🛡️ Hazing Legal Emergency: Your Rights in Dickinson County, Michigan

If your child has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or any student organization in Dickinson County, Michigan, you are not powerless. You have legal rights. And we are here to fight for you.

At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—proving that fraternities and universities can and will be held accountable for the abuse they allow. The same legal strategies we’re using in Texas apply to Dickinson County, Michigan families.

This comprehensive guide explains:

• What constitutes hazing under Michigan law
• Who can be held legally responsible
• What damages Dickinson County families can recover
• How to preserve evidence
• Why you need an attorney now

🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Dickinson County, Michigan

Hazing is not “tradition.” It is not “team bonding.” It is abuse, assault, and reckless endangerment—and it happens right here in Dickinson County.

Why Dickinson County Parents Need to Be Concerned

Dickinson County is home to Northern Michigan University (NMU), located in nearby Marquette. NMU has an active Greek life system with multiple fraternities and sororities. While we have no documented hazing incidents at NMU in our records, the national fraternities and sororities operating in Dickinson County have a long history of hazing across the country, including:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) – Multiple hazing deaths, including Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, 2021) and David Bogenberger (Northern Illinois, 2012)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) – Hazing deaths and serious injuries, including chemical burns at Texas A&M
• Pi Kappa Phi – The fraternity we’re currently suing for waterboarding and hospitalizing a student
• Kappa Sigma – Multiple hazing deaths, including a $12.6 million jury verdict
• Beta Theta Pi – Timothy Piazza’s death at Penn State (2017) resulted in a $110+ million settlement

These are the same Greek letters on Dickinson County campuses. The same national organizations that have paid millions in settlements operate right here in the Upper Peninsula.

Hazing Doesn’t Just Happen in Greek Life

Hazing is not limited to fraternities and sororities. In Dickinson County and across Michigan, hazing occurs in:

• Sports teams (football, hockey, basketball, etc.)
• Marching bands
• ROTC programs
• Student clubs and organizations
• Honor societies

If your child has been injured or traumatized by hazing in Dickinson County, you have legal options—no matter where the abuse occurred.

⚖️ Michigan Hazing Laws: What Families Need to Know

Michigan has strong anti-hazing laws that protect students in Dickinson County and across the state.

Michigan Compiled Laws § 750.411t – Hazing

(1) A person shall not intentionally or recklessly commit an act of hazing against a student.

(2) As used in this section, “hazing” means an intentional, knowing, or reckless act by a person acting alone or acting with others that is directed against a student and that the person knew or should have known endangers the physical health or safety of the student, and that is done for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, participating in, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization.

This definition includes:

• Physical abuse (beatings, paddling, forced exercise)
• Forced consumption of alcohol, food, or non-food substances
• Sleep deprivation
• Psychological abuse or humiliation
• Sexual assault or harassment
• Any activity that endangers physical or mental health

Criminal Penalties in Michigan

Important: Michigan law does not allow consent as a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says consent does not matter.

Civil Liability: Who Can Be Sued in Dickinson County?

Hazing cases are not just criminal matters—they are also civil lawsuits where Dickinson County families can recover financial compensation. In Michigan, the following parties can be held liable:

1. The Organization (Fraternity, Sorority, Sports Team, etc.)

• Local chapter – Directly responsible for hazing activities
• National organization – Failed to supervise; knew or should have known about hazing culture
• Alumni associations – May have facilitated or enabled hazing

2. The University or College

• Premises liability – If hazing occurred on university property
• Negligent supervision – Failed to monitor Greek life or student organizations
• Institutional knowledge – If the university knew about prior hazing incidents and did nothing

Northern Michigan University (NMU) has a duty to protect students. If they failed in that duty, they can be held legally responsible.

3. Individual Perpetrators

• Chapter officers (president, pledge master, risk manager)
• Active members who participated in hazing
• Former members who hosted hazing events
• Coaches, advisors, or staff who knew and did nothing

These individuals can be sued personally—meaning their assets (and often their parents’ homeowner’s insurance) can be used to pay damages.

