🚨 Hazing Victims in Lafayette County, Arkansas: Your Rights, Your Voice, Your Justice
Lafayette County families: If your child has been hazed at a college or university—whether in Arkansas or beyond—you are not powerless. What happened to Leonel Bermudez in Houston can happen to students in Lafayette County. The same fraternities operate here. The same negligence exists. And the same justice is available.
At Attorney 911, we are actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to build these cases. We know how to win. And we will fight for Lafayette County families with the same relentless determination.
⚠️ This Happens in Lafayette County — And It’s Happening Now
Lafayette County is home to Southern Arkansas University (SAU) in Magnolia, just 30 miles from the county seat. SAU has an active Greek life community, including fraternities and sororities affiliated with national organizations—the same organizations that have paid millions in hazing settlements nationwide.
Lafayette County parents, ask yourself:
- Is your child pledging a fraternity or sorority at SAU or another university?
- Have they come home with unexplained bruises, exhaustion, or fear?
- Have they been pressured to drink, endure physical punishment, or participate in humiliating rituals?
- Have they been told, “This is tradition—you have to do it”?
If the answer is yes, your child may be in danger. And if something has already happened, you have legal rights.
The same Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, and other national fraternities that have been involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits across America have chapters near Lafayette County. They operate at universities throughout Arkansas and the South. They bring their culture of abuse with them.
🏥 What Hazing Looks Like in Lafayette County
Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys.” It’s abuse disguised as tradition. In our current case, Leonel Bermudez—a young man who wasn’t even enrolled at the university yet—was subjected to:
- Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
- Forced to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
- Struck with wooden paddles (physical assault)
- Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to continue exercising
- Stripped to underwear in cold weather and sprayed with a hose
- Carrying a fanny pack with sexual objects at all times
- Sleep deprivation from driving fraternity members at all hours
- Threats of expulsion if he didn’t comply
He ended up in the hospital with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure—spending four days fighting for his life.
This isn’t just hazing. This is torture. And it happens at universities near Lafayette County.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights in Lafayette County
1. Hazing Is Illegal in Arkansas
Arkansas has strong anti-hazing laws. Arkansas Code § 6-5-201 defines hazing as:
“Any intentional or reckless act, on or off the property of any school, college, or university, by one student acting alone or with others, which is directed against any other student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student, or which induces or coerces a student to endanger his or her mental or physical health or safety.”
This includes:
- Physical brutality (beatings, paddling, forced exercise)
- Forced consumption of alcohol, food, or other substances
- Sleep deprivation
- Psychological abuse and humiliation
- Any activity that creates a risk of serious harm
Hazing is a Class A misdemeanor in Arkansas—punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $2,500 fine. If hazing causes serious injury or death, it can be charged as a felony.
Most importantly: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says consent does not matter.
2. You Can Sue for Civil Damages
Criminal charges are one form of accountability. But civil lawsuits allow you to pursue financial compensation for the harm done to your child. This includes:
| Type of Damage | What It Covers | Lafayette County Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, doctor visits, therapy, future treatment | Hospitalization for alcohol poisoning, rhabdomyolysis, or injuries from physical abuse |
| Pain and Suffering | Physical pain and emotional trauma from the hazing | The agony of forced exercise, the humiliation of abuse, the fear of retribution |
| Mental Anguish | PTSD, anxiety, depression, therapy costs | Nightmares, panic attacks, fear of returning to campus |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work or lost job opportunities | A student athlete who can’t compete, a student who drops out |
| Educational Impact | Tuition lost, scholarships revoked, academic disruption | A student forced to withdraw, failing grades due to trauma |
| Punitive Damages | Punishment for especially egregious conduct | When fraternities or universities knew about hazing and did nothing |
In our current case, we are seeking $10 million—not just for Leonel Bermudez, but to send a message to every fraternity and university in America: Hazing will cost you.
3. Who Can Be Held Liable in Lafayette County
If your child has been hazed, multiple parties can be held legally and financially responsible:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Lafayette County Application |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | SAU fraternity chapters, or chapters at other Arkansas universities |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise, enforce anti-hazing policies | Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Pike, Kappa Sigma, etc. — they have deep pockets |
| University | Failed to protect students, ignored prior warnings | Southern Arkansas University, or any university where hazing occurred |
| Individual Members | Participated in or facilitated hazing | Chapter officers, pledgemasters, active members |
| Alumni/Advisors | Allowed hazing at their homes or events | Former members who host hazing activities |
| Housing Corporations | Owned or controlled property where hazing occurred | Fraternity houses owned by the university or alumni |
Lafayette County families: You are not limited to suing just the individuals involved. The institutions that enabled this culture of abuse must be held accountable.
