🚨 Hazing Legal Emergency: What Meade County Families Need to Know

Your Child Was Hazed at a Meade County College or University. Now What?

Meade County, South Dakota — If your child was hazed at a college or university near Meade County, you’re likely feeling shocked, angry, and overwhelmed. What happened to your child wasn’t “tradition.” It wasn’t “team bonding.” It was abuse. And under South Dakota law—and the law of every state—it’s illegal.

At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this battle right now. We’re representing a student who was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles at a University of Houston fraternity. He ended up in the hospital with kidney failure. We sued for $10 million. And we’re doing the same for hazing victims in Meade County and across America.

This Could Happen at Any College Near Meade County

Meade County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. But the same national fraternities involved in deadly hazing nationwide—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi—have active chapters at universities near Meade County.

Universities near Meade County with Greek life include:

• Black Hills State University (Spearfish, SD)
• South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (Rapid City, SD)
• University of South Dakota (Vermillion, SD)
• South Dakota State University (Brookings, SD)

These schools have the same oversight challenges that allowed hazing at UH. And the same fraternities operate there.

If your child was hazed at a college near Meade County, you have legal rights. We can help.

What Is Hazing? (It’s Not What They Tell You)

Hazing isn’t just “a few silly pranks.” It’s systematic abuse disguised as tradition. Under South Dakota law (SDCL § 22-19A-1), hazing includes:

✅ Physical abuse – Beating, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
✅ Forced consumption – Alcohol, food, or substances until vomiting or passing out
✅ Psychological abuse – Humiliation, sleep deprivation, threats of expulsion
✅ Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
✅ Dangerous activities – Waterboarding, extreme weather exposure, confined spaces

This is not “brotherhood.” This is not “sisterhood.” This is assault.

What Happened to Our Client in Houston Could Happen in Meade County

Our client, Leonel Bermudez, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston. What followed was weeks of torture:

🔥 Waterboarded with a garden hose – Simulated drowning while doing calisthenics
🔥 Forced to eat until vomiting – Milk, hot dogs, peppercorns consumed until he threw up, then forced to keep running
🔥 Struck with wooden paddles – Physical beatings as “punishment”
🔥 500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls – Exercised past the point of exhaustion
🔥 Another pledge collapsed unconscious – They kept going
🔥 He couldn’t stand without help – Crawled up the stairs when he got home
🔥 His mother rushed him to the hospital – He had rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure from muscle breakdown

This wasn’t an accident. This was systematic abuse. And it happens at colleges near Meade County too.

Who Is Liable for Hazing in Meade County?

When hazing happens, everyone involved can be sued:

We sued ALL of them in our Houston case. We’ll do the same for Meade County families.

What Can Meade County Families Sue For?

If your child was hazed, you can pursue compensation for:

Economic Damages (Actual Financial Losses)

• Medical bills – Hospitalization, ER visits, therapy, future treatment
• Lost wages – Time missed from work during recovery
• Educational disruption – Tuition for lost semesters, transfer costs
• Future earning capacity – If injuries affect long-term career prospects

Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)

• Physical pain – From injuries, forced activities, medical treatment
• Mental anguish – PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear of retribution
• Emotional distress – Humiliation, shame, loss of trust
• Loss of enjoyment of life – Inability to participate in normal activities

Punitive Damages (To Punish Egregious Conduct)

• Awarded when conduct is intentional, reckless, or grossly negligent
• Meant to deter future hazing and send a message
• Waterboarding, forced consumption until vomiting, physical beatings – all support punitive damages

Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Millions

Hazing cases don’t just result in apologies. They result in millions of dollars in compensation. Here’s what juries and courts have awarded in recent years:

These same results are possible for Meade County families.

What Meade County Families Should Do Immediately

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

Step 1: Get Medical Attention

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening
• Medical records are critical evidence

Step 2: Preserve ALL Evidence

📱 Save everything:

• Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs
• Photos/videos of injuries or hazing activities
• Pledge manuals, schedules, rules given to your child
• Witness names and contact information
• Medical records and bills

🚫 Do NOT:

• Delete anything
• Post about the incident on social media
• Talk to the fraternity, sorority, or university without legal counsel
• Sign anything from the organization

Step 3: Contact an Attorney Immediately

• South Dakota has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims (SDCL § 15-2-14)
• Evidence disappears fast – fraternities delete messages, universities destroy records
• Insurance companies will lowball you – they’ll offer $5,000 to make the case go away
• You need an attorney who knows hazing cases – not just any personal injury lawyer

Call Attorney 911 now for a free consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911

Why Meade County Families Choose Attorney 911

We’re not just lawyers. We’re former insurance defense attorneys who know how the other side thinks. We’ve handled hundreds of personal injury cases, including hazing litigation. We’re currently suing Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for $10 million.

