🚨 Hazing Victims in Ulster County, New York: Your Legal Rights and How Attorney 911 Can Help
🏛️ The Hazing Crisis in Ulster County and Beyond
Ulster County is home to vibrant college communities, including SUNY New Paltz, Ulster County Community College (SUNY Ulster), and nearby institutions like Marist College and Vassar College. These schools foster academic excellence, personal growth, and community — but for some students, the promise of belonging through Greek life, sports teams, or student organizations turns into a nightmare of abuse, humiliation, and life-threatening danger.
Hazing is not just a distant problem. It happens right here in Ulster County. The same fraternities and sororities that operate at universities across America — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, and others — have active chapters near Ulster County. These organizations have paid millions of dollars in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries, yet the abuse continues.
This is not “tradition.” This is not “building brotherhood.” This is not “character building.”
This is assault. This is battery. This is torture. And it is illegal.
🚨 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Ulster County
Right now, Attorney 911 is fighting a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for the hazing of a young man named Leonel Bermudez. Here’s what happened to him — and what could happen to your child in Ulster County:
- Waterboarded with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
- Forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups, and other extreme exercises until he collapsed
- Struck with wooden paddles — physical abuse with weapons
- Forced to eat until he vomited, then made to continue running through his own vomit
- Hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure
This didn’t happen at some far-off school. It happened at a major university — just like the schools near Ulster County.
And here’s the worst part: Pi Kappa Phi knew this could happen. In 2017, a student named Andrew Coffey died at a Pi Kappa Phi event at Florida State University. The fraternity had 8 years to fix their culture. They did nothing. Now, another student has been hospitalized.
The same national organizations operate near Ulster County. The same negligence exists at Ulster County institutions. And the same legal rights apply to Ulster County victims.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Hazing Victim in Ulster County
1. New York Hazing Law: It’s a Crime
New York has strong anti-hazing laws under Education Law § 6450 and Penal Law § 120.16. Hazing is a misdemeanor in New York, punishable by up to 1 year in jail and fines. If the hazing causes serious physical injury or death, it becomes a felony.
Key points:
- Consent is NOT a defense. Even if a student “agreed” to participate, the law says consent doesn’t matter.
- Universities can be held liable if they knew or should have known about hazing and failed to stop it.
- National fraternities/sororities can be sued for failing to supervise their chapters.
2. Civil Lawsuits: Hold the Perpetrators Accountable
You can file a civil lawsuit to recover compensation for:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
- Lost wages (if you missed work or school)
- Punitive damages (to punish the defendants for egregious conduct)
Who can be sued?
- The local fraternity/sorority chapter
- The national organization (they have deep pockets and insurance)
- The university (if they knew or should have known)
- Individual members who participated in or facilitated the hazing
3. Federal Civil Rights Claims
If the hazing involved discrimination, sexual assault, or other civil rights violations, you may have claims under Title IX or Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act. These claims can be filed in federal court and may result in significant damages.
💰 What Your Hazing Case Could Be Worth
Hazing cases often result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here are some real examples:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | $10.1 million settlement |
| Maxwell Gruver | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | $110+ million (estimated settlement) |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Confidential settlement (millions) |
Our current case against Pi Kappa Phi and UH seeks $10 million — and we have the evidence to back it up.
📋 What to Do If You or Your Child Was Hazed in Ulster County
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor. Some injuries, like rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), may not show symptoms right away. Medical records are critical evidence for your case.
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Take photos of any injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, etc.).
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, emails).
- Document everything — dates, times, locations, who was involved.
- Get witness names and contact info — other victims or bystanders.
- Do NOT delete anything — even if it seems embarrassing or irrelevant.
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization or Their Lawyers
- Fraternities, sororities, and universities will try to control the narrative.
- They may ask you to sign documents or give statements — do not do this without a lawyer.
- Anything you say can be used against you.
Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
Hazing cases have statutes of limitations — typically 2 years from the date of injury in New York. If you wait too long, you may lose your right to sue.
Call us now for a free, confidential consultation:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
We work on contingency — you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we win your case.
🏢 Who We Sue for Ulster County Hazing Victims
When we take on a hazing case, we pursue every liable party to maximize your compensation. For Ulster County victims, this may include:
1. The Local Fraternity or Sorority Chapter
- Directly responsible for organizing and conducting the hazing.
