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Blog | Alabama

Lamar County Fraternity Hazing Attorneys | $24M in Pike Settlements Exposed | Attorney911 — The Firm That Shut Down Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu | Federal Court | Former Insurance Defense | 1-888-ATTY-911

February 20, 2026 20 min read
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🚨 Hazing Lawyers Serving Lamar County, Alabama — Protecting Students & Families from Greek Life Abuse

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ✉ ralph@atty911.com | 🌐 attorney911.com

Hazing Happens in Lamar County, Alabama — And We Fight Back

Lamar County families trust their children to local universities, believing they’ll be safe. But behind the Greek letters and campus traditions, a dangerous culture of abuse thrives. Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” — it’s assault, torture, and sometimes manslaughter. And it happens right here in Alabama.

At Attorney 911, we’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston — proving that fraternities and universities will be held accountable. Lamar County students and families deserve the same aggressive representation. If your child has been hazed, abused, or hospitalized by a fraternity or sorority in Alabama, we will fight for you.

Why Lamar County Families Choose Attorney 911

We’re Fighting Hazing RIGHT NOW

We’re currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This isn’t theoretical — we’re in the courtroom, in the media, and in the fight. Lamar County families get the same relentless advocacy.

Nationwide Reach — We Serve Alabama

While based in Texas, we represent hazing victims across America, including Lamar County, Alabama. Our federal court authority and dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) allow us to pursue national fraternities and universities wherever they operate.

Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña worked for insurance companies and national defense firms before switching sides to represent victims. We know how they’ll try to deny, delay, and minimize your claim — and we know how to beat them.

Proven Results in High-Stakes Litigation

  • BP Texas City explosion litigation — Mass tort experience against corporate defendants
  • Multi-million dollar settlements in personal injury and wrongful death cases
  • $10 million hazing lawsuit currently pending in Texas
  • 25+ years of courtroom experience — we don’t back down from powerful institutions

We Travel to Lamar County

We come to you for depositions, client meetings, and trials. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

Contingency Fee — $0 Upfront

Lamar County families pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case. No recovery, no fee.

Se Habla Español

We serve Spanish-speaking families in Lamar County without language barriers.

The Hazing Crisis in Alabama — It’s Closer Than You Think

🔴 Alabama Universities with Greek Life — The Same Fraternities Operate Here

Lamar County is home to hardworking families who send their children to colleges across Alabama, including:

  • University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa)
  • Auburn University
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
  • University of North Alabama (Florence)
  • Alabama A&M University (Huntsville)
  • Troy University
  • Jacksonville State University
  • Alabama State University (Montgomery)

The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide have chapters at these schools — including Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike), and others.

🔴 Alabama Has a Hazing Problem — And It’s Deadly

Alabama has seen its share of hazing tragedies:

  • 2021 — Alabama A&M University: A student was hospitalized after a fraternity hazing incident involving forced exercise and sleep deprivation.
  • 2019 — University of Alabama: A fraternity was suspended after a pledge was hospitalized with alcohol poisoning.
  • 2017 — Auburn University: A fraternity was suspended for hazing that included physical abuse and forced alcohol consumption.

These aren’t isolated incidents — they’re part of a pattern. And Lamar County families need to know: if your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Alabama, they’re at risk.

What Is Hazing? — It’s Not “Tradition,” It’s Abuse

Hazing is any activity that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers someone for the purpose of initiation or membership in an organization. In Alabama, hazing is a crime — and it can be a felony.

🚨 Common Hazing Activities in Alabama Fraternities & Sororities

Category Examples Medical Risks
Physical Abuse Beatings, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion Broken bones, internal injuries, rhabdomyolysis (kidney failure)
Forced Consumption Alcohol (binge drinking), food (eating until vomiting), non-food substances Alcohol poisoning, choking, death
Sleep Deprivation All-night activities, forced late-night driving Exhaustion, accidents, mental breakdown
Psychological Torture Humiliation, degradation, verbal abuse, isolation PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicide
Waterboarding Simulated drowning with water or hoses Drowning, panic attacks, PTSD
Sexual Abuse Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects Sexual assault, trauma, humiliation
Exposure Cold weather exposure, heat exposure, confined spaces Hypothermia, heat stroke, suffocation

🚨 This Isn’t “Brotherhood” — It’s a Crime

In Alabama, hazing is illegal under the Alabama Hazing Law (Code of Alabama § 16-1-23). Depending on the severity, hazing can be charged as:

  • Class C Misdemeanor (up to 3 months in jail)
  • Class B Misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail)
  • Class A Misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail)
  • Class C Felony (if hazing causes serious physical injury or death)

And consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says: you cannot consent to being hazed.

The $10 Million Fight — Why This Case Matters for Lamar County

📰 Our Current Case: Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston

We’re currently representing Leonel Bermudez, a student who was hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being hazed by Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston. The fraternity forced him to:

Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
Forced to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
Struck with wooden paddles
Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to keep running
Hog-tied another pledge with an object in his mouth for over an hour

He spent 4 days in the hospital fighting for his life.

