Hazing Victims in Somerset County, Maryland: Your Legal Rights & How Attorney 911 Can Help
🚨 Hazing Is Happening in Somerset County — And It’s Not Just “Tradition”
Somerset County is home to hardworking families, tight-knit communities, and young people pursuing their dreams at institutions like University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), Salisbury University, and Wor-Wic Community College. But behind the scenes, a dangerous culture of hazing persists in fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and student organizations—just like what we’re fighting in our $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
This isn’t “boys being boys” or “girls bonding.” It’s abuse. It’s assault. And in Somerset County, it can lead to hospitalization, permanent injuries, or even death.
If your child was hazed in Somerset County—whether at a university, high school, or any student organization—you have legal rights, and Attorney 911 is here to fight for you.
💔 What Hazing Looks Like in Somerset County
Hazing isn’t just about drinking games or silly pranks. It’s systematic abuse designed to humiliate, injure, and break students down. In our current case, a University of Houston student was:
- Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning—a form of torture)
- Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
- Beaten with wooden paddles
- Forced to eat until he vomited, then made to lie in his own vomit
- Hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and kidney failure
This same abuse happens in Somerset County.
Common Hazing Practices in Somerset County Organizations:
| Category | Examples | Medical Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Abuse | Paddling, beatings, branding, forced exercise until exhaustion | Broken bones, rhabdomyolysis, concussions, permanent scars |
| Forced Consumption | Binge drinking, eating until vomiting, consuming non-food items | Alcohol poisoning, choking, internal injuries, death |
| Psychological Torture | Sleep deprivation, verbal abuse, humiliation, threats | PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicide |
| Sexual Abuse | Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects | Trauma, STIs, long-term psychological damage |
| Dangerous Stunts | Blindfolded activities, being buried in snow, confined spaces | Suffocation, hypothermia, heatstroke, death |
| Servitude | Forced errands, cleaning, driving members at odd hours | Exhaustion, car accidents, missed classes |
If your child experienced any of these in Somerset County, they were hazed—and we can help.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Somerset County Hazing Victim
Maryland law explicitly prohibits hazing, and Somerset County families have the right to hold abusers and institutions accountable.
Maryland Hazing Laws (Md. Code Ann., Educ. § 7-424)
- Hazing is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and $500 in fines.
- If hazing causes serious injury or death, penalties increase to up to 10 years in prison.
- Consent is NOT a defense—even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds perpetrators accountable.
- Organizations can be held liable—fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and universities can be sued for failing to prevent hazing.
Civil Lawsuits: Holding Somerset County Institutions Accountable
In addition to criminal charges, Somerset County families can file civil lawsuits to recover compensation for:
✅ Medical bills (hospitalization, therapy, future treatment)
✅ Lost wages (if hazing caused your child to miss work or drop out)
✅ Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
✅ Punitive damages (to punish the organization for reckless conduct)
Our firm is currently suing Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for $10 million—and we will fight just as hard for Somerset County families.
🏛️ Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Somerset County?
Hazing cases are not just about suing individual students. We pursue every responsible party, including:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Somerset County Example |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter (Fraternity/Sorority) | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Pi Kappa Alpha at UMES, Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Salisbury University |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise chapters, ignored hazing warnings | Pi Kappa Phi National, Sigma Alpha Epsilon National |
| University/College | Failed to prevent hazing, ignored prior incidents | University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Salisbury University |
| Coaches/Advisors | Knew or should have known about hazing | High school or college sports coaches |
| Individual Members | Participated in or enabled hazing | Fraternity brothers, sorority sisters, teammates |
| Alumni | Hosted hazing events at their homes | Former members who allowed hazing at their Somerset County residences |
| Housing Corporations | Owned property where hazing occurred | Fraternity/sorority houses near Salisbury or Princess Anne |
We don’t just sue broke college students—we go after the deep pockets: universities, national organizations, and insurance companies.
💰 How Much Could a Somerset County Hazing Case Be Worth?
Hazing cases routinely settle for millions of dollars when victims have strong legal representation. Here’s what other families have recovered:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Injury | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (2021) | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | Alcohol poisoning (death) | $10.1 million settlement |
| Maxwell Gruver (2017) | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | Alcohol poisoning (death) | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza (2017) | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | Traumatic brain injury (death) | $110+ million settlement |
| Adam Oakes (2021) | Virginia Commonwealth | Delta Chi | Alcohol poisoning (death) | $4+ million settlement |
| Leonel Bermudez (2025) | University of Houston | Pi Kappa Phi | Rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure | $10 million lawsuit (pending) |
Somerset County families deserve the same justice. If your child was hazed, we will fight for:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and earning potential
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
- Punitive damages (to punish the organization)
🚑 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Somerset County
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, and concussions can be life-threatening.
- Go to the ER if your child shows these symptoms:
- Severe muscle pain or weakness
- Dark brown/red urine (sign of muscle breakdown)
- Confusion, vomiting, or difficulty breathing
- Signs of head injury (dizziness, slurred speech)
- Depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
Hazing cases are won or lost based on evidence. Do not delete anything.
✅ Texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs (screenshots + metadata)
✅ Photos/videos of injuries or hazing activities
✅ Medical records (hospital bills, doctor’s notes)
✅ Witness names and contact info
✅ Fraternity/sorority documents (pledge manuals, schedules)
✅ Social media posts (even if unrelated—defense will use them against you)
❌ DO NOT:
- Talk to the fraternity/sorority, university, or their lawyers without an attorney present
- Post about the incident on social media
- Delete any messages or photos
- Sign anything from the organization
Step 3: Report the Hazing
- File a police report (hazing is a crime in Maryland)
- Report to the university (UMES, Salisbury University, Wor-Wic)
- File a Title IX complaint (if sexual assault or gender-based hazing occurred)
Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
The clock is ticking.
- Maryland has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
- Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and organizations destroy records.
- Call us now for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911
🔥 Why Somerset County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Already Fighting This Battle
We’re currently suing Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for $10 million after a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure. Somerset County families get the same aggressive representation.
2. We Know How to Beat the “Consent” Defense
Fraternities and universities will claim your child “agreed” to participate. Maryland law says consent is NOT a defense. We’ll dismantle this argument in court.
3. We Go After the Deep Pockets
We don’t just sue individual students—we pursue:
✔ National fraternity/sorority organizations (they have millions in insurance)
✔ Universities (UMES, Salisbury University, Wor-Wic)
✔ Insurance companies (homeowners, liability policies)
4. We Travel to Somerset County
While we’re based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including Somerset County. We’ll come to you for meetings, depositions, and trials.
5. No Upfront Costs—We Only Get Paid If You Win
We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.
6. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)
Many Somerset County families speak Spanish. We provide bilingual legal services so language isn’t a barrier to justice.
📞 Somerset County Hazing Victims: Call Us Now
If your child was hazed in Somerset County—whether at UMES, Salisbury University, Wor-Wic, or any high school—we can help.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit: attorney911.com/hazing
Free, confidential consultation. No obligation. No upfront costs.
🎯 Our Promise to Somerset County Families
“We don’t just see your child as a case—we see them as a person. We’ve seen what fraternities and universities do to kids. We’re fighting it in court right now, and we will fight just as hard for Somerset County families.”
— Ralph Manginello & Lupe Pena, Attorney 911
You are not alone. We are here to fight for you. 💙
