🚨 Hazing Victims Legal Rights in Hall County, Nebraska

Hall County Families: Your Child Was Hazed. You Have Rights.

Hazing isn’t just “tradition” or “boys being boys” in Hall County. It’s assault. It’s battery. It’s torture. And in Nebraska, it’s illegal.

At Attorney 911, we’re currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston — where a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his kidneys failed, and hospitalized for four days. The same fraternities operate at universities near Hall County. The same abuse happens to Hall County students. And we will fight for Hall County families with the same fury.

If your child was hazed in Hall County, Nebraska — you have legal rights. You can sue. You can hold them accountable. And you can protect the next student.

What Counts as Hazing in Nebraska?

Under Nebraska Revised Statute § 28-311.06, hazing is defined as:

“Any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.”

This includes:

✅ Physical abuse — beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
✅ Forced consumption — alcohol, drugs, food until vomiting
✅ Psychological torture — humiliation, degradation, threats
✅ Waterboarding/simulated drowning — as seen in our current case
✅ Sleep deprivation — forced late-night activities
✅ Exposure to elements — stripping in cold weather
✅ Sexual humiliation — forced nudity, carrying sexual objects

Nebraska law is clear: CONSENT IS NOT A DEFENSE. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it doesn’t matter. The law protects them.

Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Hall County?

Hazing cases aren’t just against the individuals who did it. We sue everyone who allowed it to happen.

1. The Local Chapter

The fraternity or sorority chapter that organized the hazing
The chapter officers (president, pledge master, etc.)
Individual members who participated

2. The National Organization

The national fraternity/sorority that oversees the local chapter
They have millions in assets and insurance
They knew or should have known about the hazing culture

3. The University

Central Community College (Grand Island, NE) — the largest higher education institution in Hall County
Other nearby universities where Hall County students attend:
- University of Nebraska at Kearney
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Creighton University
- Doane University
- Hastings College
They have a duty to protect students — when they fail, they’re liable

4. The Housing Corporation

The entity that owns the fraternity/sorority house
If hazing occurred on their property, they’re responsible

5. Individual Perpetrators

Every person who participated in or facilitated the hazing
They can be sued personally — and their assets are at risk

What Can Hall County Families Recover?

Hazing cases can result in substantial compensation for victims and their families. In our current $10 million case, we’re pursuing:

Type of Damage	What It Covers	Hall County Application
Medical Expenses	Hospital bills, doctor visits, therapy, future treatment	If your child was hospitalized (like rhabdomyolysis or alcohol poisoning)
Pain & Suffering	Physical pain from injuries, emotional trauma	Forced exercise, waterboarding, paddling, humiliation
Mental Anguish	PTSD, anxiety, depression, therapy costs	Fear of retribution, nightmares, social withdrawal
Lost Wages	Time missed from work during recovery	If your child had a job or internship
Educational Impact	Disruption to education, delayed graduation	If hazing caused failing grades or dropping out
Punitive Damages	Punishment for egregious conduct	Waterboarding, forced consumption, pattern of abuse

Precedent Cases Show Hall County Families Can Win Big:

$10.1 million — Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha, Ohio)
$6.1 million — Maxwell Gruver (Phi Delta Theta, Louisiana)
$110+ million — Timothy Piazza (Beta Theta Pi, Pennsylvania)

These same results are possible for Hall County victims.

Hall County Hazing: What to Do Right Now

If your child was hazed in Hall County, time is critical. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Statutes of limitations expire.

✅ STEP 1: Seek Medical Attention

Even if injuries seem minor, get checked
Document everything — medical records are evidence
Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) can be life-threatening

✅ STEP 2: Preserve Evidence

Take photos of injuries at all stages
Screenshot all texts, GroupMe chats, social media posts
Save any clothing or objects used in hazing
Get names of witnesses and other victims

✅ STEP 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization

They will try to control the narrative
They will destroy evidence
They will pressure you to stay quiet
Anything you say can be used against you

✅ STEP 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

Free consultation — no cost to evaluate your case
No upfront fees — we work on contingency; we don’t get paid unless you do
Nationwide representation — we can pursue your case no matter where the hazing occurred
Federal court authority — we can sue national organizations anywhere

Hall County Fraternities and Sororities with Hazing Risks

Hall County students attend colleges and universities across Nebraska and the Midwest. Many of these institutions have active Greek life chapters — including the same organizations involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits.

