Hazing Lawsuit Attorneys Serving Families in the United States
National Hazing Litigation: We Fight for Students and Families Across the United States
When you send your child to college in the United States, you expect them to be safe. You expect universities to protect them. You expect fraternities and sororities to uphold the values of brotherhood and sisterhood, not to act as torture chambers.
If your child has been injured, hospitalized, or tragically killed due to hazing at a university anywhere in the United States, you are facing a legal emergency. We are Attorney 911, and we are currently fighting one of the most significant hazing battles in the country.
We are Legal Emergency Lawyers™. Based in Texas but serving families across the United States through federal court authority and strategic partnerships, we take on the powerful institutions—national fraternities, sprawling university systems, and insurance giants—that try to silence victims.
We Are Fighting the Crisis Right Now
This is not theoretical for us. We are currently litigating Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi, a $10 million lawsuit stemming from a horrific hazing incident at the University of Houston. The negligence we are exposing in this case is not unique to one campus; it is a systemic failure impacting students at universities throughout the United States.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately for a free, confidential consultation. We represent hazing victims nationwide on a contingency basis—you pay nothing unless we win.
The Bermudez Case: A Warning to Every Family in the United States
To understand why families across the United States choose us, look at the fight we are waging right now. On November 21, 2025, we filed a landmark lawsuit against the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, its national leadership, and the University of Houston.
Our client, Leonel Bermudez, was a “ghost rush”—a prospective member who hadn’t even enrolled in classes yet. He was seeking friendship and belonging. Instead, he was subjected to weeks of systematic torture disguised as “tradition.”
The Reality of Modern Hazing
The allegations in our lawsuit expose the brutality occurring behind closed doors at universities in the United States:
- Simulated Drowning: Our client was subjected to waterboarding with a garden hose. This is not a prank; it is torture.
- Physical Destruction: He was forced to perform 500 squats, 100 pushups, and “suicide” sprints until he collapsed.
- Force-Feeding: He was forced to consume milk and food until he vomited, then made to lie in his own vomit.
- The Result: Leonel was hospitalized for four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. His muscles had broken down so severely that they were poisoning his own blood.
Why This Matters for Your Case
We are using this case to prove that national organizations know about the hazing crisis and fail to stop it. Pi Kappa Phi has over 150 chapters across the United States. The same negligence that hospitalized our client in Houston exists on campuses in every state.
If your child has suffered at the hands of a fraternity or sorority in the United States, we will bring the same aggressive, evidence-based strategy to your case.
Why Families in the United States Choose Attorney 911
We know you have choices when looking for legal representation. However, hazing cases require a specific set of skills that general personal injury lawyers often lack. Here is why families across the United States trust Attorney Ralph Manginello and Attorney Lupe Peña with these sensitive, high-stakes cases.
1. We Are Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
Both of our lead attorneys spent years working for the other side. We defended insurance companies. We know exactly how they evaluate claims, how they try to devalue victims, and the tricks they use to avoid paying out. Now, we use that insider knowledge to dismantle their defenses and maximize recovery for families in the United States.
2. We Have Federal Court Authority
Hazing cases often involve issues that cross state lines, including civil rights violations and national corporate negligence. We are admitted to the United States District Court, giving us the authority to pursue justice in the federal legal system when necessary.
3. We Target the National Organizations
Many local lawyers only sue the local chapter—often a group of college students with no assets. We go after the deep pockets. We target the national fraternity headquarters, the housing corporations that own the properties, and the universities that facilitated the negligence. These entities have significant insurance policies and assets that are necessary to fully compensate a victim.
4. We Will Travel to You
While our headquarters are in Texas, justice has no borders. For depositions, trials, and critical meetings, our team travels to locations throughout the United States. We utilize modern technology to handle intakes and consultations remotely, ensuring you have immediate access to top-tier representation regardless of where you are located.
National Watchdog: We Know Who They Are
We maintain extensive intelligence on the corporate structures of Greek organizations operating in the United States. When a hazing incident occurs, it is rarely an isolated event. It is often part of a pattern of negligence.
We track the hazing records of major national fraternities operating at universities across the United States, including:
- Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE): Known for the Stone Foltz death case ($10M+ settlement) and a history of severe incidents.
