Franklin County Hazing Lawyer – Holding Fraternities & Universities Accountable

If your child was hazed at a Franklin County college or university, Attorney 911 is fighting for you.

We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with kidney failure from extreme hazing. The same fraternities operate in Franklin County. The same negligence exists at Franklin County institutions. We will bring the same aggressive representation to Franklin County families.

⚠️ This Happens in Franklin County Too

Franklin County is home to respected colleges and universities where Greek life thrives. The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths and injuries nationwide—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi—have active chapters at institutions near Franklin County.

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Franklin County, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.

Universities Near Franklin County With Greek Life:

• SUNY Potsdam – 30 miles from Franklin County
• Clarkson University – 40 miles from Franklin County
• St. Lawrence University – 45 miles from Franklin County
• SUNY Canton – 50 miles from Franklin County

These institutions, like universities across America, have Greek organizations with chapters of national fraternities and sororities. Hazing doesn’t stop at state lines.

🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Franklin County

Hazing is not “tradition.” It is not “building brotherhood.” It is abuse, assault, and sometimes torture—and it happens at Franklin County-area colleges.

What Hazing Looks Like in Franklin County:

• Forced alcohol consumption – Binge drinking leading to alcohol poisoning
• Extreme physical punishment – Hours of calisthenics, running, or exercises causing rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)
• Waterboarding and simulated drowning – As seen in our Houston case
• Forced eating until vomiting – Then forced to continue activities
• Sleep deprivation – Late-night activities causing exhaustion
• Psychological torture – Humiliation, isolation, threats
• Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
• Beating with wooden paddles – Physical assault with weapons

The Medical Consequences:

• Rhabdomyolysis – Muscle breakdown causing kidney failure (our client’s diagnosis)
• Acute kidney failure – Life-threatening condition requiring hospitalization
• Alcohol poisoning – Can be fatal
• Traumatic brain injury – From beatings or falls
• Hypothermia or heatstroke – From exposure
• Cardiac arrest – From extreme physical exertion
• PTSD, anxiety, depression – Long-term psychological damage
• Death – Hazing has killed students nationwide

💰 You Can Sue for Hazing in Franklin County

Hazing victims in Franklin County have legal rights. If your child was hazed, you can pursue compensation for:

Economic Damages:

• Medical bills – Hospitalization, ER, specialists, therapy
• Future medical costs – Ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, potential dialysis
• Lost wages – Time missed from work during recovery
• Educational disruption – Tuition, fees, lost scholarships
• Career impact – Missed internships, delayed graduation

Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical pain and suffering – From injuries sustained during hazing
• Mental anguish – PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear of retribution
• Emotional distress – Humiliation, shame, loss of trust
• Loss of enjoyment of life – Inability to participate in normal activities

Punitive Damages (in some cases):

• Punishment for egregious conduct – When hazing involves torture, reckless endangerment, or cover-ups
• Deterrent for future hazing – To send a message that this behavior will not be tolerated

⚖️ Who Is Liable for Franklin County Hazing?

In hazing cases, multiple parties can be held accountable:

Franklin County Universities Face the Same Liability as UH

In our Houston case, the University of Houston owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred. Many Franklin County-area colleges have similar relationships with Greek organizations—they own or control the properties where hazing happens.

If a Franklin County institution owns or leases property to a fraternity or sorority, they share responsibility for what happens there.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Franklin County

If your child was hazed at a Franklin County-area college, take these steps immediately to protect their rights:

1. Seek Medical Attention

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
• Document all symptoms, treatments, and diagnoses
• Rhabdomyolysis and other serious conditions may not be immediately apparent

2. Preserve All Evidence

• Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs – Take screenshots; do not delete
• Photos/videos – Of injuries, hazing activities, or locations
• Witness information – Names and contact info of other pledges or witnesses
• Documents – Pledge manuals, schedules, rules given to your child
• Social media posts – From fraternity/sorority accounts about hazing

⚠️ DO NOT:

• Delete any messages or posts
• Talk to fraternity/sorority leadership without legal counsel
• Sign anything from the organization
• Post about the incident on social media

3. Report the Hazing

• Campus police or local law enforcement – File a police report
• University administration – Report to the Dean of Students, Greek Life office, or Title IX coordinator
• National fraternity/sorority organization – Some have anonymous reporting hotlines

4. Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately

• Statute of limitations – In New York, you typically have 3 years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but evidence disappears quickly
• Evidence preservation – We send legal preservation letters to prevent destruction of evidence
• Insurance negotiations – We handle all communications with insurance companies
• Legal strategy – We identify all liable parties and build a strong case

Franklin County families can reach Attorney 911 24/7:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com

🏆 Why Franklin County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Fight Right Now

• $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and University of Houston (filed November 2025)
• Same strategies available for Franklin County victims
• We don’t just talk about hazing—we’re in court fighting it

2. Nationwide Reach – We Serve Franklin County

• Headquartered in Texas, but we represent hazing victims across America
• Federal court authority – Can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction
• Dual-state bar licenses – Texas AND New York
• Video consultations – Meet with us remotely from Franklin County
• We travel to Franklin County – For depositions, trials, and client meetings

3. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena both worked for insurance companies before switching sides
• We know their playbook – How they try to deny or minimize claims
• We use that knowledge against them – To maximize your recovery

4. Proven Results in High-Stakes Litigation

• BP Texas City explosion litigation – Experience with complex, high-stakes cases
• Multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts – In personal injury and wrongful death cases
• Federal court experience – Including U.S. District Court and Second Circuit Court of Appeals

5. We Work on Contingency – $0 Upfront for Franklin County Families

• No hourly fees – We don’t charge by the hour
• No upfront costs – You pay nothing to hire us
• We only get paid if we win – Our fee comes from your settlement or verdict
• If we don’t win, you owe us nothing

6. Bilingual Representation – Se Habla Español

• Fluent Spanish-speaking staff – No language barriers to justice
• Comprehensive legal services in Spanish – Consultations, case updates, courtroom interpretation

7. We Treat Franklin County Families Like Family

“Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer regarding my case.” – Dame Haskett

“This law firm here is 1 of a kind. I felt like I had my back against the world and Ralph Manginello gave me hope and believed in me.” – MOSTHATED MILYYY’

We understand the trauma Franklin County families face when their child is hazed. We see your child as a person—not a paycheck. We fight hard because we truly care.

📚 Precedent Cases – Hazing Victims Win Millions

Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. The same outcomes are possible for Franklin County victims.

Stone Foltz – $10.1 Million (2021)

• Victim: Stone Foltz, 20, Bowling Green State University
• Fraternity: Pi Kappa Alpha
• Event: Forced to drink entire bottle of alcohol
• Result: Died from alcohol poisoning
• Outcome: $10.1 million total settlement from university and fraternity

Maxwell Gruver – $6.1 Million Jury Verdict (2017)

• Victim: Maxwell Gruver, 18, Louisiana State University
• Fraternity: Phi Delta Theta
• Event: “Bible Study” drinking game; wrong answer = drink more
• Result: Died from alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495 – 6x legal limit)
• Outcome: $6.1 million jury verdict; led to Max Gruver Act (hazing felony law)

Timothy Piazza – $110+ Million (2017)

• Victim: Timothy Piazza, 19, Penn State University
• Fraternity: Beta Theta Pi
• Event: Forced to drink 18 drinks in 82 minutes; fell down stairs repeatedly
• Result: Died from traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding
• Outcome: $110+ million settlement; led to Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law

Andrew Coffey – Pi Kappa Phi’s Deadly Pattern (2017)

• Victim: Andrew Coffey, 20, Florida State University
• Fraternity: Pi Kappa Phi – Same national organization as our Houston case
• Event: Forced to drink entire bottle of bourbon
• Result: Died from alcohol poisoning
• Outcome: Chapter closed; criminal charges

⚠️ Pi Kappa Phi had 8 years between Andrew Coffey’s death and Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization to fix their culture. They did nothing.

🎯 Our Strategy for Franklin County Hazing Cases

1. Identify All Liable Parties

• Local chapter – Direct responsibility
• National organization – Oversight failure
• University – Premises liability; negligent supervision
• Individuals – Personal liability for participants

2. Preserve Evidence Immediately

• Send legal preservation letters to prevent destruction of evidence
• Obtain text messages, social media, photos, videos
• Identify and interview witnesses
• Request chapter records, communications, policies

3. Build a Strong Medical Case

• Work with medical experts to document injuries
• Calculate future medical costs (rehabilitation, therapy, potential dialysis)
• Prove psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)

4. Expose the Pattern of Negligence

• Prior hazing incidents at the same chapter
• Knowledge of “hazing crisis” by national organization
• Institutional failures by the university

5. Pursue Maximum Compensation

• Economic damages – Medical bills, lost wages, educational disruption
• Non-economic damages – Pain and suffering, mental anguish
• Punitive damages – For egregious conduct (torture, cover-ups)

6. Send a Message to Prevent Future Hazing

• Media coverage – Publicize the case to deter other chapters
• Legislative advocacy – Support hazing reform laws
• Alumni/donor pressure – Demand accountability from institutions

📢 To Fraternities Operating Near Franklin County:

We are watching.

The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi—if your chapter operates near Franklin County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America.

Every national fraternity with chapters near Franklin County should review their hazing policies immediately. We have proven these cases can be won.

📞 Franklin County Families – Contact Us Today

If your child was hazed at a Franklin County-area college or university, you have legal rights. We can help.

Free Consultation – 24/7

📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com

What Franklin County Families Can Expect:

✅ Immediate case evaluation – We’ll review your situation for free
✅ Evidence preservation – We’ll send legal letters to protect critical evidence
✅ Aggressive representation – We’ll fight for maximum compensation
✅ No upfront costs – We work on contingency; you pay nothing unless we win
✅ Nationwide reach – We serve Franklin County and all of America

We Will Travel to Franklin County

• For depositions
• For client meetings
• For trials
• Distance is not a barrier to justice

🔥 Franklin County – Enough Is Enough

Hazing has no place in Franklin County colleges. It has no place in America.

If your child was hazed, you are not alone. We are fighting this battle right now, and we will fight for Franklin County families with the same determination.

Call Attorney 911 today.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com

Franklin County hazing victims deserve justice. We will get it for you.