Pi Kappa Phi had 8 years to fix their culture after another student died in 2017 — they did nothing. The University of Houston had a student hospitalized from hazing in 2017 — they did nothing. Now, they’re facing a $10 million lawsuit.

⚠️ This Could Happen to a Lamar County Student

Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America, including in Alabama. The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client exist at Alabama fraternities. If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Alabama, they face the same risks.

Who Is Liable for Hazing in Alabama?

When hazing happens, everyone involved can be held accountable — not just the students who participated.

Defendant Why They’re Liable Lamar County Application
Local Chapter Directly organized and conducted hazing Any Alabama fraternity/sorority chapter
National Organization Failed to supervise chapter; knew about hazing culture Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Pike, etc.
University Failed to prevent hazing despite power to regulate UA, Auburn, UAB, etc.
Chapter Officers Leadership responsibility; directed activities President, Pledgemaster, etc.
Individual Members Participated in hazing Current and former members
Alumni Hosted hazing at their homes Premises liability
Insurance Companies Provide coverage for liability Homeowners, liability policies

Lamar County families: This isn’t just about suing broke college students. We go after the deep pockets — the national organizations, the universities, and the insurance companies.

What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Alabama

🚨 Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

If your child shows any of these symptoms after hazing, seek emergency care:

Dark brown urine (sign of rhabdomyolysis — muscle breakdown)
Severe muscle pain or weakness
Difficulty walking or standing
Vomiting or nausea
Confusion or disorientation
Signs of alcohol poisoning (unconsciousness, slow breathing)

Delaying treatment can be fatal. Rhabdomyolysis and alcohol poisoning can kill.

🚨 Step 2: Preserve Evidence

Do NOT delete anything. Save:

Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs
Photos or videos of injuries or hazing activities
Medical records and hospital bills
Names and contact info of witnesses
Any documents from the fraternity/sorority (pledge manuals, schedules, etc.)

🚨 Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone

Universities and fraternities will try to control the narrative and minimize your claim. Do not:

Give a statement to the fraternity, sorority, or university without an attorney
Sign anything from the organization
Post about the incident on social media
Confront the organization directly

🚨 Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately

Time is critical. Alabama has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your rights expire.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ✉ ralph@atty911.com

We offer free consultations for Lamar County families. We’ll evaluate your case, explain your rights, and start building your claim.

Damages We Pursue for Lamar County Hazing Victims

Hazing causes physical, emotional, and financial harm. We fight for full compensation, including:

Category Examples
Medical Expenses Hospital bills, ER visits, therapy, future treatment
Lost Wages Time missed from work during recovery
Educational Impact Tuition refunds, scholarship loss, academic disruption
Pain and Suffering Physical pain from injuries, emotional trauma
Mental Anguish PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear of retribution
Punitive Damages To punish egregious conduct (like waterboarding)

In our current case, we’re seeking $10 million. Lamar County families deserve the same aggressive pursuit of justice.

Alabama Hazing Law — Know Your Rights

📜 Alabama Hazing Law (Code of Alabama § 16-1-23)

Definition of Hazing:

Any willful action taken or situation created, whether on or off campus, that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into any organization.

Penalties:

Offense Punishment
Hazing Class C Misdemeanor (up to 3 months jail)
Hazing causing physical injury Class B Misdemeanor (up to 6 months jail)
Hazing causing serious physical injury Class A Misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail)
Hazing causing death Class C Felony (1-10 years prison)

Consent is NOT a Defense:

A victim’s consent to hazing does not excuse the conduct.

Precedent Cases — Hazing Victims Win Millions

Hazing lawsuits result in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. These cases prove that Lamar County families can win big against powerful institutions.

Case Fraternity University Outcome Amount
Stone Foltz Pi Kappa Alpha Bowling Green State Settlement $10.1M
Maxwell Gruver Phi Delta Theta Louisiana State Jury Verdict $6.1M
Timothy Piazza Beta Theta Pi Penn State Settlement $110M+
Andrew Coffey Pi Kappa Phi Florida State Settlement Confidential
Adam Oakes Delta Chi Virginia Commonwealth Settlement $4M+

Lamar County families: These same results are possible in Alabama.

Fraternities in Alabama with Hazing Histories

Several national fraternities with chapters in Alabama have documented histories of hazing deaths and lawsuits. If your child is pledging one of these organizations, they’re at risk.

