Hazing Victims in Pierce County: Your Legal Rights and How Attorney 911 Can Help
Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines – Neither Do We
If your child has been a victim of hazing in Pierce County, Washington, you’re not alone. The same dangerous “traditions” that led to a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston are happening right here in our community. Fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and other student organizations near Pierce County engage in the same abusive practices—and we’re fighting to stop them.
At Attorney 911, we’re currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to build these cases, hold institutions accountable, and secure justice for families like yours. Pierce County victims deserve the same aggressive representation we provide nationwide.
🚨 This Could Be Happening to Your Child in Pierce County
Hazing isn’t just “harmless fun.” It’s assault, battery, and psychological torture—and it can lead to:
✔ Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown that causes kidney failure)
✔ Alcohol poisoning (forced drinking until collapse)
✔ Traumatic brain injuries (from beatings or falls)
✔ Sexual assault (forced nudity, humiliation, abuse)
✔ PTSD, anxiety, and depression (long-term psychological damage)
✔ Death (hazing has killed at least one student every year since 2000)
If your child was hazed in Pierce County, we can help.
🏢 Who Is Liable for Hazing in Pierce County?
Hazing cases involve multiple defendants—not just the students who participated, but the institutions that allowed it to happen. In Pierce County, we pursue:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| National Greek Organization | Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite knowing the risks |
| University/College | Owns or controls the property where hazing occurred; failed to protect students |
| Individual Members | Participated in or facilitated hazing |
| Alumni & Advisors | Hosted hazing events; failed to intervene |
| Insurance Companies | Coverage for institutional liability |
Pierce County families: The same fraternities and universities named in our current lawsuit operate near you. If your child was hazed, we will identify every liable party and hold them accountable.
💰 How Much Is a Pierce County Hazing Case Worth?
Hazing cases result in multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what victims have recovered in recent cases:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (2021) | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver (2017) | LSU | Phi Delta Theta | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza (2017) | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | $110+ million (estimated) |
| Andrew Coffey (2017) | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Confidential settlement |
| Leonel Bermudez (2025) | University of Houston | Pi Kappa Phi | $10 million lawsuit pending (our case) |
Pierce County families: These cases prove that hazing victims can and do win big. The same legal strategies apply to your case—no matter where the hazing occurred.
⚖️ Washington State Hazing Laws – What You Need to Know
Washington has strong anti-hazing laws, including:
RCW 28B.10.901 – Hazing Prohibited
- Hazing is a crime in Washington, punishable by fines and jail time.
- “Hazing” includes any activity that endangers mental or physical health for initiation into a group.
- Consent is NOT a defense—even if your child “agreed” to participate, the organization can still be liable.
RCW 28B.10.902 – Reporting Requirements
- Schools must report hazing incidents to the state.
- Failure to report is a violation of the law.
Civil Liability in Washington
- Victims can sue for negligence, assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
- Punitive damages may be awarded if the conduct was especially egregious.
Pierce County families: If your child was hazed at a university, college, or Greek organization near Pierce County, you have legal rights under Washington law.
🏛️ Pierce County Universities & Greek Life – The Hazing Risk
Pierce County is home to multiple colleges and universities where hazing occurs, including:
| Institution | Greek Life Presence | Hazing Risk |
|---|---|---|
| University of Washington Tacoma | Active fraternities & sororities | High risk (national organizations with hazing histories) |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Strong Greek system | Moderate to high risk |
| Tacoma Community College | Limited Greek life | Lower risk, but not zero |
| Nearby Schools (Seattle, Olympia, etc.) | Large Greek systems | High risk (UW, WSU, etc.) |
The same national fraternities involved in our $10 million lawsuit (Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, etc.) have chapters near Pierce County. If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority, they face the same risks.
🚨 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Pierce County
✅ Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately
- Hazing injuries (rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, etc.) can be life-threatening.
- Go to the ER if your child shows signs of:
- Severe muscle pain
- Dark/brown urine (sign of kidney failure)
- Difficulty walking or moving
- Confusion, vomiting, or loss of consciousness
✅ Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Take photos of injuries, bruises, or hazing locations.
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs).
- Get witness names (other pledges, bystanders).
- Do NOT delete anything—even if it’s embarrassing.
✅ Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization
- Fraternities, sororities, and universities will try to control the narrative.
- Do NOT give a statement to Greek life leaders, university officials, or insurance companies.
- Do NOT sign anything without consulting an attorney.
✅ Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
- Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 hazing hotline)
- Email: ralph@atty911.com
- Free consultation – We’ll evaluate your case at no cost.
