Hazing Victim Legal Support in Lewis County, Washington

Attorney 911: Fighting for Lewis County Students Harmed by Hazing

Lewis County families: If your child has been a victim of hazing at a college, university, fraternity, sorority, or other student organization in or near Lewis County, Washington, you are not alone. Hazing is not “tradition” — it’s abuse. And it’s illegal.

At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston for the severe injuries suffered by a student who was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. This same fraternity — and others like it — operate at universities near Lewis County. We will fight for Lewis County families with the same aggression we bring to this landmark case.

Call us now for a free, confidential consultation:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

We serve Lewis County and all of Washington State — no matter where the hazing occurred.

Hazing in Lewis County: A Hidden Crisis

Lewis County is home to Centralia College and is near several universities with active Greek life, including:

University of Washington (Seattle, Tacoma, Bothell)
Washington State University (Pullman, Vancouver, Tri-Cities, Everett, Spokane)
Western Washington University (Bellingham)
The Evergreen State College (Olympia)
Saint Martin’s University (Lacey)
Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma)
Seattle University
Gonzaga University (Spokane)

These same national fraternities and sororities that have paid millions in hazing settlements nationwide — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and others — have chapters at universities near Lewis County. If your child was hazed at any of these institutions, we can help.

What Is Hazing?

Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization.

Hazing includes, but is not limited to:

✅ Physical abuse: Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion (like our client who did 500 squats and developed kidney failure), branding, burning
✅ Forced consumption: Alcohol (binge drinking), food (eating until vomiting), non-food substances
✅ Psychological torture: Waterboarding (simulated drowning), humiliation, degradation, threats, isolation
✅ Sleep deprivation: Forced late nights, early mornings, disrupted sleep
✅ Sexual abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
✅ Exposure to extreme conditions: Cold weather, heat, confined spaces
✅ Servitude: Forced cleaning, driving members, running errands

Hazing is not limited to fraternities. It happens in:

Sororities
Sports teams
Marching bands
ROTC programs
Honor societies
Clubs
Military academies

The Medical Consequences of Hazing

Hazing can cause severe, life-threatening injuries, including:

Injury	What It Is	Symptoms	Long-Term Effects
Rhabdomyolysis	Breakdown of muscle tissue releasing toxic protein into blood	Severe muscle pain, weakness, dark/brown urine, kidney failure	Chronic kidney disease, need for dialysis, kidney transplant, death
Acute Alcohol Poisoning	Dangerously high blood alcohol levels	Confusion, vomiting, seizures, slow breathing, unconsciousness, death	Brain damage, organ failure, death
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)	Brain damage from blows to the head	Headache, dizziness, confusion, memory loss, mood changes	Permanent cognitive impairment, personality changes, disability
Hypothermia/Hyperthermia	Dangerously low/high body temperature	Shivering, slurred speech, confusion, loss of consciousness	Organ damage, death
Cardiac Arrest	Heart stops beating	Sudden collapse, no pulse, no breathing	Death or permanent damage
PTSD, Anxiety, Depression	Psychological trauma	Flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts	Long-term mental health struggles, therapy for years

Our client was hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups, and other extreme exercises. He could not walk for days. This could happen to your child at a Lewis County-area university.

Washington State Hazing Laws

Washington has strong laws against hazing, and victims have legal rights.

RCW 28B.10.901 – Hazing Prohibited

(1) It is unlawful to haze any student.
(2) “Haze” means any method of initiation into a student organization or living group, or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization or living group, that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious mental or emotional harm, to any student or other person.

Penalties for Hazing in Washington:

Criminal charges (misdemeanor or felony, depending on severity)
Fines up to $5,000
Jail time up to 1 year (for misdemeanor hazing)
Felony charges if hazing causes serious bodily harm or death

Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, hazing is still illegal.

Who Is Liable for Hazing in Lewis County?

