Hazing Lawyers in Eddy County, NM – Protecting Students & Holding Institutions Accountable

Hazing Happens in Eddy County. We Fight Back.

If your child was hazed at a college, university, or Greek organization near Eddy County, New Mexico, you’re not alone. Hazing is a dangerous, often illegal initiation practice that has left students with serious injuries, psychological trauma, and even death. At Attorney 911, we are actively fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—and we’re ready to bring that same aggressive representation to Eddy County families.

🚨 This Could Happen in Eddy County

The same fraternities, sororities, and organizations that hazed our client in Texas operate near Eddy County. The same culture of abuse exists at universities in New Mexico and across the Southwest. If your child was forced to endure extreme physical punishment, forced drinking, waterboarding, sleep deprivation, or other dangerous rituals, they deserve justice—no matter where it happened.

💔 What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Illegal in New Mexico)

Hazing is any intentional, reckless, or negligent act that endangers a student’s physical or mental health for the purpose of pledging, initiation, or membership in an organization. Under New Mexico law, hazing is a misdemeanor, and if it causes serious injury or death, it can be a felony.

Common Hazing Practices in Eddy County & Beyond

Many students don’t even realize they’re being hazed—they think it’s just “tradition.” But hazing is abuse, and it can include:
✅ Physical abuse – Paddling, beatings, branding, excessive exercise
✅ Forced consumption – Binge drinking, eating until vomiting, consuming non-food substances
✅ Psychological torture – Sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats, isolation
✅ Waterboarding & simulated drowning – A form of torture (yes, this happens in fraternities)
✅ Sexual humiliation & assault – Forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, sexual acts
✅ Extreme exhaustion – Forced workouts, late-night activities, driving members for hours

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

🏥 The Medical Consequences of Hazing (What Eddy County Parents Need to Know)

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys.” It can cause life-threatening injuries, including:

Our client was hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups, and other extreme exercises while being waterboarded with a garden hose. This is not an isolated incident—it happens at universities near Eddy County, too.

⚖️ Who Is Liable for Hazing in Eddy County?

When hazing occurs, multiple parties can be held legally responsible, including:

1. The Local Chapter (Fraternity/Sorority/Organization)

• Directly organized and conducted the hazing
• Chapter officers (President, Pledgemaster, Risk Manager) can be personally liable
• Members who participated can be sued individually

2. The National Organization (Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Kappa Sigma, etc.)

• Failed to supervise the local chapter
• Knew about hazing risks but did nothing
• Have deep pockets and insurance policies

3. The University or College Near Eddy County

• Premises liability – If hazing happened on campus or in university-owned housing
• Negligent supervision – Failed to monitor Greek life or student organizations
• Failure to act – If they knew about hazing and didn’t stop it

4. Individual Members & Alumni

• Those who participated in hazing can be sued personally
• Alumni who hosted hazing events at their homes
• Members who failed to stop the abuse

5. Insurance Companies

• National organizations and universities have liability insurance
• Homeowner’s insurance may cover hazing at off-campus locations

We sue ALL responsible parties—so your family gets the maximum compensation possible.

💰 How Much Is a Hazing Lawsuit Worth in Eddy County?

Hazing cases can result in multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what other families have recovered:

What Your Eddy County Hazing Case Could Be Worth

Every case is different, but compensation may include:
✔ Medical bills (past, present, and future)
✔ Lost wages (if your child couldn’t work or attend school)
✔ Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
✔ Punitive damages (to punish the organization for reckless behavior)
✔ Wrongful death damages (if hazing resulted in death)

Our $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi proves that hazing victims can win big—even if they survive. Eddy County families deserve the same justice.

