Hazing Victims in Crawford County, Ohio: Your Legal Rights and How Attorney 911 Can Help

🚨 Hazing in Crawford County: A Hidden Crisis

Hazing isn’t just a problem at big universities—it happens right here in Crawford County, Ohio, at local colleges, high schools, and even within youth organizations. Whether it’s Greek life, sports teams, marching bands, or other student groups, the same dangerous “traditions” that led to Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization in Houston could be happening to students in Bucyrus, Galion, Crestline, or nearby campuses like North Central State College or Ohio State University-Mansfield.

Crawford County parents and students: If your child was forced to endure physical abuse, psychological torment, or dangerous rituals—you are not alone, and you have legal options.

📋 What Constitutes Hazing in Ohio?

Ohio law (ORC § 2903.31) defines hazing as:

“Doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person.”

Examples of Hazing (Based on Real Cases, Including Our $10M Lawsuit):

✅ Physical Abuse: Forced exercise (500+ squats, 100+ pushups), beatings with wooden paddles, waterboarding/simulated drowning
✅ Forced Consumption: Drinking excessive alcohol, eating until vomiting, consuming non-food items
✅ Psychological Torture: Sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats of expulsion, carrying degrading objects
✅ Dangerous Rituals: Blindfolded activities, extreme weather exposure, confinement in small spaces
✅ Sexual Humiliation: Forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, sexual assault

If your child experienced any of these in Crawford County, they were hazed—and the people responsible can be held legally accountable.

⚖️ Ohio Hazing Laws: What You Need to Know

1. Ohio’s Anti-Hazing Law (ORC § 2903.31)

• Hazing is a criminal offense in Ohio.
• First-degree misdemeanor if it causes physical harm.
• Fourth-degree felony if it results in serious physical harm or death.
• Consent is NOT a defense—even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds perpetrators accountable.

2. Collin’s Law (Ohio’s Enhanced Anti-Hazing Law, 2021)

• Named after Collin Wiant, an Ohio University student who died from hazing in 2018.
• Makes hazing a felony if it results in serious harm or death.
• Requires schools to report hazing incidents to law enforcement.
• Mandates hazing education for students and staff.

3. Civil Liability: You Can Sue for Damages

Even if criminal charges are filed, you can still pursue a civil lawsuit to recover compensation for:

• Medical bills (hospitalization, therapy, rehabilitation)
• Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
• Lost wages (if hazing disrupted your child’s education or work)
• Punitive damages (to punish the organization and prevent future hazing)

Our firm is currently litigating a $10M hazing lawsuit in Texas—and we can bring the same aggressive representation to Crawford County families.

🏫 Where Hazing Happens in Crawford County & Nearby Areas

While we cannot name specific incidents without verification, hazing has been documented in organizations across Ohio, including:

🎓 Colleges & Universities Near Crawford County

• North Central State College (Mansfield, OH) – Community college with student organizations and clubs.
• Ohio State University-Mansfield – Branch campus with Greek life, sports teams, and student groups.
• Ashland University – Private university with Greek life and athletic programs.
• University of Findlay – Known for Greek life and student organizations.

🏈 High School & Youth Organizations

• Bucyrus High School, Galion High School, Crestline High School – Sports teams, marching bands, and clubs.
• Local youth sports leagues – Football, baseball, wrestling, and other competitive teams.
• ROTC programs – Military training programs with documented hazing risks.

🏛️ Greek Life (Fraternities & Sororities)

The same national fraternities involved in our $10M Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit operate chapters near Crawford County, including:

• Pi Kappa Phi (same fraternity as our Houston case)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) (involved in multiple hazing deaths nationwide)
• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) (responsible for Stone Foltz’s death in Ohio)
• Beta Theta Pi (responsible for Timothy Piazza’s death at Penn State)

These organizations have a documented history of hazing—and if your child was harmed, we will hold them accountable.

💔 Real Hazing Cases That Could Have Happened in Crawford County

1. The $10M Pi Kappa Phi Case (Houston, TX – 2025)

What happened:

• Leonel Bermudez, a “ghost rush” (not even enrolled at UH yet), was hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being forced to:
  • Do 500+ squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
  • Be waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
  • Be struck with wooden paddles
  • Eat until vomiting, then forced to continue running
  • Lie in vomit-soaked grass
• Another pledge lost consciousness during a hazing workout.
• Pi Kappa Phi National knew about a “hazing crisis” but did nothing.

Why this matters for Crawford County:

• The same fraternities operate near Crawford County.
• The same negligence exists at local institutions.
• If it can happen in Houston, it can happen in Bucyrus or Galion.

2. Stone Foltz (Bowling Green, OH – 2021)

What happened:

• Stone Foltz, a 20-year-old Pi Kappa Alpha pledge at Bowling Green State University, was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event.
• He died from acute alcohol poisoning.
• His family won a $10.1M settlement—the largest public university hazing payout in Ohio history.

Why this matters for Crawford County:

• This happened in Ohio.
• The same fraternity (Pi Kappa Alpha) has chapters near Crawford County.
• If your child was forced to drink excessively, they may have a case.

