🛡️ Hazing Victim Legal Guide for Dearborn County, Indiana
Attorney 911 — Fighting for Students and Families in Dearborn County and Beyond
🚨 Hazing in Dearborn County: What Families Need to Know
Dearborn County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. But across Indiana and the nation, hazing continues to hospitalize, traumatize, and even kill students—often under the guise of “tradition” or “brotherhood.”
At Attorney 911, we are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston, where a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure. This isn’t just happening in Texas—it happens at universities near Dearborn County too.
If your child has been hazed, you have legal rights. And we will fight for you—no matter where in Indiana or the U.S. the incident occurred.
📍 Hazing in Dearborn County: The Local Reality
Dearborn County is home to strong communities, hardworking families, and students who deserve to be safe. But the same national fraternities and sororities that operate at major universities also have chapters near Dearborn County, including at:
- Miami University (Oxford, OH – just across the state line)
- University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH)
- Indiana University Bloomington (Bloomington, IN)
- Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN)
- Butler University (Indianapolis, IN)
- University of Notre Dame (South Bend, IN)
These institutions—and the Greek organizations on their campuses—face the same hazing risks that hospitalized our client. If your child attends or plans to attend college near Dearborn County, they could be at risk.
🔍 What Hazing Looks Like Near Dearborn County
Hazing isn’t just “a little roughhousing.” It includes:
✅ Physical abuse – Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
✅ Forced consumption – Alcohol, food, or non-food items until vomiting
✅ Psychological torture – Waterboarding, sleep deprivation, humiliation
✅ Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
✅ Extreme servitude – Forced cleaning, errands, or driving members at all hours
This is not tradition. This is abuse.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Dearborn County Hazing Victim
1️⃣ Indiana Hazing Laws Protect You
Indiana has strict anti-hazing laws (IC 35-42-2-2) that make hazing a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and $1,000 in fines. If hazing causes serious bodily injury, it becomes a Level 6 felony, punishable by 6 months to 2.5 years in prison.
Key Indiana Law (IC 35-42-2-2):
“A person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally engages in conduct that creates a substantial risk of bodily injury to a person with the intent to coerce the person into joining or remaining in an organization commits hazing.”
⚠️ Consent is NOT a defense in Indiana.
Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds the organization accountable.
2️⃣ Civil Lawsuits Can Hold Organizations Accountable
Beyond criminal charges, hazing victims in Dearborn County can sue for:
- Medical expenses (hospital bills, therapy, future treatment)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
- Lost wages (missed work, career impact)
- Punitive damages (to punish egregious conduct)
Precedent shows hazing cases win big:
- $10.1 million – Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha)
- $6.1 million – Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta)
- $110+ million – Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi)
Your Dearborn County case could be next.
🏢 Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Dearborn County?
Hazing isn’t just the fault of individual students—institutions share liability. We can pursue:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Dearborn County Example |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized hazing | Pi Kappa Phi at Miami University, Sigma Alpha Epsilon at IU Bloomington |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise chapters despite prior incidents | Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, etc. |
| University | Failed to prevent hazing despite knowing the risks | Miami University, UC, IU, Purdue, Butler, Notre Dame |
| Individual Members | Participated in or allowed hazing | Chapter president, pledgemaster, active members |
| Alumni/Advisors | Hosted hazing events at their homes | Premises liability for off-campus hazing |
💡 Example: If your child was hazed at Miami University’s Pi Kappa Phi chapter, we would sue:
- The local chapter
- Pi Kappa Phi National
- Miami University (for failing to protect students)
- Individual members who participated
🚨 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Dearborn County
📌 Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure (like our client) can be life-threatening.
- Alcohol poisoning from forced drinking can kill.
- Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression) requires professional treatment.
⚠️ Even if your child “feels fine,” get them checked. Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) have delayed symptoms.
