Hazing Victims in Edmunds County, South Dakota: Your Legal Rights & How We Can Help
🚨 Hazing Happens in Edmunds County Too — And It’s Not “Tradition,” It’s Abuse
Edmunds County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities, fraternities, and sororities to provide a positive experience. But far too often, that trust is broken.
Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “girls bonding.” It’s physical abuse. It’s psychological torture. And in too many cases, it’s deadly.
At Attorney 911, we’re currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston for what happened to Leonel Bermudez—a young man who was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure during pledge activities.
This isn’t just happening in Texas. It’s happening in South Dakota. It’s happening at universities near Edmunds County. And it could be happening to your child.
If your child has been hazed—whether in a fraternity, sorority, sports team, marching band, or any other student organization—you have legal rights. And we can help you fight back.
🔍 What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Illegal in South Dakota)
Hazing is any activity that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization. Under South Dakota law (SDCL 13-53-1), hazing is a misdemeanor, and if it causes serious injury or death, it can be a felony.
Examples of Hazing (All Illegal in South Dakota):
✅ Physical abuse – Beatings, paddling, forced exercise (like 500 squats), branding, or sleep deprivation
✅ Forced consumption – Drinking alcohol until vomiting, eating spoiled food, or consuming dangerous substances
✅ Psychological torture – Waterboarding, humiliation, threats, or isolation
✅ Sexual assault or harassment – Forced nudity, sexual acts, or carrying sexual objects
✅ Dangerous stunts – Blindfolded activities, extreme weather exposure, or risky physical challenges
South Dakota law is clear: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says that doesn’t matter—hazing is still illegal.
🏥 The Real Dangers of Hazing: What Happened to Leonel Could Happen Here
In our current case, Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized for four days with rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and kidney failure after being forced to do extreme physical exercises.
But hazing doesn’t just cause physical injuries—it can destroy lives.
Medical Consequences of Hazing:
🚑 Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) → Can lead to kidney failure (like Leonel)
🚑 Alcohol poisoning → Can cause death (like Stone Foltz at Bowling Green State)
🚑 Traumatic brain injury → From beatings or falls
🚑 Hypothermia or heatstroke → From forced exposure to extreme weather
🚑 PTSD, anxiety, and depression → Long-term psychological damage
🚑 Death → More than one hazing death per year in the U.S. since 2000
This isn’t just happening at big universities in other states. It’s happening in South Dakota. And if your child has been hazed, they could be at risk of serious harm.
💰 Who Is Liable? (Who Can You Sue?)
When hazing happens, multiple parties can be held legally responsible—not just the students involved. In our $10 million lawsuit, we’re suing:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| The local fraternity/sorority chapter | Directly organized and participated in hazing |
| The national fraternity/sorority organization | Failed to supervise, enforce anti-hazing policies, or stop known abuses |
| The university (e.g., Northern State, Aberdeen) | Failed to protect students, ignored prior hazing incidents, or owned the property where hazing occurred |
| Individual members (president, pledgemaster, etc.) | Personally directed or participated in hazing |
| Alumni or former members | Hosted hazing events at their homes |
| Insurance companies | May be required to pay damages under liability policies |
Universities near Edmunds County—like Northern State University in Aberdeen—have a legal duty to protect students. If they knew (or should have known) about hazing and failed to stop it, they can be held accountable.
📋 What Should You Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Edmunds County?
🚨 Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately
- If your child is injured, take them to the hospital or urgent care (e.g., Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen).
- Document everything—photos of injuries, medical records, hospital bills.
- Even if injuries seem minor, some conditions (like rhabdomyolysis) can worsen over time.
📱 Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Save all texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, or social media posts about hazing.
- Take screenshots of any threatening or abusive messages.
- Keep photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, or objects used in hazing.
- Write down names of witnesses, participants, and anyone who knew about it.
- Do NOT delete anything—this could be used against you later.
🚫 Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Alone
- They will try to silence your child—threatening expulsion, social ostracism, or legal consequences.
- They will try to control the narrative—downplaying the severity or blaming the victim.
- Do NOT sign anything without consulting an attorney.
- Do NOT give a recorded statement to their insurance company.
