🚨 Hazing Victim Legal Guide for Benton County, Oregon Families
When “Tradition” Becomes Torture: Your Legal Rights in Benton County
Benton County parents send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust that universities like Oregon State University in Corvallis will protect their students. But behind the Greek letters and campus charm, a dangerous culture thrives—one that has sent students to hospitals and morgues across America.
This is happening right here in Benton County.
The same fraternities that waterboarded a student at University of Houston have chapters at Oregon universities. The same hazing rituals that hospitalized our client exist in Benton County Greek organizations. And the same institutional failures that allowed a student to nearly die in Texas are present at Benton County institutions.
You are not powerless. You have legal rights. And we are fighting this battle right now.
🏥 What Benton County Hazing Looks Like
Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys.” It’s not “harmless fun.” It’s not “building brotherhood.” In Benton County and across Oregon, hazing includes:
- Physical abuse: Beatings with paddles, forced exercise until collapse, branding, burning
- Forced consumption: Alcohol (binge drinking, chugging), food (eating until vomiting), non-food substances
- Waterboarding: Simulated drowning—what the U.S. considers torture when done to enemy combatants
- Sleep deprivation: All-night activities, forced errands, disrupted sleep patterns
- Psychological torture: Humiliation, degradation, verbal abuse, threats of expulsion
- Sexual abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects, sexual assault
- Exposure to elements: Cold weather exposure, heat exposure, confined spaces
Medical consequences in Benton County students:
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) → kidney failure
- Alcohol poisoning → coma, death
- Traumatic brain injury → permanent damage
- Hypothermia/hyperthermia → organ failure
- Cardiac arrest → death
- PTSD, anxiety, depression → lifelong trauma
⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Benton County Hazing Victim
1. Oregon Hazing Laws Protect You
Oregon has strong anti-hazing laws. Under ORS 163.197, hazing is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $6,250 fine.
What counts as hazing in Oregon?
Any activity expected of someone joining or maintaining membership in a group that:
- Causes, or is likely to cause, physical harm or personal degradation
- Occurs on or off campus
- Is not reasonable or necessary for the group’s purpose
Key Oregon legal principles:
✅ Consent is NOT a defense — Even if a student “agreed” to participate, it doesn’t matter
✅ Universities are liable — Oregon schools have a duty to protect students
✅ National organizations are liable — Fraternities like Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and others can be sued
✅ Individuals are personally responsible — Chapter officers and members can be sued individually
2. You Can Sue for Money Damages
Hazing victims in Benton County can recover compensation for:
| Economic Damages | Non-Economic Damages | Punitive Damages |
|---|---|---|
| Medical bills | Pain and suffering | Punishment for outrageous conduct |
| Future medical costs | Mental anguish | Deterrence for others |
| Lost wages | Emotional distress | |
| Therapy costs | Loss of enjoyment of life | |
| Academic disruption | PTSD | |
| Disfigurement | ||
| Loss of reputation |
Precedent cases show Benton County families can win millions:
- $10.1 million — Stone Foltz (Ohio, 2021)
- $6.1 million — Maxwell Gruver (Louisiana, 2017)
- $110+ million — Timothy Piazza (Pennsylvania, 2017)
- $10 million — Our current case against Pi Kappa Phi (Houston, 2025)
Benton County families deserve the same justice.
3. Who Can You Sue in Benton County?
When hazing happens at Oregon State University or other Benton County institutions, multiple parties are liable:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Benton County Example |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized hazing | OSU’s Pi Kappa Phi chapter |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew of hazing culture | Pi Kappa Phi National (Charlotte, NC) |
| University | Failed to protect students; owned property | Oregon State University |
| Housing Corporation | Owned fraternity house where hazing occurred | OSU-owned fraternity houses |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility | Chapter president, pledgemaster |
| Individual Members | Participated in hazing | Active members who hazed |
| Alumni | Hosted hazing at their homes | Former members near Corvallis |
| Insurance Companies | Coverage for institutional liability | University and fraternity policies |
🏛️ Benton County Universities with Greek Life Hazing Risks
Benton County is home to Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis, a major public university with an active Greek system. The same national fraternities and sororities that have killed and injured students nationwide operate right here in Benton County.
