🚨 Hazing Victims in Mercer County: You Are Not Alone

If your child has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or student organization in Mercer County, Pennsylvania — we can help.

At Attorney 911, we are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure. We know how to win these cases. And we will fight just as hard for Mercer County families.

📍 Hazing in Mercer County: What You Need to Know

Mercer County is home to Grove City College, a private liberal arts college with a strong Greek life presence. While we don’t have specific reports of hazing incidents at Grove City College, we know this:

The same national fraternities and sororities that operate at University of Houston have chapters at or near Mercer County.
The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client exist at Mercer County institutions.
The same negligence that allowed hazing in Houston exists in Mercer County.

If your child attends Grove City College — or any college near Mercer County — they face the same risks.

🏛️ Greek Life in Mercer County and Nearby

While Mercer County itself is home to Grove City College, many students from the area attend universities in nearby regions where Greek life is active:

Universities Near Mercer County with Active Greek Life:

University	Location	Distance from Mercer County	Greek Life Presence
Grove City College	Grove City, PA	Within Mercer County	Active fraternities and sororities
Youngstown State University	Youngstown, OH	~30 miles	Strong Greek life presence
Slippery Rock University	Slippery Rock, PA	~40 miles	Active Greek system
Westminster College	New Wilmington, PA	~25 miles	Greek organizations present
Thiel College	Greenville, PA	~10 miles	Active Greek life
Penn State Shenango	Sharon, PA	~15 miles	Greek organizations present

Key Fraternities with Chapters Near Mercer County:

Pi Kappa Phi — Same fraternity we’re suing in Houston
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) — Known for hazing incidents nationwide
Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) — Involved in multiple hazing deaths
Beta Theta Pi — Timothy Piazza case (Penn State, 2017)
Phi Delta Theta — Maxwell Gruver case (LSU, 2017)

These are the same organizations that have paid millions in hazing settlements. They operate in Mercer County and the surrounding region.

💔 What Hazing Looks Like in Mercer County

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys.” It’s not “tradition.” It’s not “building brotherhood.”

In our Houston case, hazing included:

Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
Forced to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups until muscles broke down
Struck with wooden paddles
Forced to eat until vomiting
Forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass
Sleep deprivation — driving members at all hours
Psychological torture — carrying sexual objects, humiliation

This is what hazing looks like. And it happens at Mercer County institutions too.

⚖️ Your Legal Rights in Mercer County

Pennsylvania Hazing Law

Pennsylvania has strong anti-hazing laws that apply to Mercer County:

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2802 — Hazing (Pennsylvania Law):

“A person commits the offense of hazing if the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating a minor or student into or with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing a minor or student’s membership or status in an organization, causes, coerces or forces a minor or student to do any of the following:

(1) Violate Federal or State criminal law.
(2) Consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance which subjects the minor or student to a risk of emotional or physical harm.
(3) Endure brutality of a physical nature, including whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics or exposure to the elements.
(4) Endure brutality of a mental nature, including activity adversely affecting the mental health or dignity of the individual, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment.
(5) Endure brutality of a sexual nature.
(6) Endure any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the minor or student.”

Penalties:

Misdemeanor of the third degree — up to 1 year in jail, $2,500 fine
Felony of the third degree — if the hazing causes or creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury

Consent is NOT a defense — even if your child “agreed” to participate, it doesn’t matter. The law says consent doesn’t justify hazing.

Civil Liability in Mercer County

You can sue for damages including:

Medical expenses (hospital bills, therapy, rehabilitation)
Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
Lost wages (if your child missed work or internships)
Educational disruption (tuition, scholarships, delayed graduation)
Punitive damages (to punish the organization and prevent future hazing)

Who Can Be Sued in Mercer County:

The local fraternity/sorority chapter
The national organization
The university or college
Individual members who participated
Alumni who allowed hazing at their homes
Housing corporations that own fraternity/sorority property

💰 Multi-Million Dollar Precedents: These Cases Win in Court

Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. These are real cases with real outcomes:

Case	University	Fraternity	Outcome	Amount
Stone Foltz	Bowling Green State (OH)	Pi Kappa Alpha	Settlement	$10.1 million
Maxwell Gruver	Louisiana State (LA)	Phi Delta Theta	Jury Verdict	$6.1 million
Timothy Piazza	Penn State (PA)	Beta Theta Pi	Settlement	$110 million+
Andrew Coffey	Florida State (FL)	Pi Kappa Phi	Settlement	Confidential (major)
Tucker Hipps	Clemson (SC)	Sigma Phi Epsilon	Settlement	$500,000+

Mercer County families: These same results are possible for you.

🏥 Medical Consequences of Hazing

Hazing doesn’t just cause bruises. It causes life-threatening injuries that can have permanent consequences:

Injury	What It Is	What It Means for Your Child
Rhabdomyolysis	Muscle breakdown releasing toxic proteins into blood	Can cause kidney failure; may require dialysis or transplant
Acute Kidney Failure	Kidneys stop filtering waste	Life-threatening; requires hospitalization
Alcohol Poisoning	Dangerously high blood alcohol content	Can cause death; requires emergency treatment
Traumatic Brain Injury	Brain damage from blows or falls	Can cause permanent cognitive impairment
Hypothermia/Hyperthermia	Extreme body temperature	Can cause organ failure or death
PTSD	Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder	Long-term therapy; anxiety; depression
Depression/Anxiety	Mental health disorders	Therapy; medication; long-term impact on life
Suicidal Ideation	Thoughts of self-harm	Immediate intervention required

Our client in Houston was hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. This is what hazing does to kids in Mercer County too.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Mercer County

Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately

Even if your child says they’re “fine,” get them checked by a doctor.
Hazing injuries can appear hours or days later.
Medical records are critical evidence.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

Text messages — Save all group chats, direct messages, and screenshots.
Photos/Videos — Document injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence.
Social Media — Save posts, stories, and messages related to hazing.
Witnesses — Get names and contact information of other pledges or witnesses.
Documents — Save any pledge manuals, schedules, or rules given to your child.

