🛡️ Hazing Victims in Orleans County, New York: Your Legal Rights & How Attorney 911 Can Help
🚨 The Hazing Crisis Hits Close to Home in Orleans County
Orleans County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities and Greek organizations to create positive, enriching experiences—not to expose students to torture, abuse, and life-threatening rituals.
But the truth is: hazing is happening at colleges and universities near Orleans County, New York.
The same fraternities involved in nationwide hazing scandals—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi—operate chapters across New York State. The same dangerous “traditions” that hospitalized a student in Texas exist right here in Orleans County.
If your child has been hazed, you are not alone. And you do not have to stay silent.
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 waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure. We know how to fight these cases—and we will bring the same aggressive representation to Orleans County families.
If your child has been hazed in Orleans County or anywhere in New York, call us now: 1-888-ATTY-911
🔍 What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Illegal in New York)
Hazing is not just “harmless fun” or “team bonding.” Under New York law (Education Law § 6430), hazing includes any intentional or reckless act that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation.
Examples of Hazing (From Real Cases):
✅ Physical abuse – Forced exercise until collapse, beatings with paddles, branding
✅ Forced consumption – Drinking excessive alcohol, eating until vomiting, consuming non-food substances
✅ Psychological torture – Waterboarding, sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats
✅ Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
✅ Dangerous stunts – Blindfolded activities, extreme weather exposure, confined spaces
In New York, hazing is a crime. It can result in felony charges if it causes serious injury or death.
And it’s not just the individuals who are liable—universities, national fraternities, and housing corporations can all be sued for millions.
🏛️ New York Hazing Laws: What Orleans County Families Need to Know
1. New York Education Law § 6430 – Hazing is a Crime
- Hazing is illegal in all New York schools, colleges, and universities.
- Consent is NOT a defense—even if a student “agreed” to participate, it’s still illegal.
- Penalties: Up to 4 years in prison for felony hazing (if serious injury or death occurs).
2. Civil Liability – You Can Sue for Damages
Even if criminal charges aren’t filed, hazing victims can file a civil lawsuit to recover:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost wages (if the victim missed work or school)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
- Punitive damages (to punish the organization for reckless conduct)
Universities and fraternities have deep pockets. We’ve won millions for hazing victims nationwide—and we will fight for Orleans County families too.
💰 How Much Is a Hazing Case Worth in Orleans County?
Hazing cases can result in multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what we’ve seen in recent cases:
| Case | Fraternity | Injury | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (Ohio, 2021) | Pi Kappa Alpha | Death (alcohol poisoning) | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver (Louisiana, 2017) | Phi Delta Theta | Death (alcohol poisoning) | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza (Penn State, 2017) | Beta Theta Pi | Death (brain injury) | $110+ million settlement |
| Leonel Bermudez (Texas, 2025) | Pi Kappa Phi | Kidney failure (rhabdomyolysis) | $10 million lawsuit (pending) |
Orleans County families deserve the same justice. If your child was hazed, we will fight for:
✔ Medical expenses (hospital bills, therapy, future care)
✔ Lost wages & earning capacity (if hazing disrupted school or work)
✔ Pain and suffering (for physical and emotional trauma)
✔ Punitive damages (to punish the organization and prevent future hazing)
🏢 Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Orleans County?
Hazing isn’t just the fault of individual students—institutions share liability. In our current case, we’re suing:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local fraternity chapter | Directly organized the hazing |
| National fraternity organization | Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies |
| University | Knew or should have known about hazing; failed to protect students |
| Housing corporation | Owned the property where hazing occurred |
| Individual members | Participated in or allowed the hazing |
If your child was hazed in Orleans County, we will identify every liable party and hold them accountable.
🚨 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Orleans County
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Hazing injuries (like rhabdomyolysis from forced exercise) can be life-threatening.
- Document everything—hospital records, photos of injuries, therapy notes.
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs).
- Take screenshots of social media posts about hazing.
- Write down everything—dates, times, locations, witnesses.
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone
- They will try to minimize the incident and shift blame to your child.
- Do not sign anything without legal counsel.
- Do not give a statement to university officials or insurance companies.
Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately
- Time is critical—New York has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases.
- Evidence disappears fast—fraternities delete messages, universities destroy records.
- We offer FREE consultations—call 1-888-ATTY-911 now.
🎯 Why Orleans County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Currently Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Case
- We represent Leonel Bermudez, who was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure at Pi Kappa Phi.
- We know how to win against fraternities and universities.
2. We Have Insider Knowledge
- Both of our attorneys are former insurance defense lawyers—we know how the other side thinks.
- We’ve won millions for personal injury victims across Texas and New York.
3. We Travel to Orleans County
- We’re based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, but we serve clients nationwide, including Orleans County.
- We’ll come to you for depositions, meetings, and trials.
4. We Work on Contingency—No Upfront Costs
- You pay nothing unless we win.
- Our fee comes from the settlement—no out-of-pocket expenses for Orleans County families.
5. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)
- Hazing affects all communities in Orleans County.
- We provide bilingual legal services for Spanish-speaking families.
📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911
Orleans County families—if your child was hazed, you have rights. We will fight for you.
📅 Free Consultation – Available 24/7
📍 Serving Orleans County & All of New York
💬 Se Habla Español
Call now before evidence disappears: 1-888-ATTY-911
🔥 A Message to Fraternities in Orleans County
To the fraternities operating near Orleans County:
We are watching.
The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi—if your chapter hazes students, we will find out. And we will sue you.
The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston is now permanently closed after our lawsuit. Your chapter could be next.
Clean up your act before we clean you out in court.
🏆 Our Promise to Orleans County Families
We don’t just talk about fighting hazing—we’re doing it right now.
If your child was hazed, we will:
✅ Investigate aggressively—gather texts, photos, witness statements.
✅ Sue every liable party—fraternity, university, individuals.
✅ Fight for maximum compensation—medical bills, pain and suffering, punitive damages.
✅ Protect your child’s future—hold the institution accountable so this never happens again.
Orleans County families: You are not alone. We are here to help.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now.
