🚨 Hazing Victims in Onondaga County: Your Legal Rights and How to Fight Back

Onondaga County Families: You Are Not Alone

If your child has been hazed at a college or university near Onondaga County, you may feel overwhelmed, betrayed, and unsure where to turn. We understand. Hazing is not “tradition” or “harmless fun” — it is abuse, and it is illegal. The same fraternities and sororities that have caused serious injuries and deaths nationwide operate right here in Onondaga County. Your child deserves justice, and we are here to fight for you.

At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating 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. This isn’t just a case — it’s a warning to every fraternity, sorority, and university near Onondaga County: If you haze students, you will pay.

Call us now at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation. We serve hazing victims nationwide, including Onondaga County, and we will travel to you.

🔍 What Is Hazing? Onondaga County Parents Need to Know

Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them — regardless of whether the person consents. In New York, hazing is a crime, and it can include:

• Physical abuse: Beatings, paddling, forced exercise (like the 500 squats that hospitalized our client)
• Forced consumption: Alcohol, food, or other substances (including forced binge drinking)
• Psychological abuse: Sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats of expulsion
• Dangerous stunts: Waterboarding (yes, this happens — our client was waterboarded with a garden hose)
• Sexual abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, or carrying sexual objects

This is not “brotherhood” or “sisterhood.” This is abuse. And it is happening at colleges and universities near Onondaga County.

⚠️ The Hazing Crisis in Onondaga County

Hazing is not limited to Texas. It happens right here in Onondaga County and across New York. Fraternities like Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, and others have active chapters at universities near Onondaga County. These same organizations have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries nationwide — including the $10 million case we’re litigating now.

If your child attends or plans to attend a college near Onondaga County, they are at risk.

Universities Near Onondaga County with Active Greek Life:

• Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY) — Home to multiple fraternities and sororities with documented hazing histories
• Le Moyne College (Syracuse, NY) — Smaller school, but Greek life still active
• SUNY Oswego (Oswego, NY) — Public university with Greek organizations
• SUNY Cortland (Cortland, NY) — Known for strong Greek presence
• Colgate University (Hamilton, NY) — Private university with Greek life
• Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) — Ivy League school with extensive Greek system

These institutions have a duty to protect your child. When they fail, we hold them accountable.

💔 What Hazing Does to Onondaga County Students

Hazing doesn’t just cause physical injuries — it leaves lifelong scars. Our client was hospitalized for four days with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being forced to do 500 squats, waterboarded, and struck with wooden paddles. But the damage goes deeper:

Physical Consequences:

• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown that can lead to kidney failure)
• Alcohol poisoning (from forced binge drinking)
• Traumatic brain injuries (from beatings or falls)
• Broken bones (from physical abuse)
• Heat stroke/hypothermia (from exposure to extreme temperatures)
• Death (hazing has killed at least one student every year since 2000)

Psychological Consequences:

• PTSD (from torture-like hazing such as waterboarding)
• Anxiety and depression (from humiliation and abuse)
• Suicidal ideation (hazing victims are at higher risk)
• Trust issues (betrayal by peers and institutions)
• Academic decline (missed classes, lost scholarships)

Hazing doesn’t just hurt the victim — it devastates families. If your child has been hazed, you may be facing medical bills, therapy costs, and the heartbreak of seeing your child suffer. You have the right to compensation, and we will fight to get it for you.

🏛️ Who Is Liable for Hazing in Onondaga County?

When hazing happens, everyone involved shares responsibility — and we will hold them all accountable. In our current case, we are suing:

In Onondaga County, we will pursue every liable party to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

💰 What Is Your Hazing Case Worth?

Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what families have recovered in similar cases:

Your Onondaga County hazing case could be worth millions. The value depends on:

• The severity of injuries
• The egregiousness of the conduct (waterboarding, forced exercise, etc.)
• Whether the university or national organization knew about prior hazing
• The impact on your child’s life (medical bills, therapy, lost opportunities)

We will fight to maximize your recovery. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free case evaluation.

⚖️ New York Hazing Laws: What Onondaga County Families Need to Know

New York has strong laws against hazing, and they apply to all colleges and universities near Onondaga County.

New York Penal Law § 120.16 — Hazing in the First Degree (Class A Misdemeanor)

• Applies when hazing causes physical injury
• Punishable by up to 1 year in jail

New York Penal Law § 120.17 — Hazing in the Second Degree (Class B Misdemeanor)

• Applies when hazing creates a substantial risk of injury
• Punishable by up to 3 months in jail

New York Education Law § 6450 — Hazing at Educational Institutions

• Requires colleges to adopt anti-hazing policies
• Requires reporting of hazing incidents
• Allows for civil lawsuits against institutions that fail to protect students

Consent Is Not a Defense

New York law is clear: Even if your child “agreed” to participate, consent is NOT a defense to hazing. If the fraternity or sorority used coercion, threats, or peer pressure, they are still liable.