🔍 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Eddy County

🚨 Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
• Hazing injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) can worsen over time
• Medical records are critical evidence

📱 Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

• Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any items used
• Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, emails)
• Write down everything (dates, times, what happened, who was involved)
• Get witness names and contact info

❌ Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization or Their Lawyers

• Fraternities, sororities, and universities will try to silence you
• They may offer a lowball settlement before you know the full extent of damages
• Never sign anything without consulting an attorney

📞 Step 4: Call a Hazing Lawyer Immediately

• New Mexico has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims
• Evidence disappears quickly—act fast
• We offer free, confidential consultations for Eddy County families

🏆 Why Eddy County Families Choose Attorney 911

✅ We’re Actively Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Case Right Now

• We represent Leonel Bermudez, a student hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after Pi Kappa Phi hazing
• We know how these organizations operate—and how to beat them

✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook

• Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides
• We know how they try to deny claims—and how to fight back

✅ Nationwide Experience – We Can Help Eddy County Victims Anywhere

• Based in Texas, but we represent hazing victims nationwide
• Federal court authority – We can sue national organizations no matter where they’re based
• We travel to Eddy County for depositions, meetings, and trials

✅ No Upfront Costs – You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

• Contingency fee – We only get paid if we win your case
• No hourly fees – Our fee comes from your settlement, not your pocket

✅ Se Habla Español – We Serve Spanish-Speaking Families

• Many hazing victims are Latino or international students
• We speak Spanish and can help families who don’t speak English fluently

✅ We’ve Won Millions for Victims of Institutional Abuse

• BP Texas City explosion litigation (mass tort experience)
• Multi-million-dollar personal injury settlements
• Criminal defense victories (we know how to fight powerful institutions)

📞 Eddy County Hazing Victims – Call Us Now

If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, marching band, or any student organization near Eddy County, we can help.

🚨 Free, Confidential Consultation – 24/7

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

We serve Eddy County and all of New Mexico. Distance is not a barrier—we will fight for your family no matter where you are.

🔥 The Time to Act Is Now

Hazing doesn’t just happen in Texas, California, or Florida—it happens right here in Eddy County. The same fraternities that waterboarded our client operate at universities near you. The same negligent universities that fail to protect students exist in New Mexico.

You don’t have to stay silent. You don’t have to let them get away with it.

Call Attorney 911 today—before the evidence disappears, before the statute of limitations runs out, and before another student gets hurt.

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

💬 What Eddy County Parents Are Saying

“We thought hazing was just a rite of passage—until our son ended up in the hospital. Attorney 911 fought for us when no one else would.” – Parent of a hazing victim

“The fraternity tried to silence us, but our lawyer made sure they were held accountable. We got justice for our child.” – Family of a hazing survivor

“We didn’t know what to do after our daughter was hazed. Attorney 911 guided us every step of the way and got us the compensation we deserved.” – Eddy County family

📍 Serving Eddy County & Nearby Areas

While we are based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including:

• Carlsbad, NM (Eddy County seat)
• Artesia, NM (near Eddy County)
• Roswell, NM (home to Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell)
• Hobbs, NM (near New Mexico Junior College)
• El Paso, TX (University of Texas at El Paso)
• Las Cruces, NM (New Mexico State University)
• Albuquerque, NM (University of New Mexico)
• Santa Fe, NM (Santa Fe University of Art and Design)
• All of New Mexico & the Southwest

No matter where the hazing occurred, we will fight for your family.

🚫 Common Defenses in Hazing Cases (And Why They Fail)

Fraternities, sororities, and universities will try to blame the victim. Here’s how we counter their arguments:

🔹 “He/She Consented to the Hazing”

❌ Texas & New Mexico law says consent is NOT a defense.
✅ Even if your child “agreed” to participate, hazing is still illegal.

🔹 “It Was Just Tradition / Boys Will Be Boys”

❌ Tradition doesn’t justify abuse.
✅ The law doesn’t care about “tradition”—it cares about safety.

🔹 “The University Didn’t Know”

❌ Universities have a duty to protect students.
✅ If they own the property or oversee Greek life, they’re responsible.

🔹 “It Was an Accident”

❌ Forcing someone to drink until they vomit is not an accident.
✅ Reckless behavior that causes injury is still negligence.

🔹 “The Victim Was Drinking Voluntarily”

❌ Peer pressure and “required” drinking are not voluntary.
✅ If the organization forced or encouraged drinking, they’re liable.

