Hazing Lawyers in Barnes County, ND – Protecting Students & Holding Institutions Accountable
Barnes County Parents & Students: You Are Not Powerless
Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” It’s abuse, assault, and often criminal conduct—and it’s happening right here in Barnes County. At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this battle nationwide, including right here in North Dakota. If your child was hazed at Valley City State University, North Dakota State College of Science (Wahpeton campus), or any other Barnes County institution, we can help.
We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against a major fraternity and university—proving that hazing victims can win. Barnes County families deserve the same aggressive representation.
📞 Call now for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911
What Counts as Hazing in Barnes County?
North Dakota law (NDCC § 15.1-19-17) defines hazing as any activity that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in any organization. This includes:
✅ Physical abuse – Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion (like our client who did 500 squats and ended up in the hospital with kidney failure)
✅ Forced consumption – Alcohol, food, or other substances to the point of vomiting or passing out
✅ Psychological torture – Waterboarding (yes, this happens), humiliation, sleep deprivation
✅ Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
✅ Extreme servitude – Forced labor, driving members at all hours, cleaning fraternity houses
If your child experienced any of these, they were hazed—and they have legal rights.
Why Barnes County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now
We’re currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston. Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure—and we’re holding every responsible party accountable.
The same fraternities operate in Barnes County. The same negligence exists at Barnes County institutions. We will fight for Barnes County families with the same fury.
2. We Know How to Win Against Powerful Institutions
Universities and national fraternities have teams of lawyers working to minimize claims. We know their playbook because both of our attorneys are former insurance defense lawyers—we’ve seen how they try to avoid responsibility.
We use that knowledge against them.
3. We Serve Barnes County—No Matter Where You Are
While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including in Barnes County. We offer:
✔ Free video consultations – No need to travel
✔ Remote case management – We handle everything electronically
✔ Willingness to travel – We’ll come to Barnes County for depositions, trials, and client meetings
Distance is not a barrier to justice.
4. No Upfront Costs—We Only Get Paid If You Win
We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay $0 upfront. We only get paid if we win your case. If we don’t recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing.
5. We Speak Spanish—Se Habla Español
Many hazing victims in Barnes County come from Spanish-speaking families. We provide full legal services in Spanish, including:
✔ Consultations in Spanish
✔ Case updates in Spanish
✔ Document translation
✔ Court interpreter coordination
No language barriers to justice.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Hazing in Barnes County?
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Barnes County Example |
|---|---|---|
| Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, or other chapters at Valley City State University |
| National Fraternity/Sorority Organization | Failed to supervise despite knowing about hazing | Pi Kappa Phi National knew about our client’s hospitalization and still let chapters operate |
| University/College | Failed to prevent hazing despite having authority | Valley City State University or NDSCS could be liable if they knew or should have known about hazing |
| Individual Members | Participated in or allowed hazing | Chapter president, pledgemaster, or active members who took part |
| Alumni/Advisors | Hosted hazing events or failed to intervene | Former members who allowed hazing at their homes |
| Housing Corporations | Owned property where hazing occurred | If the fraternity house is owned by a corporation, they may be liable |
In our current case, we’re suing:
- The fraternity chapter
- The national organization
- The university (which owned the fraternity house)
- Individual members
- A former member and his spouse (who hosted hazing at their home)
Barnes County families can pursue the same accountability.
What Compensation Can Barnes County Hazing Victims Recover?
Hazing can cause physical injuries, psychological trauma, and long-term damage. You may be entitled to compensation for:
Medical Expenses
- Emergency room visits
- Hospitalization (our client was hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure)
- Surgery or ongoing treatment
- Therapy for PTSD, anxiety, or depression
Pain and Suffering
- Physical pain from beatings, forced exercise, or abuse
- Emotional trauma from humiliation, waterboarding, or sexual abuse
- Long-term psychological damage
Lost Wages & Educational Impact
- Time missed from work due to injuries
- Lost scholarships or academic opportunities
- Delayed graduation or career setbacks
Punitive Damages
If the conduct was especially egregious (like waterboarding or forced drinking), courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendants and deter future hazing.
