Hazing Victims in Caswell County: Legal Rights and How to Fight Back
Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines – Neither Does Justice
If your child has been the victim of hazing at a college or university near Caswell County, North Carolina, you’re likely feeling overwhelmed, angry, and unsure of what to do next. You trusted these institutions to keep your child safe, but that trust was violated. The good news is that you have legal rights, and you don’t have to fight this battle alone.
At Attorney 911, we’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston – a case that has already exposed waterboarding, forced exercise to the point of kidney failure, and a culture of abuse in Greek organizations. The same fraternities and universities operate near Caswell County, and we’re ready to bring the same aggressive representation to families in your community.
This guide will explain:
✅ What constitutes hazing under North Carolina law
✅ Who can be held legally responsible
✅ What compensation your family may be entitled to
✅ How to preserve evidence and protect your case
✅ Why Caswell County families choose Attorney 911
What Is Hazing? North Carolina’s Legal Definition
Hazing is not just “harmless tradition” or “team bonding.” Under North Carolina law (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-35), hazing includes any activity that:
- Endangers the physical or mental health of a student
- Involves forced consumption of alcohol, drugs, or food (e.g., binge drinking, eating until vomiting)
- Involves physical brutality (e.g., beatings, paddling, waterboarding)
- Involves sleep deprivation, extreme exercise, or exposure to the elements
- Is done for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in a group
Examples of hazing we’ve seen in North Carolina and nationwide:
- Forced alcohol consumption leading to alcohol poisoning
- Extreme physical punishment (e.g., 100+ pushups, bear crawls, “suicides”)
- Waterboarding or simulated drowning (a form of torture)
- Sleep deprivation (e.g., forced late-night activities, early-morning tasks)
- Psychological abuse (e.g., humiliation, threats of expulsion, carrying degrading objects)
- Sexual assault or harassment under the guise of “tradition”
North Carolina law is clear: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds perpetrators accountable.
Who Can Be Held Legally Responsible?
Hazing cases are not just about individual students – they’re about institutional failure. In our $10 million Pi Kappa Phi case, we’re suing:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Applies to Caswell County |
|---|---|---|
| Local Fraternity Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Same chapters exist at universities near Caswell County |
| National Fraternity Organization | Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite knowing about dangerous culture | Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, and others operate near Caswell County |
| University/College | Owned the fraternity house (in our case) or failed to supervise Greek life | UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, NC State, and others have Greek organizations with documented hazing histories |
| Individual Members | Participated in or facilitated hazing | Chapter presidents, pledgemasters, and active members can be sued personally |
| House Corporations | Owned the property where hazing occurred | Many fraternity houses near Caswell County are owned by alumni corporations |
| Alumni | Hosted hazing events at their homes | Former members who enable hazing can be held accountable |
Universities near Caswell County with Greek life include:
- UNC-Chapel Hill (Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, others)
- Duke University (multiple fraternities and sororities)
- NC State University (large Greek system)
- Elon University (active Greek life)
- Wake Forest University (multiple fraternities)
- UNC-Greensboro (Greek organizations present)
If hazing happened at any of these schools, we can help.
What Compensation Can Caswell County Families Recover?
Hazing can cause physical injuries, psychological trauma, and long-term financial consequences. Our firm pursues full compensation for:
1. Medical Expenses
- Hospitalization (e.g., rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, concussions)
- Emergency room visits
- Surgery or rehabilitation
- Therapy for PTSD, anxiety, or depression
- Future medical care (e.g., kidney monitoring, dialysis, transplants)
2. Lost Wages & Future Earning Capacity
- Time missed from work due to injuries
- Lost internship or job opportunities
- Reduced earning potential if injuries affect career path
3. Pain & Suffering
- Physical pain from injuries
- Emotional distress from abuse
- Humiliation and degradation
- Long-term psychological effects
4. Punitive Damages (Punishment for Outrageous Conduct)
- Awarded when conduct is intentional, reckless, or malicious
- Designed to deter future hazing
- No cap in North Carolina for punitive damages in most personal injury cases
5. Wrongful Death (If Applicable)
- If hazing results in death, families can sue for:
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of future financial support
Precedent Cases: Hazing Lawsuits Win Millions
Hazing cases do not settle for small amounts – they result in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements that force institutions to change. Some recent examples:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome | Applies to Caswell County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | $10.1 million settlement | Same fraternity operates at UNC-Chapel Hill |
| Maxwell Gruver | LSU | Phi Delta Theta | $6.1 million jury verdict | Phi Delta Theta has chapters at Duke, NC State |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | $110+ million settlement | Beta Theta Pi has chapters at UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Confidential settlement | Pi Kappa Phi has a chapter at UNC-Chapel Hill |
| Leonel Bermudez | University of Houston | Pi Kappa Phi | $10 million lawsuit pending | Same legal strategies apply to Caswell County cases |
The message is clear: Juries and courts take hazing seriously, and they award serious compensation.
