🛡️🚨 Hazing Victims in Hamilton County, Tennessee — You Are Not Alone

If your child has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or any student organization near Hamilton County, Tennessee — we can help.

At Attorney 911, we are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for torturing a student until he was hospitalized with kidney failure. This isn’t just happening in Texas — it’s happening right here in Tennessee.

The same fraternities that waterboarded our client operate at universities near Hamilton County. The same negligence that allowed a student to nearly die exists at Tennessee institutions. And we will bring the same aggressive legal fight to Hamilton County families who have been betrayed by these organizations.

📍 Hazing in Hamilton County, Tennessee — The Reality

Hamilton County is home to vibrant college communities and prestigious universities, including:

• University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) — A major public university with active Greek life
• Lee University — A private Christian university with fraternities and sororities
• Southern Adventist University — Another private institution with student organizations
• Nearby institutions in the Chattanooga metro area — Including community colleges and technical schools

Greek life thrives in Hamilton County. The same national fraternities and sororities involved in hazing deaths and injuries nationwide — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, and others — have active chapters at universities near Hamilton County.

Hazing doesn’t stop at state lines. If it’s happening in Houston, it’s happening in Hamilton County. If it’s happening at Penn State, it’s happening at UTC. If it’s happening at LSU, it’s happening at Lee University.

🚨 What Hamilton County Parents Need to Know About Hazing

1. Hazing Is Not “Tradition” — It’s Abuse

Hazing is not about “building brotherhood” or “team bonding.” It’s about power, control, and humiliation. It’s about breaking young people down and making them feel like they have to endure torture to belong.

In our current case, Pi Kappa Phi:

• Waterboarded a student with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
• Forced him to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down
• Struck him with wooden paddles
• Forced him to eat until he vomited, then made him keep exercising
• Another pledge collapsed unconscious — and they kept going

This is not hazing. This is torture.

2. Hazing Causes Permanent Damage

Hazing doesn’t just leave emotional scars. It causes life-threatening injuries, including:

• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure) — like our client
• Alcohol poisoning (BAC levels that can be fatal)
• Traumatic brain injuries (from beatings or falls)
• Hypothermia or heat stroke (from exposure)
• Sexual assault (forcing nudity, sexual acts, or carrying sexual objects)
• PTSD, anxiety, and depression (long-term psychological trauma)

These injuries can last a lifetime. Our client spent four days in the hospital with kidney failure. He may face permanent kidney damage. He lives with the trauma of being waterboarded — a technique the U.S. government considers torture.

3. Universities and National Organizations Know — And Do Nothing

The most shocking truth about hazing? They know it’s happening, and they choose to ignore it until someone gets hurt.

In our case:

• Pi Kappa Phi had a student die from hazing in 2017 (Andrew Coffey at Florida State). They had 8 years to fix their culture. They did nothing.
• University of Houston had a student hospitalized from hazing in 2017 (Pi Kappa Alpha). They had 8 years to implement real oversight. They did nothing.
• Both institutions knew the risks — and both failed to protect Leonel Bermudez.

The same pattern exists in Hamilton County.

• If a fraternity at UTC has a hazing incident, the national organization knows.
• If a sports team at Lee University forces dangerous activities, the university knows.
• If a student at Southern Adventist is hospitalized from hazing, administrators know — and they often cover it up.

They choose reputation over safety. They choose tradition over humanity. And they choose their institution over your child.

4. Consent Is Not a Defense in Tennessee

Fraternities and universities will try to argue: “He agreed to participate. He knew the risks. He could have left.”

Tennessee law says: CONSENT DOES NOT MATTER.

Under Tennessee’s anti-hazing statute (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-7-123), hazing is a crime, and consent is not a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the people who hurt them are still legally responsible.

This is not about “boys being boys.” It’s about adults failing to protect young people from abuse.

⚖️ Legal Rights for Hamilton County Hazing Victims

If your child has been hazed in Hamilton County, Tennessee, you have legal rights. You can hold the people and institutions who hurt them accountable.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

Hazing cases are not just against the individuals who participated. We pursue everyone who allowed it to happen:

In our current case, we are suing:

• Pi Kappa Phi National
• The local chapter
• The fraternity president and pledgemaster
• The University of Houston (because they owned the fraternity house)
• The UH Board of Regents
• Individual members
• A former member and his spouse (because hazing occurred at their home)

Hamilton County families can pursue the same accountability.

What Damages Can Hamilton County Families Recover?

