Hazing Lawyers for Keweenaw County Families: Fighting for Justice After Fraternity & Sorority Abuse

🚨 If Your Child Was Hazed in Keweenaw County, You Have Legal Rights – No Matter Where It Happened

Keweenaw County families: You’re not alone. The same fraternities that hazed students at the University of Houston—leading to a $10 million lawsuit—operate right here in Michigan. If your child was abused, humiliated, or injured during Greek life initiation, we can help.

At Attorney 911, we’re currently fighting a landmark case against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for a student hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles. The same dangerous “traditions” exist at fraternities and sororities near Keweenaw County—and we’re here to stop them.

📞 Call now for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911

🔥 Why Keweenaw County Families Choose Attorney 911 for Hazing Cases

1. We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW – And Winning

• $10 MILLION lawsuit filed against Pi Kappa Phi and University of Houston (November 2025)
• Same fraternities operate near Keweenaw County – Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and others have active chapters in Michigan
• Universities near Keweenaw County face the same liability – If they knew or should have known about hazing, they can be held accountable

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook

• Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena both worked for national insurance defense firms before switching sides to fight for victims
• We know how fraternities, universities, and insurance companies try to minimize or deny claims
• We outwork, outsmart, and outfight them every step of the way

3. Nationwide Reach – We Serve Keweenaw County Families

• Federal court authority – Can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction
• Dual-state bar licenses – Texas AND New York
• Remote consultations – Video meetings for Keweenaw County families
• We travel to you – For depositions, trials, and client meetings

4. No Upfront Costs – We Only Get Paid If You Win

• $0 upfront – No retainer, no hourly fees
• Contingency fee – We take a percentage of your settlement or verdict
• You pay nothing if we don’t win – No risk to you

5. Proven Track Record in High-Stakes Litigation

• BP Texas City explosion litigation – Mass tort experience against major corporations
• $6.5 million personal judgment against a fraternity president (Stone Foltz case)
• Multi-million dollar settlements in wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and hazing cases

6. We Understand the Culture – And How to Break It

• Ralph Manginello is a former athlete and youth coach – He knows how team dynamics and peer pressure enable hazing
• We’ve seen how fraternities intimidate victims into silence – We protect our clients from retaliation
• We expose the truth – No more hiding behind “tradition” or “brotherhood”

💔 What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Illegal in Michigan)

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless fun.” It’s abuse. Under Michigan law, hazing includes:

✅ Physical abuse – Beating, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
✅ Forced consumption – Alcohol, food, or non-food substances to the point of vomiting
✅ Psychological torture – Waterboarding, sleep deprivation, humiliation
✅ Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
✅ Servitude – Forced cleaning, driving members, running errands

🚨 Michigan’s Anti-Hazing Law (MCL 750.411t):

• Hazing is a misdemeanor (up to 93 days in jail, $1,000 fine)
• If serious injury or death occurs, it’s a felony (up to 15 years in prison)
• Consent is NOT a defense – Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds perpetrators accountable

🏛️ Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Keweenaw County?

If your child was hazed, multiple parties can be held liable, including:

💰 Deep pockets mean deeper compensation – National fraternities and universities have millions in assets and insurance. We know how to pursue them.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Keweenaw County

🚨 Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) can lead to kidney failure (like our UH client)
• Alcohol poisoning can be fatal
• Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression) requires professional treatment
• Medical records are critical evidence – Document everything

📱 Step 2: Preserve Evidence (Do NOT Delete Anything!)

• Text messages, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs – Screenshots of all communications about hazing
• Photos/videos – Injuries, hazing activities, fraternity house
• Witness names – Other pledges, bystanders, friends
• Social media posts – Fraternity members bragging about hazing
• Medical records – Hospital visits, therapy notes, prescriptions

⚠️ WARNING: Fraternities will delete evidence as soon as they know a lawsuit is coming. Do NOT confront them or give statements without a lawyer.

⚖️ Step 3: Call Attorney 911 – Before It’s Too Late

• Michigan’s statute of limitations – You typically have 3 years to file a lawsuit, but evidence disappears fast
• Universities and fraternities will pressure victims to stay silent
• Insurance companies will lowball you – They’ll offer a quick settlement to make you go away

📞 Call us 24/7 for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911

💰 How Much Is a Keweenaw County Hazing Case Worth?