4. Property Owners

• Fraternity/sorority house corporations – Own the property where hazing occurred
• Landlords – If hazing occurred in off-campus housing
• Homeowners – If hazing occurred at a private residence

💰 What Damages Can Dickinson County Families Recover?

Hazing causes physical, emotional, and financial harm. Dickinson County families can pursue compensation for:

Economic Damages (Financial Losses)

Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)

Punitive Damages (Punishment for Egregious Conduct)

Michigan allows punitive damages in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

Examples of conduct that may warrant punitive damages:

• Waterboarding or simulated drowning (as in our Pi Kappa Phi case)
• Forced consumption of dangerous substances (alcohol poisoning, drugs)
• Extreme physical abuse (paddling, beatings, branding)
• Sexual assault or harassment
• Cover-up attempts (destroying evidence, intimidating witnesses)

Punitive damages are designed to punish the defendants and deter future hazing.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Has Been Hazed in Dickinson County

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get a medical evaluation
• Document everything – Medical records are critical evidence
• For psychological trauma, seek counseling or therapy

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING. Evidence is crucial for building your case.

WARNING: Do not confront the organization or post about the incident on social media. Anything you say or post can be used against you.

Step 3: Report the Incident

• To the university (NMU Title IX office or student affairs)
• To local law enforcement (file a police report)
• To the national organization (if applicable)

Note: Reporting to the university or police does not prevent you from filing a lawsuit.

Step 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately

• Time is critical – Michigan has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases, but evidence disappears quickly
• Do not give statements to the organization, university, or insurance companies without legal counsel
• We offer free consultations – Call 1-888-ATTY-911 or email ralph@atty911.com

🎯 Why Dickinson County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We Are Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Case

• We are actively fighting Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for waterboarding and hospitalizing a student
• This is not theoretical—we are in the courtroom right now
• The same legal strategies apply to Dickinson County families

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook

• Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena both worked for insurance companies before switching sides
• We know exactly how they try to minimize or deny claims
• We use that insider knowledge to maximize your recovery

3. Nationwide Reach – We Serve Dickinson County Families

• Based in Texas, but we travel to Dickinson County for depositions, trials, and client meetings
• Federal court authority – Can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction
• Dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) – Strategic advantage for national fraternity cases

4. Aggressive, Compassionate Representation

• We don’t back down from powerful institutions
• We treat Dickinson County families like family
• We fight for maximum compensation – no lowball settlements

5. No Upfront Costs – You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

• Contingency fee basis – We only get paid if you win
• No hourly fees – You don’t pay us by the hour
• No financial risk – If we don’t win, you owe us nothing

🔍 Case Study: Our $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit – What This Means for Dickinson County

The Incident (Fall 2025, University of Houston)

• Victim: Leonel Bermudez (a “ghost rush” – not even enrolled at UH yet)
• Fraternity: Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu chapter)
• Hazing activities:
  • Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
  • Forced to do 500 squats, 100+ pushups until he collapsed
  • Struck with wooden paddles
  • Forced to eat until vomiting, then forced to keep running
  • Hog-tied on a table with an object in his mouth (another pledge)
  • Lost consciousness during workout (another pledge collapsed)
• Result: Hospitalized for 3 nights, 4 days with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure

The Lawsuit ($10 Million Filed November 21, 2025)

• Defendants:
  • Pi Kappa Phi National
  • Beta Nu Chapter
  • University of Houston (owned the fraternity house)
  • UH Board of Regents
  • Fraternity president, pledgemaster, and members
  • Former members and their spouses (hazing occurred at their home)
• Media coverage: ABC13, KHOU 11, Houston Chronicle, Houston Public Media

Why This Matters for Dickinson County Families

1. Same fraternities operate in Dickinson County – Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Pike, and others have chapters near NMU
2. Universities have the same liability – NMU has a duty to protect students from hazing
3. Pattern of negligence – Pi Kappa Phi had a prior hazing death (Andrew Coffey, 2017) and did nothing
4. Multi-million dollar settlements are possible – Our case follows Stone Foltz ($10.1M) and Maxwell Gruver ($6.1M)
5. We know how to win – We are actively litigating this case right now

❓ Frequently Asked Questions for Dickinson County Families

Q: My child was hazed but doesn’t want to report it. What should I do?

