Hazing Lawyer in Sumter County, Georgia – Protecting Victims of Greek Life Abuse

🚨 Sumter County Parents: Your Child Could Be Next

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “tradition.” It’s abuse, assault, and reckless endangerment—and it’s happening right here in Sumter County.

At Attorney 911, we’re currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure. The same fraternities operate at colleges near Sumter County. The same negligence exists at Georgia institutions.

If your child has been hazed in Sumter County, we will fight for you with the same aggression we’re bringing to this case.

🔥 The Hazing Crisis in Georgia – It’s Closer Than You Think

Hazing isn’t limited to big universities. It happens at colleges and universities near Sumter County, including:

• Georgia Southwestern State University (Americus, GA) – Just miles from Sumter County, with active Greek life chapters
• Columbus State University (Columbus, GA) – Home to multiple fraternities and sororities
• Albany State University (Albany, GA) – Another nearby institution with Greek organizations
• Mercer University (Macon, GA) – A major university with a strong Greek presence
• University of Georgia (Athens, GA) – One of the largest Greek systems in the country

The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths nationwide—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta—have active chapters at Georgia universities. If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Sumter County or anywhere in Georgia, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.

💔 What Hazing Really Looks Like in Sumter County

Hazing isn’t just “a few pushups” or “a little drinking.” It’s torture disguised as tradition. In our current case, a student was subjected to:

✅ Waterboarding with a garden hose – Simulated drowning, a form of torture
✅ Forced to do 500 squats, 100+ pushups – Until his muscles broke down (rhabdomyolysis)
✅ Struck with wooden paddles – Physical assault with weapons
✅ Forced to eat until vomiting – Then made to lie in his own vomit
✅ Sleep deprivation – Forced to drive fraternity members in early morning hours
✅ Psychological abuse – Carrying sexual objects, humiliation, threats of expulsion

This isn’t hazing. It’s abuse. And it’s happening in Georgia.

⚖️ Georgia Hazing Laws – What Sumter County Parents Need to Know

Georgia has strict anti-hazing laws, but many victims don’t know their rights. Under Georgia Code § 16-5-61, hazing is a misdemeanor, and if it causes serious injury or death, it can be a felony.

Key Legal Rights for Sumter County Hazing Victims:

✔ Consent is NOT a defense – Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says consent doesn’t matter.
✔ Universities can be held liable – If the school knew (or should have known) about hazing and failed to stop it.
✔ National fraternities can be sued – They have deep pockets and insurance policies.
✔ Individual members can be held personally responsible – Including chapter presidents and pledgemasters.
✔ You have 2 years to file a lawsuit – Don’t wait until it’s too late.

If your child has been hazed in Sumter County, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical bills (hospitalization, therapy, rehabilitation)
• Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
• Lost wages (if hazing disrupted their education or career)
• Punitive damages (to punish the organization for reckless conduct)

🏆 Our Track Record in Hazing Cases – $10 Million and Counting

We don’t just talk about hazing—we’re fighting it in court right now.

📰 Current Case: Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston ($10M Lawsuit)

• Victim: Leonel Bermudez (hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure)
• Hazing: Waterboarding, 500 squats, wooden paddles, forced eating until vomiting
• Defendants: Pi Kappa Phi National, UH, chapter officers, and individual members
• Media Coverage: ABC13, KHOU 11, Houston Chronicle
• Status: Lawsuit filed November 21, 2025 – case is active

💰 Precedent Cases – Multi-Million Dollar Proof Hazing Victims Win

Sumter County families: These same results are possible for your child.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Sumter County

✅ Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, go to the hospital or urgent care.
• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening.
• Medical records are critical evidence in your case.

✅ Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

• Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence.
• Save all text messages, social media posts, and GroupMe chats about hazing.
• Write down everything – dates, times, names of perpetrators, what happened.
• Do NOT delete anything – even if it’s embarrassing, it could be crucial evidence.

✅ Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Without a Lawyer

• They will try to control the narrative, intimidate victims, and destroy evidence.
• Do NOT sign anything from the fraternity, sorority, or university.
• Do NOT give a statement to their insurance company or lawyers.

✅ Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

• We offer free, confidential consultations for Sumter County hazing victims.
• We work on contingency – you pay $0 upfront. We only get paid if we win.
• We will travel to Sumter County for depositions, meetings, and trials.
• We handle all communication with the fraternity, university, and insurance companies.

📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 for Sumter County hazing emergencies)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

🚫 What NOT to Do After Hazing in Sumter County

❌ Don’t post about it on social media – Anything you post can be used against you.
❌ Don’t confront the fraternity alone – They will coordinate their story and intimidate you.
❌ Don’t wait to seek legal help – Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your rights expire.
❌ Don’t assume you “consented” – Georgia law says consent is not a defense to hazing.
❌ Don’t trust the university to protect you – They protect their reputation, not victims.

🎯 Why Sumter County Families Choose Attorney 911

1️⃣ We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW

• We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing case – not theoretical, active in court.
• We know how to build these cases, negotiate with fraternities, and win at trial.

2️⃣ We Know Their Playbook – Because We Used to Defend Them

• Ralph Manginello – Former insurance defense attorney (knows how they try to deny claims)
• Lupe Pena – Former national defense firm attorney (knows how fraternities hide liability)
• Together, they dismantle the tactics insurance companies use to lowball victims.

3️⃣ We Have Federal Court Authority – We Can Sue Anywhere

• Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas (and can pursue cases nationwide).
• Dual-state licensed (Texas and New York) – strategic advantage against national fraternities.
• We will travel to Sumter County for your case.

4️⃣ We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español

• Hazing affects all communities, including Hispanic students in Sumter County.
• We provide bilingual legal services – no language barriers to justice.

5️⃣ We Work on Contingency – $0 Upfront for Sumter County Families

• No hourly fees. No retainers. No risk.
• We only get paid if we win your case.
• You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

6️⃣ We’ve Won Millions for Victims Like You

• Recovered millions in personal injury and wrongful death cases.
• Experienced in catastrophic injury, rhabdomyolysis, and hazing litigation.
• Former prosecutors and insurance defense attorneys – we know how to win.

📞 Sumter County Hazing Victims: Call Now for a Free Consultation

If your child has been hazed in Sumter County, you have legal rights. We will fight for you.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

We serve Sumter County and all of Georgia. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

🔥 Fraternities Near Sumter County: We Are Watching

To the fraternities operating at Georgia Southwestern State University, Columbus State University, Albany State University, Mercer University, UGA, and other Georgia schools:

We know who you are. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your history of hazing.

If you haze students in Sumter County or anywhere in Georgia, we will find every liable entity and sue them for everything they have.

Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter at UH? Shut down after our lawsuit. Criminal referrals initiated. $10 million demand filed.

Your chapter could be next.

🏛️ Georgia Universities: The Same Liability Exists at Your Campus

To the administrators at Georgia Southwestern State University, Columbus State University, Albany State University, Mercer University, UGA, and other Georgia institutions:

The same institutional negligence that made the University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.

• You own fraternity houses.
• You have the power to regulate Greek life.
• You have the duty to protect your students.

If you fail to act, you will face the same accountability.

💔 To Sumter County Hazing Victims: You Are Not Alone

We know you’re scared. We know you’re embarrassed. We know you might be afraid of retribution.

But you don’t have to suffer in silence.

We’ve seen what fraternities do to kids. We’re fighting it in court right now. We see your child as a person—not a paycheck.

Sumter County families: We will fight for you, because we truly care.

📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now. The clock is ticking.