Hazing Victim Legal Support for Manistee County Families
🚨 You Are Not Alone: Hazing Happens in Manistee County Too
Manistee County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust that universities and Greek organizations will protect their students. But hazing is happening right here in Northern Michigan—at colleges near Manistee County, in fraternities and sororities, on sports teams, and in student organizations.
What happened to Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston could happen to your child at a school near Manistee County.
Leonel was a “ghost rush”—a student not even enrolled yet—when Pi Kappa Phi fraternity subjected him to waterboarding, forced eating, 500 squats, and physical abuse that put him in the hospital with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. He spent three nights and four days fighting for his life.
The same fraternities operate near Manistee County. The same negligence exists at local universities. And we will fight for Manistee County families just like we’re fighting for Leonel.
🔍 What Is Hazing? It’s Not “Tradition”—It’s Abuse
Hazing is not harmless initiation rituals. It’s not “boys being boys.” It’s not “building brotherhood.” It’s abuse, assault, and sometimes torture—and it’s happening right here in Michigan.
Common Hazing Activities in Manistee County & Beyond
| Category | Examples | Medical Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Abuse | Beatings, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion | Broken bones, rhabdomyolysis, cardiac arrest |
| Forced Consumption | Alcohol (binge drinking), food (eating until vomiting), non-food substances | Alcohol poisoning, choking, organ failure |
| Sleep Deprivation | All-night activities, forced errands, disrupted sleep | Cognitive impairment, accidents, mental health crises |
| Psychological Torture | Humiliation, degradation, threats, isolation | PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicide risk |
| Sexual Abuse | Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects | Trauma, long-term psychological damage |
| Waterboarding/Drowning | Simulated drowning, water torture | Panic attacks, PTSD, physical injury |
| Exposure | Forced to endure extreme cold or heat | Hypothermia, heatstroke, frostbite |
This is not “tradition.” This is abuse. And it’s illegal in Michigan.
⚖️ Michigan Hazing Laws: What Manistee County Families Need to Know
Michigan has strong anti-hazing laws to protect students. Under MCL 750.411t, hazing is a felony if it causes serious injury or death.
Michigan Hazing Law (MCL 750.411t)
| Offense | Penalty | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Hazing causing physical injury | Up to 1 year in jail + fines | Individuals, organizations |
| Hazing causing serious impairment of a body function | Up to 5 years in prison + fines | Individuals, organizations |
| Hazing causing death | Up to 15 years in prison + fines | Individuals, organizations |
Key Michigan Legal Principles:
✅ Consent is NOT a defense – Even if a student “agreed” to participate, hazing is still illegal.
✅ Organizations can be held liable – Fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and universities can be sued.
✅ Universities have a duty to protect students – If they knew or should have known about hazing, they can be held accountable.
Manistee County families: If your child was hazed, you have legal rights.
💰 Multi-Million Dollar Precedents: Hazing Cases Win Big
Hazing lawsuits result in millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Here’s what other families have won:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (2021) | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | Settlement | $10.1M+ |
| Maxwell Gruver (2017) | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | Jury Verdict | $6.1M |
| Timothy Piazza (2017) | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | Settlement | $110M+ |
| Andrew Coffey (2017) | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Settlement | Confidential (likely $5M+) |
| Adam Oakes (2021) | Virginia Commonwealth | Delta Chi | Settlement | $4M+ |
Manistee County families: These results are possible for you too.
🏛️ Who Can Be Held Liable for Hazing in Manistee County?
When hazing happens, multiple parties can be held accountable:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Manistee County Application |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Any fraternity/sorority near Manistee County |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise, knew about hazing culture | Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, others |
| University | Failed to prevent hazing, owned property where it occurred | Ferris State, CMU, GVSU, others near Manistee County |
| Individual Members | Participated in or facilitated hazing | Students, alumni, advisors |
| Housing Corporations | Owned property where hazing occurred | Fraternity/sorority houses near Manistee County |
| Coaches/Advisors | Knew or should have known about hazing | Sports teams, ROTC, clubs |
Manistee County families: We sue everyone responsible.
🚨 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Manistee County
Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately
- Go to the ER if needed – Hazing injuries can be life-threatening (rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, internal injuries).
- Document everything – Medical records are crucial evidence.
Step 2: Preserve Evidence
- Save all communications – Texts, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, emails.
- Take photos/videos – Injuries, hazing locations, items used in hazing.
- Get witness names – Other pledges, bystanders, anyone who saw what happened.
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization or University Alone
- Do not give statements to fraternity/sorority leaders, university officials, or insurance companies.
- Do not sign anything – They may try to get you to waive your rights.
- Do not post on social media – Anything you say can be used against you.
Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
- Call 1-888-ATTY-911 – Free consultation for Manistee County families.
- We work on contingency – You pay $0 upfront. We only get paid if we win.
- We travel to Manistee County – For depositions, meetings, and court appearances.
🎯 Why Manistee County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW
- We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
- We know how to build these cases and win.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
- We know how insurance companies and universities defend hazing cases.
- We use that knowledge to maximize your compensation.
3. Federal Court Authority
- We can pursue your case in federal court, giving us more leverage against national organizations.
4. We Travel to Manistee County
- We come to you for depositions, meetings, and court appearances.
- Distance is not a barrier to justice.
5. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)
- Many hazing victims are Hispanic or from immigrant families.
- We provide bilingual legal support so language isn’t a barrier.
6. We Work on Contingency – $0 Upfront
- You pay nothing unless we win.
- No hourly fees, no retainers.
- We take the risk so you can fight back.
📞 Manistee County Hazing Victims: Call Us Now
If your child was hazed at a school near Manistee County, you have legal rights. We can help.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Free consultation. No upfront costs. We fight for Manistee County families.
🏆 Our Promise to Manistee County Families
We will:
✅ Investigate thoroughly – Gather evidence, interview witnesses, build your case.
✅ Sue every liable party – Fraternities, universities, individuals, housing corporations.
✅ Maximize your compensation – Medical bills, pain and suffering, punitive damages.
✅ Protect your privacy – No unnecessary publicity; we handle everything discreetly.
✅ Fight for justice – Because no child should suffer like this.
Manistee County families: You are not alone. We will fight for you.
🔥 To Fraternities & Universities Near Manistee County: We Are Watching
Pi Kappa Phi. Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Phi Delta Theta. Beta Theta Pi.
Ferris State. Central Michigan. Grand Valley State. Michigan Tech.
If your chapter is hazing students near Manistee County, know this:
- We are tracking your activities.
- We know your corporate structures, insurance policies, and leadership.
- We have won millions in hazing cases.
- If you haze students, we will sue you, and we will win.
The UH Pi Kappa Phi chapter that hazed our client? They’re now shut down. Your chapter could be next.
📢 Help Us Protect Manistee County Students
Hazing thrives in secrecy. Break the silence.
If you or someone you know was hazed near Manistee County, contact us today.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | 📧 ralph@atty911.com
Together, we can stop hazing in Manistee County.
Attorney 911 – Legal Emergency Lawyers™
📍 Serving Manistee County from Houston, Austin & Beaumont
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | 🌐 attorney911.com
