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The Greene County Family’s Guide to Hazing, Greek Life, and Legal Accountability

If your child left Greene County for college—whether to the University of Alabama, Auburn, or any campus across the South—you trusted they would be safe. The nightmare begins with a late-night call, a text saying they’re “not feeling well,” or a trip to a hospital hours from home. You learn they were forced to drink until they vomited, run until they collapsed, or endure humiliation “to prove their loyalty.” This is not a mistake or a rite of passage. This is hazing, and it is a crime.

For families in Greene County—from Eutaw to Forkland, Boligee to Union—the shock is compounded by distance and the powerful institutions involved. National fraternities and sororities operate the same way in Tuscaloosa as they do in Texas. The same patterns of forced consumption, physical abuse, and institutional cover-ups that have led to deaths and multi-million dollar lawsuits nationwide are present on campuses where our children study.

This guide is for you. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, the legal rights of Alabama families, and the sobering national patterns that repeat from campus to campus. We will connect the dots between national headlines and what your child may be experiencing. Most importantly, we will show you how to protect your child, preserve accountability, and navigate a path forward when the institutions meant to protect students have failed.

If you are in crisis right now:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911. We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™, and we provide immediate help for legal emergencies.
• Within the first 48 hours: Get medical attention, screenshot all group chats and messages, photograph any injuries, and write down everything you remember. Do not confront the organization, sign anything from the university, or let your child delete evidence.

Section 1: Hazing in 2025 – Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is not just about “boys being boys” or harmless pranks. It is a calculated system of abuse designed to assert power, create loyalty through trauma, and filter members. For Greene County families, understanding its modern forms is the first step in recognizing it.

What Constitutes Hazing?
In Alabama, as in most states, hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed at a student for the purpose of initiation, admission, or affiliation with any organization that endangers mental or physical health. Critical to understand: A victim’s “consent” is not a defense. The power imbalance and coercion inherent in pledging negate true voluntary agreement.

The Four Pillars of Modern Hazing:

1. Alcohol & Substance Hazing: The most common and deadly. This includes forced chugging, “family drink” rituals, drinking games with penalties, and coerced consumption of drugs or dangerous concoctions.
2. Physical Hazing: This spans from “smokings” (extreme, punitive exercise) and paddling to sleep deprivation, exposure to elements, and violent rituals like tackles or blindfolded challenges.
3. Psychological & Humiliating Hazing: This involves verbal abuse, threats, social isolation, forced servitude, public degradation, and acts designed to shame, often now amplified through social media.
4. Sexualized Hazing: This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, and sexually degrading behavior. It often overlaps with Title IX violations and can be among the most traumatizing.

The Digital Layer:
Today’s hazing is organized and documented on phones. Group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp) are used to issue commands at all hours. Social media is used for public shaming or “challenges.” Evidence is often captured in photos and videos, only to be deleted when investigations begin. For parents, a sudden obsession with their phone, anxiety about notifications, or secretive behavior can be a major red flag.

Where It Happens:
While fraternities and sororities are most associated with hazing, it permeates other groups:

• Athletic Teams: From football to cheerleading, “rookie rituals” can cross into abuse.
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups.
• Corps of Cadets and other military-style organizations.
• Academic Clubs and Spirit Organizations.

The common thread is a hierarchy where existing members have power over new members, coupled with a culture of “tradition” used to justify abuse.

Section 2: The Legal Landscape – Alabama Law and Your Family’s Rights

Understanding the law empowers you. Alabama has its own legal statutes, and federal laws provide additional layers of protection and potential liability.

Alabama’s Hazing Law (Alabama Code § 16-1-23):
Alabama law defines hazing and makes it a crime. Key points for Greene County families:

• It is a Class B Misdemeanor. However, if the hazing results in serious physical injury, it becomes a Class A Misdemeanor.
• The law applies to any student or organization in connection with any school, college, or university.
• Both individuals and organizations can be held liable.
• Consent of the victim is not a defense. This is crucial—organizations cannot claim “they wanted to do it.”

