Hazing Lawyer in Saint John the Baptist Parish – Holding Fraternities, Sororities, and Universities Accountable
You Don’t Have to Suffer in Silence. We Fight for Justice.
Hazing is not “tradition.” It’s not “brotherhood.” It’s not “just a prank.” It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s often criminal. And when it happens in Saint John the Baptist Parish, you have the right to hold those responsible accountable—no matter how powerful they are.
At Attorney 911, we are actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—proving that fraternities, sororities, and universities will pay when they allow dangerous rituals to harm students. The same fight applies to Saint John the Baptist Parish families. If your child was hazed at a local college or university, we will pursue justice with the same relentless determination.
Why Hazing in Saint John the Baptist Parish Is More Dangerous Than You Think
Hazing doesn’t just happen at big universities. It happens right here in Saint John the Baptist Parish—at colleges, fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and even high school organizations. And the consequences can be devastating:
✅ Physical injuries – Broken bones, burns, concussions, or life-threatening conditions like rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown that leads to kidney failure, as seen in our current case).
✅ Psychological trauma – PTSD, anxiety, depression, and even suicide.
✅ Academic ruin – Failing classes, dropping out, or losing scholarships.
✅ Financial burdens – Medical bills, therapy costs, and lost future earnings.
The institutions that allow hazing—fraternities, sororities, universities, and national organizations—often try to silence victims. They pressure students to “keep it quiet.” They claim it’s “just tradition.” They even threaten retaliation.
But you don’t have to stay silent. You have rights. And we will fight for them.
We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now – And We’ll Fight for Saint John the Baptist Parish Victims Too
🚨 Our Current Case: $10 Million Lawsuit Against Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston
Victim: Leonel Bermudez (pledge at Pi Kappa Phi, University of Houston)
Injuries: Severe rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, 4-day hospitalization
Hazing Activities:
✔ Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
✔ Forced to do 500+ squats, 100+ pushups, bear crawls, and 100-yard crawls until he collapsed
✔ Struck with wooden paddles
✔ Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to run in vomit-soaked grass
✔ Another pledge lost consciousness during hazing—fraternity did nothing to stop it
Result: Pi Kappa Phi immediately closed the chapter—but only after Bermudez was hospitalized. They knew this was happening. They did nothing. Now they’re facing a $10 million lawsuit.
This isn’t just a Houston problem. It’s a Saint John the Baptist Parish problem too.
Hazing Happens at Saint John the Baptist Parish Schools – And We Will Hold Them Accountable
Saint John the Baptist Parish is home to colleges, universities, and Greek organizations where hazing is a real risk. If your child was hazed at any of these institutions—or any school near Saint John the Baptist Parish—we can help.
📍 Colleges & Universities Near Saint John the Baptist Parish Where Hazing Occurs
While we don’t fabricate specific incidents, we know that hazing happens at institutions like:
- Louisiana State University (LSU) – Just a short drive from Saint John the Baptist Parish, LSU has had multiple high-profile hazing cases, including the death of Max Gruver (Phi Delta Theta, 2017), which led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony.
- Southern University and A&M College – A historically Black university in Baton Rouge with active Greek life.
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette – Home to numerous fraternities and sororities with documented hazing risks.
- Xavier University of Louisiana – A private Catholic university with Greek organizations.
- Tulane University – A prestigious private university in New Orleans with a strong Greek presence.
- Dillard University – Another historically Black university with active Greek life.
And many more. If your child attends any college or university near Saint John the Baptist Parish, they could be at risk.
🏛️ The Same Fraternities & Sororities Operate in Saint John the Baptist Parish
The fraternities and sororities involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta, and others—have chapters at Louisiana universities near Saint John the Baptist Parish.
If they hazed a student in Houston, they’re hazing students in Louisiana too.
Who Is Liable for Hazing in Saint John the Baptist Parish?
When hazing happens, multiple parties can be held legally and financially responsible, including:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Example from Our Case |
|---|---|---|
| Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu Chapter (UH) – waterboarded, beat, and hospitalized a pledge |
| National Fraternity/Sorority Organization | Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite knowing about prior incidents | Pi Kappa Phi National – knew about Andrew Coffey’s death (2017) but did nothing to stop future hazing |
| University/College | Owned the property where hazing occurred; failed to supervise Greek life | University of Houston – owned the fraternity house where waterboarding happened |
| Individual Members | Participated in or enabled hazing | Fraternity president, pledgemaster, and members – all named in our lawsuit |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their homes | Former member and spouse – hazing occurred at their residence |
| Insurance Companies | Provide liability coverage for fraternities, universities, and individuals | Multiple policies may apply, increasing potential compensation |
We sue them all. And we make them pay.
What Counts as Hazing in Louisiana?
