🛡️ Hazing Victims in Seneca County, New York: Your Legal Rights and How Attorney 911 Can Help

🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Seneca County: What Families Need to Know

Hazing isn’t just a distant problem happening at big universities in other states. It’s happening right here in Seneca County, New York—at local colleges, fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and student organizations. What happened to Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston—a student waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure—could happen to any student in Seneca County.

The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide operate chapters at colleges near Seneca County. Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and others have active chapters at institutions throughout Upstate New York. If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Seneca County, they face the same risks.

The institutions that should protect them—universities, national organizations, local chapters—are failing. And when they fail, students pay the price with their health, their futures, and sometimes their lives.

At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this battle right now. We’re representing Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We will bring the same fight to Seneca County. If your child has been hazed, we can help.

🔍 What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Illegal in New York)

Hazing isn’t just “rough initiation.” It’s abuse disguised as tradition. Under New York Education Law § 6450, hazing is defined as:

“Any act, whether physical, mental, emotional or psychological, which subjects another person to anything that may abuse, mistreat, degrade, humiliate, harass, or intimidate, or that may endanger the physical health or safety of a student, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a student organization.”

This includes:

• Physical abuse: Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion (like 500 squats), branding
• Forced consumption: Alcohol, food, or non-food substances (e.g., eating until vomiting)
• Psychological torture: Waterboarding, sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats
• Sexual abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
• Dangerous stunts: Blindfolded activities, extreme weather exposure, confinement

New York law is clear: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, hazing is still illegal and can still be prosecuted.

🏛️ Who Is Liable for Hazing in Seneca County?

When hazing happens, multiple parties can—and should—be held accountable. In our current case, we’re suing:

Seneca County families: If your child was hazed, we will pursue every liable party to maximize your recovery.

💰 What Can Seneca County Families Recover?

Hazing victims in Seneca County are entitled to full compensation for their injuries. This includes:

💵 Economic Damages (Financial Losses)

• Medical bills (ER visits, hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, therapy)
• Future medical care (kidney monitoring, dialysis, potential transplant)
• Lost wages (time missed from work during recovery)
• Lost earning capacity (if injuries affect future career prospects)
• Educational disruption (tuition for missed semesters, transfer costs)

😢 Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)

• Physical pain from injuries (e.g., rhabdomyolysis, broken bones, burns)
• Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear of retribution)
• Humiliation and shame from hazing activities
• Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in activities, social isolation)
• Disfigurement (scars, permanent injuries)

💥 Punitive Damages (Punishment for Egregious Conduct)

If the conduct was especially outrageous (e.g., waterboarding, beatings, forced consumption), courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendants and deter future hazing.

Precedent cases show that hazing verdicts and settlements can reach MILLIONS:

• $10.1 million (Stone Foltz, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021)
• $6.1 million (Maxwell Gruver, Phi Delta Theta, 2017)
• $110+ million (Timothy Piazza, Beta Theta Pi, 2017)

Seneca County families: Your child’s case deserves the same aggressive representation.

⚖️ New York’s Anti-Hazing Laws: What You Need to Know

📜 New York Education Law § 6450

• Makes hazing a crime (misdemeanor or felony, depending on severity)
• Applies to ALL student organizations (fraternities, sororities, sports teams, clubs, etc.)
• Consent is NOT a defense—even if your child “agreed” to participate, hazing is still illegal

🚨 Criminal Penalties in New York

🏛️ Civil Liability in New York

• Victims can sue for negligence, assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and more
• Universities can be sued for failing to protect students
• National organizations can be sued for failing to supervise chapters

Seneca County families: If your child was hazed, you have legal options—both criminal and civil.

🚑 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Seneca County

📌 Step 1: Ensure Immediate Safety

• Remove your child from the situation—get them to a safe location.
• Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor. Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening.
• Document everything—take photos of injuries, save medical records, and preserve any evidence.

📌 Step 2: Preserve Evidence

DO NOT delete anything. Save:

• Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs (screenshots or exports)
• Photos/videos of injuries, hazing activities, or locations
• Social media posts about the incident (even if deleted, we can subpoena records)
• Witness contact information (other pledges, bystanders, friends)
• Medical records (hospital bills, doctor’s notes, therapy records)
• Fraternity/sorority documents (pledge manuals, schedules, rules)

DO NOT:

• Talk to the fraternity, sorority, or university without legal counsel
• Sign anything from the organization
• Post about the incident on social media
• Confront the perpetrators directly

📌 Step 3: Report the Incident

• File a police report (hazing is a crime in New York)
• Report to the university (Title IX office, student affairs)
• Report to the national organization (if applicable)

📌 Step 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately

Time is critical. New York has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases, but evidence disappears quickly. The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.

Call Attorney 911 now: 1-888-ATTY-911

🏆 Why Seneca County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW

We’re currently representing Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This isn’t theoretical—we’re in the fight, and we know how to win. Seneca County families get the same aggressive representation.

2. Nationwide Reach with Local Impact

While we’re based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including Seneca County. Our federal court authority and dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) allow us to pursue cases anywhere in the U.S.

3. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides. We know their playbook. We know how they try to minimize claims, and we know how to counter them.

4. Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Results

We’ve secured millions in settlements and verdicts for personal injury victims, including:

• $10M+ in a hazing case (current)
• Multi-million dollar settlements in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases
• Hundreds of case dismissals in criminal defense (showing our litigation skill)

5. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)

Many hazing victims come from immigrant families. We provide bilingual support to ensure no language barriers stand in the way of justice.

6. Contingency Fee Representation

You pay NOTHING upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis—we only get paid if we win your case. This ensures that every Seneca County family can afford top-tier legal representation.

7. We Travel to Seneca County

For depositions, trials, and client meetings, we will come to Seneca County. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

🎯 Our Strategy for Seneca County Hazing Cases

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation

• Send preservation letters to all defendants demanding they retain evidence
• Subpoena social media companies to preserve deleted content
• Obtain security camera footage (if available)
• Interview witnesses before memories fade

2. Aggressive Discovery

We’ll demand:

• All communications between chapter members, officers, and nationals
• Prior hazing incidents at the same chapter or university
• Insurance policies covering the defendants
• University oversight records (inspections, complaints, policies)
• Financial records of national organizations and individuals

3. Pursue Every Liable Party

We won’t let anyone escape accountability. We’ll sue:

• The local chapter
• The national organization
• The university
• Individual perpetrators
• Alumni/hosts who enabled hazing

4. Build a Compelling Narrative

We’ll tell your child’s story in a way that resonates with juries:

• The promise of brotherhood/sisterhood turned into abuse
• The institutional failures that allowed it to happen
• The lifelong consequences of hazing (physical, emotional, academic)

5. Negotiate from Strength

• We don’t accept lowball offers. Insurance companies know we’re willing to go to trial.
• We leverage media attention to increase pressure on defendants.
• We use precedent cases (like the $10.1M Foltz settlement) to justify high demands.

6. Take It to Trial If Necessary

If defendants refuse to offer fair compensation, we will take your case to trial. Juries hate hazing, and they award big verdicts when they see the evidence.

📞 Seneca County Families: Call Us Now

If your child has been hazed in Seneca County, you don’t have to face this alone. We’re here to help.

📅 Free Consultation — Available 24/7

Call: 1-888-ATTY-911
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

💡 What to Expect in Your Free Consultation:

1. We’ll listen to your child’s story without judgment.
2. We’ll evaluate the strength of your case.
3. We’ll explain your legal options (criminal, civil, or both).
4. We’ll outline the next steps and how we can help.
5. We’ll answer all your questions—no pressure, no obligation.

⚠️ Why You Should Act Now:

• Evidence disappears (texts get deleted, witnesses forget)
• Statutes of limitations apply (3 years in New York)
• The sooner we act, the stronger your case

Seneca County families: Enough is enough. If your child was hazed, we will fight for you.

🎥 Hear From Our Attorneys

Ralph Manginello on the Hazing Crisis:

“When he finally made it home, he crawled up the stairs and went to bed. The next day, he was really sore and couldn’t really move. The next day was worse, and the next day, his mom rushed him to the hospital, and he had some kidney failure. This isn’t tradition—it’s torture. And we’re going to hold them accountable.”

Lupe Pena on Why We Fight:

“If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough. Seneca County families deserve the same aggressive representation we’re providing in Houston.”

📚 Additional Resources for Seneca County Families

🔗 New York Anti-Hazing Laws

• New York Education Law § 6450
• New York Penal Law on Hazing

📰 Recent Hazing Cases in the News

• $10M Lawsuit Filed Against Pi Kappa Phi and University of Houston
• Stone Foltz Family Receives $10.1M Settlement
• Maxwell Gruver Wrongful Death Verdict: $6.1M

🏛️ Colleges and Universities Near Seneca County with Greek Life

Note: This list is not exhaustive. If your child attends any college near Seneca County with Greek life, they are at risk of hazing.

🚫 Warning Signs of Hazing in Seneca County

Parents, watch for these red flags if your child is joining a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or student organization:

If you notice any of these signs, ask questions—and contact us immediately.

🎯 Our Message to Seneca County Fraternities and Universities

To the fraternities operating near Seneca 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—including you personally.

To the universities in Seneca County:
You own the fraternity houses. You have the power to regulate Greek life. You have the duty to protect your students. If you fail, you will be held accountable.

To the national organizations:
You’ve paid millions in settlements before. You know the risks. If your chapters haze, we will come for you—and we will win.

Enough is enough. The hazing stops now.

📢 Final Call to Action: Seneca County Families, Stand Up

Hazing is not tradition. It’s not brotherhood. It’s not sisterhood.

It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s illegal. And it has to stop.

If your child has been hazed in Seneca County, you have the power to hold the perpetrators accountable. You have the power to protect the next student. You have the power to send a message that Seneca County will not tolerate this abuse.

Call Attorney 911 today.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

We don’t get paid unless we win your case. You have nothing to lose—and justice to gain.

Seneca County families: The fight starts now.