Hazing cases can result in substantial compensation, including:

📊 Recent Hazing Settlements & Verdicts (Proof That These Cases Win Big)

💡 Our $10 million demand in the UH case is in line with these precedents – and your Keweenaw County case could be worth just as much.

🎯 Why Hazing Cases Are Different in Keweenaw County

1. Universities Near Keweenaw County Are Complicit

• Many universities own fraternity/sorority houses – If hazing happens on their property, they’re liable
• They knew or should have known about hazing risks – Greek life has a documented history of abuse
• They failed to protect students – Despite prior incidents, they didn’t implement real oversight

2. National Fraternities Have Deep Pockets

• Organizations like Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Pi Kappa Alpha have millions in assets and insurance
• They know about hazing – Some have paid tens of millions in settlements
• They failed to stop it – Despite prior deaths and lawsuits, they didn’t fix their culture

3. Individual Members Can Be Personally Liable

• In the Stone Foltz case, the fraternity president was ordered to pay $6.5 million personally
• Chapter officers, pledgemasters, and active members can be sued individually
• Homeowner’s insurance may cover their liability

4. Criminal Charges May Follow

• Michigan law makes hazing a crime (misdemeanor or felony)
• Prosecutors are increasingly pursuing criminal charges in hazing cases
• A criminal conviction strengthens the civil case

🚫 Common Defenses – And How We Defeat Them

Fraternities and universities will try to blame the victim. Here’s how we fight back:

🏆 How We Win Keweenaw County Hazing Cases

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation

• Send preservation letters to fraternities, universities, and individuals
• Demand security camera footage, text messages, and social media posts before they’re deleted
• Work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted evidence

2. Aggressive Discovery

• Subpoena fraternity communications, meeting minutes, and internal documents
• Depose chapter officers, national leaders, and university administrators
• Request prior hazing reports to prove pattern of negligence

3. Expert Testimony

• Medical experts – Explain the long-term effects of rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, and psychological trauma
• Greek life experts – Testify about fraternity culture and institutional failures
• Economic experts – Calculate future medical costs and lost earning potential

4. Media & Public Pressure

• Expose the truth – Fraternities hate bad publicity
• Pressure universities – Alumni and donors demand accountability
• Encourage other victims to come forward – Pattern evidence strengthens the case

5. Settlement Negotiation or Trial

• Demand policy limits from insurance companies
• Pursue punitive damages for egregious conduct (waterboarding, forced drinking)
• Take it to trial if necessary – Juries hate hazing and award big verdicts

📞 Keweenaw County Families: Call Us Before It’s Too Late

Time is running out. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Michigan’s statute of limitations applies.

We’re here to fight for you – no matter where in Keweenaw County you are.

🚨 Free, Confidential Consultation – Available 24/7

📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

💡 We work on contingency – you pay nothing unless we win.

🔥 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Keweenaw County Hazing Victims

1. My child was hazed but didn’t go to the hospital. Can we still sue?

✅ Yes. Even if your child wasn’t hospitalized, they may have suffered:

• Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
• Emotional distress (humiliation, fear, loss of trust)
• Academic impact (missed classes, lower grades)
• Career damage (lost internships, reputation harm)

We can still pursue compensation for these damages.

2. The fraternity says my child “consented” to hazing. Does that matter?

❌ No. Michigan law explicitly states that consent is NOT a defense to hazing (MCL 750.411t). Even if your child agreed to participate, the law still holds the fraternity and university accountable.

3. The university says they didn’t know about the hazing. Can they still be sued?

✅ Yes. Universities have a duty to protect students. If they:

• Own or control the fraternity house, they’re liable for what happens there
• Had prior hazing incidents at their school, they knew or should have known
• Failed to implement real oversight, they breached their duty

We’ll investigate whether the university knew or should have known.

4. The fraternity is trying to intimidate my child into staying quiet. What should we do?

🚨 This is a red flag. Fraternities often:

• Threaten expulsion from Greek life
• Pressure victims to drop lawsuits
• Delete evidence to cover their tracks

Do NOT engage with them. Call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911. We’ll:

• Send a cease-and-desist letter to stop harassment
• File a restraining order if necessary
• Protect your child’s rights

5. How long do we have to file a lawsuit in Michigan?

⏳ Typically, you have 3 years from the date of the hazing incident under Michigan’s statute of limitations. However:

• If the victim was a minor, the clock may not start until they turn 18
• If the hazing caused delayed injuries, the timeline may be extended

Don’t wait – evidence disappears quickly. Call us today.

