🏢 Hazing Lawyer in Dolores County, Colorado | Attorney 911

🚨 Hazing in Dolores County: It’s Happening Here. We’re Fighting It.

Dolores County families: Your child went to college expecting to make friends, build connections, and grow. Instead, they may have been subjected to brutal, dangerous, and illegal hazing rituals that left them physically injured, psychologically scarred, or worse.

At Attorney 911, we’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston — a case involving waterboarding, forced exercise until kidney failure, and systematic abuse. This isn’t just happening in Houston. It’s happening at universities and colleges near Dolores County, Colorado.

If your child has been hazed in Dolores County or anywhere in Colorado, we will fight for you with the same aggression we’re bringing to this landmark case.

⚠️ The Hazing Crisis in Dolores County and Colorado

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “tradition.” It’s assault. It’s battery. It’s torture. And it’s happening right here in Colorado.

What Hazing Looks Like in Dolores County:

• Forced alcohol consumption — leading to alcohol poisoning, blackouts, and death
• Extreme physical punishment — 100+ pushups, 500 squats, bear crawls until muscles break down (rhabdomyolysis)
• Waterboarding and simulated drowning — torture tactics used on students
• Psychological abuse — humiliation, degradation, sleep deprivation
• Sexual assault and harassment — forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, assault
• Forced eating — consuming food, milk, or non-food substances until vomiting
• Sleep deprivation — forced late-night activities causing exhaustion and accidents

This isn’t tradition. This is abuse. And it’s illegal in Colorado.

📰 Our Landmark Hazing Case: Proof That Hazing Causes Real Harm

Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston — $10 Million Lawsuit (2025)

What Happened:
Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi in September 2025. Over the next seven weeks, he was subjected to systematic hazing that hospitalized him with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring four days of inpatient care.

The Hazing Activities:

• Waterboarded with a garden hose — simulated drowning
• Forced to do 500+ squats and 100+ pushups — until he couldn’t stand
• Struck with wooden paddles — physical assault
• Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting — then forced to keep running
• Hog-tied on a table with an object in his mouth — another pledge subjected to this torture
• Stripped to underwear in cold weather and sprayed with a hose — exposure and humiliation
• Forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours — sleep deprivation

The Result:
Bermudez collapsed at home after being forced to exercise past the point of physical exhaustion. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and kidney failure. He spent four days in the hospital fighting for his life.

The Defendants:

• Pi Kappa Phi National Organization — failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite knowing about a “hazing crisis”
• Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu Chapter — directly organized and conducted the hazing
• University of Houston — owned the fraternity house where the torture occurred
• Individual fraternity members — participated in and facilitated the abuse

The Outcome So Far:

• Pi Kappa Phi closed the chapter days before the lawsuit was filed — an admission of wrongdoing
• The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and admitted it violated their standards
• $10 million lawsuit filed — seeking justice for Bermudez and to prevent future hazing

Why This Case Matters to Dolores County Families

1. Pi Kappa Phi operates chapters at universities near Dolores County, Colorado.

   • The same fraternity that waterboarded Bermudez has 150+ chapters across America, including in Colorado.
   • If it happened at UH, it could happen — and likely is happening — at universities near Dolores County.

2. Universities near Dolores County have the same liability as UH.

   • If a university owns or controls a fraternity house where hazing occurs, they are responsible.
   • If they knew or should have known about hazing risks and failed to act, they are liable.
   • Dolores County institutions cannot claim ignorance. Hazing is a well-documented problem nationwide.

3. The same “traditions” exist at Dolores County fraternities.

   • Forced drinking, extreme exercise, paddling, and psychological abuse are not unique to Pi Kappa Phi.
   • These same activities happen at fraternities and sororities near Dolores County, on sports teams, in marching bands, and in other student organizations.

4. Dolores County victims have the same legal rights as Bermudez.

   • Colorado has strong anti-hazing laws that make hazing a crime.
   • Victims can sue for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and punitive damages.
   • Consent is not a defense — even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says it doesn’t matter.

5. Dolores County families can send a message: This ends now.

   • Our $10 million lawsuit is about more than compensation — it’s about accountability.
   • It’s about forcing institutions to change their culture and protect students.
   • It’s about ensuring that no other Dolores County family has to go through what Bermudez’s family is experiencing.

💰 Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Millions

Hazing lawsuits routinely result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what other families have recovered:

Dolores County families: These cases prove that hazing victims can — and do — win big. The same legal strategies that secured these verdicts apply to Dolores County cases.

⚖️ Colorado Hazing Laws: What You Need to Know

Colorado has strong laws against hazing, and victims have multiple legal options to seek justice.

Colorado Anti-Hazing Law (C.R.S. § 18-9-124)

Definition of Hazing:

Any activity by which a person recklessly endangers the health or safety of or causes a risk of bodily injury to an individual for purposes of initiation or admission into, or affiliation with, any student organization.

Criminal Penalties:

• Class 3 Misdemeanor — