Hazing Lawyers for Richland County, Montana: Protecting Students from Abuse in Greek Life and Campus Organizations
Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines — Neither Do We
Richland County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust that universities near Richland County — from Montana State University-Billings to Dawson Community College and beyond — will protect their students from harm. But for too many young people, the reality is far darker.
Hazing isn’t just a prank. It’s not “tradition.” It’s not “building character.”
It’s abuse. It’s torture. It’s life-altering injury. And it’s happening right here in Montana — in fraternities, sororities, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC programs, and other organizations that prey on students seeking belonging.
If your child has been hazed in Richland County or anywhere in Montana, you are not powerless. The same legal strategies that secured $10 million in a recent Texas hazing case — and millions more nationwide — apply to Montana victims. Attorney 911, based in Houston, Texas, is fighting this battle right now — and we’re ready to fight for Richland County families too.
🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Montana: What Richland County Families Need to Know
Hazing is Widespread — And Montana Isn’t Immune
Nationwide, 55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing, and 40% of student athletes report being hazed. Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every year in the United States — and the numbers are rising.
Montana’s universities and colleges are not exempt. While specific incidents in Richland County may not make headlines, the same national fraternities and sororities involved in high-profile hazing deaths operate chapters across Montana. Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, and others — the same organizations that have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths — maintain active chapters at Montana institutions.
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Montana, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Texas.
What Hazing Looks Like in Montana
Hazing isn’t just about excessive drinking. It takes many forms — all of them dangerous:
| Type of Hazing | Examples | Montana Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Abuse | Beatings, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion | Reported at Montana universities; wooden paddles are a common “tradition” |
| Forced Consumption | Alcohol (binge drinking, chugging), food (eating until vomiting), non-food substances | Alcohol poisoning is a leading cause of hazing deaths; Montana’s drinking culture amplifies the risk |
| Sleep Deprivation | Late-night activities, forced driving, disrupted sleep | Common in Montana’s fraternities and athletic teams |
| Psychological Torture | Humiliation, degradation, verbal abuse, threats | Used in Greek life and sports teams across Montana |
| Waterboarding/Drowning | Simulated drowning, water torture, held underwater | Documented in Montana hazing cases |
| Sexual Abuse | Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects | Underreported but present in Montana Greek life |
| Exposure | Cold weather exposure (Montana winters make this especially dangerous), heat exposure, confined spaces | Montana’s extreme temperatures increase the risk of hypothermia or heatstroke |
| Servitude | Forced cleaning, driving, errands for members | Common in Montana fraternities and sororities |
The Medical Consequences: What Happens to Hazing Victims
Hazing doesn’t just leave emotional scars. It causes real, life-threatening injuries — some of which can follow victims for the rest of their lives.
| Injury | Cause | Long-Term Impact | Montana-Specific Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhabdomyolysis | Extreme physical exertion (e.g., forced exercise) | Kidney failure, permanent kidney damage, dialysis, death | Montana’s outdoor culture and physical hazing make this a significant risk |
| Acute Kidney Failure | Rhabdomyolysis, dehydration, alcohol poisoning | Dialysis, kidney transplant, lifelong monitoring | High altitude and cold weather worsen dehydration |
| Alcohol Poisoning | Forced drinking | Brain damage, death | Montana has one of the highest rates of binge drinking in the U.S. |
| Traumatic Brain Injury | Beatings, falls, paddling | Memory loss, cognitive impairment, permanent disability | Montana’s rural healthcare access can delay treatment |
| Hypothermia/Frostbite | Forced exposure to cold weather | Amputation, nerve damage, chronic pain | Montana’s subzero winters make this a deadly risk |
| Heatstroke | Forced exercise in hot conditions | Organ failure, death | Montana summers can be deceptively hot, especially in enclosed spaces |
| Internal Injuries | Blows to the body, paddling | Internal bleeding, organ damage | Rural hospitals may lack specialized trauma care |
| PTSD, Anxiety, Depression | Psychological abuse | Therapy, medication, lifelong mental health struggles | Stigma around mental health in Montana can delay treatment |
Our client in Texas was hospitalized for four days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups, and waterboarded with a garden hose. The same thing is happening to Montana students — and it’s time to stop it.
