Hazing Lawyer in Kootenai County: Holding Fraternities and Universities Accountable**
Kootenai County Families: Your Child Deserves Justice
If your son or daughter has been a victim of hazing at a college or university near Kootenai County, you’re not alone. The same national fraternities that hospitalized a University of Houston student with kidney failure in 2025 operate right here in Idaho. The same institutional failures that allowed waterboarding, forced exercise, and physical abuse at UH exist at Kootenai County institutions.
At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this battle right now—and we’re ready to fight for Kootenai County families too.
The Hazing Crisis in Kootenai County: What Parents Need to Know
Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” It’s abuse. It’s torture. And it’s happening right here in Kootenai County.
What Hazing Looks Like in Kootenai County:
- Forced alcohol consumption until vomiting or passing out
- Extreme physical punishment—500 squats, bear crawls, paddling
- Waterboarding and simulated drowning (yes, this happens here too)
- Sleep deprivation and psychological manipulation
- Sexual humiliation and degradation
- Forced servitude—driving members at all hours, cleaning, errands
The Medical Consequences:
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure)
- Alcohol poisoning (can be fatal)
- Traumatic brain injuries from beatings or falls
- PTSD, anxiety, and depression from psychological abuse
- Wrongful death (hazing kills students every year)
The Legal Reality:
- Hazing is illegal in Idaho—it’s a crime, not just a “tradition”
- Universities and fraternities can be held financially liable for failing to protect students
- Individual members can be sued personally—and their parents’ homeowner’s insurance may cover damages
- Consent is NOT a defense—even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says it doesn’t matter
Our Landmark Hazing Case: The Fight That Proves Kootenai County Families Can Win
Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston ($10M Lawsuit, 2025)
What Happened:
Leonel Bermudez, a “ghost rush” (not even enrolled at UH yet), accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi in September 2025. Over the next seven weeks, he was subjected to systematic abuse that hospitalized him with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure for four days.
The Hazing Activities:
- Waterboarded 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 vomit-soaked grass
- Another pledge lost consciousness during a workout—fraternity members did nothing
- Slept in cold weather in only underwear, sprayed with a hose
- Carried a fanny pack with sexual objects at all times
- Hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth (another pledge)
The Result:
- November 6, 2025: Bermudez’s mother rushed him to the hospital after he couldn’t move
- Diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure—a life-threatening condition
- Hospitalized for 3 nights, 4 days
- Pi Kappa Phi closed the chapter—but only AFTER the lawsuit was filed
- $10 MILLION lawsuit filed by Attorney 911
Why This Matters for Kootenai County:
- Pi Kappa Phi has chapters near Kootenai County—the same organization that allowed this abuse
- Universities in Kootenai County face the same liability for failing to protect students
- The same “traditions” that hospitalized Bermudez exist at Kootenai County fraternities
- $10 million is the price for torturing our kids—and Kootenai County families can demand the same justice
Who Is Liable for Hazing in Kootenai County?
When hazing happens, everyone involved can be held accountable—not just the students who participated.