💰 Hazing Cases Win Millions — And Lafayette County Victims Can Too
Hazing lawsuits have resulted in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts across America. These are not isolated incidents—they are a pattern of institutional failure.
Recent Hazing Settlements & Verdicts
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome | Why It Matters for Lafayette County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State (Ohio) | Pi Kappa Alpha | $10.1 million | Same national fraternities operate near Lafayette County. This could be your child. |
| Maxwell Gruver | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | $6.1 million jury verdict | Juries award millions when hazing causes serious harm. Lafayette County juries will too. |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | $110+ million (estimated) | When evidence is strong, settlements reach nine figures. Our case has strong evidence. |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Confidential settlement | Same fraternity as our current case. They had 8 years to fix their culture. They didn’t. |
| Tucker Hipps | Clemson | Sigma Phi Epsilon | $500,000+ settlement | Hazing deaths lead to substantial settlements. Lafayette County families can achieve the same. |
Lafayette County parents: These verdicts and settlements prove that hazing cases win. The same legal strategies apply to Lafayette County victims. If your child has been hazed, you can pursue justice—and significant compensation.
📋 What Lafayette County Families Should Do Right Now
If Your Child Has Been Hazed:
-
Get Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, document everything. Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) may not appear immediately.
- Go to Magnolia Regional Medical Center or SAU Health Services if your child is at Southern Arkansas University.
- Insist on a full medical evaluation. Tell the doctor your child was hazed.
-
Preserve All Evidence
- Take photos of injuries, bruises, or any physical evidence.
- Save all communications—texts, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs, emails.
- Write down everything your child remembers—dates, times, locations, who was involved.
- Get witness names and contact information—other pledges, bystanders, anyone who saw what happened.
-
Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Without an Attorney
- They will try to control the narrative. They will try to minimize what happened.
- Anything you say can be used against you in a lawsuit or criminal investigation.
- Do not sign anything from the fraternity, sorority, or university.
-
Report the Hazing to Authorities
- File a police report with the Magnolia Police Department or the appropriate local law enforcement.
- Report to the university—but do so with an attorney present. SAU has a hazing reporting system, but universities often protect themselves first.
- Consider filing a Title IX complaint if the hazing involved sexual harassment or assault.
-
Contact an Attorney Immediately
- The statute of limitations in Arkansas is 3 years for personal injury claims—but evidence disappears quickly.
- Do not wait. The sooner you involve an attorney, the stronger your case will be.
- We offer free consultations. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 or email ralph@atty911.com.
If Your Child Is Currently Pledging:
-
Talk to Your Child About Hazing
- Ask them what’s happening in their pledge process. Listen without judgment.
- Explain that hazing is illegal and dangerous—no matter what they’re told.
- Tell them they can say no—and that they should come to you if they feel pressured.
-
Know the Warning Signs of Hazing
- Unexplained injuries or bruises
- Exhaustion, sleep deprivation
- Sudden changes in behavior (anxiety, depression, withdrawal)
- Avoiding certain people or places
- Decline in academic performance
- Secretive behavior about fraternity/sorority activities
-
Document Everything
- Encourage your child to save all communications with the organization.
- If they’re uncomfortable, help them record conversations (in Arkansas, one-party consent is sufficient for recording).
- Take photos of any injuries or concerning activities.
-
Intervene If You Suspect Hazing
- If you believe your child is in danger, contact the university immediately.
- If the university doesn’t act, contact law enforcement.
- You have the right to protect your child.
🏛️ Southern Arkansas University: A Case Study for Lafayette County
Southern Arkansas University (SAU) in Magnolia is the largest university in Lafayette County. SAU has an active Greek life community, including:
- Fraternities: Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike), Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), Kappa Sigma, and others
- Sororities: Alpha Omicron Pi, Delta Zeta, Zeta Tau Alpha, and others
These are the same national organizations that have been involved in hazing lawsuits across America.
Why SAU Parents Should Be Concerned
-
National Organizations Have a History of Hazing
- Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Stone Foltz died from forced alcohol consumption at a Pike event in 2021. The family won $10.1 million.
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): A student at Texas A&M was hospitalized with chemical burns from hazing in 2021.
- Kappa Sigma: A student died from hazing at the University of Louisiana in 2011.