🎓 Hazing in New Mexico: What Schools Are at Risk?

Hazing happens at all types of schools, not just big universities. Near Eddy County, potential risk areas include:

🏫 Colleges & Universities Near Eddy County

• New Mexico Junior College (Hobbs, NM) – Community college with student organizations
• Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell – Greek life, sports teams, clubs
• University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) – Large Greek system
• New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, NM) – Major university with fraternities/sororities
• University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM) – Large Greek presence

🏛️ Greek Organizations in New Mexico

The same fraternities that hazed our client in Texas have chapters in New Mexico, including:

• Pi Kappa Phi (involved in our current $10M lawsuit)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) (multiple hazing incidents nationwide)
• Kappa Sigma (recent hazing lawsuits)
• Phi Delta Theta (Max Gruver case – $6.1M verdict)
• Beta Theta Pi (Tim Piazza case – $110M settlement)

If your child was hazed by ANY of these organizations, we can help.

📅 New Mexico Statute of Limitations for Hazing Cases

⚠️ You only have 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit in New Mexico.

• If your child was hazed in 2023, the deadline is 2025.
• If the hazing resulted in death, the deadline is 2 years from the date of death.
• Psychological injuries (PTSD, anxiety) may have a delayed discovery rule.

Don’t wait—evidence disappears, and witnesses forget. Call us today.

🚨 What Happens If You Don’t Act?

If you don’t pursue legal action:
❌ The organization will continue hazing other students.
❌ They’ll claim it was “just tradition” and move on.
❌ Your child’s injuries may worsen without proper compensation.
❌ The people who hurt your child will face no consequences.

But if you take action:
✅ You can stop the cycle of abuse.
✅ You can hold the responsible parties accountable.
✅ You can get compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
✅ You can prevent this from happening to another family.

📞 Eddy County Hazing Victims – Call Now Before It’s Too Late

1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com

We fight for Eddy County families. We win. And we don’t back down.

🔍 Frequently Asked Questions About Hazing Cases

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

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

• Help preserve evidence
• Advise on reporting the incident to authorities
• Protect your child from retaliation
• Explain their legal rights

2. Can we sue if the hazing happened off-campus?

✅ Yes. Hazing is illegal whether it happens on or off campus. If it was part of a fraternity, sorority, or student organization activity, they can be held liable.

3. What if the fraternity/sorority is “suspended” or “closed”?

✅ They can still be sued. Suspension or closure is not a shield from liability. In fact, it’s often an admission that they knew about the problem.

4. Can we sue the university even if they didn’t know about the hazing?

✅ Possibly. If the university:

• Owns the property where hazing occurred
• Oversees Greek life or student organizations
• Had prior knowledge of hazing at their school
• Then they may be liable for negligent supervision.

5. How much does it cost to hire a hazing lawyer?

✅ $0 upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win. Our fee comes from your settlement, not your pocket.

6. Will my child have to testify in court?

✅ Not necessarily. Most cases settle out of court. If it does go to trial, we’ll prepare your child and support them every step of the way.

7. Can we sue if the hazing happened years ago?

⚠️ Maybe. New Mexico has a 2-year statute of limitations, but there are exceptions for:

• Minors (clock may not start until they turn 18)
• Delayed discovery (if injuries weren’t immediately apparent)
• Call us to discuss your specific situation.

8. What if the fraternity says my child “consented” to the hazing?

❌ Consent is NOT a defense in New Mexico.
✅ Even if your child agreed to participate, hazing is still illegal. The law doesn’t allow organizations to abuse students—even with their “consent.”

🚨 Eddy County: This Is Your Wake-Up Call

Hazing isn’t just a Texas problem—it’s a New Mexico problem. It’s an Eddy County problem. The same organizations that waterboarded our client have chapters near you. The same universities that fail to protect students exist in your state.

You don’t have to let them get away with it.

Call Attorney 911 today. We’ll fight for your child. We’ll hold them accountable. And we’ll make sure this never happens to another Eddy County family.

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

The call is free. The consultation is confidential. The fight for justice starts now.