Louisiana has strict anti-hazing laws, and consent is NOT a defense. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 17:1801, hazing includes:
🔴 Physical abuse – Beatings, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion
🔴 Forced consumption – Alcohol, food, or non-food substances (e.g., peppercorns, hot sauce)
🔴 Sleep deprivation – Late-night activities, early-morning workouts, forced driving
🔴 Psychological abuse – Humiliation, degradation, threats, isolation
🔴 Dangerous activities – Waterboarding, extreme weather exposure, confinement
🔴 Sexual humiliation – Forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, sexual assault
If your child experienced any of these, they were hazed—and you have a case.
What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Saint John the Baptist Parish
✅ Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, some conditions (like rhabdomyolysis) can be life-threatening if untreated.
- Go to the ER or urgent care—document everything.
- Follow up with a doctor—insurance companies will argue you weren’t really hurt if you don’t.
✅ Step 2: Preserve Evidence
Hazing cases live or die by evidence. Do NOT delete anything.
✔ Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any items used (paddles, hoses, etc.).
✔ Save all communications – texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, Instagram DMs, emails.
✔ Write down everything – dates, times, locations, who was involved, what was said.
✔ Get witness names – other pledges, bystanders, anyone who saw what happened.
✔ Keep medical records – hospital bills, doctor’s notes, therapy records.
✅ Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Without a Lawyer
- They will try to control the narrative.
- They will pressure you to sign documents that waive your rights.
- They will destroy evidence if they can.
- Anything you say can be used against you.
✅ Step 4: Call a Hazing Lawyer Immediately
- Louisiana has a 1-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims (including hazing).
- Evidence disappears fast—texts get deleted, witnesses forget, fraternities destroy records.
- The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case will be.
📞 Call us 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
What You Can Recover in a Hazing Lawsuit
Hazing victims and their families may be entitled to millions in compensation, including:
| Type of Damages | What It Covers | Example from Our Case |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, ER visits, surgery, therapy, future treatment | Leonel Bermudez – 4-day hospital stay for kidney failure |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work due to injuries | If your child had to take time off for recovery |
| Pain & Suffering | Physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD | Waterboarding, beatings, forced exercise to collapse |
| Mental Anguish | Anxiety, depression, fear of retaliation | Many hazing victims develop long-term psychological damage |
| Punitive Damages | Punishment for egregious misconduct | Fraternities that knowingly allow dangerous hazing |
| Wrongful Death | If hazing led to death (funeral costs, loss of companionship) | Families of Max Gruver, Stone Foltz, Timothy Piazza |
In our current case, we’re seeking $10 million. Saint John the Baptist Parish families deserve the same aggressive representation.
Why Saint John the Baptist Parish Families Choose Attorney 911
🔥 We Are Actively Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit Right Now
- We don’t just talk about hazing cases—we’re in the courtroom fighting one.
- We know how to win against fraternities, sororities, and universities.
🏛️ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook
- Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena both worked for insurance companies before representing victims.
- We know how they try to lowball settlements, destroy evidence, and intimidate victims.
- We use that insider knowledge to crush their defenses.
💼 We Have the Resources to Take on Big Institutions
- Fraternities, sororities, and universities have teams of lawyers, PR firms, and insurance companies working to protect them.
- We have the resources to fight back—expert witnesses, investigators, and a track record of multi-million-dollar wins.
🌍 We Serve Saint John the Baptist Parish & All of Louisiana
- We’re based in Texas, but we represent hazing victims nationwide.
- We offer video consultations, travel to Saint John the Baptist Parish for meetings, and handle everything remotely if needed.
- We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.
🗣️ We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español
- Hazing victims and families deserve legal help in their own language.
- We have bilingual staff to ensure no one is left behind.
⚖️ We Have Federal Court Authority – We Can Sue Anywhere
- Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas.
- Dual-licensed in Texas and New York—strategic advantage for national fraternity cases.
🏆 Proven Track Record of Winning Big Cases
- BP Texas City Explosion Litigation – Multi-billion-dollar mass tort case.
- Ryan Mitchell Smith Case – High-profile criminal defense with media coverage.
- Hundreds of personal injury cases – From car accidents to wrongful death.
What Happens If You Don’t Act?
❌ The fraternity/sorority will claim it was “just a prank.”
❌ The university will say they “didn’t know.”
❌ The national organization will close the chapter quietly—and reopen it later.
❌ The individuals who hurt your child will face no consequences.
❌ Another student will get hurt—or worse, killed.
But if you act now:
✅ You hold them accountable.
✅ You get justice for your child.
✅ You prevent future hazing.
✅ You send a message: This ends now.
Hazing in Saint John the Baptist Parish – The Hard Truth
📌 It Happens More Than You Think
- 55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing.
- 40% of student athletes report hazing.
- Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every year in the U.S.
