Hazing at U.S. Colleges: A Comprehensive Guide for Lawrence County and Alabama Families

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES IN LAWRENCE COUNTY

• If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

  • Call 911 for medical emergencies.
  • Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate legal help—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

• In the first 48 hours:

  • Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine.”
  • Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
    • Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately.
    • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
    • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects).
  • Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
  • Do NOT:
    • Confront the fraternity/sorority.
    • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
    • Post details on public social media.
    • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence.

• Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours:

  • Evidence disappears fast (deleted group chats, coached witnesses).
  • Universities move quickly to control the narrative.
  • We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights.
  • Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

A Message to Alabama Parents: When the College Dream Becomes a Nightmare

For a family in Lawrence County—whether from Moulton, Town Creek, or Hillsboro—watching your child leave for college is a moment of immense pride and hope. You’ve imagined their success at the University of Alabama, Auburn University, or another school, dreaming of the friendships, education, and bright future ahead. The reality of hazing shatters that dream in the most brutal way.

Imagine this: Your son or daughter, eager to belong, is at an off-campus fraternity house or sorority event. What’s sold as “bonding” or “tradition” quickly turns dangerous. They’re pressured to drink far beyond their limits, endure humiliating acts, or perform punishing physical tasks. Others are filming on phones, chanting, laughing. Someone gets hurt—they fall, vomit, collapse—but nobody wants to call 911 because they’re afraid of “getting the chapter shut down.” Your child feels trapped between loyalty to the group and their own safety.

This is not a rare horror story from a distant state. It is the daily reality of hazing on campuses across the country, including at schools where Alabama students enroll. The psychological manipulation, the physical danger, and the institutional cover-ups are patterns we see repeatedly. Right now, our firm is actively fighting one of the most severe hazing cases in the country, proving that this is not a problem of the past.

This guide is for you—the parents, families, and students in Lawrence County and across Alabama and the Southeast who need to understand the harsh truth about modern hazing. We will explain what hazing really looks like in 2025, how the law works, what we’ve learned from national tragedies, and what legal options exist for families seeking answers and accountability. If hazing has impacted your family, you are not alone, and you do not have to face this crisis without experienced guidance.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

Hazing is no longer the cartoonish “prank” of old movies. It is a calculated system of coercion, abuse, and secrecy that adapts to avoid detection. It’s crucial for Alabama families to recognize its modern forms.

A Clear, Modern Definition

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. The critical legal and moral point is this: “I agreed to it” or “I wanted to fit in” does not make it safe or legal when there is a profound power imbalance and peer pressure.

The Main Categories of Hazing Today

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and deadliest form. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “lineups,” “family tree” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights where a pledge is given a handle of liquor, or being pressured to consume unknown or mixed substances. The goal is often rapid intoxication to the point of illness or unconsciousness.

2. Physical Hazing
This involves physical pain or danger: paddling and beatings; extreme calisthenics or “smokings” (hundreds of push-ups, wall sits until collapse); sleep and food/water deprivation; forced exposure to extreme cold or heat; and dangerous “tests” like blindfolded tackles.

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity or partial nudity; simulated sexual acts; degrading costumes or roles; and acts with racist, sexist, or homophobic overtones designed to shame and dehumanize.

4. Psychological Hazing
This is verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members, forced confessions, and public shaming in meetings or on social media. It breaks down a person’s sense of self to create submission.

5. Digital/Online Hazing
The newest frontier involves 24/7 control via group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord), where pledges are required to respond instantly at all hours. It includes forced participation in humiliating social media “challenges,” being tracked via location-sharing apps, and having compromising images or videos taken and shared.

Where Hazing Happens

While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing is a systemic problem in:

• Fraternities and Sororities (Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic, National Pan-Hellenic Council, multicultural groups).
• Athletic Teams (from football and basketball to cheer and swimming).
• Military-Style Groups (ROTC, Corps of Cadets programs).
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups.
• Spirit Squads and “Tradition” Clubs.
• Some academic, service, and cultural organizations.

