🛡️ Hazing Victims in Summit County, Ohio: Your Legal Rights & Path to Justice

If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or student organization in Summit County, Ohio — you are not alone. And you have powerful legal rights.

At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure. We know how to build these cases. We know how to win. And we will bring the same aggressive representation to Summit County families.

This guide explains:

• What hazing is — and why it’s illegal in Ohio
• Who can be held liable in Summit County
• What damages you can recover
• How we serve Summit County families from our Houston headquarters
• What to do right now if your child was hazed

🚨 What Is Hazing? — Ohio’s Legal Definition

Ohio law defines hazing as:

“Any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person.”
— Ohio Revised Code § 2903.31

This includes:

• Physical abuse (beatings, paddling, forced exercise)
• Forced consumption (alcohol, food, non-food items)
• Psychological abuse (humiliation, threats, sleep deprivation)
• Sexual abuse or harassment
• Any activity that endangers mental or physical health

Ohio law is clear: Hazing is a crime — even if the victim “consented.”

⚖️ Ohio Hazing Laws — Criminal & Civil Liability

🔴 Criminal Penalties in Ohio

Ohio Revised Code § 2903.31 makes hazing a criminal offense — regardless of consent.

🔴 Civil Liability — Who Can Be Sued in Summit County

Summit County universities and colleges with Greek life include:

• University of Akron — home to multiple fraternities and sororities
• Kent State University (nearby)
• Walsh University (North Canton)
• Hiram College (Portage County)
• Mount Union University (Alliance)

These institutions owe a duty of care to students. When they fail to prevent hazing, they can be held legally and financially responsible.

💰 What Damages Can Summit County Families Recover?

Economic Damages:

• Medical bills (ER, hospitalization, therapy, future treatment)
• Lost wages (if victim missed work due to injuries)
• Educational disruption (tuition, fees, lost scholarships)
• Future earning capacity (if injuries cause long-term limitations)

Non-Economic Damages:

• Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
• Mental anguish (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
• Loss of enjoyment of life (impact on college experience)
• Humiliation and embarrassment

Punitive Damages:

• Awarded when conduct is egregious, reckless, or intentional
• Meant to punish the wrongdoers and deter future hazing
• Available in Ohio when defendants act with malice or reckless indifference

Recent hazing verdicts and settlements nationwide:

• $10.1 million — Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha)
• $6.1 million — Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta)
• $110+ million — Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi)

Summit County families can recover the same level of compensation.

🏢 Who We Sue — Real Summit County Examples

1. University of Akron Fraternities

• Active Greek community with multiple fraternities and sororities
• Potential defendants: University of Akron, national fraternity organizations, local chapters, individual members
• Risk: Same national fraternities (Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, others) operate at Akron — same hazing culture

2. Kent State University (Nearby)

• Large Greek system
• Same national organizations present
• University has duty to monitor and regulate

3. Walsh University (North Canton)

• Smaller private university with Greek life
• Hazing can occur in any organization — not just large schools
• Universities of all sizes have the same legal duty to protect students

4. High School Hazing (Summit County Schools)

• Hazing isn’t just a college issue
• Summit County high schools with sports teams, bands, or clubs may have hazing incidents
• Same legal principles apply

🌐 How We Serve Summit County Families — From Houston to Ohio

While we are based in Houston, Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including Summit County, Ohio.

How We Work With Summit County Families:

✅ Free, confidential consultations — by phone or video
✅ We travel to Summit County for depositions, client meetings, and trials
✅ Federal court authority — we can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction
✅ Dual-state bar licenses — Texas and New York
✅ Remote evidence collection — we handle documents, medical records, communications
✅ 24/7 legal emergency hotline — 1-888-ATTY-911

“We don’t let distance stop justice. If your child was hazed in Summit County, we will fight for you — just like we’re fighting for our client in Houston.”
— Ralph Manginello, Attorney 911

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

✅ Step 1: Get Medical Attention

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked
• Document everything — medical records are critical evidence
• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) can have delayed symptoms

✅ Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

• Save all texts, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs
• Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, items used
• Write down everything your child remembers — dates, times, people involved
• Get names and contact info of witnesses

❌ Step 3: Do NOT Do These Things

• Do NOT talk to the fraternity/sorority or university without legal counsel
• Do NOT sign anything from the organization
• Do NOT post about the incident on social media
• Do NOT delete any messages or posts

✅ Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

• Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
• Email: ralph@atty911.com
• Visit: attorney911.com

Time is critical:

• Ohio has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims
• Evidence disappears quickly
• Witnesses forget details
• Organizations destroy records

🔍 How We Build Your Summit County Hazing Case

1. Investigation

• Gather medical records, witness statements, communications
• Subpoena fraternity/sorority records
• Identify all liable parties (individuals, chapter, nationals, university)

2. Evidence Preservation

• Send preservation letters to all defendants
• Demand all text messages, social media, photos, videos be saved
• Prevent destruction of evidence

3. Expert Consultation

• Medical experts to explain injuries
• Hazing culture experts to explain organizational negligence
• Economic experts to calculate damages

4. Negotiation

• Demand full compensation from insurance companies
• Push for policy limits
• Prepare for litigation if settlement offers are inadequate

5. Litigation (If Necessary)

• File lawsuit in Summit County or federal court
• Conduct depositions
• Present evidence to jury
• Fight for maximum compensation

🎯 Why Summit County Families Choose Attorney 911

✅ We Are Fighting This Fight Right Now

• Currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and University of Houston
• Same strategies available for Summit County victims

✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena both worked for insurance companies
• We know how they think, how they value claims, and how to defeat their defenses

✅ Federal Court Authority

• Can pursue cases in federal court
• Experience with complex liability cases

✅ Dual-State Bar Licenses

• Texas and New York
• Strategic advantage for cases involving national organizations

✅ Nationwide Experience

• Represent hazing victims across America
• Know the patterns, the defenses, and how to win

✅ We Come to Summit County

• For depositions, client meetings, and trials
• Distance is not a barrier

✅ Contingency Fee — $0 Upfront

• You pay nothing unless we win
• No hourly fees
• No risk to you

📞 Summit County Families: Call Now for a Free Consultation

If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or student organization in Summit County, Ohio — we can help.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

We don’t get paid unless you get paid.

🔥 To Summit County Fraternities & Sororities: We Are Watching

To the fraternities and sororities operating in Summit County: We are watching. The same legal strategies that are securing $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 in Summit County, know that Attorney 911 represents victims across America.

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

Universities in Summit County: The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. Act now — or face the same accountability.

To Greek life leadership at Summit County institutions: The Bermudez case is a warning. Clean up your chapters before we clean them out in court.

🏆 Our Promise to Summit County Families

We see your child as a person — not a paycheck.

We will fight hard for you because we truly care.

We will hold every responsible party accountable — from the individual members to the national organizations to the universities that failed to protect your child.

And we will send a message that hazing in Summit County will not be tolerated.

You are not alone. We are here to help.

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

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Summit County, Ohio and Nationwide

Offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont — Proudly Serving Ohio Families