3. Max Gruver (Louisiana – 2017)

What happened:

• Max Gruver, an 18-year-old Phi Delta Theta pledge at LSU, was forced to drink during a “Bible Study” hazing ritual.
• He died with a BAC of 0.495 (more than 6x the legal limit).
• His family won a $6.1M jury verdict, and Louisiana passed the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony.

Why this matters for Crawford County:

• Forced drinking is deadly.
• Juries award millions for hazing deaths and injuries.
• Ohio has similar laws—we can pursue justice here.

🔍 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Crawford County

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

• Hazing can cause serious injuries, including:
  • Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure)
  • Alcohol poisoning (can be fatal)
  • Traumatic brain injuries (from beatings or falls)
  • PTSD, anxiety, and depression (long-term psychological harm)
• Go to the ER if your child shows symptoms like:
  • Dark/brown urine (sign of rhabdomyolysis)
  • Severe muscle pain or weakness
  • Confusion, vomiting, or loss of consciousness
  • Signs of emotional distress (withdrawal, panic attacks)

Hospitals serving Crawford County:

• Avita Health System (Bucyrus & Galion)
• OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital
• Cleveland Clinic Akron General

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

Do NOT delete anything. Save:
✅ Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs
✅ Photos/videos of injuries or hazing activities
✅ Emails or documents from the organization
✅ Witness names and contact information
✅ Medical records from hospital visits

Why this matters:

• Insurance companies and fraternities will try to destroy evidence.
• The more proof you have, the stronger your case will be.

Step 3: Do NOT Speak to the Organization or Their Lawyers

• Fraternities, universities, and insurance companies will try to get your child to sign away their rights.
• They may offer a quick, lowball settlement to avoid a lawsuit.
• Anything your child says can be used against them in court.

What to say instead:

“We are consulting with an attorney and will not discuss this matter further.”

Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

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

We offer:
✔ Free, confidential consultations for Crawford County families
✔ $0 upfront costs—we only get paid if we win your case
✔ Aggressive representation—we don’t back down from fraternities or universities
✔ Nationwide experience—we’ve handled hazing cases across the U.S., including our $10M Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit

💰 What Your Crawford County Hazing Case Could Be Worth

Hazing cases can result in substantial compensation, including:

Recent Hazing Settlements & Verdicts:

Crawford County families: These cases prove that hazing victims can win big—and we will fight for the same justice for you.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. “My child consented to hazing—can we still sue?”

✅ YES. Ohio law (ORC § 2903.31) explicitly states that consent is NOT a defense to hazing. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the organization can still be held liable.

2. “The fraternity/university says this was just ‘tradition’—does that matter?”

❌ NO. “Tradition” is not an excuse for illegal activity. If the activities caused harm, the organization is responsible.

3. “We’re worried about retaliation. What can we do?”

• Fraternities and universities may try to intimidate victims into silence.
• We protect our clients by:
  • Filing restraining orders if necessary
  • Demanding no-contact agreements
  • Holding organizations accountable for retaliation

4. “How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”

• Ohio’s statute of limitations for personal injury is 2 years.
• If your child was hazed recently, you must act fast.
• The sooner you contact us, the stronger your case will be.

5. “We don’t live near your office—can you still help us?”

✅ YES. We represent hazing victims nationwide, including Crawford County families. We offer:

• Video consultations (Zoom, FaceTime, etc.)
• Travel to Crawford County for meetings, depositions, and trials
• Remote case management (phone, email, secure portal)

🏆 Why Crawford County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now

• We are currently litigating a $10M hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
• We know how to win these cases—and we’ll bring that same expertise to Crawford County.

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides.
• We know how they think, how they fight claims, and how to beat them.

3. Aggressive, No-Nonsense Representation

• We don’t settle for lowball offers.
• We take cases to trial if necessary.
• We hold fraternities, universities, and individuals accountable.

4. We Travel to Crawford County

• Bucyrus, Galion, Crestline, Mansfield—we will come to you.
• We handle depositions, meetings, and trials in Crawford County.

5. $0 Upfront Costs

• No retainer, no hourly fees.
• We only get paid if we win your case.

6. Bilingual Support (Se Habla Español)

• ¿Su hijo fue víctima de novatadas? Podemos ayudarle.
• We offer Spanish-language consultations to ensure no family is left behind.

📞 What to Do Next: Contact Attorney 911 Today

If your child was hazed in Crawford County, Ohio, time is critical. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and statutes of limitations expire.

🚨 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now for a free, confidential consultation.

Or email: ralph@atty911.com

We will:
✔ Review your case for free
✔ Explain your legal rights
✔ Fight for the compensation your family deserves

🔥 A Message to Crawford County Fraternities & Schools: We Are Coming

To the fraternities, sororities, and student organizations operating near Crawford County:

“We know who you are. We know your chapters. We know your national organizations. And if you haze students in Bucyrus, Galion, Crestline, or anywhere in Ohio, we will find you—and we will sue you.”

To the universities and schools that turn a blind eye:

“You own the buildings. You control the organizations. You have the power to stop hazing. If you don’t, you will pay—just like the University of Houston is paying now.”

The $10M Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit is just the beginning. Crawford County families: we are ready to fight for you.

📢 Share This Page With Crawford County Parents & Students

Know someone affected by hazing in Crawford County? Share this page to help them understand their rights.

🔗 Shortlink: attorney911.com/crawfordcountyhazing

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com

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