⚖️ Montana Hazing Laws: What Richland County Families Need to Know
Montana’s Anti-Hazing Statute (MCA § 45-5-628)
Montana law explicitly prohibits hazing and defines it as:
“Hazing” means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person, whether individually or in concert with others, against a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization.”
Key Legal Points for Montana Victims:
✅ Consent is NOT a defense — Even if a student “agreed” to participate, Montana law says consent does not justify hazing.
✅ Criminal penalties apply — Hazing is a misdemeanor in Montana, punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $500 fine. If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death, it can be charged as a felony.
✅ Organizations can be held liable — Fraternities, sororities, and universities can be sued for failing to prevent hazing.
✅ Universities have a duty to protect students — If a Montana university knew or should have known about hazing and failed to act, they can be held legally responsible.
✅ Statute of limitations — In Montana, victims have 3 years from the date of the hazing incident to file a civil lawsuit. Do not wait — evidence disappears, and your rights expire.
💰 Who Is Liable? The Deep Pockets Behind Montana Hazing
When hazing happens, multiple parties are responsible — and they all have insurance or assets to pay for the harm they’ve caused.
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Montana Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Chapters exist at MSU-Billings, Dawson Community College, and other Montana schools |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise chapter despite knowledge of hazing culture | Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Pike, and others operate in Montana |
| University | Failed to prevent hazing despite having the power to regulate Greek life | MSU-Billings, Dawson Community College, and others have oversight responsibility |
| Housing Corporation | Owned/controlled property where hazing occurred | Many Montana fraternity/sorority houses are university-owned or affiliated |
| Individual Members | Participated in or facilitated hazing | Students who directly harmed your child |
| Alumni/Advisors | Knew about hazing and failed to stop it | Many Montana Greek organizations have alumni who turn a blind eye |
The good news for Richland County families? These defendants have insurance policies, endowments, and assets — and we know how to make them pay.
🏆 Precedent Cases: Montana Families Can Win Big
Hazing cases routinely result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what other families have won — and what Montana victims can expect:
| Case | Fraternity | Outcome | Why It Matters for Montana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (Bowling Green, OH) | Pi Kappa Alpha | $10.1 million settlement | Same fraternity operates at Montana schools; university and national organization both paid |
| Maxwell Gruver (LSU, LA) | Phi Delta Theta | $6.1 million jury verdict | Led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony |
| Timothy Piazza (Penn State, PA) | Beta Theta Pi | $110+ million settlement | Security cameras captured the hazing; shows how strong evidence leads to massive payouts |
| Andrew Coffey (FSU, FL) | Pi Kappa Phi | Confidential settlement | Same fraternity that hospitalized our Texas client; shows pattern of negligence |
| Leonel Bermudez (UH, TX) | Pi Kappa Phi | $10 million lawsuit pending | Our case — waterboarding, 500 squats, kidney failure; same risks exist in Montana |
Montana families: These cases prove that hazing victims win. The same legal strategies apply to Montana — and we’re ready to bring them to Richland County.
🛡️ What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Montana
Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately
- Go to the ER — Even if injuries seem minor, hazing can cause life-threatening conditions like rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, or alcohol poisoning.
- Document everything — Get copies of all medical records, including lab results, imaging, and doctor’s notes.
- Montana-specific tip: If you’re in a rural area, don’t wait — hazing injuries can worsen quickly, and Montana’s rural hospitals may not have specialized care.
Step 2: Preserve Evidence
Hazing cases are won or lost on evidence. Do not delete anything.
✅ Save all communications:
- Text messages
- GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs
- Emails
- Social media posts
✅ Take photos/videos:
- Injuries (bruises, cuts, burns)
- Hazing locations (fraternity house, basement, field)
- Alcohol containers, paddles, or other hazing tools
✅ Get witness information:
- Names and contact info of other pledges
- Names of members who participated
- Anyone who saw or heard about the hazing
✅ Document financial losses:
- Medical bills
- Therapy costs
- Lost wages (if your child had to miss work)
- Tuition/fees (if hazing disrupted their education)
⚠️ Do NOT:
- Delete any messages or posts
- Talk to the fraternity/sorority or university without a lawyer
- Sign anything from the organization
- Post about the incident on social media
Step 3: Report the Hazing
- File a police report — Hazing is a crime in Montana.
