🛡️ Hazing Victims in Gordon County, Georgia: Your Legal Rights and Path to Justice
Gordon County families: If your child has been hospitalized, traumatized, or worse by fraternity or sorority hazing, you are not alone. The same national organizations operating at Berry College, Shorter University, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, and other institutions near Gordon County have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries nationwide. We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston — and we will bring the same aggressive representation to Gordon County.
Call now for a free, confidential consultation:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
🌐 attorney911.com
🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Gordon County, Georgia
Hazing is not “tradition.” It is not “building character.” It is torture, assault, and sometimes manslaughter — and it happens right here in Gordon County.
The same fraternities that waterboarded a student in Houston have chapters near Gordon County. The same universities that failed to stop hazing in Texas have branches in Northwest Georgia. And the same $10 million lawsuits that are changing fraternity culture nationwide can — and will — be filed here.
What Gordon County Families Need to Know:
- 💔 Hazing causes permanent damage — kidney failure, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and death.
- 🏛️ Universities are liable — if they own or control the property where hazing occurs, they share responsibility.
- 🏢 National organizations are liable — they know about hazing culture and fail to stop it.
- ⚖️ You have legal rights — even if your child “consented” to hazing, Georgia law protects victims.
- 💰 Compensation is possible — multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts are the new standard.
📋 What Counts as Hazing in Georgia?
Georgia law defines hazing as any intentional, reckless, or negligent act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in any organization.
This includes:
✔ Physical abuse — beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
✔ Forced consumption — alcohol, food, or other substances until vomiting
✔ Psychological torture — waterboarding, sleep deprivation, humiliation
✔ Sexual abuse — forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
✔ Servitude — forced errands, late-night driving, cleaning
If your child experienced any of these at a Gordon County-area university, they were hazed — and you have a case.
🔍 Real Hazing Cases Near Gordon County
1. The University of Houston Case (2025) — $10 Million Lawsuit
What happened: A student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles as part of Pi Kappa Phi hazing. He was hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure for four days.
Why it matters to Gordon County:
- Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at universities across Georgia, including near Gordon County.
- The same national organization that allowed this in Texas operates in Georgia.
- The University of Houston owned the fraternity house — just like many Georgia universities control Greek housing.
- $10 million is the new standard for hazing cases.
📢 Our attorneys are fighting this case right now — and we will fight for Gordon County victims with the same fury.
2. Stone Foltz — Bowling Green State University (2021) — $10.1 Million Settlement
What happened: A Pi Kappa Alpha pledge was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol and died from alcohol poisoning.
Why it matters to Gordon County:
- Same fraternity (Pi Kappa Alpha) has chapters near Gordon County.
- Universities and national organizations both paid millions.
- This proves hazing cases win big — even when the victim “consented.”
3. Maxwell Gruver — Louisiana State University (2017) — $6.1 Million Jury Verdict
What happened: A Phi Delta Theta pledge died from acute alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495 — 6x the legal limit) after a forced drinking ritual.
Why it matters to Gordon County:
- Juries award millions for hazing deaths.
- Criminal charges can follow civil lawsuits.
- This case led to Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act,” making hazing a felony.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights in Georgia
1. Georgia’s Anti-Hazing Law (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61)
- Hazing is a misdemeanor — punishable by up to 1 year in jail and $5,000 in fines.
- If hazing causes serious injury or death, it’s a felony — punishable by 1-5 years in prison.
- Consent is NOT a defense — even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law protects them.
2. Civil Lawsuits — Who Can Be Sued?
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local fraternity/sorority chapter | Organized and conducted hazing |
| National organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture |
| University/college | Owned property; failed to protect students |
| Individual members | Participated in or allowed hazing |
| Alumni | Hosted hazing at their homes |
💡 Example: If hazing happened at a Berry College fraternity house, both the fraternity and Berry College could be liable.
💰 What Compensation Is Available?
Hazing victims and families can recover:
| Type of Damage | Examples | Potential Value |
|---|---|---|
| Medical expenses | Hospital bills, therapy, future treatment | $50,000 – $500,000+ |
| Pain and suffering | Physical pain, emotional trauma | $500,000 – $5,000,000+ |
| Lost wages | Missed work, reduced earning capacity | $50,000 – $1,000,000+ |
| Punitive damages | To punish egregious conduct (e.g., waterboarding) | $1,000,000 – $10,000,000+ |
| Wrongful death | If hazing causes death | $1,000,000 – $10,000,000+ |
📌 Recent hazing settlements:
- $10.1 million (Stone Foltz, Pi Kappa Alpha)
- $6.1 million (Maxwell Gruver, Phi Delta Theta)
- $110+ million (Timothy Piazza, Beta Theta Pi)
🚨 What Gordon County Families Should Do NOW
1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor.
