🛡️ Hazing Victim Legal Guide: Protecting Pickens County Families from Fraternity Abuse

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Pickens County, Alabama and Nationwide from Houston, Austin & Beaumont

🚨 To Pickens County Parents: This Is Happening Near You

Pickens County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities to protect their children. They trust Greek organizations to provide positive experiences.

But the truth is terrifying.

The same hazing that hospitalized our client at the University of Houston — waterboarding, forced exercise until kidney failure, wooden paddles, psychological torture — is happening at universities near Pickens County.

The same fraternities that paid $10 million after Stone Foltz died at Bowling Green State are operating chapters near Pickens County.

The same national organizations that knew about “a hazing crisis” and did nothing are recruiting Pickens County students.

Your child could be next.

🎯 Why Pickens County Families Need Attorney 911

We are the law firm actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to build these cases. We know how to win.

And we will bring that same aggressive representation to Pickens County families.

✅ We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW

• Currently representing a hazing victim hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure
• Suing Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and University of Houston for $10 million
• Our case has been covered by ABC13, KHOU 11, Houston Chronicle, Houston Public Media

✅ We Serve Pickens County Families

• Headquartered in Houston, but we represent hazing victims nationwide
• Federal court authority — can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction
• Dual-state bar licenses — Texas AND New York
• Video consultations available for Pickens County families
• We travel to Pickens County for depositions, trials, and client meetings

✅ We Know How to Win

• Former insurance defense attorneys — we know their playbook
• 25+ years of litigation experience (Ralph Manginello)
• 12+ years of litigation experience (Lupe Pena)
• Multi-million dollar case experience — including BP Texas City explosion litigation
• Specific hazing expertise — rhabdomyolysis cases, Kappa Sigma, Texas A&M experience

✅ We Speak Your Language

• Se habla español — bilingual staff serving Spanish-speaking clients
• Compassionate representation — we treat Pickens County families like family
• Contingency fee — $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.

📚 What Pickens County Families Need to Know About Hazing

1. Hazing Is Illegal in Alabama

Alabama Code § 16-1-23 defines hazing as:

Any willful act on or off the campus of any school, college, university, or other educational institution in Alabama by one student alone or acting with others which is directed against any other student and which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student, or which induces or coerces a student to endanger such student’s mental or physical health or safety.

This includes:

• Physical brutality (beatings, paddling, branding)
• Forced consumption (alcohol, food, non-food substances)
• Sleep deprivation
• Psychological abuse
• Sexual humiliation
• Extreme physical exercise
• Any activity that creates unreasonable risk of harm

Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says consent doesn’t matter.

2. Hazing Is a Crime in Alabama

Alabama Code § 16-1-23 makes hazing a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by:

• Up to 3 months in jail
• Up to $500 fine

If hazing causes serious physical injury, it becomes a Class B misdemeanor:

• Up to 6 months in jail
• Up to $3,000 fine

If hazing causes death, it becomes a Class C felony:

• Up to 10 years in prison
• Up to $15,000 fine

3. Universities Near Pickens County Have Hazing Problems

While we don’t have documented hazing incidents specifically from Pickens County institutions, we know these problems exist at universities across Alabama and the Southeast.

Universities near Pickens County with documented Greek life presence:

• University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) — Major Greek system
• Auburn University — Major Greek system
• University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) — Major Greek system
• Mississippi State University — Major Greek system
• University of Southern Mississippi — Greek life present
• Troy University — Greek life present
• University of West Alabama — Greek life present

The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths nationwide operate chapters at these universities:

• Pi Kappa Phi
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)
• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)
• Phi Delta Theta
• Beta Theta Pi
• Sigma Chi
• Kappa Sigma

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority at any of these universities, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client.

