Hazing Victims in Rio Grande County: Your Rights, Your Recovery
If your child was hazed at a college near Rio Grande County, Colorado — you are not alone. We are fighting this battle right now, and we will fight for you.
At Attorney 911, we are currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston after our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure. This same fraternity operates on campuses near Rio Grande County. The same dangers exist here.
Rio Grande County families: If your child was hazed at a college or university near you — whether in fraternities, sororities, sports teams, marching bands, or other organizations — we can help. We serve hazing victims nationwide, including right here in Colorado.
🚨 This Is Happening Near Rio Grande County — And It Could Happen to Your Child
Hazing isn’t just a problem in Texas. It happens everywhere — including at colleges and universities near Rio Grande County, Colorado.
Universities Near Rio Grande County with Greek Life:
While Rio Grande County itself is a rural area with no major universities, it is surrounded by institutions with active Greek life, including:
-
Adams State University (Alamosa, CO) – Approximately 50 miles from Rio Grande County
- Active fraternities: Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Chi, others
- Active sororities: Delta Zeta, others
-
Western Colorado University (Gunnison, CO) – Approximately 100 miles from Rio Grande County
- Greek organizations present
-
Fort Lewis College (Durango, CO) – Approximately 150 miles from Rio Grande County
- Greek organizations present
These schools — and others across Colorado — have active Greek life chapters. The same national fraternities that waterboarded our client in Texas operate chapters near Rio Grande County. The same risks exist here.
If your child attends or plans to attend college near Rio Grande County, they could be at risk.
🔎 What Is Hazing? (It’s Not What You Think)
Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless fun.” It’s abuse disguised as tradition. And it’s illegal in Colorado.
Under Colorado law (C.R.S. § 18-9-124), hazing includes:
- Any activity that endangers the health or safety of a student
- Forced consumption of alcohol, drugs, or food
- Physical brutality (beatings, paddling, branding)
- Psychological abuse (humiliation, sleep deprivation)
- Sexual abuse (forced nudity, sexual acts)
- Waterboarding or simulated drowning (yes, this is happening — just like in our case)
Colorado law says: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds the perpetrators accountable.
🏥 What Hazing Does to Victims — The Medical Reality
Hazing doesn’t just leave emotional scars. It can cause life-threatening injuries, including:
| Injury | How It Happens | What It Does | Real Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhabdomyolysis | Extreme exercise (500 squats, 100 pushups) | Muscle breakdown → kidney failure → can be fatal | Our client hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure |
| Alcohol Poisoning | Forced drinking (binge drinking, chugging) | Vomiting, unconsciousness, death | Stone Foltz (2021) – died from forced drinking |
| Traumatic Brain Injury | Beating, paddling, falls | Permanent cognitive damage, death | Timothy Piazza (2017) – died after fraternity members waited 12 hours to call 911 |
| Hypothermia/Hyperthermia | Forced exposure (stripping in cold, heat exhaustion) | Organ failure, death | Multiple documented cases |
| Sexual Assault | Forced nudity, sexual acts | PTSD, anxiety, depression | Too many cases to count |
| PTSD & Suicide | Psychological torture | Long-term trauma, suicide risk | Adam Oakes (2021) – died by suicide after hazing |
This is not “tradition.” This is abuse. And it’s happening near Rio Grande County.
💰 Who Is Liable? (They All Have Deep Pockets)
When hazing happens, everyone involved can be held accountable — and they all have insurance and assets to pay for the harm they caused.
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Can They Pay? |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Organized and conducted the hazing | Yes — insurance, alumni funding |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture | Yes — deep pockets, insurance |
| University | Failed to protect students; often owns fraternity houses | Yes — endowment, insurance |
| Chapter Officers | Directed hazing activities | Yes — personal assets, insurance |
| Individual Members | Participated in hazing | Yes — personal assets, insurance |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their homes | Yes — homeowner’s insurance |
We sue them ALL. And we don’t stop until justice is served.
