Hazing Victims Legal Help in Pendleton County, Kentucky

Hazing Isn’t Tradition. It’s Torture. And It’s Happening at Pendleton County Schools.

If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, marching band, or any student organization in Pendleton County, Kentucky, you’re not alone. What happened to them wasn’t “brotherhood” or “team bonding” — it was abuse. And the institutions that allowed it need to be held accountable.

At Attorney 911, we’re currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston — where a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure. The same fraternities operate at universities near Pendleton County. The same negligence exists at Kentucky schools. And we will fight for Pendleton County families with the same aggression.

Pendleton County Parents: This Could Be Your Child Next

Hazing doesn’t stop at state lines. The same national fraternities with chapters near Pendleton County have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries. The same universities that fail to protect students exist in Kentucky. And the same “traditions” that hospitalized our client are happening right now in Pendleton County.

You have legal rights. Your child deserves justice. And we are here to fight for you.

What Is Hazing? The Truth Behind the “Tradition”

Hazing isn’t harmless pranks or team-building exercises. It’s systematic abuse disguised as initiation. In our current case, a University of Houston fraternity pledge was:

✅ Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning — the same torture banned in U.S. military interrogations)
✅ Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed and couldn’t walk
✅ Struck with wooden paddles
✅ Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to run through his own vomit
✅ Hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth (another pledge, not our client)
✅ Threatened with expulsion if he didn’t comply

Result: Severe rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), acute kidney failure, and four days in the hospital.

This isn’t “brotherhood.” This is torture. And it’s happening at schools near Pendleton County.

Hazing in Kentucky: The Reality for Pendleton County Families

Pendleton County is home to families who send their children to college expecting them to be safe. But the truth is:

• National fraternities like Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Kappa Sigma have active chapters at Kentucky universities near Pendleton County.
• Hazing is rampant in Greek life, sports teams, and student organizations — and it’s often hidden until someone gets hurt.
• Universities know it happens but fail to act until it’s too late.
• Kentucky law prohibits hazing, but enforcement is weak without legal action.

Kentucky Hazing Law: What You Need to Know

Kentucky Revised Statutes § 508.100 defines hazing as:

“Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, admission, or affiliation with an organization.”

Penalties in Kentucky:

• Class B misdemeanor for hazing (up to 90 days in jail, $250 fine)
• Class A misdemeanor if serious physical injury occurs (up to 1 year in jail, $500 fine)
• Felony if death results

But criminal charges aren’t enough. Victims and families also have the right to sue for civil damages — and that’s where we come in.

Who Is Liable for Hazing in Pendleton County?

When hazing happens, multiple parties can be held legally responsible:

In our current case, we’re suing:

• Pi Kappa Phi National
• The local UH chapter
• The fraternity housing corporation
• The University of Houston (they owned the house where hazing occurred)
• Individual members and officers

Pendleton County families deserve the same aggressive representation.

What Can You Recover in a Hazing Lawsuit?

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

Economic Damages (Financial Losses)

• Medical bills (hospitalization, surgery, therapy, future treatment)
• Lost wages (time missed from work or school)
• Educational disruption (tuition, scholarships, delayed graduation)
• Future earning capacity (if injuries cause long-term limitations)

Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)

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

Punitive Damages (To Punish Egregious Conduct)

• Awarded when conduct is intentional, reckless, or malicious
• Designed to deter future hazing
• Can reach millions of dollars in extreme cases

Precedent Cases Show Hazing Victims Win Big:

• $10.1 million — Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha)
• $6.1 million — Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta)
• $110+ million — Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi)

Pendleton County families can recover the same — we’ll fight for it.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Pendleton County

Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
• Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) have delayed symptoms
• Medical records are critical evidence

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

📱 Save everything:

• Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs
• Photos/videos of injuries or hazing activities
• Names and contact info of witnesses
• Any documents given to pledges (pledge manuals, schedules)
• Receipts for medical bills, therapy, or lost wages

❌ Do NOT:

• Delete any messages or posts
• Talk to the fraternity/sorority or university without a lawyer
• Sign anything from the organization
• Post about the incident on social media

Step 3: Report the Incident

• File a police report (hazing is a crime in Kentucky)
• Report to the university’s Title IX office
• Contact the national fraternity/sorority organization

Step 4: Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately

• Statute of limitations in Kentucky: 1 year for personal injury, 2 years for wrongful death
• Evidence disappears quickly
• Witnesses forget details
• Organizations destroy records

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

Why Pendleton County Families Choose Attorney 911

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. This isn’t theoretical — we’re in the fight. Pendleton County families get the same aggressive representation.

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook

Both of our attorneys used to work for insurance companies. We know exactly how they try to deny or minimize claims. Now, we use that knowledge to maximize compensation for victims.

3. Nationwide Reach — We Serve Pendleton County

While based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including Pendleton County. We have:

• Federal court authority (can sue in federal court)
• Dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York)
• Willingness to travel to Pendleton County for depositions and trials
• Video consultation for remote meetings

4. No Upfront Costs — We Only Get Paid If You Win

We work on contingency — you pay $0 upfront. We only get paid if we win your case. Pendleton County families face no financial risk.

5. We Understand the Culture — And How to Fight It

• Ralph Manginello is a former athlete and coach — he understands team dynamics and locker room culture.
• We’ve handled fraternity litigation, rhabdomyolysis cases, and university negligence claims.
• We know how Greek organizations operate — and how to hold them accountable.

6. We Won’t Back Down

Universities and fraternities have teams of lawyers fighting to minimize claims. We fight back harder. If they won’t settle fairly, we’ll take them to trial.