What Sets Us Apart for Meade County Families:

✅ 25+ years of litigation experience – We’ve taken on billion-dollar corporations and won
✅ Former insurance defense attorneys – We know exactly how they’ll try to lowball you
✅ Federal court authority – We can pursue cases nationwide, including Meade County
✅ Dual-state bar admission – Texas AND New York licensed
✅ Se habla español – Bilingual staff for Spanish-speaking families
✅ Proven hazing expertise – Currently litigating a $10 million hazing case
✅ Will travel to Meade County – For depositions, trials, and client meetings
✅ Contingency fee – $0 upfront – We don’t get paid unless you win

The Defense Will Say: “Your Child Consented.” Here’s Why That’s Wrong.

Fraternities and universities will argue:

• “They agreed to participate”
• “They knew the risks”
• “They could have left at any time”
• “It’s just tradition”

South Dakota law says: CONSENT IS NOT A DEFENSE.

Under SDCL § 22-19A-1, it is not a defense that the victim consented to hazing. The legislature specifically eliminated this argument because they recognized that peer pressure, fear of expulsion, and social coercion make true consent impossible.

How We Build Your Meade County Hazing Case

Step 1: Immediate Evidence Preservation

• Send preservation letters to all defendants
• Demand they save all communications, photos, and documents
• Subpoena social media companies to preserve deleted content

Step 2: Comprehensive Investigation

• Interview your child and witnesses
• Obtain medical records, police reports, university documents
• Gather text messages, social media, photos, videos
• Identify all liable parties (individuals, organizations, insurance companies)

Step 3: Expert Analysis

• Medical experts to document injuries and future treatment needs
• Hazing culture experts to explain how this happens
• Economic experts to calculate lost wages and future earning capacity

Step 4: Aggressive Litigation

• File lawsuit against all liable parties
• Conduct depositions of fraternity members, university officials, national leaders
• Settlement negotiations – but we’re ready for trial if needed
• Trial if necessary – we have a proven track record in court

What to Expect During the Legal Process

Important: Most cases settle without going to trial. But we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial—because that’s how you get the best settlement.

Frequently Asked Questions from Meade County Families

1. My child was hazed, but they’re afraid of retribution. What can we do?

We understand the fear. Our Houston client was too afraid to do an interview because of potential backlash. We protect our clients’ identities and take steps to prevent retaliation. Your safety is our priority.

2. The university says they’re “investigating.” Should we wait?

No. Universities investigate to protect themselves, not your child. Their goal is to minimize liability. Don’t wait for their investigation—contact an attorney immediately.

3. The fraternity already suspended the chapter. Isn’t that enough?

No. Suspending the chapter is damage control, not justice. They’re trying to limit their liability. We want accountability, compensation for your child, and to prevent this from happening to someone else.

4. My child is an international student. Will this affect their visa?

No. Pursuing a legal claim will not negatively impact your child’s visa status. We’ve represented international students before and can guide you through the process.

5. How much does it cost to hire Attorney 911?

$0 upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, so we only get paid if you get paid.

6. How long will the case take?

It depends on the severity of injuries and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Some cases settle in 6-12 months. Others take 2-3 years. We’ll keep you updated every step of the way.

7. Can we sue even if criminal charges weren’t filed?

Yes. Criminal and civil cases are separate. Even if no one is criminally charged, you can still sue for compensation.

8. What if the hazing happened off-campus?

You can still sue. Hazing is illegal on or off campus. If it happened at a private residence, the homeowners (including alumni) can be held liable.

9. My child was hazed at a sports team, not a fraternity. Can you help?

Yes. We represent hazing victims from:

• Fraternities and sororities
• Sports teams
• Marching bands
• ROTC programs
• Clubs and student organizations
• Military academies

10. What if my child participated in some hazing activities? Will that hurt the case?

No. South Dakota law explicitly says consent is not a defense. Even if your child participated, they can still sue if they were coerced, threatened, or didn’t understand the risks.

The Message to Fraternities Near Meade County

To the fraternities operating near Meade County:

We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter. If you haze students, we will pursue every liable entity—your local chapter, your national organization, your alumni, your insurance companies, and the university that enables you.

We’re currently suing Pi Kappa Phi for what they did to our client. Your chapter could be next.

Meade County Families: You Are Not Alone

Hazing is abuse. It’s illegal. And it doesn’t have to happen.

If your child was hazed at a college or university near Meade County, we can help. We’re fighting this battle right now, and we’ll fight for your family with the same aggression.

Call us now for a free, confidential consultation:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

📧 ralph@atty911.com

🌐 attorney911.com

We don’t get paid unless you win. No upfront costs. No risk.

Meade County Hazing Resources

Emergency Contacts

• National Hazing Hotline: 1-888-NOT-HAZE (1-888-668-4293)
• Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

Reporting Hazing

• South Dakota Department of Education: https://doe.sd.gov
• Your child’s university Title IX office (for gender-based hazing)
• Local law enforcement (hazing is a crime in South Dakota)

Support Organizations

• HazingPrevention.Org: https://hazingprevention.org
• StopHazing: https://stophazing.org
• Love Like Adam Foundation: https://lovelikeadam.org (hazing prevention)

Final Warning to Meade County Institutions

Universities and fraternities near Meade County: The days of looking the other way are over.

We know you have the power to stop hazing. We know you choose not to. And we know how to hold you accountable.

To Meade County families: If your child was hazed, call us now. We’re ready to fight for you.

1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com

Enough is enough.