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Butler County (Earth/North America/United States/Kansas/Butler County) Fraternity Hazing Attorneys | $50M+ in National Settlements Exposed | Attorney911 — The Firm That Shut Down Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu | Pike: $24M | Federal Court | Evidence Preservation Experts | 1-888-ATTY-911

February 22, 2026 18 min read
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Hazing Injury Lawyer in Butler County, Kansas – Attorney 911

Butler County Families: Your Child Was Hazed. We Can Help.

If your child was injured, hospitalized, or traumatized by hazing at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or student organization in Butler County, Kansas, you’re not alone. We are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—and we’re ready to bring that same aggressive legal firepower to Butler County.

Hazing isn’t just “tradition.” It’s abuse, assault, and sometimes torture. And when universities and Greek organizations fail to protect students, they must be held accountable.

Butler County Hazing Cases We Handle:

Fraternity & sorority hazing (forced drinking, physical abuse, humiliation)
Sports team hazing (locker room abuse, dangerous initiation rituals)
Marching band & ROTC hazing (sleep deprivation, extreme physical demands)
Student organization hazing (clubs, honor societies, service groups)
Wrongful death from hazing (alcohol poisoning, rhabdomyolysis, suicide)

Butler County Universities & Colleges With Greek Life:

While Butler County itself is a rural area, nearby universities and colleges with active Greek life include:

  • Wichita State University (Wichita, KS – ~30 miles from Butler County)
  • Friends University (Wichita, KS)
  • Newman University (Wichita, KS)
  • Butler Community College (El Dorado, KS – has student organizations)
  • University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS – ~120 miles, but many Butler County students attend)

If your child attends or pledges a fraternity or sorority at any of these schools—or any school near Butler County—hazing could happen to them.

What Constitutes Hazing in Kansas?

Kansas law (K.S.A. 21-5420) defines hazing as:

“Knowingly or recklessly coercing, intimidating, or forcing another person to perform an act that endangers their physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation, admission, or affiliation with an organization.”

Common Hazing Activities in Butler County:

🔴 Forced alcohol consumption (binge drinking, “drink until you pass out”)
🔴 Physical abuse (paddling, beatings, branding, excessive exercise)
🔴 Waterboarding & simulated drowning (yes, this happens—we’re suing a fraternity for this right now)
🔴 Sleep deprivation (forced all-night activities, early morning punishments)
🔴 Psychological torture (humiliation, threats, isolation)
🔴 Forced eating until vomiting (milk, hot sauce, non-food items)
🔴 Extreme physical exertion (500+ squats, bear crawls, 100-yard sprints—this caused our client kidney failure)
🔴 Sexual humiliation & assault (forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, worse)

This is not “tradition.” This is not “team bonding.” This is abuse—and it’s illegal.

Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Butler County?

When hazing happens, multiple parties can be held legally and financially responsible:

Defendant Why They’re Liable Butler County Example
Local Chapter Directly organized & conducted hazing Pi Kappa Phi at Wichita State, Sigma Chi at KU, etc.
National Organization Failed to supervise, ignored warnings, enabled culture Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, etc.
University/College Failed to prevent hazing, ignored complaints, owned property where it occurred Wichita State, KU, Butler Community College
Individual Members Participated in or facilitated hazing Chapter president, pledgemaster, active members
Alumni/Advisors Hosted hazing events, ignored abuse Former members who allowed hazing at their homes
Housing Corporations Owned fraternity/sorority house where hazing occurred Property owners who failed to ensure safety

We sue everyone responsible—because hazing is a systemic failure, not just one person’s mistake.

Butler County Hazing Cases We’ve Handled (And How We Can Help You)

🚨 Current Case: $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit (Pi Kappa Phi – University of Houston)

What Happened:

  • A Butler County-level student (not even enrolled yet) was hazed by Pi Kappa Phi at UH.
  • He was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, struck with wooden paddles, and made to eat until he vomited.
  • He collapsed, couldn’t walk, and was hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
  • The fraternity knew about a “hazing crisis” and did nothing.
  • The university owned the fraternity house where the torture happened.

What We’re Doing:

  • Suing for $10 million to hold the fraternity, university, and individuals accountable.
  • Same legal strategy applies to Butler County—if your child was hazed, we can fight for you too.

Media Coverage:
📰 ABC13: “Abuse and hazing led to hospitalization of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge”
📰 KHOU 11: “$10 million lawsuit filed against UH, fraternity over hazing allegations”
📰 Houston Chronicle: “UH fraternity hazing lawsuit”

💰 Other Multi-Million Dollar Hazing Cases We Cite for Butler County Families

Case Fraternity Outcome Why It Matters for Butler County
Stone Foltz (BGSU, Pi Kappa Alpha) $10.1M settlement Same fraternity (Pike) operates near Butler County—they’ve paid before, they’ll pay again.
Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta) $6.1M jury verdict Juries award millions for hazing—Butler County families can win too.
Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi) $110M+ settlement Universities pay when they fail to protect students—Wichita State, KU, and others can be held liable.
Andrew Coffey (FSU, Pi Kappa Phi) Confidential settlement Pi Kappa Phi has a history of deadly hazing—they knew the risks and ignored them.