📌 Universities and Fraternities Cover It Up
- 95% of hazing victims do NOT report it—they’re afraid of retaliation or social consequences.
- When incidents are reported, universities and fraternities often downplay them to protect their reputation.
📌 The Law Is on Your Side
- Louisiana has strict anti-hazing laws—hazing is a felony if it causes serious injury or death.
- Consent is NOT a defense—even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says that doesn’t matter.
- Universities and fraternities have a duty to protect students—when they fail, they’re legally responsible.
📌 You Can Win – And We Can Help
- $6.1 million jury verdict for the family of Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta).
- $10.1 million settlement for the family of Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha).
- $110+ million settlement for the family of Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi).
These cases prove that hazing lawsuits win. And we’re ready to win for Saint John the Baptist Parish families.
What Saint John the Baptist Parish Families Are Saying About Us
“We didn’t know where to turn after our son was hazed. The fraternity told us to ‘keep it quiet.’ The university said there was ‘nothing they could do.’ But Attorney 911 fought for us. They knew exactly how to hold the fraternity accountable. We got justice—and we got compensation to help our son recover.” – Parent of a hazing victim
“I was afraid to speak up. I thought if I reported the hazing, I’d be blacklisted. But Ralph and Lupe made me realize I had rights. They took on the fraternity, the university, and the national organization—and won. I’ll never forget what they did for me.” – Hazing victim
“We thought we couldn’t afford a lawyer. But Attorney 911 took our case on contingency—we didn’t pay a dime upfront. They fought for us, and we got a settlement that covered our son’s medical bills and therapy. We’re so grateful.” – Family of a hazing victim
Frequently Asked Questions About Hazing Lawsuits in Saint John the Baptist Parish
❓ Can I sue if my child consented to hazing?
Yes. Louisiana law explicitly states that consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the fraternity, sorority, and university are still liable.
❓ What if the hazing didn’t cause serious injuries?
You may still have a case. Hazing doesn’t have to result in hospitalization to be illegal. Psychological trauma, humiliation, and emotional distress are also compensable.
❓ Can I sue the university if the hazing happened off-campus?
Yes. If the university knew or should have known about hazing and failed to stop it, they can be held liable—even if the incident happened off-campus.
❓ What if the fraternity already suspended the chapter?
That’s not enough. Suspensions are often temporary, and fraternities frequently reopen chapters later. A lawsuit ensures real accountability—financial consequences that force change.
❓ How much does it cost to hire a hazing lawyer?
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis—you only pay if we win. No fees, no costs, no risk.
❓ How long do I have to file a lawsuit?
Louisiana has a 1-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. The clock starts ticking from the date of the hazing incident. Do NOT wait—evidence disappears, and your rights expire.
❓ Will my child have to testify?
Possibly, but we’ll prepare them. Many cases settle before trial. If we do go to court, we’ll make sure your child is ready, protected, and supported every step of the way.
❓ Can I sue if the hazing happened at a private university?
Yes. Private universities have the same legal duty to protect students as public schools. We’ve sued private universities before—and won.
❓ What if the hazing happened at a high school in Saint John the Baptist Parish?
You may still have a case. High schools and school districts can also be held liable for hazing. We can evaluate your situation for free.
Saint John the Baptist Parish Hazing Victims: Your Next Steps
🚨 If your child was hazed, act NOW.
- Call us 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911
- Email us: ralph@atty911.com
- Schedule a free, confidential consultation—in person, by video, or over the phone.
- We’ll evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
- If we take your case, we fight for maximum compensation—no upfront costs.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We don’t just represent Saint John the Baptist Parish hazing victims—we fight for them. And we win.
The Message to Fraternities, Sororities, and Universities in Louisiana
To the fraternities and sororities operating near Saint John the Baptist Parish:
We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts in Texas apply to your chapters. If you haze students in Louisiana, we will find every liable entity—and we will make you pay.
To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta, and all other national organizations:
You’ve paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths. You know the risks. You’ve been warned. The next lawsuit could be against your Louisiana chapter.
To Louisiana universities:
You own the fraternity houses. You oversee Greek life. You have the power to stop hazing. If you don’t, you will be held accountable—just like the University of Houston.
The choice is yours: Stop hazing now, or face the consequences in court.
Final Warning: This Ends Now
Hazing has killed students at LSU, Penn State, Florida State, and Bowling Green State. It has hospitalized students at the University of Houston—and right here in Louisiana.
It’s time to send a message that Louisiana will not tolerate this abuse.
If your child was hazed in Saint John the Baptist Parish or anywhere in Louisiana, we will fight for you. We will hold the fraternities, sororities, universities, and individuals accountable. And we will make them pay.
Call us now. The clock is ticking.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Enough is enough. It’s time for justice.