If your child was hazed, multiple parties may be legally responsible, including:

Defendant	Why They’re Liable
Local Chapter	Directly organized and conducted hazing
National Organization	Failed to supervise chapter; knew about prior hazing incidents (like Andrew Coffey’s death in 2017)
University/College	Failed to protect students; may own fraternity/sorority houses where hazing occurred
Chapter Officers	President, pledgemaster, risk manager — leadership responsibility
Individual Members	Participated in hazing; failed to stop it
Former Members	Hosted hazing at their homes
Alumni	May have encouraged or facilitated hazing
Insurance Companies	Liability policies may cover damages

In our current $10 million case, we are suing:

The local chapter
The national fraternity
The university (which owned the fraternity house)
Individual members
Former members and their spouses

We will pursue the same strategy for Lewis County families.

Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Millions

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

Case	Fraternity	University	Outcome	Amount
Stone Foltz	Pi Kappa Alpha	Bowling Green State	Settlement	$10.1 million
Maxwell Gruver	Phi Delta Theta	Louisiana State	Jury Verdict	$6.1 million
Timothy Piazza	Beta Theta Pi	Penn State	Settlement	$110+ million
Andrew Coffey	Pi Kappa Phi	Florida State	Settlement	Confidential (major)
Adam Oakes	Delta Chi	Virginia Commonwealth	Settlement	$4+ million

These cases prove: Hazing victims can — and do — win big. The same legal strategies apply to Lewis County cases.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Lewis County

If your child has been hazed, act immediately to protect their rights:

Step 1: Get Medical Attention

Go to the emergency room immediately if your child has:
- Severe muscle pain
- Dark/brown urine (sign of rhabdomyolysis)
- Confusion, vomiting, seizures (signs of alcohol poisoning)
- Head injuries
- Any signs of physical or psychological distress
Document everything. Save all medical records.

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

Take photos of injuries at all stages of healing.
Save all communications (texts, emails, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs).
Get witness names and contact information.
Do not delete anything — even if it seems embarrassing.
Do not talk to the organization without legal counsel.

Step 3: Do NOT Sign Anything

The fraternity, sorority, or university may try to get your child to sign a waiver or settlement.
Do not sign anything without speaking to an attorney first.

Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately

Washington has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
Evidence disappears quickly — witnesses forget, messages are deleted, organizations cover up.
The sooner you call us, the stronger your case will be.

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

Why Lewis County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re 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 build these cases.
We know how to win.
Lewis County families get the same aggressive representation.

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides.
We know exactly how they think, strategize, and try to deny claims.
We use that insider knowledge to maximize your recovery.

3. Nationwide Reach — We Serve Lewis County

While based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including Lewis County and all of Washington.
Federal court authority — we can pursue cases in federal court.
Dual-state bar licenses — Texas and New York.
We travel to Lewis County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
Video consultations available for Lewis County families.

4. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)

Hazing affects students from all backgrounds.
We provide legal services in Spanish to eliminate language barriers.
No need for translation — we communicate directly with you.

5. No Upfront Costs — We Work on Contingency

You pay nothing upfront.
We only get paid if you win.
No recovery, no fee.

What Lewis County Families Can Recover

If your child was hazed, you may be entitled to compensation for:

Category	Examples
Medical Expenses	Hospital bills, ER visits, therapy, future medical care
Pain and Suffering	Physical pain from hazing, emotional trauma, PTSD
Lost Wages	Time missed from work or internships due to injuries
Educational Damages	Tuition refunds, lost scholarships, academic disruption
Punitive Damages	Additional money to punish the organization for egregious conduct (like waterboarding)
Future Medical Costs	If injuries require long-term care (dialysis, therapy)

In our current case, our client was hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure after being forced to do 500 squats. He could not walk for days. This could happen to your child — and we will fight to make sure they are compensated.

The Attorney 911 Difference: How We Fight for Lewis County Families

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation

We send preservation letters to all defendants demanding they save all evidence.
We prevent fraternities, sororities, and universities from destroying or hiding evidence.

2. Aggressive Discovery

We subpoena text messages, social media, emails, and internal documents.
We depose chapter officers, national leaders, and university administrators.
We uncover prior hazing incidents that prove the organization knew about the risk.

3. Expert Witnesses

Medical experts to explain injuries like rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
Greek life culture experts to explain how hazing is systemic.
Economic experts to calculate future medical costs and lost earning potential.

4. Media Strategy

We work with journalists to expose the truth.
Media coverage puts pressure on defendants to settle.
In our current case, ABC13, KHOU 11, Houston Chronicle, and Houston Public Media all covered the lawsuit.

