🚨 Hazing Victims in Rice County, Kansas: Your Legal Rights and How We Can Help

When “Tradition” Becomes Torture: Hazing at Kansas Colleges and How Rice County Families Can Fight Back

Rice County, Kansas parents and students: If your child has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or other student organization at a Kansas college or university, you are not alone. The same national fraternities that have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries operate right here in Kansas. The same dangerous “traditions” that hospitalized our client in Houston happen at Kansas institutions. And we are fighting back — for Rice County families and for students across America.

At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after our client was hospitalized with kidney failure from systematic abuse. This isn’t just happening in Texas — it’s happening in Kansas too. We are committed to representing Rice County hazing victims with the same aggressive, data-driven approach we’re bringing to the national stage.

🏢 Who We Are: Rice County’s Hazing Litigation Experts

Attorney 911: Legal Emergency Lawyers™ Serving Rice County from Houston, Austin & Beaumont

Immediate, aggressive help for legal emergencies — 24/7 free consultations for Rice County families.

While we are based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including Rice County, Kansas. Our attorneys are admitted to federal court and licensed in multiple states, allowing us to pursue justice for Rice County students no matter where the hazing occurred.

Why Rice County Families Choose Attorney 911 for Hazing Cases

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

🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Kansas: What Rice County Families Need to Know

Hazing Happens at Kansas Colleges — And It’s Dangerous

Hazing is not limited to big states like Texas or California. It happens right here in Kansas, at colleges and universities near Rice County. The same national fraternities and sororities that have paid millions in hazing settlements operate chapters at Kansas institutions.

Kansas colleges and universities with Greek organizations include:

• Barton Community College (Great Bend, KS — near Rice County)
• Hutchinson Community College (Hutchinson, KS)
• McPherson College (McPherson, KS — in McPherson County, adjacent to Rice County)
• Sterling College (Sterling, KS — in Rice County)
• Bethany College (Lindsborg, KS)
• Baker University (Baldwin City, KS)
• University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS)
• Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS)
• Wichita State University (Wichita, KS)
• Fort Hays State University (Hays, KS)
• Emporia State University (Emporia, KS)

National fraternities with chapters at Kansas schools include:

• Pi Kappa Phi
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)
• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)
• Sigma Chi
• Beta Theta Pi
• Phi Delta Theta
• Kappa Sigma
• And many others

These are the same organizations that have paid millions in hazing settlements nationwide.

The Medical Reality: Hazing Can Kill or Cause Permanent Damage

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless fun.” It causes real, serious, sometimes permanent injuries — and sometimes death.

Common hazing injuries in Kansas and nationwide:

Our client in Houston was hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups, and other extreme exercises. This same medical emergency happens to Kansas students too.

Kansas Hazing Laws: What Rice County Families Need to Know

Kansas Anti-Hazing Statute (K.S.A. 21-6416)

Kansas has a criminal anti-hazing law that makes it illegal to haze students. The law defines hazing as:

“Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a student, whether individually or in concert with others, against another student, and in which both of the following apply:

(a) The act was committed in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, any organization that is affiliated with an educational institution; and

(b) The act contributes to a substantial risk of potential physical injury, mental harm, or degradation or causes physical injury, mental harm, or personal degradation.”**

Penalties:

• Class B nonperson misdemeanor — up to 6 months in jail and/or $1,000 fine
• If the hazing results in great bodily harm or death, it becomes a felony

Important for Rice County families:

• Consent is NOT a defense — Even if the victim “agreed” to participate, hazing is still illegal
• Organizations can be held criminally liable — Not just individuals
• Universities can be held civilly liable — For failing to prevent hazing

⚠️ The Landmark Case: This Is Happening Now — And It Could Happen in Rice County

Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi (2025): $10 Million Lawsuit — The Same Fight We’ll Bring to Rice County

What happened in Houston can — and does — happen in Kansas.

