🚨 Hazing Victim Legal Rights in Turner County, South Dakota
Turner County Parents & Students: You Are Not Powerless
If your child has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or student organization in or near Turner County, South Dakota, you have legal rights. The same national fraternities and sororities that have paid millions in hazing settlements nationwide operate right here in South Dakota. The same dangerous “traditions” that hospitalized a student in Houston are happening in Turner County.
At Attorney 911, we are fighting this battle right now. We represent a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to win these cases. And we will fight just as hard for Turner County families.
🏫 Hazing in Turner County: What You Need to Know
Hazing Happens in South Dakota — Including Turner County
Turner County is home to Mount Marty University in nearby Yankton, and students from Turner County attend colleges across South Dakota and the region, including:
- University of South Dakota (Vermillion)
- South Dakota State University (Brookings)
- Dakota Wesleyan University (Mitchell)
- Augustana University (Sioux Falls)
- Northern State University (Aberdeen)
These institutions have active Greek life programs. The same national fraternities and sororities involved in deadly hazing incidents nationwide have chapters at South Dakota universities:
- Pi Kappa Phi (our current $10M case)
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)
- Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)
- Sigma Chi
- Beta Theta Pi
- Kappa Sigma
- Phi Delta Theta
- And many others
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in South Dakota, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.
⚠️ What Is Hazing? (South Dakota Law)
South Dakota has a strong anti-hazing law (SDCL 13-32-1 through 13-32-7). Under South Dakota law, hazing is a crime.
Hazing includes any activity that:
- Endangers the physical or mental health or safety of a student
- Is required for membership, affiliation, or initiation
- Includes physical brutality (beatings, paddling, forced exercise)
- Includes forced consumption (alcohol, food, drugs, non-food substances)
- Includes psychological abuse (humiliation, sleep deprivation, isolation)
- Includes sexual abuse (forced nudity, sexual acts)
It does NOT matter if the student “consented.” In South Dakota, consent is NOT a defense to hazing.
🚑 Medical Dangers of Hazing — What Turner County Parents Should Watch For
Hazing causes serious, sometimes life-threatening injuries. Our client was hospitalized for four days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups, and other extreme exercises.
Common hazing injuries include:
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown → kidney failure) — from extreme exercise
- Alcohol poisoning — from forced drinking
- Traumatic brain injury — from beatings or falls
- Hypothermia or heat stroke — from exposure
- Broken bones — from physical abuse
- Internal bleeding — from trauma
- PTSD, anxiety, depression — from psychological torture
- Death
Warning signs your child may have been hazed:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, or burns
- Extreme fatigue or difficulty walking
- Dark or brown urine (sign of rhabdomyolysis)
- Vomiting or nausea
- Withdrawal from friends/family
- Sudden fear or anxiety about Greek life
- Changes in mood or personality
- Unexplained absences from class
- Sudden academic decline
If you notice these signs, seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY. Some hazing injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) can be fatal if untreated.
💰 Can Turner County Families Sue for Hazing?
YES. If your child was hazed in South Dakota, you can file a civil lawsuit to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Who can be sued?
- The local fraternity/sorority chapter (e.g., the SAE chapter at USD)
- The national organization (e.g., Sigma Alpha Epsilon national headquarters)
- The university (if they knew or should have known about hazing)
- Individual members (chapter officers, pledgemasters, participants)
- Housing corporations (if hazing occurred at a fraternity/sorority house)
- Alumni (if they hosted or facilitated hazing)
Our firm is currently suing all of these entities in our $10 million hazing case. The same legal strategies apply to Turner County victims.
📜 South Dakota Hazing Law: Your Legal Rights
SDCL 13-32-1: Definition of Hazing
“Hazing” means any willful act done by a student or group of students, on or off the campus of any school, college, or university, which is directed against any other student and which endangers the physical or mental health or safety of that student, or which induces or coerces a student to endanger his or her physical or mental health or safety.
