🛡️ Hazing Victims in Union County, Iowa: Your Legal Rights and Path to Justice
🚨 Hazing Is Not Tradition — It’s Abuse. And It’s Illegal in Iowa.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of hazing at a college, university, or student organization in Union County, Iowa, you are not alone. Hazing — whether it involves forced drinking, physical abuse, humiliation, or extreme physical exertion — is dangerous, illegal, and unacceptable. It can lead to serious injuries, psychological trauma, and even death.
At Attorney 911, we are fighting this crisis nationwide — including right here in Union County. While we’re based in Texas, we serve hazing victims across the country, including Iowa. We are currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against a fraternity and university for hazing that hospitalized a student, and we are ready to bring the same aggressive representation to Union County families.
📞 Call us now for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911
📍 Hazing in Union County: What Families Need to Know
Union County is home to Southwestern Community College (SWCC) in Creston, a respected institution that serves students from across Iowa and beyond. SWCC offers a variety of student organizations, clubs, and athletic programs — all of which have the potential to foster community and belonging.
But where there is Greek life, sports teams, or student organizations, there is also the risk of hazing.
🔍 What Does Hazing Look Like in Union County?
Hazing isn’t always obvious. It often starts with “harmless” activities and escalates into dangerous, even life-threatening, behavior. In Union County, hazing could include:
✅ Forced Alcohol Consumption — Being pressured to drink until you black out or vomit
✅ Extreme Physical Abuse — Forced exercise to exhaustion, paddling, or beatings
✅ Sleep Deprivation — Being kept awake all night for “initiations”
✅ Psychological Torture — Being humiliated, degraded, or isolated
✅ Waterboarding or Simulated Drowning — A form of torture that has no place in student life
✅ Forced Eating — Consuming large amounts of food, milk, or peppercorns until vomiting
✅ Servitude — Being forced to run errands, clean, or perform personal tasks for members
These aren’t “pranks” or “team-building exercises” — they’re crimes. And they happen right here in Iowa, including in Union County.
📜 Iowa Hazing Law: What You Need to Know
Iowa has strong laws against hazing, and victims have legal rights to hold perpetrators and institutions accountable.
Iowa Code § 708.10 — Hazing
Hazing is a criminal offense in Iowa. It is defined as:
“An intentional or reckless act by a person acting individually or with others that is directed against a student and that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of the student for the purpose of initiation or admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in any organization whose members are students at a school, college, or university.”
This means:
- Hazing is illegal in Iowa, whether it happens on or off campus
- Consent is NOT a defense — even if a student “agrees” to participate, it is still illegal
- Organizations can be held criminally liable for hazing
- Individuals who participate or allow hazing can face criminal charges
Criminal Penalties in Iowa
| Offense Level | Punishment |
|---|---|
| Simple Misdemeanor | Up to 30 days in jail; up to $625 fine |
| Serious Misdemeanor | Up to 1 year in jail; up to $1,875 fine |
| Aggravated Misdemeanor | Up to 2 years in jail; up to $6,250 fine |
If hazing causes serious injury or death, the penalties increase significantly.
⚖️ Civil Liability: You Can Sue for Hazing in Iowa
In addition to criminal charges, hazing victims in Union County and across Iowa can file civil lawsuits to recover compensation for:
🔹 Medical expenses — Hospital bills, therapy, medications
🔹 Lost wages — If you missed work due to injuries
🔹 Pain and suffering — Physical and emotional trauma
🔹 Punitive damages — To punish the organization for reckless or intentional misconduct
Who Can Be Sued?
Hazing cases often involve multiple defendants, including:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and participated in hazing |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture |
| University/College | Failed to protect students; may own the property where hazing occurred |
| Individual Members | Participated in or facilitated hazing |
| Alumni/Advisors | Hosted hazing at their homes; failed to intervene |
💰 Recent Hazing Settlements and Verdicts — What Iowa Victims Can Recover
Hazing cases across the country have resulted in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. These cases prove that hazing victims CAN and DO win big — and the same is possible for Union County families.
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | Settlement | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | Jury Verdict | $6.1 million |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | Settlement | $110+ million |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Settlement | Confidential (major) |
| Adam Oakes | Virginia Commonwealth | Delta Chi | Settlement | $4+ million |
These cases show that juries and institutions take hazing seriously — and so should Union County families.
🏫 Hazing at Southwestern Community College (SWCC) — What Union County Families Should Know
Southwestern Community College (SWCC) in Creston is a vibrant institution with a strong sense of community. SWCC offers a variety of student organizations, clubs, and athletic programs, including:
🔹 Athletics — SWCC is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), with competitive teams in basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, and more.
🔹 Student Organizations — SWCC has active student government, honor societies, and special interest clubs.
