Hazing Resulting in Serious Injury or Death

Hazing is becoming a more common practice, especially in fraternities and sororities, high school and college athletic associations, the military and professional sports teams. Serious personal injury and wrongful death can be the result of hazing. In these cases, our clients have been well compensated for the harm they have suffered.

In one case, Whitehurst, Harkness, Brees & Cheng, P.C. was able to obtain a $1.1 million settlement for a fraternity pledge who suffered a broken skull and brain damage from hazing.

Examples of Hazing Injuries

• A 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student sued Alpha Phi Alpha and two students for continually punching his thighs resulting in permanent injury preventing him from pursuing his long-distance running activities.
• During a supposed initiation into a marching band, a Southern University student sued the school after he and two other band players were repeatedly struck by two-by-four inch boards. The lawsuit claimed the student was treated for organ failure and other injuries.
• A 47-year-old man was shot to death at an initiation ceremony at a Long Island Masonic Lodge. The shooter used a gun loaded with bullets instead of blanks as he had meant to do.

Types of Hazing and Consequences

• Striking, beating, whipping, paddling have resulted in blood in the urine and kidney failure; massive bleeding around the brain, fractured ribs and kidney damage leading to death; fractured skull and irreversible brain damage leading to death; being kicked and beaten to death
• Winging or blood pinning, occurring most often during military hazing, involve cutting with the sharp points of ceremonial wings and producing bleeding wounds and severe pain
• Cigarette and other forms of burning, tattooing and branding, sometimes causing third degree burns
• Extreme calisthenics over broken glass or in a steam room leading to death
• Confinement in a small area such as a grave, a car trunk, or athletic equipment bags resulting in suffocation, heat-related injuries, or prolonged lack of oxygen and brain damage
• Being forced to swim after dangerous alcohol intoxication leading to drowning
• Coercion to climb roofs, bridges, and ledges leading to falls, often after drinking too much alcohol and causing severe damage to the spine, brain, abdomen, and bones
• Rape or sodomy
• Forced alcohol abuse, leading to serious falls from high places and paralysis, fights, sexual abuse and automobile accidents

If you are harmed by hazing, it is important to bring legal action against the responsible parties. To discuss your circumstances in a free and private consultation, contact an Austin hazing lawyer at Whitehurst, Harkness, Brees & Cheng, P.C. today.