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Historically linked to numerous hazing deaths and injuries nationwide.
- Phi Delta Theta: Note the Maxwell Gruver case ($6.1M verdict) which changed laws in Louisiana.
- Beta Theta Pi: The fraternity involved in the Timothy Piazza tragedy ($110M+ settlement estimation).
- Pi Kappa Phi: The defendant in our current $10M lawsuit and the Andrew Coffey death case.
Our Message to Fraternities in the United States:
We know your history. We know your insurance structure. We know your risk management failures. If you harm a student anywhere in the United States, we are prepared to hold you accountable.
Understanding Hazing Injuries: It’s Not Just “Roughhousing”
Parents throughout the United States are often shocked to learn the medical reality of hazing. We work with medical experts to document the full extent of the damage caused by these rituals.
Rhabdomyolysis
This is a medical emergency where muscle tissue breaks down and releases a damaging protein into the blood. It is caused by extreme physical exertion—like being forced to do hundreds of squats or calisthenics. It causes acute kidney failure and can be fatal. This is exactly what happened to our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Falls, beatings, and “traditions” involving physical blows to the head can cause permanent brain damage. We fight for lifetime care costs for victims in the United States suffering from TBI.
Alcohol Poisoning
Forced consumption is a staple of hazing in the United States. When “pledges” are forced to drink entire bottles of liquor, it is not a party; it is a weapon. We hold organizations liable for using alcohol as a tool of abuse.
Psychological Trauma
The humiliation, sleep deprivation, and terror inflicted during hazing often result in PTSD, severe anxiety, and depression. We pursue damages for the mental health impact on students in the United States, which can derail their education and future careers.
Who Is Liable for Hazing in the United States?
When we build a case for a family in the United States, we cast a wide net to ensure every responsible party is held accountable.
- The National Fraternity/Sorority: They collect dues from chapters across the United States and have a duty to enforce safety policies. When they fail to act on “hazing crises,” they are liable.
- The University: Universities often own the land or the houses where hazing occurs. If they knew of a dangerous culture and turned a blind eye, we hold them responsible.
- Housing Corporations: These are the entities that often own the fraternity houses. They are landlords with a duty to prevent dangerous activities on their premises.
- Individual Officers and Advisors: Chapter presidents, pledgemasters, and alumni advisors who direct or allow hazing can be sued personally.
Verdicts and Settlements: What Is Possible?
Families in the United States have fought back against hazing and won. These precedent cases prove that juries and courts are willing to award substantial damages for hazing.
- Stone Foltz Case (Ohio): A $10 million+ result following the tragic death of a student at Bowling Green State University involving Pi Kappa Alpha.
- Maxwell Gruver Case (Louisiana): A $6.1 million jury verdict against the perpetrators of a fatal hazing incident at LSU.
- Timothy Piazza Case (Pennsylvania): A massive settlement (estimated over $110 million) involving Beta Theta Pi at Penn State.
We are applying the legal principles from these landmark cases to our current litigation and to every case we accept from families in the United States.
What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed
If you are a student or a parent in the United States dealing with the aftermath of hazing, you must act quickly. Fraternities and universities will immediately circle the wagons to protect themselves.
- Seek Medical Attention Immediately: Do not downplay injuries. Go to the ER. If rhabdomyolysis or internal injuries are suspected, insist on full testing.
- Preserve All Evidence: Do not delete text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, or emails. Screenshots are critical evidence of coercion and coordination.
- Do Not Sign Anything: The university or national fraternity may try to get you to sign statements or settlements quickly. Do not sign without a lawyer.
- Do Not Speak to Their Investigators: Risk management officers from the fraternity are not there to help you; they are there to reduce their liability.
- Call Attorney 911: Contact us immediately. We can secure evidence letters to prevent the destruction of surveillance footage and records.
Contact Attorney 911: Your National Hazing Litigation Team
We are ready to fight for families in the United States. We serve clients nationwide from our offices in Texas, leveraging our federal court admissions and willingness to travel to bring the fight to the defendants’ doorstep.
You do not have to face these powerful institutions alone. We have the experience, the resources, and the resolve to demand justice for your child.
Call our 24/7 Legal Emergency Hotline:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
Email Us Directly: ralph@atty911.com
Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Hazing Victims in the United States and Nationwide
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