Hazing Victims in Volusia County: Know Your Rights & How to Fight Back
If your child has been hazed at a Volusia County college or university, you are not alone—and you have powerful legal options.
At Attorney 911, we are currently fighting a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for the severe hazing of a student who ended up hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. The same fraternities, the same risks, and the same negligence exist right here in Volusia County.
This could happen to your child. It may have already happened.
🚨 What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Not “Just Tradition”)
Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them—regardless of whether they consent.
Examples of Hazing in Volusia County Schools:
✔ Forced alcohol consumption (binge drinking, chugging)
✔ Extreme physical punishment (500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls)
✔ Waterboarding or simulated drowning (yes, this happens)
✔ Forced eating until vomiting (milk, hot dogs, peppercorns)
✔ Sleep deprivation (late-night activities, early-morning driving)
✔ Beatings with wooden paddles
✔ Humiliation rituals (carrying sexual objects, stripping in cold weather)
✔ Psychological abuse (threats of expulsion, isolation)
This is not “brotherhood” or “sisterhood.” This is abuse. And it’s illegal.
💔 Real Cases, Real Consequences in Florida & Beyond
1. Pi Kappa Phi at University of Houston (2025) – $10M Lawsuit (Our Case)
- A transfer student (not even enrolled yet) was hazed for weeks.
- Waterboarded with a garden hose, forced to do 500 squats, struck with paddles.
- Hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
- Pi Kappa Phi closed the chapter—but only after the victim was hospitalized.
- University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the abuse happened.
This is happening in Volusia County right now.
2. Andrew Coffey (Florida State, 2017) – Died from Hazing
- Pi Kappa Phi (same fraternity as our case) forced a pledge to drink an entire bottle of bourbon.
- Died from alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495—6x the legal limit).
- Family settled for an undisclosed amount (likely millions).
3. Maxwell Gruver (LSU, 2017) – $6.1M Jury Verdict
- Phi Delta Theta forced pledges to drink as punishment for wrong answers.
- Gruver died with a BAC of 0.495.
- Jury awarded $6.1 million—proving juries will punish hazing.
4. Timothy Piazza (Penn State, 2017) – $110M+ Settlement
- Beta Theta Pi forced pledges to drink 18 drinks in 82 minutes.
- Piazza fell down stairs multiple times—fraternity waited 12 HOURS to call 911.
- Security cameras captured everything.
- Family settled for over $110 million.
These cases show: Hazing is not just “college culture.” It’s a crime. And the institutions that allow it will pay.
📜 Florida & Federal Laws Protect Hazing Victims
Florida’s Anti-Hazing Law (Fla. Stat. § 1006.63)
- Hazing is a crime—punishable by felony charges if it causes serious injury or death.
- Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to hazing, the law still holds the perpetrators accountable.
- Universities and fraternities can be sued for negligence, premises liability, and failure to protect students.
Federal Civil Rights Claims (Title IX & § 1983)
- If hazing involves gender discrimination (common in sororities), you can file a Title IX complaint.
- If a public university fails to protect students, you can sue under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for civil rights violations.
🏛️ Who Can Be Held Liable in Volusia County?
If your child was hazed in Volusia County, multiple parties can be sued:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter | Directly organized and participated in hazing. |
| National Fraternity/Sorority Organization | Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite knowing the risks. |
| University/College | Owns fraternity houses, has power to regulate Greek life, and failed to protect students. |
| Fraternity Housing Corporation | Owns the property where hazing occurred. |
| Individual Members (President, Pledgemaster, etc.) | Personally participated in or allowed hazing. |
| Former Members & Alumni | Hosted hazing events at their homes. |
| Spouses of Members | Allowed hazing on their property. |
In our Pi Kappa Phi case, we are suing:
✅ The local chapter
✅ The national organization
✅ The University of Houston (they owned the house)
✅ Individual members
✅ Former members & their spouses
We will do the same for Volusia County families.
💰 What Compensation Can Volusia County Hazing Victims Recover?
Hazing victims in Volusia County may be entitled to:
| Type of Damage | Examples | Potential Value |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, therapy, future treatment | $50,000–$500,000+ |
| Lost Wages | Missed work, lost internships | $10,000–$100,000+ |
| Pain & Suffering | Physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD | $250,000–$5M+ |
| Punitive Damages | Punishment for egregious conduct (e.g., waterboarding) | $1M–$10M+ |
| Wrongful Death | If hazing results in death | $5M–$50M+ |
Precedent Cases Show Big Verdicts Are Possible:
- $10.1M (Stone Foltz, Pi Kappa Alpha)
- $6.1M (Maxwell Gruver, Phi Delta Theta)
- $110M+ (Timothy Piazza, Beta Theta Pi)
Your child’s case could be worth millions.
🚨 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Volusia County
✅ Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Hazing injuries (rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, concussions) can be life-threatening.
- Document everything—hospital records, photos of injuries, therapy notes.
✅ Step 2: Preserve Evidence
- Save all texts, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs.
- Take screenshots of social media posts about hazing.
- Write down names of witnesses and participants.
- Do NOT delete anything—this is critical evidence.
✅ Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone
- They will try to control the narrative, destroy evidence, or intimidate your child.
- Anything you say can be used against you.
✅ Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately
- 2-year statute of limitations in Florida—don’t wait.
- Evidence disappears fast.
- We offer FREE consultations and work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.
📞 Why Volusia County Families Choose Attorney 911
✅ We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW – Our $10M Pi Kappa Phi case is active.
✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We know how fraternities and universities try to avoid liability.
✅ Federal Court Authority – We can sue in federal court if needed.
✅ Dual-State Bar Licenses (Texas & New York) – We can pursue national fraternities anywhere.
✅ Se Habla Español – We serve Spanish-speaking families in Volusia County.
✅ Contingency Fee – $0 upfront. You pay nothing unless we win.
✅ We Travel to Volusia County – For depositions, trials, and client meetings.
🎯 Fraternities & Universities in Volusia County: We Are Watching
To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, and all other fraternities with chapters near Volusia County:
We know you exist. We know your corporate structures. We know your national organizations have paid millions in hazing settlements.
If you haze students in Volusia County, we will find every liable entity—and we will sue them all.
The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? SHUT DOWN. Your chapter could be next.
📢 Volusia County Parents: This Is Your Warning
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Volusia County, they are at risk.
- Pi Kappa Phi has paid $24M+ in hazing settlements (Stone Foltz, Andrew Coffey).
- Sigma Chi has paid $10M+ in hazing cases.
- Kappa Sigma has paid $12.6M in hazing verdicts.
The same organizations operate at universities near Volusia County.
If your child is hazed, we will hold every responsible party accountable—just like we’re doing in Houston.
📞 Call Now for a FREE Consultation
If your child has been hazed in Volusia County, call us immediately.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We serve Volusia County families on a contingency basis—you pay nothing unless we win.
Enough is enough. It’s time to end hazing in Volusia County.