🚨 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Onondaga County

If your child has been hazed, time is critical. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and statutes of limitations expire. Follow these steps immediately:

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention

• Go to the ER or urgent care — even if injuries seem minor
• Document everything — medical records are critical evidence
• For psychological trauma, seek therapy and document treatment

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

• Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any items used (paddles, alcohol bottles, etc.)
• Save all communications — texts, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, emails
• Get witness names and contact info — other pledges, bystanders
• Do NOT delete anything — even “innocent” posts can be used against you

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

• Fraternities, sororities, and universities will try to control the narrative
• They may pressure your child to sign documents or give statements
• Anything your child says can be used against them in court

Step 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately

• Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911
• We will preserve evidence, protect your rights, and start building your case
• We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win

Step 5: Report to Authorities

• File a police report — hazing is a crime in New York
• Report to the university — but do NOT do this without an attorney
• Consider a Title IX complaint — hazing may be a form of gender-based violence

❓ Frequently Asked Questions for Onondaga County Families

Q: My child was hazed but doesn’t want to sue. Should we still contact an attorney?

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

• Protect them from retaliation
• Ensure evidence is preserved
• Advise on reporting options
• Help them access medical/mental health care

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

A: No. New York law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. If your child was coerced, threatened, or pressured, they did not truly consent.

Q: We’re worried about retaliation. How can we protect our child?

A: We take retaliation very seriously. We can:

• Send cease-and-desist letters to the fraternity
• File restraining orders if necessary
• Document all threats for potential legal action

Q: How much does it cost to hire an attorney for a hazing case?

A: Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis — we only get paid if we win your case. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

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

A: In New York, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is 3 years from the date of injury. However, evidence disappears quickly, so contact us immediately to protect your rights.

Q: Can we sue the university even if they didn’t directly participate in the hazing?

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

• Owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred
• Knew or should have known about hazing risks
• Failed to implement effective oversight
• Had prior hazing incidents and did nothing

They can be held liable for negligence.

🏆 Why Onondaga County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We Are Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Case

• We are actively fighting for a hazing victim right now
• We know the strategies fraternities and universities use to avoid liability
• We know how to counter their defenses and win

2. We Are Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• We know exactly how insurance companies think
• We’ve seen their playbook — now we use it against them
• We know how to maximize your compensation

3. We Have Federal Court Authority

• We can pursue cases in federal court — critical for national fraternity cases
• We are licensed in Texas and New York — strategic advantage for multi-state cases

4. We Will Travel to Onondaga County

• We serve clients nationwide, including Onondaga County
• We will travel to you for depositions, meetings, and trials
• Distance is not a barrier to justice

5. We Work on Contingency — $0 Upfront

• You pay nothing unless we win
• We advance all case costs
• No financial risk to your family

6. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)

• Hazing affects all communities, including Hispanic students
• We provide bilingual legal services to ensure no language barriers

7. We Have a Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Results

• BP Texas City explosion litigation — mass tort experience
• $10+ million hazing lawsuit — currently in litigation
• Hundreds of personal injury cases — with proven results

📞 Onondaga County Families: Call Us Now

If your child has been hazed at a college or university near Onondaga County, call Attorney 911 immediately.

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

Free, confidential consultation. No obligation. You pay nothing unless we win.

🔥 A Message to Fraternities and Sororities Near Onondaga County

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, and every other fraternity and sorority operating near Onondaga County:

We are watching. We are litigating. We are coming for you.

The same legal strategies that secured $10 million+ verdicts nationwide apply to your chapters. If you haze students in Onondaga County, we will pursue every liable entity — your local chapter, your national organization, your alumni, and the universities that enable you.

The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? Shut down after our lawsuit.
Your chapter in Onondaga County could be next.

Clean up your act. Or we will clean you out in court.

🏁 Final Thoughts: Onondaga County Parents, This Is Your Call to Action

Hazing is not a rite of passage. It is not tradition. It is not harmless.

It is abuse. It is illegal. And it must stop.

If your child has been hazed, you have the power to:

• Hold the abusers accountable
• Send a message that this won’t be tolerated
• Prevent the next family from suffering like yours

We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. And we are here to fight for Onondaga County families.

Call us now at 1-888-ATTY-911. The consultation is free. The justice is priceless.