If these fraternities and universities paid millions for hazing deaths, they’ll pay for hazing injuries in Butler County too.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Butler County

🚨 Immediate Steps (Do This NOW)

  1. Get medical attention – Even if injuries seem minor, rhabdomyolysis, concussions, and psychological trauma can have delayed symptoms.
  2. Preserve evidenceTake photos of injuries, save texts/GroupMe chats, document witness names.
  3. Do NOT talk to the fraternity/sorority or university alone – They will try to control the narrative, destroy evidence, and pressure your child to stay silent.
  4. Do NOT post on social media – Anything you post can be used against you.
  5. Call us immediately1-888-ATTY-911 – We offer free, confidential consultations for Butler County families.

📋 Evidence We Need for Your Butler County Hazing Case

Medical records (hospitalization, therapy, prescriptions)
Photos/videos of injuries or hazing activities
Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs about hazing
Witness statements (other pledges, bystanders)
Fraternity/sorority documents (pledge manuals, schedules, rules)
University communications (emails, disciplinary records)
Financial records (medical bills, lost wages, tuition costs)

The sooner we start, the stronger your case will be.

Why Butler County Families Choose Attorney 911

⚖️ We Know Hazing Cases Inside and Out

  • Currently litigating a $10M hazing lawsuit (Pi Kappa Phi – University of Houston).
  • Former insurance defense attorneys – We know how fraternities and universities try to avoid liability, and we know how to beat them at their own game.
  • Federal court experience – Can pursue cases nationwide, including in Kansas.
  • Dual-state bar admission (Texas & New York) – Strategic advantage against national fraternities.
  • 25+ years of litigation experience – We’ve won multi-million dollar settlements in complex cases.

💬 “They treat you like family.”

“Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer regarding my case.”Dame Haskett
“They made me feel like I mattered throughout the entire process.”Stephanie Hernandez
“I never felt like ‘just another case’ they were working on.”Ambur Hamilton

💰 No Upfront Costs – We Only Get Paid If You Win

We work on a contingency fee basis—meaning:
$0 upfront – You pay nothing to hire us.
We cover all case expenses (investigators, experts, court fees).
We only get paid if we win your case – Our fee comes from the settlement, not your pocket.
If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.

Butler County families shouldn’t have to choose between justice and financial ruin. We make it possible to fight back.

Butler County Hazing Laws – What You Need to Know

📜 Kansas Hazing Law (K.S.A. 21-5420)

  • Hazing is a crime in Kansas.
  • Consent is NOT a defense – Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the fraternity can still be held liable.
  • Penalties:
    • Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail, $2,500 fine) for hazing.
    • Felony charges if hazing causes serious bodily harm or death.

🏛️ University Liability in Kansas

  • Public universities (like Wichita State, KU) have sovereign immunity—but there are exceptions for gross negligence.
  • Private universities (like Friends University, Newman University) can be sued directly.
  • Fraternities & sororities can be sued regardless of university affiliation.

💼 Civil Lawsuits for Hazing in Butler County

You can sue for:
Medical bills (past and future)
Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
Lost wages & future earning capacity
Punitive damages (to punish the organization for egregious conduct)
Wrongful death (if hazing led to a fatality)

Kansas has a 2-year statute of limitations—meaning you have 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. Do not wait.

Butler County Hazing Hotspots: Where It Happens Near You

🏫 Wichita State University (Wichita, KS – ~30 miles from Butler County)

  • Fraternities with chapters at WSU:
    • Pi Kappa Phi
    • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)
    • Sigma Chi
    • Sigma Phi Epsilon
    • Phi Delta Theta
    • Beta Theta Pi
    • Kappa Sigma
    • Delta Chi
  • Sororities with chapters at WSU:
    • Alpha Delta Pi
    • Alpha Phi
    • Chi Omega
    • Delta Delta Delta
    • Delta Gamma
    • Gamma Phi Beta
    • Kappa Delta
    • Kappa Kappa Gamma

If your child pledges any of these organizations at WSU, they are at risk of hazing.

🏫 University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS – ~120 miles from Butler County)

  • KU has one of the largest Greek systems in Kansas, with 40+ fraternities and sororities.
  • Hazing incidents at KU are well-documented—including forced drinking, physical abuse, and sexual humiliation.
  • Fraternities with hazing histories at KU:
    • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) – multiple hazing violations
    • Sigma Chi – alleged physical abuse
    • Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) – forced drinking incidents
    • Beta Theta Pi – alcohol-related hazing

🏫 Butler Community College (El Dorado, KS – In Butler County)

  • While BCC does not have traditional Greek life, student organizations and sports teams can still engage in hazing.
  • Common hazing at community colleges:
    • Sports team initiations (excessive physical punishment)
    • Club “pranks” (sleep deprivation, humiliation)
    • Honor society rituals (forced drinking, isolation)

If your child is involved in any student group at BCC, they could be at risk.

Butler County Hazing Warning Signs – Is Your Child at Risk?

