🚨 Ohio Hazing Lawyer — Justice for Fraternity & Sorority Abuse Victims in Ohio

Serving Ohio families from our Houston, Austin, and Beaumont offices — nationwide hazing litigation expertise

🏆 Why Ohio Families Choose Attorney 911 for Hazing Cases

🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Ohio — What Ohio Families Need to Know

Ohio Universities With Active Greek Life — Same Hazing Risks Exist Here

Ohio is home to major universities with active Greek organizations where the same hazing culture exists:

• The Ohio State University — One of the largest Greek systems in the country with 38 fraternities and 19 sororities
• University of Cincinnati — Active Greek life with multiple fraternities and sororities
• Miami University — Known for strong Greek presence with 30+ chapters
• Ohio University — Historic Greek system with 20+ fraternities and sororities
• Bowling Green State University — Site of the tragic Stone Foltz hazing death in 2021
• Kent State University — Active Greek community with multiple organizations
• University of Toledo — Greek life with fraternities and sororities
• Youngstown State University — Greek organizations present
• Wright State University — Greek life chapters
• University of Akron — Greek system with multiple chapters
• Case Western Reserve University — Greek organizations in Cleveland
• Denison University — Greek life presence
• Kenyon College — Greek organizations
• Oberlin College — Greek system
• College of Wooster — Greek life chapters

The same national fraternities that hazed our client in Houston have active chapters across Ohio:

Ohio parents: If your child is pledging any of these organizations at an Ohio university, they face the same hazing risks that hospitalized our client.

⚠️ Ohio Hazing Laws — Your Legal Rights

Ohio Revised Code § 2903.31 — Hazing

Definition:

“Hazing” means doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person.

Ohio Law Key Points:

• Hazing is a criminal offense in Ohio
• Consent is NOT a defense — even if your child “agreed” to participate
• First-degree misdemeanor — up to 6 months in jail and $1,000 fine
• Fourth-degree felony if hazing causes serious physical harm
• Universities and organizations can also be held civilly liable for damages

💰 Ohio Hazing Settlements & Verdicts — What’s Possible for Ohio Families

Stone Foltz — Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)

Total Recovery: $10.1 MILLION+

What Happened:

• March 4, 2021 — “Big/Little” initiation event
• Forced to drink entire bottle of alcohol
• Found unresponsive the next morning
• Died from alcohol poisoning

Why This Matters for Ohio Families:

• $10.1 million — Ohio’s largest hazing settlement
• Same fraternity (Pi Kappa Alpha) has chapters at Ohio State, Miami University, Ohio University, and other Ohio schools
• University paid $2.9 million — Ohio State, Miami, and other Ohio universities face similar liability
• Individuals paid $7.2 million — Ohio fraternity members can be held personally liable

🎯 What Ohio Hazing Victims Can Sue For

Economic Damages

Non-Economic Damages

Punitive Damages

When Ohio courts award punitive damages:

• When conduct is egregious or outrageous
• When defendants acted with malice or reckless disregard
• When defendants knew about prior hazing and failed to stop it
• When conduct is intentional or willful

Ohio has no cap on punitive damages for most personal injury cases.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Ohio

Immediate Action Steps for Ohio Families

1. Get Medical Attention

   • Even if injuries seem minor, get checked immediately
   • Document all symptoms and treatment
   • Keep all medical records and bills

2. Preserve Evidence

   • Take photos of injuries at all stages of healing
   • Save all communications — texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram, emails
   • Document everything — write down dates, times, locations, what happened
   • Get witness information — names and contact info of other pledges or witnesses

3. Report to Authorities

   • File a police report — hazing is a crime in Ohio
   • Report to the university — Title IX office, Greek Life office
   • Report to the national organization — if applicable

4. Do NOT Talk to the Organization

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

5. Contact an Ohio Hazing Lawyer Immediately

   • Call 1-888-ATTY-911 — available 24/7 for Ohio families
   • Free consultation — we evaluate your case at no cost
   • We handle all communications with the organization and their lawyers