On November 21, 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a “ghost rush” pledge who was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after weeks of systematic hazing.

The hazing activities included:

• Waterboarding with a garden hose — simulated drowning
• Forced to perform 500+ squats and 100+ pushups — until he couldn’t stand
• Struck with wooden paddles — physical assault
• Forced to eat until vomiting — then forced to continue exercising
• Forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass — humiliation and health risk
• Stripped to underwear in cold weather — exposure
• Sprayed with a garden hose while minimally clothed — waterboarding variant
• Another pledge hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth — torture
• A pledge lost consciousness during a workout — fraternity did nothing

Result:

• Hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure
• Diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis — muscle breakdown that can be fatal
• Chapter permanently closed — but only after the damage was done

Why this matters to Rice County families:

• Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at Kansas universities — the same organization
• The same “traditions” happen at Kansas fraternities
• Kansas universities face the same liability failures
• If your child is being hazed in Kansas, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting in Houston

“When he finally made it home, he crawled up the stairs and went to bed. The next day, he was really sore and couldn’t really move. The next day was worse, and the next day, his mom rushed him to the hospital, and he had some kidney failure.”
— Ralph Manginello, Attorney at Law

💰 Precedent Cases: Multi-Million Dollar Proof That Kansas Victims Can Win

Rice County families: These verdicts and settlements prove that hazing cases win big — and the same results are possible for Kansas victims.

Stone Foltz — Pi Kappa Alpha — $10.1 Million (Ohio, 2021)

• Victim: Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State University
• Hazing: Forced to drink entire bottle of alcohol
• Result: Died from alcohol poisoning
• Settlement: $10.1 million (largest in Ohio history)
• Relevance: Same fraternity type; Kansas families can achieve similar results

Maxwell Gruver — Phi Delta Theta — $6.1 Million Jury Verdict (Louisiana, 2017)

• Victim: Maxwell Gruver, LSU
• Hazing: “Bible Study” drinking game; BAC 0.495 (6x legal limit)
• Result: Died from alcohol poisoning
• Verdict: $6.1 million
• Legislation: Max Gruver Act — made hazing a felony in Louisiana

Timothy Piazza — Beta Theta Pi — $110+ Million (Penn State, 2017)

• Victim: Timothy Piazza, Penn State
• Hazing: “The Gauntlet” — 18 drinks in 82 minutes; BAC 0.36
• Result: Fell down stairs multiple times; fraternity waited 12 hours to call 911; died
• Settlement: $110+ million (estimated)
• Legislation: Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law — Pennsylvania

Andrew Coffey — Pi Kappa Phi — Death (Florida State, 2017)

• Victim: Andrew Coffey, FSU
• Hazing: Forced to drink entire bottle of bourbon
• Result: Died from alcohol poisoning
• Chapter: Permanently closed
• Relevance: Same fraternity as our Houston case — shows pattern of negligence

Kansas families: These cases show that juries and courts will award MILLIONS for hazing injuries and deaths. The same legal strategies apply to Kansas cases.

⚖️ Legal Framework: Your Rights as a Rice County Hazing Victim

Who Is Liable for Kansas Hazing?

When hazing happens, multiple parties can be held legally responsible. We pursue all liable defendants to maximize compensation for Rice County families.

Types of Damages Kansas Victims Can Recover

Kansas has no cap on pain and suffering damages in personal injury cases — meaning Rice County victims can recover full compensation for their injuries.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Kansas: Rice County Action Guide

Immediate Steps for Rice County Families

If your child has been hazed at a Kansas college or university:

1. Ensure Safety

   • Remove your child from the dangerous situation immediately
   • If medical attention is needed, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room

2. Seek Medical Attention

   • Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
   • Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) may not show symptoms immediately
   • Medical records are critical evidence

