🛡️ Hazing Legal Guide for Habersham County Families
Protecting Students, Holding Institutions Accountable, and Seeking Justice for Hazing Victims in Northeast Georgia
🚨 Hazing in Habersham County: A Hidden Crisis
Habersham County is home to North Georgia Technical College (NGTC) and is near several major universities with active Greek life, including:
- University of North Georgia (UNG) – Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses
- Brenau University – Gainesville
- Piedmont University – Demorest
- Young Harris College – Young Harris
The same national fraternities and sororities involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide operate chapters at these institutions. If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in or near Habersham County, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.
💔 What Happens in Habersham County Doesn’t Stay in Habersham County
In November 2025, Leonel Bermudez, a prospective Pi Kappa Phi pledge at the University of Houston, was hospitalized for four days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being subjected to:
- 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 run sprints
- Another pledge lost consciousness during hazing—yet they continued
This isn’t just happening in Texas. It happens in Georgia. It happens near Habersham County. And it could happen to your child.
⚖️ Georgia Hazing Laws: What Habersham County Families Need to Know
📜 Georgia’s Anti-Hazing Statute (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61)
Georgia law defines hazing as:
“Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in any school organization.”
🔴 Criminal Penalties for Hazing in Georgia
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Hazing (misdemeanor) | Up to 12 months in jail and/or $1,000 fine |
| Hazing causing serious injury (felony) | 1-5 years in prison and/or $5,000+ fine |
| Hazing causing death (felony) | 1-20 years in prison and/or $10,000+ fine |
⚠️ Important: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds perpetrators accountable.
🏛️ Civil Liability: Who Can Be Sued?
If your child is hazed in Habersham County or at a nearby university, you can sue:
✅ The local fraternity/sorority chapter (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma)
✅ The national organization (they have deep pockets and insurance policies)
✅ The university (if they knew or should have known about hazing)
✅ Individual members (including chapter presidents, pledgemasters, and active participants)
✅ Alumni or property owners (if hazing occurred at their home)
💰 Potential Compensation for Habersham County Families:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
- Lost wages (if the victim missed work or internships)
- Punitive damages (to punish egregious misconduct)
- Wrongful death (if hazing leads to a fatality)
🏥 Medical Dangers of Hazing: What Habersham County Parents Must Watch For
Hazing isn’t just “harmless fun”—it can cause life-threatening injuries, including:
| Hazing Activity | Medical Risk | Symptoms to Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| Forced alcohol consumption | Alcohol poisoning, coma, death | Vomiting, confusion, slow breathing, unconsciousness |
| Extreme physical exercise | Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), kidney failure | Dark urine, severe muscle pain, weakness, inability to walk |
| Waterboarding / simulated drowning | Hypoxia (lack of oxygen), brain damage, death | Coughing, difficulty breathing, panic attacks, PTSD |
| Paddling / beatings | Internal bleeding, broken bones, traumatic brain injury | Bruising, swelling, dizziness, memory loss |
| Sleep deprivation | Hallucinations, heart problems, accidents | Extreme fatigue, confusion, mood swings |
| Cold exposure | Hypothermia, frostbite | Shivering, numbness, slurred speech |
| Forced eating (hot sauce, raw eggs, etc.) | Choking, food poisoning, organ damage | Vomiting, stomach pain, difficulty swallowing |
🚨 If your child shows any of these symptoms after pledging, seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Habersham County
✅ Step 1: Seek Medical Attention
- Do not wait. Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) worsen over time.
- Go to the ER if:
- Your child has dark urine (sign of muscle breakdown)
- They can’t walk or move after extreme exercise
- They pass out or vomit uncontrollably
- They show signs of alcohol poisoning (slow breathing, confusion)
✅ Step 2: Preserve Evidence
- Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any objects used.
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs).
- Get witness names and contact info (other pledges, bystanders).
- Do NOT delete anything—even if the fraternity/sorority pressures you.
✅ Step 3: Report the Hazing
- Call 911 if it’s an emergency.
- File a police report with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office.
- Report to the university (even if they try to cover it up).
- File a Title IX complaint if the hazing was gender-based or involved sexual assault.
✅ Step 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately
- Do NOT speak to the fraternity, sorority, or university without legal counsel.
- Do NOT sign anything from the organization or their insurance company.
- Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation.
💼 Why Habersham County Families Choose Attorney 911
🔥 We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW
- We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
- Our client was hospitalized with kidney failure after being waterboarded and forced to do 500 squats.
- We know how to hold fraternities, universities, and individuals accountable.
🏆 Proven Results for Hazing Victims
| Case | Fraternity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (BGSU, 2021) | Pi Kappa Alpha | $10.1 million settlement |
| Maxwell Gruver (LSU, 2017) | Phi Delta Theta | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza (Penn State, 2017) | Beta Theta Pi | $110+ million settlement |
🌎 We Serve Habersham County Families Nationwide
- Based in Texas, but we represent hazing victims across the U.S.
- Federal court authority (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas)
- Dual-state bar licenses (Texas & New York)
- Willing to travel to Habersham County for depositions and trials.
💬 What Our Clients Say
“Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer regarding my case.” — Dame Haskett
“They fought with the other party insurance and got me more of the settlement than I was expecting.” — Vivian Ruiz
“You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” — Chad Harris
📞 Habersham County Families: Call Now for a Free Consultation
📍 If your child was hazed in Habersham County or at a nearby university, we can help.
🚨 24/7 Legal Emergency Hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com
💡 Why Call Us?
✔ Free case evaluation – No obligation, no upfront cost.
✔ Contingency fee – You pay nothing unless we win.
✔ Aggressive representation – We don’t back down from fraternities or universities.
✔ Nationwide experience – We’ve handled hazing cases from Texas to Ohio to Pennsylvania.
🎯 Warning to Fraternities Near Habersham County
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Delta Tau Delta, and all others:
We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.
If your chapter is hazing students near Habersham County, we will find out. And we will hold you accountable.
The Beta Nu chapter at UH was shut down after our lawsuit. Your chapter could be next.
📢 A Message to Habersham County Parents
You sent your child to college expecting them to be safe. You trusted the university. You trusted the fraternity or sorority.
That trust was betrayed.
But you don’t have to stay silent. You have the power to fight back.
Call Attorney 911 today at 1-888-ATTY-911. We’ll help you protect your child and seek justice.
🔗 Additional Resources for Habersham County Families
- Georgia Anti-Hazing Law (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61)
- StopHazing.org – Georgia Hazing Laws
- National Hazing Prevention Week
- Habersham County Sheriff’s Office
🚨 Remember: Time is critical. Georgia’s statute of limitations for personal injury is 2 years. If your child was hazed, don’t wait—call 1-888-ATTY-911 today.
