Hazing Victim Legal Representation in Contra Costa County, California

Fraternity & Sorority Hazing Lawyers Serving Contra Costa County Families

If your child was hazed at a university near Contra Costa County, you have legal rights — and powerful legal options. Attorney 911 is fighting this battle right now in Texas, and we’re ready to bring that same aggressive representation to Contra Costa County families.

At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure from extreme hazing. This isn’t just a case — it’s a movement. We are fighting to end hazing culture, and we will fight for Contra Costa County victims with the same determination.

Contra Costa County Families: You Are Not Alone

Hazing happens at universities across California — including near Contra Costa County. The same fraternities that waterboarded our client in Houston have chapters at UC Berkeley, Stanford, Saint Mary’s College of California, and other institutions near Contra Costa County. The same negligence that allowed hazing at UH exists at Contra Costa County-area universities.

If your child was hazed in Contra Costa County, we can help. Call our legal emergency hotline now:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com/hazing

We serve Contra Costa County hazing victims nationwide — no matter where the incident occurred.

The Hazing Crisis in Contra Costa County & Beyond

What Is Hazing?

Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining or maintaining membership in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them — regardless of whether the person consents. In California, hazing is a crime under California Education Code § 32050, which defines hazing as:

“Any method of initiation or pre-initiation into a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization is officially recognized by an educational institution, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university, or other educational institution in this state.”

Hazing is not tradition. It is not bonding. It is abuse — and it is illegal.

Hazing Happens at Contra Costa County-Area Universities

While our current case is in Texas, hazing is a national epidemic, and California is no exception. Universities near Contra Costa County with active Greek life include:

• University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) — One of the largest Greek systems in the country
• Stanford University — Elite private institution with Greek organizations
• Saint Mary’s College of California (Moraga) — Catholic liberal arts college with Greek life
• California State University, East Bay (Hayward) — Public university with Greek organizations
• Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill) — Community college with some Greek presence

The same national fraternities involved in our $10 million case operate at these institutions:

• Pi Kappa Phi (involved in our current case)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)
• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)
• Beta Theta Pi
• Phi Delta Theta
• Kappa Sigma
• Sigma Chi
• And many others

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Contra Costa County, they face the same risks our client did.

What Hazing Looks Like — A Contra Costa County Parent’s Guide

Hazing takes many forms, but it always involves abuse, coercion, and danger. Here’s what hazing can look like at Contra Costa County-area universities:

Physical Abuse

• Forced exercise to exhaustion (e.g., 500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls)
• Being struck with wooden paddles or other objects
• Waterboarding or simulated drowning (as seen in our current case)
• Extreme calisthenics in unsafe conditions (heat, cold, rain)
• Branding, burning, or cutting
• Being forced to carry heavy objects for long periods

Forced Consumption

• Binge drinking (forced to drink until vomiting or passing out)
• Forced eating (hot dogs, milk, peppercorns, or other substances until vomiting)
• Consuming non-food items (e.g., goldfish, hot sauce, raw eggs)
• Mixing alcohol with energy drinks or other dangerous combinations

Psychological & Emotional Abuse

• Sleep deprivation (forced to stay up all night for “pledge activities”)
• Humiliation (wearing embarrassing clothing, carrying sexual objects, public shaming)
• Isolation (cut off from friends/family, forced to live in fraternity house)
• Threats of violence or expulsion if the victim refuses to participate
• Verbal abuse (yelling, name-calling, degradation)

Sexual Abuse & Harassment

• Forced nudity
• Sexual acts or simulations
• Being touched or groped without consent
• Carrying or wearing objects of a sexual nature (as seen in our current case)

Dangerous Stunts & Servitude

• Being forced to drive members while exhausted (risk of car accidents)
• Performing dangerous tasks (e.g., climbing structures, blindfolded activities)
• Serving as unpaid labor (cleaning, cooking, running errands for members)
• Being locked in small spaces or confined against your will

The Medical Consequences of Hazing

Hazing isn’t just “roughhousing” — it can cause serious, life-threatening injuries, including:

Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case was hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups, and other extreme exercises. This could happen to any student at a Contra Costa County-area university.

Who Is Liable for Hazing in Contra Costa County?

When hazing occurs, multiple parties can be held legally responsible — including individuals, organizations, and institutions. In our current case, we are suing:

1. The Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter

• The chapter that directly organized and conducted the hazing
• Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster, risk manager)
• Individual members who participated in or facilitated hazing

2. The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization

• Failed to supervise the local chapter
• Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite knowing about prior incidents
• Enabled a culture of abuse by not taking meaningful action
• Has deep pockets — national organizations have substantial assets and insurance

In our current case, Pi Kappa Phi National immediately closed the UH chapter when the hazing was exposed — proving they knew it was wrong. They had 8 years to fix their culture after Andrew Coffey died at a Pi Kappa Phi event in 2017. They failed.

3. The University

• Failed to protect students from known hazing risks
• Owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred (premises liability)
• Had prior knowledge of hazing at their fraternities (UH had a 2017 hazing hospitalization)
• Failed to implement effective oversight of Greek life

Universities near Contra Costa County have the same responsibilities — and the same liabilities.

