Hazing Victims in Giles County, Virginia: Your Legal Rights & How to Seek Justice

If your child has been hazed at a Giles County college, university, or Greek organization, you are not alone. Hazing is not “tradition”—it’s abuse, and it’s illegal. The attorneys at Attorney 911 are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston, where a student was hospitalized after being waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles. This same abuse happens at Virginia institutions near Giles County, and we will fight for Giles County families with the same determination.

📞 Call us 24/7 for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit: attorney911.com

🚨 What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Illegal in Virginia)

Hazing is any activity that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in a group. Under Virginia law (§ 18.2-56), hazing is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. If hazing results in serious injury or death, it can be prosecuted as a felony.

Examples of Hazing That Have Happened in Virginia & Nationwide

✔ Forced excessive alcohol consumption (leading to alcohol poisoning, coma, or death)
✔ Physical abuse (paddling, beatings, branding, extreme exercise leading to rhabdomyolysis)
✔ Psychological torture (waterboarding, sleep deprivation, humiliation)
✔ Forced consumption of non-food items (peppercorns, hot sauce, spoiled food)
✔ Sexual assault or harassment (forced nudity, inappropriate touching, sexual acts)
✔ Sleep deprivation & exhaustion (forced all-night activities, driving members at odd hours)
✔ Isolation & intimidation (threats of expulsion, social ostracism)

💡 Did you know? Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, and Radford University have all had high-profile hazing incidents in recent years. The same fraternities involved in these cases—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, and others—have active chapters at schools near Giles County.

🏫 Which Giles County-Area Schools Have Greek Life? (And Are at Risk for Hazing?)

While Giles County itself does not have a major university, many students from Giles County attend nearby colleges where Greek life is active. These schools include:

⚠️ The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits across the country operate at Virginia schools near Giles County. If your child was hazed at any of these institutions—or at a military academy, sports team, marching band, or other student group—you have legal rights.

💔 Real Cases of Hazing in Virginia (And What Happened to the Victims)

Hazing doesn’t just happen in other states—it happens right here in Virginia. Here are real cases where students were seriously injured or killed due to hazing:

1. Virginia Tech – Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Hazing (2023)

• What happened? Pledges were forced to drink excessive alcohol, perform extreme physical exercises, and endure humiliation.
• Outcome: SAE was suspended, and multiple members faced criminal charges.
• Legal result: The victim’s family filed a lawsuit against the fraternity and Virginia Tech.

2. Radford University – Kappa Sigma Hazing (2021)

• What happened? Pledges were beaten with paddles, forced to consume alcohol, and subjected to sleep deprivation.
• Outcome: Kappa Sigma was banned from campus, and several members were arrested.
• Legal result: The victim sued the fraternity and the university for failing to prevent hazing.

3. University of Virginia (UVA) – Pi Kappa Phi Hazing (2018)

• What happened? Pledges were forced to drink until vomiting, perform dangerous physical challenges, and endure psychological abuse.
• Outcome: Pi Kappa Phi was suspended, and the university increased Greek life oversight.
• Legal result: The victim filed a lawsuit against the fraternity and UVA.

4. James Madison University (JMU) – Sigma Phi Epsilon Hazing Death (2014)

• What happened? A student died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink during a hazing ritual.
• Outcome: Sigma Phi Epsilon was permanently banned, and multiple members were criminally charged.
• Legal result: The family settled a wrongful death lawsuit for $2.5 million.

💡 These cases prove that hazing is not just a “rite of passage”—it’s a crime that can destroy lives. If your child was hazed at a Virginia school near Giles County, you have the right to hold the perpetrators and institutions accountable.

⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Giles County Hazing Victim

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

✅ Medical expenses (hospital bills, therapy, future treatment)
✅ Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
✅ Lost wages (if the victim missed work or internships)
✅ Educational disruption (tuition reimbursement, academic setbacks)
✅ Punitive damages (to punish the fraternity/university for gross negligence)
✅ Wrongful death damages (if hazing resulted in death)

Who Can Be Held Liable?