A: We understand the fear of retaliation. However:

• Evidence disappears quickly – The longer you wait, the harder it is to build a case
• Michigan’s statute of limitations – You have 3 years to file a lawsuit, but don’t wait
• Confidentiality – We can protect your child’s identity during the legal process
• Prevent future victims – Reporting can stop the same abuse from happening to others

Q: The fraternity says my child “consented” to hazing. Is that a defense?

A: No. Michigan law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child “agreed” to participate:

• Peer pressure and coercion negate true consent
• Fear of retaliation (being kicked out, social ostracism) creates duress
• The law says consent doesn’t matter – hazing is illegal regardless

Q: Can we sue the university even if the hazing happened off-campus?

A: Yes. Universities can be held liable for:

• Failing to supervise Greek life or student organizations
• Ignoring prior hazing incidents (if they knew or should have known)
• Allowing a culture of hazing to exist on campus
• Failing to enforce their own anti-hazing policies

Q: What if my child was hazed at a different school (not NMU)?

A: We can still help. We represent hazing victims nationwide, including:

• Michigan Technological University (Houghton)
• Lake Superior State University (Sault Ste. Marie)
• Any college or university in Michigan or across the country

Q: How much is our case worth?

Every case is unique, but hazing cases often result in substantial settlements or verdicts, including:

• $10.1 million (Stone Foltz, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021)
• $6.1 million (Maxwell Gruver, Phi Delta Theta, 2017)
• $110+ million (Timothy Piazza, Beta Theta Pi, 2017)

Factors that increase case value:

• Severity of injuries (hospitalization, permanent damage)
• Egregious conduct (waterboarding, sexual assault, extreme physical abuse)
• Pattern of hazing (prior incidents at the same chapter)
• Institutional knowledge (university or nationals knew and did nothing)
• Cover-up attempts (destroying evidence, intimidating witnesses)

Q: How long will the legal process take?

• Minor injuries, clear liability: 6-12 months
• Moderate injuries, single defendant: 12-18 months
• Severe injuries, multiple defendants: 18-36 months
• Wrongful death or complex cases: 2-4 years

We work to resolve cases as quickly as possible, but we will not rush if it means accepting a lowball settlement.

Q: What if the organization offers us money to stay quiet?

Do not accept any settlement without consulting an attorney. Insurance companies and fraternities often:

• Offer lowball settlements immediately after the incident
• Require you to sign away your rights to future compensation
• Try to keep the case quiet to avoid public scrutiny

We negotiate for maximum compensation—not whatever the organization offers first.

📢 To Fraternities and Universities in Dickinson County: We Are Watching

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, Beta Theta Pi, and all other Greek organizations with chapters near Dickinson County:

We are actively litigating a hazing case against Pi Kappa Phi right now. We know your playbook. We know your insurance policies. We know your national organizations have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries.

If you haze students in Dickinson County, we will find you. We will sue you. And we will win.

To Northern Michigan University and other Dickinson County institutions:

You have a legal and moral duty to protect your students. If you fail in that duty, you will be held accountable—just like the University of Houston is being held accountable in our current case.

The message is clear: Hazing will not be tolerated. The era of silence is over.

📞 Dickinson County Families: Call Now for a Free Consultation

If your child has been hazed in Dickinson County, you are not alone. We are here to help.

Contact Attorney 911 Today:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

Free, confidential consultation – We’ll evaluate your case and explain your legal options.

No upfront costs – You pay nothing unless we win.

We travel to Dickinson County – For depositions, trials, and client meetings.

🛡️ Final Message to Dickinson County Parents

Your child trusted these people. They trusted the fraternity. They trusted the university. They trusted that these institutions would keep them safe.

That trust was betrayed.

We understand the anger. We understand the fear. We understand the desire for justice.

You don’t have to fight this alone. We are here to stand with you, to fight for you, and to make sure that what happened to your child never happens to another Dickinson County family.

Call us today. The first step is free. The fight for justice starts now.

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Serving Dickinson County, Michigan and nationwide.
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