💔 Real Hazing Cases That Could Happen in Pickens County

Case 1: Waterboarding and Kidney Failure (Our Case — University of Houston, 2025)

What happened:

• Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student, accepted a bid to Pi Kappa Phi fraternity
• Over 7 weeks, he was:
  • Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
  • Forced to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
  • Struck with wooden paddles
  • Forced to eat until vomiting, then forced to continue exercising
  • Hog-tied on a table (another pledge)
  • Stripped to underwear in cold weather
  • Carried sexual objects in a fanny pack at all times

Result:

• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)
• Acute kidney failure
• 3 nights, 4 days in the hospital
• $10 million lawsuit filed

Why this matters to Pickens County:
The same Pi Kappa Phi fraternity has chapters at universities near Pickens County. The same waterboarding, paddling, and forced exercise could be happening to your child.

Case 2: Death from Forced Drinking (Stone Foltz — Bowling Green State, 2021)

What happened:

• Stone Foltz, 20, was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a Pi Kappa Alpha “Big/Little” event
• Found unresponsive the next morning
• Died from alcohol poisoning

Result:

• $10.1 million total settlement (university + fraternity)
• Chapter permanently expelled
• Multiple criminal convictions

Why this matters to Pickens County:
Pi Kappa Alpha has chapters at universities near Pickens County. The same forced drinking that killed Stone Foltz could kill your child.

Case 3: Death from “Bible Study” Drinking Game (Maxwell Gruver — LSU, 2017)

What happened:

• Maxwell Gruver, 18, participated in a Phi Delta Theta pledge event called “Bible Study”
• If pledges answered questions wrong, they were forced to drink
• Maxwell consumed a massive amount of alcohol
• Blood alcohol content: 0.495 (more than 6x legal limit)
• Found unresponsive the next morning
• Died from acute alcohol poisoning

Result:

• $6.1 million jury verdict
• Chapter permanently closed
• Max Gruver Act — made hazing a felony in Louisiana

Why this matters to Pickens County:
Phi Delta Theta has chapters at universities near Pickens County. The same “Bible Study” drinking game could kill your child.

Case 4: Death from 18 Drinks in 82 Minutes (Timothy Piazza — Penn State, 2017)

What happened:

• Timothy Piazza, 19, was forced to run “the gauntlet” — 18 drinks in 82 minutes
• Blood alcohol content reached 0.36 (potentially fatal)
• Fell down basement stairs multiple times
• Suffered traumatic brain injury
• Fraternity members waited 12 HOURS before calling 911
• Died from traumatic brain injury and abdominal hemorrhage

Result:

• $110+ million settlement (estimated)
• 18 fraternity members charged
• Multiple convictions including involuntary manslaughter
• Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law — Pennsylvania

Why this matters to Pickens County:
Beta Theta Pi has chapters at universities near Pickens County. The same drinking gauntlet could kill your child.

⚠️ Warning Signs Your Child Is Being Hazed in Pickens County

Hazing is often hidden, but there are warning signs:

Physical Signs:

• Unexplained bruises, cuts, or injuries
• Extreme fatigue or sleep deprivation
• Sudden weight loss or gain
• Difficulty walking or moving
• Signs of alcohol poisoning (vomiting, confusion, unconsciousness)
• Brown or dark urine (sign of rhabdomyolysis — muscle breakdown)

Behavioral Signs:

• Sudden withdrawal from family and friends
• Increased secrecy about activities
• Fear of discussing Greek life
• Sudden decline in academic performance
• Anxiety or depression
• Avoiding certain locations or people
• Wearing clothing that seems inappropriate for weather (to hide injuries)

Social Media Signs:

• Deleted social media posts
• New private accounts or GroupMe chats
• Posts about “traditions” or “brotherhood tests”
• Posts showing extreme physical activity
• Photos with blurred faces or dark backgrounds (to hide activities)

Financial Signs:

• Sudden requests for money
• Unexplained purchases (alcohol, paddles, costumes)
• Missing cash or credit card charges

📋 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Pickens County

Step 1: Ensure Immediate Safety

• If your child is in immediate danger, call 911
• If they’re injured, take them to the emergency room immediately
• Do not let them drive if they’re disoriented or injured

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

• Take photos of all injuries at all stages of healing
• Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs)
• Document everything — dates, times, locations, participants
• Get witness names and contact information
• Save all clothing or objects used in hazing (paddles, costumes, etc.)

