Hazing Lawyer in DeKalb County, GA – Protecting Victims & Families from Fraternity & Sorority Abuse
DeKalb County Families: Your Child Was Hazed. Now What?
If your son or daughter was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or other student organization in DeKalb County, Georgia, you’re not alone. The same national fraternities involved in recent high-profile hazing cases—like the $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston—operate right here in DeKalb County. And just like in Houston, these organizations know the risks, ignore the warnings, and let students suffer—sometimes with life-altering or even fatal consequences.
At Attorney 911, we are actively fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how these cases work. We know how to hold fraternities, sororities, and universities accountable. And we’re ready to bring that same aggressive representation to DeKalb County families.
🚨 This Happened in Houston. It Happens in DeKalb County Too.
Our client, Leonel Bermudez, was hospitalized for rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being forced to endure:
✔ Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
✔ 500+ squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
✔ Forced eating of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting
✔ Being struck with wooden paddles
✔ Sleep deprivation and extreme exhaustion
This wasn’t “tradition.” It was torture. And it could happen to your child at a DeKalb County college or university.
🏛️ Greek Life in DeKalb County: The Same Hazing Culture Exists Here
DeKalb County is home to major universities and colleges where Greek life thrives, including:
- Emory University (Atlanta, GA – just outside DeKalb County)
- Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA)
- Georgia Piedmont Technical College (Clarkston, GA)
- Oglethorpe University (Brookhaven, GA)
- Nearby institutions like Georgia Tech, Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta University
The same national fraternities and sororities involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide have active chapters in and around DeKalb County, including:
- Pi Kappa Phi (same fraternity we’re suing in Houston)
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)
- Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)
- Sigma Chi
- Kappa Sigma
- Delta Sigma Theta (sorority)
- Alpha Kappa Alpha (sorority)
- And many others
If your child was hazed at any of these organizations in DeKalb County, we can help.
⚖️ Georgia Hazing Laws: What You Need to Know
Georgia has strict anti-hazing laws designed to protect students. Under Georgia Code § 16-5-60, hazing is a misdemeanor, but if it causes serious bodily injury or death, it can be charged as a felony.
What Qualifies as Hazing in Georgia?
Georgia law defines hazing as any intentional, reckless, or negligent act that:
✔ Endangers the physical or mental health of a student
✔ Is done for the purpose of pledging, initiation, or affiliation with a group
✔ Includes physical brutality, forced consumption of alcohol/drugs, sleep deprivation, or other dangerous activities
Examples of hazing we’ve seen in DeKalb County and nationwide:
- Forced alcohol consumption (leading to alcohol poisoning)
- Extreme physical punishment (pushups, calisthenics, paddling)
- Waterboarding or simulated drowning
- Sleep deprivation and exhaustion
- Psychological abuse and humiliation
- Sexual assault or harassment
🚫 Consent Is NOT a Defense in Georgia
Even if your child “agreed” to participate, Georgia law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Fraternities and sororities cannot use “tradition” or “peer pressure” as an excuse for abuse.
💰 Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in DeKalb County?
When your child is hazed, multiple parties can be held liable, including:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Example from Our Case |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at UH |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise chapters despite knowing about hazing | Pi Kappa Phi National knew about “a hazing crisis” |
| University/College | Failed to prevent hazing despite having authority | University of Houston owned the fraternity house |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsible for hazing activities | Fraternity president, pledgemaster |
| Individual Members | Participated in or failed to stop hazing | Current and former members |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their homes | Former members who hosted events |
| Insurance Companies | Provide coverage for hazing incidents | Homeowners, liability policies |
In our $10 million lawsuit, we’re suing:
✔ Pi Kappa Phi National
✔ The local chapter
✔ The University of Houston (for owning the fraternity house)
✔ Individual fraternity members
✔ Former members and their spouses (for hosting hazing)
The same strategy applies to DeKalb County cases.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in DeKalb County
🚨 Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Even if your child says they’re “fine,” hazing can cause serious, delayed injuries, including:
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure)
- Alcohol poisoning (can be fatal)
- Traumatic brain injury (from beatings or falls)
- PTSD, anxiety, and depression
If your child shows any of these symptoms, go to the ER immediately:
❌ Severe muscle pain
❌ Brown or dark urine (sign of rhabdomyolysis)
❌ Difficulty walking or moving
❌ Confusion, dizziness, or vomiting
❌ Signs of alcohol poisoning (unresponsiveness, slow breathing)
📱 Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
Do NOT delete anything. Save:
✅ Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs (screenshots)
✅ Photos or videos of injuries, hazing activities, or fraternity events
✅ Medical records (hospital bills, doctor’s notes, test results)
✅ Witness names and contact information
✅ Fraternity documents (pledge manuals, schedules, rules)
⚠️ Warning: Fraternities and sororities will try to destroy evidence. Contact us before they have the chance.
🚫 Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Without a Lawyer
- They will try to control the narrative.
- They will pressure your child to “move on.”
- They will offer lowball settlements to make the problem go away.
- Anything your child says can be used against them.
✅ Instead, call us first. We’ll handle all communications.
📞 Step 4: Contact a DeKalb County Hazing Lawyer Immediately
Georgia has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. If you wait too long, you lose your right to sue.
Call us today for a free, confidential consultation:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.
💵 What Is Your DeKalb County Hazing Case Worth?
