🛡️ Rockland County Hazing Victims: Your Legal Rights and How We Can Help

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™ Serving Rockland County Families

If you or your child has been the victim of hazing at a college, university, or Greek organization in or near Rockland County, NY, you are not alone. You have legal rights. And you have powerful legal options — even if the incident didn’t happen in Texas.

At Attorney 911, we are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to build these cases. We know how to hold institutions accountable. And we know how to win.

Rockland County families get the same aggressive representation we’re bringing to Houston.

🚨 What Is Hazing — And Why It’s Illegal in Rockland County

Hazing is not “tradition.” It’s not “team building.” It’s not “just part of college.”

Hazing is abuse. Hazing is assault. And in New York, hazing is a crime.

What Counts as Hazing in New York?

Under New York Education Law § 6430, hazing includes any activity that:

Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student
Is required for admission or affiliation with any organization
Involves forced consumption of alcohol, drugs, or other substances
Involves physical brutality like beating, paddling, or branding
Involves sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, or extreme exercise
Involves psychological abuse, humiliation, or degradation

Examples of hazing we’ve seen in Rockland County and nationwide:

Forced drinking — alcohol poisoning; blacking out
Extreme physical punishment — 100+ pushups, 500 squats, bear crawls until collapse
Waterboarding — simulated drowning (this happened in our current case)
Forced eating — consuming milk, hot dogs, or peppercorns until vomiting
Paddling — being struck with wooden paddles
Sleep deprivation — forced to stay up all night or drive members at early hours
Humiliation — forced to wear embarrassing clothing, carry sexual objects, or lie in vomit
Isolation — being excluded or threatened with expulsion for non-compliance

If any of this happened to you or your child in Rockland County, you may have a case.

⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Rockland County Hazing Victim

1. You Can Sue for Money Damages

Even if the hazing didn’t result in death, you can still recover compensation for:

Medical bills — hospital stays, therapy, rehabilitation
Lost wages — time missed from work or internships
Pain and suffering — physical and emotional trauma
Future medical expenses — if injuries require long-term care
Punitive damages — to punish the organization and prevent future hazing

In our current case, we’re demanding $10 million. That’s not a number we pulled out of the air — it’s based on real hazing verdicts and settlements across the country.

2. Consent Is Not a Defense in New York

Some organizations will say: “He agreed to participate. He knew what he was getting into.”

New York law says: CONSENT DOES NOT MATTER.

Under New York Education Law § 6430, consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child signed a waiver or agreed to participate, the organization can still be held liable.

3. You Have 2 Years to File a Lawsuit

New York has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases, including hazing. This means you have 2 years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit.

But don’t wait. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. And the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to build a strong case.

💰 What Your Rockland County Hazing Case Could Be Worth

Hazing cases win millions of dollars when the evidence is strong. Here’s what real hazing victims have recovered:

Case	Fraternity/University	Injury	Outcome
Stone Foltz (2021)	Pi Kappa Alpha / Bowling Green State	Death (alcohol poisoning)	$10.1 million
Maxwell Gruver (2017)	Phi Delta Theta / LSU	Death (alcohol poisoning)	$6.1 million jury verdict
Timothy Piazza (2017)	Beta Theta Pi / Penn State	Death (traumatic brain injury)	$110+ million (estimated)
Andrew Coffey (2017)	Pi Kappa Phi / Florida State	Death (alcohol poisoning)	Confidential multi-million settlement
Our Current Case (2025)	Pi Kappa Phi / University of Houston	Rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure	$10 million lawsuit pending

Rockland County families: These same results are possible for your case.

🏢 Who We Can Sue for Rockland County Hazing

When hazing happens, multiple parties can be held responsible. In our current case, we’re suing:

Defendant	Why They’re Liable
Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter	Directly organized and conducted hazing
National Organization	Failed to supervise; knew about “hazing crisis”
University/College	Failed to protect students; had power to stop hazing
Chapter Officers (President, Pledgemaster)	Leadership responsibility; directed activities
Individual Members	Participated in or failed to stop hazing
Former Members/Alumni	Hosted hazing at their homes
Housing Corporations	Owned property where hazing occurred
Insurance Companies	Provide coverage for liability

Rockland County institutions with Greek life or student organizations can all be held accountable.

