🛡️ Champaign County Hazing Lawyer: Holding Fraternities & Universities Accountable
If your child was hazed at the University of Illinois, Parkland College, or any school in Champaign County, you have legal rights — and we can help.
At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure from extreme physical abuse. The same fraternities operate in Champaign County. The same negligence exists at Champaign County institutions. And we will fight for Champaign County families with the same aggression.
🚨 This Happens in Champaign County — And It Must Stop
Hazing isn’t “tradition.” It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s torture. And it’s happening right now at universities and colleges across Champaign County.
Fraternities with Chapters Near Champaign County:
- Pi Kappa Phi (same organization we’re suing for $10M)
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)
- Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)
- Phi Delta Theta
- Beta Theta Pi
- Sigma Chi
- Kappa Sigma
- And many more
These are the same national organizations that have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries nationwide. They know the risks. They ignore them. And when students are hurt, they try to silence victims.
Not anymore.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights in Champaign County
Under Illinois law, hazing is a crime. But even if criminal charges aren’t filed, you can still pursue civil justice and financial compensation for your child’s injuries.
Who Can Be Held Liable in Champaign County:
✅ The local fraternity chapter — for organizing and conducting hazing
✅ The national fraternity organization — for failing to supervise and enforce anti-hazing policies
✅ The university or college — for failing to protect students, especially if they own or control the fraternity house
✅ Individual members — for participating in or facilitating hazing
✅ Alumni or property owners — if hazing occurred at their home or property
Damages You Can Recover in Champaign County:
💰 Medical expenses — hospital bills, therapy, future treatment
💰 Lost wages — if your child missed work or internships
💰 Pain and suffering — physical pain and emotional trauma
💰 Punitive damages — to punish egregious conduct (like waterboarding, forced exercise to collapse, or paddling)
💰 Educational disruption — if hazing caused academic setbacks
🏥 Real Hazing Injuries We’ve Seen — And What They Mean for Champaign County Victims
| Injury | What It Means | Champaign County Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Rhabdomyolysis | Muscle breakdown causing kidney failure — from extreme exercise like 500 squats | Requires hospitalization, IV fluids, long-term kidney monitoring |
| Alcohol poisoning | Forced drinking leading to coma or death | Common in Champaign County Greek life; can be fatal |
| Traumatic brain injury | From beatings, falls, or lack of oxygen | Permanent cognitive impairment, therapy, lost career potential |
| Broken bones | From paddling, falls, or physical abuse | Pain, surgery, physical therapy, permanent limitations |
| PTSD, anxiety, depression | Psychological trauma from abuse | Long-term therapy, medication, impact on relationships and career |
| Sexual assault | Forced nudity, sexual humiliation, assault | Severe emotional harm, potential criminal charges |
These aren’t hypothetical. They’ve happened at Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Pike, and other fraternities — and they happen in Champaign County too.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Champaign County
If your child was hazed at the University of Illinois, Parkland College, or any school in Champaign County, time is critical. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. And statutes of limitations expire.
Step-by-Step Action Plan for Champaign County Families:
- 🏥 Seek medical attention immediately — even if injuries seem minor. Some conditions (like rhabdomyolysis) take days to appear.
- 📸 Document everything — take photos of injuries, save text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, and social media posts.
- 🚫 Do NOT talk to the fraternity, university, or their lawyers — they will try to control the narrative and minimize your claim.
- 📞 Call Attorney 911 immediately — we offer free, confidential consultations for Champaign County hazing victims.
- ⚖️ File a police report — hazing is a crime in Illinois. Consider reporting to local law enforcement.
- 📝 File a Title IX complaint — if hazing involved gender-based discrimination or sexual harassment.
- 🔒 Preserve all evidence — do not delete anything. We will help you collect and secure it.
💼 Why Champaign County Families Choose Attorney 911
We don’t just talk about hazing. We’re fighting it right now.
Our Current Hazing Case: $10 Million Lawsuit Against Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston
What Happened:
- A “ghost rush” (not even enrolled at UH) was subjected to weeks of torture, including:
- Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
- Forced to do 500 squats, 100+ pushups, bear crawls, and 100-yard crawls — until he collapsed
- Struck with wooden paddles
- Forced to eat until vomiting, then run sprints through his own vomit
- Threatened with expulsion if he stopped
- He ended up in the hospital with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring 4 days of inpatient care.
