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Chicago Sexual Hazing Attorney
Top Attorneys For Hazing Lawsuits
A Chicago sexual hazing attorney gives you the best chance at maximizing compensation from liable parties, including sports teams, student organizations, and universities. Our law firm will help negotiate a fair settlement for medical bills, physical and emotional injuries, and other damages related to sexual assault on campus.
By utilizing our many resources, we can carefully investigate the sexual abuse, identify liable parties, and estimate your damages, including how the assault may have impacted your professional and academic future. Contact us today for a legal consultation about your rights.
Verdicts and Settlements from Our Sexual Abuse Attorneys in Chicago
- $21,000,000 for a woman assaulted by a worker
- $15,000,000 for several students abused by a private coach
- $4,000,000 for teens abused by a religious group leader
What Is Hazing?
Under Illinois law, hazing is defined as causing bodily harm to any person during an unsanctioned activity related to the induction into a group, organization, or society connected to the institution. In some cases, this can include sexual abuse and degradation.
The hazing statute explicitly links hazing cases to education, and it may take place at:
- School
- College
- University
- Trade school
- Other educational institutions
Hazing Incident Statistics
- Northwestern University found that 2 in 5 students were aware of hazing taking place on their campus.
- Eastern Illinois University reports that 71% of students who are hazed suffer from emotional injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), loss of trust with fraternity members or sorority members, and declines in grades.
- 71% of hazing activities involved alcohol in some way.
- In a 2018 survey of seven universities, 42.7% of athletes on sports teams reported experiencing some form of hazing, while 38.3% of fraternity and sorority members reported experiencing hazing.
While 55% of students surveyed identified hazing acts, only 5% recognized them as hazing events.
Is Hazing Illegal?
Hazing is illegal under Illinois law. The law prohibits any initiation ritual where the hazing results in physical harm to a person. It is defined as a Class A misdemeanor, but if it results in death or great bodily harm, it becomes a Class 4 felony.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act, introduced to the United States House of Representatives in 2023, aims to reduce hazing activities by requiring colleges to report annually on hazing incidents on campus.
Policies of College Campuses and Universities on Hazing
Most of the universities in Chicago have explicit hazing policies meant to protect their students from harm, including:
- University of Chicago
- University of Illinois-Chicago
- Northwestern University
- Loyola University Chicago
- DePaul University
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- Roosevelt University
- Columbia College Chicago
- Chicago State University
Common Types of Hazing
Sexual abuse is one of the most damaging forms of abusive initiation rites. This includes stripping initiates, forcing them to wear exposing outfits, or simulating sexual acts.
Unfortunately, many victims experience additional trauma, as the sexual abuse may be combined with physical violence. For example, initiates may be hit with paddles, forced to engage in strenuous activity, or made to drink excessive alcohol. This last point is especially dangerous, as many hazing deaths involve alcohol abuse.
The sexual abuse goes hand-in-hand with emotional abuse. Victims are humiliated and forced to prove their obedience. In addition to being stripped, they may be made to wear degrading and sexualized costumes. Initiates are often forced to eat foul substances or rub these on their bodies, such as rotten eggs.
The Consequences of Hazing
A hazing incident can leave college students with physical injuries and serious mental health struggles, which is why it is crucial to work with a lawyer to get justice for these injuries.
- Physical Injuries – As a result of physical or sexual abuse, initiates may be left with broken bones, concussions, bruises, and lacerations. Severe alcohol intoxication can cause brain damage or even death.
- Emotional Distress – Sexual assault can cause severe psychological harm, including PTSD, sleeping disorders, anxiety, depression, and withdrawal from activities.
Contrary to claims, these initiation rites do not encourage group cohesion. Rather, sexual abuse or physical assault can cause severe distrust, resentment, and fear amongst group members. Some students may quit sports teams, leave fraternities, or even drop out of school due to the severe emotional trauma.
What to Do If You Are a Victim of Hazing Activities
If you have been subjected to hazing practices, it is essential to take prompt action to protect your legal rights. Follow these steps as soon as possible after a hazing event.
- Seek Medical Attention – Hazing can result in serious injuries, such as broken bones or alcohol poisoning. Many universities in Chicago, including the University of Chicago, Loyola University, Rush University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago, have hospitals and urgent care clinics where you can receive treatment. If there was any penetration or sexual contact, ask for a rape kit. This can be used as evidence.
- Document the Incident – Take pictures of the place where the hazing occurred and of your injuries. Gather up any communication that mentions the initiation rite and get the contact details of everyone who was present.
- Report Hazing – Call the National Anti-Hazing Hotline at (888) 668-4293. Your message will be saved as an audio file and sent to your school’s administration. Be sure to mention your school and the organization that hazed you.