📌 Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
Hazing cases are won or lost on evidence. Save everything:
✔ Photos/videos of injuries, hazing activities, or locations
✔ Text messages, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs about hazing
✔ Pledge manuals, schedules, or rules given to your child
✔ Medical records (hospital bills, doctor’s notes, therapy records)
✔ Witness names (other pledges, friends, bystanders)
✔ Social media posts (before/after hazing, even if “positive”)
❌ DO NOT:
- Delete any messages or posts
- Talk to the fraternity/sorority without legal counsel
- Sign anything from the organization
- Post about the incident on social media
📌 Step 3: Report the Incident
- File a police report (hazing is a crime in Indiana)
- Report to the university (Title IX office, student conduct)
- Report to the national fraternity/sorority (though they may try to cover it up)
📌 Step 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately
Statute of limitations in Indiana: 2 years (for personal injury). But evidence disappears fast—witnesses forget, messages get deleted, organizations destroy records.
We offer:
✅ Free, confidential consultations for Dearborn County families
✅ Contingency fee representation ($0 upfront—we only get paid if you win)
✅ Nationwide reach (we can represent you no matter where the hazing occurred)
✅ Federal court authority (we can sue national organizations anywhere)
💰 How Much Is a Dearborn County Hazing Case Worth?
Hazing settlements and verdicts range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, depending on:
| Factor | Impact on Case Value | Dearborn County Example |
|---|---|---|
| Severity of injuries | Hospitalization, surgery, permanent damage = higher value | Rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, PTSD |
| Egregious conduct | Waterboarding, paddling, forced drinking = punitive damages | Our $10M Pi Kappa Phi case |
| Institutional knowledge | University/fraternity knew about prior hazing = higher liability | Miami University’s prior hazing incidents |
| Pattern of abuse | Multiple victims = stronger case | Multiple pledges hazed at IU Bloomington |
| Cover-up attempts | Destroying evidence = punitive damages | Fraternity deleting text messages |
Recent hazing case values:
- $10.1 million – Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State)
- $6.1 million – Maxwell Gruver (LSU)
- $110+ million – Timothy Piazza (Penn State)
Your Dearborn County case could be worth just as much.
🎯 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Dearborn County Hazing Case?
1️⃣ 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.
2️⃣ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
We know how insurance companies and universities try to minimize claims. We use their own tactics against them.
3️⃣ Federal Court Authority
We can sue national fraternities, universities, and individuals—no matter where they’re located.
4️⃣ We Travel to Dearborn County
We will come to you for depositions, meetings, and trials. Distance is not a barrier.
5️⃣ Bilingual Representation (Se Habla Español)
Many hazing victims are international students or from Spanish-speaking families. We ensure no language barriers to justice.
6️⃣ Contingency Fee – $0 Upfront
You pay nothing unless we win. We take the risk—you get the justice.
📞 Dearborn County Families: Call Us Now
If your child has been hazed, time is critical. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your legal rights expire.
We offer:
✅ Free, confidential case evaluation
✅ 24/7 availability (this is a legal emergency)
✅ No upfront costs (contingency fee representation)
📍 Serving Dearborn County and All of Indiana
While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including in Dearborn County, Indiana, and surrounding areas.
📞 Call now: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit: attorney911.com
🚫 To Fraternities and Sororities Near Dearborn County: We Are Watching
To the chapters of Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta, and all other Greek organizations near Dearborn County:
We know what you’re doing.
We are currently suing Pi Kappa Phi for $10 million after their chapter waterboarded a student and sent him to the hospital with kidney failure.
We have tracked hazing incidents at universities nationwide, including near Dearborn County.
We know your national organizations have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries.
If you haze students in Dearborn County, we will find you. We will sue you. And we will make you pay.
The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston learned this the hard way. Your chapter could be next.
📢 Dearborn County Parents: Protect Your Child
Hazing doesn’t just happen to “other people’s kids.” It happens to smart, ambitious students who just want to fit in.
Talk to your child about hazing before they go to college. Make sure they know:
✅ They can say no without fear of retaliation.
✅ Real brotherhood/sisterhood doesn’t require abuse.
✅ If they see hazing, they should report it immediately.
And if the worst happens—call us. We will fight for your child like they’re our own.
🔥 The Fight Starts Here
Hazing has hospitalized, traumatized, and killed too many students. Dearborn County families deserve better.
We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. And we are coming for every institution, every fraternity, and every individual who thinks they can abuse our kids and get away with it.
If your child has been hazed—call us now.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com
📌 Share This Guide with Dearborn County Families
Hazing thrives in secrecy. Break the silence. Share this guide with parents, students, and educators in Dearborn County.
#DearbornCountyAgainstHazing #EnoughIsEnough #Attorney911
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