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Koochiching County (Earth/North America/United States/Minnesota/Koochiching County) Fraternity Hazing Attorneys | $50M+ in National Hazing Settlements Exposed | Attorney911 — The Firm That Shut Down Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu | Federal Court | Former Insurance Defense | 1-888-ATTY-911

February 23, 2026 9 min read
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Hazing Lawyers Serving Koochiching County, Minnesota – Attorney 911

Fraternity & Sorority Hazing in Koochiching County: You Are Not Alone

If your child was hazed at a college or university near Koochiching County, Minnesota, you may feel shocked, betrayed, and unsure of what to do next. Hazing isn’t just “harmless fun” or “tradition”—it’s abuse, assault, and sometimes torture. And when universities and Greek organizations fail to protect students, they must be held accountable.

At Attorney 911, we are actively fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston—a case that has already exposed waterboarding, forced exercise to the point of kidney failure, and systematic abuse of students. This isn’t just happening in Texas. It’s happening at colleges and universities near Koochiching County, too.

The Same Fraternities Operate Near Koochiching County

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and other national fraternities have chapters at universities across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. If your child was hazed at a fraternity or sorority near Koochiching County—whether at University of Minnesota Duluth, Bemidji State University, or another school—we can help.

You have legal rights. Your child deserves justice. And we know how to fight for it.

What Is Hazing? The Truth About “Tradition”

Hazing is not team-building or brotherhood. It’s psychological and physical abuse disguised as initiation. Common hazing practices include:

Forced alcohol consumption – Leading to alcohol poisoning, blackouts, or death
Extreme physical punishment – Push-ups, paddling, or exercise until collapse
Waterboarding & simulated drowning – A form of torture used in war
Sleep deprivation & exhaustion – Forcing pledges to stay awake for days
Forced eating until vomiting – Then making them continue activities
Psychological humiliation – Carrying sexual objects, being stripped, or verbally abused
Sexual assault & harassment – Coercion, groping, or worse

The Medical Consequences of Hazing

Hazing doesn’t just leave emotional scars—it can cause life-threatening injuries, including:
🔴 Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure) – Like our client in Houston
🔴 Alcohol poisoning (can be fatal)
🔴 Traumatic brain injury (from beatings or falls)
🔴 Hypothermia or heatstroke (from forced exposure)
🔴 PTSD, anxiety, and depression (long-term psychological damage)

If your child was hospitalized, traumatized, or suffered any injury from hazing, you may be entitled to compensation.

Our Current Case: $10 Million Fight Against Pi Kappa Phi

What Happened to Leonel Bermudez

In Fall 2025, a University of Houston fraternity pledge was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until he collapsed, and struck with wooden paddles. He was hospitalized for four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. Another pledge lost consciousness during a forced workout. The fraternity had a history of hazing—including a 2017 incident where a student was hospitalized with a lacerated spleen.

The fraternity knew. The university knew. And they did nothing to stop it.

Why This Case Matters for Koochiching County Families

🔹 Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide—including near Koochiching County.
🔹 The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client happen at Minnesota schools.
🔹 Universities near Koochiching County have the same duty to protect students—and the same liability when they fail.
🔹 We are already fighting this battle. We can fight for your family, too.

If your child was hazed at a fraternity or sorority near Koochiching County, call us now at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Who Is Liable in a Koochiching County Hazing Case?

When hazing happens, multiple parties can be held accountable, including:

Defendant Why They’re Liable
Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter Directly organized and conducted hazing
National Fraternity/Sorority Organization Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture
University/College Failed to protect students; may own the fraternity house
Chapter Officers (President, Pledgemaster, etc.) Directed hazing activities
Individual Members Participated in or failed to stop hazing
Housing Corporations Owned property where hazing occurred
Alumni Who Hosted Hazing Allowed abuse at their homes

We don’t just sue students—we go after the institutions with deep pockets and insurance policies that can pay for your child’s injuries.

What Koochiching County Families Can Recover in a Hazing Lawsuit

If your child was hazed, you may be entitled to compensation for:

💰 Medical expenses (hospital bills, therapy, future treatment)
💰 Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
💰 Lost wages (if hazing affected their ability to work)
💰 Educational disruption (tuition refunds, academic setbacks)
💰 Punitive damages (to punish the organization for reckless behavior)

Recent hazing settlements and verdicts:
$10.1 million – Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha, Bowling Green State)
$6.1 million – Maxwell Gruver (Phi Delta Theta, LSU)
$110+ million – Timothy Piazza (Beta Theta Pi, Penn State)

Your child’s case could be worth millions—especially if the university or fraternity knew about prior hazing incidents.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Koochiching County

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Even if injuries seem minor, get medical documentation—especially for:

  • Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)
  • Alcohol poisoning
  • Concussions or head injuries
  • Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

📱 Save all texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, and social media posts about hazing.
📸 Take photos of injuries, hazing locations, and any items used in hazing.
📞 Get contact information for witnesses (other pledges, bystanders).

⚠️ Do NOT:

  • Delete any messages or posts
  • Talk to the fraternity/sorority without legal counsel
  • Sign anything from the organization
  • Post about the incident on social media

Step 3: Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately

The clock is ticking. Minnesota has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. If you wait too long, you could lose your right to sue.

Call Attorney 911 now at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Why Koochiching County Families Choose Attorney 911

We’re actively fighting a $10 million hazing case right now – We know how to win.
Former insurance defense attorneys – We know how fraternities and universities try to avoid liability.
Federal court authority – We can sue national organizations anywhere in the U.S.
Dual-state licensed (Texas & New York) – Strategic advantage against national fraternities.
Se habla español – We serve Spanish-speaking families without language barriers.
Contingency fee basisYou pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.

What Our Clients Say

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “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
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello and they said they would take it. And in the next few months, I got a call to pick up this handsome check.”Donald Wilcox

Koochiching County Hazing Cases We Handle

We represent victims of hazing in:
🔹 Fraternities & sororities (Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Pike, Sigma Chi, etc.)
🔹 Sports teams (football, hockey, basketball, etc.)
🔹 Marching bands & ROTC
🔹 Honor societies & student clubs
🔹 Military academies & prep schools

If your child was hazed at any organization near Koochiching County, we can help.

Next Steps for Koochiching County Families

📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 for hazing emergencies)
📧 Email ralph@atty911.com
💻 Visit attorney911.com for more information

We serve Koochiching County and all of Minnesota. Distance is not a barrier—we will travel to you for depositions, meetings, and trials.

Enough Is Enough. It’s Time to Hold Them Accountable.

If your child was hazed near Koochiching County, call us now at 1-888-ATTY-911.

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