Fraternities with Documented Hazing Histories Near Hall County:

Fraternity	Notable Hazing Case	Universities Near Hall County with Chapters
Pi Kappa Phi	$10M lawsuit (2025) — waterboarding, 500 squats, kidney failure	University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Pi Kappa Alpha	Stone Foltz death (2021) — forced alcohol, $10.1M settlement	University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Creighton University
Phi Delta Theta	Maxwell Gruver death (2017) — $6.1M jury verdict	University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Beta Theta Pi	Timothy Piazza death (2017) — $110M+ settlement	University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Sigma Alpha Epsilon	Multiple hazing lawsuits, chemical burns	University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Doane University
Sigma Chi	Recent wrongful death lawsuit (2025)	University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Kappa Sigma	Multiple hazing lawsuits, rhabdomyolysis cases	University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Hastings College

Sororities with Hazing Risks:

While sorority hazing is less publicized, it absolutely happens — and can include:

Forced alcohol consumption
Extreme physical challenges
Sleep deprivation
Psychological humiliation

Hall County sororities to be aware of:

Chi Omega
Kappa Delta
Delta Delta Delta
Alpha Phi
Delta Gamma
Pi Beta Phi

Hall County Universities: They Knew and Failed to Act

Universities near Hall County have a legal duty to protect students from hazing. When they fail, they can be held liable.

Central Community College (Grand Island, NE)

Largest higher education institution in Hall County
While CCC may not have traditional Greek life, hazing can occur in:
- Athletic teams
- Student clubs and organizations
- Honor societies
- ROTC programs
- Music groups (band, choir)

If your child was hazed at CCC, the college may be liable for failing to prevent it.

Universities Near Hall County Where Hazing Occurs:

University	Location	Distance from Hall County	Greek Life Presence	Hazing History
University of Nebraska-Lincoln	Lincoln, NE	~150 miles	Very active	Multiple hazing incidents, lawsuits
University of Nebraska at Kearney	Kearney, NE	~30 miles	Active	Hazing incidents reported
Creighton University	Omaha, NE	~180 miles	Active	Hazing incidents reported
Doane University	Crete, NE	~120 miles	Active	Hazing incidents reported
Hastings College	Hastings, NE	~25 miles	Active	Hazing incidents reported

These universities have the same liability as the University of Houston in our current case — they own property, oversee Greek life, and have the power to stop hazing. When they don’t, they pay.

Nebraska Hazing Laws: What Hall County Families Need to Know

Nebraska Revised Statute § 28-311.06 — Hazing Prohibited

(1) A person commits hazing if he or she intentionally or recklessly engages in any act or causes any situation which subjects another person to humiliation, degradation, abuse, endangerment, or intimidation for the purpose of initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in any organization.

(2) It is not a defense to a charge of hazing that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.

Penalties:

Class II misdemeanor — up to 6 months in jail, $1,000 fine
Class I misdemeanor — if serious bodily injury occurs (up to 1 year in jail, $1,000 fine)
Class IV felony — if death results (up to 5 years in prison, $10,000 fine)

Civil Liability:

Victims can sue for compensatory damages (medical bills, pain and suffering)
Victims can sue for punitive damages (to punish egregious conduct)

Hall County Hazing: Common Scenarios We Handle

1. Forced Alcohol Consumption

“Big Brother Night” where pledges are forced to drink
“Bible Study” where wrong answers = more alcohol
Result: Alcohol poisoning, hospitalization, death

Hall County Application: If your child was forced to drink at a fraternity or sorority near Hall County, we can sue.

2. Extreme Physical Punishment

100+ pushups, 500+ squats, bear crawls, “suicides”
Result: Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), kidney failure, hospitalization

Hall County Application: Our current client was forced to do 500 squats until his kidneys failed. The same happens to Hall County students.

3. Waterboarding and Simulated Drowning

Spraying with hoses while doing calisthenics
Holding underwater
Result: Psychological trauma, fear of drowning

Hall County Application: Waterboarding is torture — whether done to enemy combatants or Hall County students. It’s illegal.

