A Message to Families in Russell County, Alabama: If Your Child Was Hazed, We Can Help

As a parent in Russell County, the values of community, loyalty, and tradition run deep. We raise our children to work hard, aspire to higher education, and find their place in the world. For many students, that journey takes them to Auburn University, the University of Alabama, or other campuses across the South where Greek life is a prominent part of campus culture. But what happens when the pursuit of brotherhood or sisterhood turns dangerous? When the secretive process of “pledging” crosses the line into abuse, leaving your child injured, traumatized, or worse? For families in Phenix City, Ladonia, Hurtsboro, and across Russell County, the nightmare of hazing is not an abstract concept—it is a very real threat confronting our children at institutions we trust.

Right now, our firm is actively fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered catastrophic injuries—rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure—during his fall 2025 pledge period with the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. The detailed allegations in his $10 million lawsuit, as reported by Click2Houston and ABC13, describe a pattern of abuse familiar across the nation: forced physical exhaustion, humiliating “fanny pack” rules, simulated waterboarding, and coercion that led to a life-threatening medical crisis. This case is proof of the level of litigation we handle and the institutional defendants—major universities and national fraternities—we are prepared to fight.

We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, operating as Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™. While our offices are in Texas, we serve hazing victims and their families nationwide. We bring a unique, data-driven, and aggressive approach to hazing litigation. If your son or daughter has been injured in connection with a fraternity, sorority, athletic team, spirit group, or Corps program—whether at a school in Alabama, across the South, or anywhere in the U.S.—we are here to provide immediate help, expert guidance, and a path toward accountability.

Hazing Is Not Tradition—It Is Abuse. What Russell County Parents Need to See.

Hazing has evolved. It is no longer just about silly pranks. It is a calculated system of control, degradation, and physical risk that organizations disguise as “bonding” or “tradition.” For a student from Russell County, caught in the powerful desire to belong, the pressure to endure can be overwhelming. The abuse often follows a predictable pattern:

• Psychological Coercion: Isolation from friends and family, mandatory all-night “study sessions,” constant monitoring via group chats, and threats of social expulsion for non-compliance.
• Physical Punishment: So-called “workouts” designed for exhaustion—hundreds of push-ups, squat holds until muscle failure, sprints in extreme weather—that can lead to rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown that damages the kidneys).
• Forced Consumption: Coerced drinking games, ingestion of spoiled food, hot sauce, or other substances to the point of vomiting and beyond.
• Humiliation and Degradation: Wearing degrading costumes or props, public shaming, and sexualized rituals designed to strip away dignity.

These acts are not accidents. They are planned, often by multiple members and with the tacit knowledge of the organization. As our video on using your phone to document evidence explains, much of this planning now happens digitally, leaving a critical trail of evidence in texts and social media.

The Alabama Hazing Landscape: Where Russell County Students Are at Risk

Hazing is not a Texas-only problem. It is a national epidemic, and Alabama has seen its share of tragedies and scandals. Alabama law, under Code of Alabama Title 16, Chapter 1, Section 16-1-23, explicitly defines and criminalizes hazing at educational institutions. It is a Class B misdemeanor, but if serious bodily injury occurs, the offense becomes a Class A misdemeanor. Furthermore, Alabama’s “Lynn P. Stewart Act” requires public post-secondary institutions to enact strict anti-hazing policies and report violations.

Students from Russell County often attend universities with large, tradition-rich Greek systems where hazing risk is significant:

• Auburn University: With a massive Greek community, Auburn has faced multiple hazing allegations over the years. National fraternities like Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and others present on the Auburn campus have been involved in serious hazing incidents across the country.
• University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa): One of the largest Greek systems in the nation, UA has also grappled with hazing within its fraternities and sororities. The scale of the system can sometimes make oversight and accountability challenging.
• Troy University & Other In-State Schools: Smaller campuses are not immune. Hazing persists in fraternities, sororities, and athletic teams throughout the state’s university system.
• Out-of-State Schools: Many Russell County students attend schools in neighboring states like Georgia (University of Georgia, Georgia Tech), Florida, or Tennessee, where similar Greek cultures and hazing risks exist.

The same national fraternity organizations named in lawsuits nationwide—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta—have chapters at these Alabama schools. Their national insurance carriers and defense playbooks are identical, whether the incident is in Houston or Tuscaloosa.

Your Child’s Legal Rights: Alabama Law and National Precedents

As a parent, you have the right to seek justice and accountability. Hazing is both a crime and a civil wrong. While local Alabama authorities may pursue criminal charges, a civil lawsuit is often the only way to secure compensation for your child’s medical bills, ongoing therapy, pain and suffering, and to force institutional change.

