Hazing Lawyers in Garfield County, Nebraska – Protecting Students from Abuse
Garfield County Parents: Your Child’s Safety Matters More Than “Tradition”
If your son or daughter was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or student organization in Garfield County, Nebraska, you’re not alone. The same brutal rituals that hospitalized a student at the University of Houston—waterboarding, forced exercise until collapse, paddling, and psychological torture—are happening right here in Nebraska.
At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this battle right now—and we’re bringing the same aggressive legal firepower to Garfield County families. You don’t have to accept “boys will be boys” as an excuse. Hazing is abuse. It’s illegal. And it must stop.
🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Garfield County: What Every Parent Needs to Know
1. Hazing Doesn’t Just Happen at Big Universities—It Happens Here
Garfield County may be small, but hazing culture doesn’t respect county lines. Whether your child attends:
- Nearby community colleges (e.g., Mid-Plains Community College, Northeast Community College)
- State universities (University of Nebraska, Chadron State College, Wayne State College)
- Private institutions (Doane University, Hastings College)
- High school sports or clubs (yes, hazing happens in Nebraska high schools too)
The same national fraternities that paid $10+ million in hazing lawsuits have chapters near Garfield County. If your child was hazed, they could be next.
2. Hazing Isn’t “Harmless Fun”—It’s Dangerous and Illegal
Under Nebraska law (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-311.08), hazing is a Class II misdemeanor, punishable by:
- Up to 6 months in jail
- Fines up to $1,000
- Criminal charges for individuals and organizations
But civil lawsuits go further—holding universities, fraternities, and individuals financially accountable for:
✅ Medical bills (hospitalization, therapy, long-term care)
✅ Pain and suffering (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
✅ Punitive damages (to punish egregious conduct)
✅ Wrongful death (if hazing leads to tragedy)
Our client in Houston was hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure after being waterboarded and forced to do 500 squats. This wasn’t an accident—it was preventable abuse.
💔 What Hazing Looks Like in Garfield County (And How to Recognize It)
Hazing isn’t always obvious. It often starts with “harmless” tasks that escalate into physical and psychological torture. Here’s what to watch for:
🔥 Common Hazing Practices in Nebraska
| Category | Examples | Dangers |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Abuse | Paddling, beating, branding, forced exercise until exhaustion | Broken bones, rhabdomyolysis (kidney failure), concussions |
| Forced Consumption | Alcohol poisoning, eating until vomiting, drinking non-food substances | Alcohol poisoning, choking, organ damage |
| Psychological Torture | Waterboarding, sleep deprivation, isolation, verbal abuse | PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicide risk |
| Sexual Humiliation | Forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, degrading acts | Trauma, long-term psychological harm |
| Servitude | Forced cleaning, running errands, late-night driving | Exhaustion, car accidents, missed classes |
| Dangerous “Initiations” | Blindfolded activities, extreme weather exposure, confined spaces | Hypothermia, heatstroke, suffocation |
🚩 Warning Signs Your Child Is Being Hazed
- Sudden secrecy about their activities
- Unexplained injuries (bruises, cuts, exhaustion)
- Withdrawal from friends/family
- Declining grades or skipping classes
- Fear of certain people or places
- Talking about “traditions” or “tests” they can’t describe
- Carrying strange objects (e.g., fanny packs with sexual items, as in our Houston case)
If you notice these signs, ACT NOW. Evidence disappears quickly, and Nebraska’s 2-year statute of limitations means you have limited time to seek justice.
⚖️ Who Is Liable for Hazing in Garfield County?
When hazing happens, everyone involved can be held accountable—not just the students doing it.
🎯 Who We Sue in Nebraska Hazing Cases
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Example from Our Case |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Pi Kappa Phi at UH: waterboarded pledges, forced 500 squats |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise, ignored prior incidents | Pi Kappa Phi knew about Andrew Coffey’s death (2017) but did nothing |
| University/College | Owned the property, failed to prevent hazing | UH owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred |
| Chapter Officers | Directed hazing activities | Fraternity president, pledgemaster |
| Individual Members | Participated in or enabled hazing | Current and former members who abused pledges |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their homes | Former member’s spouse named in our lawsuit |
| Coaches/Advisors | Failed to supervise (for sports teams/clubs) | High school coaches ignoring hazing rituals |
In our Houston case, we’re suing 10+ defendants—including the university that owned the fraternity house. The same legal strategy applies in Garfield County.
💰 How Much Is a Garfield County Hazing Case Worth?
