Hazing Prevention and Legal Support for Swains Island Families
🚨 Hazing in Swains Island: Protecting Our Students and Holding Institutions Accountable
Swains Island is a small, tight-knit community in American Samoa, where family values and education are deeply cherished. Parents send their children to college expecting them to grow, learn, and return home safely. Unfortunately, hazing in Greek organizations, sports teams, and other student groups is a nationwide crisis that can reach even our remote island communities. If your child has been a victim of hazing—whether at a university in the mainland U.S., Hawaii, or even locally—you are not alone, and you have legal rights.
At Attorney 911, we are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and the University of Houston for the severe injuries suffered by a student who was waterboarded, forced to perform extreme physical exercises, and hospitalized with kidney failure. This is not just a Texas issue—it’s a national crisis, and Swains Island families deserve the same aggressive legal representation we provide to victims everywhere.
🔍 What Is Hazing? How Does It Affect Swains Island Students?
Hazing is any intentional, reckless, or negligent act that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in a group. It is illegal, dangerous, and has no place in our educational institutions.
Common Hazing Practices That Can Happen Anywhere—Even Near Swains Island
| Type of Hazing | Examples | Dangers |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Abuse | Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion | Broken bones, rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), kidney failure |
| Forced Consumption | Alcohol, food, or non-food substances (e.g., hot sauce, milk, peppercorns) | Alcohol poisoning, choking, organ damage |
| Psychological Torture | Waterboarding, sleep deprivation, humiliation | PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts |
| Sexual Humiliation | Forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, inappropriate touching | Emotional trauma, long-term psychological harm |
| Extreme Servitude | Forced to clean, drive members, or perform personal tasks | Exhaustion, academic decline, mental health struggles |
💔 Real Cases That Could Happen to Swains Island Students
- Leonel Bermudez (University of Houston, 2025) – Hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles.
- Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, 2021) – Died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol. Family won $10.1 million.
- Max Gruver (LSU, 2017) – Died from alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495—6x the legal limit) after a “Bible Study” drinking game. Jury awarded $6.1 million.
- Timothy Piazza (Penn State, 2017) – Fell down stairs after forced drinking, suffered traumatic brain injury. Fraternity members waited 12 hours to call 911. Family settled for $110+ million.
These cases prove that hazing is not “harmless tradition”—it is abuse, and institutions must be held accountable.
⚖️ Legal Rights for Swains Island Hazing Victims
1. Swains Island Families Can Sue for Hazing—Even If the Incident Happened Off-Island
- Hazing is a crime in most states, including Texas, California, Florida, and Hawaii (where many American Samoan students attend college).
- Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law protects them.
- Universities and national fraternities have deep pockets. They carry insurance policies that can pay for medical bills, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
2. Who Can Be Held Liable?
| Defendant | Why They’re Responsible |
|---|---|
| Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter | Directly organized and participated in hazing |
| National Fraternity/Sorority Organization | Failed to supervise chapters, ignored prior hazing incidents |
| University/College | Owned the property where hazing occurred, failed to prevent it |
| Individual Members | Participated in or allowed hazing to happen |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their homes (premises liability) |
3. What Damages Can Swains Island Families Recover?
| Type of Damage | Examples |
|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, therapy, future treatment |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work due to injuries |
| Pain & Suffering | Physical and emotional trauma from abuse |
| Punitive Damages | Extra compensation to punish egregious conduct (e.g., waterboarding, extreme physical abuse) |
| Wrongful Death | If hazing results in death, families can sue for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and more |
🛡️ What Should Swains Island Families Do If Their Child Is Hazed?
✅ Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked. Some conditions (like rhabdomyolysis) don’t show symptoms right away.
- Document everything. Keep all medical records, photos of injuries, and receipts.
✅ Step 2: Preserve Evidence
- Save all communications: Texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, Instagram DMs, emails.
- Take screenshots of any social media posts about hazing.
- Get witness names and contact info (other pledges, bystanders).
- Do NOT delete anything—even if it seems embarrassing.
✅ Step 3: Do NOT Confront the Organization Alone
- Fraternities/sororities will try to control the narrative. They may pressure your child to sign documents or make statements that hurt their case.
- Universities will protect themselves first. Their risk management teams are trained to minimize liability—not to help your child.
✅ Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
- Statute of limitations: In most states, you have only 2 years to file a lawsuit.
- Evidence disappears fast. Texts get deleted, witnesses forget, and institutions destroy records.
- We work on contingency—no upfront fees. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 for Swains Island families)
🏛️ Why Choose Attorney 911 for Swains Island Hazing Cases?
1. We Are Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW
- We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
- Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure.
- We know how to build these cases, negotiate with insurance companies, and take them to trial if needed.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys—We Know Their Playbook
- Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña both worked for insurance companies before switching to represent victims.
- We know exactly how they try to lowball settlements and deny claims.
- We use their own tactics against them to maximize your recovery.
3. Nationwide Reach—We Serve Swains Island Families Anywhere
- Federal court authority – We can sue in federal court if needed.
- Dual-state licensed (Texas & New York) – Strategic advantage for national fraternity cases.
- We travel to Swains Island – For depositions, trials, and client meetings.
- Remote consultations available – Video calls for Swains Island families who can’t travel.
4. We Speak Samoan (Se Fa’apefea) and Spanish (Se Habla Español)
- Many Swains Island families speak Samoan or Spanish as their first language.
- We ensure no language barriers prevent justice.
5. Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Results
- BP Texas City explosion litigation – Mass tort experience against corporate defendants.
- $10M+ hazing case – Currently fighting for a student hospitalized due to fraternity abuse.
- Wrongful death cases – Experience with catastrophic injuries and fatalities.
📢 Our Message to Fraternities Near Swains Island: We Are Watching
To the fraternities and sororities operating near American Samoa, Hawaii, California, Texas, and beyond:
“We know who you are. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. And if you haze students—whether in Swains Island, Honolulu, or Los Angeles—we will find every liable entity and hold you accountable.”
- Pi Kappa Phi – Already facing a $10 million lawsuit for waterboarding a student.
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) – Paid millions in hazing settlements.
- Kappa Sigma, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta – All have documented hazing deaths on their records.
If your chapter harms a student, we will sue you, your national organization, and the university. And we will win.
🎓 Swains Island Parents: Protect Your Child
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority—anywhere in the U.S.—here’s what you need to know:
✅ Research the organization. Has it been suspended for hazing before?
✅ Talk to your child about the risks. Many students don’t realize what they’re agreeing to.
✅ Tell them they can leave at any time. Hazing is illegal, and they cannot be punished for refusing to participate.
✅ Document everything. If they’re being pressured, have them save texts, photos, and witness info.
✅ Contact us immediately if something goes wrong. Time is critical.
📞 Swains Island Families: Call Now for a Free Consultation
You are not alone. We are fighting for justice—and we will fight for you.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 for Swains Island families)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.
🔥 Enough Is Enough. It’s Time to End Hazing.
Swains Island families deserve safe educational environments for their children. If your child has been hazed, you have the power to hold the abusers accountable. Let us help you fight back.
Call Attorney 911 today. Justice starts now.
