Hazing Lawyers for Westmoreland County, PA – Holding Fraternities & Universities Accountable

🚨 Westmoreland County Families: Your Child Could Be Next

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “tradition.” It’s abuse. It’s torture. It’s illegal. And right now, it’s happening at colleges and universities near Westmoreland County.

We know—because we’re fighting this battle right now.

Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña, are currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with kidney failure from extreme hazing—including waterboarding, forced exercise until collapse, and being struck with wooden paddles.

The same fraternities operate near Westmoreland County. The same universities fail to protect students. The same hazing culture exists here.

If your child was hazed in Westmoreland County—or anywhere in Pennsylvania—we will fight for you with the same aggression.

🔥 What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Illegal in Pennsylvania)

Hazing is any activity that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, or membership in an organization.

Examples of Hazing That Have Hospitalized Students:

✅ Forced alcohol consumption (binge drinking, chugging contests)
✅ Extreme physical punishment (500+ squats, bear crawls, paddling)
✅ Simulated drowning (waterboarding) – This is torture, not tradition
✅ Forced eating until vomiting (milk, hot dogs, peppercorns)
✅ Sleep deprivation (late-night drills, forced driving)
✅ Psychological torture (humiliation, threats, isolation)
✅ Sexual abuse (forced nudity, carrying sexual objects)

These aren’t “pranks.” These are crimes.

📜 Pennsylvania Hazing Laws – What You Need to Know

Under Pennsylvania’s Anti-Hazing Law (18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2810), hazing is a misdemeanor or felony, depending on severity. Consent is NOT a defense—meaning even if your child “agreed” to participate, the hazers can still be held liable.

Penalties for Hazing in PA:

• Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail and $2,500 in fines
• Felony (if serious injury or death occurs): Up to 7 years in prison

But criminal charges aren’t enough. Victims and families deserve financial compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and long-term trauma.

💰 Multi-Million Dollar Hazing Settlements & Verdicts – These Cases Win

Hazing lawsuits routinely result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what juries and courts have awarded in recent cases:

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

🏛️ Who Can Be Held Liable for Hazing in Westmoreland County?

When hazing happens, multiple parties can be sued, including:

1. The Local Fraternity Chapter

• Directly organized and conducted the hazing
• Chapter officers (President, Pledgemaster, etc.) can be held personally liable
• Example: In the Stone Foltz case, the chapter president was ordered to pay $6.5 million personally

2. The National Fraternity Organization

• Knew or should have known about hazing risks
• Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies
• Example: Pi Kappa Phi had 8 years between Andrew Coffey’s death (2017) and Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization (2025)—and did nothing to stop it

3. The University (Penn State, Pitt, WVU, etc.)

• Owns or controls fraternity houses (premises liability)
• Failed to supervise Greek life despite prior hazing incidents
• Allowed dangerous conditions to exist
• Example: University of Houston owns the Pi Kappa Phi house where our client was waterboarded

4. Individual Members & Alumni

• Participated in hazing
• Failed to stop it
• Hosted hazing at their homes (premises liability)

5. Insurance Companies

• Fraternities and universities carry liability insurance
• We know how to maximize policy payouts

🏥 Medical Consequences of Hazing – What Westmoreland County Victims Face

Hazing doesn’t just cause temporary pain—it can lead to life-threatening injuries and long-term trauma.

Physical Injuries from Hazing:

🔴 Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) – Caused by extreme exercise (500 squats, bear crawls, etc.)

• Symptoms: Severe muscle pain, dark urine, kidney failure
• Treatment: Hospitalization, IV fluids, potential dialysis
• Long-term risk: Permanent kidney damage, need for transplant

🔴 Alcohol Poisoning – Forced drinking can be fatal

• Symptoms: Vomiting, unconsciousness, slowed breathing, death
• Example: Maxwell Gruver (LSU) died with a BAC of 0.495—more than 6x the legal limit

🔴 Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – From beatings, falls, or paddling

• Symptoms: Memory loss, seizures, permanent cognitive impairment

🔴 Broken Bones & Internal Injuries – From physical abuse

• Example: A University of Houston student was hospitalized with a lacerated spleen in 2017

🔴 Heat Stroke / Hypothermia – From forced exposure

• Symptoms: Organ failure, death

Psychological Trauma from Hazing:

🔴 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety
🔴 Depression & Suicidal Ideation – Many hazing victims struggle with mental health
🔴 Trust Issues & Social Withdrawal – Fear of retaliation, difficulty forming relationships
🔴 Academic Decline – Missed classes, failed courses, dropped out

Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case is still fearful of speaking out due to retribution. This fear is real—and it’s why so many victims stay silent.

