Hazing Victims in Burke County, North Dakota: You Are Not Alone
If your child was injured, hospitalized, or traumatized by hazing at a Burke County college or university, Attorney 911 can help — no matter where you are in North Dakota.
While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including in Burke County and across North Dakota. We’re currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit in Texas, and we bring that same aggressive representation to North Dakota families.
Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation.
The Hazing Crisis in North Dakota: What Burke County Families Need to Know
Hazing isn’t just a problem in big states like Texas or Florida — it happens right here in North Dakota, including in Burke County. Fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and other student organizations at colleges near Burke County engage in dangerous hazing rituals that can lead to serious injuries, hospitalizations, and even death.
The same national Greek organizations that have chapters in Texas also have chapters near Burke County. Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and other major fraternities operate at universities across North Dakota. The same hazing culture that hospitalized our client in Houston exists at institutions near Burke County.
What Is Hazing? North Dakota Families Should Recognize These Warning Signs
Hazing is 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.
Common hazing activities that happen at North Dakota colleges (including near Burke County):
- Physical abuse: Forced exercise to exhaustion, beatings, paddling
- Forced consumption: Alcohol, food, or non-food items until vomiting
- Sleep deprivation: Late-night activities, early morning demands
- Psychological abuse: Humiliation, degradation, threats
- Sexual abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
- Waterboarding or simulated drowning (yes, this happens in North Dakota too)
- Servitude: Forced cleaning, driving members, running errands
Medical consequences of hazing (seen in Burke County and nationwide):
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) — as seen in our Texas case
- Acute kidney failure — as seen in our Texas case
- Alcohol poisoning
- Traumatic brain injury
- Hypothermia or heat stroke
- Cardiac arrest
- PTSD, anxiety, depression
- Death
Burke County Families: This Happened in Texas — And It’s Happening Near You
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 hospitalized for four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being subjected to:
- Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
- Forced to perform 500 squats and 100+ pushups until he couldn’t stand
- Struck with wooden paddles
- Forced to eat until vomiting, then forced to continue activities
- Another pledge lost consciousness during hazing — they kept going
This didn’t just happen in Texas. The same fraternities operate near Burke County. The same hazing culture exists at North Dakota universities. And we will fight for Burke County victims with the same determination.
Who Is Liable for Hazing in Burke County?
If your child was hazed at a college or university near Burke County, multiple parties may be legally responsible:
- The local chapter — The fraternity or sorority that organized the hazing
- The national organization — They provide oversight and have deep pockets
- The university — They have a duty to protect students from known dangers
- Individual members — Those who participated in or facilitated hazing
- Housing corporations — If hazing occurred at a fraternity/sorority house
- Alumni — If hazing occurred at their homes or with their participation
In our Texas case, we’re suing all of these parties — and we’ll do the same for Burke County families.
North Dakota Hazing Laws: What Burke County Families Should Know
While North Dakota has its own hazing laws, hazing victims can also pursue civil claims regardless of criminal prosecution. This means you can sue for compensation even if no criminal charges are filed.
Key points about hazing liability in North Dakota:
- Consent is not a defense — Even if your child “agreed” to participate, that doesn’t excuse the hazing
- Universities can be held liable — If they knew or should have known about hazing
- National organizations can be held liable — For failing to supervise local chapters
- Individuals can be held personally liable — Chapter officers and members can be sued individually
- Insurance may cover damages — Many organizations have liability insurance that covers hazing claims
We can evaluate your Burke County case under both North Dakota law and federal civil rights laws.
What Should Burke County Families Do If Their Child Was Hazed?
If your child was hazed at a college or university near Burke County, take these steps immediately:
- Seek medical attention — Even if injuries seem minor, get checked out. Some conditions like rhabdomyolysis may not show symptoms immediately.
- Document everything — Take photos of injuries, save text messages and social media posts, write down what happened.
- Preserve evidence — Don’t delete anything. Screenshots, photos, videos, and communications are crucial.
- Don’t talk to the organization — They will try to control the narrative. Don’t give statements without legal counsel.
- Don’t sign anything — The organization may try to get you to sign away your rights.
- Contact an attorney immediately — The statute of limitations is typically 2 years. Evidence disappears quickly.
Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation. We serve Burke County families nationwide.
Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Burke County Hazing Case?
