have powerful allies. And you have a team that will fight for you every step of the way.
Call Attorney 911 today. Let’s hold them accountable.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Justice starts with a phone call.
