🚨 Hazing Lawyers in Carroll County, GA – Protecting Victims & Families

Attorney 911 – Fighting for Hazing Victims in Carroll County and Across Georgia

🏛️ The Hazing Crisis in Carroll County

Hazing isn’t just happening at big universities far away. It’s happening right here in Carroll County, GA. At local colleges, high schools, and even in community organizations, young people are being subjected to dangerous, humiliating, and sometimes life-threatening initiation rituals.

Carroll County families need to know: What happened to Leonel Bermudez in Texas can—and does—happen here. The same fraternities, the same peer pressure, the same institutional failures exist in our community.

Carroll County Institutions at Risk

While Carroll County doesn’t have a major university within its borders, students from our community attend nearby institutions where Greek life and other organizations thrive:

• University of West Georgia (Carrollton, GA) – Just 10 miles from Carroll County
• Georgia Highlands College (multiple campuses, including Cartersville)
• Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, GA)
• University of Georgia (Athens, GA)
• Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA)
• Georgia Tech (Atlanta, GA)
• Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, GA)

These schools have active Greek organizations, sports teams, marching bands, and other student groups where hazing is known to occur. Carroll County students are at risk.

The Same Fraternities Operate Near Carroll County

The national fraternities involved in high-profile hazing cases—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, and others—have chapters at universities near Carroll County. The same organizations that have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries are active right here in our region.

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Carroll County, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Texas.

⚠️ What Is Hazing? – Carroll County Families 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 their willingness to participate.

Hazing in Carroll County Takes Many Forms:

Hazing Is Illegal in Georgia

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61) makes hazing a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and fines. If hazing results in serious bodily harm or death, it becomes a felony with even harsher penalties.

Consent is NOT a defense. Even if a student “agrees” to participate, the law still holds perpetrators accountable.

💔 Real Hazing Cases – What Happens to Carroll County Victims

Case Study: The Pi Kappa Phi Nightmare (Texas, 2025)

Victim: Leonel Bermudez – Not even a student at the university yet
What Happened:

• Accepted bid to Pi Kappa Phi at University of Houston
• Subjected to weeks of systematic abuse including:
  • Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
  • 500 squats, 100+ pushups until he couldn’t stand
  • Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting
  • Struck with wooden paddles
  • Forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass
  • Another pledge hog-tied face-down with object in mouth
• Result: Hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure; spent 4 days in the hospital

Why This Matters to Carroll County:

• Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at universities near Carroll County
• The same national organization that failed to prevent this in Texas oversees chapters in Georgia
• If it can happen in Texas, it can happen to Carroll County students in Georgia

Other Tragic Cases – Hazing Kills and Maims

Carroll County families: These aren’t just stories from other states. This is happening in Georgia too. And it could happen to your child.

🏢 Who Is Liable for Hazing in Carroll County?

When hazing occurs, multiple parties can be held legally and financially responsible. At Attorney 911, we pursue every liable entity to maximize compensation for Carroll County victims.

1. Local Chapters (Fraternities/Sororities)

• Directly organize and conduct hazing activities
• Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster) often personally liable
• Members who participate can be sued individually

2. National Fraternity/Sorority Organizations

• Know or should know about hazing risks
• Fail to supervise local chapters
• Fail to enforce anti-hazing policies
• Have deep pockets – millions in assets and insurance

Example: Pi Kappa Phi National knew about Andrew Coffey’s death in 2017. They did nothing. Now Leonel Bermudez has been hospitalized.

3. Universities and Colleges Near Carroll County

• Own or control fraternity/sorority houses (premises liability)
• Fail to monitor Greek life activities
• Ignore prior hazing incidents (institutional negligence)
• Have substantial resources – endowments, insurance

Example: University of Houston owned the Pi Kappa Phi house where hazing occurred. They collected rent while students were tortured.

4. Individual Perpetrators

• Chapter officers – leadership responsibility
• Members who participated – direct liability
• Former members/alumni – if hazing occurred at their property
• Can be held personally liable – homes, cars, future earnings at risk

Example: In the Stone Foltz case, the chapter president was personally ordered to pay $6.5 million.

5. Insurance Companies

• National organizations have liability insurance
• Universities have institutional insurance
• Homeowners’ policies may cover individual defendants
• We know how to pursue these policies – former insurance defense attorneys on our team

💰 What Can Carroll County Families Recover?

