Hazing Injury & Wrongful Death Legal Help for Bibb County, Alabama Families

If you are a parent in Bibb County, Alabama, and your child has been injured, hospitalized, or worse due to hazing at college, you are not alone. That midnight phone call, the rushed trip to a distant hospital, the confusion when the university speaks in careful, closed-door meetings—this is a nightmare no family should face. Right now, in Texas, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered kidney failure after brutal Pi Kappa Phi fraternity hazing. His story, and the national patterns it reflects, hold critical lessons for every family, including those here in Bibb County whose students attend universities across Alabama and the Southeast.

This guide is for you: the parents, grandparents, and families in Centreville, Brent, West Blocton, and throughout Bibb County. We will explain what modern hazing really looks like, the legal landscape in Alabama and nationally, and the practical steps you can take to protect your child and seek accountability. While our law firm is based in Texas, we serve hazing victims and their families nationwide through consultation, case evaluation, and co-counsel arrangements with local attorneys. Your child’s safety and your family’s right to justice do not stop at the state line.

If This Is Happening Right Now: Immediate Steps

Your first priority is safety and evidence. If your child is in immediate physical danger, call 911 or campus police. If they are injured or intoxicated, get them medical attention immediately—tell the doctors what happened.

In the first 48 hours, you must preserve evidence:

• Screenshot everything: Group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, texts), social media posts, and DMs that reference the events. Do not let your child delete anything, even if it’s embarrassing.
• Photograph injuries: Take clear pictures of any bruises, cuts, burns, or other injuries from multiple angles.
• Write it down: Have your child write down everything they remember: names, dates, locations, and what was said and done.
• Secure physical items: Save clothing, receipts, or any objects used in the hazing.
• Contact an attorney: Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate, confidential guidance. Evidence disappears rapidly; we can advise you on how to secure it and navigate the next steps with the university.

Do NOT:

• Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
• Sign any documents from the university or an insurance company.
• Allow your child to attend “one last meeting” to “talk things out.”
• Post details on public social media.

Hazing in 2025: It’s Not Just “Boys Will Be Boys”

Hazing is any action or situation created intentionally to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or continued membership in any organization. For families in Bibb County, this often looks like:

• Forced or Coerced Consumption: This remains the most common and deadly form. Your child might be pressured into drinking dangerous amounts of alcohol during “big/little” nights, “family trees,” or “lineup” games. This includes being forced to consume unpalatable substances like hot sauce, milk, or raw eggs until they vomit, as alleged in the University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi case.
• Physical Abuse and “Workouts”: This goes beyond tough conditioning. We see forced, exhaustive calisthenics (hundreds of push-ups or squats), paddling, being tackled during blindfolded rituals, exposure to extreme cold, and sleep deprivation—all framed as “building brotherhood” or “tradition.”
• Psychological Torment and Humiliation: This includes verbal abuse, threats of expulsion from the group, forced servitude (chauffeuring members, cleaning houses), social isolation, and degrading acts meant to shame.
• Digital Hazing: Your child’s phone can be a tool of control. Pledges are often required to be on-call 24/7 via group chats, respond instantly to messages, share their location, and participate in humiliating social media dares or challenges.

Hazing is not confined to fraternities. It occurs in sororities, athletic teams, marching bands, Corps of Cadets programs, spirit groups like cheerleading, and other campus organizations. The common thread is an abuse of power, where older members use tradition and social pressure to exploit new members.

The Legal Landscape: Alabama Law and National Frameworks

Hazing laws vary by state. Alabama has its own statutes that provide for criminal penalties and civil liability. The Nathan Boggess Act strengthened Alabama’s anti-hazing law, making it a Class C felony when hazing results in serious bodily injury. Furthermore, universities that receive federal funding must comply with overarching federal laws.

Key Legal Principles for Bibb County Families:

1. Criminal vs. Civil Liability: Hazing can lead to two parallel legal tracks. The state (like the Bibb County District Attorney’s office or campus police) can pursue criminal charges (assault, hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors). Separately, your family can pursue a civil lawsuit to seek compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages from those responsible.
2. “Consent” Is Not a Defense: A critical point in hazing law is that a victim’s so-called “consent” is not a legal defense. Courts recognize that true consent cannot exist under the extreme peer pressure and power imbalance of a hazing environment. In Texas, for example, the Education Code explicitly states this. Similar principles apply in interpreting Alabama law and institutional policies.
3. Multiple Parties Can Be Liable: A successful civil case looks beyond the individual who handed your child the bottle. Liability can extend to:
   • The individuals who planned, participated in, or encouraged the hazing.
   • The local chapter of the fraternity, sorority, or team.
   • The national organization (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon) that may have known about a pattern of dangerous behavior but failed to adequately supervise or intervene.
   • The university, for negligent supervision if it knew or should have known about a dangerous culture and failed to act.
4. Federal Laws: The Clery Act requires universities to report certain crimes, including hazing that involves assault. Title IX comes into play if the hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination. The Stop Campus Hazing Act is pushing for greater transparency in hazing reporting nationwide.