3. Preserve Evidence

   • Photos: Take pictures of injuries, hazing locations, any physical evidence
   • Screenshots: Save all text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs
   • Witnesses: Get names and contact information of other victims or witnesses
   • Documents: Save any pledge manuals, schedules, or written materials
   • Clothing: Preserve any clothing worn during hazing (e.g., vomit-soaked clothes)

4. Do NOT Confront the Organization

   • Do not talk to fraternity/sorority leaders, university officials, or their lawyers without legal counsel
   • They will try to control the narrative and minimize liability

5. Do NOT Post on Social Media

   • Anything you post can be used against you in court
   • Do not discuss the incident online
   • Do not delete old posts (that’s destruction of evidence)

6. Report to Authorities

   • Consider filing a police report
   • Report to university Title IX office or student conduct office
   • Report to Kansas Board of Regents if at a public university

7. Contact an Attorney Immediately

   • Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation
   • The sooner you involve an attorney, the better we can protect your rights

Why Timing Is Critical for Rice County Families

Kansas Statute of Limitations:

• Personal Injury: 2 years from date of injury
• Wrongful Death: 2 years from date of death

Evidence disappears quickly:

• Text messages and social media posts get deleted
• Witnesses forget details
• Organizations destroy records
• Security camera footage gets overwritten

Our advice to Rice County families: Do not wait. Contact us immediately to preserve your rights.

🔍 How We Build Strong Cases for Rice County Hazing Victims

Our Data-Driven Approach to Hazing Litigation

We don’t just talk about hazing cases — we’re fighting one right now. Our approach is built on evidence, expertise, and relentless advocacy.

1. Comprehensive Evidence Gathering

• Medical records — Document injuries and treatment
• Communications — Texts, emails, social media showing hazing coordination
• Photos/videos — From hazing events or injuries
• Witness statements — From other pledges, bystanders, or members
• Organizational documents — Pledge manuals, meeting minutes, training materials

2. Expert Witness Network

• Medical experts — To explain injuries and long-term impact
• Greek life culture experts — To explain how hazing culture develops
• Institutional negligence experts — To explain university failures
• Economic experts — To calculate lost wages and future medical costs

3. Aggressive Discovery

• Subpoenas — For fraternity/sorority records, university documents
• Depositions — Questioning chapter officers, national representatives, university officials
• Third-party discovery — From social media companies, phone carriers, insurance companies
• IRS records — To identify fraternity/sorority corporate structures

4. Pattern Evidence Development

• Prior incidents — At the same chapter, same university, same national organization
• National patterns — Hazing at other chapters of the same fraternity
• Institutional knowledge — What the university or national organization knew

5. Multi-Defendant Strategy

• We sue everyone responsible — not just the local chapter
• National organizations — They have deep pockets and insurance
• Universities — They have a duty to protect students
• Individual members — Personal liability for participants

6. Media and Public Pressure

• Strategic media outreach — To put pressure on defendants
• Legislative advocacy — To strengthen Kansas hazing laws
• Alumni pressure — To demand accountability from fraternities/sororities

🏛️ Who We Sue: Kansas Defendants We Pursue

1. National Fraternity/Sorority Organizations

Examples in Kansas:

• Pi Kappa Phi
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)
• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)
• Sigma Chi
• Beta Theta Pi
• Phi Delta Theta
• Kappa Sigma

Why they’re liable:

• They set policies that failed to prevent hazing
• They knew about hazing culture (many have prior incidents)
• They have millions in assets and insurance
• They can be held responsible for local chapter actions

2. Local Chapters

Examples in Kansas:

• Pi Kappa Phi at University of Kansas
• SAE at Kansas State
• Pike at Wichita State
• Sigma Chi at Fort Hays State
• And many others at Kansas colleges

Why they’re liable:

• They directly organized and conducted the hazing
• Their officers and members participated
• They are responsible for the actions of their members

3. Universities and Colleges

Examples in Kansas:

• University of Kansas
• Kansas State University
• Wichita State University
• Fort Hays State University
• Emporia State University
• Barton Community College
• McPherson College
• Sterling College

