If your college student has been seriously injured or tragically killed in a sorority or fraternity hazing or bullying incident, a Chicago hazing and bullying lawyer at The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers can help. We represent hazing victims in Chicago and across Illinois. Our personal injury attorneys have decades of experience with complex claims, including those involving sorority and fraternity hazing and bullying.
In this Article
What Is Hazing or Bullying?
Hazing and bullying are types of harassment found in many settings, including college campuses. Hazing usually involves initiation rituals forced on new group members, like in a fraternity or sorority, aiming to humiliate or harm.
Bullying consists of repeated aggressive behavior intended to harm, intimidate, or control someone. Both can cause significant physical and psychological harm to victims.
Facing the Challenge: Combatting Hazing and Bullying on College Campuses
As the new school year approaches, parents and their college-bound kids are preparing for college life. Parents often go through checklists with their teens, reminding them about laundry, medication, and the dangers of alcohol and drugs. While cautioning them, many also encourage joining a fraternity or sorority. Greek life offers benefits like networking, philanthropy, community service, social development, and leadership skills.
Be Aware of Hazing
However, a critical concern often overlooked is the prevalence of sorority or fraternity hazing and bullying, with potentially catastrophic outcomes. Encouraging our children to join these Greek organizations might unknowingly place them in danger.
As college students return to school, it’s crucial to recognize the dangers of hazing and bullying, which can lead to serious physical and emotional injuries.
How Common Is Hazing in Illinois?
According to hazingprevention.org, 55% of college students in various organizations experience hazing, with the majority going unreported. In Illinois, many report hazing whose severity ranges from mild discomfort to life-threatening injuries or death.
Common Types of Hazing
Not all hazing looks the same. There are different types of hazing behaviors that pledges can be exposed to, ranging from silent games to physical abuse and sexual assault.
At a hazing event, a hazing victim may suffer:
Forced alcohol abuse
Verbal abuse
Name-calling
Intentional sleep deprivation
Harassment
Threats
Humiliation
Forced cooking or cleaning services for other members
Burns
Bondage
Engaging in illegal activity
Nudity
Sexual hazing or sexual abuse
Animal abuse
Physical abuse
Coerced eating
Abductions
Kidnapping
Exposure to dangerous weather conditions
What Illinois Laws Address Hazing?
When discussing hazing with your child, it is important to define hazing. So what exactly is hazing? In Illinois, hazing is defined under hazing statute 720 ILCS 5/12C-50 as knowingly requiring the performance of any act that is not sanctioned by the university for the purpose of admission into a group that results in bodily harm.
Is Hazing Illegal in Illinois?
Yes. Hazing is illegal in Illinois and is classified as a Class A misdemeanor escalating to a Class 4 felony if resulting in death or serious injury. Most college handbooks explicitly prohibit all hazing activities.
Bogenberger v. Pi Kappa Alpha Alpha Corp
In 2012, 19-year-old Northern Illinois University student David Bogenberger tragically died from alcohol poisoning during a fraternity hazing event. Required to drink excessive amounts of vodka, his blood alcohol level reached five times the legal limit. This incident is one of the most chilling fraternity hazing cases in recent Illinois history.
The Bogenberger family filed a civil lawsuit after a tragic incident, leading to a landmark hazing case, at the Illinois Supreme Court. This case, Bogenberger v. Pi Kappa Alpha Alpha Corp, established a precedent allowing civil damages actions against fraternity and sorority members for negligence in hazing incidents.
In August 2018, a landmark $14 million settlement was reached in the Bogenberger case, challenging the longstanding rule of no liability for providing alcohol except under specific laws like Illinois’ Dram Shop Act and under-aged prohibitions.
Other Tragic Examples of Hazing Deaths in Illinois
Nick Haben died in 1980 from alcohol poisoning related to a lacrosse club initiation at Western Illinois University.
In 1970, Donna Bedinger suffered fatal head trauma during a sorority pledge event at Eastern Illinois University.
What Should I Do If My Child Is Injured in a Hazing Incident?