A National Crisis: Lessons from Landmark Cases

The horrific case we are currently litigating in Texas—where Leonel Bermudez developed life-threatening rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after Pi Kappa Phi hazing—is not an isolated incident. It is part of a national pattern that repeats itself at schools large and small. These cases show what is at stake and how the legal system can respond.

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State University (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a bottle of alcohol; died from alcohol poisoning. Result: A $10 million settlement with the national fraternity and university, and criminal convictions for members.
• Max Gruver, Louisiana State University (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died after a forced drinking “Bible study” game. Result: Passage of Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act (felony hazing) and a $6.1 million civil verdict.
• Timothy Piazza, Penn State University (Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a night of forced drinking; help was delayed for hours. Result: Dozens of criminal charges and a new state law, the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Danny Santulli, University of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. Result: Multi-million dollar settlements with 22 different defendants, including the national fraternity.

These cases prove that juries and courts will hold organizations financially accountable for creating cultures that lead to injury and death. The same national fraternities and sororities involved in these tragedies—Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi—have chapters on campuses across Alabama and the Southeast. Their national headquarters cannot claim ignorance of the risks.

Hazing at Universities Relevant to Bibb County Families

Parents in Bibb County often have students attending major universities within Alabama and across the Southeast. Greek life and organized student activities at these schools are not immune to the national hazing epidemic.

Universities in Alabama with Significant Greek Life:

• University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa)
• Auburn University
• University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
• University of South Alabama
• Troy University
• Jacksonville State University

Common Threads and Risks:
The social and organizational pressures that lead to hazing in Texas, Ohio, or Pennsylvania are present here, too. Southern schools with strong football cultures and entrenched Greek life traditions can sometimes see hazing disguised as “team bonding” or “pledge education.” Incidents may involve SEC athletic teams, marching bands, or the fraternities and sororities that make up a significant part of campus social life.

What to Do if It Happens at an Alabama School:

1. Report Internally: File a formal report with the university’s Dean of Students Office, Office of Student Conduct, and campus police.
2. Report Externally: If a crime occurred, file a report with the local city police department where the incident happened.
3. Document the University’s Response: Keep records of all communications. Ask pointed questions about the organization’s prior disciplinary history.
4. Seek Legal Counsel: An attorney can help you navigate the university’s internal process while building a separate civil case to secure compensation and true accountability.

Building a Powerful Case: Evidence Is Everything

Winning a hazing case requires more than telling a compelling story; it requires irrefutable evidence. This is where experience matters. We approach hazing cases with the same investigative rigor we use in complex wrongful death and catastrophic injury litigation.

Critical Evidence We Pursue:

• Digital Forensics: Deleted GroupMe, Snapchat, and text messages can often be recovered. We work with experts to obtain phone records and reconstruct digital timelines.
• Chapter & National Records: Through legal discovery, we subpoena the local chapter’s minutes, emails, and membership rolls, as well as the national organization’s files on prior hazing incidents and complaints—proving they knew the risks.
• University Records: We use public records requests and litigation discovery to obtain the school’s prior disciplinary files on the group, internal investigation reports, and communications between administrators.
• Medical Evidence: Comprehensive medical records are crucial to proving the extent of injuries, from emergency room reports for alcohol poisoning to long-term psychiatric evaluations for PTSD.
• Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and even sympathetic active members can provide essential testimony.

Why Choose Attorney911? Texas-Based, Nationally Relevant Expertise

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who understand the playing field. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD (Attorney911) brings a unique combination of skills to hazing litigation.

• Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation: We are not theorists. We are currently lead counsel in the $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi on behalf of Leonel Bermudez. We know what it takes to go up against a major university and a national fraternity right now.
• Insider Knowledge of Insurance Defense: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense lawyer for large national firms. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies try to deny claims, minimize payouts, and drag out cases. We use that insider knowledge to counter their tactics and fight for full value.
• Experience Against Giant Institutions: Founding partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing down billion-dollar corporate defendants. Universities and national fraternities have deep pockets and elite lawyers—we are not intimidated.
• Complex Injury & Wrongful Death Mastery: We have a proven record of securing multi-million dollar results in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. We know how to work with life-care planners, economists, and medical experts to document the true, lifelong cost of an injury.
• Serving Families Nationwide: While our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, we serve clients across the country. For Alabama families, we can serve as co-counsel with a local Alabama attorney or provide strategic consultation on your case. If your case has connections to Texas (such as a national fraternity’s insurance carrier based here), we may be able to take a leading role.

Your Path Forward: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you are a Bibb County family grappling with the aftermath of hazing, the path can feel isolating and overwhelming. You do not have to walk it alone. We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation to listen to your story, review any evidence you have, and explain your legal options clearly and honestly.

We will discuss:

• The strengths and challenges of your specific situation.
• The realistic timeline and process of a civil lawsuit.
• How we work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case.
• How we can collaborate with local Alabama counsel if needed.
• Your immediate next steps to protect your child’s rights and well-being.

Contact us today. Let us help you turn this crisis into accountability and prevent it from happening to another family.

Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
Se habla Español.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit:

• Click2Houston Coverage: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/
• ABC13 Coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Using Your Cellphone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Understanding Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Common Client Mistakes to Avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website & Contact:

• https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and no outcomes are guaranteed. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice on your specific situation, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC for a consultation.