🎓 Universities and Colleges Near Rockland County with Greek Life

Rockland County is home to vibrant college communities, and many nearby institutions have active Greek life. The same national fraternities and sororities that have paid millions in hazing settlements operate chapters near Rockland County.

Major Universities Near Rockland County with Greek Life:

University	Location	Greek Life Presence
Columbia University	New York, NY	Strong Greek life presence
New York University (NYU)	New York, NY	Large Greek system
Fordham University	Bronx, NY	Active fraternities and sororities
Pace University	Pleasantville, NY	Greek organizations present
Manhattan College	Riverdale, NY	Greek life on campus
The College of New Rochelle	New Rochelle, NY	Greek organizations
Iona University	New Rochelle, NY	Greek life present
Mercy College	Dobbs Ferry, NY	Greek organizations
Dominican College	Orangeburg, NY	Greek life presence
Bergen Community College	Paramus, NJ	Greek organizations
Ramapo College of New Jersey	Mahwah, NJ	Active Greek life

National fraternities with chapters near Rockland County:

Pi Kappa Phi
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Pi Kappa Alpha
Kappa Sigma
Sigma Chi
Phi Delta Theta
Beta Theta Pi
Delta Chi
Sigma Phi Epsilon
And many more

If your child was hazed at any of these institutions, we can help.

🏠 Where Hazing Happens in Rockland County

Hazing doesn’t just happen on campus. It can happen:

At fraternity/sorority houses (whether owned by the university or private)
At off-campus apartments or homes (like in our current case)
At hotels or event spaces rented for initiation events
On campus property during official or unofficial events
During retreat or bonding weekends

If hazing occurred in Rockland County, we can pursue the case — no matter where it happened.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Rockland County

Immediate Steps — Protect Your Rights

Step	Action	Why It Matters
1	Get medical attention	Document injuries immediately; some symptoms (like rhabdomyolysis) may not appear right away
2	Preserve all evidence	Save texts, social media posts, photos, videos, witness names
3	Do NOT talk to the organization	They will try to control the narrative; don’t give statements without legal counsel
4	Do NOT post on social media	Anything you post can be used against you
5	Report to authorities	Consider filing a police report; hazing is a crime in New York
6	Contact an attorney	Know your rights before you talk to anyone

What NOT to Do

❌ Do NOT delete any messages or posts — this is destruction of evidence
❌ Do NOT confront the organization alone — they will coordinate their story
❌ Do NOT sign anything from the fraternity/sorority — you may waive your rights
❌ Do NOT assume it’s “just part of college” — hazing is illegal and can be deadly

🔍 How We Build Strong Hazing Cases for Rockland County Families

We don’t guess who might be responsible. We know. We maintain one of the most comprehensive private directories of Greek organizations in America — including their corporate structures, insurance policies, and histories.

When hazing happens, we already know who to sue.

Our Process for Rockland County Hazing Cases:

Immediate Evidence Preservation
- Issue preservation letters to all defendants
- Demand all communications, photos, videos be saved
- Prevent evidence destruction
Comprehensive Investigation
- Interview witnesses
- Obtain medical records
- Review social media and text messages
- Identify all liable parties
Pattern Evidence
- Research prior hazing incidents at the same chapter
- Research prior incidents at the same national organization
- Establish foreseeability and negligence
Aggressive Negotiation
- Demand policy limits from insurance carriers
- Push for early settlement when appropriate
- Refuse lowball offers
Litigation & Trial
- File lawsuit in appropriate court
- Take depositions
- Prepare for trial if necessary
- Present case to jury if needed
Maximum Recovery
- Pursue all available insurance policies
- Identify all assets of defendants
- Ensure full and fair compensation

💼 Why Rockland County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Fight Right Now

We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This isn’t theoretical — we’re in the battle. Rockland County families get the same aggressive representation.

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching to represent victims. We know their playbook. We know how they try to minimize claims. And we know how to beat them.

3. Federal Court Authority

We are admitted to practice in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and have experience in federal litigation. This allows us to pursue Rockland County cases in federal court when appropriate.

4. Dual-State Bar Admission (Texas & New York)

We are licensed to practice in both Texas and New York. This gives us a strategic advantage when pursuing national fraternities and universities.