The common threads are social status, tradition, and enforced secrecy, which keep these practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Law & Liability Framework: State Laws and Federal Overlays

Understanding the legal landscape is the first step toward accountability. Laws vary by state, but federal frameworks provide additional avenues for justice.

State Hazing Laws: A Patchwork with Common Themes

Alabama has its own hazing statutes. Generally, state laws define hazing as endangering physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation and impose criminal penalties. In Texas, for example, hazing is a crime under Education Code Chapter 37. It’s a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death, and the law explicitly states that victim consent is not a defense. This is a critical principle that applies in many states: you cannot “agree” to be the victim of a crime.

When evaluating a case, we look at the specific laws in the state where the hazing occurred, as they govern the criminal and civil standards.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (a prosecutor). The aim is punishment—jail time, fines, probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, battery, furnishing alcohol to minors, and in fatal cases, manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by the victims or their families. The aim is monetary compensation for damages and institutional accountability. These cases focus on negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

These paths can run simultaneously. A criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case, and a civil case can uncover evidence and truths that a criminal trial may not.

Federal Overlays: Title IX, Clery, and the Stop Campus Hazing Act

• Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based hostility, it triggers a university’s Title IX obligations to investigate and provide a safe environment.
• The Clery Act: Requires colleges to report certain crimes and maintain safety statistics. Hazing incidents that involve assault, burglary, or alcohol/drug crimes may be Clery-reportable.
• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs. This will, over time, create a clearer national picture of the problem.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Liability often extends far beyond the individual who poured the drink or swung the paddle.

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, executed, or helped cover up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The fraternity or sorority chapter itself, if it operates as a legal entity.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: These organizations set policies, collect dues, and supervise chapters. They can be liable if they knew or should have known about dangerous patterns.
4. The University: Schools can be sued for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or violations of statutory duties.
5. Third Parties: Landlords of unsafe properties, bars that overserved alcohol, or security companies that failed in their duty.

Every case is fact-specific, but a thorough investigation aims to identify every entity that shares responsibility.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Anchor Stories That Shape the Law

Major hazing deaths and injuries have not only devastated families but have also rewritten state laws and established critical legal precedents. These national stories show the repeating, preventable patterns that Alabama families must understand.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A bid-acceptance night with extreme forced drinking. Piazza suffered fatal falls captured on the fraternity’s own security cameras while brothers delayed calling for help for hours. The case led to dozens of criminal charges and Pennsylvania’ Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): Pledge forced into a “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant drinking. He died of alcohol toxicity (BAC 0.495%). This tragedy spurred Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, strengthening felony hazing penalties.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State Univ., Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): A “Big/Little” night where the pledge was forced to drink a bottle of liquor. He died from alcohol poisoning. The case resulted in multiple convictions and a $10 million total settlement from the national fraternity and university.

The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): At a fraternity retreat, Deng was blindfolded, weighted down, and repeatedly tackled in a “glass ceiling” ritual. He died of traumatic brain injury. The national fraternity was criminally convicted, and it was banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years, proving organizations themselves can face severe consequences.

The Athletic Program Hazing Scandal

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): This case exploded the myth that hazing is only a Greek life problem. Players alleged widespread sexualized and racist hazing within the football program, leading to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements. It showed that big-money athletic departments can harbor systemic abuse.

What These Cases Mean for Alabama Families

The threads connecting these tragedies are clear: forced consumption, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, and institutional cover-ups. Reforms and multi-million-dollar settlements often follow only after litigation forces transparency. For an Alabama family whose student was hazed at an out-of-state school like Ohio State or an in-state school like UA or Auburn, these national cases provide a roadmap of what accountability looks like and the level of legal expertise required to achieve it.

The Flagship Case: Attorney911’s Active Fight at the University of Houston

To understand the depth of investigation and litigation required in a serious hazing case, look to what we are doing right now in Texas. This is not a historical example but our current, active litigation, and it demonstrates the exact capability we bring to families everywhere.