Fraternities with Hazing Histories at OSU and Near Benton County:
| Fraternity | National Hazing Incidents | OSU Presence |
|---|---|---|
| Pi Kappa Phi | Waterboarded student (2025, Houston); Andrew Coffey death (2017, FSU) | Yes |
| Sigma Alpha Epsilon | Multiple hazing deaths; “The True Gentleman” facade hides abuse | Yes |
| Pi Kappa Alpha | Stone Foltz death (2021, Ohio); Jared Munoz hospitalization (2017, Houston) | Yes |
| Phi Delta Theta | Maxwell Gruver death (2017, LSU) | Yes |
| Beta Theta Pi | Timothy Piazza death (2017, Penn State) | Yes |
| Sigma Chi | $10M+ settlement (2024, Charleston) | Yes |
| Kappa Sigma | $12.6M verdict (2001, Miami) | Yes |
These are the same organizations operating in Benton County. The same “traditions” exist here.
🚨 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Benton County
Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately
- Go to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis or Samaritan Albany General Hospital in Albany
- Document all injuries — physical and psychological
- Rhabdomyolysis symptoms: Dark urine, muscle pain, weakness (this can kill)
- Alcohol poisoning symptoms: Confusion, vomiting, seizures, slow breathing (call 911)
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
✅ Photos/Videos: Injuries, hazing locations, items used (paddles, alcohol, etc.)
✅ Screenshots: Text messages, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs about hazing
✅ Witnesses: Names and contact info of other victims, bystanders
✅ Medical Records: Hospital bills, doctor notes, therapy records
✅ Academic Records: Impact on grades, enrollment status
✅ Financial Records: Medical bills, lost wages, tuition costs
❌ DO NOT:
- Delete any messages or posts
- Talk to fraternity/sorority leadership without a lawyer
- Sign anything from the organization
- Post about the incident on social media
- Give statements to university officials alone
Step 3: Report to Authorities
- File a police report with Corvallis Police Department or Benton County Sheriff’s Office
- Report to OSU through the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards
- File a Title IX complaint if sexual harassment/assault occurred
Step 4: Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately
- Statute of limitations: You have 2 years from the incident to sue in Oregon
- Evidence disappears quickly — texts, photos, witness memories fade
- Universities and fraternities will pressure you to stay silent
- Insurance companies will offer lowball settlements
Benton County families can call us 24/7:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win.
🔍 How We Prove Your Benton County Hazing Case
1. Pattern Evidence
Fraternities with hazing histories don’t change their culture overnight. We prove:
- Prior incidents at the same chapter
- National organization knowledge of hazing culture
- University awareness of risks in Greek life
Example: Pi Kappa Phi had 8 years between Andrew Coffey’s death (2017) and Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization (2025). They did nothing to fix their culture. The same pattern exists in Benton County chapters.
2. Institutional Negligence
Universities like OSU have a duty to protect students. We prove they failed by:
- Not enforcing anti-hazing policies
- Ignoring prior hazing incidents
- Failing to inspect fraternity houses
- Allowing dangerous organizations to operate
Example: University of Houston owned the Pi Kappa Phi house where waterboarding occurred. OSU owns fraternity houses too — they can’t claim ignorance.
3. Individual Liability
Chapter officers and members can be sued personally. We prove:
- Who organized the hazing
- Who participated
- Who failed to stop it
- Who covered it up
Example: In the Stone Foltz case, the chapter president was personally ordered to pay $6.5 million. Benton County hazers face the same risk.
