🚨 Hazing in Jefferson Parish: Your Child Could Be Next — Here’s How to Fight Back

Jefferson Parish families — your children are at risk.

The same fraternities that waterboarded a student at the University of Houston operate at universities near Jefferson Parish. The same culture of abuse, the same “traditions” of torture, the same negligence that hospitalized our client with kidney failure — it’s happening right here in Louisiana.

This isn’t just happening in Texas. It’s happening in Jefferson Parish. And we’re fighting back.

🏛️ The Hazing Crisis Hits Home: What Jefferson Parish Families Need to Know

The UH Case: A Warning for Jefferson Parish

In November 2025, our law firm filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure from hazing. What happened to him?

• Waterboarded with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
• Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
• Struck with wooden paddles — physical assault
• Forced to eat until vomiting — then made to keep running
• Another pledge lost consciousness during a workout — they kept going

He wasn’t even a UH student yet. He was a “ghost rush” — a prospective member expected to transfer. They hazed him anyway.

Jefferson Parish parents: This same fraternity — Pi Kappa Phi — has chapters at universities near Jefferson Parish. The same national organization that failed to stop this in Houston is operating near you. And they’re not the only ones.

Hazing in Louisiana: The Gruver Case and Beyond

Louisiana knows the cost of hazing all too well.

In 2017, Maxwell Gruver died at Louisiana State University after a Phi Delta Theta hazing ritual called “Bible Study.” Pledges were forced to drink alcohol for every wrong answer. Max’s blood alcohol content reached 0.495 — more than six times the legal limit. He died from acute alcohol poisoning.

His family won a $6.1 million jury verdict, and the case led to the Max Gruver Act, which made hazing a felony in Louisiana.

Jefferson Parish families: If it can happen at LSU, it can happen at universities near Jefferson Parish. And if it does, we’ll fight for you just like we’re fighting in Houston.

🔍 What Is Hazing? It’s Not What You Think.

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless pranks.” It’s systematic abuse disguised as tradition. Under Louisiana law, hazing includes:

• Physical brutality — beatings, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion
• Forced consumption — alcohol, food, or other substances to the point of vomiting or injury
• Sleep deprivation — late-night activities that prevent rest
• Psychological abuse — humiliation, degradation, isolation
• Sexual abuse — forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
• Waterboarding and simulated drowning — as seen in the UH case

Jefferson Parish parents: If your child is experiencing any of these, it’s not “tradition.” It’s abuse. And it’s illegal.

🏫 Who Is Liable? Everyone Who Let It Happen.

When hazing occurs, multiple parties share responsibility — and we hold them all accountable:

In our UH case, we’re suing:

• Pi Kappa Phi National
• The local UH chapter
• The housing corporation
• The University of Houston (they owned the house where hazing occurred)
• Individual members and officers

Jefferson Parish families: We’ll pursue every liable party in your case too.

💔 The Medical Consequences: What Hazing Does to Your Child

Hazing isn’t just embarrassing or uncomfortable. It can cause serious, lifelong injuries — or death.

Physical Injuries:

• Rhabdomyolysis — muscle breakdown that leads to kidney failure (as seen in our UH case)
• Acute kidney failure — life-threatening; may require dialysis or transplant
• Alcohol poisoning — can be fatal; BAC levels over 0.40 are often deadly
• Traumatic brain injury — from beatings or falls
• Broken bones — from physical abuse
• Heat stroke or hypothermia — from forced exposure
• Cardiac arrest — from extreme physical exertion

Psychological Trauma:

• PTSD — from waterboarding, assault, or humiliation
• Anxiety and depression — long-term mental health effects
• Trust issues — difficulty forming relationships
• Academic decline — inability to focus, dropping out
• Substance abuse — self-medicating to cope

Jefferson Parish parents: These aren’t temporary effects. They can last a lifetime. And they’re entirely preventable.

📜 Louisiana’s Anti-Hazing Law: What You Need to Know

Louisiana has strong laws against hazing — but they’re not always enforced. Here’s what you should know:

Louisiana Revised Statute § 17:1801 — Hazing Prohibited

Definition of Hazing:

Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act by a person acting alone or with others that is directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization.

Penalties:

Key Provision: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds hazers accountable.

Max Gruver Act (2018)

Named after the LSU student who died from hazing, this law:

• Made hazing a felony in Louisiana
• Increased penalties for hazing causing injury or death
• Required universities to report hazing incidents
• Created immunity for reporting hazing

Jefferson Parish families: If your child is hazed, the perpetrators can face criminal charges — and we can pursue civil damages too.

