🛡️ Hazing Victims in Kanabec County: Your Legal Rights & How We Can Help

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ✉️ ralph@atty911.com | 🌐 attorney911.com

🚨 Hazing Is Happening in Kanabec County — And It’s Not What You Think

Kanabec County families: When you send your child to college, you trust the university to keep them safe. You trust that Greek organizations operate with basic standards of decency. You trust that “traditions” don’t include torture.

But right now, in Kanabec County and across Minnesota, hazing is happening — and it’s not “boys being boys.” It’s not “building character.” It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s sometimes criminal.

We know because we’re fighting it in court right now.

On November 21, 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston for what they did to a young man named Leonel Bermudez. He wasn’t even a student yet — he was a “ghost rush,” expected to transfer to UH. But they hazed him anyway.

They waterboarded him with a garden hose. They forced him to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down. They struck him with wooden paddles. They made him eat until he vomited, then forced him to keep running through his own vomit.

He ended up in the hospital with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. He spent four days fighting for his life.

This isn’t happening just in Texas. It’s happening at universities near Kanabec County. The same fraternities operate in Minnesota. The same negligence exists at Minnesota institutions. And we will fight for Kanabec County families with the same fury we’re bringing to this case.

🔍 What Counts as Hazing in Minnesota?

Minnesota law defines hazing as any act committed for the purpose of initiation, admission, or affiliation with a student organization that recklessly endangers the physical or mental health or safety of a student.

This includes:

Minnesota Statute § 121A.69 makes hazing a misdemeanor — and if it results in serious bodily harm or death, it becomes a felony.

Important: Consent is not a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, Minnesota law says consent does not matter.

🏛️ Who Is Liable for Hazing in Kanabec County?

When hazing happens, multiple parties can be held legally and financially responsible. In our $10 million lawsuit, we’re suing:

Kanabec County families: These same defendants exist in Minnesota. The same legal strategies apply. You can sue them all.

💰 How Much Is a Hazing Case Worth in Kanabec County?

Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what juries and courts have awarded in recent cases:

Kanabec County families: These outcomes are possible for Minnesota hazing victims. The same legal principles apply. You can recover compensation for:

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Therapy and mental health treatment
• Lost wages and future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Punitive damages (to punish egregious conduct)

In Minnesota, there is no cap on pain and suffering damages in personal injury cases. Juries can award what they believe is fair based on the evidence.

📋 What Should Kanabec County Families Do If Their Child Is Hazed?

IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS:

1. Seek Medical Attention

   • Go to the ER or urgent care immediately — even if injuries seem minor
   • Document everything medically (rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, broken bones, etc.)
   • Delaying treatment hurts your case — insurance companies will argue you weren’t really hurt

2. Preserve All Evidence

   • Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, items used in hazing
   • Save all communications — texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, emails
   • Get witness names and contact info — other pledges, bystanders, anyone who saw what happened
   • Do NOT delete anything — this is evidence, even if it seems embarrassing

3. Do NOT Talk to the Organization

   • Do NOT confront fraternity/sorority leadership
   • Do NOT give statements to university administrators alone
   • Do NOT sign anything from the organization
   • They will try to control the narrative — let your attorney handle all communication

4. Do NOT Post on Social Media

   • Stay off social media until your case is resolved
   • Do NOT post about the incident
   • Do NOT post photos that make you look “fine” (defense will use this against you)
   • Do NOT engage with Greek life members online

5. Report the Incident

   • Consider filing a police report — hazing is a crime in Minnesota
   • File a Title IX report with the university (for gender-based hazing)
   • File a hazing report with the university’s Greek life office

6. Contact an Attorney Immediately

   • Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911
   • Email ralph@atty911.com
   • We offer free consultations
   • We work on contingency — $0 upfront, we only get paid if you win

⚖️ Minnesota Hazing Laws — Know Your Rights

Minnesota Statute § 121A.69 — Hazing

Definition:

Any act committed for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a student organization, that recklessly endangers the physical or mental health or safety of a student.

