Los Angeles Fraternity Hazing Lawyer
12100 Wilshire Boulevard, 8th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90025
424-334-0000
Hazing is defined as any activity essentially required of a student interested
in joining, or being initiated into, a fraternity or sorority
that in fact humiliates, degrades, endangers, or abuses that individual.
Hazing includes an element of coercion. Hazing can result in a young person
sustaining injuries, oftentimes of a serious nature. In addition, fraternity
members are killed in hazing incidents. The ramifications of these incidents
underscore the need for strong legal representation from an experienced
fraternity hazing lawyer.
73 percent of members of fraternities in the United States report that
they were subjected to hazing, according to the in-depth National Study
of Student Hazing: Examining and Transforming Campus Hazing. The number
of sorority members that experienced hazing is less, but it is a significant
problem among Greek organizations for women as well.
Types of Fraternity Hazing Injuries
Fraternity hazing comes in a variety of forms. Many hazing practices poise
threats of physical injury. Others can result in psychological and emotional
damage. Still other hazing rituals can cause both.
Examples of more common hazing practices include:
• forced consumption of mind-altering substances
• exposure to extreme temperatures without proper protection
• branding
• forced ingestion of substances
• bondage
• beatings
• nudity and sexual acts
• deprivation of different types
A fraternity hazing attorney is invaluable in assisting an injured person
determine not only whether but how certain activities rise to the level
of hazing. The legal team at The Doan Law Office includes fraternity hazing
lawyers and can be reached at (424) 334-0000.
Sorority Hazing Injury Cases
Sorority hazing, although not as commonplace as among fraternities, does
occur. Sorority hazing typically involves the forced
consumption of mind-altering substances and some of the less aggressive
practices also undertaken by fraternities. Although the rate of hazing
injuries is notably higher among fraternities, annually women in sororities
end up in hospital emergency rooms because of injuries sustained through hazing.
Compensation in a Fraternity Hazing Injury Case
Compensation likely to be awarded in a fraternity hazing case, that resulted
in injuries, depends largely on the specific facts and circumstances at
hand. Nonetheless, there are some types of losses, injuries, and damages
that typically result in claims for compensation in fraternity hazing
cases. The same holds true for compensation in sorority hazing incidents as well.
• medical expenses
• pain and suffering
• emotional distress
• permanent injury or disability
• various ancillary losses
In a shocking number of fraternity hazing cases, a person ends up with
issues that persist into the future. For example, a fraternity pledge
or brother may experience serious injuries that require medical treatment
into the future. In addition, pain and suffering can also persist for
an extended period of time. An injured individual is entitled to compensation
for these future issues that reasonably can be expected to occur.
In addition, if the conduct of a wrongdoer in a fraternity hazing case
is particularly reckless or egregious, punitive damages may be awarded
to an injured person in a lawsuit. Punitive damages not only award an
injured person with additional compensation, but also serve to punish
a wrongdoer.
Fraternity Hazing Wrongful Death Case
A fraternity hazing lawyer provides invaluable assistance in the event
a person is killed in a fraternity or sorority hazing incident. California
law permits the parents, and certain other family members, to initiate
a wrongful death claim and lawsuit if a loved one is killed in a hazing
incident. If the deceased individual's parents are also gone, siblings
are then in a position to consider bringing a fraternity hazing wrongful
death lawsuit.
Compensation in a fraternity hazing wrongful death case include:
• medical bills
• funeral expenses
• lost companionship
• emotional distress
Experienced Fraternity Hazing Lawyer
The first step in protecting the legal rights of a victim of fraternity
hazing is retaining the professional services of a skilled fraternity
hazing attorney from The Doan Law Firm. Keep in mind that an attorney
from our firm does not charge any fee for an initial consultation regarding
a fraternity hazing injury case.
An appointment can be scheduled with a fraternity hazing lawyer by calling
(424) 334-0000. Our phone lines are staffed around the clock, seven days
a week, 365 days a year. In addition, we can schedule an appointment with
you at our conveniently located offices in Los Angeles, at your home,
at any college or university, or even at a hospital, depending on your
on circumstances.
The Doan Law Firm is located at:
12100 Wilshire Boulevard, 8th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90025
(424) 334-0000