Hazing Victims in White County, Georgia: Your Legal Rights and Path to Justice

Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines — And Neither Does Justice

White County parents send their children to college expecting them to grow, learn, and be safe. But behind the Greek letters and campus traditions, a dangerous culture of hazing persists — one that has sent students to hospitals, left families shattered, and ended lives too soon.

If your child has been hazed in White County, at a nearby university, or anywhere in Georgia, you are not powerless. The same fraternities and sororities operating in Houston, Texas, are active at institutions across the Southeast — including those near White County. And the same legal strategies that are securing $10 million for a hazing victim in Texas can protect your child in Georgia.

At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating one of the most significant hazing cases in the nation — a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with kidney failure from extreme physical abuse, waterboarding, and forced consumption. This isn’t just a legal fight. It’s a movement to end hazing culture — and we’re bringing that fight to White County families.

What Is Hazing — And Why It’s Illegal in Georgia

Hazing is not “tradition.” It’s not “building character.” It’s not “boys being boys.” Hazing is abuse. Under Georgia law, hazing includes any intentional act that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation into any organization.

This includes:

• Physical abuse: Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
• Forced consumption: Alcohol, food, or other substances to the point of illness
• Psychological torture: Waterboarding, humiliation, sleep deprivation
• Sexual abuse: Forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, harassment
• Dangerous stunts: Activities that risk serious injury or death

Georgia law is clear: Hazing is a criminal offense. Under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61, hazing that causes serious bodily harm is a misdemeanor, and if it results in death, it can be prosecuted as a felony. But criminal charges aren’t the only path to justice. Civil lawsuits allow victims to hold institutions accountable and recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and long-term trauma.

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

White County may be a small community, but its students attend colleges and universities across Georgia — and those institutions have active Greek organizations with documented hazing histories.

Universities Near White County with Greek Life Presence:

• University of North Georgia (Dahlonega Campus) – Approximately 30 minutes from White County

  • Home to multiple fraternities and sororities, including chapters of Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, and Sigma Nu
  • Greek life deeply embedded in campus culture

• Brenau University (Gainesville) – Approximately 20 minutes from White County

  • Active Greek system with both social and professional organizations
  • Known for strong sorority presence

• Georgia Tech (Atlanta) – Approximately 1.5 hours from White County

  • One of the largest Greek communities in the Southeast
  • Documented hazing incidents in recent years, including forced alcohol consumption and physical abuse

• University of Georgia (Athens) – Approximately 1 hour from White County

  • Home to Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), a fraternity with a national history of hazing deaths
  • Multiple hazing violations reported in the past decade

• Kennesaw State University – Approximately 1.5 hours from White County

  • Growing Greek life presence
  • Hazing allegations have surfaced in recent years

These are not isolated incidents. The same national fraternities that have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths in other states — including Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Pi Kappa Alpha — operate chapters at Georgia universities. If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near White County, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Texas.

Real Hazing Cases That Hit Close to Home

1. The $10 Million Warning: Pi Kappa Phi’s Pattern of Abuse

In November 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure from extreme hazing, including:

• Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
• Forced to perform 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
• Struck with wooden paddles
• Forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting
• Another pledge lost consciousness during a workout just weeks earlier

Why This Matters to White County Families:

• Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at universities across Georgia, including near White County.
• This wasn’t their first failure. In 2017, a Pi Kappa Phi pledge at Florida State University died from forced alcohol consumption — yet the fraternity did nothing to change its culture.
• The national organization knew about a “hazing crisis” but failed to enforce its own policies.
• The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the abuse occurred — just like many Georgia universities oversee Greek housing.

If it can happen in Texas, it can happen in Georgia. And we will hold every responsible party accountable.

2. Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) — A National Shame

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) has one of the worst hazing records in the country. In 2021, a student at Texas A&M University suffered severe chemical burns during a hazing ritual involving bleach. SAE has also been linked to multiple hazing deaths, including:

• 2011: George Desdunes at Cornell University — died from alcohol poisoning during a hazing ritual
• 2013: Carson Starkey at Cal Poly — died from alcohol poisoning
• 2014: Tucker Hipps at Clemson University — died after a suspected hazing incident

SAE has active chapters at Georgia universities, including University of Georgia and Georgia Tech. If your child is pledging SAE in Georgia, they are joining an organization with a documented history of deadly hazing — and we know how to make them pay.

3. Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) — $10 Million in Settlements

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) has paid millions in hazing settlements, including:

• $10.1 million to the family of Stone Foltz, who died from alcohol poisoning at Bowling Green State University
• $7.2 million from the fraternity and individual members
• $2.9 million from the university

Pike has chapters at Georgia universities, including University of North Georgia and Georgia Tech. The same fraternity that paid $10 million for one death is operating near White County — and we will not let them get away with it.

Who Is Liable When Hazing Happens?

When a student is hazed, multiple parties can be held legally responsible, including:

1. The Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter

• Directly organizes and conducts hazing activities
• Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster) can be personally liable
• Members who participate can be sued individually

2. The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization

• Sets policies and standards for all chapters
• Knew or should have known about hazing risks (many have prior incidents)
• Failed to enforce anti-hazing rules despite knowledge of problems
• Has deep pockets and insurance policies to pay damages

3. The University or College

• Owns or controls fraternity/sorority housing (premises liability)
• Has power to regulate, suspend, or expel Greek organizations
• Knew or should have known about hazing (many have prior incidents)
• Failed to protect students despite legal duty of care

4. Individual Members and Officers

• Personally participated in hazing
• Directed or encouraged hazing activities
• Failed to stop the abuse despite having authority
• Can be held personally liable for damages

5. Alumni and Housing Corporations

• Own or control property where hazing occurs
• May host hazing events at off-campus locations
• Can be sued for premises liability

What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in White County or Nearby

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, hazing can cause life-threatening conditions like:
  • Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure)
  • Alcohol poisoning (can be fatal)
  • Traumatic brain injury (from beatings or falls)
  • Heat stroke or hypothermia (from exposure)
• Document everything. Medical records are critical evidence.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

• Take photos of injuries at every stage of healing
• Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs)
• Document witness names and contact information
• Keep any physical evidence (clothing, objects used in hazing)
• Do not delete anything — even old messages can be valuable

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization or University Without Legal Counsel

• Fraternities, sororities, and universities will try to control the narrative
• They may ask for recorded statements — these can be used against you
• They may offer lowball settlements to make the problem go away
• Anything you say can be used to minimize your claim

Step 4: Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney Immediately

• Hazing cases have strict deadlines (Georgia’s statute of limitations is typically 2 years from the date of injury)
• Evidence disappears quickly — witnesses forget, messages get deleted, organizations destroy records
• Insurance companies will try to deny or minimize your claim
• An attorney can protect your rights and maximize your compensation

Why White County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now

While many law firms talk about hazing, we are actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This isn’t theoretical — we are in the courtroom, making them pay.

2. We Know Their Playbook

Both of our attorneys — Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena — are former insurance defense lawyers. We know how fraternities and universities try to avoid liability. We’ve seen their tactics from the inside — and now we use that knowledge to destroy their defenses.

3. We Have Federal Court Authority

We are admitted to practice in U.S. District Court, which allows us to pursue hazing cases in federal jurisdiction — critical when suing national organizations or universities with multi-state operations.

4. We Are Licensed in Texas AND New York

This gives us strategic flexibility to pursue national fraternities and sororities headquartered in different states.

5. We Offer Free, Confidential Consultations

• No upfront costs — we work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we win
• We come to you — whether you’re in Cleveland, Gainesville, or anywhere in White County, we will meet you in person or by video
• Se habla español — we serve Spanish-speaking families without language barriers

6. We Treat You Like Family

Our clients consistently say we care more than other firms. We understand the trauma hazing causes — and we fight for you like we would for our own children.