5. Proven Track Record

We’ve recovered millions of dollars for victims of personal injury, including:

Wrongful death cases
Catastrophic injury cases
Institutional negligence cases
Cases against large corporate defendants

6. We Will Travel to Rockland County

We come to you. For depositions, client meetings, and trials, our attorneys travel to Rockland County as needed. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

7. Contingency Fee Representation

We work on contingency — you pay $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless we win your case. This means Rockland County families can fight powerful institutions without financial risk.

8. Bilingual Services

Se habla español. Our staff is fluent in Spanish, and we provide comprehensive legal services to Spanish-speaking clients.

📞 Rockland County Hazing Victims — Call Now

If you or your child has been hazed in Rockland County, call us immediately for a free, confidential consultation.

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

We serve hazing victims nationwide, including Rockland County, NY.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions for Rockland County Families

Q: My child was hazed, but they say it was “voluntary.” Can we still sue?

A: Yes. In New York, consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the organization can still be held liable. The law specifically says that consent doesn’t matter.

Q: The fraternity is saying it was “just a prank.” Is that true?

A: No. Hazing is not a prank. It’s a crime in New York. Waterboarding, forced drinking, extreme exercise, paddling — these are abuse, not jokes. And they can cause serious, permanent injury.

Q: We’re in Rockland County. How can a Texas law firm help us?

A: We represent hazing victims nationwide. Our federal court authority and dual-state bar licenses allow us to pursue cases across the country. We offer video consultations and travel to Rockland County for meetings, depositions, and trials.

Q: How much is our case worth?

A: Every case is different, but hazing cases frequently result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Factors that increase value include:

Severity of injuries
Whether the university knew about prior hazing
Whether the national organization had a pattern of violations
Egregiousness of the conduct (waterboarding, extreme physical abuse)
Whether the victim required hospitalization

Q: What if the hazing happened off-campus?

A: It doesn’t matter. Hazing is illegal whether it happens on campus, at a fraternity house, or at an off-campus apartment. We can still pursue the case.

Q: My child is afraid of retaliation. What can we do?

A: We understand the fear of retaliation. That’s why:

We handle all communications with the organization
We protect your identity when possible
We pursue legal action that deters retaliation
We can seek protective orders if needed

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

A: In New York, you generally have 2 years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. But don’t wait — evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your rights are at risk.

Q: What if my child was hazed at a high school in Rockland County?

A: Hazing isn’t just a college problem. High school sports teams, bands, and clubs also engage in hazing. We can evaluate high school hazing cases as well.

Q: Will the fraternity members go to jail?

A: Hazing is a crime in New York. Depending on the severity, individuals could face:

Misdemeanor charges
Felony charges (if serious injury or death occurs)
Jail or prison time
Fines

We coordinate with criminal authorities when appropriate.

Q: How much does it cost to hire you?

A: $0 upfront. We work on contingency — we only get paid if we win your case. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, so you never pay out of pocket.

🎯 Our Message to Rockland County Fraternities and Universities

To the fraternities operating near Rockland County:
We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter. If your members haze students, we will pursue every liable entity — the local chapter, the national organization, the housing corporation, and the individuals involved.

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, and all others:
You have paid millions in hazing settlements. You have dissolved chapters. You have seen students die. And yet, you continue. We are coming for you. We are coming for your assets. We are coming for your insurance policies. And we will not stop until the culture changes.

To the universities near Rockland County:
You own the fraternity houses. You collect the rent. You have the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down dangerous chapters. When you fail to protect students, you become part of the problem. And you will be held accountable.

🔥 Enough Is Enough — Rockland County Deserves Better

Rockland County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe.

They trust the universities. They trust the Greek organizations. They trust that these institutions will protect their children.

That trust is being betrayed.

Hazing isn’t “tradition.” It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s torture. And it’s happening right here in Rockland County.

But there is hope.

Every time a victim comes forward, lives are saved. Every time a family stands up, culture changes. Every time a jury awards millions, fraternities think twice.

Your case could be the one that stops hazing in Rockland County.

📞 Call Now — Free Consultation for Rockland County Hazing Victims

If you or your child has been hazed in Rockland County, call us immediately.