Why they’re liable:

• They have a duty to protect students from foreseeable harm
• Many own or control fraternity/sorority houses
• They have substantial endowments and insurance
• They often have prior knowledge of hazing problems

4. Individual Members and Officers

Examples:

• Chapter presidents
• Pledgemasters
• Risk managers
• Members who participated in hazing
• Members who failed to stop hazing

Why they’re liable:

• They can be sued personally for their actions
• They may have homeowner’s insurance that covers liability
• Stone Foltz precedent: Chapter president ordered to pay $6.5 million personally

5. Housing Corporations

What they are:

• Separate entities that own fraternity/sorority houses
• Often controlled by alumni

Why they’re liable:

• They own the property where hazing occurred
• They have a duty to maintain safe premises
• They may have insurance coverage

6. Insurance Companies

Examples:

• Fraternity/sorority national insurance
• University liability insurance
• Homeowner’s insurance for individual members
• Umbrella policies

Why we pursue them:

• They have money to pay claims
• They often lowball settlements — we fight for full value
• Multiple policies may provide multiple layers of coverage

💡 Why Rice County Families Need Specialized Hazing Attorneys

The Unique Challenges of Hazing Cases

Hazing cases are not like other personal injury cases. They require specialized knowledge and experience.

1. Institutional Power Dynamics

• Universities and national fraternities have teams of lawyers
• They will try to blame the victim (“he consented,” “he knew the risks”)
• They will try to minimize the conduct (“it’s just tradition”)

How we fight back:

• We know their playbook because we’re former insurance defense attorneys
• We use pattern evidence to show systemic problems
• We use expert witnesses to explain hazing culture

2. Victim Intimidation

• Victims often fear retribution from the organization
• They may feel loyalty to the fraternity/sorority
• They may blame themselves

How we fight back:

• We protect our clients from intimidation
• We build trust and provide emotional support
• We help victims understand it’s not their fault

3. Evidence Preservation Challenges

• Organizations often delete communications after incidents
• They may destroy physical evidence
• They may coordinate stories among members

How we fight back:

• We send immediate preservation letters
• We subpoena third-party records (phone companies, social media)
• We use forensic experts to recover deleted data

4. Multi-Defendant Complexity

• Hazing cases often involve 10+ defendants
• Each defendant has different insurance policies
• Some defendants may have governmental immunity

How we fight back:

• We have experience with complex litigation
• We know how to pursue multiple insurance policies
• We understand immunity exceptions

🎯 Case Study: How We Would Handle a Kansas Hazing Case

Hypothetical Scenario: Barton Community College (Great Bend, KS)

Situation:
A student at Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kansas (just 30 minutes from Rice County) pledges Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE). During the pledge period, he is subjected to:

• Forced calisthenics until exhaustion
• Being struck with a wooden paddle
• Forced consumption of alcohol
• Sleep deprivation
• Psychological humiliation

He collapses during a workout and is hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.

How Attorney 911 Would Handle This Kansas Case:

1. Immediate Response

• Free consultation with the student and family
• Preservation letters sent to SAE national, Barton Community College, and local chapter
• Medical records requested from hospital
• Photos taken of injuries
• Witnesses identified and interviewed

2. Evidence Gathering

• Subpoena SAE national for all communications with Barton chapter
• Subpoena Barton Community College for all Greek life policies and hazing reports
• Request security camera footage from fraternity house
• Subpoena phone records for chapter officers
• Obtain social media data from Instagram, Snapchat, GroupMe

3. Liability Analysis

• SAE national — Knew about prior hazing incidents at other chapters
• Barton Community College — Failed to implement effective oversight
• Local chapter — Directly organized and conducted hazing
• Chapter officers — Leadership responsibility
• Individual members — Participated in hazing