Hazing lawsuits have resulted in millions of dollars in compensation for victims and families. Here’s what similar cases have recovered:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Injury | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | Death (alcohol poisoning) | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver | LSU | Phi Delta Theta | Death (alcohol poisoning) | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | Death (traumatic brain injury) | $110+ million |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Death (alcohol poisoning) | Confidential settlement |
| Our Client | University of Houston | Pi Kappa Phi | Rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure | $10 million lawsuit pending |
What Garfield County Families Can Recover
| Damage Type | What It Covers | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Bills | Hospital stays, ER visits, therapy, future care | $50,000–$500,000+ |
| Lost Wages | Missed work, future earning potential | $10,000–$100,000+ |
| Pain & Suffering | Physical and emotional trauma | $100,000–$3,000,000+ |
| Punitive Damages | Punishment for egregious conduct | $500,000–$2,000,000+ per defendant |
| Wrongful Death | If hazing leads to fatality | $1,000,000–$10,000,000+ |
Garfield County families: You don’t have to accept a lowball offer from the fraternity or university. We fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
🛡️ What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Garfield County
✅ Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked. Rhabdomyolysis, concussions, and internal injuries can be life-threatening.
- Document everything. Save medical records, photos of injuries, and witness statements.
✅ Step 2: Preserve Evidence
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, emails).
- Take screenshots of social media posts about hazing.
- Write down names of witnesses, members, and leaders involved.
- 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. Their lawyers will pressure you to sign documents or give statements.
- They will offer a low settlement early. Insurance companies want to pay as little as possible.
- Anything you say can be used against you.
✅ Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
We offer:
✔ Free, confidential consultations for Garfield County families
✔ No upfront costs—we only get paid if we win
✔ Aggressive representation against universities and fraternities
✔ Experience with Nebraska hazing laws and federal civil rights claims
🚫 What NOT to Do After Hazing
| ❌ Don’t Do This | ✅ Do This Instead |
|---|---|
| Delete text messages or social media posts | Save everything—screenshots, videos, photos |
| Confront the fraternity alone | Let us handle communications—they’ll try to intimidate you |
| Sign anything from the university or fraternity | Have us review all documents first—they may waive your rights |
| Post about the incident online | Stay silent on social media—defense will use it against you |
| Wait to take action | Call us NOW—Nebraska’s statute of limitations is ticking |
🏆 Why Garfield County Families Choose Attorney 911
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.
- Our client was hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure after being waterboarded and forced to do 500 squats.
- The same fraternities operate near Garfield County. We know how to hold them accountable.
2. We Know How to Beat the “Consent” Defense
Fraternities will argue: “He agreed to participate. It’s just tradition.”
Nebraska law says consent is NOT a defense.
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-311.08 makes hazing illegal regardless of consent.
- Universities and fraternities are still liable even if your child “volunteered.”
3. We Have Insider Knowledge
- Ralph Manginello is a former insurance defense attorney—he knows how they’ll fight your claim.
- Lupe Pena worked at a national defense firm—he knows their tactics.
- Together, they dismantle fraternity defenses and maximize your compensation.
4. We Serve Garfield County Families—No Matter Where You Are
- Headquartered in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, but we travel to Garfield County for depositions, meetings, and trials.
- Video consultations available—you don’t have to come to Texas.
- We handle cases nationwide—if your child was hazed in Nebraska, we can help.
5. No Upfront Costs—We Only Get Paid If You Win
- $0 out of pocket. We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we recover compensation.
- No hidden fees. Our fee comes from your settlement, not your pocket.
- We take the risk. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.
📞 Garfield County Families: Call Now Before It’s Too Late
Hazing victims in Garfield County have rights. But you must act fast.
📅 Nebraska’s 2-year statute of limitations means you have limited time to file a claim.
🔍 Evidence disappears quickly—texts get deleted, witnesses forget, fraternities cover their tracks.
💔 The longer you wait, the harder it is to hold them accountable.
🚨 Call Attorney 911 Now
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We fight for Garfield County families. We win for hazing victims. And we won’t stop until justice is served.
📢 A Message to Fraternities in Garfield County
To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and every other fraternity with chapters near Garfield County:
We are watching.
The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.
If you haze students in Nebraska, we will find every liable entity—your chapter, your nationals, your university, and your individual members.
The Beta Nu chapter at UH was shut down after our lawsuit. Your chapter could be next.
Clean up your act before we clean you out in court.
🏛️ A Message to Nebraska Universities & Colleges
To the University of Nebraska, Chadron State College, Wayne State College, Mid-Plains Community College, and every other institution near Garfield County:
You own the property. You control the organizations. You have the power to stop hazing.
If you fail to protect students, you will be held accountable—just like the University of Houston.
The time for empty statements is over. The time for real action is now.
🔥 Enough Is Enough. It’s Time to End Hazing in Nebraska.
Garfield County families: You don’t have to accept abuse as “tradition.” Your child deserves justice.
Call Attorney 911 today.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
We fight for you. We win for you. And we won’t stop until hazing is stopped for good.
