🛡️ Hancock County Hazing Lawyer: Protecting Students from Greek Life Abuse
Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines — And Neither Do We
Hancock County families: If your child has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or any student organization, you are not alone. The same national fraternities that waterboarded a student at University of Houston have chapters right here in Mississippi. The same culture of abuse exists in Hancock County. And the same legal rights apply to your family.
At Attorney 911, we are actively fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how these organizations operate. We know how to hold them accountable. And we will bring that same fight to Hancock County hazing victims.
This Happened in Houston. It Could Happen in Hancock County.
The Reality of Hazing in America
On November 21, 2025, our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with kidney failure from extreme hazing.
What happened to him:
- Waterboarded 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 through his own vomit
- Another pledge lost consciousness during a workout — they kept going
- Ended up in the hospital for 4 days with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure
This wasn’t “tradition.” This wasn’t “brotherhood.” This was torture.
And it’s not just happening in Texas. The same fraternities operate in Mississippi. The same hazing happens in Hancock County. The same negligence exists at your local universities.
Hancock County Families: You Have Rights
What Is Hazing?
Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them — regardless of whether the person consents.
Common hazing activities in Hancock County:
- Physical abuse: Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
- Forced consumption: Alcohol (binge drinking), food (eating until vomiting), non-food substances
- Sleep deprivation: Late-night activities, forced driving, disrupted sleep
- Psychological torture: Humiliation, degradation, verbal abuse, threats
- Sexual abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
- Waterboarding/drowning: Simulated drowning with hoses or buckets
- Exposure: Forced to endure extreme cold or heat
Medical consequences of hazing:
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) — can cause kidney failure
- Alcohol poisoning — can be fatal
- Traumatic brain injury — from beatings or falls
- Hypothermia/hyperthermia — from exposure
- Cardiac arrest — from extreme physical exertion
- PTSD, anxiety, depression — long-term psychological damage
- Death
Who Is Liable for Hancock County Hazing?
When hazing happens, multiple parties can be held legally responsible — not just the individuals involved.
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing risks; failed to enforce policies |
| University/College | Failed to prevent hazing despite knowledge; premises liability if hazing occurred on campus property |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility; directed hazing activities |
| Individual Members | Participated in hazing; failed to stop it |
| Alumni | Hosted hazing at their homes; premises liability |
| Housing Corporations | Owned/controlled property where hazing occurred |
| Insurance Companies | Coverage for institutional liability |
Hancock County families: These same defendants can be held accountable for hazing in Mississippi.
Hazing Laws in Mississippi
Mississippi has strong anti-hazing laws that protect students and hold perpetrators accountable.
Mississippi Code § 97-3-105: Hazing
Definition:
Any act or coercion of another to perform an act that creates a substantial risk of physical injury to any person, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization.
Penalties:
- Misdemeanor: Up to 6 months in jail and/or $500 fine
- Felony: If hazing results in serious bodily harm or death — up to 5 years in prison
Key Point: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if a student “agrees” to participate, the law still holds perpetrators accountable.
What Hancock County Families Can Recover
Hazing victims and their families can pursue compensation for:
Economic Damages:
- Medical bills (hospital stays, treatment, therapy)
- Future medical expenses (ongoing care, rehabilitation)
- Lost wages (time missed from work)
- Lost earning capacity (if injuries affect career)
- Educational expenses (tuition, fees if hazing disrupted education)
Non-Economic Damages:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Humiliation and embarrassment
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
Punitive Damages:
- Additional compensation to punish outrageous conduct
- Applies when hazing is particularly egregious (e.g., waterboarding, forced drinking, beatings)
Hancock County families: Multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts are possible — just like the $10 million case we’re fighting in Texas.
Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims DO Win
1. Stone Foltz — $10.1 Million (Ohio, 2021)
- Victim: Pi Kappa Alpha pledge forced to drink entire bottle of alcohol
- Result: Died from alcohol poisoning
- Outcome: $10.1 million settlement from university and fraternity
2. Maxwell Gruver — $6.1 Million (Louisiana, 2017)
- Victim: Phi Delta Theta pledge forced to drink during “Bible Study” ritual
- Result: Died from acute alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495 — 6x legal limit)
- Outcome: $6.1 million jury verdict; fraternity member convicted of negligent homicide
3. Timothy Piazza — $110+ Million (Pennsylvania, 2017)
- Victim: Beta Theta Pi pledge forced to drink 18 drinks in 82 minutes
- Result: Fell down stairs repeatedly; fraternity members waited 12 hours to call 911; died from traumatic brain injury
- Outcome: $110+ million settlement; multiple criminal convictions
Hancock County families: These cases prove that hazing victims can and do win big. The same results are possible for Mississippi victims.
What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Hancock County
Step 1: Get Medical Attention
- Seek medical care immediately — even if injuries seem minor
- Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) may not show symptoms right away
- Medical records are critical evidence
Step 2: Preserve Evidence
- Save all communications: Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, emails
- Take photos/videos: Injuries, hazing locations, items used in hazing
- Document everything: Names of participants, dates, locations, what happened
- Do NOT delete anything — even if it seems embarrassing
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization
- Do NOT confront fraternity/sorority leaders
- Do NOT give statements to university administrators
- Do NOT sign anything from the organization or their lawyers
- Anything you say can be used against you
Step 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately
- Hazing cases have strict deadlines — Mississippi has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims
- Evidence disappears quickly — organizations destroy records, intimidate witnesses
- Insurance companies will try to lowball you — they care about profits, not justice
Why Hancock County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now
- We are actively litigating a $10 million hazing case against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston
- We know how these organizations operate
- We know how to build strong hazing cases
2. We Have Insider Knowledge
- Ralph Manginello — 25+ years of litigation experience; former insurance defense attorney
- Lupe Pena — 12+ years of litigation experience; former national insurance defense attorney
- We know how insurance companies think — we’ve seen their playbook from the inside
3. We Serve Hancock County Families
- Headquartered in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont — but we serve hazing victims nationwide
- Federal court authority — we can pursue your case in federal court
- Dual-state bar licenses — Texas AND New York
- We come to Hancock County — for depositions, trials, and client meetings
4. We Work on Contingency — $0 Upfront
- You pay nothing unless we win your case
- No hourly fees, no retainers
- We take the risk so you can focus on healing
5. We Speak Spanish
- Se habla español — bilingual staff available
- No language barriers to justice
Hancock County Hazing Victims: Your Next Steps
Call Us Today for a Free Consultation
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We will:
- Evaluate your case at no cost
- Explain your legal rights
- Develop a strategy to hold the responsible parties accountable
- Fight for the maximum compensation you deserve
Hancock County Families: Enough Is Enough
Hazing is not tradition. It’s not brotherhood. It’s not a rite of passage.
It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s sometimes manslaughter.
Universities and national fraternities have known about the dangers of hazing for decades. They’ve had countless chances to stop it. They’ve chosen to look the other way — until someone gets hurt or killed.
Now they will pay.
If your child has been hazed in Hancock County, you are not powerless. You have legal rights. You have a voice. And you have a team of experienced attorneys ready to fight for you.
Call Attorney 911 today. We’re ready to take on the institutions that failed your child.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com