Precedent Cases Show Hazing Victims Can Win Millions:
- $10.1 million – Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha, Bowling Green State)
- $6.1 million – Maxwell Gruver (Phi Delta Theta, LSU)
- $110+ million – Timothy Piazza (Beta Theta Pi, Penn State)
Barnes County victims can recover the same compensation.
What Should Barnes County Families Do If Their Child Was Hazed?
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis from forced exercise) may not be obvious right away
- Get a full medical evaluation—even if your child says they’re “fine”
- Document everything—hospital records are critical evidence
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, or physical evidence
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs)
- Get witness names and contact info
- Do NOT delete anything—even if it seems embarrassing or trivial
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Without a Lawyer
- They will try to control the narrative
- They may destroy evidence
- They may pressure your child to stay quiet
- Anything your child says can be used against them
Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
- Time is critical—North Dakota has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims
- Evidence disappears—witnesses forget, messages get deleted, fraternities destroy records
- The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case will be
📞 Call now for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911
Common Defenses Used Against Hazing Victims—And How We Defeat Them
Defense: “He/She Consented to the Activities”
Our Response:
- Consent is not a defense under North Dakota law (NDCC § 15.1-19-17)
- Coercion and peer pressure negate consent—students fear retaliation, social exclusion, or losing their place in the organization
- Victims often don’t know what they’re agreeing to—hazing is hidden until it’s too late
Defense: “It Was Just Tradition—Not Hazing”
Our Response:
- If it involves physical or mental harm, it’s hazing—no matter what they call it
- Waterboarding is torture—not “tradition”
- Forced drinking until vomiting is abuse—not “brotherhood”
Defense: “The University Didn’t Know”
Our Response:
- Universities have a duty to monitor Greek life—they can’t turn a blind eye
- If hazing happened on campus property, they’re liable (premises liability)
- If they had prior hazing incidents, they knew the risks (negligence)
Defense: “The National Organization Didn’t Know”
Our Response:
- National fraternities have actual knowledge of hazing risks—our case proves Pi Kappa Phi knew about a “hazing crisis”
- They have policies against hazing but fail to enforce them
- They collect dues but don’t provide real oversight
Barnes County Hazing Cases We Handle
We represent victims of hazing in all types of organizations, including:
🎓 Fraternities & Sororities – Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, and others at Valley City State University or nearby schools
⚽ Sports Teams – Football, basketball, wrestling, or other athletic hazing
🎵 Marching Bands – Forced drinking, physical abuse, or humiliation rituals
🏛️ ROTC & Military Groups – Extreme physical or psychological hazing
🎭 Clubs & Honor Societies – Any organization using abuse as “initiation”
If your child was hazed in Barnes County, we can help.
What Happens After You Contact Us?
- Free Consultation – We’ll discuss your case confidentially (in English or Spanish)
- Evidence Review – We’ll evaluate medical records, communications, and witness statements
- Case Filing – We’ll file a lawsuit against all responsible parties
- Discovery – We’ll gather evidence through depositions, subpoenas, and investigations
- Negotiation – We’ll push for a fair settlement
- Trial (If Needed) – If the defendants won’t settle, we’ll take them to court
We handle everything—you focus on your child’s recovery.
Barnes County Hazing Resources
Legal & Support Services
- North Dakota Department of Public Instruction – Hazing Policy Guidelines
- Valley City State University – Student Conduct Office
- North Dakota State College of Science – Student Affairs
- North Dakota Anti-Hazing Law (NDCC § 15.1-19-17) – Full Text
Medical & Mental Health Support
- Valley City Sanford Health – (701) 845-6400
- FirstLink (24/7 Crisis Hotline) – 211 or (701) 235-7335
- North Dakota Behavioral Health – Find Help
Barnes County Parents: You Have the Power to Stop This
Hazing doesn’t stop until someone holds these institutions accountable. Our current case proves that fraternities, universities, and individuals can be forced to pay millions for their negligence.
Your child’s case could be the one that finally changes the culture in Barnes County.
📞 Call now for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com
We don’t just talk about hazing. We’re fighting it right now—and we’ll fight for Barnes County families too.
Serving Barnes County & All of North Dakota
Valley City | Wahpeton | Fargo | Bismarck | Grand Forks | Minot | Dickinson | Jamestown | Williston | And More
No matter where in North Dakota your child was hazed, we can help.