🛡️ Hazing Victims in Franklin, Virginia: Your Legal Rights & How We Can Help

If your child has been hazed at a Franklin-area college, university, or Greek organization, you are not alone. Attorney 911 is fighting this battle right now — and we will fight for Franklin families with the same fury.

🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Franklin, Virginia: What Local Families Need to Know

Franklin is a tight-knit community where families send their children to college expecting safety, opportunity, and growth. But behind the scenes at universities near Franklin — including Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Virginia State University, and others — a dangerous culture of hazing persists in fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and student organizations.

This isn’t “boys will be boys.” This isn’t “tradition.” This is abuse. And it’s happening right here in Franklin’s backyard.

🔍 What Hazing Looks Like in Franklin-Area Schools

The same national fraternities involved in deadly hazing cases across the country — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, and others — have active chapters at universities near Franklin.

Based on documented cases nationwide (and what we’re seeing in our current $10 million hazing lawsuit), here’s what hazing looks like at Franklin-area institutions:

These aren’t hypotheticals. This is happening at universities near Franklin right now.

💔 Real Cases That Could Happen in Franklin

We are currently representing a hazing victim in Texas who was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, struck with wooden paddles, and hospitalized with kidney failure after pledging Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston. The same fraternity has chapters at universities across Virginia, including near Franklin.

This isn’t just a Texas problem. It’s a Franklin problem. It’s a Virginia problem. It’s a national epidemic.

Other real cases that could happen in Franklin:

• 2021, Bowling Green State University (Ohio): Stone Foltz, 20, died after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a Pi Kappa Alpha hazing event. His family won a $10.1 million settlement — the largest public university hazing payout in Ohio history.
• 2017, Louisiana State University: Maxwell Gruver, 18, died after being forced to drink during a Phi Delta Theta “Bible Study” event. His family won a $6.1 million jury verdict, and Louisiana passed the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony.
• 2017, Penn State University: Timothy Piazza, 19, died after falling down stairs while severely intoxicated during a Beta Theta Pi hazing event. His family settled for an estimated $110 million — one of the largest hazing settlements ever.

These cases prove that hazing doesn’t just ruin lives. It ends them. And it’s happening at universities near Franklin.

⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Franklin Hazing Victim

If your child has been hazed in Franklin or at a university near Franklin, you have powerful legal rights under Virginia and federal law.

1. Virginia Hazing Laws — Criminal & Civil Liability

Virginia has strong anti-hazing laws that apply to all colleges and universities in the state, including those near Franklin.

Virginia Code § 18.2-56 — Hazing is a Crime

Under Virginia law, hazing is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by:

• Up to 12 months in jail
• Fines up to $2,500

If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death, it can be elevated to a felony.

Key provision for Franklin families:

“It is not a defense that the person hazed consented to the hazing.”

This means fraternities and universities CANNOT argue that your child “agreed” to participate. If hazing occurred, they are liable — period.

Virginia Code § 8.01-226.10 — Civil Liability for Hazing

Virginia law also allows victims to sue for civil damages, including:

• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Punitive damages (to punish the wrongdoers)

Who can be sued in Franklin hazing cases?

• The local fraternity/sorority chapter (e.g., Hampton University’s Pi Kappa Phi chapter)
• The national organization (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters)
• The university (e.g., Hampton University, Norfolk State, ODU)
• Individual members (president, pledgemaster, active participants)
• Alumni or former members who hosted hazing events

2. Title IX — Federal Protection Against Hazing

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education. While it’s often associated with sexual assault, courts have ruled that hazing can also violate Title IX when it creates a hostile environment, especially for women or LGBTQ+ students.

What this means for Franklin families:

• If hazing created a hostile or discriminatory environment, you can file a Title IX complaint against the university.
• Title IX complaints can lead to federal investigations and force universities to take action.
• Title IX claims can be pursued alongside civil lawsuits.

3. Negligence & Premises Liability — Holding Institutions Accountable

Universities and national fraternities have a legal duty to protect students from foreseeable harm. When they fail, they can be held liable for negligence.

Examples of negligence in Franklin hazing cases:

• Failure to supervise: Universities near Franklin often claim they “didn’t know” about hazing, but they have the power to inspect fraternity houses, monitor Greek life, and enforce anti-hazing policies.
• Failure to act on prior incidents: If a university near Franklin had prior hazing incidents and did nothing, they can be held liable for future harm.
• Premises liability: If hazing occurred in a university-owned fraternity house (like at UH), the university is directly responsible for unsafe conditions.

4. Assault & Battery — Individual Liability

Hazing often involves assault (threat of harm) and battery (actual physical harm). Each individual who participated in or facilitated hazing can be personally sued for damages.

This includes:

• The fraternity president
• The pledgemaster
• Active members who participated
• Alumni who hosted hazing events

Why this matters for Franklin families:

• Individuals have assets (or their parents do) that can be pursued for compensation.
• Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance may cover damages.
• Juries hate hazing — individual defendants often face large personal judgments.

💰 What Franklin Hazing Victims Can Recover

Hazing cases can result in multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what Franklin families can recover:

Total potential recovery for Franklin hazing victims: $1,000,000–$10,000,000+

Real hazing settlements/verdicts that could apply to Franklin cases:

• $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)
• $4+ million — Adam Oakes (VCU, Delta Chi)

⏳ Franklin Families: Act Now — The Clock Is Ticking

📅 Virginia Statute of Limitations for Hazing Cases

Virginia law limits how long you have to file a lawsuit after hazing occurs:

⚠️ WARNING: If you miss the deadline, you lose your right to sue forever.

