Hazing Lawyer in Lawrence County, PA | Attorney 911

Fighting for Hazing Victims Across Lawrence County and Beyond

If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or student organization in Lawrence County, you have legal rights — and we can help.

At Attorney 911, we’re currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with kidney failure from extreme hazing. The same fraternities operate at universities near Lawrence County, and the same culture of abuse exists here. We represent hazing victims nationwide, including families in Lawrence County, PA, and we’re ready to fight for you.

Call now for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911

The Hazing Crisis in Lawrence County, PA

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “tradition.” It’s abuse. It’s assault. And in Lawrence County, it’s happening at universities and colleges where parents send their children expecting them to be safe.

Universities Near Lawrence County with Greek Life:

While Lawrence County itself is home to smaller colleges, nearby institutions with active Greek life include:

• Youngstown State University (Youngstown, OH – ~20 miles from Lawrence County)
• Slippery Rock University (Slippery Rock, PA – ~40 miles)
• Westminster College (New Wilmington, PA – ~25 miles)
• Grove City College (Grove City, PA – ~30 miles)

The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths and injuries across America — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi — have chapters at universities near Lawrence County. If your child is pledging or participating in Greek life near Lawrence County, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.

What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Lawrence County

The Case That Proves Hazing is Out of Control

Our attorneys are currently representing Leonel Bermudez, a young man who was hospitalized for four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being hazed at the University of Houston’s Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. The abuse included:

✅ Waterboarding with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
✅ Forced to perform 500+ squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
✅ Struck with wooden paddles
✅ Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then made to keep running
✅ Sleep deprivation — forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours
✅ Psychological torture — carried a fanny pack with sexual objects, stripped in cold weather, threatened with expulsion

Leonel wasn’t even a University of Houston student yet. He was a “ghost rush” — someone expected to transfer for the upcoming semester. They hazed him before he was even enrolled.

Why This Matters for Lawrence County Families

1. The same fraternities operate near Lawrence County — Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at universities across Pennsylvania and Ohio, including near Lawrence County.
2. Universities near Lawrence County have the same oversight failures — just like UH, they own or control fraternity properties and have the power to stop hazing.
3. National organizations know about the problem — Pi Kappa Phi had a hazing death in 2017 (Andrew Coffey at Florida State) and did nothing to prevent Leonel’s hospitalization in 2025.
4. It’s not just fraternities — hazing happens in sororities, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC, and other student organizations near Lawrence County.

If your child was hazed in Lawrence County or at a nearby university, we will fight for you with the same aggression we’re bringing to the Houston case.

Who Is Liable for Hazing in Lawrence County?

Hazing cases involve multiple defendants who can be held legally and financially responsible. In our Houston case, we’re suing:

Lawrence County families: Even if the hazing happened at a university outside Lawrence County, we can pursue the case. We serve clients nationwide and travel to Lawrence County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.

What Counts as Hazing in Pennsylvania?

Under Pennsylvania law, hazing includes any activity that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization. This includes:

🚨 Physical Abuse: Beatings, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion
🚨 Forced Consumption: Alcohol, food, or non-food substances (e.g., eating until vomiting)
🚨 Psychological Abuse: Humiliation, degradation, threats, isolation
🚨 Sleep Deprivation: Forced late nights, early mornings, disrupted sleep
🚨 Sexual Abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
🚨 Waterboarding/Simulated Drowning: As seen in our Houston case
🚨 Exposure: Cold weather, heat, confined spaces
🚨 Servitude: Forced cleaning, driving, errands for members

Pennsylvania has strict anti-hazing laws. Consent is not a defense — even if your child “agreed” to participate, the organization can still be held liable.

Medical Consequences of Hazing: What Lawrence County Parents Need to Know

Hazing isn’t just embarrassing or uncomfortable — it can cause serious, life-threatening injuries. Our client in Houston suffered:

🏥 Rhabdomyolysis — Breakdown of muscle tissue that releases damaging proteins into the blood, causing kidney failure
🏥 Acute Kidney Failure — Life-threatening condition requiring hospitalization
🏥 Hospitalization for 4 days — Intensive medical treatment, IV fluids, monitoring

Other Common Hazing Injuries:

• Alcohol Poisoning — Forced drinking can be fatal (BAC levels over 0.40 are life-threatening)
• Traumatic Brain Injury — From beatings, falls, or lack of oxygen
• Hypothermia/Hyperthermia — From exposure to extreme temperatures
• Cardiac Arrest — From extreme physical exertion
• PTSD, Anxiety, Depression — Long-term psychological trauma
• Death — At least one hazing death occurs every year in the U.S.

If your child was hazed in Lawrence County or nearby, seek medical attention immediately — even if they seem “fine.” Some injuries, like rhabdomyolysis, may not show symptoms right away. Medical records are also critical evidence for your case.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Lawrence County

Step 1: Ensure Their Safety

• Remove them from the dangerous situation immediately
• Seek medical attention, even if injuries seem minor

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

📱 Save all communications: Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs, emails
📸 Take photos/videos: Injuries, hazing locations, items used in hazing
📝 Document everything: Dates, times, witnesses, what was said/done
👥 Get witness information: Names and contact info of other victims or bystanders

DO NOT:

• Delete any messages or posts
• Confront the organization without legal counsel
• Sign anything from the fraternity, sorority, or university
• Post about the incident on social media

Step 3: Report the Incident

• File a police report — Hazing is a crime in Pennsylvania
• Report to the university — Title IX or student conduct office
• Report to the national organization (if applicable)

Step 4: Contact an Attorney

Call Attorney 911 immediately: 1-888-ATTY-911

We offer:
✅ Free, confidential consultations for Lawrence County families
✅ No upfront costs — we work on contingency (you pay nothing unless we win)
✅ Nationwide representation — we travel to Lawrence County for your case
✅ Aggressive litigation — we’re currently fighting a $10 million hazing case

Why Lawrence County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now

We’re 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, and we’ll bring the same aggression to Lawrence County cases.

