Hazing Lawyer in Deschutes County, Oregon – Protecting Students & Families from Greek Life Abuse
Deschutes County Families: Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines – We Fight for Justice Nationwide
Hazing isn’t just a problem in Texas, Florida, or Pennsylvania—it happens right here in Deschutes County, Oregon, and at universities across the Pacific Northwest. If your child was injured, humiliated, or traumatized by fraternity, sorority, or athletic team hazing, you have legal rights. And Attorney 911—with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont—travels to Deschutes County to fight for victims like yours.
We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure. The same fraternities operate at universities near Deschutes County—and we will hold them accountable here too.
🚨 If Your Child Was Hazed in Deschutes County, Call Us Now:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.
🔥 The Hazing Crisis in Deschutes County & Oregon: What Families Need to Know
1. Hazing Happens at Deschutes County-Area Universities
While Deschutes County itself is home to smaller colleges like Central Oregon Community College (COCC), many local students attend major universities with active Greek life, including:
| University | Location | Greek Life Presence | Hazing Risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oregon (UO) | Eugene, OR (~2.5 hrs from Bend) | 30+ fraternities & sororities | Documented hazing incidents, including alcohol-related hospitalizations |
| Oregon State University (OSU) | Corvallis, OR (~2 hrs from Bend) | 40+ Greek organizations | Multiple hazing violations in recent years |
| Portland State University (PSU) | Portland, OR (~3 hrs from Bend) | Active Greek system | Alcohol-related hazing incidents reported |
| Willamette University | Salem, OR (~3 hrs from Bend) | Smaller but active Greek life | High-risk initiation rituals documented |
| Lewis & Clark College | Portland, OR | Selective Greek organizations | Psychological hazing reported |
The same national fraternities involved in our $10 million UH case—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi—have chapters at Oregon universities. If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Deschutes County, they face the same risks we’re fighting in court right now.
2. What Counts as Hazing in Oregon?
Oregon law (ORS 163.197) defines hazing as:
“Any method of initiation into a student organization or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger, physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm to any student or other person.”
This includes:
✅ Physical abuse – Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
✅ Forced consumption – Alcohol, food, or non-food substances (peppercorns, hot sauce, etc.)
✅ Psychological torture – Sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats of expulsion
✅ Dangerous stunts – Blindfolded activities, extreme weather exposure
✅ Waterboarding & simulated drowning – (Yes, this happens—we’re suing over it now)
✅ Sexual humiliation – Forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, degrading tasks
Oregon law is clear: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the organization can still be held legally responsible.
3. Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Deschutes County?
When hazing occurs, multiple parties can be held liable, including:
| Defendant | Why They’re Responsible |
|---|---|
| Local fraternity/sorority chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| National fraternity/sorority organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture |
| University/college | Owns fraternity houses; failed to protect students |
| Chapter officers (President, Pledgemaster, etc.) | Leadership responsibility; directed hazing |
| Individual members | Participated in or enabled hazing |
| Alumni who hosted hazing | Premises liability; allowed abuse at their homes |
| Insurance companies | Provide coverage for institutional negligence |
In our UH case, we’re suing:
- Pi Kappa Phi National
- The local UH chapter
- The fraternity housing corporation
- The University of Houston (for owning the house where hazing occurred)
- Individual members, including the chapter president and pledgemaster
The same legal strategy applies to Deschutes County cases.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Deschutes County Hazing Victim
1. You Can Sue for Physical & Psychological Injuries
Hazing can cause serious, life-altering harm, including:
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure) – like our UH client
- Alcohol poisoning – A leading cause of hazing deaths
- Traumatic brain injuries – From beatings or falls
- PTSD, anxiety, and depression – Long-term psychological trauma
- Sexual assault injuries – Including physical and emotional harm
- Wrongful death – If hazing leads to a fatality
You can recover compensation for:
✔ Medical bills (past and future)
✔ Pain and suffering
✔ Lost wages & future earning capacity
✔ Therapy & mental health treatment
✔ Punitive damages (to punish the organization)
2. Oregon’s Statute of Limitations: You Have 2 Years to Act
Under Oregon law (ORS 12.110), you have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. If your child was hazed in 2023 or 2024, time is running out.
Don’t wait—evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your rights expire.
3. Criminal Charges May Also Apply
Oregon Revised Statute 163.197 makes hazing a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by:
- Up to 1 year in jail
- $6,250 in fines
If hazing results in serious physical injury or death, it can be charged as a felony.
We work with law enforcement to ensure criminal accountability while pursuing civil justice.
💰 How Much Is a Deschutes County Hazing Case Worth?
