Sexual hazing is sexual abuse, assault or harassment in the context of a group initiation ritual. These dangerous hazing practices are unfortunately common in settings such as college fraternities or sports teams. If you are a victim of this form of sexual violence, you are entitled to justice and legal compensation via a sexual hazing lawyer.
Survivors of sexual hazing whose claims have expired because of the statute of limitations in California can once again file claims and now have until December 31, 2027 to file a claim under AB 250.
Our law firm has been helping sexual abuse victims obtain justice since 1990 and has recovered over $750,000,000 for clients. We have vast experience handling cases like yours which will allow us to recover justice for you.
We won’t charge any fee to handle your hazing case until we win, as our only fee is a percentage of any compensation we recover for you. This means you won’t be charged an upfront fee or out-of-pocket fee for us to handle your case.
Call us today for a FREE, confidential consultation at (800) 718-4658 or fill out our quick contact form if you or a loved one is a victim of sexual hazing.
What Is Sexual Hazing?
Hazing, according to California law, is a method of preinitiation or initiation into a group which is likely to cause injury.
Sexual hazing is therefore a sexually-themed initiation method which is likely to cause injury. It means requiring or forcing new initiates to go through sexual abuse, assault or harassment in order to join a group such as a fraternity, club or sports team. Sexual hazing activities can lead to physical and emotional injuries, including emotional distress.
Sexual hazing allegations often involve:
- Fraternities
- Sororities
- Sports teams
- The military
- Bands
- Clubs
A key factor in sexual hazing is the lack of consent involved.
While college students are most commonly exposed to sexual hazing in fraternities, sexual hazing can occur in numerous settings and schools, including high school. Sexual hazing is sadly more common than the majority of parents would think.
Sexual hazing will often stem from abuses of power by older club members or fraternity members, in addition to environments of sexual energy and hypermasculinity. Sexual hazing allows its perpetrators to exert control and domination over pledges. Fraternity members can take on mob mentalities to inflict sex crimes on initiates together. Abusers are often past victims. They might perpetuate sexual hazing rituals to rationalize what happened to them.
Is Sexual Hazing Illegal?
Yes. Sexual hazing can constitute sexual assault, battery or harassment.
Many states have anti-hazing statutes, such as Section 245.6 of California’s penal code.
Victimizers can end up facing criminal charges.
Victims of sexual hazing can file civil lawsuits seeking justice and compensation for emotional and physical trauma.
Types of Abuse Common in Hazing Rituals
Types of abuse which are common in hazing rituals include:
- Inappropriate groping or touching of initiates
- The sexual assault, rape or sodomizing of pledges
- Initiates forced to sexually abuse others in order to join a group or team
- Initiates forced to endure indecent exposure or humiliating sex acts in order to participate
- Requiring sexually violating or physically abusive hazing activities
- The enforcement of sexually-natured personal servitude
- The encouragement of alcohol consumption which leads to sexual violence or sexual assault
- Verbal humiliation and degradation
- Isolation and sleep deprivation
- Psychological manipulation
Sexual abuse in the context of hazing is completely unacceptable. You deserve justice and compensation if you have been a victim of sexual hazing.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Sexual Hazing Lawsuit?
Parties who can be held liable in sexual hazing lawsuits include:
- Perpetrators
- Student leaders or team captains
- Fraternities
- Athletic departments
- Other student organizations
- Schools and universities (if they failed to intervene or ignored reports)
- National organizations
It is common for universities to be held liable for sexual abuse when they fail to do enough to prevent it, such as in the case of the Indiana University scandal and the Michigan University scandal.
What Damages Can Victims Recover?
Damages which victims of sexual hazing can recover include:
Medical Expenses
You can recover financial compensation for all past and future medical bills related to your sexual hazing. This includes compensation for all medical bills you already owe as well as the costs of any treatments you can be reasonably expected to require in the future.
Mental Healthcare Costs
Physical healthcare costs aren’t the only healthcare costs you can recover compensation for. Victims of sexual hazing can recover compensation for the costs of therapy, psychiatric medications, etc.
Pain and Suffering
You can recover compensation for the physical pain, mental suffering and emotional distress you endured due to your hazing.
Lost Wages
You can recover compensation for any hours of work you had to miss due to your sexual hazing.
Loss of Earning Potential
If you have lost career or education opportunities due to the impacts of sexual hazing, you can recover compensation for the loss of your earning potential.
Punitive Damages
If it can be shown that your sexual hazing was the result of the grossly negligent, reckless or intentional conduct of another party, such as a school, you may qualify for punitive damages.
How to File a Sexual Hazing Lawsuit
If you are a victim of sexual hazing, you should:
- Go to a hospital or clinic for medical care immediately if you were sexually assaulted. This will help you to heal in addition to documenting what happened via a sexual assault forensic exam.
- Document what occurred in detail, including names, eyewitnesses, the time and date of the crime, the location of the crime, etc.
- Report the incident to relevant authorities such as school authorities as soon as possible. There should be a protocol in place regarding how to report sexual hazing, including taking punitive action against perpetrators and involving the police.
- Seek mental health help.
- Preserve all evidence, such as texts, photos or journal entries.
- Contact a lawyer experienced in hazing and abuse cases.
The statute of limitations for your case may vary, so the sooner you call a sexual abuse lawyer, the better.
