Hazing Lawyers Serving St. Mary Parish, Louisiana – Attorney 911

Justice for Hazing Victims in St. Mary Parish and Beyond

If your child was hazed at a college, university, or Greek organization near St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, you are not alone. Hazing is not “tradition”—it’s abuse, and it’s illegal. At Attorney 911, we are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston, where a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure. This same fraternity—and others like it—operate near St. Mary Parish, and we are here to hold them accountable.

We serve hazing victims in St. Mary Parish and across Louisiana and Texas. If your child was injured, humiliated, or traumatized by hazing, call us now for a free, confidential consultation.

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

Why St. Mary Parish Families Choose Attorney 911 for Hazing Cases

1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now – And Winning

We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. Our client, Leonel Bermudez, was waterboarded, forced to eat until he vomited, and made to do 500 squats until he collapsed—resulting in rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. The fraternity knew this was happening (they had a prior hazing death in 2017) and did nothing. The university owned the fraternity house where the abuse occurred and failed to stop it.

This isn’t just a case—it’s a movement. And we’re bringing the same fight to St. Mary Parish.

2. We Know the Hazing Playbook – Because We’ve Beaten It Before

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys.” It’s assault, battery, and sometimes torture. The same national fraternities that hazed our client in Houston have chapters near St. Mary Parish, including:

Pi Kappa Phi (University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana State University, Tulane)
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (LSU, Tulane, University of Louisiana at Lafayette)
Pi Kappa Alpha (LSU, University of Louisiana at Lafayette)
Kappa Sigma (LSU, Tulane)

These organizations have paid millions in hazing settlements nationwide. We know how they operate, and we know how to beat them.

3. We Don’t Just Sue Fraternities – We Sue Everyone Responsible

In our current case, we’re suing:
✅ The fraternity chapter – for organizing the hazing
✅ Pi Kappa Phi National – for failing to stop it despite knowing about a “hazing crisis”
✅ The University of Houston – for owning the fraternity house and failing to protect students
✅ Individual members – for participating in the abuse

We will do the same for St. Mary Parish families. If your child was hazed at a university near St. Mary Parish, we’ll hold everyone accountable—from the pledgemaster to the national organization to the university itself.

4. We Travel to St. Mary Parish – Distance Is Not a Barrier

While we’re based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including St. Mary Parish. We offer:
✔ Free video consultations – No need to travel
✔ In-person meetings in St. Mary Parish – We’ll come to you
✔ Remote case management – We handle everything electronically
✔ Federal court authority – We can file in federal court if needed

If your child was hazed in St. Mary Parish, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, or anywhere in Louisiana, we will fight for you.

5. No Upfront Costs – We Only Get Paid If You Win

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning:
✅ $0 upfront – You pay nothing to hire us
✅ No hourly fees – We don’t bill by the hour
✅ We take the risk – If we don’t win, you owe us nothing
✅ We get paid from your settlement – Only after you get paid

St. Mary Parish families shouldn’t have to choose between justice and financial ruin. We make sure you can afford to fight back.

6. We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español

Many hazing victims in St. Mary Parish come from Spanish-speaking families. We provide full legal services in Spanish, including:
✔ Consultations in Spanish
✔ Case updates in Spanish
✔ Document translation
✔ Court interpretation assistance

No language barriers. No excuses. Justice for all families in St. Mary Parish.

Hazing Near St. Mary Parish: The Universities and Fraternities We’re Watching

St. Mary Parish is home to hardworking families who send their children to college expecting them to be safe. But the truth is, hazing happens at universities near St. Mary Parish, including:

University	Location	Fraternities with Hazing Histories	Distance from St. Mary Parish
University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL)	Lafayette, LA	Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma	30 miles
Louisiana State University (LSU)	Baton Rouge, LA	Phi Delta Theta (Max Gruver case), Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma	75 miles
Tulane University	New Orleans, LA	Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Phi, Kappa Sigma	90 miles
Nicholls State University	Thibodaux, LA	Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma	20 miles
University of New Orleans (UNO)	New Orleans, LA	Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma	90 miles

These fraternities have paid millions in hazing settlements nationwide. If your child was hazed at any of these schools, we can help.

