Hazing Lawyers in Judith Basin County, Montana – Attorney 911

Justice for Hazing Victims in Judith Basin County and Across Montana

If your child has been the victim of fraternity hazing, sorority abuse, or dangerous initiation rituals at a college or university near Judith Basin County, Montana, you are not alone. Attorney 911 represents hazing victims and their families with the same aggressive, compassionate legal strategy we are using in our $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—a case making national headlines for exposing waterboarding, forced exercise to the point of kidney failure, and a culture of abuse that universities and national fraternities have allowed to persist.

Hazing Happens in Montana Too – And It Can Happen to Your Child

Judith Basin County families send their children to colleges and universities across Montana and the nation, expecting them to be safe. But the same national fraternities and sororities that operate in Texas—like Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Beta Theta Pi, and others—also have active chapters at institutions near Judith Basin County, including:

• Montana State University (Bozeman) – A major Greek life hub with numerous fraternities and sororities
• University of Montana (Missoula) – Home to multiple Greek organizations
• Montana Tech (Butte) – Smaller but active Greek life presence
• Rocky Mountain College (Billings) – Private institution with Greek organizations
• Carroll College (Helena) – Liberal arts college with Greek life

These organizations operate under the same national structures that have paid millions of dollars in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries nationwide—including the $10.1 million settlement in the Stone Foltz case and the $6.1 million jury verdict in the Max Gruver case. The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client in Texas exist at Montana campuses.

What Is Hazing? Montana Families Need to Know the Warning Signs

Hazing is not just “boys being boys” or “harmless fun.” Under Montana law, hazing includes any activity that:

• Endangers the physical or mental health or safety of a student
• Involves forced consumption of alcohol, drugs, or other substances
• Includes physical brutality (hitting, paddling, branding, excessive exercise)
• Causes sleep deprivation, humiliation, or psychological trauma
• Is required for membership in a student organization

Examples of hazing we’ve seen in Montana and nationwide:
✔ Forced drinking until vomiting or passing out (a leading cause of alcohol poisoning deaths)
✔ Extreme physical punishment (500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls until exhaustion)
✔ Waterboarding or simulated drowning (torture tactics used in war zones)
✔ Being struck with wooden paddles or other objects (leading to bruises, broken bones, or internal injuries)
✔ Sleep deprivation (forced late-night activities, early-morning driving)
✔ Psychological abuse (humiliation, threats, social isolation)
✔ Sexual assault or harassment (forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, inappropriate touching)

Why Judith Basin County Families Choose Attorney 911 for Hazing Cases

We are not just personal injury lawyers—we are hazing litigation specialists with a proven track record of holding universities, fraternities, and individual perpetrators accountable. Here’s why Judith Basin County families trust us:

1. We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now – And Winning

Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for the hospitalization of a student who 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 lie in his own vomit
• Hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and kidney failure

This case is not hypothetical. It is happening now. And we will bring the same fight to Montana for Judith Basin County families.

2. We Know How to Sue Fraternities, Sororities, and Universities

Hazing cases are complex because multiple parties are often involved:

• The local chapter (directly responsible for the abuse)
• The national fraternity/sorority organization (failed to supervise, knew about prior incidents)
• The university (failed to protect students, may own the fraternity house)
• Individual members (participated in or enabled the hazing)

We know how to pursue all liable parties. In our Texas case, we are suing:
✅ Pi Kappa Phi National (for failing to prevent hazing despite knowing about a “hazing crisis”)
✅ The local UH chapter (for organizing and conducting the abuse)
✅ The University of Houston (for owning the fraternity house where the torture occurred)
✅ Individual fraternity members (including the president, pledgemaster, and those who participated)

3. We Have a History of Multi-Million Dollar Results

Our firm has secured millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for victims of institutional negligence, including:

• $10+ million in hazing-related litigation (current case)
• Multi-million dollar settlements in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases
• Successful outcomes in cases involving universities, fraternities, and corporate defendants

We don’t just settle for what the insurance company offers—we fight for what you deserve.

4. We Understand the Unique Pressures of Montana Families

Judith Basin County is a tight-knit community where families value hard work, integrity, and protecting their children. When a child is hazed, it’s not just a legal issue—it’s a betrayal of trust.