⚖️ Legal Rights for Rio Grande County Hazing Victims
1. Colorado Hazing Law (C.R.S. § 18-9-124)
- Hazing is a Class 3 misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail)
- If hazing causes serious bodily injury, it’s a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 18 months in jail)
- If hazing causes death, it’s a Class 4 felony (2-6 years in prison)
- Consent is NOT a defense — even if your child “agreed” to participate
2. Civil Lawsuits — You Can Sue for Money
You can file a personal injury lawsuit to recover:
- Medical bills (hospital stays, therapy, future treatment)
- Lost wages (if your child missed work or internships)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
- Punitive damages (to punish the defendants and send a message)
We’ve won MILLIONS for hazing victims. Our current case seeks $10 million. Your child’s case could be worth just as much.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed Near Rio Grande County
Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately
- Even if your child says they’re “fine,” go to the ER or doctor
- Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) don’t show symptoms right away
- Medical records are critical evidence
Step 2: Preserve ALL Evidence
- Photos/videos of injuries, hazing activities, fraternity house
- Texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs — DO NOT DELETE
- Names and contact info of witnesses
- Fraternity manuals, schedules, rules (if given to your child)
- Clothing or objects used in hazing
Step 3: DO NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone
- They will try to control the narrative
- They will try to get your child to sign something
- They will try to minimize what happened
- Anything your child says can be used against them
Step 4: Call Attorney 911 — We’ll Handle Everything
- Free consultation — no upfront cost
- We’ll preserve evidence before it disappears
- We’ll handle all communications with the fraternity and university
- We’ll build your case and fight for maximum compensation
💬 What Our Attorneys Say About Hazing
“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 911
“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 911
🏆 We’ve Won Millions for Hazing Victims — And We’re Fighting This Fight Right Now
Our Current Case: $10 Million Lawsuit Against Pi Kappa Phi & UH
- Victim: Leonel Bermudez (hospitalized with kidney failure)
- Hazing: Waterboarding, 500 squats, wooden paddles, forced eating until vomiting
- Defendants: Pi Kappa Phi National, UH, chapter officers, individual members
- Status: Lawsuit filed — we’re fighting this right now
Other Cases We’ve Handled:
| Case | Fraternity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Kappa Sigma (Texas A&M) | Extreme physical hazing → rhabdomyolysis | Confidential multi-million settlement |
| Multiple other hazing cases | Various fraternities/sororities | Successful recoveries for clients |
📞 Rio Grande County Families: Call Us Now
If your child was hazed at a college near Rio Grande County, Colorado — we can help.
- Free consultation — no upfront cost
- We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win
- We serve clients nationwide — including Rio Grande County
- We travel to you — for depositions, meetings, and trials
- We speak Spanish — se habla español
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9111)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit: attorney911.com
We are Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™. We protect victims like you.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions for Rio Grande County Families
Q: My child was hazed at a college near Rio Grande County. Can you help even if you’re based in Texas?
A: Yes. We serve hazing victims nationwide, including Colorado. We have federal court authority and are admitted to practice in Texas and New York. We will travel to Rio Grande County for your case.
Q: How much does it cost to hire you?
A: Nothing upfront. We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict, so there’s no risk to you.
Q: What if my child is afraid of retaliation?
A: We understand. Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case was fearful of doing an interview due to retribution. We will protect your child’s identity and handle all communications with the fraternity and university. We also work with experts in victim advocacy to ensure your child’s safety.
Q: What if the fraternity says my child “consented” to hazing?
A: Consent is NOT a defense under Colorado law. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds the perpetrators accountable. We will destroy this argument in court.
Q: How much is my child’s case worth?
A: Every case is different, but hazing cases often result in multi-million-dollar settlements. Our current case seeks $10 million. Factors that increase value:
- Severity of injuries (hospitalization, surgery, permanent damage)
- Egregiousness of conduct (waterboarding, forced drinking, physical abuse)
- University’s knowledge (did they know hazing was happening?)
- Pattern of abuse (was this an isolated incident or part of a culture?)
Q: What if my child was hazed at a small college near Rio Grande County?
A: It doesn’t matter. Even small colleges have insurance and assets. We’ve handled cases at large universities and small colleges — and we’ve won in both.
Q: What if the hazing happened off-campus?
A: It doesn’t matter. Hazing is illegal on or off campus. If it happened at a fraternity house, a private residence, or anywhere else — we can still pursue the case.
Q: How long do I have to file a lawsuit?
A: In Colorado, you typically have 2 years from the date of the hazing incident to file a lawsuit. Do not wait — evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your rights expire.
📢 A Message to Fraternities Near Rio Grande County
To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Chi, and all other Greek organizations operating near Rio Grande County:
We are watching. We are coming.
The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts in Texas apply to your chapters. The same waterboarding, forced drinking, and physical abuse that hospitalized our client is happening in your chapters too.
You have two choices:
- Clean up your act now — before we clean you out in court.
- Keep hazing — and we will sue you, shut you down, and hold every member personally accountable.
We’ve already shut down the UH chapter of Pi Kappa Phi. Your chapter could be next.
🏛️ A Message to Universities Near Rio Grande County
To Adams State University, Western Colorado University, Fort Lewis College, and all other institutions near Rio Grande County:
You own the fraternity houses. You control the Greek life. You have the power to stop hazing.
When you fail to act, you become part of the problem.
We are holding the University of Houston accountable for owning the house where our client was tortured. We will do the same to any university near Rio Grande County that allows hazing to continue.
Your students are counting on you. Don’t fail them.
💔 To Hazing Victims Near Rio Grande County: You Are Not Alone
If you’re reading this and you’ve been hazed — we see you. We believe you. And we will fight for you.
Hazing leaves scars — physical and emotional. You may feel:
- Shame — like you “deserved” what happened
- Fear — of retaliation if you speak out
- Isolation — like no one understands
- Anger — at the people who hurt you
You didn’t deserve this. You didn’t ask for this. And you don’t have to go through this alone.
We are here to listen, support, and fight for you. We will protect your identity, preserve your evidence, and pursue justice on your behalf.
Call us. We’re ready to help.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com
Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Rio Grande County, Colorado and Nationwide
We don’t just talk about hazing. We’re fighting it right now.
