Hazing Lawyers Serving Putnam County, Indiana – Attorney 911

Putnam County Parents: Your Child’s Safety in Greek Life Is at Risk

If your son or daughter is pledging a fraternity or sorority at DePauw University, Indiana State University, or any college near Putnam County, they face the same hazing dangers we’re fighting in court right now.

At Attorney 911, we’re currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with kidney failure from extreme hazing—including waterboarding, forced eating until vomiting, and 500 squats until collapse. This isn’t just happening in Texas. It’s happening in Indiana. It could be happening to your child in Putnam County.

Why Putnam County Families Need a Hazing Lawyer

1. Hazing Is More Common Than You Think in Indiana

Greek organizations at DePauw University, Indiana State University, and other colleges near Putnam County operate under the same national fraternities and sororities involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide.

• Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and other major fraternities have active chapters at Indiana universities.
• Hazing incidents have been reported at Indiana schools—including forced drinking, physical abuse, and psychological torture.
• Universities often cover up hazing to protect their reputations, leaving victims and families without justice.

Your child could be next. If they’re pledging, they’re at risk.

2. The Same “Traditions” That Hospitalized Our Client Exist in Putnam County

In our Houston case, a student was:
✔ Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
✔ Forced to do 500 squats until he couldn’t stand
✔ Beaten with wooden paddles
✔ Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to keep running
✔ Hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure

This isn’t just a Texas problem. These same “traditions” happen at fraternities and sororities near Putnam County. If your child is being hazed, we will fight for them with the same aggression we’re bringing to this case.

3. Universities Near Putnam County Are Failing to Protect Students

In our case, the University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the hazing occurred. They had the power to stop it—but they didn’t.

Indiana universities have the same responsibility to protect students.

• DePauw University, Indiana State University, and others have Greek life oversight—but do they enforce it?
• Have they ignored prior hazing incidents? Many universities do.
• Are they more concerned with reputation than student safety? Too often, yes.

If your child was hazed at a fraternity or sorority near Putnam County, the university may share liability.

4. National Fraternities Have a History of Hazing Deaths—and They Keep Happening

The fraternity in our case, Pi Kappa Phi, has a documented history of hazing deaths:

• 2017: Andrew Coffey died at Florida State after forced drinking.
• 2025: Our client was hospitalized at University of Houston after extreme physical abuse.

They had 8 years to fix their culture. They didn’t.

Other fraternities with chapters near Putnam County have similar records:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Multiple hazing deaths, including at Texas A&M.
• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Stone Foltz died at Bowling Green State in 2021.
• Phi Delta Theta: Max Gruver died at LSU in 2017; family won a $6.1 million verdict.

If your child was hazed in Putnam County, the national organization—and the local chapter—can be held accountable.

What Counts as Hazing in Indiana?

Indiana law defines hazing as any act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization.

Common Hazing Practices in Putnam County Fraternities & Sororities

If your child experienced any of these, they were hazed—and they have legal rights.

Indiana Hazing Laws: What Putnam County Families Need to Know

1. Hazing Is a Crime in Indiana

Under Indiana Code § 35-42-2-2, hazing is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by:

• Up to 180 days in jail
• Fines up to $1,000

If hazing causes serious bodily injury, it becomes a Level 6 felony, punishable by:

• 6 months to 2.5 years in prison
• Fines up to $10,000

2. Consent Is NOT a Defense

Fraternities and sororities often claim:
❌ “They agreed to participate.”
❌ “It’s just tradition.”
❌ “They could have left anytime.”

Indiana law says: Consent does NOT matter. Even if your child “agreed” to hazing, the organization can still be held criminally and civilly liable.

3. Universities Can Be Sued for Negligence

If a university near Putnam County knew or should have known about hazing and failed to stop it, they can be held liable for:

• Negligent supervision (failing to monitor Greek life)
• Premises liability (if hazing occurred on university property)
• Failure to report (Indiana law requires universities to report hazing)

DePauw University, Indiana State University, and others have a duty to protect students. If they failed, they can be sued.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Putnam County

✅ Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), alcohol poisoning, and head injuries can be life-threatening.
• Document all injuries—take photos, keep medical records.
• If your child is hospitalized, demand copies of all records.

✅ Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

• Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs—screenshot everything.
• Photos/videos of injuries, hazing activities, or fraternity events.
• Witness statements—get names and contact info of other pledges.
• Fraternity documents—pledge manuals, schedules, rules.

Do NOT delete anything. This evidence is critical for your case.

✅ Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Alone

• They will try to control the narrative.
• They may pressure your child to sign waivers.
• They may destroy evidence.
• Anything your child says can be used against them.

✅ Step 4: Call a Hazing Lawyer Immediately

The sooner you contact us, the stronger your case will be.

• Evidence disappears quickly—texts get deleted, witnesses forget.
• Indiana has a 2-year statute of limitations—if you wait, you lose your right to sue.
• We can preserve evidence, file restraining orders, and hold the fraternity accountable.

Call Attorney 911 now for a free, confidential consultation:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com

Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Putnam County?

If your child was hazed, multiple parties can be held liable, including:

We sue everyone responsible—and we don’t stop until justice is served.

What Damages Can Putnam County Families Recover?