🚩 Physical Signs of Hazing

  • Unexplained bruises, cuts, or burns
  • Extreme fatigue or difficulty walking
  • Vomiting, nausea, or signs of alcohol poisoning
  • Dark urine (sign of rhabdomyolysis—medical emergency)
  • Weight loss or signs of malnutrition
  • Sleep deprivation (dark circles, constant exhaustion)

🚩 Behavioral Signs of Hazing

  • Sudden withdrawal from family/friends
  • Increased anxiety, depression, or mood swings
  • Fear of talking about their organization
  • Avoiding certain people or places
  • Sudden drop in academic performance
  • Secretive behavior (hiding phone, avoiding questions)
  • Talking about “traditions” or “rituals” in a negative way

🚩 What to Ask Your Child If You Suspect Hazing

  • “Have you been asked to do anything that made you uncomfortable?”
  • “Have you been forced to drink alcohol or take drugs?”
  • “Have you been physically hurt or humiliated?”
  • “Do you feel safe in your organization?”
  • “Are you afraid to say no to certain activities?”

If your child answers “yes” to any of these, call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Butler County Hazing FAQs

❓ My child consented to hazing—can we still sue?

YES. Kansas law (like Texas law) explicitly states that consent is NOT a defense to hazing. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the fraternity can still be held liable.

❓ The fraternity says it was “just a prank”—is that a defense?

NO. What they call a “prank,” the law calls assault, battery, or reckless endangerment. Waterboarding, forced drinking, and physical abuse are not pranks—they’re crimes.

❓ Can we sue the university if the hazing happened off-campus?

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

❓ What if the hazing happened at a private residence?

You can still sue. The homeowners (or renters) can be held liable for allowing hazing on their property. Their homeowner’s insurance may cover the damages.

❓ How much is a Butler County hazing case worth?

Every case is different, but hazing cases often settle for millions when:
The injuries are severe (hospitalization, permanent damage)
The fraternity/university knew about prior hazing incidents
The conduct was especially egregious (waterboarding, sexual assault, forced consumption)
Multiple victims come forward (pattern evidence)

Our current hazing case is seeking $10 million—Butler County families deserve the same justice.

❓ What if my child is afraid to speak up?

We understand. Many hazing victims fear retaliation, social exclusion, or academic consequences. We can:

  • Protect their identity during the legal process.
  • File anonymously in some cases (especially for minors).
  • Pursue the case without requiring their direct involvement (if they’re too traumatized).

Your child does not have to face this alone.

Butler County Hazing Resources

🚨 Emergency Contacts

  • Butler County Sheriff’s Office: (316) 322-4254
  • El Dorado Police Department (Butler County seat): (316) 321-9120
  • Wichita Police Department (for WSU students): (316) 268-4111
  • Kansas Highway Patrol: (316) 733-1381
  • Poison Control (for alcohol poisoning/rhabdomyolysis): 1-800-222-1222

🏥 Medical Help in Butler County

  • Butler County Health Department: (316) 321-3400
  • Ascension Via Christi Hospital (El Dorado): (316) 321-4200
  • Wesley Medical Center (Wichita – for WSU students): (316) 962-2000
  • Via Christi Hospital St. Francis (Wichita): (316) 268-5000

📞 Mental Health Support

  • Butler County Mental Health Center: (316) 322-4800
  • Comcare of Sedgwick County (Wichita): (316) 660-7500
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
  • Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741

📚 Anti-Hazing Organizations

  • StopHazing.org – Research and advocacy
  • HazingPrevention.org – Education and prevention
  • Clery Center – Campus safety resources

Butler County Hazing Lawyer – Free Consultation

📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911

📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

🌐 Website: attorney911.com/hazing

We serve hazing victims in Butler County and across Kansas—no matter where the incident occurred.

🔹 Why Act Now?

Evidence disappears – Texts get deleted, witnesses forget, fraternities destroy records.
Statute of limitations – Kansas gives you only 2 years to file a lawsuit.
Universities & fraternities will try to silence you – They’ll pressure your child to stay quiet.
Other victims may come forward – The more evidence we have, the stronger your case.

🔹 What Happens When You Call?

  1. Free, confidential consultation – We listen to your story and explain your legal options.
  2. Case evaluation – We determine if you have a strong claim.
  3. Immediate action – We send preservation letters to protect evidence.
  4. No upfront costs – We only get paid if we win your case.
  5. Aggressive representation – We fight for maximum compensation and accountability.

You don’t have to go through this alone. We’re here to help.

Butler County Families: This Ends Now

Hazing has hospitalized, traumatized, and killed too many students in Kansas. Enough is enough.

If your child was hazed in Butler County, Wichita, El Dorado, or anywhere in Kansas, we will:
Hold the fraternity, sorority, or organization accountable
Sue the university for failing to protect students
Pursue the national organization for enabling the culture
Fight for the maximum compensation possible
Help prevent this from happening to another Butler County family

Call us today. The consultation is free. The justice is priceless.

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

🔥 Share This Page to Help Other Butler County Families

Hazing thrives in secrecy. Share this information with parents, students, and educators in Butler County to help stop the cycle.

#StopHazing #ButlerCountyJustice #HazingLawyerKS

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