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

Economic Damages

• Medical bills (hospitalization, surgery, therapy, future treatment)
• Lost wages (time missed from work during recovery)
• Future lost earning capacity (if injuries cause permanent limitations)
• Educational expenses (tuition, fees if forced to transfer or drop out)

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering (the agony of hazing injuries)
• Mental anguish (PTSD, anxiety, depression from abuse)
• Emotional distress (humiliation, shame, loss of trust)
• Loss of enjoyment of life (impact on college experience, social life)

Punitive Damages

• Punish the defendants for outrageous conduct
• Deter future hazing – send a message that this won’t be tolerated
• Available when conduct is intentional, reckless, or grossly negligent

Carroll County families: The multimillion-dollar settlements in other hazing cases are available to Georgia victims too.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Carroll County

Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

• Go to the emergency room – even if injuries seem minor
• Document everything – medical records are crucial evidence
• Follow up with specialists – therapy for PTSD, anxiety, depression

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

• Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, items used
• Save all communications – texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs
• Get witness information – other victims, bystanders
• Keep all documents – pledge manuals, schedules, rules

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization or University Alone

• They will try to control the narrative
• They will pressure you to stay quiet
• Anything you say can be used against you

Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

• Free consultation – we’ll evaluate your case at no cost
• Evidence preservation – we’ll make sure nothing is destroyed
• Legal protection – we’ll handle all communications with defendants
• No upfront fees – we work on contingency; you pay nothing unless we win

Step 5: Report to Authorities

• File a police report – hazing is a crime in Georgia
• File a Title IX report – universities must investigate
• Contact the Georgia Board of Regents – for state schools

⏳ Time Is Critical – Georgia’s Statute of Limitations

Georgia law gives you only 2 YEARS from the date of injury to file a lawsuit.

If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to sue forever.

Hazing victims often delay reporting due to:

• Shame and embarrassment
• Fear of social retaliation
• Loyalty to the organization
• Not recognizing it as hazing
• Pressure from members to stay quiet

Don’t let time run out. Contact Attorney 911 today.

🏆 Why Carroll 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 University of Houston
• We know how to build these cases from the inside out
• Carroll County families get the same aggressive representation

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• We know how insurance companies value claims
• We know how they try to deny or minimize payouts
• We know their playbook – and we use it against them

3. Federal Court Authority

• Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
• Can pursue federal civil rights claims for Carroll County victims
• Experience with multi-defendant litigation

4. Dual-State Bar Licenses

• Licensed in Texas and New York
• Can pursue national fraternity organizations headquartered anywhere
• No geographic limits – we serve Carroll County and all of Georgia

5. We Come to Carroll County

• Video consultations available for Carroll County families
• We travel to Carroll County for depositions, meetings, and trials
• Distance is not a barrier – we’ll be there for you

6. No Upfront Costs – We Work on Contingency

• $0 upfront – you pay nothing to hire us
• We don’t get paid unless you get paid
• We take the risk – if we don’t win, you owe us nothing

7. We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español

• Bilingual staff available for Spanish-speaking families
• No language barriers to justice
• Comprehensive support in your preferred language

8. We Care – Not Just About Cases, But About People

• We’ve seen what hazing does to kids
• We see your child as a person, not a paycheck
• We fight hard because we truly care

📞 Carroll County Hazing Victims – Call Now

If your child has been hazed in Carroll County or at a nearby Georgia institution, time is running out. Contact Attorney 911 today for a free, confidential consultation.

24/7 Legal Emergency Hotline:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email:

📧 ralph@atty911.com

Video Consultation Available

We understand Carroll County families may not be able to travel. We offer secure video consultations so you can meet with our attorneys from home.

We Will Travel to Carroll County

For depositions, client meetings, and trials, our attorneys will come to Carroll County. You don’t have to come to us.

🔥 Message to Fraternities Near Carroll County

To the fraternities operating at universities near Carroll County:

We are watching. We are coming for you. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, Delta Tau Delta, Alpha Tau Omega, Lambda Chi Alpha, Chi Phi, Theta Chi, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Iota Phi Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho:

If your chapter operates near Carroll County, know this:

• We track your housing corporations
• We know your national insurance structures
• We document your hazing histories
• If you haze students, we will pursue every liable entity
• We already shut down the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter
• Your chapter could be next

Universities near Carroll County:
The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. Act now or face the same accountability.