While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims across America, including in Burke County and throughout North Dakota. Here’s why Burke County families choose us:
✅ Nationwide Experience with Hazing Cases
We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit in Texas, and we bring that expertise to Burke County cases. We understand the unique dynamics of Greek life, university oversight, and national organization liability.
✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
Both of our attorneys worked for insurance companies before switching sides. We know exactly how they think, strategize, and try to deny claims. We use that insider knowledge to maximize compensation for Burke County victims.
✅ Federal Court Authority
We’re admitted to practice in federal court, which allows us to pursue cases nationwide — including Burke County hazing cases that may involve federal civil rights claims.
✅ Dual-State Bar Licenses
We’re licensed in both Texas and New York, giving us strategic flexibility to pursue national organizations headquartered in different states.
✅ Aggressive Representation
We don’t back down from powerful institutions. We’re currently suing a major national fraternity and a major university — and we’ll bring that same determination to Burke County cases.
✅ Contingency Fee Representation
Burke County families pay $0 upfront. We only get paid if we win your case. This levels the playing field against institutions with deep pockets.
✅ Willingness to Travel
We will travel to Burke County for depositions, client meetings, and trials. Distance is not a barrier to justice.
✅ Compassionate Approach
We understand the trauma hazing victims and families experience. We treat Burke County clients with dignity, respect, and compassion throughout the legal process.
Burke County Families: You Have Legal Rights — And We Can Help
Hazing is not “tradition.” It’s not “building character.” It’s not “boys being boys.” It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s often criminal. And it’s completely preventable.
If your child was hazed at a college or university near Burke County, you have legal rights. You can seek compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more. You can hold the responsible parties accountable — and potentially prevent this from happening to another Burke County family.
We’re currently fighting this battle in Texas, and we’ll fight just as hard for Burke County victims.
Contact Attorney 911 Today — Burke County Families Deserve Justice
Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
We serve Burke County and all of North Dakota. Distance is not a barrier — we’ll travel to you.
Burke County families: Don’t wait. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and statutes of limitations run out. Contact us today to protect your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions for Burke County Hazing Victims
Q: My child was hazed at a college near Burke County. Can you help us even though you’re based in Texas?
A: Absolutely. While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including in Burke County and across North Dakota. We have federal court authority and are licensed in multiple states, allowing us to pursue cases anywhere in the country. We’ll travel to Burke County for depositions, client meetings, and trials.
Q: What if my child “consented” to the hazing? Does that mean we can’t sue?
A: No. In most states, including North Dakota, consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, that doesn’t excuse the organization’s conduct. The law recognizes that peer pressure, social coercion, and the desire to belong can negate true consent.
Q: How much is our hazing case worth?
A: Every case is different, but hazing cases often result in significant compensation, especially when there are serious injuries or institutional failures. In our current Texas case, we’re seeking $10 million for a victim hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. Factors that increase case value include:
- Severity of physical injuries
- Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Institutional knowledge of prior hazing incidents
- Egregious conduct (waterboarding, forced consumption, etc.)
- Pattern of hazing at the organization
- University’s failure to prevent known dangers
Q: What if the hazing happened off-campus? Can we still sue the university?
A: Yes. Universities can be held liable for hazing that occurs off-campus if they knew or should have known about the risks. In our Texas case, hazing occurred at both a university-owned fraternity house and a private residence. We’re suing the university because they had a duty to protect students from known dangers.
Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: The statute of limitations is typically 2 years from the date of the hazing incident or from when you discovered the injury. However, you should contact an attorney immediately — evidence disappears quickly, witnesses forget, and organizations may destroy records.
Q: What if my child is afraid of retaliation?
A: We understand the fear of retaliation. In our Texas case, our client is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution.” We take these concerns seriously and will protect your child’s identity and safety throughout the legal process. Many hazing victims are afraid to come forward, but your child’s case could prevent this from happening to someone else.
Q: How much does it cost to hire Attorney 911 for our Burke County case?
A: $0 upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means Burke County families pay nothing unless we win your case. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, so you never have to worry about hourly bills or upfront costs. This allows Burke County victims to level the playing field against institutions with deep pockets.
Q: What should we do first if our child was hazed?
A: Take these immediate steps:
- Seek medical attention — Document all injuries and symptoms
- Preserve evidence — Save text messages, social media posts, photos, videos
- Write down what happened — Include dates, times, locations