We represent Leonel Bermudez, a student who accepted a bid to the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at the University of Houston in fall 2025. What was sold as brotherhood devolved into months of systemic abuse. Pledges were forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 filled with condoms, sex toys, and other humiliating items. They faced enforced dress codes, overnight chauffeuring duties, and weekly interrogations.

The physical hazing was extreme: sprints, bear crawls, “save-your-brother” drills, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting. On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was forced through over 100 push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. He collapsed.

Days later, his condition deteriorated. He was passing brown urine and could not stand. Rushed to the hospital, he was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. He was hospitalized for four days and faces a risk of permanent kidney damage.

Our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the chapter’s housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The case has drawn significant media coverage from Click2Houston and ABC13. Following the allegations, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters suspended the chapter, and members voted to surrender their charter. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

Why This Matters for an Alabama Family: This case is proof of our firm’s active, high-stakes hazing litigation. It shows our investigative depth in uncovering a full “defendant universe”—from national headquarters to individual members. It demonstrates our experience with catastrophic medical injuries like rhabdomyolysis. When we say we know how to investigate and litigate complex hazing cases, this is the evidence. The same national fraternities and insurance companies we are fighting in Texas operate chapters at Alabama schools.

Greek Life at Alabama Universities: What Families Need to Know

Alabama is home to universities with large, prominent Greek life systems where hazing is a persistent risk. Understanding the landscape at these schools is critical.

The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa)

Campus Snapshot: UA boasts one of the largest Greek systems in the nation, with a profound social and cultural influence on campus life. The scale and tradition heighten both the pressure to belong and the risk of abusive practices being hidden as “tradition.”
Recent Context: Like many SEC schools, UA has faced hazing allegations within fraternities over the years. National patterns of abuse by fraternities present at UA—such as Sigma Alpha Epsilon, which has faced traumatic brain injury lawsuits at other campuses—are directly relevant. Any hazing incident would involve the UA Office of Student Conduct, the UA Police Department, and potentially the Tuscaloosa Police.

Auburn University

Campus Snapshot: Auburn’s Greek life is deeply woven into the university’s social fabric. The combination of strong tradition and high social stakes can create an environment where hazing persists.
Recent Context: Auburn has suspended fraternities for hazing violations in the past. The university has anti-hazing policies and reporting channels, but as with all institutions, enforcement and transparency are key issues. Cases may involve the Auburn Department of Campus Safety and Security and the Auburn Police Division.

Other Alabama Schools with Greek Life

• University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), University of South Alabama, Jacksonville State University, Troy University, and others all have active fraternity and sorority chapters where the dynamics of power, initiation, and secrecy can lead to hazing.

The Common Challenges for Alabama Families

• Institutional Loyalty: Large athletic and Greek systems can create a “circle the wagons” mentality when scandals emerge.
• Geographic Distance: For a family in Lawrence County, dealing with a crisis in Tuscaloosa, Auburn, or further afield adds logistical and emotional strain.
• Complex Jurisdiction: Incidents often occur off-campus in private houses, involving city police, county sheriff, and campus police, making reporting and investigation complex.

Fraternity & Sorority National Histories: Why the “Letters” Matter

When hazing occurs in a local chapter, the national organization’s history is often a critical part of the story. National fraternities and sororities are not passive bystanders; they create the culture, policies, and, often, the repeated patterns of abuse.

How National Histories Create Liability

National headquarters have detailed risk management manuals precisely because they have seen deaths and catastrophic injuries for decades. When a chapter at Alabama or Auburn repeats the same deadly “Big/Little” drinking script or violent paddling ritual that has caused tragedy at other schools, it demonstrates foreseeability. This legal concept is powerful: the national organization knew or should have known this could happen because it has happened before in its network.