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: A Critical Distinction

• Criminal Case: Brought by the state (DA) to punish wrongdoing with fines or jail. A criminal conviction can help a civil case but is not required.
• Civil Case: Brought by the victim and family to recover damages and hold all responsible parties accountable. This is where families can seek compensation for medical bills, trauma, lost education, and more. The standard of proof is different (preponderance of evidence vs. beyond a reasonable doubt), and the goal is restitution and accountability, not just punishment.

Federal Frameworks That Apply:

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based discrimination, the university has a legal duty to respond promptly and effectively. Failure to do so can create separate liability for the school.
• The Clery Act: Requires colleges to report certain crimes, including aggravated assault and liquor/drug law violations, which often accompany hazing. A pattern of unreported incidents can show institutional negligence.
• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires increased transparency, public reporting of hazing incidents, and enhanced prevention programs at federally funded institutions, phased in by 2026.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Lawsuit?
A thorough investigation seeks to identify every entity with responsibility:

1. The Individuals: The members who planned, executed, or oversaw the abuse.
2. The Local Chapter: As an entity, it can be sued for fostering a culture that led to harm.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: They often have deep pockets, insurance, and a history of similar incidents. They can be liable for negligent supervision, failure to enforce their own policies, and for creating dangerous traditions.
4. The University: Schools can be liable for negligent supervision, premises liability (if it occurred on campus property), or deliberate indifference to a known pattern of abuse.
5. Third Parties: Property owners of off-campus houses, bars that illegally furnished alcohol, or security companies that failed to act.

Section 3: National Patterns – The Foreseeable Script of Tragedy

Major hazing cases across the country are not isolated incidents. They reveal a predictable, repeating script. For Greene County families, these cases prove that what happened to your child was not an “accident,” but a foreseeable result of known, dangerous practices. Right now, our firm is actively litigating one of the most serious cases in the country, proving our commitment to this fight.

The National Case That Proves Our Commitment:
We are currently representing Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, its Beta Nu chapter, and 13 individual members. This case is a textbook example of the brutality and institutional failure we fight against.

Mr. Bermudez, a pledge in Fall 2025, was subjected to months of abuse: forced to carry a humiliating “pledge fanny pack,” subjected to sleep deprivation and overnight driving duties, and beaten down by extreme physical hazing. This included being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, and then forced to sprint. The climax was a November 3 workout where he was forced to perform over 100 push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. He developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown, and he was hospitalized for four days with a risk of permanent kidney damage.

The chapter was suspended and then shut down. The university called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” This active, high-stakes litigation demonstrates exactly the level of investigative depth and institutional-fighting experience we bring to every case. The patterns in this Texas case—forced consumption, extreme exercise, humiliation, institutional knowledge—are the same patterns we see everywhere, including in Alabama.

Other National Anchors That Shape the Legal Landscape:

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injury after a forced drinking event; brothers delayed calling 911. Result: Criminal convictions, massive civil settlements, and new Pennsylvania law.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died of alcohol poisoning after a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: The Max Gruver Act made hazing a felony in Louisiana.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. Result: A $10 million settlement from the national fraternity and university.
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died of alcohol poisoning at a “Big Brother” night. Result: FSU suspended all Greek life.

What This Means for You: These cases create legal precedent. They prove national organizations were on notice about the lethal risks of their traditions. When the same fraternity involved in a death at one school has a chapter at your child’s Alabama university, that history becomes powerful evidence of negligence and foreseeability in your case.

Section 4: The Alabama & Greene County Campus Landscape

Greene County families often send their children to major universities within the state and across the Southeast, institutions with large, powerful Greek life systems. Understanding the specific environments at these schools is key.

Universities Relevant to Greene County Families:

• The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa): Home to one of the largest Greek systems in the nation. Its size and traditional culture mean hazing, while officially condemned, can be pervasive and deeply entrenched.
• Auburn University: A major SEC school with a strong Greek presence. Hazing incidents have surfaced within fraternities and athletic teams over the years.
• Alabama State University (Montgomery): As an HBCU, its National Pan-Hellenic Council (“Divine Nine”) organizations have a powerful presence, with their own histories and, unfortunately, instances of hazing-related discipline.
• University of West Alabama (Livingston): Closer to home, UWA has Greek organizations, and hazing is prohibited under the student code of conduct.
• Other Regional Schools: Students may also attend Mississippi State, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), or University of Southern Mississippi, all universities with significant Greek life where similar dynamics exist.