Hazing victims and their families can recover compensation for:

💰 Economic Damages (Tangible Losses)

• Medical bills (ER visits, hospital stays, therapy, future treatment)
• Lost wages (if your child missed work or internships)
• Educational expenses (tuition, fees, lost scholarships)
• Future earning capacity (if injuries affect career prospects)

😢 Non-Economic Damages (Pain & Suffering)

• Physical pain from injuries
• Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
• Humiliation & shame from hazing
• Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in activities)
• Wrongful death (if hazing led to a fatality)

🔥 Punitive Damages (Punishment for Egregious Conduct)

If the hazing was especially cruel or intentional, courts may award punitive damages to punish the organization and deter future misconduct.

Our current case seeks $10 million—because that’s what it takes to send a message.

Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Putnam County Hazing Case?

1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now

• We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
• We know how to build these cases from the ground up.
• We know how to hold fraternities, sororities, and universities accountable.

2. We’re Former Insurance Defense Attorneys—We Know Their Playbook

• Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena both worked for insurance companies before switching sides.
• We know exactly how they try to deny claims, lowball settlements, and intimidate victims.
• We use that knowledge to outmaneuver them in court.

3. We Have Federal Court Authority—We Can Sue Anywhere

• We’re admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas.
• We can pursue cases nationwide, including in Indiana.
• We’re licensed in both Texas and New York—giving us strategic advantages in multi-state cases.

4. We Offer Free Consultations & Work on Contingency

• No upfront costs—you pay nothing unless we win.
• We travel to Putnam County for depositions, meetings, and trials.
• We offer remote consultations—you don’t have to come to Texas.

5. We Care About Putnam County Families

• We’ve seen what hazing does to students and their families.
• We’re not just fighting for compensation—we’re fighting to stop this from happening again.
• We treat every client like family.

Frequently Asked Questions for Putnam County Families

❓ My child was hazed, but they’re afraid of retaliation. Can you help?

Yes. We understand the fear of retaliation. Many hazing victims stay silent because they’re afraid of being ostracized or expelled.

• We can file restraining orders to prevent further harassment.
• We can pursue the case anonymously in some situations.
• We can hold the fraternity accountable while protecting your child’s identity.

❓ The fraternity says my child “consented” to hazing. Is that a defense?

No. Indiana law explicitly states that consent is NOT a defense to hazing. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the fraternity can still be held liable.

❓ The university says they didn’t know about the hazing. Can we still sue?

Yes. If the university should have known about hazing (e.g., prior incidents, complaints, or obvious risks), they can be held liable for negligent supervision.

❓ How long do we have to file a lawsuit?

Indiana has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. If your child was hazed, you must act quickly—evidence disappears, and witnesses forget.

❓ What if my child was hazed at a school outside Putnam County?

We can still help. We represent hazing victims nationwide, including at:

• DePauw University (Greencastle, IN)
• Indiana State University (Terre Haute, IN)
• Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN)
• Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)
• Butler University (Indianapolis, IN)
• Any college or university in the U.S.

❓ How much is my case worth?

Every case is different, but hazing lawsuits have resulted in multi-million-dollar settlements, including:

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

We evaluate each case based on:

• Severity of injuries
• Medical expenses
• Psychological trauma
• University/fraternity negligence
• Prior hazing incidents

Putnam County Families: Don’t Wait—Call Now

Every day you wait is a day closer to losing your legal rights.

Fraternities, sororities, and universities will try to silence you.
They will pressure your child to stay quiet.
They will destroy evidence.
They will lowball you with settlement offers.

Don’t let them get away with it.

📞 Call Attorney 911 Now for a Free, Confidential Consultation

1-888-ATTY-911
Available 24/7 for Putnam County hazing emergencies

📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com

We fight for Putnam County families. We don’t stop until justice is served.

A Message to Fraternities & Sororities Near Putnam County

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, and all other Greek organizations with chapters near Putnam County:

We are watching.

We know your history. We know your “traditions.” We know the waterboarding, the forced drinking, the 500 squats, the wooden paddles.

We’ve already shut down your chapter at University of Houston.
We’ve already sued your national organization.
We’ve already won millions for hazing victims.

If your chapter is hazing students in Putnam County, we will find out.
We will sue you.
We will shut you down.
And we will make sure no other student suffers like Leonel Bermudez.

The choice is yours: Clean up your act now, or face the consequences in court.

A Message to Universities Near Putnam County

To DePauw University, Indiana State University, and all other Indiana colleges with Greek life:

You own the houses. You control the organizations. You have the power to stop hazing.

If you fail to protect students, you will be held accountable.

We’ve already sued the University of Houston for owning the fraternity house where a student was waterboarded.
We’ve already won millions from universities that looked the other way.
We will do the same to you if you fail your students.

The time to act is now—before another student ends up in the hospital.

Enough Is Enough, Putnam County

Hazing isn’t tradition. It’s torture.
It isn’t bonding. It’s abuse.
It isn’t harmless. It’s life-threatening.

If your child was hazed in Putnam County, you have the power to fight back.
You have the power to hold them accountable.
You have the power to stop this from happening to another family.

Call Attorney 911 today.
We’re ready to fight for you.

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

Justice for Putnam County hazing victims starts here.