4. Insurance Coverage
National fraternities and universities have deep-pocket insurance policies. We:
- Identify all insurance policies covering the incident
- Demand policy limits from each carrier
- Sue for punitive damages when conduct is outrageous
💰 What Your Benton County Hazing Case Is Worth
| Injury Type | Potential Compensation Range | Factors That Increase Value |
|---|---|---|
| Minor physical injuries | $50,000 – $200,000 | Clear evidence, strong liability |
| Moderate injuries (broken bones, burns) | $200,000 – $1,000,000 | Hospitalization, therapy needed |
| Severe injuries (rhabdomyolysis, TBI) | $1,000,000 – $5,000,000 | Permanent damage, future medical costs |
| Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety) | $500,000 – $3,000,000 | Therapy records, expert testimony |
| Sexual assault | $1,000,000 – $10,000,000 | Criminal charges, emotional impact |
| Wrongful death | $5,000,000 – $50,000,000+ | Loss of future earnings, family suffering |
Punitive damages can add millions more when conduct is egregious (e.g., waterboarding, forced consumption until vomiting).
⏳ Don’t Wait — Oregon’s 2-Year Deadline Applies
Oregon law gives you only 2 years from the hazing incident to file a lawsuit. After that, your rights expire.
Why victims delay (and why you shouldn’t):
❌ Shame and embarrassment — Hazing victims often blame themselves
❌ Fear of retaliation — Fraternities pressure victims to stay silent
❌ Loyalty to the organization — Victims don’t want to “betray” their brothers/sisters
❌ Not recognizing it as hazing — “It’s just tradition” mentality
❌ Pressure from the university — Schools want to handle it “internally”
What happens if you wait too long:
- Evidence disappears (texts deleted, witnesses forget)
- The fraternity destroys records
- The university “loses” incident reports
- You lose your right to sue forever
Benton County families: Call us NOW.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🏆 Why Benton County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now
We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to win these cases.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena used to work for insurance companies. We know their playbook — and we use it against them.
3. Federal Court Authority
We’re admitted to U.S. District Court — we can pursue Benton County cases in federal jurisdiction.
4. Dual-State Licensed (Texas & New York)
Strategic advantage for suing national fraternities headquartered across America.
5. We Come to Benton County
We travel to Corvallis, Albany, and across Oregon for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
6. Contingency Fee — $0 Upfront
You pay nothing unless we win. No hourly fees, no retainers.
7. Bilingual Services (Se Habla Español)
Many Benton County hazing victims are Latino or from immigrant families. We speak Spanish and understand cultural concerns.
8. Proven Results
- $10M+ in our current hazing case
- Multi-million dollar personal injury verdicts
- Hundreds of cases won against insurance companies
📞 Benton County Hazing Victims: Call Now
If your child was hazed at Oregon State University or any Benton County institution, you have legal rights. We will fight for you.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Free consultation. No upfront cost. We don’t get paid unless you win.
⚠️ A Warning to Benton County Fraternities
To the fraternities operating in Benton County:
We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma — if your chapter operates in Benton County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America.
We track your house corporations, your alumni chapters, and your insurance structures.
If you haze students in Benton County, we will pursue every liable entity. We already shut down Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter in Houston. Your chapter could be next.
🎓 A Message to Oregon State University
To OSU administration:
The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.
You own fraternity houses. You have the power to regulate Greek life. You have a duty to protect students.
Act now or face the same accountability.
🏛️ A Call to Oregon Legislators
To Oregon lawmakers:
Hazing is not a college “rite of passage.” It’s a crime that destroys lives.
Support stronger anti-hazing laws in Oregon. Make hazing a felony. Require public reporting of incidents. Protect Benton County students.
💔 To Benton County Families Who Have Lost Children
We see you. We understand your pain. And we will fight to ensure no other Benton County family suffers the same loss.
Your child’s life had value. Their death was preventable. Justice is possible.
Benton County: Enough Is Enough
Hazing doesn’t build character. It destroys lives.
It sends students to the hospital with kidney failure. It leaves families grieving lost children. It creates lifelong trauma.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Benton County families have legal rights. Benton County institutions can be held accountable. And Benton County hazing victims can get justice.
If you or your child has been hazed in Benton County, call us now.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
We are Attorney 911. We are your first responders to this legal emergency.