- Call a Lawyer – Hiring a Chicago hazing and bullying lawyer after an incident is crucial for protecting your rights and seeking justice. We have the expertise to navigate the legal complexities, gather essential evidence, and hold responsible parties accountable to help you secure compensation for medical expenses, emotional distress, and other damages.
How a Hazing Attorney From Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers Can Help
Our team assists with civil claims associated with hazing. We’ll help you with every step of the legal process. This includes:
- Free Consultation – A Chicago sexual abuse lawyer from our team will assess whether you have a case and determine its potential value.
- Gathering Evidence – We’ll collect all materials related to the incident, including phone records, photos, medical reports, and university records regarding the student organization.
- Filing a Lawsuit – After we identify who can be held liable, we will demand damages based on our estimates of the damages.
- Negotiations – We may settle with the university itself or, when this involves a local chapter of a Greek organization, with the organization itself.
- Trial Representation – Sometimes it is not possible to settle with the organization. In this case, we will represent you in court, protecting your legal rights and arguing successfully that you deserve compensation.
Hazing Allegations as the Basis of a Civil Lawsuit
College students involved in sexually abusive hazing can file criminal charges, as hazing behaviors are illegal in the state of Illinois.
However, they can also pursue a civil suit for their physical and emotional injuries. These sexual abuse cases are based on negligence, which means that the defendant had a responsibility to protect the hazing victim but failed to do so.
The Illinois Supreme Court case Bogenberger v. Pi Kappa Alpha Corporation, Inc., affirmed that local chapters of fraternities and their members have a responsibility to protect members from physical and emotional harm. When they fail to do so, they can be held liable.
You do not have to have physical injuries to file a lawsuit, whether you experienced nonconsensual sexual activities or other forms of harassment. You can also file a lawsuit even if you willingly participated in the activity. Agreeing to these events does not mean that you decided to be sexually assaulted or otherwise hurt.
Damages you may receive include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If your case goes to court, the jury may award punitive damages, which are intended to punish the perpetrator and deter them from committing similar offenses in the future. These are often awarded in cases that involve extreme sexual violence or cause death.
Liability in Hazing Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
A variety of parties can be held liable in these lawsuits, including:
- Individual Perpetrators – Those who facilitated the abuse are the most likely liable parties in a sexual abuse lawsuit.
- Student Groups – The sorority, fraternity, athletic club, or recreational group has a responsibility to protect students against these crimes.
- Faculty Members – In Chicago, no educational official can permit any form of sexual harassment, whether by action or inaction. If they know that a college student has been exposed to sexual abuse but do nothing, they are negligent.
- Universities – If campus officials are aware of the hazing activities and fail to intervene, the administration can be held liable.
What kind of compensation can I expect from a settlement?
There is no agreed-upon monetary compensation amount for any personal injury or civil suit, though Illinois does not impose a settlement cap. The settlement you receive depends on the extent of your injuries, the financial expenses incurred, and the duration of negotiations.
How long does a sexual abuse lawsuit typically take?
A lawsuit may take anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on its complexity and the clarity of the liability.
Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for Your Hazing Case
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is a Super Lawyers firm with a 10 out of 10 rating on Justia and an A+ BBB rating. Our experienced team of attorneys has decades of experience in civil litigation.
We take a client-centered approach, taking the time to understand our clients on a personal level. We consistently strive to minimize the impact of the legal process on our clients’ lives and have recovered over $450 million in damages on their behalf.
The Time Limit for Filing Hazing Lawsuits in Chicago, Illinois
A civil lawsuit in Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations, so you must act quickly to ensure we have time to file a lawsuit after negotiations.
Contact a Chicago Hazing and Bullying Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation!
Our Chicago personal injury law firm has recovered millions for clients and works on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you owe us nothing unless we win your case. We’re a highly-rated law firm that fights hard for our clients, and we’re ready to assist you in exploring your legal options.
Schedule a free consultation and discover the legal actions you can take by calling us or completing our online contact form.
Specific Cases We Handle
Our downtown office, near the Richard J. Daley Center, Dirkson United States Courthouse, and the Chicago Workers’ Compensation Commission, offers convenient access from Aurora, Joliet, and Waukegan via I-90, I-94, and I-290.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
225 W Wacker Dr #1660
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (847) 835-8895
We also serve clients from Buffalo Grove, Decatur, Naperville, Rockford and throughout Illinois.
We also serve clients from Buffalo Grove, Decatur, Naperville, Rockford, and throughout Illinois.
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1ST CLASS SERVICE! Mr. Rosenfeld was great to work with and took great care of me and my case. Thank you again and if I know of anyone looking for a lawyer I am sending them your way!
– Bryan
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All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.