What We’re Doing:
- We filed a $10 million lawsuit in Harris County against:
- Pi Kappa Phi National
- The local chapter
- The University of Houston (who owned the fraternity house)
- Individual members
- We’re holding everyone accountable — not just the students, but the institutions that enabled them.
Why This Matters for Champaign County:
- Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at universities near Champaign County — the same organization, the same culture.
- The University of Illinois and Parkland College have the same oversight failures as UH.
- If it happened in Houston, it’s happening in Champaign County.
🎯 Our Approach for Champaign County Hazing Victims
1. Immediate Response
- We move fast to preserve evidence before it disappears.
- We send preservation letters to fraternities and universities demanding they not destroy evidence.
- We coordinate with medical providers to document injuries.
2. Aggressive Investigation
- We gather text messages, social media, photos, videos, and witness statements.
- We subpoena fraternity records, university oversight documents, and insurance policies.
- We work with hazing experts, medical professionals, and investigators to build your case.
3. Maximum Compensation
- We pursue every liable party — fraternities, universities, individuals, property owners.
- We calculate full damages — medical bills, pain and suffering, punitive damages.
- We don’t settle for lowball offers — we fight for what you deserve.
4. Nationwide Reach — Serving Champaign County
- We’re based in Texas, but we serve hazing victims nationwide, including Champaign County.
- We travel to Champaign County for depositions, meetings, and trials.
- We offer video consultations for Champaign County families who can’t travel.
- We’re admitted to federal court, so we can pursue cases anywhere in the U.S.
📞 Champaign County Families: Call Now for a Free Consultation
Time is critical. Evidence disappears. Your rights expire.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We work on contingency — $0 upfront for Champaign County families.
We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions for Champaign County Families
1. Can we sue if the hazing happened off-campus?
✅ Yes. Illinois law applies to hazing on or off campus. If the fraternity or its members organized the activity, they can be held liable.
2. What if my child “consented” to the hazing?
✅ Consent is not a defense in Illinois. The law explicitly states that even if a student agrees to participate, the organization and individuals can still be held liable.
3. Can we sue the university even if they didn’t know?
✅ Yes, if they should have known. Universities have a duty to protect students from foreseeable harm. If they failed to implement proper oversight, they can be held liable.
4. What if the fraternity is already suspended?
✅ Suspension doesn’t protect them from liability. In fact, it can be evidence that they knew their chapter was dangerous. We can still sue the national organization, the university, and individual members.
5. How much is a Champaign County hazing case worth?
It depends on the severity of the injuries, but hazing cases often settle for hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. For example:
- $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)
6. How long do we have to file a lawsuit in Champaign County?
⏳ Illinois has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. If your child was hazed in 2023, 2024, or 2025, time is running out. Contact us immediately.
7. What if my child is afraid of retaliation?
🔒 We protect our clients. Many hazing victims fear retribution, but we ensure your identity is protected and that you’re not pressured into unfair settlements.
8. Can we sue if no one was hospitalized?
✅ Yes. Even if your child wasn’t hospitalized, they may have suffered psychological trauma, PTSD, or other injuries that warrant compensation.
🏛️ Fraternities Near Champaign County: We Are Watching
To the fraternities operating at the University of Illinois, Parkland College, and other Champaign County schools:
We know who you are. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. And we know your history.
- Pi Kappa Phi — We’re suing your UH chapter for $10 million. Your Champaign County chapter could be next.
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) — You’ve paid millions in hazing settlements. Are your Champaign County chapters following the rules?
- Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) — Stone Foltz’s family won $10.1 million from you. Your Champaign County chapter is on notice.
- Phi Delta Theta — Maxwell Gruver’s family won a $6.1 million verdict against you. Your Champaign County chapter should take note.
If you haze students in Champaign County, we will find you. We will sue you. And we will shut you down.
📢 A Message to Champaign County Parents
Your child trusted these institutions.
They trusted the fraternity. They trusted the university. They trusted that these organizations would keep them safe.
That trust was betrayed.
We understand the pain you’re feeling. We understand the anger. And we’re here to help you turn that pain into justice and that anger into accountability.
You don’t have to fight this alone. We’re already in the fight.
📞 Champaign County Hazing Victims: Call Now
1-888-ATTY-911
ralph@atty911.com
attorney911.com
Free consultation. No upfront costs. We fight for you.