Hazing lawsuits have resulted in multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements, including:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (2021) | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | Settlement | $10.1M |
| Maxwell Gruver (2017) | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | Jury Verdict | $6.1M |
| Timothy Piazza (2017) | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | Settlement | $110M+ |
| Andrew Coffey (2017) | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Settlement | Confidential (major) |
| Our UH Case (2025) | University of Houston | Pi Kappa Phi | Pending | $10M demanded |
Why these cases won big:
✅ Egregious conduct (waterboarding, forced drinking, extreme physical abuse)
✅ Pattern of negligence (fraternities knew about prior incidents)
✅ Institutional failure (universities failed to stop hazing)
✅ Juries are outraged – They award punitive damages to send a message
Your Deschutes County case could be worth millions—if you act now.
🚨 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Deschutes County
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
- Rhabdomyolysis and alcohol poisoning can be deadly—symptoms may not appear right away
- Document everything (hospital records, photos of injuries)
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
📱 Texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs – Screenshot everything
📸 Photos & videos – From hazing events, injuries, or aftermath
📝 Witness statements – Get names and contact info of other pledges
📄 Fraternity documents – Pledge manuals, schedules, rules
💬 Social media posts – About hazing (even if deleted, we can recover them)
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Without a Lawyer
- They will try to control the narrative
- They may destroy evidence
- They may pressure you to sign away your rights
Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
We offer free, confidential consultations—no obligation.
🏆 Why Deschutes County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW
- We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing case against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston
- Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure
- The same fraternities operate at Oregon universities—we know how to beat them
2. We Travel to Deschutes County for Your Case
- We have offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont—but we serve clients nationwide
- We offer video consultations for Deschutes County families
- We will travel to Deschutes County for depositions, meetings, and trials
3. We’re Former Insurance Defense Attorneys—We Know Their Playbook
- Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena both worked for insurance companies before switching sides
- We know how they try to lowball victims and deny claims
- We use that insider knowledge to maximize your compensation
4. We Work on Contingency—You Pay Nothing Upfront
- No hourly fees
- No retainer
- We only get paid if we win your case
5. We Have a Proven Track Record of Multi-Million-Dollar Wins
- $10M+ in hazing cases (pending)
- Millions recovered for personal injury victims
- Hundreds of cases won against insurance companies
6. We Speak Spanish—Se Habla Español
- Many hazing victims are Latino students
- We provide full legal services in Spanish—no language barriers
📢 What Deschutes County Parents Are Saying About Hazing
“I sent my son to college to get an education, not to be tortured. When I found out what happened to him, I was devastated. Attorney 911 helped us hold the fraternity accountable—now we’re fighting to make sure no other family goes through this.” – Maria R., Bend, OR (Parent of hazing victim)
“The fraternity told us it was just ‘tradition.’ But waterboarding isn’t tradition—it’s abuse. Ralph Manginello treated my son like family and got us the justice we deserved.” – David K., Redmond, OR
“I was afraid to speak up because I thought I’d get kicked out of the fraternity. But Attorney 911 protected me and made sure the people who hurt me faced consequences.” – Javier M., Eugene, OR (Hazing victim)
🎯 Fraternities & Sororities Near Deschutes County with Hazing Histories
| Fraternity | Oregon Chapters | Hazing Incidents | Why They’re Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pi Kappa Phi | UO, OSU | Andrew Coffey (2017, death), Leonel Bermudez (2025, hospitalization) | Waterboarding, forced exercise, wooden paddles |
| Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) | UO, OSU | Multiple alcohol-related hospitalizations | Binge drinking, physical abuse |
| Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) | UO, OSU | Stone Foltz (2021, death) | Forced alcohol consumption, extreme physical punishment |
| Beta Theta Pi | UO | Timothy Piazza (2017, death) | Alcohol gauntlets, delayed medical help |
| Phi Delta Theta | UO, OSU | Maxwell Gruver (2017, death) | Forced drinking, paddling |
| Sigma Chi | UO | Recent hazing lawsuits | Physical and psychological abuse |
These organizations have paid millions in settlements—but the abuse continues. We’re putting them on notice in Deschutes County.
📞 Deschutes County Hazing Victims: Call Us Before It’s Too Late
Time is running out. If your child was hazed at a university near Deschutes County, you have legal rights—but you must act fast.
🚨 Contact Attorney 911 Now:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Free, confidential consultation – no obligation.
We work on contingency – you pay nothing unless we win.
🔥 Deschutes County Families: Enough Is Enough
Hazing isn’t “tradition.” It’s not “brotherhood.” It’s not “team bonding.”
It’s abuse. It’s assault. And it’s illegal.
If your child was hazed at the University of Oregon, Oregon State, or any school near Deschutes County, we will fight for you like we’re fighting for our UH client right now.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today. Justice starts now.