💰 What Your Family Can Recover: Damages in Hazing Cases

Hazing cases can result in substantial financial compensation for victims and their families. Here’s what we pursue:

Economic Damages:

• Medical expenses — hospital bills, rehabilitation, future treatment
• Lost wages — time missed from work or internships
• Educational costs — tuition, fees, scholarships lost due to academic disruption
• Future earning capacity — if injuries affect career prospects

Non-Economic Damages:

• Pain and suffering — physical pain from injuries
• Mental anguish — trauma from abuse
• Emotional distress — humiliation, fear, anxiety
• Loss of enjoyment of life — impact on daily activities and relationships

Punitive Damages:

• Awarded when conduct is especially egregious
• Meant to punish the wrongdoers and deter future hazing
• Can reach millions of dollars in cases with pattern evidence

Precedent Cases in Louisiana and Beyond:

• Max Gruver (LSU, 2017): $6.1 million jury verdict
• Stone Foltz (BGSU, 2021): $10.1 million settlement
• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, 2017): $110+ million settlement
• Our UH Case (2025): $10 million lawsuit pending

Jefferson Parish families: These verdicts prove that hazing cases win big — and your family deserves the same justice.

🛡️ What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Jefferson Parish

If your child has been hazed, act immediately. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your legal rights expire.

Step 1: Ensure Safety

• Remove your child from the dangerous situation
• Seek medical attention immediately — even if injuries seem minor

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

• Take photos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence
• Save all communications — texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, emails
• Document everything — write down dates, times, what happened, who was involved
• Get witness contact information — other pledges, bystanders

Step 3: Do NOT Confront the Organization

• Do not talk to fraternity/sorority leaders without legal counsel
• Do not sign anything from the organization
• Do not post on social media about the incident

Step 4: Report to Authorities

• File a police report — hazing is a crime in Louisiana
• Report to the university — but expect them to protect their reputation
• Consider a Title IX report — if sexual abuse was involved

Step 5: Contact an Attorney Immediately

• Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911
• We offer free consultations for Jefferson Parish hazing victims
• $0 upfront — we work on contingency; you pay nothing unless we win

⏳ Time Is Running Out: Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations

Louisiana law limits how long you have to file a lawsuit after hazing:

• Personal Injury: 1 year from the date of injury
• Wrongful Death: 1 year from the date of death

Jefferson Parish families: If you don’t act within this time, you lose your right to sue forever. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and the organization gets away with it.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. We’ll evaluate your case for free and help you understand your options.

🏆 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Jefferson Parish Hazing Case

We’re Already Fighting This Battle — And Winning

Our attorneys are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to build these cases, we know how to hold institutions accountable, and we know how to win.

Jefferson Parish families get the same aggressive representation we’re bringing to Houston.

Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies and national defense firms before switching sides to represent victims. We know exactly how they’ll try to deny your claim. We’ve seen their playbook — and now we use it against them.

Nationwide Reach — We Serve Jefferson Parish and Beyond

While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including in Jefferson Parish. We have:

• Federal court authority — can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction
• Dual-state bar licenses — Texas and New York
• Willingness to travel — we come to Jefferson Parish for depositions and trials
• Video consultations — meet with us remotely

Distance is not a barrier to justice.

Proven Results in High-Stakes Litigation

• $10 million hazing lawsuit — currently litigating against Pi Kappa Phi and UH
• BP Texas City explosion litigation — mass tort experience with catastrophic injuries
• Multi-million dollar settlements — in personal injury and wrongful death cases
• Criminal defense victories — hundreds of cases dismissed or reduced

We Speak Your Language — Literally

Our team is bilingual, with fluent Spanish speakers available to serve Jefferson Parish’s Hispanic community. Se habla español.

We Care About Your Family

We don’t see your child as a case number. We see them as someone’s son or daughter — someone who trusted an institution and was betrayed. We fight for Jefferson Parish families because we genuinely care.

📞 Jefferson Parish Families: Call Now — Free Consultation

If your child has been hazed at a university near Jefferson Parish, you have legal rights. We can help.

Call Attorney 911 today at 1-888-ATTY-911.

• Free consultation — no obligation
• $0 upfront — we work on contingency; you pay nothing unless we win
• Available 24/7 — we’re here when you need us
• Video consultations available — no need to travel

We will travel to Jefferson Parish for your case. Whether it’s for depositions, client meetings, or trial, we’re committed to serving Jefferson Parish families.

🎯 Our Message to Fraternities Near Jefferson Parish

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, and every other fraternity operating near Jefferson Parish:

We are watching. We are coming for you.

The same legal strategies that won $6.1 million for the Gruver family and $10.1 million for the Foltz family apply to your chapter.

If you haze students near Jefferson Parish, we will pursue:

• Your national organization — they have the money
• Your local chapter — they did the hazing
• Your officers and members — they’re personally liable
• Your university — they failed to protect students

You cannot hide behind “tradition.” You cannot hide behind “consent.” You cannot hide behind your national organization.

We will find you. We will sue you. And we will win.

The UH chapter of Pi Kappa Phi? Shut down. The Beta Nu chapter? Dissolved. Your chapter could be next.

🏛️ Our Message to Universities Near Jefferson Parish

To the University of New Orleans, Tulane University, Loyola University New Orleans, Xavier University of Louisiana, Dillard University, and every other university near Jefferson Parish:

You have a duty to protect your students. When you fail, you share liability.

The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where our client was waterboarded. They knew about prior hazing incidents and did nothing. Now they’re being sued for $10 million.