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening.
- Medical records are critical evidence.
2. Preserve ALL Evidence
✅ Photos/videos of injuries, hazing activities, or fraternity houses
✅ Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, emails about hazing
✅ Witness names and contact info
✅ Medical records and bills
✅ Any “pledge manuals” or fraternity documents
❌ DO NOT:
- Delete messages or posts
- Talk to fraternity/sorority members without a lawyer
- Sign anything from the organization
- Post about the incident on social media
3. Report the Hazing
- File a police report — hazing is a crime in Georgia.
- Report to the university — they are required to investigate.
- Report to the national organization — they may try to cover it up.
4. Contact an Attorney Immediately
- Statute of limitations: You typically have 2 years to file a lawsuit in Georgia.
- Evidence disappears fast — fraternities delete messages, destroy records, intimidate witnesses.
- Insurance companies will lowball you — they’ll offer $5,000 to make the case go away.
📞 Call Attorney 911 NOW for a free consultation:
1-888-ATTY-911
ralph@atty911.com
🏛️ Which Gordon County-Area Schools Have Greek Life?
The following institutions near Gordon County have active fraternities and sororities — and all of them have the same hazing risks:
| School | Location | Greek Life Presence | Fraternities with Hazing Histories Nearby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berry College | Mount Berry, GA | Strong Greek system | Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, others |
| Shorter University | Rome, GA | Active Greek life | Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, others |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rome, Calhoun, Rockmart | Growing Greek presence | Local chapters with national ties |
| Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA | Large Greek system | Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, others |
| University of West Georgia | Carrollton, GA | Active Greek life | Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, others |
| Dalton State College | Dalton, GA | Emerging Greek life | Local chapters with national affiliations |
🚨 If your child attends any of these schools, they are at risk.
📢 Message to Gordon County Fraternities and Universities
To the fraternities operating near Gordon County:
We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter. If you haze students in Gordon County, we will find every liable entity — the chapter, the nationals, the university, and the individuals.
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — if your chapter operates near Gordon County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America. We are coming for you.
To the universities near Gordon County:
You own the fraternity houses. You collect the rent. You have the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down dangerous chapters. When you fail to protect students, you share liability.
Berry College, Shorter University, Georgia Northwestern Tech, Kennesaw State, University of West Georgia — the same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. Act now or face the same accountability.
🎯 Why Gordon County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We Are Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Case
- We don’t just talk about hazing — we’re in the courtroom fighting it right now.
- Gordon County families get the same aggressive representation.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
- We know how insurance companies value claims, delay cases, and try to deny liability.
- We’ve seen their playbook — now we use it against them.
3. Federal Court Authority
- We can pursue cases in federal court, giving us more leverage against national organizations.
4. Dual-State Bar Licenses (Texas & New York)
- Strategic advantage for cases involving out-of-state national fraternities.
5. We Travel to Gordon County
- For depositions, client meetings, and trials — distance is not a barrier.
6. Contingency Fee — $0 Upfront
- You pay nothing unless we win your case.
- No hourly fees, no retainers — we don’t get paid unless you get paid.
7. Se Habla Español
- Bilingual staff available for Spanish-speaking families.
📞 Gordon County Families: Take Action Now
If your child has been hazed in Gordon County or at a nearby university, time is running out.
✅ Free, confidential consultation
✅ $0 upfront — we only get paid if you win
✅ Aggressive representation against fraternities and universities
✅ Nationwide experience — including our $10M hazing case
Call now before evidence disappears and your rights expire:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
🌐 attorney911.com
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🔥 Enough Is Enough, Gordon County
Hazing has taken too many lives. It has destroyed too many futures. It has betrayed too many families’ trust.
Gordon County families deserve justice. Gordon County students deserve safety. And Gordon County fraternities and universities must be held accountable.
We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. And we are coming for every institution, every national organization, and every individual who thinks they can torture our kids and walk away.
Call us. Let’s end this together. 🚨