5. Legislative Advocacy

Hazing cases drive new laws.
After the Timothy Piazza case, Pennsylvania passed the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.
After the Max Gruver case, Louisiana passed the Max Gruver Act (making hazing a felony).
We will work with Washington legislators to strengthen hazing laws.

6. We Don’t Back Down

We refuse to accept lowball settlement offers.
If defendants won’t settle fairly, we take them to trial.
In the Stone Foltz case, the fraternity president was ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.

Fraternities Near Lewis County: We Are Watching You

To the fraternities and sororities operating near Lewis County:

Pi Kappa Phi
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Pi Kappa Alpha
Phi Delta Theta
Beta Theta Pi
Sigma Chi
Kappa Sigma
Sigma Nu
Delta Tau Delta
And all others

We know your chapters. We know your national organizations. We know your playbook.

The same legal strategies that are winning millions for hazing victims nationwide apply to your chapters.

If your chapter hazes students in Lewis County, we will pursue every liable entity — the university, the national organization, the housing corporation, and every individual member.

We already shut down the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at University of Houston. Your chapter could be next.

Universities Near Lewis County: The Same Liability Applies to You

To the universities near Lewis County with Greek life:

University of Washington
Washington State University
Western Washington University
The Evergreen State College
Saint Martin’s University
Pacific Lutheran University
Seattle University
Gonzaga University

The same institutional negligence that made the University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.

You have a duty to protect your students. When you fail, you will be held accountable.

Act now — or face the same accountability we’re bringing to UH.

Lewis County Families: You Have Rights. We Will Fight for You.

Hazing is not “boys being boys.” It’s not “tradition.” It’s not “building character.”

It is abuse. It is illegal. And it must stop.

If your child has been hazed at a university near Lewis County, call us now for a free, confidential consultation.

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

We serve Lewis County and all of Washington State. No matter where the hazing occurred, we will fight for you.

Frequently Asked Questions for Lewis County Families

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

A: Hazing victims often fear retaliation or social consequences. You do not need your child’s permission to call us. We can discuss your options confidentially and help you decide the best path forward.

Q: The fraternity/sorority says my child consented to the hazing. Is that a defense?

A: No. Washington law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, hazing is still illegal.

Q: We’re in Lewis County, and you’re in Texas. Can you still help us?

A: Absolutely. We serve hazing victims nationwide, including Lewis County and all of Washington. We offer video consultations and travel to Lewis County for meetings, depositions, and trials.

Q: How much does it cost to hire you?

A: Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win your case. No recovery, no fee.

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

A: Washington has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. However, evidence disappears quickly. The sooner you call us, the stronger your case will be.

Q: What if my child was hazed at a school outside of Lewis County?

A: We handle hazing cases nationwide. Whether the incident occurred at UW, WSU, Evergreen, Gonzaga, or any other university, we can help.

Q: Can we sue the university?

A: Yes. Universities have a duty to protect students. If they knew or should have known about hazing and failed to act, they can be held liable. In our current case, we are suing the University of Houston for owning the fraternity house where the hazing occurred.

Q: What if my child was hazed in high school?

A: Hazing also occurs in high schools, sports teams, and clubs. We handle all levels of hazing cases.

Lewis County Hazing Resources

Reporting Hazing in Washington

Washington State University Hazing Hotline: 1-855-304-9775
University of Washington Hazing Reporting: https://www.washington.edu/studentconduct/hazing/
Washington State Anti-Hazing Law: RCW 28B.10.901
StopHazing.org: https://www.stophazing.org/

Medical Resources

Providence Centralia Hospital: (360) 736-2803
Lewis County General Hospital: (360) 748-0511
Rhabdomyolysis Information: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rhabdomyolysis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354702

Mental Health Support

Crisis Connections (Washington State): 1-866-427-4747
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth): 1-866-488-7386

Lewis County Families: The Time to Act Is Now

Hazing is not going away on its own. Fraternities, sororities, and universities will continue to allow it unless victims and families hold them accountable.

You have the power to stop this. You have the power to protect the next student.

Call Attorney 911 today for a free, confidential consultation.