How Hazing Manifests on These Campuses:
The methods are consistent with national patterns but may carry local flavor: forced drinking at “swap” parties or “big brother” reveals, mandatory calisthenics for fraternity pledges, “lineage” rituals in NPHC organizations that can involve paddling (despite national bans), and psychologically coercive tactics in sororities around appearance and social compliance.

University Policies and the Reality:
Every school listed has a strict anti-hazing policy on paper. Reporting channels exist through Dean of Students offices, student conduct, and campus police. However, the gap between policy and enforcement can be vast. Internal processes often prioritize the institution’s reputation and can result in minimal sanctions like probation—failing to deter future abuse. Transparency is limited; families rarely see full disciplinary histories.

Section 5: The Organizations – National Histories and Local Chapters

The fraternity or sorority involved in your child’s case is almost certainly part of a national network. That national history is a map of prior knowledge and liability.

Major Nationals with Documented Hazing Patterns:
These organizations operate chapters at Alabama schools. Their national histories are not allegations; they are legal records:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Nationally implicated in the Stone Foltz death ($10M settlement) and other serious cases.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Has faced numerous hazing-related lawsuits across the country, including cases involving traumatic brain injury and severe chemical burns.
• Phi Delta Theta: Involved in the Max Gruver death at LSU, leading to felony hazing legislation.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The national organization we are currently suing in the Bermudez case in Texas, and involved in the Andrew Coffey death at FSU.
• Kappa Alpha Order, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), and others all have their own histories of serious hazing incidents, lawsuits, and chapter closures nationwide.

Why This Matters for Your Case:
When we take a case, part of our investigation involves subpoenaing the national organization’s records. We look for:

• Prior incident reports from the same chapter at your child’s school.
• Prior incidents from other chapters of the same fraternity involving the same methods (e.g., forced drinking games).
• Internal memos, risk management reports, and disciplinary actions that show the national knew of the risks but failed to take adequate steps to prevent them.
  This evidence transforms a “local incident” into part of a negligent pattern, dramatically increasing liability and settlement value. The same insurance companies and defense tactics used by these nationals in Texas or Ohio are used in Alabama. Our experience facing them is direct and current.

Section 6: Building a Case – Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

If hazing has caused injury, the path to accountability is a civil lawsuit. This is a complex process that requires immediate, strategic action.

Critical Evidence That Wins Cases:
The clock starts ticking the moment the hazing ends. Evidence disappears fast.

• Digital Evidence: The #1 priority. This includes screenshots of GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Instagram DMs, and Snapchat conversations planning, discussing, or bragging about the hazing. Do not delete anything. Even “disappearing” messages can sometimes be recovered.
• Photographs & Videos: Pictures of injuries (take them immediately and over several days), the location where it happened, and any objects used (paddles, alcohol bottles).
• Medical Records: Every ER visit, doctor’s note, lab result (like toxicology or kidney function tests), and therapy record must be preserved. Tell medical providers the injuries are from hazing so it is documented.
• Witness Information: Names and contact info for other pledges, members, or roommates.
• University Correspondence: All emails or letters from the Dean of Students, conduct office, or campus police.

Our Investigative Advantage – The “Hazing Intelligence” Approach:
As demonstrated in our active University of Houston case, we don’t start from scratch. We employ a data-driven strategy:

1. We immediately work to preserve digital evidence before it’s deleted.
2. We identify all potential defendants: individuals, local chapter, alumni housing corps, national headquarters, and the university.
3. We use our knowledge of national patterns and insurance company tactics (honed by Mr. Lupe Peña’s years as an insurance defense attorney) to anticipate and counter their defenses.
4. We build a network of experts: medical professionals to document harm, psychologists to assess trauma, and economists to calculate long-term impact.