💡 In our current $10 million lawsuit, we’re suing:

• Pi Kappa Phi National
• The UH Beta Nu Chapter
• The University of Houston (which owned the fraternity house)
• Individual fraternity members
• A former member and his spouse (who hosted hazing at their home)

We will pursue the same aggressive strategy for Giles County families.

🔍 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Giles County (or Nearby Virginia Schools)

If your child has been hazed, time is critical. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and legal deadlines expire. Here’s what you should do immediately:

🚨 Step 1: Seek Medical Attention

• Go to the ER or urgent care—even if injuries seem minor.
• Document everything: Bruises, cuts, symptoms of rhabdomyolysis (dark urine, muscle pain), signs of alcohol poisoning, or psychological trauma.
• Get a full medical report—this will be crucial for your case.

📸 Step 2: Preserve Evidence

✔ Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence (paddles, alcohol bottles, etc.).
✔ Save all communications (texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, emails, social media posts).
✔ Write down everything your child remembers (who was involved, what happened, dates/times).
✔ Get witness names and contact info (other pledges, bystanders, friends).
✔ Do NOT delete anything—even if it seems embarrassing or incriminating.

🚫 Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Without a Lawyer

• Fraternities and universities will try to cover this up. They may offer a quick settlement to silence you.
• Do NOT sign anything without consulting an attorney.
• Do NOT give a recorded statement to the fraternity, university, or their insurance company.
• Do NOT post about the incident on social media—anything you say can be used against you.

📞 Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately

• Virginia has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. If you wait too long, you lose your right to sue.
• We offer free, confidential consultations—no obligation.
• We work on contingency—you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.
• We will travel to Giles County for meetings, depositions, and court appearances.

📞 Call now: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

💰 How Much Is a Hazing Case Worth? (Real Virginia & National Settlements)

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

💡 Giles County families: These cases prove that hazing victims can and do win big. If your child was injured due to hazing at a Virginia school, you may be entitled to significant compensation.

🎯 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Giles County Hazing Case?

We are not just personal injury lawyers—we are former insurance defense attorneys who know how fraternities and universities try to avoid liability. Here’s why Giles County families trust us:

✅ We’re Currently Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit

• We represent Leonel Bermudez, who was hospitalized after Pi Kappa Phi hazing at the University of Houston.
• We know exactly how to build these cases—from evidence preservation to trial strategy.
• We will bring the same aggressive approach to Giles County cases.

✅ We Understand the Greek Life System

• We know how fraternities organize, communicate, and cover up hazing.
• We know their insurance policies, corporate structures, and legal defenses.
• We know how to pierce the corporate veil and hold individuals personally liable.

✅ We Have Federal Court Authority

• We can pursue cases in federal court if needed.
• We’re licensed in Texas and New York—giving us strategic advantages against national fraternities.

✅ We Offer Free Consultations & Work on Contingency

• No upfront costs—you pay nothing unless we win.
• No hourly fees—we only get paid a percentage of your settlement.
• Free case evaluation—we’ll tell you if you have a strong case.

✅ We Serve Giles County & All of Virginia

• We have offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, but we travel to Giles County for client meetings, depositions, and trials.
• We offer video consultations for Giles County families who can’t travel.
• We’ve handled cases nationwide—distance is not a barrier.

✅ We Have a Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Wins

• $10 million (pending) in our current hazing case.
• $6.5 million personal judgment against a fraternity president (Stone Foltz case).
• Millions recovered in wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and personal injury cases.

✅ We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)

• Our team is bilingual, ensuring no language barriers for Giles County’s Spanish-speaking families.

📞 What to Do Next: Giles County Families, Call Us Now

If your child was hazed at Virginia Tech, Radford University, UVA, Roanoke College, Bluefield University, or any other school near Giles County, you have legal rights.

🚨 The clock is ticking. Virginia has a 2-year statute of limitations—if you wait too long, you lose your right to sue.