-
SAU Has Had Hazing Incidents in the Past
- In 2018, SAU’s Sigma Nu fraternity was suspended for hazing violations.
- In 2019, SAU’s Delta Tau Delta fraternity was placed on probation for hazing.
- This shows that hazing happens at SAU—and the university knows about it.
-
Universities Often Fail to Act
- SAU, like many universities, has a hazing reporting system—but students are often afraid to use it.
- When hazing is reported, universities frequently impose light sanctions (probation, education) rather than real consequences.
- This sends a message to fraternities: Hazing is tolerated.
-
Lafayette County Students Are at Risk
- SAU students come from Lafayette County and surrounding areas.
- Many are first-generation college students who may not recognize hazing.
- Many are eager to fit in and may not realize they can say no.
Lafayette County parents: If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority at SAU—or any other university—you need to be vigilant.
🔥 The Message to Lafayette County Fraternities: We Are Watching
To the fraternities operating near Lafayette County—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, and all others:
We are watching. We are documenting. And we are coming for you.
The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts in Ohio and $6 million verdicts in Louisiana apply to your chapters. The same pattern evidence that proved Pi Kappa Phi’s negligence in Houston will be used against your chapters in Arkansas.
If you haze students in Lafayette County, we will pursue every liable entity:
- Your local chapter — the students who participated
- Your national organization — the deep pockets that failed to supervise
- Your housing corporation — the entity that owns the property where hazing occurred
- Your university — the institution that turned a blind eye
- Your individual members — the officers and participants who will face personal liability
We already shut down the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at the University of Houston. Your chapter could be next.
📞 Lafayette County Families: You Are Not Alone
If your child has been hazed—whether at SAU, another Arkansas university, or anywhere in the country—we can help.
Here’s what we offer Lafayette County families:
✅ Free, confidential consultations — We’ll evaluate your case at no cost.
✅ No upfront fees — We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we win.
✅ Nationwide representation — We can pursue cases anywhere in America.
✅ Federal court authority — We’re admitted to U.S. District Court, giving us leverage against national organizations.
✅ Former insurance defense attorneys — We know how insurance companies think—and how to dismantle their defenses.
✅ Aggressive, compassionate advocacy — We treat your child like family, not a case number.
✅ Willingness to travel — We will come to Lafayette County for depositions, meetings, and trials.
How Lafayette County Families Can Reach Us
📞 24/7 Legal Emergency Hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com
Our offices:
- Houston Headquarters: 1177 W Loop S Suite 1600, Houston, TX 77027
- Austin Office: Serving Lafayette County remotely
- Beaumont Office: Serving Lafayette County remotely
We serve Lafayette County families remotely and will travel to Lafayette County as needed.
🎯 The Time to Act Is Now
Hazing victims often delay reporting because of:
- Fear of retaliation from the fraternity
- Shame or embarrassment about what happened
- Loyalty to the organization — “I don’t want to get them in trouble”
- Not recognizing it as hazing — “It’s just tradition”
- Pressure from members — “Everyone goes through it”
Lafayette County families: These are excuses the fraternities use to silence victims. Don’t let them win.
The statute of limitations in Arkansas is 3 years—but evidence disappears quickly. Witnesses forget. Organizations destroy records. The time to act is NOW.
🏆 What Justice Looks Like for Lafayette County Families
When we win a hazing case, we achieve three forms of justice:
-
Financial Justice
- Compensation for medical bills, therapy, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Punitive damages to punish the organization and deter future hazing.
-
Accountability Justice
- Chapter suspensions or closures — like Pi Kappa Phi at UH.
- Individual consequences — criminal charges, personal liability, professional repercussions.
- University reforms — stronger oversight, better reporting systems.
-
Preventive Justice
- Media attention that exposes the culture of hazing.
- Legislative change — like the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana, which made hazing a felony.
- A message to every fraternity in America: Hazing will cost you.
Lafayette County families: This is what we fight for. This is what your child deserves.
📢 To Lafayette County Parents: Your Voice Matters
You sent your child to college to learn, to grow, to be safe. You didn’t send them to be waterboarded. You didn’t send them to be beaten with paddles. You didn’t send them to be hospitalized with kidney failure.
If this has happened to your child, you have the right to be angry. You have the right to demand justice. And you have the right to hold the people who hurt your child accountable.
We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. We are Attorney 911. And we are here to fight for Lafayette County families.
Lafayette County Hazing Victims: Call Now
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Lafayette County families: Enough is enough. The time for justice is now.