“You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client that’s caught in the middle of many other cases. You are FAMILY to them and they protect and fight for you as such.” — Chad Harris, Google Review

What You Can Recover in a Hazing Lawsuit

Hazing victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for:

Economic Damages (Financial Losses)

• Medical bills (hospitalization, rehabilitation, therapy)
• Future medical expenses (ongoing treatment, potential dialysis or transplant)
• Lost wages (time missed from work during recovery)
• Lost earning capacity (if injuries affect future career prospects)
• Educational damages (tuition reimbursement, scholarship loss)

Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)

• Physical pain from injuries
• Emotional distress from abuse and trauma
• PTSD, anxiety, and depression
• Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in normal activities)
• Humiliation and shame from hazing rituals

Punitive Damages (Punishment for Egregious Conduct)

• Awarded when conduct is grossly negligent, intentional, or reckless
• Designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct
• No cap in Georgia for most personal injury cases (unlike Texas)

The $10 Million Question: Can You Really Get That Much?

Yes — and more.

While every case is different, hazing lawsuits have resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, including:

• $10.1 million (Stone Foltz, Pi Kappa Alpha)
• $6.1 million jury verdict (Maxwell Gruver, Phi Delta Theta)
• $110 million+ (Timothy Piazza, Beta Theta Pi)

Our $10 million demand in the Pi Kappa Phi case is supported by:

• Documented pattern of abuse (Andrew Coffey’s death in 2017)
• Egregious conduct (waterboarding, 500 squats, wooden paddles)
• Institutional knowledge (University of Houston had a prior hazing incident in 2017)
• Deep pockets (national fraternity, university, insurance policies)

Georgia juries are outraged by hazing. If your case goes to trial, they will send a message that this behavior will not be tolerated.

What Happens Next? The Legal Process Explained

1. Free Consultation

• We evaluate your case at no cost
• We explain your legal rights and options
• You decide whether to move forward

2. Investigation

• We gather medical records, witness statements, and evidence
• We identify all liable parties (chapter, nationals, university, individuals)
• We build a strong case for maximum compensation

3. Demand and Negotiation

• We send a demand letter to the defendants
• We negotiate with insurance companies and lawyers
• If they offer a fair settlement, we may resolve the case without trial

4. Litigation (If Necessary)

• We file a lawsuit in court
• We conduct discovery (depositions, document requests)
• We prepare for trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached

5. Resolution

• Settlement (most cases resolve before trial)
• Verdict (if we go to trial, a judge or jury decides the outcome)
• Compensation (you receive the money you deserve)

White County Families: You Are Not Alone

Hazing thrives in silence. Victims are often afraid to speak up — afraid of retaliation, afraid of being ostracized, afraid of losing their place in the organization.

But silence protects the abusers, not the victims.

Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case was fearful of retribution for speaking out. But his bravery is saving lives. Because of him, other students won’t have to endure what he did.

Your child’s case can do the same.

Take Action Now — Before It’s Too Late

Hazing victims in White County, Georgia: Time is not on your side.

• Evidence disappears — messages get deleted, witnesses forget
• Statutes of limitations expire — in Georgia, you typically have 2 years to file a lawsuit
• Organizations destroy records — fraternities and universities will try to cover their tracks

Call Attorney 911 Today — Free Consultation

📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

We serve hazing victims nationwide, including White County, Georgia. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

A Final Warning to Fraternities Near White County

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, and every Greek organization operating near White County:

We are watching. We are tracking your chapters. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your hazing histories.

If you haze students in Georgia, we will find you. We will sue you. And we will make you pay.

The $10 million lawsuit we filed in Texas is just the beginning. Your chapter could be next.

Clean up your act — or we will clean you out in court.

White County Parents: Protect Your Children

You sent your child to college to learn, grow, and be safe. You did not send them to be tortured.

If your child has been hazed — whether at University of North Georgia, Brenau, Georgia Tech, UGA, or any school near White County — we can help.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today. Your consultation is free. Your case matters. Your child deserves justice.

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
📍 Serving White County, Georgia from Houston, Austin, and Beaumont
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | 📧 ralph@atty911.com | 🌐 attorney911.com

We don’t just talk about justice. We fight for it.