- Individual members can be sued personally for their roles.
2. The National Fraternity or Sorority Organization
- Failed to supervise the local chapter.
- Knew or should have known about hazing risks (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi had a prior hazing death in 2017).
- Deep pockets — national organizations have millions in assets and insurance.
3. The University or College
- Premises liability — if the hazing occurred on university property.
- Negligent supervision — if the university failed to monitor Greek life or student organizations.
- Institutional knowledge — if the university knew about prior hazing incidents and did nothing.
Example: In our Pi Kappa Phi case, the University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the hazing occurred. This makes them directly liable for what happened.
4. Individual Perpetrators
- Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster, etc.) who directed the hazing.
- Members who participated in the abuse.
- Alumni or former members who hosted hazing events.
Example: In the Stone Foltz case, the chapter president was held personally liable for $6.5 million.
5. Insurance Companies
- General liability insurance for the fraternity or university.
- Homeowner’s insurance for individuals who hosted hazing events.
- Umbrella policies that provide additional coverage.
🎯 Why Ulster County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now
We are 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 right now, and we’re bringing the same aggression to Ulster County cases.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook
Both of our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, worked for insurance companies before switching sides to represent victims. We know exactly how they think, strategize, and try to deny claims. We use that insider knowledge to maximize your compensation.
3. Nationwide Reach — We Serve Ulster County from Houston, Austin, and Beaumont
While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including in Ulster County. We have:
- Federal court authority (U.S. District Court admission)
- Dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York)
- Willingness to travel to Ulster County for depositions, trials, and client meetings
- Remote consultation technology — you can meet with us via video from Ulster County
4. Proven Results in Multi-Million Dollar Cases
We have recovered millions of dollars for victims in personal injury cases, including:
- BP Texas City explosion litigation (mass tort experience)
- Wrongful death cases
- Catastrophic injury cases
- Federal civil rights cases
5. We Speak Your Language — Literally
Our staff is bilingual (English and Spanish), ensuring that language is never a barrier to justice for Ulster County families.
6. We Treat You Like Family
We understand the emotional trauma of hazing. Our clients say:
“You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client that’s caught in the middle of many other cases. You are FAMILY to them and they protect and fight for you as such.” — Chad Harris
📞 How Ulster County Families Can Reach Us
If you or your child was hazed in Ulster County, contact us immediately for a free, confidential consultation:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We work on contingency — you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.
🚨 To Ulster County Fraternities and Sororities: We Are Watching
To the fraternities and sororities operating near Ulster County:
- Pi Kappa Phi
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- Pi Kappa Alpha
- Phi Delta Theta
- Sigma Chi
- Kappa Sigma
- And all others
We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapters. If you haze students in Ulster County, we will pursue every liable entity — your chapter, your nationals, your university, and your individual members.
The Beta Nu chapter of Pi Kappa Phi at UH is now shut down after our lawsuit. Your chapter could be next.
Clean up your act before we clean you out in court.
🏆 To Ulster County Parents: Protect Your Child
Ulster County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. You trust that universities and student organizations will protect your child — but that trust is being betrayed.
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Ulster County, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.
What you can do:
- Talk to your child about the risks of hazing.
- Encourage them to report any suspicious or dangerous activities.
- Document everything — if they mention hazing, save texts, photos, and notes.
- Contact us immediately if hazing occurs — 1-888-ATTY-911.
🎓 To Ulster County Students: You Are Not Alone
If you’ve been hazed:
- You did nothing wrong.
- You are not weak for speaking up.
- You are not alone.
Hazing is not a rite of passage. It’s not brotherhood. It’s not tradition.
It’s abuse. And it’s illegal.
We can help you hold the perpetrators accountable — without fear of retribution. Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case was afraid to speak publicly due to retribution. We protected him, and we will protect you.
Call us today: 1-888-ATTY-911
📜 Final Message: Enough Is Enough
For too long, hazing has been excused, ignored, and covered up. Students have died. Families have been shattered. And institutions have looked the other way — until someone got hurt or killed.
Enough is enough.
If you or your child was hazed in Ulster County, you have rights. You have the right to justice. You have the right to compensation. You have the right to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Attorney 911 is here to fight for you.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We don’t just talk about hazing. We’re fighting it in court right now — and we’ll fight for Ulster County victims too.
