Hazing kills. We help victims and their families get justice.
Since 1952, at least one person has died every year in the United States as a result of hazing. Nationwide, since March 2021, 4 students have died, 5 fraternities or sororities have been expelled, and 23 have been either suspended or placed on probation as a result of hazing.
We work to keep students safe from deadly hazing practices and to change Greek culture across the country.
Hazing is a vicious cycle. The young men in power are generally 19-21 years old and went through similar types of hazing themselves. However, there is a general belief that they have to make it a little bit worse each year. Some don’t believe what they are doing is wrong or even considered “hazing.” They are wrong. Hazing has deadly consequences.
Unfortunately, far too often it takes the loss of a young life for laws to change. Collin’s Law was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine in 2021. The law is named after our client Collin L. Wiant, who died as a result of hazing at Ohio University in November 2018.
The Law increases penalties, widens the scope of those who can be punished for hazing, and expands the list of officials required to report hazing:
- Verbal Abuse
- Threats
- Social Isolation
- Humiliating Acts
- Forced or Coerced Alcohol or Other Drug Consumption
- Assault
- Branding or Burning
- Exposure to Extreme Temperatures Without Appropriate Protection
- Abductions
We’re here for you and your family.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A HAZING LAWSUIT?
When a loved one is injured or dies as a result of hazing, families are faced with difficult questions and emotions as well as immediate challenges. What happened? How did it happen?
We step in and immediately start working to get answers so that you and your family can focus on healing. We work quickly to investigate and identify all responsible parties–from the active members, to the national organizations, to the colleges or universities who allowed the organization on their campus–so they can all be held accountable.
Local Knowledge, National Recognition
We work with parents and lawyers throughout Ohio and nationwide to receive justice for their losses and keep other students safe from dangerous hazing practices.
“While today’s sentencings may be a conclusion for some of the young men convicted in relation to Stone’s death, there will be no closure for our family until hazing is permanently eradicated on college campuses. Universities and Greek organizations must be held accountable for creating and supporting environments that allow hazing to thrive. Stone and countless other students have been tragically injured or killed because people in power refuse to protect them. We fully intend to take steps to require all Ohio universities to actively enforce their policies so that hazing, which is rampant on their campuses, ends for good. There is no other acceptable alternative for Stone or our family.” – Cory and Shari Foltz, Stone’s parents
Hazing Cases Around the Country
Hazing Cases Around the Country
Norwich University Women’s Rugby Team - Norwich University | MARCH 2022
The military academy’s women’s rugby team has been accused of using branding and waterboarding techniques There is an ongoing investigation by local police.
Delta Chi - West Virginia University | FEB 2022
This fraternity’s hazing practices violated the university’s Student Conduct Code. Consequently, the fraternity was suspended until 2025 and deactivated by the national charter.
Phi Delta Theta - Missouri Western State University | FEB 2022
While the details of the hazing report are not public, this fraternity has been deactivated by national charter after the hazing violation investigation.
Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) and Phi Delta Theta - University of Kansas | JAN 2022
Two fraternities hazed students through assault, sleep deprivation, and other tactics. Victims of the hazing incidents also faced retaliation for reporting the hazing to university administration. Both fraternities were suspended from campus for five years.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Tulane University | FEB 2022
The Tulane University Police Department was alerted to a night of hazing practices in February. No information has been released to the public since.
Sigma Gamma Rho - Bowling Green State University | FEB 2022
After a series of violent hazing incidents and threats of retaliation for reporting the behavior conducted in 2020 and 2021, this sorority was expelled from Bowling Green State University in 2022.
Phi Delta Theta - Bowling Green State University | JAN 2022
The fraternity has been suspended for two years due to two separate excessive alcohol consumption incidents that led to emergency services.
Norwich University Women’s Rugby Team - Norwich University | MARCH 2022
The military academy’s women’s rugby team has been accused of using branding and waterboarding techniques There is an ongoing investigation by local police.
Delta Chi - West Virginia University | FEB 2022
This fraternity’s hazing practices violated the university’s Student Conduct Code. Consequently, the fraternity was suspended until 2025 and deactivated by the national charter.
Phi Delta Theta - Missouri Western State University | FEB 2022
While the details of the hazing report are not public, this fraternity has been deactivated by national charter after the hazing violation investigation.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Tulane University | FEB 2022
The Tulane University Police Department was alerted to a night of hazing practices in February. No information has been released to the public since.
Sigma Gamma Rho - Bowling Green State University | FEB 2022
After a series of violent hazing incidents and threats of retaliation for reporting the behavior conducted in 2020 and 2021, this sorority was expelled from Bowling Green State University in 2022. Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Tulane University | FEB 2022
The Tulane University Police Department was alerted to a night of hazing practices in February. No information has been released to the public since.
Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) and Phi Delta Theta - University of Kansas | JAN 2022
Two fraternities hazed students through assault, sleep deprivation, and other tactics. Victims of the hazing incidents also faced retaliation for reporting the hazing to university administration. Both fraternities were suspended from campus for five years.
Phi Delta Theta - Bowling Green State University | JAN 2022
The fraternity has been suspended for two years due to two separate excessive alcohol consumption incidents that led to emergency services.