SDCL 13-32-2: Hazing is a Crime
- Class 2 Misdemeanor (up to 30 days in jail, $500 fine)
- Class 1 Misdemeanor if hazing causes serious bodily injury (up to 1 year in jail, $2,000 fine)
- Class 6 Felony if hazing causes death (up to 2 years in prison, $4,000 fine)
SDCL 13-32-4: Consent is NOT a Defense
“Consent of a student to hazing is not a defense to prosecution under this chapter.”
This means: Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the hazing is still illegal.
SDCL 13-32-6: Schools Must Report Hazing
Any school employee who witnesses or receives a report of hazing must report it to law enforcement within 24 hours.
If your child’s school knew about hazing and did nothing, they can be held liable.
🏛️ Who Is Liable for Hazing in Turner County?
1. The Local Chapter
- Directly organized and conducted the hazing
- Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster) are personally liable
- Members who participated can be sued individually
2. The National Organization
- Failed to supervise the local chapter
- Knew or should have known about hazing risks
- Deep pockets — national fraternities/sororities have millions in assets and insurance
3. The University
- Duty to protect students — universities have a legal responsibility to keep students safe
- Premises liability — if hazing occurred on campus or in university-owned housing
- Negligent supervision — if they failed to monitor Greek life
- Actual knowledge — if they knew about prior hazing incidents
4. Individual Members
- Assault and battery — anyone who physically abused your child
- Intentional infliction of emotional distress — anyone who psychologically tortured your child
- Personal assets — students often have homeowner’s insurance that covers liability
5. Housing Corporations & Alumni
- Premises liability — if hazing occurred at a fraternity/sorority house
- Negligent supervision — if alumni hosted or facilitated hazing
💵 What Can Turner County Families Recover?
Hazing lawsuits can result in substantial compensation for victims and their families. In our current case, we are seeking $10 million for a student hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
Damages available in hazing cases include:
Economic Damages (Financial Losses)
- Medical bills (hospitalization, therapy, future treatment)
- Lost wages (if your child had to miss work)
- Educational expenses (tuition, fees, lost scholarships)
- Future earning capacity (if hazing caused permanent injury)
Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)
- Physical pain from hazing injuries
- Mental anguish from psychological abuse
- Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
- Humiliation and shame
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Punitive Damages (Punishment for Egregious Conduct)
- Awarded when conduct is intentional, reckless, or malicious
- Meant to punish the wrongdoers and deter future hazing
- No cap in South Dakota for punitive damages in personal injury cases
Recent hazing settlements and verdicts nationwide:
- $10.1 million — Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha)
- $6.1 million — Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta) — jury verdict
- $110+ million — Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi) — estimated settlement
- $4+ million — Adam Oakes (VCU, Delta Chi)
Turner County families deserve the same justice.
📅 South Dakota Statute of Limitations: ACT NOW
In South Dakota, you have:
- 3 years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit
- 3 years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit
DO NOT WAIT. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Your rights expire.
Our client in Houston acted immediately — hospitalized November 6, lawsuit filed within weeks. This is how you protect your rights.
🚨 What Turner County Families Should Do RIGHT NOW
1. Seek Medical Attention
- If your child has been hazed, get them to a doctor immediately
- Document all injuries (photos, medical records)
- Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) can be fatal if untreated
2. Preserve Evidence
- Save all communications (texts, social media, GroupMe, Snapchat)
- Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, physical evidence
- Write down everything your child remembers (who was involved, what happened, when)
- Get witness information (names and contact info of other pledges or witnesses)
3. Do NOT Talk to the Organization
- Do NOT speak to the fraternity/sorority, university, or their lawyers without legal counsel
- Do NOT sign anything from the organization
- Do NOT post about the incident on social media
4. Report the Hazing
- File a police report — hazing is a crime in South Dakota
- Report to the university — schools are required to investigate
- Report to the national organization — they may take disciplinary action
5. Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney
- Free consultation — we offer no-obligation case evaluations
- No upfront cost — we work on contingency (you pay nothing unless we win)
- Nationwide reach — we can represent Turner County families no matter where the hazing occurred
📞 Turner County Families: Call Us for a Free Consultation
If your child has been hazed in Turner County or anywhere in South Dakota, we can help.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We offer:
- Free, confidential consultations for Turner County families
- Video consultations — no need to travel
- Aggressive representation — we fight for maximum compensation
- Nationwide experience — we’ve handled hazing cases across America
We work on contingency — $0 upfront. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions for Turner County Families
Q: My child was hazed at a fraternity in Vermillion. Can you help?
