🛡️ Cherokee County Hazing Victims: Know Your Rights and How to Fight Back
Cherokee County families: If your child has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or any student organization, you are not alone — and you have powerful legal rights.
At Attorney 911, we are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with kidney failure from extreme physical abuse. The same fraternities operate near Cherokee County, and the same dangers exist at Cherokee County institutions. We will bring the same aggressive representation to Cherokee County families.
This guide explains:
- What hazing really is (and why it’s illegal in South Carolina)
- Your legal rights as a Cherokee County hazing victim
- Who can be held accountable
- How much compensation you may be entitled to
- What to do if your child has been hazed in Cherokee County
🚨 What Is Hazing? The Truth Cherokee County Families Need to Know
Hazing is not “tradition.” It’s not “building character.” It’s not “boys being boys.”
Hazing is abuse disguised as initiation.
In South Carolina, hazing is illegal and can include:
- Physical abuse: Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
- Forced consumption: Alcohol, food, or other substances until vomiting
- Waterboarding or simulated drowning (yes, this happens — we’re suing a fraternity that did this)
- Sleep deprivation: Forced late-night activities that prevent rest
- Psychological torture: Humiliation, degradation, threats of expulsion
- Sexual abuse: Forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, sexual assault
- Extreme exposure: Forced to endure cold or heat for long periods
What happened in Houston can happen in Cherokee County.
The same national fraternities with chapters near Cherokee County have paid millions in hazing settlements nationwide. The culture is the same. The danger is real.
⚖️ South Carolina Hazing Law: What Cherokee County Families Need to Know
South Carolina Code § 59-101-200: Hazing is a Crime
Definition of Hazing in South Carolina:
Any intentional, reckless, or negligent act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a student organization.
This includes:
- Physical brutality (hitting, paddling, excessive exercise)
- Forced consumption of alcohol, drugs, or food
- Sleep deprivation
- Confinement in small spaces
- Any activity that creates unreasonable risk of harm
Penalties in South Carolina:
| Offense Level | Punishment |
|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | Up to 30 days in jail and/or $1,000 fine |
| If serious bodily injury occurs | Up to 5 years in prison |
| If death occurs | Up to 10 years in prison |
Cherokee County families: This means that if your child was hazed and suffered injuries, the people responsible could face criminal charges — not just civil lawsuits.
Consent is NOT a Defense in South Carolina
“The willingness of an individual to participate in an activity does not affect the culpability of the person who causes the hazing.”
This is critical. When fraternities say, “He agreed to participate,” or “It’s tradition,” South Carolina law says that doesn’t matter. Hazing is illegal regardless of consent.
Organizations Can Be Held Criminally Liable
“A student organization may be held liable for hazing if it condones or encourages the activity, or if its officers knowingly permit it.”
This means that fraternities, sororities, and even universities can be held criminally responsible if they knew about hazing and failed to stop it.
💔 Real Hazing Cases: What Happens to Cherokee County Students
Case 1: The Student Who Was Waterboarded (Houston, 2025)
What Happened:
A student at the University of Houston (not yet enrolled) was hazed by Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. The hazing included:
- Waterboarding 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
- Another pledge lost consciousness during hazing — they kept going
Result:
- Hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and kidney failure
- $10 million lawsuit filed against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston
- Fraternity chapter shut down
Why This Matters for Cherokee County:
Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at universities near Cherokee County. The same national organization that waterboarded a student in Houston could be hazing students in your community. If it happened in Houston, it can happen in Cherokee County.
Case 2: The Student Who Died from Forced Drinking (LSU, 2017)
Victim: Maxwell Gruver
Fraternity: Phi Delta Theta
What Happened:
- Forced to drink during a “Bible Study” pledge event
- Wrong answer = drink more
- Drank until his blood alcohol level was 0.495 (more than 6 times the legal limit)
- Died from alcohol poisoning
Result:
- $6.1 million jury verdict against the fraternity
- Criminal conviction for the fraternity member who organized the event
- Max Gruver Act passed in Louisiana — made hazing a felony
Why This Matters for Cherokee County:
Forced drinking is one of the most common forms of hazing. If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Cherokee County, they may be forced to drink to dangerous levels. The same fraternities that killed Maxwell Gruver operate in South Carolina.
Case 3: The Student Who Fell Down Stairs and Died (Penn State, 2017)
Victim: Timothy Piazza
Fraternity: Beta Theta Pi
What Happened:
- Forced to drink 18 drinks in 82 minutes during “the gauntlet”
- Blood alcohol level reached 0.36 (potentially fatal)
- Fell down basement stairs multiple times — suffered traumatic brain injury
- Fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling 911
Result:
- $110+ million settlement (estimated)
- 18 fraternity members criminally charged
- Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law passed in Pennsylvania
- Fraternity permanently banned from Penn State
Why This Matters for Cherokee County:
This case shows that hazing doesn’t just involve drinking — it can involve extreme physical danger. The same fraternities with chapters near Cherokee County have the same culture of reckless disregard for student safety.