Penalties:

• Misdemeanor for hazing
• Gross misdemeanor if hazing results in bodily harm
• Felony if hazing results in great bodily harm or death

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

Civil Liability in Minnesota

In addition to criminal charges, hazing victims can sue for:

🏫 Universities Near Kanabec County — Do They Have Hazing Problems?

While we don’t have specific reports of hazing incidents in Kanabec County itself, hazing is a nationwide epidemic. The same fraternities and sororities that operate in Texas — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Pi Kappa Alpha, and others — have active chapters at universities across Minnesota.

Universities near Kanabec County with Greek life include:

Kanabec County families: If your child attends or plans to attend any of these schools, they face the same hazing risks as students in Texas.

🔥 The Pi Kappa Phi Case — What It Means for Kanabec County

What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Kanabec County

In November 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston for what they did to Leonel Bermudez.

Here’s what happened to him:

• He was a “ghost rush” — not even enrolled at UH yet
• He was waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
• He was forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down
• He was struck with wooden paddles
• He was forced to eat until he vomited, then forced to keep running through his own vomit
• Another pledge collapsed unconscious during hazing — they kept going
• He ended up in the hospital with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure
• He spent four days fighting for his life

Why this matters to Kanabec County families:

1. Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America — including in Minnesota
2. The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client happen at Minnesota fraternities
3. Universities in Minnesota face the same liability failures as UH
4. If your child is being hazed in Kanabec County, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting in Houston

From our attorney Lupe Pena:

“If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

💔 Real Hazing Stories — This Could Be Your Child

Andrew Coffey — Pi Kappa Phi (FSU, 2017)

• What happened: Forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon during “Big Brother Night”
• Result: Died from acute alcohol poisoning
• Outcome: 9 fraternity members charged; chapter permanently closed

Maxwell Gruver — Phi Delta Theta (LSU, 2017)

• What happened: Forced to drink excessive alcohol during “Bible Study” pledge event
• Result: Died from alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495 — 6x legal limit)
• Outcome: $6.1 million jury verdict; Max Gruver Act passed (made hazing a felony in Louisiana)

Timothy Piazza — Beta Theta Pi (Penn State, 2017)

• What happened: Forced to run “the gauntlet” — 18 drinks in 82 minutes; fell down stairs repeatedly
• Result: Died from traumatic brain injury and abdominal bleeding
• Outcome: $110+ million settlement; 18 members charged; Piazza Law passed

Stone Foltz — Pi Kappa Alpha (BGSU, 2021)

• What happened: Forced to drink entire bottle of alcohol during “Big/Little” event
• Result: Died from alcohol poisoning
• Outcome: $10.1 million settlement; fraternity permanently expelled

Leonel Bermudez — Pi Kappa Phi (UH, 2025)

• What happened: Waterboarded, 500 squats, wooden paddles, forced eating until vomiting
• Result: Hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure
• Outcome: $10 million lawsuit pending

Kanabec County families: These are not isolated incidents. This is a pattern of abuse that happens at universities across America — including in Minnesota.

🛑 Why Universities and Fraternities Keep Letting This Happen

They Know. They Don’t Care. Until Someone Gets Hurt.

1. They prioritize reputation over safety

   • Universities don’t want bad publicity
   • Fraternities don’t want to lose funding or recognition
   • They cover it up until someone gets hospitalized or dies

2. They think “tradition” justifies abuse

   • “This is how we’ve always done it”
   • “It builds character”
   • “Tradition” is not an excuse for torture

3. They think they can control the narrative

   • “No one will believe you”
   • “You consented”
   • “It’s not that bad”
   • But the law says consent doesn’t matter

4. They think they’re untouchable

   • Deep pockets (national organizations, universities)
   • Legal teams ready to fight
   • But we’ve beaten them before — and we’ll do it again

🏆 How We Fight for Kanabec County Hazing Victims

Our Approach — Aggressive, Compassionate, Relentless

1. Immediate Response

   • We act fast to preserve evidence before it disappears
   • We send preservation letters to all defendants demanding they keep all records
   • We work with medical experts to document injuries

2. Comprehensive Investigation

   • We gather texts, social media, photos, videos
   • We interview witnesses, other pledges, bystanders
   • We obtain fraternity records, university policies, communications