Evidence of prior incidents at other chapters can show:

• A pattern of reckless behavior the national org failed to curb.
• Inadequate enforcement of its own anti-hazing policies.
• Constructive knowledge of the risks, strengthening claims of negligence.

National Organizations with Documented Hazing Histories

This is not an exhaustive list, but examples of patterns that Alabama families should recognize:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Involved in the Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green ($10M settlement) and other serious cases. Their “Big/Little” tradition is a known high-risk activity.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Has faced multiple hazing-related deaths nationwide, lawsuits alleging traumatic brain injury, and a high-profile chemical burns case at Texas A&M.
• Phi Delta Theta: The Max Gruver death at LSU led to felony hazing legislation and highlighted the dangers of drinking game hazing.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The Andrew Coffey death at Florida State and our active Bermudez case at University of Houston show severe, ongoing issues.
• Kappa Alpha Order: Has faced numerous chapter suspensions for hazing, including at Southern Methodist University.

These organizations have chapters at Alabama campuses. Their national histories are part of the legal landscape when evaluating a local incident.

Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, and Legal Strategy

Pursuing accountability requires a meticulous, strategic approach. This is where having a law firm with deep investigative resources and litigation experience becomes indispensable.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

Modern hazing leaves a digital trail. Preserving it is the first battle.

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and fraternity apps. These show planning, boasting, threats, and cover-up attempts. Deleted messages can often be recovered through forensic experts.
2. Photos & Videos: Content filmed by members during events and shared on social media or in private chats is devastating evidence. Security or doorbell camera footage from houses can also be crucial.
3. Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, emails, and texts from officers. National fraternity risk management policies can be used to show they knew the rules their chapter broke.
4. University Records: Prior conduct files on the same chapter, Clery Act reports, and internal emails obtained through discovery or public records requests can prove the school had prior knowledge.
5. Medical & Psychological Records: Documentation of physical injuries (ER reports, lab results showing rhabdomyolysis) and psychological trauma (PTSD, depression diagnoses) is essential to prove harm.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders. Often, others are suffering in silence and will come forward when given a safe, legal pathway.

Understanding Damages in a Hazing Case

The law allows victims and families to seek compensation for the full scope of harm, which often includes:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical bills, lost wages, costs of psychological care, and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of love, companionship, and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of especially reckless or malicious conduct, courts may award damages intended to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

The Role of Insurance and Institutional Defense Playbooks

Universities and national fraternities have deep-pocket insurance policies and experienced defense lawyers. Their common defenses include:

• “The Victim Consented”: We counter that consent under duress is not valid, and state laws often explicitly bar this defense.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We uncover prior incidents and communications to show the national organization knew or should have known.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: We establish liability through sponsorship, control, and foreseeable risk.
• “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”: We prove those policies were window-dressing, not meaningfully enforced.

Our insider knowledge is key. Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how these companies value claims, use delay tactics, and fight coverage. We don’t just react to their strategy; we anticipate it.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Parents, Students, and Witnesses

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Guide

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme exhaustion or sleep deprivation.
• Drastic mood changes: new anxiety, depression, or withdrawal.
• Secretive phone use, jumping to respond to group chats.
• Sudden academic decline.
• Requests for money without clear reasons.

If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “How are the new member activities going? Is anything making you uncomfortable?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If there is immediate danger, call 911.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot messages and photograph injuries. Write down everything they tell you.
4. Seek Medical Care: Even if injuries seem minor, a medical record is critical.
5. Consult a Lawyer BEFORE reporting to the university or confronting the organization. We can help you navigate this to protect your child’s rights.

For Students: Is This Hazing? What Are Your Rights?

Ask Yourself:

• Are you being forced or pressured to do something dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would you do this if there were no social consequences for saying no?
• Are you being told to keep secrets from the university or your parents?
  If you answer “yes,” it is hazing.
  Your Rights:
• You have the right to leave and quit the organization at any time.
• You have the right to report hazing anonymously through campus channels or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE).
• Many schools and states have “good faith” reporter protections that shield you from minor conduct violations (like underage drinking) if you are calling for help in an emergency.

