Charlotte County Hazing Lawyer – Fraternity & Sorority Abuse Attorney

Hazing Happens in Charlotte County – And It’s Illegal

Charlotte County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. But every year, students across Florida—including those at universities near Charlotte County—are subjected to dangerous, humiliating, and sometimes life-threatening hazing rituals.

This isn’t “tradition.” It’s abuse. It’s illegal. And it must stop.

At Attorney 911, we are actively fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—proving that fraternities, sororities, and universities can and should be held accountable when they allow this kind of abuse to happen.

If your child was hazed in Charlotte County or at a nearby university, you have legal rights. We will fight for justice—just like we’re fighting now.

📞 Call Now for a Free, Confidential Consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911

What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Illegal in Florida)

Hazing is any activity that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in a group. Under Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 1006.63), hazing is a criminal offense—and victims can also sue for civil damages.

Common Hazing Practices in Charlotte County & Florida

Hazing isn’t just “harmless pranks.” It often involves:
✔ Physical abuse – Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion (like the 500 squats in our current case)
✔ Forced consumption – Binge drinking, eating until vomiting, consuming non-food substances
✔ Psychological torture – Waterboarding (yes, this happens), sleep deprivation, humiliation
✔ Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
✔ Dangerous stunts – Blindfolded activities, extreme weather exposure, confinement

In our current case, a student was:

• Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
• Forced to do 500 squats until he collapsed
• Struck with wooden paddles
• Hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure

This happens at universities near Charlotte County. And it’s happening to students right now.

Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Charlotte County?

Hazing isn’t just the fault of individual students. Institutions and organizations can be held legally responsible—and they have the money to pay.

Potential Defendants in a Charlotte County Hazing Case

In our current case, we are suing:

• Pi Kappa Phi National
• The local chapter
• The University of Houston (for owning the fraternity house)
• Individual members (including the chapter president and pledgemaster)

Charlotte County families can pursue the same legal action.

What Are Hazing Victims in Charlotte County Entitled To?

If your child was hazed, you may be entitled to compensation for:

💰 Economic Damages (Actual Financial Losses)

• Medical bills (hospitalization, therapy, future treatment)
• Lost wages (if they missed work due to injuries)
• Educational disruption (tuition refunds, academic setbacks)
• Future medical costs (if injuries require long-term care)

😢 Non-Economic Damages (Pain & Suffering)

• Physical pain (from beatings, forced exercise, etc.)
• Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
• Humiliation (from degrading rituals)
• Loss of enjoyment of life (impact on college experience)

⚖️ Punitive Damages (Punishing the Wrongdoers)

• If the conduct was especially egregious (like waterboarding a student)
• If the organization knew about prior hazing and did nothing
• To send a message that this behavior will not be tolerated

In our current case, we are seeking $10 million. Other hazing cases have resulted in:

• $10.1 million (Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State)
• $6.1 million (Maxwell Gruver, LSU)
• $110+ million (Timothy Piazza, Penn State)

Charlotte County victims deserve the same justice.

How We Prove a Hazing Case in Charlotte County

Hazing cases are complex, but we have the experience to win. Here’s how we build a strong case:

1. Document the Abuse

• Medical records (hospitalization, injuries, therapy)
• Photos/videos (of injuries, hazing activities, fraternity houses)
• Text messages, social media (GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs)
• Witness statements (other pledges, bystanders)

2. Establish Institutional Knowledge

• Prior hazing incidents at the same chapter or university
• Complaints filed (but ignored) by students or parents
• University policies (and whether they were enforced)
• National organization’s failure to supervise chapters

3. Prove the Extent of Harm

• Physical injuries (rhabdomyolysis, broken bones, alcohol poisoning)
• Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
• Academic impact (dropped classes, failed semesters)
• Career impact (lost internships, damaged reputation)

4. Hold Everyone Accountable

• Individuals (who participated or allowed it)
• Local chapters (that organized the hazing)
• National organizations (that failed to stop it)
• Universities (that turned a blind eye)

We are currently doing all of this in our $10 million lawsuit. Charlotte County families will get the same aggressive representation.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Charlotte County

✅ Immediate Steps for Charlotte County Families

1. Get medical attention – Even if injuries seem minor, document everything.
2. Preserve evidence – Save texts, photos, videos, social media posts.
3. Do NOT talk to the fraternity/sorority – They will try to control the narrative.
4. Do NOT post on social media – Anything you say can be used against you.
5. Contact an attorney immediately – Evidence disappears fast, and statutes of limitations apply.

❌ What NOT to Do

❌ Sign anything from the fraternity, university, or their lawyers.
❌ Delete messages or posts – This is destruction of evidence.
❌ Talk to insurance adjusters – They work for the other side.
❌ Assume it’s “just part of Greek life” – It’s illegal, and you have rights.

Call us first. We’ll guide you through every step.

Why Charlotte County Families Choose Attorney 911

✔ We’re Currently Fighting a $10M Hazing Lawsuit

• We know how to win these cases because we’re in the middle of one right now.
• We understand the tactics fraternities and universities use to avoid responsibility.
• We have the resources to take on national organizations and universities.

✔ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• We know how insurance companies try to lowball victims.
• We know how they twist words to deny claims.
• We use that knowledge against them.

