Hazing Lawyers in Union County, TN – Attorney 911 Fights for Victims

Union County Families: Hazing Is Happening Near You – And We Can Help

Hazing isn’t just a distant problem—it’s happening right here in Union County, Tennessee, and at colleges and universities across the state. Fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and other student organizations use dangerous, humiliating, and sometimes life-threatening rituals to “initiate” new members.

If your child was hazed in Union County—or anywhere in Tennessee—you have legal rights. And Attorney 911 is here to fight for you.

We’re currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—proving that fraternities and universities can and should be held accountable. The same legal strategies apply to Union County families.

🚨 Hazing in Union County: What You Need to Know

While we don’t have documented hazing cases in Union County itself, hazing is a statewide problem—and the same fraternities and sororities that operate in major Tennessee universities have chapters near Union County.

Colleges and universities near Union County with Greek life include:

• Carson-Newman University (Jefferson City, TN)
• University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN)
• East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, TN)
• Tusculum University (Greeneville, TN)
• Walters State Community College (Morristown, TN)

The same national fraternities involved in deadly hazing cases nationwide—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and others—have active chapters at these schools.

If your child attends or plans to attend a college near Union County, they face the same risks as students everywhere else.

💔 What Is Hazing? (And Why It’s Illegal in Tennessee)

Hazing isn’t just “harmless fun” or “tradition”—it’s abuse, assault, and sometimes torture. Tennessee law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-7-123) defines hazing as:

“Any intentional or reckless act, on or off campus, by one student acting alone or with others, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, or affiliation with any organization.”

Common Hazing Activities in Tennessee (And Why They’re Dangerous)

🚨 Tennessee law makes it clear: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds hazers accountable.

🏥 Real Cases, Real Consequences: What Hazing Does to Victims

Case 1: Rhabdomyolysis & Kidney Failure (Our Current $10M Lawsuit)

Victim: Leonel Bermudez (University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi)
What Happened:

• Forced to do 500 squats, 100+ pushups, bear crawls, and “suicides” until he collapsed
• Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
• Struck with wooden paddles
• Forced to eat until vomiting, then forced to keep running
• Hospitalized for 4 days with rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and kidney failure

Why This Matters for Union County Families:

• The same fraternity (Pi Kappa Phi) has chapters near Union County
• The same “traditions” exist at Tennessee universities
• Universities near Union County have the same duty to protect students—and the same liability when they fail

Case 2: Death from Alcohol Poisoning (Stone Foltz, Pi Kappa Alpha)

Victim: Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State University)
What Happened:

• Forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big Brother” event
• Found unresponsive the next morning
• Died from alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.40+—5x the legal limit)
  Outcome:
• $10.1 million settlement (largest in Ohio history)
• Fraternity permanently expelled
• Multiple members criminally convicted

Why This Matters for Union County:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) has chapters at Tennessee universities
• Forced drinking is a common hazing tactic
• Tennessee universities can be held liable for failing to stop it

Case 3: Traumatic Brain Injury & Death (Timothy Piazza, Beta Theta Pi)

Victim: Timothy Piazza (Penn State University)
What Happened:

• Forced to drink 18 drinks in 82 minutes (“the gauntlet”)
• BAC reached 0.36 (potentially fatal)
• Fell down stairs multiple times—fraternity brothers waited 12 hours before calling 911
• Died from traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding
  Outcome:
• $110+ million settlement (estimated)
• 18 members criminally charged
• Pennsylvania passed the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law

Why This Matters for Union County:

• Beta Theta Pi has chapters at Tennessee universities
• Universities near Union County have the same duty to monitor Greek life
• If they fail, they can be held financially responsible

⚖️ Tennessee Hazing Laws: What You Need to Know

1. Tennessee’s Anti-Hazing Law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-7-123)

• Hazing is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 11 months in jail and $2,500 fine)
• If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death, it can be a felony
• Consent is NOT a defense—even if your child “agreed” to participate, hazers can still be prosecuted
• Organizations (fraternities, sororities, sports teams) can be fined and lose recognition

2. Civil Liability: You Can Sue for Damages

Even if criminal charges aren’t filed, you can sue for money damages, including:

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
• Lost wages (if the victim missed work or school)
• Punitive damages (to punish the defendants for reckless conduct)
• Wrongful death (if hazing results in death)

3. Who Can Be Sued in a Tennessee Hazing Case?

🔍 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Union County (Or Anywhere in Tennessee)

Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) can be life-threatening—symptoms include:
  • Severe muscle pain
  • Dark brown urine
  • Weakness or inability to move
  • Nausea, vomiting, confusion
• Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression) also requires treatment

Step 2: Preserve ALL Evidence

✅ Take photos/videos of injuries
✅ Save all text messages, social media posts, and emails about hazing
✅ Get names and contact info of witnesses
✅ Document all medical records and bills
✅ Do NOT delete anything—even if it’s embarrassing

Step 3: Report the Hazing

• File a police report (hazing is a crime in Tennessee)
• Report to the university’s Title IX office or Greek life office
• Contact the national fraternity/sorority organization

Step 4: Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately

⚠️ Do NOT talk to the fraternity, sorority, or university without a lawyer.

• They will try to minimize the incident
• They will pressure you to sign waivers
• They will destroy evidence
• They will offer lowball settlements

At Attorney 911, we handle ALL communications for you.

Step 5: Know Your Rights

• You have 1 year to file a personal injury lawsuit in Tennessee (statute of limitations)
• You can sue even if criminal charges aren’t filed
• You don’t pay us unless we win your case (contingency fee)

💰 How Much Is a Tennessee Hazing Case Worth?

