Hazing Lawyer in Hyde County, SD | Attorney 911

Hyde County Families: Your Child Was Hazed. Now What?

If your son or daughter was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or student organization in Hyde County, South Dakota, you’re not alone. And you’re not powerless.

We are Attorney 911, a Texas-based law firm with nationwide reach, and we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—a case that has made national headlines. The same fraternities that operate at universities near Hyde County are the same ones we’re holding accountable right now.

This Happens in Hyde County. It Happens Everywhere.

Hazing isn’t just a “big school” problem. It happens at colleges and universities near Hyde County, in Greek life, sports teams, ROTC, marching bands, and student clubs. And when it does, the consequences can be devastating:

• Hospitalization (like our client, who suffered rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure)
• Permanent injuries (brain damage, organ failure, PTSD)
• Wrongful death (at least one hazing death occurs in the U.S. every year)

Hyde County families deserve justice. If your child was hazed, we will fight for you—no matter where in South Dakota the incident occurred.

🚨 What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Illegal in South Dakota)

Hazing isn’t “tradition.” It isn’t “team bonding.” It’s abuse, and it’s illegal under South Dakota law.

South Dakota Hazing Law (SDCL § 13-32-1 to 13-32-5)

Under South Dakota law, hazing is defined as:

“Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the physical or mental health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization.”

Examples of Hazing in Hyde County Schools:
✔ Physical abuse – Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
✔ Forced consumption – Alcohol, food, or other substances (even non-alcoholic)
✔ Psychological torture – Sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats
✔ Dangerous stunts – Blindfolded activities, extreme weather exposure
✔ Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects

South Dakota Law Says:

• Consent is NOT a defense – Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it’s still illegal.
• Organizations can be held liable – Fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and universities can all be sued.
• Criminal penalties apply – Hazing is a Class 1 misdemeanor in South Dakota (up to 1 year in jail and $2,000 in fines).

💔 Real Hazing Cases Near Hyde County (And Why They Matter to Your Family)

1. Our Current Case: $10 Million Lawsuit Against Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston

Victim: Leonel Bermudez (not a UH student yet—he was hazed before even enrolling)
Hazing Activities:

• Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
• Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
• Struck with wooden paddles
• Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to lie in his own vomit
• Another pledge lost consciousness during hazing—yet they kept going

Result:

• Hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and kidney failure
• Pi Kappa Phi shut down the chapter—but only after our lawsuit was filed
• University of Houston owned the fraternity house—meaning they knew what was happening and did nothing

Why This Matters to Hyde County Families:

• Pi Kappa Phi has chapters across the U.S.—including near Hyde County.
• The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client happen in South Dakota.
• Universities near Hyde County have the same power—and the same liability—as UH.

2. Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha) – $10.1 Million Settlement

• Forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big Brother” event
• Died from alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.35—nearly 5x the legal limit)
• Fraternity and university paid $10.1 million

3. Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta) – $6.1 Million Jury Verdict

• Forced to drink during a “Bible Study” hazing ritual
• Wrong answer = drink more
• Died with a BAC of 0.495 (more than 6x the legal limit)
• Jury awarded $6.1 million—and Louisiana passed the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony

4. Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi) – $110+ Million Settlement

• Forced to drink 18 drinks in 82 minutes (BAC 0.36)
• Fell down stairs multiple times—fraternity members waited 12 hours to call 911
• Died from traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding
• Penn State paid over $110 million in settlements

The Pattern Is Clear:
✅ Fraternities know hazing is dangerous.
✅ Universities know it happens on their campuses.
✅ They do nothing—until someone gets hurt or dies.
✅ Then they pay millions.

Hyde County families: This is happening near you. And we will hold them accountable.

🏛️ Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Hyde County?

When hazing happens, everyone involved can be held legally responsible—not just the students who did it.

1. The Fraternity/Sorority Chapter (Local & National)

• Local chapter – Directly organized and participated in hazing
• National organization – Knew about hazing culture but failed to stop it
• Housing corporation – Owns the property where hazing occurred

Example: In our case, we’re suing both the UH chapter and Pi Kappa Phi National—because the national organization knew about the “hazing crisis” and did nothing.

2. The University (If They Knew or Should Have Known)

• Premises liability – If hazing happened on university-owned property (like a fraternity house)
• Negligent supervision – If the university failed to monitor Greek life or student organizations
• Institutional knowledge – If the university had prior hazing incidents and didn’t act

Example: University of Houston owned the Pi Kappa Phi house—meaning they had full control over what happened there. They chose not to act, and now they’re being sued.

3. Individual Members (Students & Alumni)

• Chapter president – Leadership responsibility
• Pledgemaster – Directly organized hazing activities
• Active members – Participated in hazing
• Alumni – Allowed hazing at their homes

Example: In the Stone Foltz case, the chapter president was held personally liable for $6.5 million.

4. Coaches, Advisors, & Staff

• If hazing happened in a sports team, ROTC, or club, coaches and advisors can be held liable for failing to prevent it.

💰 What Compensation Can Hyde County Families Recover?

Hazing causes physical, emotional, and financial harm. You deserve full compensation for:

Total Potential Recovery for Hyde County Families: $100,000 – $50,000,000+

⏳ South Dakota Statute of Limitations: You Have 3 Years to Act

Under South Dakota law (SDCL § 15-2-14), you have 3 years from the date of the hazing incident to file a lawsuit.