Hazing causes real harm, and the law allows victims to recover full compensation for their losses. This includes:

1. Economic Damages (Financial Losses)

• Medical bills (hospital stays, ER visits, therapy, future treatment)
• Lost wages (time missed from work or internships)
• Future earning capacity (if injuries cause permanent limitations)
• Educational expenses (tuition, lost scholarships, delayed graduation)

2. Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)

• Physical pain from hazing injuries
• Mental anguish (trauma from abuse, PTSD, anxiety, depression)
• Emotional distress (humiliation, shame, loss of trust)
• Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in normal activities)

3. Punitive Damages (Punishment for Egregious Conduct)

If the conduct was especially outrageous (like waterboarding, forced drinking, or physical beatings), juries can award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoers and deter future hazing.

Recent hazing verdicts and settlements:

• $10.1 million — Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha, Bowling Green State)
• $6.1 million — Maxwell Gruver (Phi Delta Theta, LSU)
• $110+ million — Timothy Piazza (Beta Theta Pi, Penn State)
• $4+ million — Adam Oakes (Delta Chi, VCU)

Hamilton County families can recover the same compensation.

📋 What Hamilton County Families Should Do If Their Child Has Been Hazed

If your child has been hazed in Hamilton County, time is critical. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. And the statute of limitations (usually 1 year in Tennessee) starts running immediately.

Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately

• Even if your child says they’re “fine,” get them checked by a doctor.
• Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis or alcohol poisoning) don’t show symptoms right away.
• Medical records are critical evidence in your case.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

Hazing cases are won or lost on evidence. Preserve everything:

DO NOT:
❌ Delete any messages or posts
❌ Talk to the fraternity/sorority or university without legal counsel
❌ Sign anything from the organization
❌ Post about the incident on social media
❌ Give statements to administrators or insurance companies

Step 3: Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney

Hazing cases are complex. Universities and national fraternities have teams of lawyers working to minimize your claim. You need your own legal team to level the playing field.

At Attorney 911, we:
✅ Fight for maximum compensation — We know how to calculate the full value of your child’s injuries
✅ Hold all responsible parties accountable — Not just the individuals, but the institutions that allowed it
✅ Protect your child from retaliation — We ensure they’re not intimidated or pressured to stay silent
✅ Work on contingency — $0 upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.

Call us immediately for a free, confidential consultation.

Step 4: Report the Hazing

• File a police report — Hazing is a crime in Tennessee (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-7-123)
• Report to the university — Demand an investigation
• Report to the national organization — If it’s a Greek organization, report to their headquarters

We can guide you through this process to ensure your child’s rights are protected.

🎯 Why Hamilton 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. This isn’t theoretical — we’re in the fight right now.

Hamilton County families get the same aggressive representation.

2. We Have Insider Knowledge of How These Organizations Operate

Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, are former insurance defense lawyers. We know how fraternities, universities, and insurance companies think, strategize, and try to avoid accountability.

We’ve seen their playbook — now we use it against them.

3. We Work on Contingency — $0 Upfront

We understand that the cost of hiring a lawyer can be overwhelming, especially when your child is recovering from hazing injuries.

That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis:

• $0 upfront — You pay nothing to hire us
• $0 out of pocket — We cover all case expenses
• We only get paid if we win — Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict

If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.

4. We Serve Hamilton County Families Nationwide

While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims across America, including Hamilton County, Tennessee. We can evaluate your case through:

• Video consultations — Meet with us remotely
• Federal court authority — Pursue cases in federal jurisdiction
• Travel commitment — We come to Hamilton County for depositions, trials, and client meetings

Distance is not a barrier to justice.

5. We Have a Proven Track Record of Winning Big Cases

We have 25+ years of litigation experience and have won millions for our clients, including:

• Multi-million dollar settlements in personal injury cases
• Mass tort litigation experience (BP Texas City explosion)
• Federal court victories (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas)
• High-profile media cases (ABC13, KHOU 11 coverage of our current hazing case)

We know how to win against powerful institutions.

📞 Hamilton County Families — Call Us Now

If your child has been hazed in Hamilton County, Tennessee, you need to act fast. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. And the statute of limitations is ticking.

Call Attorney 911 today for a free, confidential consultation.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)

📧 ralph@atty911.com

🌐 attorney911.com

We are available 24/7 for Hamilton County hazing emergencies.

🔥 A Message to Hamilton County Fraternities and Universities

To the fraternities operating near Hamilton County:
We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma — if your chapter operates near Hamilton County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America.

To the universities in Hamilton County:
The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. Act now — or face the same accountability.

The Beta Nu chapter at UH? Shut down. Charter surrendered. Criminal referrals initiated. Our client’s $10 million lawsuit is ongoing.

That’s what happens when you haze in Hamilton County.

💔 To the Families of Hamilton County

We know what you’re going through. We’ve seen the fear, the anger, the betrayal in the eyes of parents who trusted these institutions to protect their children.

We’ve seen the shame and trauma in the eyes of students who just wanted to belong.

You are not alone. We are here to fight for you.

Call us. Let’s hold them accountable. Let’s make sure this never happens to another Hamilton County family.

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

Justice for Hamilton County hazing victims starts now.