3. Aggressive Legal Strategy

   • We sue everyone responsible — chapter, nationals, university, individuals
   • We use civil and criminal liability to maximize pressure
   • We pursue punitive damages to send a message

4. Media and Public Pressure

   • We expose the truth in the press
   • We work with documentary filmmakers
   • We put public pressure on defendants to settle

5. Legislative Advocacy

   • We work with Minnesota legislators on new hazing laws
   • We support the Stop Campus Hazing Act at the federal level
   • We turn tragedy into lasting change

6. Client Support

   • We treat you like family
   • We offer bilingual support (Se habla español)
   • We work on contingency — $0 upfront

📞 Kanabec County Families: You Are Not Alone

If your child has been hazed in Kanabec County or at any Minnesota university, we can help.

We are Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™. We fight for victims of hazing, abuse, and institutional negligence. We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing case in Texas, and we’re ready to bring that same fight to Minnesota.

Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Kanabec County Hazing Case?

✅ 25+ Years of Litigation Experience — Battle-tested in courtrooms across America
✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We know their playbook and how to beat it
✅ Federal Court Authority — We can pursue your case in federal court
✅ Dual-State Bar Admission — Licensed in Texas and New York (strategic for national fraternities)
✅ Se Habla Español — Bilingual support for Spanish-speaking families
✅ Contingency Fee — $0 upfront — We only get paid if you win
✅ Nationwide Reach — We serve hazing victims across America, including Kanabec County
✅ Proven Results — We’ve won millions for personal injury victims
✅ Compassionate Advocacy — We treat you like family, not a case number

🔥 What Kanabec County Families Should Do Right Now

If your child has been hazed:

1. Call us immediately — 1-888-ATTY-911
2. Email us — ralph@atty911.com
3. Schedule a free, confidential consultation
4. We’ll evaluate your case and explain your legal options
5. We’ll start building your case right away

Remember: In Minnesota, you typically have 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. Evidence disappears fast. Witnesses forget. Don’t wait.

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

To the fraternities operating near Kanabec County:

• Pi Kappa Phi
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon
• Kappa Sigma
• Pi Kappa Alpha
• Sigma Chi
• Phi Delta Theta
• Beta Theta Pi
• And all others

We know who you are. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your history of hazing deaths and injuries.

When you haze students in Kanabec County, we will use every legal tool to hold you accountable.

The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? They waterboarded a student and sent him to the hospital with kidney failure. We shut them down. We sued them for $10 million. And we’re not done.

Your chapter could be next.

🏛️ To Universities Near Kanabec County:

You own the property. You collect the rent. You have the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down dangerous organizations.

When you fail to protect students from hazing, you share liability.

University of Houston owned the Pi Kappa Phi house where a student was waterboarded. They’re being sued for $10 million. The same thing could happen at your institution.

Act now — or face the same accountability.

💬 What Kanabec County Families Are Saying About Attorney 911

“Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer regarding my case.” — Dame Haskett

“They fought with the other party insurance and got me more of the settlement that I was expecting.” — Vivian Ruiz

“This place feels like having a family over your case. And communication with you every step of the way.” — Kiwi Potato

“My wife and I had such a great experience with this law firm. They all go above and beyond and really care about you as a person.” — Ambur Hamilton

“I was in a very bad vehicle accident… when they picked up my case they were on it… the settlement was in my favor.” — Sharon Giron

📞 Kanabec County Hazing Victims: Call Now for Justice

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
✉️ ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

We serve Kanabec County and all of Minnesota. We come to you. We fight for you. We win for you.

$0 upfront. We only get paid if you win. Free consultation.

🚨 Kanabec County Families: Enough Is Enough

Hazing is not tradition. It’s not bonding. It’s not building character.

It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s sometimes criminal. And it has to stop.

If your child has been hazed in Kanabec County or at any Minnesota university, we can help you fight back. We can help you hold them accountable. We can help you get justice.

Call us now. 1-888-ATTY-911. The consultation is free. The call could save your child’s life — or the next student’s.

Enough is enough.