⚠️ Time is critical. Washington has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your rights expire.
🎯 Why Pierce County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Case RIGHT NOW
- We represent Leonel Bermudez, who was hospitalized with kidney failure after Pi Kappa Phi hazing at UH.
- Same fraternities operate near Pierce County—we know how to hold them accountable.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook
- Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña used to defend insurance companies.
- We know how they minimize claims, delay cases, and try to deny liability.
- We use that knowledge against them.
3. Nationwide Reach – We Serve Pierce County
- Based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, but we travel to Pierce County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
- Federal court authority – Can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction.
- Dual-state bar licenses (Texas & New York) – Strategic advantage for national fraternity cases.
4. $0 Upfront – You Pay Nothing Unless We Win
- No fees unless we recover compensation for you.
- No hourly billing, no hidden costs.
- We take the risk so you don’t have to.
5. Bilingual Staff – Se Habla Español
- Many hazing victims in Pierce County are international students or Spanish-speaking families.
- We provide full legal services in Spanish—no language barriers.
📞 Pierce County Hazing Victims – Call Now for a Free Consultation
If your child was hazed in Pierce County, you have legal rights. We can help.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 hazing hotline)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Free, confidential consultation – No obligation.
🔥 What Pierce County Parents Need to Know About Hazing
1. “It’s Just Tradition” Is a Lie
- Hazing is not “tradition.” It’s abuse.
- Waterboarding, forced drinking, physical beatings—these are crimes, not rituals.
2. Universities Know Hazing Happens – And Do Nothing
- In our current case, UH owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred.
- They had a prior hazing incident in 2017—and still didn’t stop it.
- Pierce County universities face the same liability.
3. National Fraternities Have a Pattern of Negligence
- Pi Kappa Phi knew about deadly hazing (Andrew Coffey died in 2017).
- They had 8 years to fix their culture—and did nothing.
- The same nationals operate near Pierce County.
4. Consent Is NOT a Defense in Washington
- Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says consent doesn’t matter.
- RCW 28B.10.901 explicitly prohibits hazing, regardless of consent.
5. You Can Sue Even If Your Child Wasn’t Enrolled Yet
- Our client was a “ghost rush”—not even a UH student.
- If your child was hazed before enrolling, you still have a case.
🚫 Common Defenses in Hazing Cases – And How We Beat Them
| Defense Argument | Our Counter-Argument |
|---|---|
| “He consented to participate.” | Washington law says consent is NOT a defense (RCW 28B.10.901). |
| “It was just a prank.” | Waterboarding, forced drinking, and physical abuse are NOT pranks—they’re crimes. |
| “The university didn’t know.” | Universities own Greek houses and have oversight responsibility. Ignorance is not an excuse. |
| “The national organization didn’t control the chapter.” | National fraternities have policies, training, and oversight. Failure to enforce them is negligence. |
| “It was an isolated incident.” | Pattern evidence (prior hazing incidents) shows systemic failure. |
🏆 Our Track Record in High-Stakes Cases
| Case Type | Result |
|---|---|
| BP Texas City Explosion | Mass tort litigation (15 deaths, 180+ injuries) |
| Wrongful Death | Multi-million-dollar settlements |
| Catastrophic Injury | $10M+ verdicts and settlements |
| Hazing Litigation | Currently fighting $10M Pi Kappa Phi case |
Pierce County families: We don’t just talk about hazing—we’re fighting it in court right now.
🎥 Watch: Our Attorneys Explain Hazing Cases
“This is what happened at UH. This happens nationwide. This could happen in Pierce County.” – Ralph Manginello
📌 Pierce County Hazing Resources
Washington State Anti-Hazing Organizations
- StopHazing.org – National hazing prevention resource
- HazingPrevention.org – Education and advocacy
- Clery Center – Campus safety resources
Pierce County Mental Health Support
- Pierce County Crisis Line: (800) 576-7764
- UW Tacoma Counseling Center: (253) 692-4522
- PLU Counseling Center: (253) 535-7206
Legal Help for Pierce County Hazing Victims
- Attorney 911 Hazing Hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911
- Washington State Bar Association: www.wsba.org
🚨 Final Warning: The Clock Is Ticking
- Washington’s statute of limitations for personal injury is 3 years.
- Evidence disappears fast (texts, photos, witness memories fade).
- Universities and fraternities will try to silence you.
If your child was hazed in Pierce County, call us NOW.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Free consultation. No upfront fees. We fight for Pierce County families.