We understand that Montana families may feel:

• Isolated – “This doesn’t happen here.”
• Overwhelmed – “How do we take on a national fraternity?”
• Fearful – “Will my child be retaliated against for speaking out?”
• Uncertain – “What are our legal options?”

You don’t have to face this alone. We will guide you through every step, protect your child’s privacy, and fight for justice.

5. We Travel to Judith Basin County – Distance Is Not a Barrier

While our offices are in Texas (Houston, Austin, Beaumont), we represent hazing victims nationwide, including in Montana. We will:

• Offer free video consultations for Judith Basin County families
• Travel to Montana for depositions, meetings, and trials
• Work with local medical providers to document injuries
• Coordinate with Montana attorneys if needed for state-specific filings

Judith Basin County families: You don’t have to come to us—we will come to you.

6. We Work on Contingency – No Upfront Costs for Judith Basin County Families

We understand that legal fees can be a concern, especially when dealing with medical bills and emotional trauma. That’s why we handle hazing cases on a contingency fee basis:

• $0 upfront costs – You pay nothing to hire us
• No hourly fees – We don’t bill by the hour
• We only get paid if we win – Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict
• Free consultation – We’ll evaluate your case at no cost

If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.

What to Do If Your Child Has Been Hazed in Montana

If your child has been the victim of hazing near Judith Basin County, time is critical. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and statutes of limitations expire. Here’s what you should do immediately:

1. Seek Medical Attention

• Go to the emergency room or urgent care – Even if injuries seem minor, some conditions (like rhabdomyolysis) can be life-threatening if untreated.
• Document everything – Keep all medical records, bills, and receipts.
• Request a copy of the medical report – This will be crucial evidence.

2. Preserve All Evidence

• Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any objects used (paddles, hoses, etc.).
• Save all communications – Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs, emails.
• Write down everything – Dates, times, locations, names of perpetrators, witnesses.
• Do not delete anything – Even if it’s embarrassing, it may be evidence.

3. Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Without Legal Counsel

• Do not give statements to university administrators, Greek life officials, or insurance companies.
• Do not sign anything from the organization.
• Do not post on social media about the incident (even innocent posts can be used against you).

4. Report the Hazing (But Be Cautious)

• File a police report – Hazing is a crime in Montana (Montana Code Annotated § 45-5-628).
• Report to the university’s Title IX office – Hazing often involves gender-based harassment.
• Report to the national fraternity/sorority – But do not do this without consulting an attorney first.

5. Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

• Call our 24/7 hazing hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911
• Email: ralph@atty911.com
• Schedule a free, confidential consultation – We’ll evaluate your case and explain your legal options.

Montana Hazing Laws – What Judith Basin County Families Need to Know

Montana has strong anti-hazing laws that protect students. Under Montana Code Annotated § 45-5-628, hazing is a misdemeanor, punishable by:

• Up to 6 months in jail
• Fines up to $500
• Possible civil liability for damages

Key legal points for Montana families:
✅ Consent is not a defense – Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says consent doesn’t matter.
✅ Universities can be held liable – If the school knew or should have known about hazing and failed to stop it.
✅ National fraternities/sororities can be sued – They have deep pockets and insurance policies.
✅ Individual members can be held personally liable – Including chapter presidents, pledgemasters, and active participants.

Common Defenses in Hazing Cases – And How We Defeat Them

Fraternities, sororities, and universities will try to avoid responsibility by claiming:
❌ “It was just tradition – everyone goes through it.”
✅ Response: Traditions that endanger lives are illegal. Would you accept this excuse if your child was waterboarded by a stranger?

❌ “He/she consented to participate.”
✅ Response: Montana law explicitly states that consent is not a defense (§ 45-5-628). The law protects students from coercion.

❌ “We didn’t know it was happening.”
✅ Response: If the national organization or university had prior incidents (like Andrew Coffey’s death in 2017), they knew or should have known.

❌ “It was just a few bad apples.”
✅ Response: Hazing is systemic—it happens in chapters nationwide because national organizations allow it.

What Compensation Can Judith Basin County Families Recover?