Statute of Limitations for Sexual Hazing Lawsuits
The statute of limitations for sexual assault in California depends upon the circumstances involved.
Adult survivors of sexual abuse or assault may file civil lawsuits up to 10 years following the incident. Alternately, they may file a civil lawsuit within three years of discovering that an injury or illness was the result of the sexual abuse or assault. Whichever comes later applies.
In addition, a lookback window was opened by AB-2777. This window ends on December 31, 2026. The lookback window allows adult victims of sexual assault to file a civil lawsuit if their assault happened on or after January 1, 2009 and they previously missed the filing deadline.
Child survivors of sexual abuse or assault which occurred before January 1, 2024 can sue until the age of 40, or within five years of discovering that the abuse caused psychological harm, whichever comes later.
Child survivors of sexual abuse or assault which occurred on or after January 1, 2024 have no time limit for filing civil lawsuits.
Examples of Sexual Hazing Cases in the U.S.
Examples of sexual hazing cases in the United States include:
Northwestern University Hazing Scandal
Lawsuits have been filed alleging that members of Northwestern University’s football team were hazed. The lawsuits allege that football program members, including student athletes, coaches, and the head coach, Pat Fitzgerald, knew about the hazing, and didn’t do enough to prevent hazing.
A former player alleged that coaches witnessed his hazing, and that Coach Fitzgerald called him out before teammates for “bitch(ing) and moan(ing)” to his therapist about unfair treatment.
One former player alleged he was made to participate in “sexualized hazing rituals” including the “Car Wash” and a “naked pass rush.” The “Car Wash” allegedly involved freshmen being forced to rub against players who were covered in soap and naked to reach the team showers.
Another former player alleged several sexual hazing rituals, including a player being held down by teammates while the teammates rubbed their crotches in his face, as well as naked workouts and drills.
Another former player alleged that freshmen were forced to strip naked in locker rooms then perform numerous acts.
St. Joseph University Softball Hazing Scandal
A former St. Joseph’s University softball player filed a lawsuit alleging she endured sexual hazing so bad that she thought about suicide and had to quit the team.
The lawsuit alleged that insufficient anti-hazing policies were in place, as a well-known, widespread culture of sexually-charged, abusive hazing persisted on the team.
The former player alleged that she was forced to dance lewdly, tell sexual stories, and answer and ask sexual questions. She also alleged that other freshmen were forced to simulate sexual acts.
She alleged that while players were told that administrators found out about these activities and that suspensions would result, the activities resumed the next fall.
Milton High School Hazing Scandal
In 2011, a member of the football team at Milton High School in Vermont was sodomized with a broom handle by two of his teammates through his clothing. This was done as a hazing ritual. About one year later, the victim committed suicide.
About nine months later, school administrators became aware that the hazing had occurred, but failed to report it to authorities or tell the victim’s parents.
A lawsuit was filed, claiming the school failed to protect the victim from hazing.
Five football players were eventually convicted after a criminal investigation.
How We Can Help You
We know how these situations can cause damage and lead to loss of income, missed work, bills for medical treatment, counseling or therapy, and more.
We know how to navigate sensitive cases like these and obtain justice for victims – even when abuse happened many years ago – and we often settle cases like these without ever going to court.
We help sexual hazing victims by recovering financial compensation and holding institutions or individuals responsible and financially accountable for the emotional, physical and economic damages which happened.
We have a team of staff and lawyers with decades of experience with sexual hazing and abuse litigation. Our team includes partners who share deep knowledge and guide the process.
Each situation and client is different. We will treat your case with great respect and care as we investigate what occurred and determine your best path towards justice.
We know what to do in order to litigate your case. We will recover all needed background information on any abusers as well as, if applicable, any institution like a school or school district which was involved. We will find records, utilize experts, prepare meticulously and thoroughly, and interview witnesses for you. We ultimately aim to recover the most compensation possible so you’re able to move on.
Our sexual hazing lawyers research cutting edge sexual misconduct laws. We hire experienced, trained hazing experts as consultants and expert witnesses.
We evaluate injuries and claims and research statutes of limitations applicable to cases. We work to find and use the finest experts experienced in all relevant laws.
Sexual Hazing Victims’ Legal Rights
If you or a loved one is a sexual hazing victim, speak up. We know it can be difficult for you to come forward. However, by telling your story, you can save others from going through the same traumatic experiences that you did. You might even save a life, as hazing violence has led to deaths in many cases. There should be policies in place at your school for responding to complaints of hazing.
Should you report hazing and authorities at your school don’t do anything to prevent future incidents or intervene, you could be able to hold your school accountable for your trauma. Schools which fail to prevent or acknowledge hazing can be held liable for hazing. The school might be forced to pay for your medical bills, pain and suffering, psychological trauma, emotional distress and additional losses.
Contact Our Hazing Lawyers for a Confidential Consultation
If you are ready to come forward with your allegations against a defendant such as a school, call us today for a FREE, confidential consultation at (800) 718-4658. We can make sure your identity gets kept as confidential as possible through the whole legal process.
We can help you to take action against illegal, unethical sexual acts which have been committed as part of hazing rituals. We can help you to file a lawsuit against an organization such as a sports organization or school who failed to respond to allegations properly or failed to protect you.
At Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers, we’ll listen to your story and believe you. Remember, we won’t charge any fee until we win your case. Call us today.