Step 3: Seek Medical Attention

• Even if injuries seem minor, get them checked
• Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) may not appear immediately
• Medical records are critical evidence

Step 4: Report the Incident

• Report to university (Title IX office, student affairs)
• Report to police — file a police report (hazing is a crime in Alabama)
• Report to national organization (if Greek life)

Step 5: Contact an Attorney

• Call Attorney 911 immediately: 1-888-ATTY-911
• Do NOT give statements to fraternity, university, or insurance without legal counsel
• Do NOT sign anything without consulting an attorney
• We offer free consultations — know your rights

⚖️ Who Is Liable for Hazing in Pickens County?

Hazing cases involve multiple defendants who can be held accountable:

These are not just “kids being kids.” These are organizations with:

• Corporate structures
• Insurance policies
• Bank accounts
• Real estate holdings
• Deep pockets

They can afford to pay. And we will make them pay.

💰 What Pickens County Families Can Recover

Economic Damages:

• Medical expenses (hospital bills, treatment, future care)
• Lost wages (time missed from work)
• Educational expenses (tuition, fees, lost scholarships)
• Future earning capacity (if injuries cause permanent limitations)

Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical pain and suffering (the agony of hazing injuries)
• Mental anguish (trauma from abuse)
• Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
• Loss of enjoyment of life (impact on college experience)
• Disfigurement (scars, permanent injuries)

Punitive Damages:

• Awarded when conduct is egregious, reckless, or intentional
• Meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct
• Hazing is exactly this type of conduct

Precedent Cases Show Pickens County Families Can Recover Millions:

• $10.1 million — Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State)
• $6.1 million — Maxwell Gruver (LSU)
• $110+ million — Timothy Piazza (Penn State)
• $10 million — Leonel Bermudez (University of Houston — our case)

🕒 Pickens County Families: Time Is Running Out

Alabama Statute of Limitations:

• Personal Injury: 2 years from date of injury
• Wrongful Death: 2 years from date of death

Do not wait.

• Evidence disappears
• Witnesses forget
• Organizations destroy records
• Your rights expire

Call Attorney 911 today: 1-888-ATTY-911

🔥 Fraternities Near Pickens County: We Are Watching

To the fraternities operating near Pickens County:

We know who you are. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your hazing histories.

Pi Kappa Phi:

• Paid $10 million after Stone Foltz died
• Hospitalized our client in 2025
• Your chapter near Pickens County could be next

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE):

• Multiple hazing deaths nationwide
• Your chapter near Pickens County could be next

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike):

• Stone Foltz died at your chapter
• Your chapter near Pickens County could be next

Phi Delta Theta:

• Maxwell Gruver died at your chapter
• Your chapter near Pickens County could be next

Beta Theta Pi:

• Timothy Piazza died at your chapter
• Your chapter near Pickens County could be next

The message is clear:
We are building cases. We are tracking your chapters. We are coming for anyone who hazes our children.

Clean up your act. Or we will clean you out in court.

📞 Pickens County Families: Call Us Now

If your child has been hazed, we can help.

• Free consultation — know your rights
• $0 upfront — we work on contingency
• Aggressive representation — we fight for maximum compensation
• Nationwide service — we represent Pickens County families anywhere

Call Attorney 911 Today:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

We will travel to Pickens County for your case. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

🛡️ Final Message to Pickens County Parents

Your child’s safety is your top priority. You sent them to college expecting them to be protected. You trusted the university. You trusted the fraternity.

That trust was betrayed.

But you are not powerless. The law is on your side. We are on your side.

Attorney 911 is fighting this battle right now. We are in court, in the media, and in the halls of power demanding accountability. And we will bring that same fight to Pickens County.

If your child has been hazed, call us today. Before it’s too late.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Because when it comes to hazing, there’s no time to wait. And no room for mercy.