Oklahoma County Hazing Lawyers – Fraternity & Sorority Abuse Attorneys

Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines – Neither Do We

If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or student organization in Oklahoma County, you’re not alone. The same national Greek organizations that waterboarded a student at the University of Houston – forcing him into kidney failure – have chapters right here in Oklahoma County. The same universities that failed to stop hazing in Texas are failing students in Oklahoma.

At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this crisis right now. Our attorneys are currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for the systematic abuse that hospitalized a young man with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. We know how to build these cases. We know how to win. And we will fight just as hard for Oklahoma County families.

Oklahoma County Parents: This Could Be Your Child

The hazing that sent our client to the hospital for four days – waterboarding, forced eating until vomiting, 500 squats, wooden paddles – doesn’t just happen in Houston. It happens at universities across Oklahoma County. The same fraternities. The same negligence. The same betrayal of trust.

If your child was hazed in Oklahoma County, we can help.

The Hazing Crisis in Oklahoma County – What Families Need to Know

Hazing Isn’t “Tradition” – It’s Abuse

What happened to our client wasn’t “pledge activities.” It was torture:

• Waterboarding with a garden hose – simulated drowning, a form of torture
• Forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups – until his muscles broke down
• Struck with wooden paddles – physical assault
• Forced to eat until vomiting – then made to keep running
• Sleep deprivation – forced to drive members at all hours
• Psychological humiliation – carrying sexual objects, stripping in cold weather

This isn’t “boys being boys.” It’s assault. It’s battery. And it’s happening at Oklahoma County universities.

Universities in Oklahoma County Are Failing Students

The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where our client was waterboarded. They knew about hazing incidents on their campus in 2017. They had eight years to implement real oversight. They did nothing.

Oklahoma County universities face the same liability.

• Do they own fraternity/sorority houses?
• Do they have the power to regulate Greek life?
• Have they failed to act on prior hazing reports?
• If so, they can be held accountable.

National Fraternities Knew – And Did Nothing

Pi Kappa Phi had eight years between Andrew Coffey’s death (2017) and our client’s hospitalization (2025) to fix their culture. They didn’t. The same national organization that oversaw a student’s death now oversees chapters in Oklahoma County.

These aren’t isolated incidents. It’s a pattern.

• 2017: Andrew Coffey dies at Pi Kappa Phi (Florida State)
• 2025: Leonel Bermudez hospitalized at Pi Kappa Phi (University of Houston)
• 2025: Another hazing death lawsuit filed against Sigma Chi at UT Austin

How many more Oklahoma County students will be hurt before someone stops them?

Who Is Liable for Hazing in Oklahoma County?

1. The Local Chapter

The fraternity or sorority chapter that directly organized and conducted the hazing is directly liable for:

• Assault and battery
• Intentional infliction of emotional distress
• Negligent supervision of members
• Premises liability (if hazing occurred at the chapter house)

2. The National Organization

National fraternities and sororities are legally responsible for:

• Failing to enforce anti-hazing policies
• Ignoring prior hazing incidents at other chapters
• Failing to train or supervise local chapters
• Enabling a culture of abuse

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, and other nationals have paid millions in hazing settlements. Oklahoma County chapters will be no different.

3. The University

Oklahoma County universities can be held liable for:

• Premises liability – if they own or control fraternity/sorority houses
• Negligent supervision – failing to monitor Greek organizations
• Institutional knowledge – ignoring prior hazing incidents
• Breach of duty – failing to protect students

If the university knew or should have known about hazing and did nothing, they share responsibility.

4. Individual Perpetrators

Every person who participated in or facilitated hazing can be personally sued for:

• Assault and battery
• False imprisonment
• Intentional infliction of emotional distress
• Negligence

In the Stone Foltz case, a fraternity president was ordered to pay $6.5 million personally. Oklahoma County hazing perpetrators face the same liability.

5. Insurance Companies

Most hazing cases are covered by:

• The national organization’s liability insurance
• The university’s institutional insurance
• Homeowner’s insurance (for off-campus hazing)
• Individual members’ personal liability policies

As former insurance defense attorneys, we know how to maximize these policies for Oklahoma County families.

