🚨 Hazing Victims in Essex County, Vermont: Your Legal Rights and Path to Justice

Essex County Families: You Are Not Alone

If your child has been hazed at a college, university, or Greek organization near Essex County, Vermont, you need to know: what happened to them was not “tradition.” It was not “building character.” It was abuse. And under Vermont and federal law, you have the right to hold those responsible accountable—no matter where the incident occurred.

At Attorney 911, we are currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This case involves waterboarding, forced exercise to the point of kidney failure, and physical abuse—the same type of hazing that happens right here in New England. Essex County students face the same risks. We will fight for Essex County families with the same aggression.

Call us now for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911

What Is Hazing? Essex County Parents Need to Know

Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them—regardless of whether they consent. Under Vermont law, consent is not a defense.

Common Hazing Activities in Essex County and Beyond:

• Physical abuse: Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
• Forced consumption: Alcohol, food, or non-food substances (e.g., hot sauce, milk until vomiting)
• Psychological torture: Sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats
• Dangerous stunts: Blindfolded activities, confinement, exposure to extreme weather
• Sexual abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects

In our current case, a student was:

• Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
• Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
• Struck with wooden paddles
• Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to lie in his own vomit
• Hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure

This is not hazing. This is torture.

Why Essex 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. This is not theoretical—we are in the fight right now, and we will bring the same expertise to Essex County families.

2. Nationwide Reach — We Serve Essex County

While we are based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including in Vermont. We offer:

• Video consultations for Essex County families
• Travel to Vermont for depositions, trials, and client meetings
• Federal court authority to pursue national fraternities and universities
• Dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) for strategic litigation

3. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook

Both of our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña, worked for insurance companies before switching sides to represent victims. We know:

• How insurance companies undervalue claims
• How they delay and deny legitimate cases
• How to counter their tactics to maximize your recovery

4. Proven Results in High-Stakes Litigation

• BP Texas City Explosion: Represented victims in multi-billion-dollar mass tort litigation
• Wrongful Death Cases: Recovered millions for grieving families
• Catastrophic Injury Cases: Secured compensation for life-altering injuries
• Hazing-Specific Experience: Represented victims of Kappa Sigma, Texas A&M hazing, and rhabdomyolysis cases

5. We Work on Contingency — $0 Upfront for Essex County Families

We understand that hiring a lawyer can feel overwhelming, especially when dealing with the trauma of hazing. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis:

• No upfront costs
• No hourly fees
• We only get paid if we win your case

Who Is Liable for Hazing in Essex County?

Hazing cases are complex, and multiple parties may share liability. We pursue every responsible entity to maximize your recovery.

1. The Local Chapter (Fraternity/Sorority)

• Directly organized and conducted hazing
• Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster) are personally liable
• Members who participated or failed to stop the abuse

2. The National Organization

• Failed to supervise local chapters
• Knew or should have known about hazing risks
• Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies
• Deep pockets — substantial assets and insurance coverage

Example: In our current case, Pi Kappa Phi National knew about a “hazing crisis” but failed to stop it. They had 8 years to act after a student died at one of their chapters—they did nothing.

3. The University or College

• Premises liability: If hazing occurred on campus or in university-owned housing (e.g., fraternity houses)
• Negligent supervision: Failed to monitor Greek life or enforce anti-hazing policies
• Institutional knowledge: Knew or should have known about hazing risks (e.g., prior incidents)

Example: The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where our client was hazed. They had a prior hazing incident in 2017—they knew the risks and failed to act.

4. Individual Perpetrators

• Members who directly participated in hazing
• Officers who directed or allowed hazing
• Former members who hosted hazing at their homes
• Spouses of members who allowed hazing on their property

Example: In the Stone Foltz case, the chapter president was held personally liable for $6.5 million.

5. Insurance Companies

• National fraternities and universities carry liability insurance
• Homeowner’s insurance may cover off-campus hazing incidents
• We know how to pursue these policies to maximize your recovery

What Essex County Families Can Recover

Hazing victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for:

1. Economic Damages

• Medical expenses: Hospital bills, rehabilitation, therapy, future medical costs
• Lost wages: Time missed from work due to injuries or recovery
• Educational disruption: Tuition refunds, lost scholarships, delayed graduation
• Future earning capacity: If injuries impact long-term career prospects

2. Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering: Physical pain from injuries (e.g., rhabdomyolysis, broken bones)
• Emotional distress: PTSD, anxiety, depression, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life: Inability to participate in activities or social life
• Disfigurement: Scars, burns, or permanent injuries

3. Punitive Damages

• Awarded when conduct is egregious, intentional, or reckless
• Meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct
• No cap in Vermont for punitive damages in personal injury cases

Example: In the Maxwell Gruver case, a jury awarded $6.1 million for hazing that resulted in death.

Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Millions

Hazing cases result in multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what other families have recovered:

Essex County Families: These cases prove that hazing victims can and do win big. The same legal strategies apply to your case.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Essex County

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
• Some injuries (e.g., rhabdomyolysis, concussions) may not appear immediately
• Medical records are critical evidence

2. Preserve All Evidence

• Photos/videos: Injuries, hazing locations, items used in hazing
• Communications: Texts, GroupMe messages, emails, social media posts
• Witness information: Names and contact info of other victims or bystanders
• Documents: Pledge manuals, schedules, rules given to your child

Do NOT:

• Delete any messages or posts
• Talk to the fraternity/sorority or university without legal counsel
• Sign anything from the organization or its insurance company

3. Report the Incident

• File a police report (hazing is a crime in Vermont)
• Report to the university (e.g., Title IX office, student affairs)
• Report to the national fraternity/sorority

4. Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

• Vermont’s statute of limitations may limit your time to file a claim
• Evidence disappears quickly—witnesses forget, messages are deleted
• Insurance companies will try to lowball you—we know their tactics

Call us now for a free consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911

Vermont Hazing Laws: Your Legal Rights

Vermont has strong anti-hazing laws to protect students. Under 16 V.S.A. § 11(a)(28), hazing is defined as:

“Any act committed by a person, whether individually or in concert with others, against a student in connection with pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization which is affiliated with an educational institution; and which is intended to have the effect of, or should reasonably be expected to have the effect of, humiliating, intimidating, or demeaning the student or endangering the mental or physical health of a student.”

Key Provisions of Vermont Law:

• Consent is not a defense (just like in Texas)
• Criminal penalties include fines and imprisonment
• Organizations can be held liable for hazing committed by their members
• Universities have a duty to protect students from hazing

Statute of Limitations in Vermont:

• Personal injury: 3 years from the date of injury
• Wrongful death: 2 years from the date of death

Do not wait—contact us today to protect your rights.

Essex County Universities and Hazing Risks

Essex County is home to smaller colleges and universities, but that doesn’t mean hazing doesn’t happen. Many students from Essex County attend schools elsewhere in Vermont or New England, where Greek life and hazing culture are prevalent.

Nearby Universities with Greek Life:

• University of Vermont (UVM) – Burlington, VT
• Middlebury College – Middlebury, VT
• Dartmouth College – Hanover, NH
• Norwich University – Northfield, VT
• Saint Michael’s College – Colchester, VT

Essex County Parents: If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority at any of these schools—or any school nationwide—they face the same risks as our client in Texas. The same national fraternities (Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, etc.) operate in New England.

Why Essex County Families Trust Attorney 911

1. We Understand the Culture of Hazing

• Ralph Manginello is a former athlete and youth coach—he understands team dynamics and the pressures that lead to hazing.
• We know how fraternities manipulate and intimidate victims into silence.
• We know how universities protect their reputations over student safety.

2. We Protect Our Clients

• Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case is fearful of retribution—we take that fear seriously.
• We handle all communications with the fraternity, university, and insurance companies.
• We ensure your child’s privacy and safety throughout the process.

3. We Fight for Maximum Compensation

• We don’t accept lowball settlement offers.
• We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial.
• We have a proven track record of winning millions for our clients.

4. We Are Essex County’s Advocates

While we’re based in Texas, we are committed to serving Essex County families. We will:

• Travel to Vermont for your case
• Offer video consultations
• Work with local experts and witnesses
• Fight for justice as if it were our own child

Frequently Asked Questions for Essex County Families

Q: My child consented to participate. Can we still sue?

A: Yes. Under Vermont law, consent is not a defense to hazing. The law explicitly states that victims cannot consent to illegal activities.

Q: The university says they didn’t know about the hazing. Are they still liable?

A: Yes. Universities have a duty to protect students from foreseeable harm. If they failed to monitor Greek life or ignored prior hazing incidents, they can be held liable.

Q: Can we sue the national fraternity, or just the local chapter?

A: Both. National organizations have deep pockets and can be held liable for failing to supervise their chapters. In our current case, we are suing both the local chapter and Pi Kappa Phi National.

Q: What if the hazing happened off-campus?

A: You can still sue. Hazing is illegal regardless of where it occurs. If it happened at a private residence, the homeowners (and their insurance) may also be liable.

Q: How much is our case worth?

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

• Severity of injuries (e.g., hospitalization, permanent damage)
• Egregiousness of conduct (e.g., waterboarding, forced consumption)
• Institutional knowledge (e.g., prior hazing incidents)
• Pattern of abuse (e.g., systematic hazing over weeks)

Q: How long will this take?

A: Most cases settle within 12-24 months, but complex cases (especially against universities and national organizations) can take longer. We work to resolve cases as quickly as possible while maximizing your recovery.

Q: Will my child have to testify in court?

A: Most cases settle before trial, so your child may never have to testify. If the case does go to trial, we will prepare them thoroughly and support them every step of the way.

Q: What if we can’t afford a lawyer?

A: You don’t have to. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we win your case.

Essex County Families: The Time to Act Is Now

Hazing leaves lasting scars—physical, emotional, and psychological. But you don’t have to suffer in silence. You have legal rights. You have a path to justice. And you have Attorney 911 on your side.

Call us now for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

We serve Essex County and all of Vermont. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

A Final Message to Essex County Families

To the parents of Essex County:

We know what you’re going through. We’ve seen the fear, the anger, the helplessness when your child is hurt. We’ve seen institutions protect their reputations instead of protecting students. We’ve seen fraternities call abuse “tradition” and get away with it.

But we’ve also seen justice prevail. We’ve seen multi-million-dollar verdicts that force change. We’ve seen new laws that protect the next generation. We’ve seen families stand up and say, “Enough is enough.”

Your child deserves justice. Essex County deserves accountability.

Call us today. Let’s fight this battle together.

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