Key Legal Principles for Alabama Families:

1. Consent is Not a Defense: Under Alabama law, and as echoed in Texas’s Bermudez case, a victim’s “agreement” to participate in hazing activities is not a valid legal defense. Courts recognize the immense power imbalance and coercion inherent in the pledging process.
2. Multiple Parties Can Be Held Liable: Liability does not stop with the individual who carried out the act. A successful civil case can target:
   • The individual members who planned, participated in, or covered up the hazing.
   • The local chapter as an organization.
   • The national fraternity or sorority headquarters, which often has deep knowledge of hazing risks, provides (or fails to provide) adequate training, and may carry significant insurance policies.
   • The university or college, if it knew or should have known about a pattern of dangerous behavior and failed to take corrective action (potentially under Title IX or negligent supervision theories).
3. Time is Critical: Evidence disappears quickly. Group chats are deleted, members are coached on what to say, and physical evidence is discarded. The statute of limitations—the legal deadline to file a lawsuit—is also ticking. In Alabama, the timeframe can vary based on the specific claims, but acting swiftly is paramount. We explain these deadlines in our video on statutes of limitation.

Why Attorney911? Texas-Based Expertise with National Reach for Russell County Families

You may wonder why a Texas law firm is reaching out to you in Alabama. The answer is simple: hazing is a national problem that demands specialized, national-level legal expertise. The fraternities and universities your child faces are national organizations with sophisticated defense strategies. We bring a proven, insider’s approach to these exact fights.

Our Blueprint for Hazing Litigation:

1. Immediate Evidence Lockdown: The first 48 hours are crucial. We guide families on how to preserve texts, social media screenshots, photos of injuries, and witness information before it vanishes. This is the digital evidence that wins cases.
2. The Intelligence Advantage: We maintain a proprietary database—our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—tracking thousands of Greek organizations, their corporate structures, insurance carriers, and violation histories. This means we don’t start from scratch. We already understand the ecosystem behind the fraternity letters, whether they’re based in Texas or operate a chapter in Alabama.
3. Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for large national firms. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies evaluate claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight to deny coverage. We use this insider knowledge to build leverage from day one. You can learn more about Mr. Peña’s background on his profile page.
4. Proven Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello and our firm were involved in the historic BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing down billion-dollar defendants with limitless legal resources. Suing a major university or a national fraternity headquarters requires the same level of tenacity, resourcefulness, and courtroom experience. Learn about Ralph’s background here.
5. Co-Counsel Collaboration for Alabama Families: For cases based solely in Alabama, we frequently work as co-counsel with skilled local Alabama attorneys. We provide our specialized hazing litigation strategy, institutional knowledge, and resources, while our local partner handles Alabama-specific court procedures. This collaborative model ensures you get the best of both worlds: national hazing expertise and local legal proficiency.

If You Suspect Hazing: A Step-by-Step Guide for Russell County Parents

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: If your child is in immediate danger or shows signs of severe injury (trouble breathing, extreme confusion, brown urine), call 911. Get them to an emergency room. Rhabdomyolysis and alcohol poisoning are medical emergencies.
2. Preserve Evidence, Do Not Confront: Do not call the fraternity or sorority. Instruct your child to take screenshots of all relevant group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, text threads), social media posts, and photos of injuries. Save this evidence in multiple places.
3. Document Everything: Write down a timeline of events with your child, including names, dates, locations, and specific acts. Memories fade quickly.
4. Seek Legal Counsel BEFORE Reporting: Contact us before making formal statements to the university or police. We can help you navigate this process to protect your child’s rights and ensure the investigation is thorough. Universities often have a vested interest in controlling the narrative.
5. Avoid Common Pitfalls: Do not let your child delete anything out of shame or fear. Do not sign any documents from the university or an insurance adjuster. As we discuss in our video on client mistakes, these actions can unintentionally undermine a case.

You Are Not Alone. Let Us Help You Find Answers and Accountability.

The journey after a hazing incident is isolating and overwhelming. You are grappling with your child’s trauma, facing intimidating institutions, and navigating a complex legal system. You do not have to do this alone.

We offer free, confidential, no-obligation consultations to families anywhere in the United States, including right here in Russell County. During this consultation, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Analyze any evidence you have.
• Explain the legal landscape and your potential options.
• Discuss how our co-counsel model works with Alabama cases.
• Answer your questions frankly about the process, timeline, and costs.

We work on a contingency fee basis for civil cases, meaning there are no upfront costs to you. We only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for your family.

If your child has been hazed, time is the enemy of evidence and justice. Reach out today.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Call us 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Visit our website: https://attorney911.com
Se habla Español: Contact Mr. Lupe Peña directly

Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC. Hazing laws and university policies can change. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and evidence. If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified attorney who can review your specific situation.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Website: https://attorney911.com

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

• Click2Houston coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi case: 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 of the Leonel Bermudez lawsuit: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Video: Using Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Video: Statutes of Limitations Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Video: Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Attorney911 Main Website: https://attorney911.com