What Oklahoma County Families Can Recover

Hazing victims in Oklahoma County are entitled to full compensation for:
✅ Medical expenses – hospital bills, rehabilitation, future treatment
✅ Lost wages – time missed from work or internships
✅ Pain and suffering – physical and emotional trauma
✅ Punitive damages – to punish egregious conduct (like waterboarding)
✅ Educational disruption – tuition refunds, academic setbacks
✅ Wrongful death – if hazing results in a fatality

Precedent cases show hazing verdicts and settlements in the MILLIONS:

• $10.1 million – Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State / Pi Kappa Alpha)
• $6.1 million – Maxwell Gruver (LSU / Phi Delta Theta)
• $110+ million – Timothy Piazza (Penn State / Beta Theta Pi)
• $10 million – Our current case (University of Houston / Pi Kappa Phi)

Oklahoma County families deserve the same justice.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Oklahoma County

Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately

Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor. Some hazing injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) don’t show symptoms right away. Medical records are critical evidence.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

• Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence
• Save all communications – texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, emails
• Document everything – dates, times, locations, names of perpetrators
• Get witness contact info – other pledges, bystanders, anyone who saw what happened

Do NOT delete anything. Even if it’s embarrassing, it’s evidence.

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization or University Alone

• Fraternities/sororities will try to control the narrative
• Universities will protect their reputation, not your child
• Anything you say can be used against you

Step 4: Do NOT Post on Social Media

Insurance companies and defense attorneys will use your posts against you. Even innocent photos can be twisted to claim your child wasn’t really hurt.

Step 5: Contact a Hazing Attorney Immediately

The statute of limitations in Oklahoma is 2 years. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Act now.

Why Oklahoma County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW

While other firms talk about hazing, we’re litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know the tactics. We know the defenses. We know how to win.

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook

Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña both worked for insurance companies before switching sides. We know how they try to minimize claims. We know how to dismantle their defenses.

3. Federal Court Authority – We Can Pursue Oklahoma County Cases Nationwide

We’re admitted to U.S. District Court and have dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York). This means we can pursue Oklahoma County hazing cases regardless of where the fraternity is headquartered.

4. We Come to Oklahoma County

We travel for depositions, trials, and client meetings. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

5. Contingency Fee – $0 Upfront for Oklahoma County Families

We don’t get paid unless you get paid. No hourly fees. No retainers. No risk.

6. We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español

Hazing affects students from all backgrounds. We provide full legal services in Spanish to ensure no language barriers stand in the way of justice.

Common Defenses in Hazing Cases – And How We Defeat Them

Defense: “He Consented to Participate”

Our Response:

• Consent is not a defense in Oklahoma – Oklahoma’s hazing law explicitly states that consent does not excuse hazing.
• Peer pressure and coercion negate consent – No student truly “consents” to torture.
• The law says it doesn’t matter – Oklahoma Statute § 21-1190 makes hazing illegal regardless of consent.

Defense: “It Was Just a Prank / Tradition”

Our Response:

• Waterboarding is not a prank – It’s a war crime when used on enemy combatants. It’s torture when used on students.
• 500 squats causing kidney failure is not tradition – It’s reckless endangerment.
• The law doesn’t care about “tradition” – If it’s hazing, it’s illegal.

Defense: “The University Didn’t Know”

Our Response:

• They own the fraternity houses – Universities have a duty to inspect and regulate.
• They have prior hazing incidents – Discovery will reveal what they knew.
• They have the power to stop it – If they don’t use it, they’re liable.

Defense: “It Was Just a Few Bad Apples”

Our Response:

• Pattern evidence shows systemic failure – Andrew Coffey (2017) → Leonel Bermudez (2025) = 8 years of negligence.
• National organizations set the culture – They enable hazing by failing to enforce policies.
• Universities enable it – They turn a blind eye to save their reputation.