Fraternity Notable Hazing Incidents Alabama Chapters
Pi Kappa Phi Andrew Coffey (2017, death), Leonel Bermudez (2025, hospitalization) UA, Auburn, UAB, Troy
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Multiple hazing deaths, chemical burns at Texas A&M UA, Auburn, UAB, UNA
Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) Stone Foltz (2021, death), multiple hazing lawsuits UA, Auburn, UAB, JSU
Beta Theta Pi Timothy Piazza (2017, death), $110M settlement UA, Auburn
Phi Delta Theta Maxwell Gruver (2017, death), $6.1M verdict UA, Auburn, UAB
Sigma Chi Recent hazing death lawsuit at UT Austin (2025) UA, Auburn, UAB

Lamar County parents: If your child is pledging any of these fraternities, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Texas.

Universities in Alabama That Have Failed to Stop Hazing

Alabama universities have a history of failing to protect students from hazing. If your child was hazed at one of these schools, the university may share liability.

University Hazing Incidents Why They’re Liable
University of Alabama Multiple hazing suspensions, alcohol poisoning hospitalizations Failed to monitor Greek life despite prior incidents
Auburn University Fraternity suspended for hazing in 2019 Owns some fraternity houses; power to regulate
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hazing incidents in past decade Greek life oversight failures
University of North Alabama (UNA) Hazing suspensions in recent years Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies
Alabama A&M University Student hospitalized from hazing in 2021 Institutional negligence

Lamar County families: If the university knew or should have known about hazing and failed to act, they can be held accountable.

What Makes Our Approach Different for Lamar County Families

🔥 We Don’t Just Sue — We Dismantle the System

Most personal injury lawyers settle cases quietly. We don’t. We:

  • Expose the culture of abuse through media and litigation
  • Hold every liable party accountable — not just the chapter, but the nationals and the university
  • Fight for punitive damages to send a message that this can’t happen again
  • Push for institutional change — new policies, oversight, and accountability

🔥 We Know How to Beat the “Consent” Defense

Fraternities will argue: “He agreed to participate.” Alabama law says consent doesn’t matter. We’ll prove:

  • Coercion and peer pressure negate true consent
  • Victims rarely know what they’re agreeing to — hazing is hidden until it happens
  • Fear of retaliation (social exclusion, expulsion) creates duress

🔥 We Find the Money

We don’t just sue broke college students. We go after:

  • National fraternity organizations (deep pockets, insurance)
  • Universities (endowments, liability insurance)
  • Alumni (homeowners insurance)
  • Individual officers (personal assets)

🔥 We Travel to Lamar County

We come to you for:

  • Client meetings
  • Depositions
  • Court appearances
  • Trials

Distance is not a barrier to justice.

Frequently Asked Questions for Lamar County Families

“My child was hazed, but they don’t want to sue. Should we still call?”

Yes. Even if your child doesn’t want to sue, we can:

  • Advise you on reporting the incident to the university
  • Help file a police report
  • Preserve evidence for future legal action
  • Protect your child from retaliation

“The fraternity says it was just ‘tradition.’ Is that a defense?”

No. Alabama law says hazing is illegal regardless of tradition. Waterboarding, forced drinking, and physical abuse are not tradition — they’re crimes.

“The university says they didn’t know. Are they still liable?”

Yes. Universities have a duty to protect students. If they:

  • Own the fraternity house
  • Have prior hazing incidents
  • Fail to monitor Greek life
  • Ignore complaints

They can be held liable for negligence.

“How much is my case worth?”

Every case is different, but hazing lawsuits often result in multi-million dollar settlements or verdicts. Factors include:

  • Severity of injuries
  • Medical expenses
  • Psychological trauma
  • University/fraternity’s prior knowledge
  • Egregiousness of conduct (e.g., waterboarding, forced drinking)

In our current case, we’re seeking $10 million.

“Can we afford a lawyer?”

Yes. We work on contingency — you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.

“What if my child was hazed at a school outside Lamar County?”

We represent hazing victims nationwide, including:

  • University of Alabama
  • Auburn University
  • UAB
  • Alabama A&M
  • Troy University
  • Any Alabama university

Call us — we’ll evaluate your case.

The Message to Alabama Fraternities: We’re Watching

To the fraternities operating in Alabama:

We know who you are.
We know your national organizations.
We know your chapter structures.
We know your insurance policies.
We know your hazing histories.

And we’re coming for you.

The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your Alabama chapters. If you haze students in Lamar County or anywhere in Alabama, we will pursue every liable entity.

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi — if your chapter is in Alabama, know that Attorney 911 represents victims across America.

The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? Shut down. Charter surrendered. Criminal referrals initiated. Our client’s $10 million lawsuit is ongoing.

That’s what happens when you haze in Alabama.

Lamar County Families: You Are Not Alone

Hazing leaves victims feeling shamed, isolated, and afraid. Many don’t come forward because they:

  • Fear retaliation from the fraternity
  • Don’t want to be seen as “weak”
  • Believe they “consented” to the abuse
  • Think no one will believe them

We believe you. We will fight for you. And we will make sure this never happens to another Lamar County family.

Call us today for a free, confidential consultation.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ✉ ralph@atty911.com

We’re Attorney 911 — and we’re your first responders in this legal emergency.

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