🚨 Hazing Victims in Jefferson County, Idaho: You Are Not Alone
If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or student organization in Jefferson County, we can help.
At Attorney 911, we are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with kidney failure from extreme hazing. This same fraternity has chapters near Jefferson County, and the same dangerous culture exists at institutions across Idaho.
You have legal rights. We can help you enforce them.
📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911
Free, confidential consultation for Jefferson County families
🔥 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Jefferson County
In November 2025, our client Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after being hazed at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Houston.
The Hazing Activities That Hospitalized Our Client:
- 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 milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting
- Forced to continue exercising while in physical distress after vomiting
- Forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass
- Another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
- A pledge lost consciousness and collapsed during a workout
This isn’t “tradition.” This isn’t “brotherhood.” This is torture.
⚠️ Hazing Happens in Jefferson County Too
Jefferson County is home to Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-Idaho) in Rexburg — a major university with active Greek life. Many students from Jefferson County attend colleges and universities across Idaho and the nation where hazing occurs.
The same national fraternities and sororities that have chapters at BYU-Idaho and other Idaho institutions also have chapters where hazing deaths and hospitalizations have occurred:
| Fraternity | Hazing Incident | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Pi Kappa Alpha | Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State (2021) | $10.1 million settlement |
| Pi Kappa Phi | Andrew Coffey, Florida State (2017) | Death; chapter closed |
| Pi Kappa Phi | Leonel Bermudez, University of Houston (2025) | $10 million lawsuit pending |
| Phi Delta Theta | Maxwell Gruver, LSU (2017) | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Beta Theta Pi | Timothy Piazza, Penn State (2017) | $110+ million settlement |
These same organizations operate chapters near Jefferson County. If they hazed students in Houston, they’re hazing students in Idaho.
💔 Why Jefferson County Families Need Legal Help After Hazing
Hazing doesn’t just cause physical injuries. It causes:
- Physical harm — broken bones, burns, rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, traumatic brain injury
- Psychological trauma — PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts
- Academic disruption — missed classes, failed courses, delayed graduation
- Financial burden — medical bills, therapy costs, lost wages
- Long-term health consequences — chronic kidney disease, permanent disability
Many hazing victims don’t come forward because:
- They’re ashamed or embarrassed
- They fear retaliation from the organization
- They don’t realize what happened to them was illegal
- They think “it’s just part of the process”
- They’re pressured to stay silent
You don’t have to stay silent. We’re here to help.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Jefferson County Hazing Victim
Idaho Has Strong Anti-Hazing Laws
Idaho Code § 18-917 defines hazing as:
“Any activity which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any student organization.”
Hazing is a crime in Idaho:
- Misdemeanor for most hazing
- Felony if hazing causes serious bodily injury or death
Consent is not a defense. Even if a student “agreed” to participate, the organization and individuals can still be held liable.
You Can Sue for Compensation
Jefferson County hazing victims may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills (past, present, and future)
- Lost wages (if you missed work or lost job opportunities)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
- Punitive damages (to punish the organization for egregious conduct)
- Educational disruption (tuition, scholarships lost)
- Therapy and counseling costs
You don’t have to prove criminal wrongdoing to win a civil lawsuit. You only need to show that the organization was negligent and that their negligence caused your injuries.
🏛️ Who Can Be Held Liable for Hazing in Jefferson County?
In our current case, we’re suing everyone involved — and we’ll do the same for Jefferson County families:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing activities |
| Chapter officers | Leadership responsibility; directed hazing |
| Individual members | Participated in hazing; failed to stop it |
| National organization | Failed to supervise local chapter; knew about hazing culture |
| University/college | Failed to protect students; knew or should have known about hazing |
| Housing corporation | Owned/controlled property where hazing occurred |
| Alumni/former members | Hosted hazing at their homes; premises liability |
The national organizations have deep pockets and insurance policies. We know how to pursue them.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Jefferson County
IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS:
- Seek medical attention immediately — even if injuries seem minor
- Document everything — take photos of injuries, save all communications
- Preserve evidence — texts, social media, photos, videos, witness names
- Do NOT talk to the organization or their lawyers — they will try to get you to say things that hurt your case
- Do NOT post about it on social media — anything you post can be used against you
- Contact Attorney 911 immediately — 1-888-ATTY-911
EVIDENCE TO PRESERVE:
| Evidence Type | What to Save |
|---|---|
| Medical records | Hospital records, doctor notes, therapy records |
| Photos/videos | Injuries at all stages, hazing activities, locations |
| Communications | Text messages, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, emails |
| Witness information | Names and contact info of other victims or witnesses |
| Financial records | Medical bills, lost wages, tuition payments |
| Academic records | Impact on grades, enrollment, scholarships |
Do NOT delete anything — even if it seems embarrassing or unimportant.
⏳ Don’t Wait — The Clock Is Ticking
Idaho Statute of Limitations:
- Personal injury: 2 years from date of injury
- Wrongful death: 2 years from date of death
If you don’t file a lawsuit before the deadline, you lose your right to sue forever.
Evidence disappears over time:
- Texts get deleted
- Witnesses forget
- Organizations destroy records
- Security footage gets erased
The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can preserve evidence and protect your rights.
💼 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Jefferson County Hazing Case?
We Are Currently Fighting This Battle — And Winning
We are actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to build these cases. We know how to win. Jefferson County families get the same aggressive representation we’re bringing to Houston.
Our Experience:
| Experience | Application to Hazing Cases |
|---|---|
| 25+ years of litigation | Battle-tested trial attorneys |
| Former insurance defense attorneys | We know how insurance companies think and how to defeat their tactics |
| Federal court admission | Can pursue cases in federal court if needed |
| Dual-state bar licenses (Texas & New York) | Strategic advantage for cases involving national organizations |
| BP Texas City explosion litigation | Experience with complex, high-stakes cases against large institutions |
| Rhabdomyolysis case experience | Specific medical knowledge of this hazing-related injury |
| Kappa Sigma fraternity litigation | Experience with Greek life hazing cases |
| Federal civil rights litigation | Can pursue claims for institutional cover-ups and retaliation |
We Understand the Culture
Ralph Manginello is a former college athlete and youth sports coach. He understands:
- Team dynamics
- Locker room culture
- The pressures that lead to hazing
- Why institutions fail to stop it
We don’t just understand the law. We understand the culture that allows hazing to happen.
We Care About Our Clients
Jefferson County families are not just cases to us. You are people who have been wronged, and we will fight for you.
We’ve seen what hazing does to students and families. We’ve seen the physical injuries. We’ve seen the psychological trauma. We’ve seen the academic disruption. We are committed to holding these institutions accountable.
🌐 We Serve Jefferson County Families Nationwide
While we are based in Texas, we represent hazing victims across America, including Jefferson County, Idaho.
How we serve Jefferson County families:
- Free initial consultation — by phone or video
- Video depositions — no need to travel to Texas
- Travel to Idaho — we come to Jefferson County for meetings, depositions, and trials
- Federal court authority — can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction
- Contingency fee representation — $0 upfront; we only get paid if you win
Distance is not a barrier to justice. We will fight for Jefferson County families no matter where the hazing occurred.
📞 Contact Attorney 911 Today
If your child was hazed in Jefferson County or anywhere in Idaho, call us now.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
Available 24/7 for Jefferson County hazing emergencies
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
We work on contingency — $0 upfront for Jefferson County families. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
🔥 Together, We Can Stop Hazing in Jefferson County
Every time a hazing victim comes forward, it:
- Protects the next student
- Forces institutions to change
- Saves lives
Your case can make a difference for Jefferson County families.
You are not alone. We are here to help.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today.
