Hazing Victims Legal Guide for Chickasaw County, Iowa Families
🚨 Hazing Happens Here Too: What Chickasaw County Families Need to Know
Chickasaw County, Iowa, is home to hardworking families who send their children to college expecting them to be safe. But the truth is, hazing happens at universities across Iowa—and your child could be at risk.
The same fraternities involved in the $10 million University of Houston hazing lawsuit (where a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure) have chapters at Iowa universities. The same negligence that allowed this abuse to happen in Texas exists right here in Chickasaw County.
If your child has been hazed at University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Iowa, or any other Iowa school, you have legal rights. You can fight back.
🔍 What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Illegal in Iowa)
Hazing is any activity that endangers a student’s physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in a group. This includes:
✅ Physical abuse – Forced exercise (like 500 squats), beatings, paddling, branding, or sleep deprivation
✅ Forced consumption – Binge drinking, eating until vomiting, or consuming dangerous substances
✅ Psychological torture – Waterboarding, humiliation, threats, or isolation
✅ Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, or carrying sexual objects
✅ Exposure to extreme conditions – Cold weather exposure, confined spaces, or dangerous environments
In Iowa, hazing is a criminal offense. Under Iowa Code § 708.10, hazing is a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail and $2,560 in fines.
But criminal charges aren’t your only option. You can also sue the fraternity, the university, and the individuals responsible for medical bills, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
🏥 Real Hazing Cases That Could Happen in Chickasaw County
1. The University of Houston Case (2025) – $10 Million Lawsuit
- Victim: Leonel Bermudez (not even a student yet—just a “ghost rush” pledge)
- What happened? Waterboarded with a garden hose, forced to do 500 squats, struck with wooden paddles, and hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis (kidney failure).
- Result: $10 million lawsuit filed against Pi Kappa Phi, the University of Houston, and individual members.
This same fraternity has chapters at Iowa universities. If your child was hazed in Chickasaw County, we can fight for the same justice.
2. The Stone Foltz Case (2021) – $10.1 Million Settlement
- Victim: Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State University, Ohio)
- What happened? Forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a fraternity event—died from alcohol poisoning.
- Result: $10.1 million settlement from Pi Kappa Alpha and the university.
3. The Max Gruver Case (2017) – $6.1 Million Jury Verdict
- Victim: Max Gruver (Louisiana State University)
- What happened? Forced to drink during a “Bible Study” hazing event—died from alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495, more than 6x the legal limit).
- Result: $6.1 million jury verdict against Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
4. The Timothy Piazza Case (2017) – $110+ Million Settlement
- Victim: Timothy Piazza (Penn State University)
- What happened? Forced to drink 18 drinks in 82 minutes, fell down stairs, fraternity members waited 12 hours to call 911.
- Result: $110+ million settlement against Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
These cases prove one thing: Hazing victims CAN win big. And we can help Chickasaw County families do the same.
💔 How Hazing Harms Students in Chickasaw County
Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless fun.” It leaves lasting physical and psychological damage, including:
Physical Injuries:
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure) – like in the UH case
- Alcohol poisoning – leading cause of hazing deaths
- Broken bones, burns, or internal injuries from beatings or forced activities
- Hypothermia or heatstroke from exposure to extreme conditions
Psychological Trauma:
- PTSD from waterboarding, humiliation, or threats
- Anxiety & depression from ongoing abuse
- Suicidal thoughts – many hazing victims struggle with mental health
- Trust issues – fear of authority figures or social groups
Academic & Financial Consequences:
- Dropped classes or failed semesters due to physical or emotional distress
- Lost scholarships if grades suffer
- Medical bills from hospitalizations or therapy
- Future earning potential damaged by long-term health issues
If your child was hazed in Chickasaw County, they deserve compensation for all of this.
⚖️ Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Chickasaw County?
When hazing happens, multiple parties can be held legally responsible, including:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Local fraternity chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Pi Kappa Phi at UNI or Iowa State |
| National fraternity organization | Failed to supervise chapters; knew about hazing risks | Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, etc. |
| University | Owned the fraternity house; failed to prevent hazing | University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State, etc. |
| Individual members | Participated in or allowed hazing | Chapter president, pledgemaster, active members |
| Alumni | Hosted hazing events at their homes | Former members who facilitated abuse |
| Insurance companies | Provide coverage for fraternities and universities | Liability policies that may pay settlements |
In the UH case, we sued:
✔ Pi Kappa Phi National
✔ The local chapter
✔ The University of Houston
✔ Individual members
✔ A former member and his spouse (for hosting hazing)
We can do the same for Chickasaw County families.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Chickasaw County
Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get a doctor’s evaluation.
- Rhabdomyolysis (like in the UH case) can be life-threatening if untreated.
- Medical records are crucial evidence for your case.
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, or any physical evidence.
- Save text messages, GroupMe chats, or social media posts about hazing.
- Write down names of witnesses and participants.
- Do NOT delete anything—even if it’s embarrassing.
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone
- They will try to control the narrative and minimize your claim.
- Do NOT give statements to university officials or fraternity leaders.
- Do NOT sign anything without legal advice.
Step 4: Contact an Experienced Hazing Lawyer
- We offer free consultations for Chickasaw County families.
- We work on contingency—you pay nothing upfront.