👨⚖️ Step 4: Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney Immediately
- Time is critical—South Dakota has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
- Evidence disappears fast—texts get deleted, witnesses forget details, universities destroy records.
- We offer free, confidential consultations—call 1-888-ATTY-911 or email ralph@atty911.com.
💸 How Much Is a Hazing Case Worth?
Hazing cases can result in substantial financial compensation, including:
| Type of Damage | What It Covers | Potential Value |
|---|---|---|
| Medical bills | Hospital stays, doctor visits, therapy, future treatment | $50,000–$500,000+ |
| Lost wages | Time missed from work, lost internships | $10,000–$100,000+ |
| Pain and suffering | Physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD | $100,000–$1,000,000+ |
| Punitive damages | Punishment for egregious conduct (e.g., waterboarding, forced drinking) | $500,000–$5,000,000+ |
| Wrongful death | If hazing results in death | $1,000,000–$10,000,000+ |
Recent Hazing Settlements & Verdicts (What’s Possible for Edmunds County Families):
💰 $10.1 million – Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021)
💰 $6.1 million – Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017)
💰 $110+ million – Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017)
💰 $4+ million – Adam Oakes (VCU, Delta Chi, 2021)
Our current case is seeking $10 million. If your child was hazed in Edmunds County, you could be entitled to similar compensation.
🏛️ What Universities Near Edmunds County Have Greek Life?
Edmunds County is home to Northern State University in Aberdeen, which has an active Greek system. Other nearby universities with fraternities and sororities include:
| University | Location | Greek Organizations Present |
|---|---|---|
| Northern State University | Aberdeen, SD | Multiple fraternities & sororities |
| South Dakota State University | Brookings, SD (~2.5 hrs from Edmunds County) | Large Greek system |
| University of South Dakota | Vermillion, SD (~4 hrs from Edmunds County) | Multiple chapters |
If your child was hazed at any of these schools—or any other university in South Dakota—we can help.
🔥 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Edmunds County Hazing Case?
1. We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW
- We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
- We know exactly how these cases work—from evidence preservation to settlement negotiations.
- We’ve seen firsthand what fraternities, sororities, and universities will do to avoid accountability.
2. We Have Insider Knowledge (Former Insurance Defense Attorneys)
- Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña worked for insurance companies before switching sides.
- We know how they try to minimize claims—and how to beat them at their own game.
- We’ve deposed insurance adjusters, negotiated with corporate lawyers, and won multi-million-dollar cases against institutions just like the ones hazing your child.
3. We’ll Travel to Edmunds County for Your Case
- While we’re based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide.
- We’ll come to Edmunds County for depositions, meetings, and court appearances.
- We offer video consultations so you don’t have to travel.
4. No Upfront Costs – We Work on Contingency
- You pay nothing unless we win your case.
- Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict—you keep the rest.
- This means Edmunds County families can afford top-tier legal representation without financial risk.
5. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)
- Hazing victims come from all backgrounds.
- If Spanish is your primary language, we can communicate with you in Spanish—no language barriers.
6. We Have a Proven Track Record of Winning Big Cases
- $10+ million settlements in personal injury cases
- Multi-million-dollar verdicts against major institutions
- Former insurance defense attorneys—we know how to dismantle their defenses
- Federal court admission—we can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction
📞 What to Do Next: Contact Us Immediately
If your child was hazed in Edmunds County, Aberdeen, or anywhere in South Dakota, time is critical.
✅ Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
✅ Email us at ralph@atty911.com
✅ Fill out our online contact form at attorney911.com
We offer free, confidential consultations. We’ll listen to your story, explain your legal options, and help you decide the best path forward.
🚨 Don’t Let Them Get Away With It
Fraternities, sororities, and universities count on victims staying silent. They threaten, intimidate, and manipulate students into keeping quiet.
But you don’t have to let them win.
By coming forward, you’re not just fighting for your child—you’re protecting the next student from going through the same nightmare.
Let’s hold them accountable. Together.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | 📧 ralph@atty911.com | 🌐 attorney911.com
🔒 Confidential. Aggressive. Results-Driven.
Attorney 911 – Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Edmunds County, South Dakota and Nationwide
Offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas | Federal Court Authority | Se Habla Español