1. The Local Fraternity Chapter
- Directly organized and conducted hazing
- Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster) face personal liability
- Members who participated can be sued individually
2. The National Fraternity Organization
- Knew about the “hazing crisis” (per their own admissions)
- Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite prior deaths (Andrew Coffey, 2017)
- Has deep pockets—millions in assets and insurance
3. The University or College
- Owns or controls the fraternity house (premises liability)
- Failed to supervise Greek life despite prior hazing incidents
- Allowed a culture of abuse to continue unchecked
4. Individual Members and Alumni
- Personally liable for participating in or allowing hazing
- Homeowner’s insurance may cover damages
- Former members who hosted hazing at their homes can be sued
5. Housing Corporations
- Own the fraternity house—responsible for conditions on the property
- Failed to prevent hazing on their premises
What Kootenai County Families Can Recover
Hazing victims and their families are entitled to full compensation for the harm caused. This includes:
Economic Damages (Financial Losses)
- Medical bills (ER, hospitalization, specialists, therapy)
- Future medical expenses (kidney monitoring, dialysis, transplant)
- Lost wages (time missed from work or school)
- Educational disruption (tuition, scholarships, delayed graduation)
Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)
- Physical pain from injuries
- Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
- Humiliation and psychological trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life (impact on college experience)
Punitive Damages (Punishing the Wrongdoers)
- Awarded when conduct is egregious, reckless, or intentional
- Waterboarding = torture—this justifies punitive damages
- Pattern of hazing (prior incidents at the same chapter or university)
- Failure to act despite knowledge (universities and nationals knew and did nothing)
Precedent Cases Prove Kootenai County Families Can Win Millions:
- $10.1M (Stone Foltz, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021)
- $6.1M jury verdict (Maxwell Gruver, Phi Delta Theta, 2017)
- $110M+ (Timothy Piazza, Beta Theta Pi, 2017)
What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Kootenai County
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
- Rhabdomyolysis and alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening
- Document everything—medical records are critical evidence
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Save all texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, and emails about hazing
- Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence
- Get witness names and contact info—other pledges, bystanders
- Do NOT delete anything—this is evidence, not just “drama”
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone
- They will try to control the narrative—don’t give statements without legal counsel
- They will pressure you to stay quiet—don’t sign anything
- They will destroy evidence—fraternities have been caught deleting messages and videos
Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
- Free consultation—we’ll evaluate your case at no cost
- No upfront fees—we work on contingency (you pay nothing unless we win)
- We travel to Kootenai County—for depositions, meetings, and court appearances
Call Now: 📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Why Kootenai County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW
- We’re currently litigating a $10M hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and UH
- We know exactly how to build these cases—from evidence to trial strategy
- Kootenai County families get the same aggressive representation we’re bringing to Houston
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
- Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena used to defend insurance companies
- We know every trick they’ll use to deny or minimize your claim
- We turn their tactics against them to maximize your recovery
3. Federal Court Authority
- Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- Can pursue cases in federal court—critical for national fraternity lawsuits
- Experience with multi-defendant litigation
4. Dual-State Bar Licenses (Texas & New York)
- Strategic advantage for national fraternity cases (many are headquartered in New York)
- Can pursue out-of-state defendants wherever they are
5. Willing to Travel to Kootenai County
- We come to you for depositions, client meetings, and trials
- Video consultations available for Kootenai County families
- Distance is not a barrier to justice
6. Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Wins
- BP Texas City explosion litigation (mass tort experience)
- $10M+ hazing case currently pending
- Hundreds of personal injury cases won against insurance companies
7. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)
- Bilingual staff available to serve Spanish-speaking families
- No language barriers to justice
The Kootenai County Hazing Warning: Fraternities Are on Notice
To every fraternity operating near Kootenai County—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, and others:
“We are watching. We know your corporate structures. We know your national organizations have paid millions in hazing settlements. If you haze students in Kootenai County, we will find every liable entity—and we will make you pay.”
The UH Pi Kappa Phi chapter that hospitalized our client?
- Shut down
- Charter surrendered
- Criminal referrals initiated
- $10 million lawsuit pending
That’s what happens when you haze in Kootenai County.
Kootenai County Parents: This Is Your Call to Action
Your child trusted these institutions. They trusted that universities and fraternities would keep them safe. That trust was betrayed.
If your child was hazed in Kootenai County, you have two choices:
- Stay silent—and let the abusers win
- Fight back—and hold them accountable
We choose to fight.
Call Attorney 911 Today
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Free consultation. No upfront fees. We don’t get paid unless you win.
The Time to Act Is Now
Hazing victims often delay reporting due to:
- Shame and embarrassment
- Fear of retaliation
- Loyalty to the fraternity
- Not recognizing it as hazing
But every day you wait:
- Evidence disappears
- Witnesses forget
- Your legal rights expire
Idaho has a statute of limitations on hazing cases—you may only have 2 years to file a lawsuit.
Don’t let the abusers get away with it. Call us today.
Kootenai County Hazing Lawyer: We Fight for Justice
Attorney 911
📍 Serving Kootenai County from Houston, Austin & Beaumont
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Your child’s safety is our mission. Your family’s justice is our fight.