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Both of our attorneys — Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena — worked for insurance companies before switching sides to represent victims. We know how they think, how they defend cases, and how to dismantle their tactics. This gives us an unfair advantage for Lawrence County families.

3. Nationwide Reach with Local Commitment

While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including Lawrence County, PA. We offer:

• Video consultations for Lawrence County families
• Travel to Lawrence County for depositions, trials, and client meetings
• Federal court authority to pursue cases anywhere in the U.S.

4. We Speak Spanish

Many hazing victims in Lawrence County come from Spanish-speaking families. We’re fluent in Spanish and can serve Lawrence County’s Hispanic community without language barriers.

5. Proven Results in High-Stakes Litigation

• BP Texas City Explosion — Mass tort litigation against BP after 15 deaths and 180+ injuries
• $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit — Currently litigating against Pi Kappa Phi and UH
• Multi-Million Dollar Settlements — For trucking accidents, wrongful death, and catastrophic injuries

6. We Travel to Lawrence County

We don’t just take your case and forget about you. We come to Lawrence County for:

• Client meetings
• Depositions
• Court appearances
• Trials

Distance is not a barrier to justice for Lawrence County families.

Frequently Asked Questions for Lawrence County Families

1. Can we sue if the hazing happened outside Lawrence County?

Yes. Even if the hazing occurred at a university outside Lawrence County (e.g., Youngstown State, Slippery Rock, Westminster), we can pursue the case. We represent clients nationwide and travel to Lawrence County for your case.

2. What if my child consented to the hazing?

Consent is not a defense. Pennsylvania law explicitly states that consent does not justify hazing. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the organization can still be held liable.

3. How much is a hazing case worth in Lawrence County?

Hazing cases can result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Factors that increase compensation include:

• Severity of injuries (hospitalization, surgery, permanent damage)
• Egregiousness of conduct (waterboarding, forced drinking, physical abuse)
• Pattern of prior hazing incidents at the same chapter
• University’s knowledge and failure to act
• Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)

Precedent cases:

• $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. How long do we have to file a lawsuit?

In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is 2 years from the date of injury. For wrongful death, it’s 2 years from the date of death.

DO NOT WAIT. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your rights expire. Contact us immediately if your child was hazed in Lawrence County or nearby.

5. What if my child is afraid of retaliation?

We understand the fear of retaliation. In our Houston case, our client is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution.” We take steps to protect our clients, including:

• Confidentiality — Your case is private
• Legal protections — Retaliation is illegal
• Evidence preservation — We gather proof before they can destroy it

6. How much does it cost to hire a hazing lawyer in Lawrence County?

Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our fee is a percentage of the settlement or verdict, so there’s no financial risk for Lawrence County families.

7. What if the fraternity or university offers a settlement?

Do not accept any settlement without consulting an attorney. Insurance companies and universities often offer lowball settlements that don’t cover medical bills, pain and suffering, or future damages. We negotiate aggressively to ensure Lawrence County families receive full and fair compensation.

8. Can we sue the university near Lawrence County?

Yes, if the university failed to protect your child. Universities can be held liable for:

• Premises liability — If they own or control the property where hazing occurred
• Negligent supervision — If they failed to monitor Greek life or student organizations
• Failure to act — If they knew about hazing and did nothing (e.g., prior incidents)

In our Houston case, the University of Houston owns the fraternity house where the hazing occurred, making them directly liable.

Lawrence County Hazing Resources

Report Hazing:

• Pennsylvania State Police: www.psp.pa.gov
• Local Police: Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office or municipal police
• University Reporting:
  • Youngstown State University: www.ysu.edu/student-conduct
  • Slippery Rock University: www.sru.edu/student-conduct
  • Westminster College: www.westminster.edu/student-life
  • Grove City College: www.gcc.edu/student-life

Support for Victims:

• Clery Center: www.clerycenter.org — Resources for campus safety
• StopHazing: www.stophazing.org — Education and prevention
• RAINN: www.rainn.org — Support for sexual assault victims

Legal Help in Lawrence County:

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

Lawrence County Families: You Are Not Alone

Hazing leaves victims and families feeling isolated, ashamed, and powerless. But you are not alone. We’re fighting this battle right now, and we’re ready to fight for Lawrence County families too.

What You Can Do:

1. Document everything — Save texts, photos, witness names
2. Seek medical attention — Even if injuries seem minor
3. Report the incident — To police and the university
4. Call us immediately — 1-888-ATTY-911

What We Will Do:

✅ Investigate the case — Gather evidence, interview witnesses
✅ Preserve evidence — Ensure nothing is destroyed
✅ Negotiate aggressively — Demand full compensation
✅ Litigate if necessary — Take the case to trial if needed
✅ Protect your child — From retaliation and intimidation
✅ Travel to Lawrence County — For depositions, trials, and client meetings

Lawrence County families: The fraternities, sororities, and universities think they can silence you. We won’t let them. Call us today.

Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911

Free, confidential consultation for Lawrence County hazing victims and families.

Se habla español.

We travel to Lawrence County for your case.

$0 upfront. You pay nothing unless we win.

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™

📍 Serving Lawrence County, PA from Houston, Austin & Beaumont
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com