Hazing at Oklahoma County Universities – What We Know

While we can’t comment on specific incidents without evidence, we can say this:

The same fraternities involved in hazing deaths and hospitalizations nationwide have active chapters at Oklahoma County universities, including:

• University of Central Oklahoma (UCO)
• Oklahoma City University (OKCU)
• Southern Nazarene University (SNU)
• Oklahoma Christian University (OC)
• Rose State College
• Nearby institutions like Oklahoma State University (OSU) and University of Oklahoma (OU)

These organizations include:

• Pi Kappa Phi (involved in our current $10M lawsuit)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) (multiple hazing deaths nationwide)
• Sigma Chi (recent wrongful death lawsuit at UT Austin)
• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) (Stone Foltz case – $10.1M settlement)
• Phi Delta Theta (Maxwell Gruver case – $6.1M verdict)

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Oklahoma County, they face the same risks.

How Oklahoma County Families Can Help Stop Hazing

1. Report Hazing Immediately

• Oklahoma Anti-Hazing Hotline: 1-800-NOT-HAZE (1-800-668-4293)
• Campus Police: File a report with your university’s police department
• Title IX Office: Hazing often intersects with gender-based harassment

2. Support Legislative Reform

Oklahoma’s current hazing law (21 O.S. § 1190) makes hazing a misdemeanor. We’re working with legislators to:

• Make hazing a felony (like Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act)
• Increase penalties for organizations and individuals
• Require public reporting of hazing incidents

3. Demand University Accountability

• Ask your university: What hazing prevention policies are in place?
• Demand transparency: How many hazing incidents have been reported?
• Hold them accountable: If they fail to protect students, they should face consequences.

Oklahoma County Hazing Lawyer – Free Consultation

If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or student organization in Oklahoma County, contact us immediately.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 hazing hotline)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

Free, confidential consultation. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oklahoma County Hazing Cases

Q: My child was hazed but doesn’t want to sue. Should we still talk to a lawyer?

A: Yes. Even if your child doesn’t want to sue, a lawyer can:

• Protect their legal rights
• Ensure evidence is preserved
• Help them report the incident safely
• Advise on academic and medical accommodations

Q: The fraternity said it was just “a few bad apples.” Is that true?

A: No. Hazing is systemic. National organizations set the culture. Universities enable it by failing to regulate. It’s not a few bad apples – it’s a rotten system.

Q: Can we sue if the hazing happened off-campus?

A: Yes. Hazing is illegal regardless of location. If it happened at a private residence, we can sue:

• The individuals involved
• The homeowner (premises liability)
• The fraternity/sorority
• The national organization

Q: What if my child was drinking during the hazing? Will that hurt the case?

A: No. Consent to drinking is not consent to hazing. Even if your child consumed alcohol, that doesn’t excuse:

• Waterboarding
• Physical abuse
• Forced exercise to exhaustion
• Psychological torture

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit in Oklahoma?

A: Oklahoma’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is 2 years from the date of the hazing incident. Do not wait. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Contact us immediately.

Q: Can we sue the university even if they didn’t know about the hazing?

A: Possibly. Universities have a duty to protect students. If they:

• Own or control fraternity/sorority houses
• Have prior hazing incidents on record
• Fail to implement real oversight
• They can be held liable for negligence.

Q: What if my child is afraid of retaliation?

A: We understand. Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case was fearful of doing an interview due to retribution. We will:

• Protect your child’s identity
• File anonymously if necessary
• Pursue legal action against anyone who retaliates
• Ensure your child feels safe throughout the process

Oklahoma County Hazing Lawyers – We Fight for Justice

Hazing is not tradition. It’s not bonding. It’s not “boys being boys.”

It’s assault. It’s battery. It’s torture. And it’s happening at Oklahoma County universities.

If your child was hazed, we can help. We’re fighting this battle right now. We know how to win. And we will fight just as hard for Oklahoma County families.

📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now for a free, confidential consultation.
📧 Email ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit attorney911.com

Justice for Oklahoma County hazing victims starts here.