Franklin families: Do not wait. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your legal rights expire.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Franklin (or Nearby)

If you suspect your child has been hazed at a university near Franklin, follow these steps immediately:

1. Seek Medical Attention

• Go to the emergency room — even if injuries seem minor.
• Hazing injuries like rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) or alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening if untreated.
• Medical records are critical evidence for your case.

2. Preserve All Evidence

• Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence.
• Save all communications — text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs, emails.
• Document witness names — other pledges, bystanders, anyone who saw or heard about the hazing.
• Keep a journal — write down what happened, how you felt, and how the hazing has affected your life.

3. Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Alone

• Do not give statements to fraternity leaders, university administrators, or insurance companies.
• Do not sign anything — fraternities may try to get you to sign a waiver or confidentiality agreement.
• Do not post on social media — anything you post can be used against you.

4. Report the Hazing (But Do It the Right Way)

• File a police report — hazing is a crime in Virginia.
• File a Title IX complaint with the university — but have an attorney review it first.
• Report to the national fraternity — but expect them to protect themselves, not you.

5. Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney Immediately

• Franklin families: Call Attorney 911 now at 1-888-ATTY-911.
• We offer free, confidential consultations for hazing victims.
• We work on contingency — you pay $0 upfront, and we only get paid if we win your case.
• We will travel to Franklin for depositions, meetings, and trials.

🏆 Why Franklin Families Choose Attorney 911

We are not just personal injury lawyers. We are hazing litigation specialists. Here’s why Franklin families trust us:

1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now

• We are currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
• Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, struck with wooden paddles, and hospitalized with kidney failure.
• The same fraternities operate at universities near Franklin. We know how to fight them.

2. We Know How to Win Against Powerful Institutions

• We’ve taken on universities, national fraternities, and insurance companies — and won.
• We have 25+ years of litigation experience (Ralph Manginello).
• We are former insurance defense attorneys — we know their playbook and how to beat it.

3. We Have Federal Court Authority

• We are admitted to U.S. District Court (Southern District of Texas) — critical for suing national fraternities.
• We have dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) — giving us strategic flexibility.

4. We Travel to Franklin for Your Case

• Distance is not a barrier to justice.
• We offer video consultations for Franklin families.
• We will travel to Franklin for depositions, client meetings, and trials.

5. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)

• Hazing affects all communities, including Franklin’s Hispanic families.
• We provide bilingual legal services — no language barriers.

6. We Work on Contingency — $0 Upfront for Franklin Families

• You pay nothing to hire us.
• We only get paid if we win your case.
• This levels the playing field against universities and national fraternities.

🎯 What We’ll Do for Franklin Hazing Victims

When you hire Attorney 911, here’s what we’ll do for your family:

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation

• Send preservation letters to the fraternity, university, and individuals demanding they save all evidence.
• Obtain text messages, social media posts, and internal communications before they’re deleted.
• Secure security camera footage from fraternity houses or university property.

2. Medical & Psychological Support

• Connect you with medical experts to document injuries.
• Arrange therapy and mental health support for PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
• Calculate future medical expenses (e.g., kidney monitoring, dialysis, therapy).

3. Aggressive Legal Strategy

• Sue everyone responsible — the fraternity, the university, the individuals.
• Pursue punitive damages — to punish the wrongdoers and deter future hazing.
• File Title IX complaints — to force the university to take action.
• Coordinate with criminal prosecutors — to ensure fraternity members face justice.

4. Media & Public Pressure

• Expose the truth — we’ll work with media to tell your story.
• Pressure the university — to suspend or expel the fraternity.
• Mobilize alumni and donors — to demand change.

5. Negotiate the Maximum Settlement

• We won’t accept lowball offers from insurance companies.
• We’ll fight for every dollar your family deserves.
• If they won’t settle fairly, we’ll take them to trial.

📞 Franklin Families: Call Now — Free Consultation

If your child has been hazed in Franklin or at a nearby university, call Attorney 911 immediately.

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

We offer:
✅ Free, confidential consultation
✅ $0 upfront — we work on contingency
✅ Bilingual services (Se habla español)
✅ Video consultations for Franklin families
✅ We travel to Franklin for your case

Franklin parents: Your child trusted these institutions. That trust was betrayed. Now it’s time to fight back.

🔥 A Message to Franklin Fraternities: We Are Watching

To the fraternities operating near Franklin — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, and others:

We are watching. We are building cases. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapters.

If you haze students in Franklin, we will pursue:

• The national organization
• The local chapter
• The housing corporation
• The individual members
• The university that enabled you

The Beta Nu chapter at UH? Shut down. Charter surrendered. Criminal referrals initiated. $10 million lawsuit pending.

Your chapter could be next.

Franklin fraternities: Clean up your chapters before we clean them out in court.

🏛️ A Message to Franklin-Area Universities: The Time for Accountability Is Now

To Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Virginia State University, and other institutions near Franklin:

You have a legal and moral duty to protect your students. When you fail, you become part of the problem.

The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where our client was waterboarded. They collected rent while students were tortured. They had the power to stop it — and they didn’t.

Franklin universities: You are on notice.

• If you own fraternity houses, you are responsible for what happens inside.
• If you have prior hazing incidents and do nothing, you are negligent.
• If you allow hazing to continue, you will be sued — and you will lose.

The time for “thoughts and prayers” is over. The time for accountability is now.

💔 To Franklin Hazing Victims: You Are Not Alone

If you’ve been hazed in Franklin or at a nearby university, you may be feeling:

• Shame — “Did I do something wrong?”
• Fear — “Will they retaliate if I speak up?”
• Loyalty — “I don’t want to get my brothers/sisters in trouble.”
• Hopelessness — “Nothing will change.”

You did nothing wrong. You are the victim. And you have the power to stop this from happening to someone else.

Franklin families: Call us. We will listen. We will fight for you. And we will make sure this never happens again.

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

Enough is enough.