🎓 Resources for Carroll County Parents

Warning Signs Your Child Is Being Hazed

• Sudden changes in behavior (withdrawal, anxiety, depression)
• Unexplained injuries (bruises, cuts, burns)
• Avoiding questions about their activities
• Sudden loss of interest in the organization
• Sleep deprivation (exhaustion, falling asleep in class)
• Secretive behavior about texts, social media
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Increased alcohol consumption
• Fear of certain people or places

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing

1. Talk to your child – ask open-ended questions
2. Document everything – save texts, take photos of injuries
3. Contact the organization’s national headquarters – demand investigation
4. Contact the university – report your concerns
5. Contact Attorney 911 – protect your child’s legal rights

Georgia Hazing Laws

• O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61 – Hazing is a crime in Georgia
• Consent is not a defense – even if your child “agreed” to participate
• Misdemeanor – Up to 12 months in jail for basic hazing
• Felony – If hazing causes serious bodily harm or death

📚 Frequently Asked Questions – Carroll County Hazing Victims

Q: My child was hazed, but they “agreed” to participate. Can we still sue?

A: YES. Georgia law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the law still holds perpetrators accountable.

Q: The fraternity says it was just “tradition.” Is that an excuse?

A: NO. “Tradition” does not justify illegal activity. Waterboarding, forced drinking, and physical abuse are not traditions—they’re crimes.

Q: We’re in Carroll County. Can you really help us?

A: YES. While we’re based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including Carroll County. We offer video consultations, and our attorneys travel to Carroll County for your case.

Q: How much does it cost to hire Attorney 911?

A: $0 upfront. We work on contingency, meaning we only get paid if we win your case. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Q: What if the hazing happened months ago? Is it too late?

A: It might not be. Georgia’s statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of injury. However, evidence disappears quickly, so contact us immediately to preserve your rights.

Q: Can we sue the university if the hazing happened off-campus?

A: YES. Universities have a duty to protect students, even off-campus. If the university knew or should have known about hazing risks and failed to act, they can be held liable.

Q: What if my child is afraid of retaliation?

A: We understand. Hazing victims often fear social or academic retaliation. We will protect your child’s identity and handle all communications with the defendants. Your safety is our priority.

Q: Will this affect my child’s academic or athletic scholarship?

A: Not if we handle it properly. We work to minimize academic disruption and protect scholarships. Many universities have policies that prohibit retaliation against students who report hazing.

Q: What if the fraternity offers us money to stay quiet?

A: DO NOT accept any offers without consulting an attorney. Early settlement offers are always lowball bids. We will negotiate on your behalf to ensure you receive full and fair compensation.

Q: Can we still sue if the fraternity has been suspended?

A: YES. Suspension does not absolve the fraternity of liability. In fact, suspending a chapter often indicates consciousness of guilt, which can strengthen your case.

🏆 Our Track Record – Proven Results for Victims

At Attorney 911, we don’t just talk about fighting for victims—we win. Our track record includes:

Carroll County families: We bring this same aggressive, experienced representation to hazing cases in Georgia.

📢 Carroll County Families – You Are Not Alone

Hazing leaves victims feeling isolated, ashamed, and powerless. But you are not alone. We are here to fight for you.

If your child has been hazed in Carroll County or at a nearby Georgia institution, contact Attorney 911 today.

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

Free consultation. No upfront fees. We don’t get paid unless you do.

🔴 BREAKING: Our Fight Against Hazing Continues

Attorney 911 is currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We are fighting for Leonel Bermudez, who was hospitalized with kidney failure after being waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles.

This is not just a Texas problem. This is a Georgia problem. This is a Carroll County problem.

The same fraternities operate near Carroll County. The same negligence exists at Georgia universities. And we will fight for Carroll County families with the same fury we’re bringing to this case.

🎯 Final Message to Carroll County

To Carroll County parents: Your child trusted these organizations. They trusted their university. They trusted that they would be safe.

That trust was betrayed.

To Carroll County students: You deserve to join an organization without being tortured. You deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

To the institutions near Carroll County: We are watching. We are coming. We will hold you accountable.

Enough is enough.

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