4. Forced Eating Until Vomiting

Large amounts of milk, hot dogs, peppercorns
Forced to continue running after vomiting
Result: Choking hazards, aspiration, humiliation

Hall County Application: This isn’t “tradition” — it’s abuse. We sue for it.

5. Sleep Deprivation and Exhaustion

Forced to drive members during early morning hours
Late-night workouts and activities
Result: Exhaustion, car accidents, mental health decline

Hall County Application: Sleep deprivation is a form of torture. It’s illegal.

6. Psychological Torture and Humiliation

Forced to carry sexual objects
Hog-tying, blindfolding, verbal abuse
Threats of expulsion for non-compliance
Result: PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation

Hall County Application: Psychological harm is just as real as physical harm. We pursue both.

Why Hall County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now

We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing case against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston
We know the tactics defendants use to avoid accountability
We know how to maximize compensation for victims

2. We Have Insider Knowledge

Ralph Manginello — 25+ years of litigation experience
Lupe Pena — Former national insurance defense attorney
We know how insurance companies think — because we used to work for them
We use that knowledge to dismantle their defenses

3. We Work on Contingency — $0 Upfront

No upfront costs — you pay nothing to hire us
No hourly fees — we don’t bill by the hour
We take the risk — we only get paid if we win your case
Hall County families pay nothing unless we recover money for them

4. We Serve Hall County Families Nationwide

While based in Texas, we represent hazing victims anywhere in America
Federal court authority — we can sue national organizations in federal court
Dual-state bar licenses — Texas AND New York
We travel to Hall County for depositions, meetings, and trials

5. We Protect Hall County Victims from Retaliation

Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case is fearful of retribution
We understand the intimidation culture in Greek life
We protect our clients’ identities when necessary
We take threats of retaliation very seriously

6. We Have a Proven Track Record

$10+ million in our current hazing case
Multi-million dollar settlements in personal injury cases
Former insurance defense attorneys — we know how to win
Google 4.9 stars — 250+ reviews from satisfied clients

Hall County Hazing: Frequently Asked Questions

1. My child was hazed, but they “consented.” Can we still sue?

YES. Nebraska law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, it doesn’t matter. The law protects them.

2. The fraternity says it was “just tradition.” Is that a defense?

NO. “Tradition” does not justify illegal activity. Assault is assault. Torture is torture. The law doesn’t care what they call it.

3. My child attends a small college near Hall County. Do they still have hazing?

YES. Hazing happens at all types of institutions — large universities, small colleges, community colleges, even high schools. If there’s a student organization with a power dynamic, hazing can occur.

4. The hazing happened off-campus. Can we still sue the university?

YES. Universities have a duty to protect students on and off campus. If the university knew or should have known about the hazing, they can be held liable.

5. My child was hazed last year. Is it too late to sue?

It depends. Nebraska has a 4-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. However, you should act immediately — evidence disappears, and witnesses forget.

6. The fraternity is trying to settle with us directly. Should we accept?

NO. Their first offer will be a lowball amount designed to make you go away. They want to settle quickly before you know the full extent of your injuries. Always consult an attorney before accepting any settlement.

7. My child was hazed at a university outside Hall County. Can you still help?

YES. We represent hazing victims nationwide. Wherever the hazing occurred, we can pursue your case.

8. Will my child have to testify in court?

Possibly, but most cases settle before trial. If your case does go to trial, we will prepare your child thoroughly and support them every step of the way.

9. How much is my Hall County hazing case worth?

Every case is different. Factors include:

Severity of injuries
Medical expenses
Psychological impact
University’s knowledge of prior incidents
Pattern of abuse at the chapter

In our current case, we’re seeking $10 million. Hall County cases can reach similar amounts.

10. What if my child was hazed at a high school in Hall County?

Hazing also occurs in high schools — especially in:

Athletic teams
Marching bands
Student clubs
Honor societies

We handle high school hazing cases too.

Hall County Hazing: The Time to Act is Now

Hazing victims often delay reporting due to:

Shame and embarrassment
Fear of social retaliation
Loyalty to the organization
Not recognizing it as hazing
Pressure from members to stay quiet

But every day you wait:

Evidence disappears
Witnesses forget
The organization destroys records
Your legal rights expire

Hall County families: You don’t have to face this alone.