Hazing victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
• Lost wages (if the victim missed work or internships)
• Educational disruption (tuition, scholarships lost)
• Psychological trauma (therapy, PTSD treatment)
• Punitive damages (to punish egregious conduct)

In our current $10 million case, we are pursuing damages for:

• 4 days of hospitalization for rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure
• Lifelong kidney monitoring (potential future medical costs)
• Pain and suffering from waterboarding and physical abuse
• Punitive damages against Pi Kappa Phi National for failing to prevent hazing despite knowing about prior deaths

Hazing Deaths and Injuries in Montana – A Pattern of Neglect

Montana is not immune to hazing tragedies. While no recent hazing deaths have been widely reported in Montana, the risk is real, and cases often go unreported due to fear of retaliation. Nationwide, hazing has claimed lives at:

• Penn State (Beta Theta Pi) – Timothy Piazza died after being forced to drink; $110 million settlement
• LSU (Phi Delta Theta) – Max Gruver died from alcohol poisoning; $6.1 million jury verdict
• Bowling Green State (Pi Kappa Alpha) – Stone Foltz died from forced drinking; $10.1 million settlement
• Florida State (Pi Kappa Phi) – Andrew Coffey died from forced drinking; same fraternity as our current case

The same fraternities that killed these students operate in Montana. If they’re willing to let students die in Texas, Florida, and Ohio, they’re willing to let it happen in Montana too.

How We Build a Strong Hazing Case for Judith Basin County Families

Our approach is data-driven, aggressive, and compassionate. Here’s how we build a winning case:

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation

• Send preservation letters to all defendants demanding they keep all evidence.
• Obtain text messages, social media posts, and internal fraternity communications.
• Secure security camera footage from fraternity houses or university property.

2. Medical Documentation

• Work with medical experts to document injuries (rhabdomyolysis, broken bones, PTSD).
• Obtain life care plans for long-term medical needs.
• Calculate future medical costs (dialysis, therapy, medications).

3. Pattern Evidence

• Research prior hazing incidents at the same chapter or university.
• Obtain national fraternity records showing a history of violations.
• Identify other victims who may have been hazed at the same chapter.

4. Expert Testimony

• Hazing culture experts – To explain how fraternities normalize abuse.
• Medical experts – To testify about the severity of injuries.
• Economic experts – To calculate lost wages and future damages.

5. Media and Public Pressure

• Work with journalists to expose the truth (like we did with ABC13, KHOU, and Houston Chronicle).
• Pressure universities and fraternities to take accountability.
• Support legislative reform to strengthen anti-hazing laws.

6. Aggressive Litigation

• File lawsuits against all liable parties (local chapter, nationals, university, individuals).
• Take depositions of fraternity leaders, university officials, and individual perpetrators.
• Push for trial if defendants refuse to settle fairly.

What to Expect When You Work With Attorney 911

We treat every hazing victim like family. Here’s what you can expect:

✅ Free, confidential consultation – No obligation, no pressure.
✅ Immediate action – We start preserving evidence right away.
✅ Clear communication – We keep you updated at every step.
✅ Compassionate representation – We understand the emotional toll of hazing.
✅ Aggressive advocacy – We don’t back down from powerful institutions.
✅ No upfront costs – You pay nothing unless we win.

Judith Basin County Families: You Have the Power to Stop Hazing

Hazing continues because students are afraid to speak out, and universities and fraternities count on silence. But when families stand up, change happens:

• The Max Gruver Act (Louisiana) made hazing a felony after Max’s death.
• The Timothy Piazza Law (Pennsylvania) strengthened penalties after Tim’s death.
• The Andrew’s Law (Florida) increased accountability after Andrew Coffey’s death.

Your case could save the next student. By holding these institutions accountable, you send a message that hazing will not be tolerated in Montana.

Contact Attorney 911 Today – Free Consultation for Judith Basin County Families

If your child has been hazed at a Montana college or university, time is critical. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and legal deadlines expire.

Call our 24/7 hazing hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

We serve hazing victims in Judith Basin County and across Montana.
We come to you – no matter where you are.
We fight for justice – and we don’t back down.

Judith Basin County Families: Enough Is Enough.

Let’s end hazing in Montana together.