Common Defenses in Hazing Cases — And How We Defeat Them

Defense: “He Consented to Participate”

Our Response:

• Kentucky law says consent is NOT a defense to hazing.
• Peer pressure, threats, and fear of social exclusion negate true consent.
• Victims often don’t know what they’re consenting to — hazing is hidden until it’s too late.

Defense: “It Was Just Tradition”

Our Response:

• Tradition doesn’t justify illegal activity. Slavery and segregation were once “traditions” — that didn’t make them right.
• Assault is assault, whether it’s called “hazing” or not.
• Universities and nationals have policies against hazing — they’re admitting violations.

Defense: “The University Didn’t Know”

Our Response:

• Universities have a duty to protect students.
• They own fraternity houses (premises liability).
• They receive hazing complaints but often ignore them.
• In our case, UH had a prior hazing hospitalization in 2017 — they knew the risks.

Defense: “It Was Just a Few Bad Apples”

Our Response:

• Hazing is systemic — not isolated incidents.
• National organizations know about the culture and fail to stop it.
• In our case, Pi Kappa Phi had a hazing death in 2017 — they didn’t fix it.

Pendleton County Schools and Universities: Are Your Children at Risk?

Pendleton County families send their children to colleges and universities across Kentucky and beyond. Many of these schools have active Greek life with documented hazing histories.

Universities Near Pendleton County with Greek Life:

Source: University Greek life websites, media reports, hazing incident databases

Fraternities with Hazing Histories Near Pendleton County:

• Pi Kappa Phi (hazing death in 2017; our current lawsuit)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (multiple hazing deaths nationwide)
• Kappa Sigma (hazing suspensions at multiple schools)
• Pi Kappa Alpha (hazing death in 2021; $10M settlement)
• Beta Theta Pi (hazing death in 2017; $110M settlement)

Pendleton County parents: If your child is pledging any of these organizations, they are at risk.

What Pendleton County Families Are Saying

“We never thought this would happen to our son. He was just trying to make friends. The fraternity called it ‘tradition,’ but it was abuse. Attorney 911 fought for us when no one else would.”
— Parent of a hazing victim (Texas)

“I was afraid to speak up because I thought I’d be blacklisted. But Ralph and Lupe gave me the courage to stand up. The fraternity tried to silence me — they didn’t count on Attorney 911.”
— Hazing victim (Ohio)

“The university told us ‘boys will be boys.’ That’s not an excuse for torture. Attorney 911 made them pay.”
— Family of a hazing victim (Louisiana)

Pendleton County Hazing Victims: You Are Not Alone

We know the fear and shame that come with hazing. We know the pressure to stay silent. We know the loyalty to an organization that betrayed you.

But you don’t have to face this alone.

At Attorney 911, we’ve seen what fraternities and universities will do to protect themselves. We know their tactics. And we know how to beat them.

If your child was hazed in Pendleton County or anywhere in Kentucky, call us now for a free, confidential consultation.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911
✉️ ralph@atty911.com

We don’t just talk about hazing. We’re fighting it right now. And we’ll fight for you.

Frequently Asked Questions for Pendleton County Families

Q: My child was hazed, but they don’t want to sue. Should we still call a lawyer?

A: Yes. Even if your child doesn’t want to sue, a lawyer can:

• Protect them from retaliation
• Ensure evidence is preserved
• Help them report the incident safely
• Advise on academic and disciplinary consequences

Q: The fraternity said it was “just a prank.” Is it still hazing?

A: If it involved:

• Physical abuse (paddling, forced exercise, waterboarding)
• Forced consumption (alcohol, food, non-food substances)
• Sleep deprivation
• Psychological torture (humiliation, threats)
• Sexual abuse or nudity

Then yes, it’s hazing — and it’s illegal.

Q: The university said they’ll handle it internally. Should we trust them?

A: No. Universities have a conflict of interest — they want to protect their reputation, not your child. In our case:

• UH had a prior hazing hospitalization in 2017 — they knew the risks.
• They owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred.
• They did nothing to prevent it from happening again.

Internal investigations are designed to minimize liability. You need an independent advocate.

Q: We’re in Pendleton County. Can you still help us?

A: Yes. We represent hazing victims nationwide, including Pendleton County. We offer:

• Video consultations for remote meetings
• Willingness to travel to Pendleton County for depositions and trials
• Federal court authority to pursue cases across state lines
• Experience with Kentucky law and out-of-state defendants

Q: How much does it cost to hire a hazing lawyer?

A: $0 upfront. We work on contingency — you only pay if we win your case. Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict, so Pendleton County families face no financial risk.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?

A: In Kentucky:

• Personal injury: 1 year from the date of injury
• Wrongful death: 2 years from the date of death

But don’t wait. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and organizations destroy records. Call us immediately.

Q: What if the fraternity tries to intimidate my child?

A: That’s retaliation — and it’s illegal. We will:

• Send cease-and-desist letters
• File restraining orders if necessary
• Pursue additional legal action for intimidation

In our current case, our client is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution.” We protect our clients.

Q: Can we sue even if my child “participated” in the hazing?

A: Yes. Kentucky law says consent is not a defense. Even if your child went along with activities:

• They may have been coerced (threats of expulsion, social ostracism)
• They didn’t know the true risks (hazing is hidden until it’s too late)
• The organization is still liable for creating a dangerous environment

Pendleton County Hazing Victims: The Time to Act Is Now

Hazing is not a rite of passage. It’s not tradition. It’s not brotherhood.

It’s abuse. It’s assault. And it’s illegal.

If your child was hazed at a school near Pendleton County, they deserve justice. The institutions that allowed it need to be held accountable. And the culture that enables it needs to change.

At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this battle right now — and we’ll fight for Pendleton County families with the same determination.

Call us today for a free, confidential consultation:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
✉️ ralph@atty911.com

Enough is enough. It’s time to end hazing in Kentucky.