What Counts as Hazing in Louisiana?

Louisiana has strict anti-hazing laws (La. R.S. 14:40.7), and consent is not a defense. Hazing includes:

Physical Abuse

Beating, paddling, or whipping
Forced exercise to exhaustion (like 500 squats)
Waterboarding or simulated drowning
Branding or burning
Sleep deprivation

Forced Consumption

Forced drinking (alcohol poisoning)
Forced eating until vomiting
Forced consumption of non-food items

Psychological Torture

Humiliation rituals
Threats of expulsion
Isolation from friends/family
Forced nudity

Sexual Abuse

Sexual assault
Forced sexual acts
Carrying sexual objects

If your child experienced any of these, they were hazed—and they have legal rights.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in St. Mary Parish

Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

Hazing can cause serious injuries, including:

Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown → kidney failure)
Alcohol poisoning (can be fatal)
Traumatic brain injury (from beatings or falls)
PTSD, anxiety, and depression

Go to the ER if your child:
✔ Has dark/brown urine (sign of rhabdomyolysis)
✔ Can’t move or walk normally
✔ Is vomiting uncontrollably
✔ Shows signs of alcohol poisoning (confusion, slow breathing)
✔ Has been physically assaulted

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

Do not delete anything. Save:
✔ Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs (screenshots)
✔ Photos/videos of injuries or hazing activities
✔ Medical records (hospital bills, doctor’s notes)
✔ Names of witnesses (other pledges, bystanders)
✔ Fraternity documents (pledge manuals, schedules)

If the fraternity tries to delete evidence, we can subpoena it.

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone

Universities and fraternities will try to silence victims. They may:
❌ Offer a quick, low settlement to make the case go away
❌ Pressure your child to sign a confidentiality agreement
❌ Threaten expulsion or retaliation
❌ Destroy evidence

Before talking to anyone, call us first.

Step 4: Call Attorney 911 – 1-888-ATTY-911

We offer free, confidential consultations for St. Mary Parish hazing victims. We’ll:
✔ Explain your legal rights
✔ Help preserve evidence
✔ Deal with the fraternity and university for you
✔ Fight for maximum compensation

Time is critical. Louisiana has a 1-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Call us now.

What Can St. Mary Parish Families Recover in a Hazing Lawsuit?

Hazing victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for:

Medical Expenses

Hospital bills (ER, ICU, surgery)
Doctor visits
Therapy and counseling
Future medical care (dialysis, kidney transplant)

Pain and Suffering

Physical pain from injuries
Emotional trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
Humiliation and shame

Lost Wages & Future Earnings

Time missed from work
Lost internship opportunities
Career impact (if injuries prevent certain jobs)

Academic Damages

Tuition refunds (if forced to drop out)
Lost scholarships
Delayed graduation

Punitive Damages

Punishment for the fraternity/university if their conduct was especially reckless
Our current case seeks $10 million—this is what hazing is worth

Hazing Deaths and Settlements: What St. Mary Parish Families Need to Know

Hazing cases routinely result in multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what other families have recovered:

Case	University	Fraternity	Outcome	Amount
Max Gruver	LSU	Phi Delta Theta	Jury Verdict	$6.1 million
Stone Foltz	Bowling Green State	Pi Kappa Alpha	Settlement	$10.1 million
Timothy Piazza	Penn State	Beta Theta Pi	Settlement	$110+ million
Andrew Coffey	Florida State	Pi Kappa Phi	Settlement	Confidential (major)
Adam Oakes	VCU	Delta Chi	Settlement	$4+ million

Our current case seeks $10 million for a hazing victim who survived. If your child was hazed in St. Mary Parish, you deserve justice too.