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

STEP 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked. Rhabdomyolysis and alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening if untreated.
• Document everything. Get copies of all medical records.

STEP 2: Preserve All Evidence

📌 Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence.
📌 Save all communications – texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, emails.
📌 Get witness names & contact info – other pledges, bystanders.
📌 Do NOT delete anything – even if it’s embarrassing, it may be crucial evidence.

STEP 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, University, or Their Lawyers

• They will try to control the narrative.
• They will twist your words.
• They will pressure you to sign documents waiving your rights.

Let us handle all communications.

STEP 4: Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately

• Pennsylvania has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
• Evidence disappears fast – witnesses forget, fraternities destroy records.
• The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case.

📞 Call us 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

🎓 Westmoreland County Universities & Greek Life – We’re Watching You

Hazing doesn’t just happen at big schools—it happens everywhere, including near Westmoreland County.

Universities Near Westmoreland County With Active Greek Life:

🏫 University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) – Multiple fraternities with hazing histories
🏫 Penn State University (Main Campus & Branch Campuses) – Beta Theta Pi (Timothy Piazza case)
🏫 West Virginia University (WVU) – Sigma Alpha Epsilon, others
🏫 Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) – Local Greek organizations
🏫 Seton Hill University – Smaller Greek system, but hazing still occurs
🏫 Saint Vincent College – Private school with Greek life

Fraternities With Chapters Near Westmoreland County & Hazing Histories:

These aren’t just names on a list. These are real students who were tortured, hospitalized, or killed.

And right now, these same fraternities are operating near Westmoreland County.

🚨 Warning to Fraternities Near Westmoreland County

To Pi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, and every other fraternity with chapters near Westmoreland County:

We are watching. We are building cases. And we will hold you accountable.

• If your chapter hazes students, we will sue you.
• If your national organization fails to stop it, we will sue you.
• If the university near Westmoreland County doesn’t protect students, we will sue them too.

The $10 million lawsuit we filed against Pi Kappa Phi is just the beginning.

Your chapter could be next.

🏆 Why Westmoreland County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook

• Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña both worked for insurance companies before switching to represent victims.
• We know exactly how they try to deny claims, lowball settlements, and blame victims.
• Now we use that knowledge against them.

2. We’re Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Case

• We don’t just talk about hazing—we’re in the fight right now.
• Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure.
• We know how to win these cases.

3. We Have Federal Court Authority – We Can Sue Anywhere

• Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
• Dual-state bar licenses (Texas & New York)
• We represent hazing victims nationwide—including Westmoreland County.

4. We Offer Free Consultations & Work on Contingency

• $0 upfront costs. We don’t get paid unless you win.
• No financial risk. If we don’t recover money for you, you owe us nothing.

5. We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español

• Many hazing victims are international students or from immigrant families.
• We communicate in Spanish to ensure no language barriers.

6. We Travel to Westmoreland County for Your Case

• We will come to you for depositions, meetings, and trials.
• Distance is not a barrier to justice.

7. We Have a Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Wins

• BP Texas City explosion litigation (mass tort experience)
• Ryan Smith case (ABC13 coverage) – High-profile criminal defense
• Hundreds of personal injury cases won
• Google 4.9 stars, 250+ reviews

📞 Westmoreland County Hazing Victims: Call Us Now

If your child was hazed in Westmoreland County—or anywhere in Pennsylvania—you have legal rights.

We will fight for you.

📞 24/7 Legal Emergency Hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com

Free Consultation. No Upfront Costs. We Don’t Get Paid Unless You Win.

🔥 Enough Is Enough. Westmoreland County – It’s Time to Fight Back.

Hazing has taken too many lives. It’s ruined too many futures. And it’s happening right now, near Westmoreland County.

But we can stop it.

With your help, we can send a message to every fraternity, every university, and every student near Westmoreland County:

If you haze, you will pay.

Call us today. Let’s hold them accountable.