Hazing Victims in Scott County, Iowa: Legal Rights & How Attorney 911 Can Help

🚨 Hazing Is Happening in Scott County — And It’s More Dangerous Than You Think

Scott County is home to thriving educational institutions, including St. Ambrose University, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (Scott Community College), and nearby Augustana College, Western Illinois University, and the University of Iowa. Many of these schools have active Greek life, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC programs, and student organizations—all environments where hazing occurs far too often.

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” It’s abuse, assault, and sometimes torture—and it’s illegal in Iowa. If your child has been hazed in Scott County, they may have suffered physical injuries, psychological trauma, or even life-threatening conditions like rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) or alcohol poisoning.

The same fraternities and sororities that have paid millions in settlements nationwide—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, and others—operate right here in Scott County and the Quad Cities region. And just like in Houston, Texas, where we’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit, these organizations know the risks but do nothing to stop it—until someone gets hurt.

🔍 What Counts as Hazing in Iowa?

Iowa law defines hazing as any intentional, reckless, or negligent act that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization.

Hazing Can Include:

✅ Physical Abuse – Beatings, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion
✅ Forced Consumption – Alcohol, food, or non-food substances (e.g., hot sauce, milk, peppercorns)
✅ Sleep Deprivation – Late-night activities, forced early-morning workouts
✅ Psychological Torture – Waterboarding, humiliation, threats, isolation
✅ Sexual Humiliation – Forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, sexual assault
✅ Dangerous Stunts – Blindfolded activities, extreme weather exposure, confined spaces

Real-Life Hazing Cases in Iowa & Nearby States

• University of Iowa (2017) – A fraternity member was hospitalized after a hazing incident involving excessive alcohol.
• Iowa State University (2019) – A student was hospitalized with alcohol poisoning after a fraternity event.
• Western Illinois University (2021) – A student suffered severe injuries from forced physical activities during initiation.
• University of Illinois (2023) – A fraternity was suspended after a pledge suffered rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) from extreme exercise.

If your child was hazed in Scott County, they are not alone—and they have legal rights.

⚖️ Iowa Hazing Laws: What You Need to Know

Iowa Code § 708.10 – Hazing Is a Crime

Under Iowa law, hazing is a serious misdemeanor, punishable by:

• Up to 1 year in jail
• Fines up to $2,560
• Criminal charges against individuals and organizations

Iowa Code § 261.9 – Universities Must Report Hazing

• Schools are required to report hazing incidents to authorities.
• Failure to report is a violation of state law.

Consent Is NOT a Defense

Even if your child “agreed” to participate, Iowa law explicitly states that consent does not excuse hazing.

💰 Can You Sue for Hazing in Scott County?

Yes. If your child was hazed in Scott County, you may have a civil lawsuit against:
✔ The local fraternity/sorority chapter (e.g., the Scott County chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, etc.)
✔ The national fraternity/sorority organization (they have deep pockets and insurance)
✔ The university or college (if they failed to prevent hazing)
✔ Individual members (those who directly participated or allowed it)

What Can You Recover?

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
• Lost wages (if hazing affected their ability to work)
• Punitive damages (to punish the organization for gross negligence)
• Wrongful death damages (if hazing resulted in death)

Recent hazing settlements nationwide:

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

Your Scott County hazing case could be worth millions.

🚑 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Scott County

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

• Rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, and other hazing injuries can be life-threatening.
• Go to Genesis Health System (Davenport), UnityPoint Health (Bettendorf), or UI Hospitals & Clinics (Iowa City) for treatment.
• Document all injuries with photos and medical records.

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

• Save all texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, and social media posts about the hazing.
• Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any objects used.
• Get names and contact info of witnesses.

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Alone

• They will try to cover it up.
• They may pressure your child to sign documents or give statements.
• Anything they say can be used against you in court.

Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

• We offer FREE consultations for Scott County hazing victims.
• We work on contingency—you pay NOTHING unless we win.
• We can file a lawsuit within Iowa’s 2-year statute of limitations.

📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

🏆 Why Scott County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Case Right Now

• We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after Pi Kappa Phi hazing.
• The fraternity waterboarded him, forced him to do 500 squats, and struck him with wooden paddles.
• We know how to win these cases—and we’ll bring the same fight to Scott County.

2. We Know How Fraternities Operate

• Many of our attorneys are former insurance defense lawyers—we know how fraternities and universities try to avoid liability.
• We’ve deposed fraternity members, obtained internal documents, and exposed cover-ups.
• We don’t let them hide behind “tradition” or “consent” excuses.

3. We Serve Scott County from Our Houston & Austin Offices

• We travel to Scott County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
• We offer video consultations for Scott County families.
• We handle cases nationwide—distance is not a barrier.

4. We Work on Contingency—You Pay Nothing Upfront

• No hourly fees.
• No retainers.
• We only get paid if we win your case.

5. We Have a Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Wins

• $10.1 million – Stone Foltz hazing case (Ohio)
• $6.1 million – Maxwell Gruver hazing verdict (Louisiana)
• Millions more in personal injury and wrongful death cases

🎯 Common Hazing Scenarios in Scott County

1. Fraternity & Sorority Hazing

• Forced alcohol consumption (binge drinking, “drink until you puke” challenges)
• Extreme physical punishment (500 squats, bear crawls, paddling)
• Waterboarding/simulated drowning (yes, this happens in Iowa)
• Sleep deprivation (late-night activities, forced early-morning workouts)
• Sexual humiliation (forced nudity, carrying sexual objects)

2. Sports Team Hazing

• Forced alcohol consumption (rookie nights, “freshman initiation”)
• Physical abuse (beatings, paddling, branding)
• Dangerous stunts (blindfolded activities, extreme weather exposure)

3. Marching Band & ROTC Hazing

• Excessive physical demands (forced exercise to exhaustion)
• Psychological abuse (humiliation, isolation, threats)
• Sleep deprivation (all-night rehearsals, forced wake-up calls)

4. Other Student Organizations

• Forced consumption of food/alcohol (eating contests, drinking games)
• Extreme endurance challenges (standing for hours, confined spaces)
• Degrading rituals (public humiliation, forced servitude)

If your child was hazed in any of these ways, we can help.

📞 What to Do Next: Call Attorney 911 Today

Hazing victims in Scott County, Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island, and the Quad Cities deserve justice. You have legal rights, and we can help you enforce them.

🚨 Free Consultation for Scott County Hazing Victims

• Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
• Email ralph@atty911.com
• Visit attorney911.com

💡 What Happens When You Call?

1. We listen to your story (confidentially).
2. We evaluate your case (for free).
3. We explain your legal options (lawsuit, settlement, criminal charges).
4. We fight for maximum compensation (medical bills, pain and suffering, punitive damages).

You pay nothing unless we win.

🔥 Final Message to Scott County Fraternities & Universities

To the fraternities and sororities operating in Scott County:
We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter. If you haze students in Scott County, we will sue you, expose you, and hold you accountable.

To the universities in Scott County:
You have a legal and moral duty to protect students. If you fail to stop hazing, you will be held liable—just like the University of Houston in our current case.

To the parents of Scott County:
Your child trusted these organizations. If that trust was betrayed, we will make them pay.

📞 Call Attorney 911 Now: 1-888-ATTY-911

Scott County hazing victims deserve justice. We’re here to fight for you.