Hazing cases can result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts, depending on:

• Severity of injuries (hospitalization, permanent damage, death)
• Egregiousness of conduct (torture, sexual abuse, forced drinking)
• Defendants’ ability to pay (universities and national fraternities have deep pockets)
• Prior incidents (if the university/fraternity knew about hazing and did nothing)

Recent Hazing Settlements & Verdicts

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

🏆 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Union County Hazing Case?

1. We’re Currently Fighting a $10M Hazing Lawsuit

• We represent Leonel Bermudez, who was hospitalized after Pi Kappa Phi hazing
• We know exactly how to build these cases
• We’re not afraid to take on universities and national fraternities

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• We know how the other side thinks (because we used to work for them)
• We anticipate their defenses and counter them aggressively
• We maximize your compensation by knowing their playbook

3. Federal Court Authority

• We’re admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
• We can pursue cases nationwide, including in Tennessee
• We travel to Union County for depositions, trials, and client meetings

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

• Strategic advantage for cases involving national fraternities (many are headquartered in New York)
• We can pursue defendants in multiple states

5. We Work on Contingency – $0 Upfront

• You pay nothing unless we win
• No hourly fees, no retainers
• We only get paid if you get paid

6. Bilingual Services (Se Habla Español)

• Hazing affects all communities, including Hispanic students
• We provide full legal services in Spanish
• No language barriers to justice

7. 24/7 Availability for Union County Families

• Hazing emergencies don’t wait—neither do we
• Call us anytime: 1-888-ATTY-911
• We respond immediately to preserve evidence and protect your rights

📞 Union County Families: Call Us Now for a Free Consultation

If your child was hazed in Union County—or anywhere in Tennessee—we can help.

🚨 FREE CASE EVALUATION – 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

✅ What We Offer Union County Families:

✔ Free, confidential case review
✔ No upfront costs—we only get paid if you win
✔ Aggressive legal representation against fraternities and universities
✔ 24/7 availability for hazing emergencies
✔ Bilingual services (English & Spanish)
✔ Federal court authority—we can sue national organizations
✔ Willingness to travel to Union County for your case

🔥 Message to Tennessee Fraternities & Universities: We Are Watching

To the fraternities and sororities operating near Union County:

• Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma—we know who you are.
• The same legal strategies that won $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapters.
• If you haze students in Tennessee, we will find every liable entity—and we will sue them all.

To the universities near Union County (Carson-Newman, UT Knoxville, ETSU, Tusculum, Walters State):

• You own the fraternity houses. You control the Greek life. You have the power to stop hazing.
• The same negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.
• Act now—or face the same accountability.

To the parents of Union County:

• Your children deserve to be safe.
• If they’re hazed, we will fight for them.
• We’ve seen what fraternities do to kids. We’re fighting it in court right now.
• We see your child as a person—not a paycheck. And we will fight hard for your family.

📅 Statute of Limitations in Tennessee: Don’t Wait!

• Personal injury claims: 1 year from the date of injury
• Wrongful death claims: 1 year from the date of death
• If you wait too long, you lose your right to sue forever

⚠️ Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Don’t let the fraternity or university get away with it.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Union County Families

1. My child was hazed, but they don’t want to report it. What should I do?

• Hazing is a crime in Tennessee—you can report it even if your child doesn’t want to.
• The longer you wait, the harder it is to prove your case.
• We can help protect your child from retaliation.

2. The fraternity said my child “consented” to hazing. Can they still be held liable?

• NO. Tennessee law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-7-123) explicitly states that consent is NOT a defense.
• Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds hazers accountable.

3. The university said they didn’t know about the hazing. Can we still sue?

• YES. Universities have a duty to monitor Greek life and prevent hazing.
• If they should have known (because of prior incidents, complaints, or obvious risks), they can still be held liable.

4. My child was hazed at a fraternity near Union County, but we don’t live there. Can you still help?

• YES. We represent hazing victims nationwide, including in Tennessee.
• We offer video consultations and travel to Union County for meetings and depositions.

5. How much does it cost to hire a hazing lawyer?

• $0 upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis—we only get paid if we win your case.
• Our fee is a percentage of your settlement or verdict (typically 33-40%).

6. What if the hazing happened a while ago? Can we still sue?

• It depends. Tennessee has a 1-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
• Contact us immediately—we’ll review your case and determine if you still have time to file.

7. Can we sue the national fraternity, or just the local chapter?

• YES, you can sue both. National organizations have deep pockets and insurance policies that can pay large settlements.
• They also have a duty to supervise their local chapters.

8. What if my child was hazed at a sports team or club, not a fraternity?

• We handle ALL types of hazing cases, including:
  • Sports teams (football, baseball, soccer, etc.)
  • Marching bands
  • ROTC programs
  • Honor societies
  • Student clubs
  • Military academies

9. What if the hazing didn’t cause physical injuries—just emotional trauma?

• You can still sue. Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression) is compensable in hazing cases.
• We work with mental health experts to document the impact on your child.

10. What if the fraternity or university offers us a settlement? Should we take it?

• NEVER accept a settlement without talking to a lawyer first.
• First offers are always lowball offers—insurance companies and universities will try to pay you as little as possible.
• We negotiate aggressively to maximize your compensation.

🎯 Final Message to Union County Families: You Are Not Alone

Hazing is not tradition. It’s not bonding. It’s abuse.

If your child was hazed in Union County—or anywhere in Tennessee—we can help.

We’re fighting this battle right now in a $10 million lawsuit, and we’ll bring the same aggressive, compassionate representation to Union County families.

📞 Call us today for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911

💬 Email: ralph@atty911.com

🌐 Website: attorney911.com

We don’t get paid unless you win. And we won’t stop until justice is served.