- We travel to Chickasaw County for depositions and meetings.
📞 Call us 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
💰 How Much Is a Hazing Case Worth in Chickasaw County?
Hazing lawsuits can result in millions of dollars in compensation, including:
| Type of Damages | What It Covers | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Medical bills | Hospital stays, ER visits, therapy, future treatment | $50,000 – $500,000+ |
| Lost wages | Time missed from work or internships | $10,000 – $100,000+ |
| Pain & suffering | Physical and emotional trauma from hazing | $100,000 – $3,000,000+ |
| Punitive damages | Punishment for egregious conduct (like waterboarding) | $500,000 – $5,000,000+ |
| Wrongful death | If hazing leads to death (like Stone Foltz or Max Gruver) | $1,000,000 – $10,000,000+ |
Precedent Cases in Iowa & Nationwide:
- $10.1 million – Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha)
- $6.1 million – Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta)
- $110+ million – Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi)
- $10 million – Leonel Bermudez (University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi – our case)
If your child was hazed in Chickasaw County, we can fight for similar compensation.
🚫 Common Defenses (And How We Defeat Them)
Fraternities and universities will try to blame the victim. Here’s how we fight back:
| Their Argument | Our Counterargument |
|---|---|
| “He consented to hazing.” | Iowa law says consent is NOT a defense. (Iowa Code § 708.10) |
| “It was just tradition.” | Tradition doesn’t excuse illegal activity. Assault is assault. |
| “He could have left at any time.” | Fear of retaliation, social exclusion, and expulsion prevent victims from leaving. |
| “The university didn’t know.” | Universities have a duty to monitor Greek life—and they often ignore warnings. |
| “It was just a prank.” | Waterboarding, 500 squats, and forced drinking are NOT pranks—they’re torture. |
🏛️ Iowa Hazing Laws: What You Need to Know
Iowa Code § 708.10 – Hazing is a Crime
- Hazing is a serious misdemeanor in Iowa.
- Punishable by up to 1 year in jail and $2,560 in fines.
- Consent is NOT a defense.
Civil Lawsuits for Hazing
- You can sue for negligence, assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
- Universities can be held liable if they knew about hazing and failed to stop it.
- National fraternities can be sued for failing to supervise local chapters.
Statute of Limitations in Iowa
- 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit.
- If your child was hazed recently, ACT NOW—evidence disappears fast.
🎓 Which Iowa Universities Have Greek Life Hazing Risks?
While we can’t name specific incidents without evidence, these Iowa universities have active Greek life where hazing could occur:
| University | Location Near Chickasaw County | Fraternities with Hazing Histories Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) | Cedar Falls, IA (~1 hour from Chickasaw County) | Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, others |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA (~3 hours from Chickasaw County) | Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, others |
| Iowa State University | Ames, IA (~2.5 hours from Chickasaw County) | Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, others |
| Luther College | Decorah, IA (~30 minutes from Chickasaw County) | Local Greek organizations |
| Upper Iowa University | Fayette, IA (~15 minutes from Chickasaw County) | Local Greek organizations |
If your child was hazed at any of these schools, we can help.
🛡️ Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Chickasaw County Hazing Case?
1. We’re Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Case RIGHT NOW
- We represent Leonel Bermudez, the UH student waterboarded and hospitalized with kidney failure.
- We know how to build strong hazing cases and hold institutions accountable.
- Chickasaw County families get the same aggressive representation.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook
- Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching to help victims.
- We know exactly how they try to deny claims—and how to defeat their tactics.
3. We Travel to Chickasaw County for Your Case
- We have offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, but we come to you.
- We’ll meet with you in Charles City, New Hampton, or anywhere in Chickasaw County.
- We handle all communication with the fraternity and university—so you don’t have to.
4. No Upfront Costs – We Work on Contingency
- You pay nothing unless we win your case.
- No hourly fees, no retainers.
- We only get paid if you get paid.
5. Bilingual Representation – Se Habla Español
- Many hazing victims in Chickasaw County are first-generation college students.
- We provide full legal services in Spanish—no language barriers.
6. Proven Results in Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Cases
- Millions recovered for victims of car accidents, trucking accidents, and workplace injuries.
- Former insurance defense experience gives us an edge in negotiations.
- Willing to go to trial if the fraternity/university won’t settle fairly.
📞 What to Do Next: Contact Us Today
If your child was hazed in Chickasaw County, time is running out.
✅ Free, confidential consultation – We’ll review your case at no cost.
✅ No upfront fees – You pay nothing unless we win.
✅ 24/7 availability – Call us anytime, day or night.
📞 Call now: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit: attorney911.com
We serve Chickasaw County families with the same dedication we’re bringing to the $10 million UH hazing case. Let’s fight for justice together.
🔥 A Final Message to Fraternities in Iowa
To the fraternities operating near Chickasaw County:
We know who you are. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your hazing “traditions.”
Pi Kappa Phi just learned this the hard way. Their UH chapter is shut down, and they’re facing a $10 million lawsuit for what they did to Leonel Bermudez.
If you haze students in Chickasaw County, we will find you. We will sue you. And we will make sure you never do it again.
The Beta Nu chapter at UH learned this lesson. Your chapter could be next.
© 2025 Attorney 911 | Serving Chickasaw County, Iowa, and Nationwide
1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com
