Hazing Lawyers in Tift County, Georgia – Protecting Students from Abuse

Tift County Families: Your Child Was Hazed. Now What?

If your son or daughter was injured, humiliated, or traumatized during fraternity or sorority initiation in Tift County, you’re not alone. The same hazing culture that hospitalized a University of Houston student with kidney failure exists right here in Georgia. The same national fraternities with chapters near Tift County have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths. And Attorney 911 is fighting to hold them accountable—no matter where the abuse occurred.

We represent hazing victims nationwide, including Tift County families, and we’re currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for torturing a pledge. Your Tift County child deserves the same aggressive legal representation.

📞 Call Now for a Free Consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911

(Available 24/7 for Tift County hazing emergencies)

What Counts as Hazing in Tift County?

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “tradition.” In Georgia, hazing is illegal and includes:

Physical abuse: Beatings, paddling, forced exercise (like the 500 squats that hospitalized our client)
Forced consumption: Alcohol poisoning, eating until vomiting (documented in our case)
Psychological torture: Waterboarding (yes, it happened in Houston—it happens in Tift County too), humiliation, sleep deprivation
Dangerous rituals: Extreme physical challenges, exposure to harsh weather, blindfolded activities
Sexual harassment: Forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, sexual assault

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61) makes hazing a misdemeanor or felony, depending on severity. But criminal charges aren’t enough. Families can sue for medical bills, emotional trauma, and punitive damages.

Why Tift County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now

We’re currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for torturing a pledge with:

Waterboarding (simulated drowning with a garden hose)
500 squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
Forced eating until vomiting (milk, hot dogs, peppercorns)
Wooden paddles striking his body
Sleep deprivation and late-night driving

This happened in Texas. It happens in Tift County too. The same national fraternities operate at universities near Tift County, and they have the same hazing culture.

2. We Know How to Win Against Fraternities and Universities

$10.1 million won for the family of Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha, Bowling Green State)
$6.1 million jury verdict in the Maxwell Gruver case (Phi Delta Theta, LSU)
$110+ million estimated settlement in the Timothy Piazza case (Beta Theta Pi, Penn State)

These aren’t just numbers—they’re proof that juries punish hazing. We’ll fight for Tift County families to get the same justice.

3. We Serve Tift County Families Nationwide

While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims across the U.S., including Tift County. We offer:
✅ Remote consultations (video calls for Tift County families)
✅ Travel to Tift County for depositions, meetings, and trials
✅ Federal court authority (U.S. District Court admission)
✅ Dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York)

Distance is not a barrier to justice.

4. No Upfront Costs for Tift County Families

We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win. If we don’t recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Tift County

🚨 Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Even if injuries seem minor, hazing can cause:

Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure, like our client)
Alcohol poisoning (common in forced drinking hazing)
Traumatic brain injury (from beatings or falls)
PTSD, anxiety, and depression

Document everything. Medical records are critical evidence.

📱 Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence
Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs)
Get witness names and contact info (other pledges, bystanders)
Do NOT delete anything (even if it’s embarrassing—it’s evidence)

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

They will try to control the narrative
They may destroy evidence
They may pressure your child to stay silent

Let us handle all communication. We know their tactics.

📞 Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately

Time is critical. Georgia has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your rights expire.

📋 Step 5: Report the Hazing

File a police report (hazing is a crime in Georgia)
Report to the university (Title IX may apply if sexual harassment occurred)
Report to the national fraternity (but expect denial—we’ll hold them accountable)

Who Is Liable for Tift County Hazing?

Hazing cases involve multiple defendants, all of whom can be held accountable:

Defendant	Why They’re Liable
Local fraternity/sorority chapter	Organized and conducted the hazing
National fraternity/sorority	Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture
University/college	Failed to protect students (especially if they own the fraternity house)
Chapter officers	Directed the hazing (president, pledgemaster, etc.)
Individual members	Participated in or failed to stop the abuse
Alumni	Allowed hazing at their homes
Insurance companies	Fraternities and universities have liability policies

We sue everyone responsible. In our Pi Kappa Phi case, we’re pursuing:

The national organization (for failing to prevent hazing despite knowing about a “hazing crisis”)
The University of Houston (for owning the fraternity house where torture occurred)
Individual members (for participating in the abuse)
Alumni (for hosting hazing at their home)

What Compensation Can Tift County Families Recover?