🔍 Who Is Liable? Cherokee County Families Can Sue These Defendants
If your child was hazed in Cherokee County, you can hold multiple parties accountable:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted the hazing |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise despite knowing about hazing culture |
| University | Failed to protect students despite having authority over Greek life |
| Chapter Officers | Leaders who directed or allowed the hazing (can be sued personally) |
| Individual Members | Anyone who participated in or witnessed the hazing |
| Housing Corporation | Owned the property where hazing occurred |
| Alumni | Hosted hazing events at their homes (premises liability) |
Cherokee County families: You don’t have to sue just one person. We sue everyone responsible.
💰 How Much Is a Cherokee County Hazing Case Worth?
Hazing cases can result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what Cherokee County families have recovered in recent cases:
| Case | Injury | Settlement/Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (Bowling Green, 2021) | Death from forced drinking | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver (LSU, 2017) | Death from forced drinking | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza (Penn State, 2017) | Death from fall after forced drinking | $110+ million (estimated) |
| Andrew Coffey (FSU, 2017) | Death from forced drinking | Confidential (multi-million) |
| Leonel Bermudez (UH, 2025) | Rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure | $10 million lawsuit pending |
What Cherokee County Families Can Recover:
| Damage Type | What It Covers | Example for Cherokee County Victims |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Bills | Hospital stays, ER visits, therapy | $50,000–$500,000+ |
| Future Medical | Ongoing treatment, rehabilitation | $100,000–$1M+ (if permanent damage) |
| Pain and Suffering | Physical and emotional trauma | $500,000–$5M+ |
| Mental Anguish | PTSD, anxiety, depression | $500,000–$3M+ |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work/school | $10,000–$100,000 |
| Punitive Damages | Punishment for egregious conduct | $1M–$10M+ |
| Wrongful Death | If hazing results in death | $1M–$10M+ |
Cherokee County families: If your child was hospitalized, suffered permanent injuries, or died from hazing, you may be entitled to millions in compensation.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Cherokee County
Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately
- If your child is injured, take them to the ER or urgent care
- Document all injuries with photos
- Keep all medical records and bills
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING. Save:
- Text messages (GroupMe, iMessage, WhatsApp, Snapchat)
- Social media posts (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X)
- Photos and videos from hazing events
- Emails about hazing activities
- Names and contact info of witnesses
- Fraternity/sorority documents (pledge manuals, schedules)
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization Without a Lawyer
- The fraternity/sorority will try to control the narrative
- They may ask your child to sign documents — do not sign anything
- They may offer a quick settlement — it will be too low
- Let your lawyer handle all communication
Step 4: Report the Hazing
- File a police report (hazing is a crime in South Carolina)
- Report to the university (if the hazing happened on campus)
- Report to the national organization (if applicable)
Step 5: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.
We offer:
- Free case evaluation — no obligation
- Contingency fee — you pay nothing unless we win
- Remote consultations — we can help Cherokee County families anywhere
- Aggressive representation — we fight for maximum compensation
Time is critical. South Carolina has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. If you wait too long, you could lose your right to sue.
🎯 Why Cherokee County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting a Hazing Case Right Now
We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to win these cases.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides. We know their playbook — and we use it against them.
3. Federal Court Authority
We’re admitted to U.S. District Court, so we can pursue Cherokee County cases in federal court if needed.
4. Dual-State Bar Admission
Licensed in Texas and New York — we can handle hazing cases nationwide, including Cherokee County.
5. We Travel to Cherokee County
We will come to Cherokee County for depositions, client meetings, and trials. Distance is not a barrier.
6. Bilingual Services
Se habla español. We serve Spanish-speaking Cherokee County families without language barriers.
7. Proven Track Record
- $10+ million in hazing cases (current case)
- Millions recovered for personal injury victims
- Hundreds of cases won against insurance companies
🔥 Warning to Cherokee County Fraternities: We Are Watching
To the fraternities operating near Cherokee County:
We are currently suing Pi Kappa Phi for what they did to our client. We know their corporate structure. We know their insurance policies. We know their history of hazing deaths.
If your chapter harms students in Cherokee County, we will pursue every liable entity — the chapter, the nationals, the university, and every individual member.
Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma — if your chapter operates near Cherokee County, know that we represent hazing victims across America.
The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.
Clean up your act now — or face the consequences in court.
✅ Cherokee County Families: You Have Rights. We Will Fight for You.
If your child has been hazed in Cherokee County, call Attorney 911 now.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win.
Cherokee County families: Don’t wait. Your rights expire. Call now.