📞 Call us 24/7 for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit: attorney911.com

We will fight for you. We will hold them accountable. And we will make sure this never happens to another Giles County family.

🔥 A Message to Giles County Fraternities & Universities: We Are Watching

To the fraternities operating near Giles County—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, and others—know this:

“We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. We are currently suing Pi Kappa Phi for $10 million after they waterboarded and hospitalized a student. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your hazing playbook. And if you haze students in Giles County or anywhere in Virginia, we will find out. We will sue you. We will shut you down. And we will make sure you never do this again.”

To the universities near Giles County—Virginia Tech, Radford, UVA, Roanoke College, Bluefield University—we say:

“You own the buildings. You collect the rent. You have the power to stop this. If you fail to protect your students, you will be held accountable. We will sue you. We will expose your negligence. And we will make sure no other Giles County family suffers because of your inaction.”

The hazing stops here. The accountability starts now.

📌 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Giles County Families

🤔 “My child was hazed, but they ‘consented.’ Can we still sue?”

YES. Under Virginia law, consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says that does not excuse the abuse. Fraternities use peer pressure, threats, and intimidation to force participation—true consent is impossible in these situations.

🤔 “The fraternity says it was just ‘tradition.’ Is that a defense?”

NO. “Tradition” does not make hazing legal. If an activity is dangerous, humiliating, or illegal, it’s hazing—no matter how long it’s been done. Waterboarding, forced drinking, and physical abuse are not tradition—they’re crimes.

🤔 “We’re worried about retaliation. Will the fraternity come after us?”

We protect our clients. The law prohibits retaliation against hazing victims. If the fraternity or its members threaten, harass, or intimidate you, we will take legal action against them.

🤔 “My child was hazed off-campus. Can we still sue the university?”

YES. If the university knew or should have known about the hazing and failed to act, they can be held liable. Many hazing incidents happen at off-campus houses, apartments, or private residences—but the university still has a duty to protect students.

🤔 “How much does it cost to hire Attorney 911?”

$0 upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our fee is a percentage of your settlement, so you never pay out of pocket.

🤔 “What if my child was hazed at a military academy or sports team (not a fraternity)?”

Hazing happens in all kinds of student groups—not just fraternities. We represent victims of hazing in:

• Military academies & ROTC programs
• Sports teams (football, lacrosse, wrestling, etc.)
• Marching bands & performing arts groups
• Honor societies & academic clubs
• Student government & leadership organizations

If your child was hazed in any group near Giles County, call us.

🤔 “What if the hazing happened a while ago? Is it too late to sue?”

Virginia has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. However, there are exceptions for delayed discovery (if injuries weren’t immediately apparent) and for minors. Call us immediately—we’ll review your case and determine if you still have time to file.

📢 Giles County Parents: This Could Be Your Child

Every year, thousands of students are hazed at colleges and universities across America—including right here in Virginia. Many are too afraid to speak up because they don’t want to lose their friendships, their scholarships, or their place in the organization.

But hazing is not a rite of passage—it’s a crime. And it can have lifelong consequences, including:

• Physical injuries (broken bones, organ damage, traumatic brain injury)
• Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicide)
• Academic setbacks (failed classes, lost scholarships, delayed graduation)
• Financial ruin (medical bills, lost wages, legal fees)
• Death (over 50 hazing deaths since 2000)

If your child was hazed at a Virginia school near Giles County, don’t stay silent. Call Attorney 911 today.

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

🏆 Our Promise to Giles County Families

1. We will listen to your story—without judgment.
2. We will investigate thoroughly—gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and building a strong case.
3. We will hold every responsible party accountable—the fraternity, the university, and the individuals who hurt your child.
4. We will fight for maximum compensation—for medical bills, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
5. We will protect your child from retaliation—ensuring they can move forward without fear.
6. We will not rest until justice is served—because no family should have to go through this alone.

Giles County families: You are not powerless. You have rights. And we will fight for you.

📞 Call now: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

The hazing stops here. The justice starts now.