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization Without Legal Counsel

The fraternity/sorority, university, and national organization will try to control the narrative.
They will ask for statements — do not give them anything without a lawyer.
They will offer “solutions” — do not sign anything without legal advice.

Step 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately

The statute of limitations in Pennsylvania is 2 years from the date of injury.
Evidence disappears quickly.
Witnesses forget details.
Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation.

🛡️ Why Mercer 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. We know how to win these cases. Mercer County families get the same aggressive representation.

2. We Have the Experience

25+ years of litigation experience (Ralph Manginello)
Former insurance defense attorneys — we know how the other side thinks
Federal court admission — we can pursue cases anywhere in the country
Dual-state bar licenses — Texas and New York
Hazing-specific expertise — rhabdomyolysis, fraternity litigation, university accountability

3. We Come to Mercer County

Video consultations available for Mercer County families
We travel to Mercer County for depositions, meetings, and trials
Distance is not a barrier — we will fight for you no matter where you are

4. No Upfront Costs for Mercer County Families

Contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win
No hourly billing — we don’t charge by the hour
No retainer required — we take the risk, not you

5. We Protect Your Privacy

Hazing victims often fear retribution. We understand. We will:

Protect your identity if requested
Handle communications with the organization
Shield you from intimidation tactics

🎯 How We Build Your Mercer County Hazing Case

1. Evidence Preservation

Send preservation letters to all defendants
Demand that all communications, photos, and videos be saved
Prevent destruction of evidence

2. Medical Documentation

Obtain all medical records
Work with medical experts to document injuries
Calculate future medical needs

3. Pattern Evidence

Investigate prior hazing incidents at the same chapter
Research the national organization’s history of hazing
Show that the organization knew or should have known about the risk

4. Institutional Accountability

Prove the university knew about hazing and failed to act
Show the national organization failed to enforce its own policies
Demonstrate that the organization had actual knowledge of prior incidents

5. Aggressive Litigation

File lawsuit in appropriate court
Conduct discovery to obtain internal documents
Depose chapter officers, national leaders, and university administrators
Negotiate from a position of strength
Take the case to trial if necessary

📞 Mercer County Families: Call Us Now

If your child has been hazed in Mercer County or anywhere in Pennsylvania, you have legal rights. We can help.

Free Consultation for Mercer County Hazing Victims:

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

We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions for Mercer County Families

Q: My child was hazed but doesn’t want to report it. What should I do?

A: We understand the fear of retaliation. Many hazing victims are afraid to come forward. We can:

Provide anonymous consultations
Help you understand your legal options
Protect your child’s identity if needed
Build the case without immediate public exposure

Even if your child doesn’t want to report now, it’s critical to preserve evidence and understand your rights before the statute of limitations expires.

Q: The fraternity says my child “consented” to the activities. Does that matter?

A: No. Pennsylvania law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, it doesn’t justify illegal and dangerous activities.

Q: Can we sue the university even if the hazing happened off-campus?

A: Yes. Universities have a duty to protect students from foreseeable harm — even off-campus. If the university knew or should have known about hazing risks and failed to act, they can be held liable.

Q: What if the hazing happened at a private college like Grove City College?

A: Private colleges have the same duty to protect students. We can pursue claims against:

The fraternity/sorority chapter
The national organization
Individual members
The college itself

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit in Mercer County?

A: 2 years from the date of injury under Pennsylvania law. However, we recommend acting immediately because:

Evidence disappears
Witnesses forget details
Organizations destroy records
The sooner we start, the stronger your case will be

Q: What if my child is afraid of retaliation?

A: We take retaliation concerns very seriously. We will:

Protect your child’s identity if requested
Handle all communications with the organization
Advise on safety measures
Pursue legal action if retaliation occurs

Q: How much is my child’s case worth?

Every case is different, but hazing cases typically result in multi-million dollar settlements or verdicts. Factors that increase case value include:

Severity of physical injuries
Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
Pattern of prior hazing incidents at the same chapter
Institutional knowledge and failure to act
Egregious conduct (torture, forced consumption, physical abuse)
Wrongful death (if applicable)

Our Houston case seeks $10 million. Mercer County cases can reach similar amounts.

🔥 A Message to Mercer County Fraternities and Universities

To the fraternities operating in Mercer County and the surrounding region:

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, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta — if your chapter operates near Mercer County, know this:

We have documented your national organization’s hazing death records.
We know which chapters have paid millions in settlements.
We are currently suing Pi Kappa Phi for waterboarding a student.
Your chapter could be next.

To Grove City College, Youngstown State University, Slippery Rock University, and other institutions near Mercer County:

The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.
You own the property. You regulate the organizations. You have the power to stop hazing.
Act now — or face the same accountability.

🏆 We Will Fight for Mercer County Families

Hazing is not “tradition.” It’s not “building character.” It’s abuse. It’s torture. It’s illegal.

And it stops now.

If your child has been hazed in Mercer County, call us. We will fight for you with the same fury we’re bringing to our Houston case. We will hold every responsible party accountable. And we will make sure this never happens to another Mercer County family.