🏢 Who We Sue for Ohio Hazing Victims

🎯 Ohio Hazing Case Examples — What We Handle

Physical Abuse Cases

Examples:

• Beatings with paddles or other objects
• Extreme physical punishment (500 squats, 100 pushups, etc.)
• Branding or burning
• Sleep deprivation
• Exposure to extreme weather

Medical Consequences:

• Broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)
• Acute kidney failure
• Traumatic brain injury

Forced Consumption Cases

Examples:

• Forced alcohol consumption leading to alcohol poisoning
• Forced drug consumption
• Forced eating until vomiting
• Forced consumption of non-food substances

Medical Consequences:

• Alcohol poisoning
• Overdose
• Choking
• Aspiration pneumonia
• Internal injuries

Psychological Abuse Cases

Examples:

• Waterboarding or simulated drowning
• Humiliation rituals
• Sexual humiliation
• Threats of physical harm
• Isolation and sleep deprivation

Medical Consequences:

• PTSD
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Suicidal ideation
• Long-term trust issues

Wrongful Death Cases

When hazing kills in Ohio:

• Families can sue for wrongful death
• Damages include loss of companionship, future earnings, funeral expenses
• Criminal charges may also be filed against perpetrators

⏳ Ohio Statute of Limitations — Act Now

Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10 — Personal Injury Statute of Limitations:

• 2 YEARS from date of injury for personal injury claims
• 2 YEARS from date of death for wrongful death claims

Ohio families: Do NOT wait.

• Evidence disappears
• Witnesses forget
• Organizations destroy records
• Your legal rights expire

Contact us immediately if your child was hazed in Ohio — even if it happened months ago.

📞 Ohio Hazing Emergency? Call Now

LEGAL EMERGENCY HOTLINE FOR OHIO HAZING VICTIMS:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

We serve Ohio hazing victims from our offices in:

• Houston, TX
• Austin, TX
• Beaumont, TX

We travel to Ohio for:

• Client meetings
• Depositions
• Trials
• University hearings

Video consultations available for Ohio families who cannot travel

🏆 Ohio Hazing Lawyer — Why We’re Different

We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now — And We’ll Fight for Ohio Families Too

Our $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit — The Fight We’re Bringing to Ohio

Case: Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al.
Court: Harris County Civil District Court, Texas
Filing Date: November 21, 2025
Damages Sought: $10,000,000

What Happened:

• Leonel Bermudez, a prospective member, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi at University of Houston
• Over several weeks, he was subjected to systematic abuse and torture including:
  • Waterboarding 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 forced to continue running
  • Stripped to underwear in cold weather
  • Hog-tied on a table with an object in his mouth (another pledge)
  • Another pledge lost consciousness during forced workouts
• On November 3, 2025, he was forced to exercise until he could not stand without help
• He crawled up the stairs when he got home
• His condition worsened over days
• His mother rushed him to the hospital on November 6, 2025
• Diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure
• Hospitalized for 3 nights and 4 days

Why This Matters for Ohio Families:

• Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at Ohio State, Miami University, Ohio University, and other Ohio schools
• The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client happen at Ohio fraternities
• Ohio universities face the same liability failures as University of Houston
• If your child is being hazed in Ohio, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting in Houston

From Ralph Manginello to ABC13:

“When he finally made it home, he crawled up the stairs and went to bed. The next day, he was really sore and couldn’t really move. The next day was worse, and the next day, his mom rushed him to the hospital, and he had some kidney failure.”

From Lupe Pena to ABC13:

“If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

🎯 Ohio Families: This Could Be Your Child

Ohio parents — ask yourself:

• Is your child pledging a fraternity or sorority at an Ohio university?
• Have they mentioned “traditions” or “activities” that sound extreme?
• Have they seemed unusually tired, sore, or withdrawn?
• Have they had unexplained injuries?
• Are they afraid to talk about what’s happening?

If you answered yes to any of these, your child may be experiencing hazing.

Ohio families: You are not alone. We are here to help.

📞 Ohio Hazing Emergency? Call Now — 1-888-ATTY-911

We serve Ohio hazing victims nationwide. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

Ohio families: We will fight for you.