Understanding Recoverable Damages:
A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and hold wrongdoers accountable through:

• Economic Damages: Past and future medical expenses, lost wages, cost of therapy, and loss of future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, humiliation, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship for the family.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious conduct, these may be available to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

Section 7: A Practical Guide for Greene County Parents & Students

For Parents – Warning Signs and Immediate Steps:

• Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, sudden secrecy, withdrawal from family/friends, personality changes (anxiety, depression), defensive talk about their organization, drop in grades, constant phone use for group chats.
• What to Do Immediately: Prioritize health and safety. Get medical care. Help your child preserve all digital evidence (take screenshots together). Write down a detailed timeline with names, dates, and locations. Contact an attorney before reporting to the university or speaking with insurance adjusters.

For Students – Your Rights and Safety:

• You have the right to be safe. No tradition justifies abuse.
• You can leave. You have the legal right to de-pledge or quit an organization at any time.
• Preserve evidence. Take screenshots, photos, and notes.
• Report safely. Options include confidential reports to the Dean of Students, campus police, or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE). Alabama law and most school policies offer some amnesty for those who call for help in an emergency.

Critical Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Deleting messages or “cleaning up” evidence. This looks like a cover-up and destroys your case.
2. Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly. This prompts them to destroy evidence and lawyer up.
3. Signing university “resolution” agreements without an attorney. You may be waiving your right to sue.
4. Posting details on social media. Defense attorneys monitor everything; inconsistencies hurt your credibility.
5. Waiting to see what the university does. Internal processes are not designed for victim compensation or true accountability. The statute of limitations continues to run.

Section 8: Why Choose The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911

When your family in Greene County faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a local attorney; you need specialists who understand the national scale of the fight and have a proven record of taking on powerful institutions. We are Texas-based hazing litigation specialists who serve families nationwide through direct representation, co-counsel arrangements, and comprehensive consultation.

Our Proven, Active Litigation Credential:
Right now, we are lead counsel in the Leonel Bermudez vs. University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit—a multi-million dollar, complex case against a major university and national fraternity. This isn’t past history; it’s what we do every day. We understand the tactics these institutions use because we are currently in the fight.

Our Unique, Insurmountable Advantages:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City Explosion litigation, facing down billion-dollar defendants. Universities and national fraternities have deep pockets and elite lawyers; we are not intimidated. We have federal court experience and the resources for protracted battles.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise clients navigating both systems.
• A Data-Driven, National Perspective: We track national hazing patterns, organizational histories, and legal precedents. We don’t treat your case as an isolated event but as part of a predictable pattern we know how to exploit for maximum leverage.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña habla Español fluently. We are committed to serving all families in their preferred language.

How We Serve Greene County and Alabama Families:
While our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we actively serve clients across the country. For Alabama hazing cases:

• We provide free, confidential case evaluations to understand your situation.
• If the case has connections to Texas (e.g., a national fraternity headquartered here, Texas-based insurance), we can serve as lead counsel.
• For purely Alabama-based cases, we can serve as specialized co-counsel, working with a local Alabama attorney to bring our hazing-specific expertise to the team, or provide strategic consultation to guide your family and your local counsel.
• We fight the same national organizations and insurance companies, regardless of state lines.

Section 9: Your Next Step – A Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child and your family in Greene County, you do not have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved will have teams of lawyers working to protect themselves from day one. You deserve advocates who fight just as fiercely for you.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, today.

• Call our Legal Emergency Lawyers™ at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). This line is answered 24/7.
• You can also call us directly at (713) 528-9070 or reach Ralph Manginello on his cell at (713) 443-4781.
• Visit our website at https://attorney911.com.
• Email us at ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com.

Your consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation. We will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Explain the legal landscape and your family’s options in clear terms.
• Discuss the investigation process and what we can do to help.
• Explain our contingency fee structure—you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.

Take the first step toward accountability, healing, and preventing this from happening to another family from our community.

Hablamos Español. Contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for assistance in Spanish.

Legal Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and university policies change. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts. If you need legal assistance, please contact an attorney directly. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) | 1-888-ATTY-911 | https://attorney911.com
Offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas | Serving Clients Nationwide