4. Individual Perpetrators

• Chapter officers who directed hazing
• Members who participated in hazing
• Alumni who facilitated hazing (e.g., allowing it at their homes)
• Anyone who witnessed and failed to stop the abuse

In the Stone Foltz case, the chapter president was held personally liable for $6.5 million. Individual perpetrators in Contra Costa County can be sued personally.

5. Insurance Companies

• Fraternity insurance policies (national and local)
• University insurance policies covering Greek life
• Homeowners insurance (for hazing that occurs at private residences)
• Personal liability insurance of individual defendants

As former insurance defense attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena know how to maximize insurance payouts for victims.

Contra Costa County Families: You Can Sue for Hazing

California Hazing Law: Your Rights as a Victim

California has strong laws against hazing, including:

1. California Education Code § 32050 — Criminal Hazing Law

• Makes hazing a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail and $5,000 in fines
• If hazing results in serious bodily injury, it becomes a felony punishable by up to 3 years in prison
• Consent is NOT a defense — even if the victim “agreed” to participate, hazing is still illegal

2. Civil Liability for Hazing

Even if no criminal charges are filed, hazing victims in Contra Costa County can sue for:

• Medical expenses (hospital bills, therapy, future treatment)
• Lost wages (if the victim missed work or lost job opportunities)
• Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
• Punitive damages (to punish the defendants for egregious conduct)
• Wrongful death (if hazing results in death)

Contra Costa County Hazing Victims: What You Can Recover

Hazing cases can result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Recent hazing cases nationwide have resulted in:

Our $10 million demand in the Pi Kappa Phi case is in line with these precedents. Contra Costa County families can achieve the same results.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Contra Costa County

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

• Go to the ER or urgent care — even if injuries seem minor
• Document everything — medical records are critical evidence
• Tell the doctor the truth — explain that injuries resulted from hazing
• Save all medical bills and records

In our current case, our client’s mother rushed him to the hospital when he couldn’t move and was passing brown urine (a sign of rhabdomyolysis). This medical documentation was crucial to our case.

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING. Save:

• Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs — any communications about hazing
• Photos/videos of injuries, hazing activities, or fraternity events
• Social media posts (screenshots of any hazing-related content)
• Pledge manuals, schedules, or documents given by the fraternity
• Names and contact info of witnesses (other pledges, members, bystanders)
• Any physical evidence (clothing, objects used in hazing)

In our current case, the fraternity waterboarded our client with a garden hose. Photos and videos of such activities are powerful evidence.

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Without Legal Counsel

• Do NOT give statements to fraternity/sorority leaders, university administrators, or insurance companies
• Do NOT sign anything from the organization or their lawyers
• Do NOT post about the incident on social media
• Anything you say can be used against you in court

Insurance companies and universities will try to minimize your claim. Let us handle all communications.

Step 4: Report the Hazing

• File a police report — hazing is a crime in California
• Report to the university (Title IX office, student conduct)
• Report to the national fraternity/sorority organization

In our current case, the University of Houston is conducting its own investigation — but universities often protect themselves, not victims. We will protect YOU.

Step 5: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

• Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation
• We will evaluate your case and explain your legal options
• We work on contingency — you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we win
• We will travel to Contra Costa County for depositions, meetings, and trials

The sooner you contact us, the stronger your case will be. Evidence disappears quickly, and statutes of limitations apply.

Why Contra Costa 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
• We know how to build these cases — and we know how to win
• Contra Costa County families get the same aggressive representation

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• 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 Contra Costa County Victims Anywhere

• We are based in Texas but serve hazing victims nationwide
• Federal court authority — we can sue in federal court if needed
• Dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York)
• We travel to Contra Costa County for depositions, trials, and client meetings

4. Proven Track Record in High-Stakes Litigation

• BP Texas City Explosion — Multi-billion dollar mass tort litigation
• $10 million hazing case — Currently litigating against Pi Kappa Phi
• Multi-million dollar personal injury verdicts — We know how to win big
• Criminal defense experience — We understand parallel criminal investigations

5. We Care About Your Child — Not Just the Case

• We see your child as a person, not a paycheck
• We understand the emotional trauma of hazing
• We will fight for justice, accountability, and prevention

6. Contingency Fee Representation — $0 Upfront

• You pay nothing to hire us
• We only get paid if we win your case
• No risk to you — we take on the financial burden

Contra Costa County Hazing Victims: What’s Next?

1. Free Consultation

• Call 1-888-ATTY-911 or email ralph@atty911.com
• We will listen to your story and evaluate your case
• No obligation — just honest legal advice

2. Case Evaluation

• We will review medical records, evidence, and communications
• We will identify all liable parties (fraternity, university, individuals)
• We will explain your legal options and potential compensation

3. Aggressive Legal Action

• We will preserve evidence and prevent destruction
• We will file a lawsuit if necessary
• We will negotiate with insurance companies for maximum compensation
• We will take your case to trial if needed

4. Justice & Accountability

• We will hold the fraternity, university, and individuals accountable
• We will pursue maximum compensation for your child’s injuries
• We will help prevent future hazing by exposing the truth

Contra Costa County Families: This Ends Now

Hazing has gone on for too long. Students have died. Families have been destroyed. Institutions have looked the other way.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure. This happened in 2025 — not 1955. It’s time for change.

If your child was hazed at a university near Contra Costa County, we can help. Call us now:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com/hazing

We don’t just fight for compensation. We fight for change.

Contra Costa County Hazing Victims: You Deserve Justice. We Will Fight for You.