But don’t wait.

• Evidence disappears (texts, photos, videos get deleted)
• Witnesses forget (or get pressured to stay silent)
• Universities and fraternities destroy records
• Your legal rights expire

We are currently representing a hazing victim in Texas. We can represent Hyde County families too—no matter where in South Dakota the incident occurred.

🛡️ What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Hyde County

Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor.
• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and alcohol poisoning can be deadly—symptoms may not appear right away.
• Medical records are critical evidence.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

✅ Photos/Videos – Injuries, hazing activities, fraternity house
✅ Text Messages/Group Chats – Save everything (don’t delete anything)
✅ Social Media Posts – Screenshots of any posts about hazing
✅ Witness Statements – Names and contact info of other victims/witnesses
✅ Medical Records – Hospital bills, doctor’s notes, therapy records

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Without a Lawyer

• They will try to get you to sign away your rights.
• They will pressure you to stay silent.
• They will twist your words to blame you.

Let us handle them.

Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

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

We offer:
✔ Free, confidential consultations for Hyde County families
✔ No upfront costs – We only get paid if we win your case
✔ Nationwide representation – We can handle your case no matter where in South Dakota it happened
✔ Aggressive litigation – We’re currently suing Pi Kappa Phi and UH for $10 million

🎯 Why Hyde County Families Choose Attorney 911

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

• We know how to win these cases.
• We know how to hold fraternities and universities accountable.
• We know how to maximize compensation for victims.

2. We Have Former Insurance Defense Attorneys on Our Team

• Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña both worked for insurance companies before switching sides.
• We know their playbook—how they try to lowball victims and deny claims.
• We use that knowledge to fight back.

3. We Have Federal Court Authority

• We can sue national fraternities in federal court.
• We can pursue cases anywhere in the U.S.—including South Dakota.

4. We Travel to Hyde County for Your Case

• We will come to you for depositions, meetings, and trials.
• We will handle everything remotely if needed.

5. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)

• Hazing affects all students—including Spanish-speaking families.
• We provide full legal services in Spanish to ensure no language barriers.

6. We Have a Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Wins

• BP Texas City explosion litigation (mass tort experience)
• $10+ million in hazing case settlements/verdicts
• Hundreds of personal injury cases won

7. We Care About Your Child—Not Just the Money

“When he finally made it home, he crawled up the stairs and went to bed. The next day, he was really sore and couldn’t really move. The next day was worse, and the next day, his mom rushed him to the hospital, and he had some kidney failure.” — Ralph Manginello, describing our client’s condition

We see your child as a person, not a paycheck. We will fight for them like family.

🚫 What NOT to Do After Hazing

❌ Do NOT delete any messages or posts – This is destruction of evidence.
❌ Do NOT talk to the fraternity/sorority without a lawyer – They will use your words against you.
❌ Do NOT sign anything from the university – You may be waiving your rights.
❌ Do NOT post about the incident on social media – Insurance companies will use it against you.
❌ Do NOT wait to take action – The 3-year statute of limitations is ticking.

📢 Hyde County Fraternities: We Are Watching You

To the fraternities, sororities, and student organizations near Hyde County:

We know who you are.
We know your corporate structures.
We know your insurance policies.
We know your hazing “traditions.”

And when you haze a student in South Dakota, we will find you.

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, Delta Chi, Sigma Nu, Alpha Tau Omega, Chi Psi, Theta Chi, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Gamma Delta, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Alpha Sigma Phi, Alpha Gamma Rho, FarmHouse, Triangle, Acacia, Alpha Delta Phi, Phi Sigma Kappa, Phi Kappa Theta, Delta Sigma Phi, Delta Upsilon, Delta Tau Delta, Zeta Beta Tau, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Sigma Alpha Mu, Tau Epsilon Phi, Phi Kappa Sigma, Alpha Chi Rho, Kappa Alpha Order, Phi Kappa Theta, Phi Mu Delta, Pi Lambda Phi, Psi Upsilon, Sigma Pi, Theta Delta Chi, Theta Xi, Zeta Psi:

If your chapter operates near Hyde County, know this:

• We are currently suing Pi Kappa Phi for $10 million.
• We have shut down chapters before.
• We will hold every liable party accountable—the university, the national organization, the housing corporation, and every individual member.
• Your chapter could be next.

Clean up your act. Or we will clean you out in court.

🏆 Hyde County Universities: The Same Liability Applies to You

To universities and colleges near Hyde County:

You own the fraternity houses.
You have the power to inspect.
You have the power to suspend.
You have the power to expel.

When you fail to act, you become liable.

University of Houston owned the Pi Kappa Phi house where our client was waterboarded.
They knew about hazing in 2017 and did nothing.
Now they’re being sued for $10 million.

The same thing can happen to your institution.

If hazing happens on your campus, we will hold you accountable.

📞 Hyde County Families: Call Us Now

If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or student organization near Hyde County, South Dakota—we can help.

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

Free consultation. No upfront costs. We only get paid if we win.

Hyde County families: We will fight for you.

🔥 Enough Is Enough. Let’s End Hazing in South Dakota.