Will your university be next?

If you:

• Own fraternity/sorority housing
• Have prior hazing incidents on record
• Fail to implement real oversight
• Ignore warnings from students or parents

You will be held accountable.

We will pursue:

• Premises liability — for owning unsafe housing
• Negligent supervision — for failing to monitor Greek life
• Institutional negligence — for knowing and failing to act

The choice is yours. Act now, or face the consequences in court.

📢 To Jefferson Parish Parents: Protect Your Children

Hazing isn’t just happening at “big state schools.” It’s happening at private universities, community colleges, and institutions near Jefferson Parish.

Talk to your children about hazing. Make sure they understand:

• It’s not “tradition.” It’s abuse.
• It’s not “harmless.” It can kill.
• They can say no. Consent is not a defense in Louisiana.
• They can report it. Louisiana law protects those who report hazing.

If it happens to your child, call us immediately. 1-888-ATTY-911.

🔥 The Time to Act Is Now

Every day you wait is a day closer to losing your legal rights. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Organizations destroy records.

Jefferson Parish families: If your child has been hazed, call Attorney 911 today.

1-888-ATTY-911

We don’t just talk about hazing. We’re fighting it right now. And we’ll fight for you too.

📋 Frequently Asked Questions for Jefferson Parish Families

Q: My child was hazed but doesn’t want to report it. What should I do?

A: We understand your child may fear retaliation or social consequences. Encourage them to document everything — take photos, save texts, write down what happened. Then contact us immediately. We can advise you on next steps without putting your child at risk.

Q: The fraternity says my child “consented” to hazing. Is that a defense?

A: No. Louisiana law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the hazers are still liable.

Q: We’re not in Texas. Can you still help us?

A: Absolutely. While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including in Jefferson Parish. We have federal court authority and are admitted to practice in multiple jurisdictions. We’ll travel to Jefferson Parish for your case.

Q: How much will this cost us?

A: Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, so we’re motivated to get you the maximum possible compensation.

Q: The university says they’re “investigating.” Should we wait?

A: No. University investigations are designed to protect the institution, not your child. They may minimize the incident, destroy evidence, or pressure your child to stay quiet. Contact us immediately so we can protect your rights.

Q: How much is our case worth?

A: Every case is different, but hazing cases often result in multi-million dollar settlements or verdicts. Factors include:

• Severity of injuries
• Medical expenses
• Psychological trauma
• Institutional knowledge of prior hazing
• Egregiousness of conduct

Precedent cases have resulted in awards ranging from $4 million to $110 million.

Q: What if my child is an international student?

A: Your child’s immigration status does not affect their right to compensation. We have experience representing international students and can guide you through the process while protecting their visa status.

Q: The fraternity says this was an “isolated incident.” How do we prove it wasn’t?

A: We conduct thorough investigations to uncover pattern evidence. This includes:

• Requesting hazing reports from the university
• Subpoenaing records from the national organization
• Interviewing other members and pledges
• Reviewing social media and communications

In our UH case, we discovered the fraternity had a prior hazing death (Andrew Coffey, 2017) and the university had a prior hazing hospitalization (2017). Pattern evidence dramatically increases case value.

Q: Can we sue the national fraternity?

A: Yes. National organizations often have deep pockets and substantial insurance. They can be held liable for:

• Failing to supervise local chapters
• Failing to enforce anti-hazing policies
• Knowing about prior hazing incidents and doing nothing

🎓 Hazing Resources for Jefferson Parish Students and Parents

Know the Signs of Hazing:

• Sudden change in behavior (withdrawal, anxiety, depression)
• Unexplained injuries or bruises
• Avoiding questions about Greek life activities
• Sudden secrecy about where they’re going or who they’re with
• Decline in academic performance
• Fatigue, sleep deprivation
• Withdrawal from friends and family

How to Report Hazing in Louisiana:

• Police: File a report with your local law enforcement
• University: Report to the Dean of Students or Greek Life office
• Louisiana Board of Regents: Report Hazing Online
• National Anti-Hazing Hotline: 1-888-NOT-HAZE (1-888-668-4293)

Organizations Fighting Hazing:

• Hank Nuwer Anti-Hazing Website: www.hanknuwer.com
• StopHazing.org: www.stophazing.org
• Clery Center: www.clerycenter.org

📞 Jefferson Parish Families: Your Legal Emergency Hotline

If your child has been hazed, call Attorney 911 immediately.

1-888-ATTY-911

Available 24/7 for Jefferson Parish hazing emergencies.

We don’t just talk about justice. We fight for it.

🏆 Together, We Can End Hazing in Jefferson Parish

Hazing doesn’t have to be a “rite of passage.” It doesn’t have to be “tradition.” It doesn’t have to destroy lives.

With accountability, we can change the culture.

Every lawsuit we file sends a message:

• To fraternities: Stop hazing, or pay the price.
• To universities: Protect your students, or face liability.
• To students: You have the right to be safe.

Jefferson Parish families: Stand with us. If your child has been hazed, call us today.

1-888-ATTY-911

Enough is enough.