🔹 Greek Life — While SWCC is a community college and does not have traditional Greek fraternities or sororities, students may participate in Greek organizations at nearby four-year universities, including:
- University of Iowa (Iowa City)
- Iowa State University (Ames)
- Drake University (Des Moines)
- University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls)
Hazing can occur in any of these settings — and Union County families need to be aware of the risks.
SWCC’s Responsibility to Protect Students
Even if hazing occurs off-campus or at another institution, SWCC has a duty to protect its students. This includes:
✅ Educating students about hazing risks — Especially those involved in athletics or Greek life at other schools
✅ Monitoring student well-being — Recognizing signs of hazing trauma
✅ Providing support resources — Counseling, reporting mechanisms
✅ Taking action when hazing is reported — Investigating and intervening
If SWCC fails in this duty, they can be held liable for negligence.
🚨 Warning Signs of Hazing — What Union County Parents Should Watch For
Hazing often starts subtly and escalates. Union County parents should be alert for these red flags in their children:
| Warning Sign | What It Might Mean |
|---|---|
| Sudden secrecy about activities | Hiding involvement in hazing rituals |
| Unexplained injuries | Bruises, cuts, or burns from physical abuse |
| Extreme fatigue or sleep deprivation | Forced late-night activities |
| Sudden weight loss or gain | Forced eating or extreme exercise |
| Depression or anxiety | Psychological trauma from humiliation |
| Withdrawal from friends/family | Shame or fear of retaliation |
| Sudden changes in behavior | Increased aggression, fear, or paranoia |
| Unexplained expenses | Being forced to pay for events or items |
| Avoiding certain people or places | Fear of encountering hazers |
| Talking about “traditions” or “initiation” | Justifying hazing as “normal” |
If you notice these signs, take action immediately. Hazing can escalate quickly and lead to serious harm.
🛡️ What to Do If You or Your Child Has Been Hazed in Union County
If you or someone you love has been the victim of hazing in Union County, time is critical. Here’s what you should do:
1️⃣ Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
- Hazing can cause rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), kidney failure, alcohol poisoning, and other life-threatening conditions
- Medical records are critical evidence for your case
2️⃣ Preserve All Evidence
- Take photos of injuries, hazing locations, or any physical evidence
- Save all communications — texts, emails, social media messages, GroupMe chats
- Write down everything — dates, times, what happened, who was involved
- Get witness contact information — Other victims or bystanders
3️⃣ Do NOT Confront the Organization Alone
- Do not talk to fraternity/sorority leaders, coaches, or university administrators without legal counsel
- Do not sign anything from the organization
- Do not post about the incident on social media
4️⃣ Report the Hazing
- File a police report — Hazing is a crime in Iowa
- Report to the university — If hazing occurred at another institution, report it to their administration
- Report to SWCC — Even if hazing happened elsewhere, SWCC should be aware
5️⃣ Contact an Attorney Immediately
- Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation
- We will preserve evidence, protect your rights, and fight for the compensation you deserve
- We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win
🏆 Why Union County Families Choose Attorney 911
✅ Nationwide Hazing Litigation Experience
We are currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against a fraternity and university for hazing that hospitalized a student. We know how to build these cases, and we know how to win.
✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena used to work for insurance companies. We know their playbook — and we use that knowledge to maximize your recovery.
✅ Federal Court Authority
We are admitted to practice in U.S. District Court, meaning we can pursue hazing cases anywhere in the country — including Iowa.
✅ Aggressive, Compassionate Representation
We treat every client like family. Union County families are not just cases to us — they’re people who deserve justice.
✅ No Upfront Costs
We work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win. Union County families can fight back without financial risk.
✅ Willingness to Travel
We will come to Union County, Iowa for depositions, meetings, and trials. Distance is not a barrier to justice.
📞 Union County Families: Call Us Now
If you or someone you love has been hazed in Union County, Iowa, or anywhere in the state, you have legal rights. We can help.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com
We are ready to fight for Union County families — and we won’t stop until justice is served.
🔥 To Fraternities, Sororities, and Student Organizations in Iowa: We Are Watching
To the fraternities, sororities, and student organizations operating in Union County and across Iowa:
We are watching. We are litigating. And we are holding you accountable.
The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter. If you haze students in Iowa, we will pursue every liable entity — your local chapter, your national organization, your university, and every individual who participates.
Our message is clear: Hazing ends now. And if you don’t stop it, we will.
📢 Union County: This Is Your Moment to Stand Up
Hazing thrives in silence. It thrives when victims are too afraid to speak up. It thrives when institutions turn a blind eye.
But it ends when victims stand up. It ends when families demand justice. It ends when communities say “enough is enough.”
If you’ve been hazed in Union County, Iowa, you are not alone. You have rights. You have power. And you have Attorney 911 on your side.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today. Your story could save the next student.
Attorney 911 — Fighting for Hazing Victims in Union County, Iowa, and Nationwide.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com
We don’t just talk about justice. We fight for it.