6. My child is afraid of retaliation. How can you protect them?

🛡️ We take retaliation very seriously. We can:

• File for a protective order to prevent contact from fraternity members
• Document all threats to use as evidence
• Work with campus security to ensure safety
• Pursue additional damages for emotional distress caused by retaliation

Your child’s safety is our top priority.

7. Can we sue if the hazing happened off-campus?

✅ Yes. Michigan’s hazing law applies on or off campus. If hazing occurred:

• At a fraternity house (even if not university-owned)
• At an off-campus apartment or residence
• During a retreat or event

We can still pursue the case.

8. What if my child was hazed at a different university (not in Keweenaw County)?

✅ We serve hazing victims nationwide. If your child was hazed at:

• Michigan Technological University (Houghton, MI)
• Northern Michigan University (Marquette, MI)
• Any college or university in the U.S.

We can still represent you. Our federal court authority and dual-state bar licenses allow us to pursue cases anywhere.

9. How much does it cost to hire Attorney 911 for a hazing case?

💰 $0 upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning:

• You pay nothing to hire us
• We only get paid if we win your case
• Our fee is a percentage of your settlement or verdict

No risk to you – we take the financial risk, not you.

10. What should we do if the fraternity offers us a settlement?

⚠️ Do NOT accept any settlement without talking to us first. Fraternities and insurance companies often:

• Offer lowball settlements before victims know the full extent of their injuries
• Require confidentiality agreements that silence victims
• Try to make the problem go away quietly

We’ll review any offer and negotiate for what you truly deserve.

🎓 Universities & Greek Organizations Near Keweenaw County

These institutions have active Greek life chapters – and the same hazing risks we’re fighting in Texas.

Michigan Technological University (Houghton, MI)

• Fraternities: Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Theta Chi, and others
• Sororities: Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Sigma Tau, Delta Phi Epsilon, Delta Zeta, Sigma Kappa, and others
• Why it matters: MTU is the largest university near Keweenaw County, with a strong Greek life presence. Hazing incidents here would be particularly devastating for local families.

Northern Michigan University (Marquette, MI)

• Fraternities: Sigma Tau Gamma, Phi Kappa Tau, Tau Kappa Epsilon
• Sororities: Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Sigma Tau, Delta Phi Epsilon
• Why it matters: NMU has a smaller Greek system but still faces hazing risks. Students from Keweenaw County often attend NMU.

Other Nearby Institutions with Greek Life:

• Finlandia University (Hancock, MI) – Small but active Greek organizations
• Gogebic Community College (Ironwood, MI) – Some Greek life presence

🚨 If your child attends any of these schools (or any college in Michigan or nationwide), they face the same hazing risks we’re fighting in Houston.

📢 Message to Fraternities & Sororities Near Keweenaw County

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and all other Greek organizations operating near Keweenaw County:

We are watching.

The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapters. We know:

• Your corporate structures (house corporations, alumni chapters, national organizations)
• Your insurance policies (and how to pursue them)
• Your prior hazing incidents (we track them all)

If you haze students in Keweenaw County, we will sue:

• Your local chapter
• Your national organization
• Your individual members
• Your alumni who enable it
• Your insurance carriers

We already shut down the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at UH. Your chapter could be next.

Clean up your culture – before we clean it out for you in court.

🏆 Our Promise to Keweenaw County Families

We don’t just talk about fighting hazing. We’re doing it right now.

Our client in Houston was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure. We’re suing Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for $10 million – and we’ll fight just as hard for Keweenaw County families.

If your child was hazed, we will:
✅ Investigate aggressively – Preserve evidence before it disappears
✅ Pursue every liable party – Fraternities, universities, individuals, insurance companies
✅ Maximize your compensation – Medical bills, pain and suffering, punitive damages
✅ Protect your child from retaliation – No more intimidation, no more silence
✅ Fight for justice – In court, in the media, and in the legislature

You don’t have to face this alone. We’re here to help.

🚨 Keweenaw County Families: Call Now – Before It’s Too Late

Every day you wait is a day closer to losing your legal rights.

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

Free, confidential consultation – no obligation.