✔ We Fight for Maximum Compensation

• $0 upfront – We work on contingency (you pay nothing unless we win).
• No hourly fees – We only get paid if you get paid.
• We take cases to trial – If the other side won’t settle fairly, we’ll fight for you in court.

✔ We Serve Charlotte County Families Nationwide

• Headquartered in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, but we represent hazing victims anywhere in the U.S.
• We travel to Charlotte County for depositions, meetings, and trials.
• Video consultations available – You don’t have to come to Texas.

✔ We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)

• Bilingual representation for Spanish-speaking families.
• No language barriers in your legal fight.

✔ We Care About Your Child

• We’ve seen what hazing does to families.
• We won’t treat your child like a case number.
• We see your child as a person—not a paycheck.

Hazing Cases We’ve Handled (And Won)

We know how to win. And we’ll fight just as hard for Charlotte County families.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Charlotte County Families

1. My child was hazed, but they don’t want to sue. Should we still talk to a lawyer?

Yes. Even if your child doesn’t want to sue, you should still consult an attorney to:

• Understand your legal rights.
• Preserve evidence in case they change their mind.
• Get advice on how to report the hazing to the university or police.

2. The fraternity says my child “consented” to hazing. Can they still sue?

Absolutely. Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 1006.63) says consent is NOT a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, they did not consent to being tortured or hospitalized.

3. The university says they didn’t know about the hazing. Can we still sue them?

Yes. Universities have a duty to protect students—even if they claim they didn’t know. If:

• They own the fraternity house (like UH did in our case).
• They had prior hazing incidents at their school.
• They failed to enforce anti-hazing policies.
  They can be held liable.

4. How much is a Charlotte County hazing case worth?

It depends on the severity of the injuries and the egregiousness of the conduct. Recent hazing settlements and verdicts include:

• $10.1 million (Stone Foltz, Bowling Green)
• $6.1 million (Maxwell Gruver, LSU)
• $110+ million (Timothy Piazza, Penn State)

In our current case, we’re seeking $10 million. Charlotte County families can expect similar compensation for serious injuries.

5. How long do we have to file a lawsuit?

Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury is 4 years. However, you should act immediately because:

• Evidence disappears (texts, photos, witnesses forget).
• Universities and fraternities may destroy records.
• Criminal investigations may be ongoing.

6. Will my child have to go to court?

Most cases settle out of court. However, if the other side refuses to offer fair compensation, we are prepared to take your case to trial.

7. Can we sue if the hazing happened off-campus?

Yes. Hazing is illegal whether it happens on or off campus. If it was part of fraternity/sorority activities, you can still sue.

8. What if my child was a “ghost rush” (not yet enrolled)?

It doesn’t matter. In our current case, the victim wasn’t even a UH student yet—he was a transfer student expected to enroll the following semester. If they hazed him, they’re liable.

9. Can we sue if the fraternity was already suspended?

Yes. In fact, fraternities often suspend or close chapters to avoid liability—but that doesn’t erase their responsibility. We can still sue the national organization, the university, and individual members.

10. How much does it cost to hire a hazing lawyer?

Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning:

• You pay $0 to hire us.
• We only get paid if we win your case.
• Our fee comes out of the settlement or verdict.

Charlotte County families pay nothing unless we recover money for them.

Charlotte County Universities & Greek Life – We’re Watching

Hazing doesn’t just happen at UH. It happens at universities near Charlotte County every year. Some of the fraternities and sororities with hazing histories include:

Fraternities with Documented Hazing Incidents

Sororities with Hazing Allegations

While fraternities are more commonly involved in physical hazing, sororities also engage in dangerous initiation rituals, including:

• Forced alcohol consumption
• Sleep deprivation
• Psychological humiliation
• Extreme physical demands

If your daughter was hazed in a sorority near Charlotte County, you have the same legal rights.

Universities Near Charlotte County with Greek Life

If your child attends (or plans to attend) a university near Charlotte County, they could be at risk. Some local institutions with active Greek life include:

If hazing happens at any of these schools, we will hold the responsible parties accountable.

The Message to Fraternities & Universities in Charlotte County

To the fraternities operating near Charlotte County:

• We are watching.
• The same legal strategies that secured **$10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.
• If you haze students in Charlotte County, we will find every liable entity.

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and all others:

• If your chapter operates near Charlotte County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America.
• We are currently suing Pi Kappa Phi for waterboarding a student.
• Your chapter could be next.

To universities in Charlotte County:

• The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.
• Act now or face the same accountability.

Charlotte County Families: You Are Not Alone

Hazing is shameful, illegal, and preventable. If your child was a victim, you have the power to fight back.

🚨 What to Do Next:

1. Call us immediately – 1-888-ATTY-911
2. Preserve all evidence (texts, photos, medical records)
3. Do NOT talk to the fraternity or university alone
4. Let us handle everything – We’ll guide you through the legal process

📞 Free, Confidential Consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911

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

We are based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont—but we serve hazing victims nationwide, including Charlotte County.

Enough Is Enough. It’s Time to End Hazing in Charlotte County.

If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. – Lupe Pena, Attorney 911

We will fight for your child. We will hold the responsible parties accountable. And we will make sure this never happens to another Charlotte County family.

📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911