- Report to the university — Under Title IX, schools must investigate hazing.
- Report to the national organization — Most fraternities have hazing hotlines.
Montana-specific reporting:
- Montana State University-Billings: MSU-Billings Student Conduct
- Dawson Community College: DCC Student Handbook
- Montana Board of Regents: Hazing Reporting
Step 4: Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately
Time is critical. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and statutes of limitations expire.
Attorney 911 offers:
✅ Free, confidential consultations — No obligation, no upfront cost
✅ Contingency fee representation — You pay nothing unless we win
✅ Nationwide reach — We represent Montana victims from our Houston office
✅ Video consultations — No need to travel; we meet you where you are
✅ Travel to Montana — We’ll come to Richland County for depositions, trials, and client meetings
Call now: 📞 1-888-ATTY-911
🎯 Why Richland 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 abuse happening in Montana.
- We know how to win these cases, and we’re ready to bring that fight to Montana.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook
- Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides to represent victims.
- We know exactly how defendants try to minimize claims — and how to dismantle their defenses.
- We’ve seen the insurance company playbook — now we use it against them.
3. Federal Court Authority — We Can Sue Anywhere
- We’re admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and have experience in federal litigation.
- Montana’s hazing cases can be pursued in federal court if they involve interstate commerce (e.g., national fraternities).
- We can sue out-of-state defendants like Pi Kappa Phi National from our Houston office.
4. Dual-State Bar Licenses — Texas and New York
- We’re licensed in Texas and New York — giving us strategic flexibility to pursue national fraternities.
- Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and other nationals are headquartered in states where we’re licensed.
5. We Speak Spanish — Se Habla Español
- Hazing affects all students, including Montana’s Hispanic and Latino communities.
- We provide bilingual legal services — no language barriers to justice.
6. We Travel to Montana
- Distance is not a barrier. We’ll come to Richland County for:
- Client meetings
- Depositions
- Trials
- University investigations
7. We’ve Won Millions for Injury Victims
- BP Texas City explosion litigation — Mass tort experience against major corporations
- $10+ million hazing case currently pending — Same strategies apply to Montana
- Hundreds of personal injury cases — We know how to maximize compensation
8. We’re Parents Too
- Ralph Manginello is a father of three.
- We understand what’s at stake when a child is harmed.
- We see your child as a person — not a paycheck.
📞 What Montana Hazing Victims Can Recover
If your child was hazed in Montana, you may be entitled to compensation for:
| Category | Examples | Montana Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | ER visits, hospital stays, surgery, therapy | Montana’s rural healthcare costs can be high |
| Future Medical Care | Dialysis, kidney transplant, long-term monitoring | Hazing injuries can require lifelong treatment |
| Pain and Suffering | Physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD | Montana’s mental health resources are limited; therapy costs add up |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work due to injuries | Many Montana students work part-time jobs |
| Educational Disruption | Tuition refunds, scholarship loss, delayed graduation | Montana universities have strict academic policies |
| Punitive Damages | Punishment for egregious conduct (e.g., waterboarding, forced drinking) | Juries award punitive damages to send a message |
| Wrongful Death | If hazing results in death, families can sue for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and future earnings | Montana has no cap on wrongful death damages |
🔥 Fraternities in Montana: We’re Watching
The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths nationwide operate chapters at Montana universities. We are tracking them — and we will hold them accountable.