Hazing victims can sue for:

Damage Type	Examples
Medical expenses	Hospital bills, therapy, future treatment
Lost wages	Time missed from work (for students or parents)
Pain and suffering	Physical pain from injuries
Emotional distress	PTSD, anxiety, depression from abuse
Punitive damages	To punish egregious conduct (like waterboarding)
Wrongful death	If hazing results in death (like the Stone Foltz case)

Our $10 million demand in the Pi Kappa Phi case includes:

Past and future medical bills (our client was hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure)
Pain and suffering (waterboarding, 500 squats, paddling)
Punitive damages (to send a message that this can’t happen again)

Tift County Hazing: It’s Happening Near You

Universities Near Tift County with Greek Life

While Tift County doesn’t have a major university, students from the area attend schools with active Greek systems, including:

Valdosta State University (45 min from Tift County)
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) (30 min from Tift County)
Georgia Southwestern State University (1 hour from Tift County)
University of Georgia (Athens, GA)
Georgia Tech (Atlanta, GA)
Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, GA)

The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths operate at these schools:

Pi Kappa Phi (our current lawsuit)
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) (paid $1M+ in settlements)
Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) (Stone Foltz case)
Beta Theta Pi (Timothy Piazza case)

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Tift County, they face the same risks.

Tift County Parents: Know the Warning Signs of Hazing

Hazing is often hidden, but these red flags may indicate your child is being abused:

✅ Unexplained injuries (bruises, cuts, broken bones)
✅ Extreme fatigue (sleep deprivation is common)
✅ Changes in behavior (withdrawal, anxiety, depression)
✅ Secrecy about activities (“I can’t talk about it”)
✅ Sudden weight loss or gain (forced eating, extreme exercise)
✅ Avoiding certain people or places (fear of retaliation)
✅ Unexplained absences (late-night hazing sessions)
✅ Talk of “traditions” or “tests” (hazing disguised as rituals)

If you notice these signs, act immediately. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a confidential consultation.

What Makes Our Firm Different for Tift County Families?

1. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides. We know how they think, how they fight claims, and how to beat them.

2. We’ve Handled High-Stakes Litigation

BP Texas City explosion (mass tort litigation)
Federal court cases (U.S. District Court admission)
Multi-million dollar settlements for personal injury victims

3. We Understand Greek Life Culture

Ralph Manginello was a Hall of Fame athlete and youth coach—he knows team dynamics and the pressures students face.
We’ve litigated Kappa Sigma hazing cases and Texas A&M rhabdomyolysis cases.
We know the playbook fraternities use to deny liability—and how to dismantle it.

4. We’re Not Afraid to Go to Trial

Many lawyers settle for low amounts to avoid court. We take cases to trial when defendants won’t pay what’s fair. Our track record proves juries side with victims.

5. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)

Many hazing victims in Tift County come from Hispanic families. We communicate in Spanish to ensure no language barriers.

Tift County Hazing Lawsuit FAQs

Q: Can we sue if the hazing didn’t happen in Tift County?

A: Yes. We represent hazing victims nationwide. If the abuse occurred at a university your child attends, we can pursue the case no matter where you live.

Q: What if my child “consented” to hazing?

A: Consent is NOT a defense. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61) explicitly states that victims cannot consent to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the fraternity and university are still liable.

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

A: Georgia has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Do not wait. Evidence disappears, and your rights expire.

Q: Will my child have to testify?

A: Not always. Many cases settle before trial. If the case does go to court, we prepare our clients thoroughly and support them every step of the way.

Q: How much does it cost to hire Attorney 911?

A: $0 upfront. We work on contingency, meaning we only get paid if we win your case.

Tift County Families: The Time to Act Is Now

Hazing doesn’t stop on its own. Fraternities and universities only change when they’re forced to. Our $10 million lawsuit is sending a message—but we need your help to protect more students.

📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 Today