Fraternities Near St. Mary Parish with Hazing Histories

Pi Kappa Phi

Hazing Record: Waterboarding, forced exercise, prior death (Andrew Coffey, 2017)
Chapters Near St. Mary Parish:
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Louisiana State University
- Tulane University

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)

Hazing Record: Forced drinking, physical abuse, multiple lawsuits
Chapters Near St. Mary Parish:
- LSU
- Tulane
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)

Hazing Record: Forced drinking, physical abuse, prior UH hazing case (2017)
Chapters Near St. Mary Parish:
- LSU
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Kappa Sigma

Hazing Record: Forced drinking, physical abuse, multiple lawsuits
Chapters Near St. Mary Parish:
- LSU
- Tulane
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette

If your child was hazed by any of these fraternities, call us immediately.

What Makes Our Firm Different for St. Mary Parish Hazing Cases?

1. We’re Former Insurance Defense Lawyers – We Know Their Playbook

Both of our attorneys—Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña—worked for insurance companies before switching sides. We know:
✔ How fraternities and universities try to deny claims
✔ How insurance companies lowball settlements
✔ How to dismantle their defenses

We use their own tactics against them.

2. We Have Federal Court Authority – We Can Sue Anywhere

We’re admitted to U.S. District Court (Southern District of Texas), meaning we can file hazing lawsuits in federal court—giving us more leverage against national fraternities.

3. We’re Aggressive – We Don’t Back Down

Fraternities and universities will try to intimidate you. They’ll say:
❌ “It was just tradition.”
❌ “Your child consented.”
❌ “You don’t have a case.”

We don’t accept their excuses. We fight for every dollar you deserve.

4. We Have a Proven Track Record in High-Stakes Cases

$10 million hazing lawsuit (current case)
Multi-million-dollar personal injury settlements
BP Texas City explosion litigation (mass tort experience)
Former insurance defense attorneys (know how to beat them)

We don’t just talk about hazing—we’re actively fighting it in court.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hazing in St. Mary Parish

1. “Is hazing really that serious?”

Yes. Hazing has killed students at LSU (Max Gruver), Florida State (Andrew Coffey), and Penn State (Timothy Piazza). In our current case, a student was waterboarded and hospitalized with kidney failure. This isn’t “tradition”—it’s abuse, and it’s illegal.

2. “My child consented to hazing. Can we still sue?”

Yes. Louisiana law (La. R.S. 14:40.7) explicitly says consent is not a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the fraternity and university can still be held liable.

3. “The fraternity said they’ll handle it internally. Should we trust them?”

No. Fraternities and universities protect their own interests, not yours. They may:
❌ Cover up the incident
❌ Destroy evidence
❌ Offer a low settlement
❌ Retaliate against your child

Before talking to them, call us first.

4. “How much is my hazing case worth?”

It depends on:
✔ Severity of injuries (hospitalization, surgery, long-term damage)
✔ Egregiousness of conduct (waterboarding, forced drinking, physical abuse)
✔ University’s involvement (did they own the fraternity house?)
✔ Prior incidents (did the fraternity/university know about past hazing?)

Our current case seeks $10 million for a hazing victim who survived. If your child was hazed in St. Mary Parish, you could be entitled to significant compensation.

5. “How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”

Louisiana has a 1-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Time is critical—evidence disappears, and witnesses forget. Call us immediately to protect your rights.

6. “We’re in St. Mary Parish. Can you still help us?”

Absolutely. We serve hazing victims nationwide, including St. Mary Parish. We offer:
✔ Free video consultations
✔ In-person meetings in St. Mary Parish
✔ Remote case management
✔ Federal court authority

Distance is not a barrier to justice.

St. Mary Parish Families: It’s Time to Fight Back

Hazing is not tradition. It’s not bonding. It’s abuse. And it’s time for St. Mary Parish families to hold these organizations accountable.

If your child was hazed at a university near St. Mary Parish, call us now for a free, confidential consultation.