Hazing Lawyers for Marlboro County, SC – Protecting Students & Holding Institutions Accountable
Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines – Neither Do We
Marlboro County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. But every year, students across South Carolina – and the nation – are subjected to dangerous, degrading, and sometimes deadly hazing rituals under the guise of “tradition.” What happened at the University of Houston with Pi Kappa Phi – where a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure – is not an isolated incident. The same fraternities operate at universities near Marlboro County, and the same risks exist for your child.
At Attorney 911, we are actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to build these cases, how to hold institutions accountable, and how to win. Marlboro County families get the same aggressive representation we provide in Texas.
The Hazing Crisis in South Carolina: What Marlboro County Families Need to Know
Hazing is Widespread in South Carolina
South Carolina has a strong Greek life presence, with fraternities and sororities active at major universities including:
- Francis Marion University (Florence, near Marlboro County)
- Coastal Carolina University (Conway)
- University of South Carolina (Columbia)
- Clemson University
- College of Charleston
- Winthrop University
- The Citadel
These institutions attract students from Marlboro County and across the state. The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide – Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, and others – have active chapters at South Carolina universities.
Hazing in South Carolina: Recent Incidents
While Marlboro County may not have had a high-profile hazing case recently, South Carolina has seen its share of dangerous incidents:
- Clemson University (2023): A fraternity was suspended for hazing violations, including forced alcohol consumption and physical abuse.
- University of South Carolina (2022): Multiple fraternities were placed on probation for hazing, including sleep deprivation and physical punishment.
- College of Charleston (2021): A fraternity was suspended after a pledge was hospitalized with alcohol poisoning during a hazing event.
- The Citadel (2019): A cadet was hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis after excessive physical exertion during a hazing ritual. The incident led to disciplinary action against upperclassmen.
These incidents prove that hazing is not just a problem in other states – it’s happening right here in South Carolina, near Marlboro County.
Why Hazing is So Dangerous
Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” It’s a systematic form of abuse that can cause:
- Physical injuries: Broken bones, burns, heatstroke, hypothermia, and rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown that leads to kidney failure, as seen in our UH case).
- Psychological trauma: PTSD, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.
- Death: Since 2000, at least one student has died from hazing every year in the U.S. South Carolina is not immune.
The most common forms of hazing in South Carolina include:
✔ Forced alcohol consumption (binge drinking, chugging, drinking games)
✔ Extreme physical punishment (paddling, beatings, forced exercise to exhaustion)
✔ Sleep deprivation (late-night activities, forced servitude)
✔ Psychological abuse (humiliation, degradation, threats)
✔ Waterboarding and simulated drowning (yes, this happens – as seen in our UH case)
✔ Forced consumption of non-food items (hot sauce, peppercorns, raw eggs, etc.)
✔ Sexual assault and harassment (forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects)
This isn’t tradition. It’s torture.
What Happened at the University of Houston – And Why It Matters to Marlboro County
The Case That Proves Hazing Can Happen Anywhere
In November 2025, our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a student who was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being subjected to weeks of brutal hazing.
What happened to Leonel Bermudez:
- He was a “ghost rush” – not even enrolled at UH yet, but expected to transfer for the upcoming semester.
- He was waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning).
- He was forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups, and other extreme exercises until he collapsed.
- He was struck with wooden paddles.
- He was forced to eat until he vomited, then made to continue running.
- He was sprayed with a hose while minimally clothed in cold weather.
- On November 3, 2025, he was punished for missing an event and forced to perform extreme exercises until he couldn’t stand without help.
- He crawled up the stairs when he got home, unable to move.
- His condition worsened over the next few days, and on November 6, his mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
- He spent three nights and four days in the hospital.
Why this matters to Marlboro County families:
✅ Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at universities near Marlboro County, including Francis Marion University.
✅ The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client exist at South Carolina fraternities.
✅ Universities near Marlboro County face the same liability failures as UH.
✅ If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Marlboro County, they face the same risks.
The University of Houston’s Role – And Why Your Child’s School Could Be Next
The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the hazing occurred. They had the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down the chapter – but they failed to act, despite knowing about a prior hazing incident in 2017.
This is not just a fraternity problem. It’s an institutional failure.
Universities near Marlboro County have the same responsibility to protect students. When they fail, they must be held accountable – just like we’re doing in Houston.
South Carolina Hazing Laws: What Marlboro County Families Need to Know
South Carolina’s Anti-Hazing Law (S.C. Code § 59-101-200)
South Carolina has a strong anti-hazing law that defines hazing as:
“Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a student, or a former student, whether individually or in concert with others, against another student, and in which both of the following apply:
(1) The act was committed in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in any organization that is affiliated with an educational institution.
(2) The act contributes to a substantial risk of potential physical injury, mental harm, or degradation or causes physical injury, mental harm, or personal degradation.”
This means:
- Hazing is a crime in South Carolina (misdemeanor or felony, depending on severity).
- Consent is not a defense – even if a student “agreed” to participate, the organization can still be held liable.
- Universities can be held responsible if they knew or should have known about hazing and failed to stop it.
Criminal Penalties for Hazing in South Carolina
| Offense Level | Conduct | Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | Hazing that does not cause serious injury | Up to 30 days in jail and/or $1,000 fine |
| Felony | Hazing that causes serious bodily injury | Up to 5 years in prison and/or $5,000 fine |
| Felony | Hazing that causes death | Up to 10 years in prison and/or $10,000 fine |
Universities and fraternities can also face:
- Loss of recognition (being banned from campus)
- Fines up to $10,000
- Civil lawsuits (like the $10 million case we’re handling in Texas)
Who Can Be Held Liable for Hazing in Marlboro County?
When hazing occurs, multiple parties can – and should – be held accountable. In our UH case, we are suing:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Applies to Marlboro County Cases? |
|---|---|---|
| Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | ✅ Yes – the chapter that hazed your child |
| National Fraternity/Sorority Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing risks | ✅ Yes – nationals have deep pockets and insurance |
| University/College | Failed to prevent hazing; owned/controlled property where it occurred | ✅ Yes – universities near Marlboro County are responsible |
| Individual Members | Participated in or facilitated hazing | ✅ Yes – each member can be sued personally |
| Chapter Officers (President, Pledgemaster, etc.) | Leadership responsibility; directed hazing | ✅ Yes – officers face personal liability |
| Alumni Who Hosted Hazing | Allowed hazing at their home; premises liability | ✅ Yes – if hazing occurred off-campus |
| Housing Corporations | Owned/controlled property where hazing occurred | ✅ Yes – if the chapter has a house |
Marlboro County families: You don’t have to sue just the fraternity. You can – and should – hold the university, the national organization, and the individuals accountable.
What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Marlboro County
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
If your child shows any signs of hazing-related injuries, take them to the hospital or a doctor right away. Some injuries – like rhabdomyolysis – can be life-threatening if not treated immediately.
Signs your child may have been hazed:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, or burns
- Extreme fatigue or difficulty moving
- Dark or brown urine (sign of muscle breakdown)
- Confusion, disorientation, or memory loss
- Signs of alcohol poisoning (vomiting, unconsciousness)
- Anxiety, depression, or withdrawal
- Sudden drop in academic performance
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
Do not delete anything. Hazing cases are won or lost based on evidence.
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