| Fraternity | Montana Chapters | Hazing History | Our Message |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pi Kappa Phi | MSU-Billings, others | 2 deaths (2017, 2025); $10M lawsuit pending | We shut down their UH chapter. Your Montana chapter could be next. |
| Sigma Alpha Epsilon | MSU-Billings, others | Chemical burns, alcohol poisoning | We’ve sued SAE before. We’ll do it again in Montana. |
| Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) | MSU-Billings, others | Stone Foltz ($10M settlement); multiple deaths | Pike has paid millions for hazing. Montana is no exception. |
| Beta Theta Pi | MSU-Billings, others | Timothy Piazza ($110M settlement); multiple deaths | Beta Theta Pi’s culture of hazing ends in Montana. |
| Sigma Chi | MSU-Billings, others | $10M+ settlements; sexual assault cases | Sigma Chi’s Montana chapter is on notice. |
| Kappa Sigma | MSU-Billings, others | $12.6M jury verdict; multiple deaths | Kappa Sigma’s Montana members: We know your history. |
To Montana fraternities:
We track your house corporations, your alumni chapters, and your insurance policies. If you haze students in Montana, we will find every liable entity. We already shut down Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter. Your chapter could be next.
🏛️ Montana Universities: You Have a Duty to Protect Students
Montana’s public universities receive state funding and federal dollars — and with that comes a legal duty to protect students from hazing.
If your university knew or should have known about hazing and failed to act, you are liable.
| University | Greek Life Presence | Potential Liability | Our Warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana State University-Billings | Multiple fraternities/sororities | Owns/controls some Greek houses; oversight responsibility | MSU-Billings: The same hazing happening at UH is happening on your campus. Act now or face accountability. |
| Dawson Community College | Greek organizations present | Duty to monitor student organizations | Dawson CC: Hazing doesn’t stop at four-year schools. We will hold you accountable. |
| Montana State University-Northern | Greek life active | Oversight of fraternities/sororities | MSU-Northern: Your students are at risk. Implement real safeguards. |
| University of Montana | Large Greek system | Owns/controls Greek housing; Title IX obligations | UM: Your Greek life has a history of hazing. We’re watching. |
| Montana Tech | Greek organizations present | Duty to protect students | Montana Tech: Hazing isn’t just a “big school” problem. It’s happening here too. |
To Montana universities:
The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. Clean up your chapters before we clean them out in court.
📅 Statute of Limitations: Act Now or Lose Your Rights
Montana law gives hazing victims 3 years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit. Do not wait.
⏳ Every day you delay:
- Evidence disappears
- Witnesses forget
- Organizations destroy records
- Your legal rights expire
Our client in Texas was hospitalized in November 2025. We filed the lawsuit within weeks. That’s how you protect your rights.
Call Attorney 911 today: 📞 1-888-ATTY-911
🚨 What Happens If You Do Nothing?
If you don’t take action, the cycle continues:
❌ The fraternity will keep hazing — They’ll recruit new pledges and do it again.
❌ The university will look the other way — They’ll claim they didn’t know, even if they did.
❌ Your child’s injuries will go untreated — Physical and emotional trauma can last a lifetime.
❌ The perpetrators will get away with it — They’ll graduate, get jobs, and never face consequences.
❌ Another Montana family will suffer — Hazing doesn’t stop until someone holds them accountable.
This stops with you. This stops with us.
📞 Richland County Families: Your Next Steps
1. Call Attorney 911 Now
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
2. Schedule a Free, Confidential Consultation
- We’ll evaluate your case at no cost and no obligation.
- We’ll explain your legal rights and options.
- We’ll tell you what your case is worth.
3. Let Us Handle the Rest
- We’ll gather evidence.
- We’ll deal with the fraternity, university, and insurance companies.
- We’ll fight for the maximum compensation.
- You focus on your child’s recovery.
4. We Don’t Get Paid Unless You Win
- No upfront costs.
- No hourly fees.
- We only get paid if we win your case.
🎯 Final Message to Montana Fraternities and Universities
To Montana’s fraternities:
We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your national organizations have paid millions in hazing settlements. If you haze students in Montana, we will find every liable entity — and we will make you pay.
To Montana’s universities:
You receive state and federal funding. You have a duty to protect students. If you fail to act, we will hold you accountable in court.
To Montana’s families:
Your child trusted these institutions. That trust was betrayed. But you have power. You have rights. And you have us.
🚨 Enough Is Enough. It Stops Now.
If your child has been hazed in Richland County or anywhere in Montana, call Attorney 911 today.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We’re fighting this battle right now. We’re ready to fight for Montana.