If your child has suffered serious injury as the result of a hazing incident:
Get medical attention for your child – This is the first and most important step. You need to make sure they receive medical treatment. Once your child is stable, you can begin to focus on the legal process.
Gather evidence – You will need to collect as much evidence as possible. This may include photos of the injuries, medical records, police reports, and eyewitness testimony.
Contact a lawyer – An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you navigate the legal process, seek justice, and get the maximum compensation you and your child deserve.
What Resources Are Available?
Parents are advised to review their student’s school policy on hazing. Most colleges have clear policies against it.
hazingprevention.org – A website filled with resources and a guide to state laws regarding hazing.
Pledges: Tips to Stay Safe while Considering Greek Life
Research the group beforehand to understand their values and expectations.
Talk to current and former members to get a better understanding of the pledging process.
Attend all official events and avoid any unofficial, secretive activities.
Trust your gut and speak up if you feel uncomfortable or pressured in any way.
Contact The Kryder Law Group, LLC, Accident & Injury Lawyers
The Kryder Law Group, LLC, Accident & Injury Lawyers is a law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of hazing and bullying victims. If you or your child has been a victim of hazing or bullying, our experienced hazing attorneys can help, starting with a free case review.
Chicago Hazing and Bullying Lawyer
$7.5 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when a support wall fell and struck him. (Highest award on record for a construction injury in DuPage County at the time).
$3.2 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when he fell in an uncovered foundation trench, ranking as the highest award on record for a construction injury in McHenry County at the time.
$3 Million
Recovery for the family of a man struck by a garbage truck that was making an illegal turn.
$2.2 Million
Recovery for a salesman injured in an automobile collision.
$2 Million
Recovery for a man struck by a speeding vehicle as he waited for the CTA bus.
$1.5 Million
Recovery for a truck driver that was struck by another car on the expressway while his vehicle was disabled.
$1.4 Million
Recovery for a computer programmer that slipped and fell in the washroom at work.
Recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. At the time, this was the second-highest recovery on record in DuPage County for a similar injury.
$800,000
Recovered for a disputed wrongful death claim against a trucking company. The company denied they were involved in the collision.
$660,000
Recovery for a truck driver that was injured while unloading his trailer.
$550,000
Recovery for a person who slipped and fell in a grocery store.
$550,000
Recovery for a woman who injured her neck in a motor vehicle collision.
$500,000
Recovery for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle while standing on the sidewalk.
$460,000
Recovery for a truck driver that tripped and fell in the parking lot while making a delivery.
$450,000
Recovery for a dental assistant who slipped and fell at work on an unnatural accumulation of ice.
$425,000
Recovery for a union worker struck by a speeding vehicle.
$425,000
Recovery for a passenger in a vehicle struck by an inexperienced driver.
$415,000
Recovered for a woman that required neck surgery after aggravating an existing neck injury in a truck accident.
$400,000
Recovery for a lab technician injured while transporting equipment.
$370,000
Recovery for a construction worker injured on faulty equipment at a construction site.
$315,000
Recovery for a motorist struck by a falling utility pole.
$310,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$300,000
Recovery for a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.
$250,000
Recovery for a young woman struck by another vehicle.
$250,000
Recovered for a woman who sustained a partial finger amputation and other injuries in a rollover car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$250,000
Recovered for a 60-year-old woman involved in a car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man hit by a semi-truck while operating a go-cart.
$240,000
Recovery for the injured party struck by another vehicle.
$235,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$235,000
Recovery for an inventory clerk injured when shelving toppled onto her.
$219,000
Recovery for a restaurant patron that slipped and fell in the bathroom.
$200,000
Recovered for an airline employee struck on the runway at O’Hare International Airport.
$190,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$175,000
Recovered for a child injured by fireworks at a fourth of July celebration.
$170,000
Recovered for a person injured when she slipped and fell exiting a major retail store.
$150,000
Recovered for a woman who fractured her leg when she was struck by a vehicle.
Britt C.
Andrew Kryder went above and beyond to help me out with a case that I brought to him. He was prompt, attentive, and extremely thorough. It was a pleasure to work with him!
(312) 223-1700