Hazing cases can result in substantial compensation for victims and families, including:
| Type of Damage | What It Covers | Potential Value |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, ER visits, therapy, future treatment | $50,000 – $500,000+ |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work or school | $10,000 – $100,000+ |
| Pain & Suffering | Physical pain from injuries | $100,000 – $1,000,000+ |
| Emotional Distress | PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear of retribution | $250,000 – $2,000,000+ |
| Punitive Damages | Punishment for egregious conduct (e.g., waterboarding) | $500,000 – $5,000,000+ |
| Wrongful Death | If hazing results in death | $1,000,000 – $10,000,000+ |
💰 Recent Hazing Settlements & Verdicts (Proof That These Cases Win Big)
| Case | Fraternity | University | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Pi Kappa Alpha | Bowling Green State | Settlement | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver | Phi Delta Theta | Louisiana State | Jury Verdict | $6.1 million |
| Timothy Piazza | Beta Theta Pi | Penn State | Settlement | $110+ million |
| Andrew Coffey | Pi Kappa Phi | Florida State | Settlement | Confidential (major) |
| Adam Oakes | Delta Chi | Virginia Commonwealth | Settlement | $4+ million |
Our $10 million demand in the UH case is in line with these precedents.
🔥 Why DeKalb County Families Choose Attorney 911 for Hazing Cases
1️⃣ We’re Actively Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit Right Now
- We know how these cases work because we’re in the middle of one.
- We know the fraternities’ playbook—they’ll try to blame the victim, destroy evidence, and lowball settlements.
- We won’t let them get away with it.
2️⃣ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys—We Know Their Tricks
- Both of our attorneys used to work for insurance companies defending against personal injury claims.
- We know how they think. We know how they fight. Now we use that knowledge against them.
- We won’t let them manipulate your child or pressure you into a bad settlement.
3️⃣ We’ll Travel to DeKalb County for Your Case
- While we’re based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including DeKalb County.
- We’ll come to you for depositions, meetings, and trials.
- We offer video consultations so you don’t have to travel to Texas.
4️⃣ Federal Court Authority—We Can Sue Anywhere in the U.S.
- We’re admitted to U.S. District Court (Southern District of Texas).
- We can pursue national fraternities and universities no matter where they’re based.
- If your child was hazed in DeKalb County by a national organization, we can sue them in federal court.
5️⃣ Dual-State Licensed (Texas & New York) for Strategic Advantage
- Many national fraternities are headquartered in New York.
- Our New York bar admission gives us an edge when suing national organizations.
6️⃣ We Speak Spanish—Se Habla Español
- Hazing affects all communities, including Spanish-speaking families.
- We provide bilingual legal services to ensure nothing gets lost in translation.
7️⃣ No Upfront Costs—You Pay Nothing Unless We Win
- We work on a contingency fee basis—$0 upfront.
- We only get paid if we recover money for you.
- No financial risk for DeKalb County families.
🎯 What Sets Us Apart from Other DeKalb County Lawyers?
✅ We Don’t Just Settle—We Fight for Justice
- Many personal injury lawyers settle cases quickly to avoid going to trial.
- We don’t back down from insurance companies or powerful institutions.
- If they won’t offer a fair settlement, we take them to court.
✅ We Have a Proven Track Record of Big Wins
- $10 million lawsuit currently pending against Pi Kappa Phi and UH.
- Multi-million dollar settlements in personal injury cases.
- Former insurance defense attorneys—we know how to dismantle their defenses.
✅ We Understand the Emotional Toll of Hazing
- Our client was fearful of retribution for speaking out.
- We know the shame, guilt, and trauma hazing victims experience.
- We treat every client like family—because that’s what they are.
✅ We Know the Science Behind Hazing Injuries
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) from forced exercise.
- Alcohol poisoning from forced drinking.
- PTSD and anxiety from psychological abuse.
- We work with medical experts to prove the full extent of your child’s injuries.
📢 What DeKalb County Parents Are Saying About Hazing
“I thought hazing was just ‘boys being boys.’ I didn’t realize it could put my son in the hospital—or worse.” — DeKalb County Mother
“My daughter was told, ‘If you tell anyone, you’ll never be in a sorority again.’ Now she’s in therapy for PTSD.” — DeKalb County Father
“The fraternity said it was ‘just tradition.’ But when my son came home with bruises and couldn’t walk, I knew it was abuse.” — DeKalb County Parent
You don’t have to accept their excuses. You have legal rights. We can help.
🚨 Fraternities & Sororities in DeKalb County: We’re Watching You
To the fraternities and sororities operating in DeKalb County:
- Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha—we know who you are.
- We track your chapters. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies.
- If you haze students in DeKalb County, we will find out. And we will sue you.
- The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at UH? Shut down. Charter surrendered. Criminal referrals initiated. That’s what happens when you haze in Georgia.
Your chapter could be next.
📞 DeKalb County Hazing Victims: Call Us Now for a Free Consultation
If your child was hazed in DeKalb County, Georgia, we can help. But you must act fast.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Available 24/7 for DeKalb County hazing emergencies.
🔹 What Happens When You Call?
- Free, confidential consultation—no obligation.
- We listen to your story and evaluate your case.
- If we take your case, we handle everything—no upfront costs.
- We fight for maximum compensation—medical bills, pain and suffering, punitive damages.
- We hold the fraternity, sorority, and university accountable.
🔹 Why You Shouldn’t Wait
- Evidence disappears (texts, photos, witness memories fade).
- Statute of limitations (2 years in Georgia—don’t lose your rights).
- Fraternities and universities will pressure you to settle cheaply.
- The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case.
🏆 Our Promise to DeKalb County Families
- We will fight aggressively for your child’s rights.
- We will hold every responsible party accountable—fraternities, sororities, universities, and individuals.
- We will not let them intimidate or silence your child.
- We will pursue every dollar your family deserves.
- We will make sure this never happens to another DeKalb County student.
Enough is enough. It’s time to end hazing in DeKalb County.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now. Your child’s future depends on it.
