Hazing Victims in Avery County, NC: You Deserve Justice
Attorney 911 is fighting for hazing victims nationwide — including students and families in Avery County, North Carolina.
If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or any student organization at Lees-McRae College, Appalachian State University, or any school near Avery County, you are not alone. We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston — and we will bring the same aggressive representation to Avery County families.
🚨 What Is Hazing? It’s Not Tradition — It’s Abuse
Hazing is any dangerous, humiliating, or abusive activity required for membership in a student organization. In our current case, a fraternity pledge was:
- Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
- Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
- Beaten with wooden paddles
- Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to run sprints
- Hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure from rhabdomyolysis
This is not “brotherhood.” This is torture.
And it happens at schools near Avery County — including Lees-McRae College, Appalachian State, and other North Carolina universities where Greek life and student organizations operate.
🏛️ Who Is Liable for Hazing in Avery County?
If your child was hazed, multiple parties may be responsible — and we will pursue them all:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| National Organization | Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite knowing about dangerous culture |
| University/College | Failed to protect students despite prior hazing incidents |
| Chapter Officers (President, Pledgemaster, etc.) | Leadership responsibility; directed hazing activities |
| Individual Members | Participated in or enabled hazing |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their homes |
| Insurance Companies | Coverage for institutional liability |
Avery County families: Even if the hazing happened off-campus, the university and national organization may still be liable for failing to prevent it.
💰 How Much Is a Hazing Case Worth?
Hazing lawsuits have resulted in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts, including:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (2021) | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver (2017) | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza (2017) | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | $110+ million (estimated) |
| Leonel Bermudez (2025) | University of Houston | Pi Kappa Phi | $10 million lawsuit pending (our case) |
Avery County families: These cases prove that hazing victims can and do win big. The same legal strategies apply to your case.
📅 Statute of Limitations in North Carolina
You have a limited time to file a lawsuit.
- Personal Injury: 3 years from the date of injury (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52)
- Wrongful Death: 2 years from the date of death (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-53)
Avery County families: If your child was hazed, do not wait. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your legal rights expire. Call us today for a free consultation.
🔍 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Avery County
1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor.
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening.
- Medical records are critical evidence for your case.
2. Preserve All Evidence
- Take photos/videos of injuries at all stages.
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs).
- Document everything — dates, times, locations, witnesses.
- Do NOT delete anything, even if it seems unimportant.
3. Do NOT Talk to the Organization Without a Lawyer
- Fraternities, sororities, and universities will try to control the narrative.
- They may pressure your child to sign documents or give statements.
- Anything your child says can be used against them.
4. Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
- Free, confidential consultation — we’ll evaluate your case.
- No upfront costs — we work on contingency (you pay nothing unless we win).
- We come to you — we’ll travel to Avery County for meetings.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 or email ralph@atty911.com
🎓 Hazing at Avery County Schools: What We Know
While we don’t have specific reports of hazing incidents in Avery County, we know that hazing happens at schools across North Carolina, including:
Lees-McRae College (Banner Elk, NC — in Avery County)
- Greek Life: Lees-McRae has fraternities and sororities, including:
- Fraternities: Phi Sigma Kappa, Sigma Phi Epsilon
- Sororities: Alpha Sigma Tau, Delta Zeta
- Athletics: NCAA Division II sports teams (hazing has occurred in sports teams nationwide).
- Risk: Small colleges often have less oversight of Greek life and student organizations.
Appalachian State University (Boone, NC — 30 minutes from Avery County)
- Greek Life: 20+ fraternities and sororities, including:
- Fraternities: Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Chi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- Sororities: Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega
- Athletics: NCAA Division I (hazing has occurred in App State sports teams in the past).
- Risk: Large Greek systems often have systemic hazing cultures.
Other Nearby Schools with Greek Life:
- Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, NC)
- East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, TN — 1 hour from Avery County)
- University of North Carolina at Asheville (Asheville, NC)
Avery County families: If your child attends or plans to attend any of these schools, they are at risk of hazing.
📢 Why Avery County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We Are Currently Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit
- We are actively litigating against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
- We know how to build these cases and win.
- Avery County families get the same aggressive representation.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook
- Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena used to defend insurance companies.
- We know exactly how they try to deny or minimize claims.
- Now, we use that knowledge against them to maximize your recovery.
3. Federal Court Authority — We Can Pursue Your Case Anywhere
- We are admitted to U.S. District Court (Southern District of Texas).
- We can file lawsuits in federal court for hazing cases nationwide.
- Avery County families: Distance is not a barrier — we will fight for you.
4. Dual-State Bar Licenses (Texas & New York)
- Strategic advantage for cases against national fraternities (many are headquartered in New York).
5. We Work on Contingency — $0 Upfront for Avery County Families
- You pay nothing unless we win your case.
- We take the risk — not you.
- We only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
6. We Come to Avery County
- We will travel to Banner Elk, Boone, or anywhere in Avery County for:
- Client meetings
- Depositions
- Court appearances
- We will not let distance stop you from getting justice.
7. Se Habla Español
- Many hazing victims are first-generation college students or come from immigrant families.
- We have bilingual staff to serve Spanish-speaking clients.
- No language barriers — we will communicate clearly and effectively.
📞 What to Expect When You Call Us
-
Free, Confidential Consultation
- We’ll listen to your story and evaluate your case.
- No obligation — just honest advice.
-
Immediate Action Plan
- We’ll tell you what to do next to protect your rights.
- We’ll preserve evidence and prevent cover-ups.
-
Aggressive Representation
- We’ll investigate the hazing incident.
- We’ll identify all liable parties (fraternity, university, individuals).
- We’ll build a strong case for maximum compensation.
-
No Upfront Costs
- You pay nothing unless we win.
- We handle all expenses (medical records, experts, court fees).
-
Fighting for Justice
- We’ll negotiate with the defendants.
- If they won’t settle fairly, we’ll take them to trial.
- We’ll hold them accountable — no matter how long it takes.
🚨 Urgent: The Clock Is Ticking for Avery County Families
Hazing victims often delay reporting due to:
- Shame or embarrassment
- Fear of retaliation
- Loyalty to the organization
- Not recognizing it as hazing
But the longer you wait:
- Evidence disappears (texts deleted, witnesses forget).
- The statute of limitations expires (3 years in NC for personal injury).
- The organization destroys records and coordinates their story.
Avery County families: You must act now.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 Today
Free Consultation • No Upfront Costs • We Fight for You
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
We are Attorney 911 — your first responders for legal emergencies.
If your child was hazed in Avery County, we will fight for you.
🔥 Remember: This Is Not Your Child’s Fault.
Hazing is abuse. It is illegal. And the people who did this — and the institutions that allowed it — must be held accountable.
We are ready to fight for Avery County families. Are you ready to fight back?