4. Damages Calculation

• Medical expenses — Hospital stay, ongoing treatment
• Future medical — Kidney monitoring, potential dialysis
• Lost wages — Time missed from work
• Pain and suffering — Physical pain and psychological trauma
• Punitive damages — For egregious conduct (paddling, forced alcohol)

5. Legal Strategy

• File lawsuit in appropriate Kansas court
• Pursue all defendants — national, local, university, individuals
• Aggressive discovery — depositions, document requests
• Expert witnesses — medical, Greek life culture, institutional negligence
• Media strategy — public pressure on defendants
• Legislative advocacy — strengthen Kansas hazing laws

6. Resolution

• Negotiate settlement for maximum compensation
• If necessary, take case to trial — we’re not afraid to fight
• Ensure long-term accountability — policy changes at university and national level

📞 How Rice County Families Can Reach Us

Free Consultation for Kansas Hazing Victims

If your child has been hazed at a Kansas college or university, we can help — no matter where you are in Rice County or Kansas.

Contact Attorney 911 Today:

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

We offer:

• Free, confidential consultations for Rice County families
• Video consultations — no need to travel
• Contingency fee representation — $0 upfront; we only get paid if you win
• Aggressive, experienced advocacy — we’re fighting this battle right now

We will travel to Rice County, Kansas for:

• Client meetings
• Depositions
• Trials
• Any necessary legal proceedings

Distance is not a barrier to justice.

🎯 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Rice County Hazing Case

1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now

We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to build these cases because we’re in the fight right now.

2. We Have the Experience

• 25+ years of litigation experience (Ralph Manginello)
• Former insurance defense attorneys — we know how the other side thinks
• Federal court admission — can pursue Kansas cases in federal jurisdiction
• Dual-state licensed (Texas and New York) — strategic advantage for national organizations

3. We Understand Hazing Culture

• We’ve handled hazing cases involving Kappa Sigma, Texas A&M, and rhabdomyolysis injuries
• We know the “traditions” and how they’re used to justify abuse
• We know how fraternities/sororities try to hide evidence

4. We’re Aggressive Advocates

• We don’t back down from powerful institutions
• We sue everyone responsible — not just the local chapter
• We fight for maximum compensation
• We’re not afraid to go to trial

5. We Care About Rice County Families

• We see your child as a person, not a paycheck
• We understand the emotional toll of hazing
• We’re committed to preventing future hazing incidents
• We offer compassionate, personalized representation

6. We Offer Contingency Fees

• $0 upfront — Rice County families pay nothing to hire us
• We only get paid if we win your case
• Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict
• If we don’t win, you owe us nothing

🔥 Message to Kansas Fraternities and Sororities

To the fraternities and sororities operating at Kansas colleges and universities:

We are watching. We are documenting. We are building cases.

The same legal strategies that are securing multi-million dollar verdicts nationwide apply to your Kansas chapters.

If you haze students in Kansas, we will find every liable entity. We will pursue every insurance policy. We will hold every individual accountable.

The Pi Kappa Phi chapter at University of Houston? Shut down. The chapter president in the Stone Foltz case? Ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.

Your chapter could be next.

Clean up your act. End the hazing. Or face the consequences.

🏆 Our Commitment to Rice County

To the families of Rice County, Kansas:

We know you send your children to college expecting them to be safe. You trust the universities. You trust the Greek organizations. You trust that these institutions will protect your child.

That trust is being betrayed.

When your child is hazed, tortured, or hospitalized, it’s not just an accident. It’s a failure of the institutions that were supposed to protect them.

We are committed to holding those institutions accountable — for Rice County families and for students across Kansas.

If your child has been hazed, we will fight for you. We will honor your child by ensuring this never happens to another Kansas family.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. The consultation is free. The call could change everything.

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
📍 Serving Rice County, Kansas from Houston, Austin & Beaumont
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | 📧 ralph@atty911.com | 🌐 attorney911.com

We don’t just talk about hazing cases. We’re fighting one right now — and we’ll fight for Rice County families too.