What Caswell County Families Should Do Immediately
🚨 Step 1: Seek Medical Attention
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor immediately
- Some conditions (e.g., rhabdomyolysis, concussions) may not show symptoms right away
- Medical records are critical evidence
📱 Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING. Save:
- Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs (screenshots + originals)
- Photos/videos of injuries, hazing activities, or the location where it happened
- Medical records (hospital bills, doctor’s notes, therapy records)
- Witness names & contact info (other pledges, bystanders)
- Any “pledge manuals” or documents given by the fraternity
⚠️ WARNING: Fraternities and universities will try to destroy evidence once they know a lawsuit is coming. Do not confront them directly.
🚫 Step 3: Do NOT Speak to the Fraternity, University, or Their Lawyers
- Anything you say can and will be used against you
- They will try to trick you into admitting fault
- Let your attorney handle all communications
📞 Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
- Free, confidential consultation – no obligation
- We work on contingency – you pay nothing upfront
- We travel to Caswell County for depositions and meetings
- 24/7 availability – call 1-888-ATTY-911
Why Caswell County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Currently Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Case
- Right now, we’re litigating against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for hazing that hospitalized a student with kidney failure
- We know how these organizations operate – and how to beat them
- Same strategies apply to Caswell County cases
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook
- Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña both worked for insurance companies before switching sides
- We know exactly how they try to deny or minimize claims
- We use their own tactics against them
3. Federal Court Authority – We Can Sue Anywhere
- Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- Can pursue cases nationwide, including in North Carolina
- Dual-state bar admission (Texas + New York) – strategic advantage
4. Bilingual Representation – Se Habla Español
- Many hazing victims are international students or from Spanish-speaking families
- We provide full legal services in Spanish
- No language barriers to justice
5. Aggressive, Trial-Ready Representation
- We don’t back down from powerful institutions
- We won’t accept lowball settlements
- We’re prepared to take your case to trial if necessary
6. We Travel to Caswell County
- We come to you for depositions, meetings, and trials
- Video consultations available for convenience
- No need to travel to Texas – we bring the fight to you
Common Excuses Defendants Use – And How We Defeat Them
| Defendant’s Argument | Our Counter-Argument |
|---|---|
| “He consented to participate” | North Carolina law says consent is NOT a defense (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-35) |
| “It was just tradition” | Tradition doesn’t justify torture or assault |
| “He could have left at any time” | Victims face social ostracism, threats, and fear of retaliation |
| “The university didn’t know” | They had a duty to supervise Greek life – ignorance is not an excuse |
| “It was just a few bad apples” | Systemic hazing is an institutional failure |
What Happens Next? The Legal Process for Caswell County Families
- Free Consultation – We evaluate your case at no cost
- Evidence Collection – We gather medical records, witness statements, and communications
- Demand Letter – We send a formal demand to the defendants
- Negotiation – We fight for a fair settlement
- Litigation (if necessary) – We file a lawsuit and take them to court
- Trial or Settlement – We present your case to a jury or negotiate a final resolution
Most cases settle before trial, but we’re always prepared to go to court if needed.
Caswell County Families: It’s Time to Fight Back
Hazing is not a rite of passage – it’s abuse, and it has real consequences. If your child has been hazed at a college or university near Caswell County, you have the power to hold the perpetrators accountable.
We’ve seen what happens when institutions think they can get away with hazing:
- Students hospitalized with kidney failure (our current case)
- Students dying from alcohol poisoning (Stone Foltz, Maxwell Gruver)
- Families devastated by preventable tragedies
But we’ve also seen what happens when victims fight back:
- Multi-million dollar settlements
- Fraternities permanently shut down
- Universities forced to reform
- Laws changed to protect future students
You don’t have to accept “this is just how it is.” You can demand justice. You can demand change.
📞 Call Attorney 911 Now – 1-888-ATTY-911
Free, confidential consultation – no obligation
We work on contingency – you pay nothing upfront
We travel to Caswell County – no need to come to Texas
24/7 availability – we’re here when you need us
Enough is enough. Let’s hold them accountable.
📍 Serving Caswell County, North Carolina and Nationwide
Offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont – Representing Victims Everywhere
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | 📧 ralph@atty911.com | 🌐 attorney911.com