Critical Mistakes That Can Unintentionally Harm Your Case

We have a full video on this topic: Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case. Avoid these common errors:

1. Deleting Evidence: Do not let your child “clean up” their phone. Screenshot everything first.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers their defense lawyers to secure evidence and coach witnesses.
3. Signing University Paperwork Prematurely: Do not sign any “resolution” or release forms from the school without an attorney’s review.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense teams scour social media for inconsistencies. Keep details private.
5. Giving a Statement to an Insurance Adjuster: Politely decline. Your attorney will handle all communication.
6. Waiting Too Long: Evidence vanishes, witnesses graduate, and statutes of limitation run out. Act swiftly.

Short FAQ

Q: Can we sue a university for hazing?
A: Yes, under theories of negligent supervision or deliberate indifference. Public universities have some immunity hurdles, but exceptions exist. Every case is unique and requires careful analysis.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: This is governed by the statute of limitations, which varies by state and claim type. In many states, it is two years from the date of injury. However, discovery rules and fraudulent concealment can affect this. Time is of the essence. We explain this in our video: Is There a Statute of Limitations on My Case?

Q: Will our case be public?
A: Most civil cases settle confidentially before a public trial. We always prioritize our clients’ privacy and can negotiate for sealed records and confidential settlement terms.

Q: How do we pay for a lawyer?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis for civil cases. This means you pay no upfront fees or hourly costs. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery we obtain for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay attorney’s fees. Learn more in our video: How Do Contingency Fees Work?

Why Attorney911 for Your Family’s Hazing Case

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who are not intimidated by powerful institutions and who understand the brutal mechanics of hazing. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) brings a unique combination of experience, insider knowledge, and relentless investigation to hazing litigation.

Our Core Strengths for Hazing Cases:

• Insider Knowledge of Insurance Defense Tactics: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, is a former insurance defense lawyer for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and minimize your claim. We know their playbook because we used to run it. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/.
• Proven Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants: Our founding attorney, Ralph Manginello, was one of the few plaintiff’s lawyers involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced the deepest-pocketed, most aggressive defense teams and prevailed. Taking on a national fraternity or major university does not daunt us. See Ralph’s full credentials at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/.
• Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation: We are not theorists. We are currently leading the Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit—a $10 million case involving rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, and systemic abuse. This is our daily work.
• A Data-Driven Investigative Engine: For Texas cases, we maintain the “Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine,” a proprietary database tracking over 1,400 Greek organizations to quickly identify all liable entities. This methodological, thorough approach is indicative of the investigative rigor we apply to every case, in any state.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph Manginello is a member of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA). We understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits, allowing us to effectively advise clients navigating both systems.
• A Network of Specialized Experts: We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages, medical experts to explain injuries like rhabdomyolysis, economists to calculate lifelong damages, and psychologists to document trauma.
• Spanish-Language Services Available: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. Se habla Español.

We are based in Houston, Texas, but we serve and consult with families across the country. For an Alabama family, this means you have access to a firm with a proven, active track record in the most complex hazing litigation, without ever having to leave your home state for a consultation.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If you are a parent in Lawrence County, Alabama, or anywhere in the United States, and hazing has turned your child’s college experience into a nightmare, we urge you to reach out. The path to accountability begins with a conversation.

In your free, confidential consultation with Attorney911, we will:

1. Listen compassionately to your story.
2. Review any evidence you have gathered.
3. Explain the legal landscape and your family’s options in plain English.
4. Discuss the investigation process and what to expect.
5. Answer all your questions about the process, timeline, and our contingency fee structure.

You are under no pressure to hire us. Our goal is to provide you with the information and clarity you need to make the best decision for your family.

Don’t wait for evidence to disappear or for the institution to control the narrative. Contact us today.

Call Attorney911 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com (for Spanish)
Website: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For legal advice regarding your specific situation, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC for a consultation.