A: Yes. We represent hazing victims nationwide, including in South Dakota. Distance is not a barrier.
Q: My child is afraid of retaliation. Will you protect them?
A: Absolutely. We have experience handling sensitive cases and protecting victims from retaliation. Our client in Houston was also fearful of retribution — we take these concerns seriously.
Q: The fraternity says my child “consented.” Is that a defense?
A: No. South Dakota law explicitly says consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the hazing is still illegal.
Q: How much is my case worth?
A: Every case is different. Factors that increase case value include:
- Severity of injuries
- Whether the university knew about prior hazing
- Whether the national organization has a history of hazing
- Whether the hazing involved extreme or outrageous conduct (like waterboarding)
- Whether your child suffered long-term physical or psychological harm
In our current case, we are seeking $10 million for a student hospitalized with kidney failure.
Q: How long will the case take?
A: Most hazing cases settle within 12-24 months. Complex cases or those that go to trial may take longer. We work as quickly as possible to resolve your case while maximizing your compensation.
Q: What if my child is an international student?
A: Your child’s immigration status does not affect their right to compensation. We have experience representing international students and can help navigate any visa concerns.
Q: Can we sue the university?
A: Possibly. Universities can be held liable if:
- They knew or should have known about hazing
- The hazing occurred on university property
- They failed to implement adequate safeguards
- They had a prior hazing incident and did not act
In our current case, we are suing the University of Houston for failing to prevent hazing despite a prior incident.
🔥 Why Turner County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We Are 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 and hold institutions accountable
- Turner County families get the same aggressive representation
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
- Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides
- We know their playbook — and how to beat it
- We know how to maximize insurance payouts
3. Federal Court Authority
- Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- Can pursue cases in federal court when necessary
- Experience with multi-defendant litigation
4. Dual-State Bar Licenses
- Licensed in Texas and New York
- Strategic advantage for cases involving national fraternities/sororities headquartered out of state
5. Proven Results
- $10 million sought in current hazing case
- Millions recovered for personal injury victims
- Hundreds of cases won against insurance companies
6. We Come to You
- Offer video consultations for Turner County families
- Will travel to Turner County, Yankton, Vermillion, Sioux Falls, or anywhere in South Dakota for depositions, meetings, and trials
7. We Speak Spanish
- Se habla español — we can serve Spanish-speaking families without language barriers
8. We Care About Your Child
“We see your child as a person — not a paycheck. And we will fight hard for Turner County families, because we truly care.” — Ralph Manginello
📢 A Message to Turner County Fraternities and Sororities
To the fraternities and sororities operating in Turner County and across South Dakota:
We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, Beta Theta Pi — if your chapter operates in South Dakota, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America.
Every national fraternity with chapters in Turner County should review their hazing policies immediately. We have proven these cases can be won.
Universities in South Dakota: The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. Act now or face the same accountability.
To Greek life leadership at South Dakota institutions: The case we’re fighting right now is a warning. Clean up your chapters before we clean them out in court.
🏆 Our Commitment to Turner County
We are committed to making South Dakota safer for all students. Our goals:
- Hold hazing perpetrators accountable — no more “tradition” excuses
- Secure maximum compensation for Turner County victims and families
- Prevent future hazing — our lawsuits send a message that saves lives
- Support Turner County families — we’re here to help, not judge
If your child has been hazed in Turner County or anywhere in South Dakota, call us today.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7) | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com
Turner County families: You are not alone. We are here to fight for you.
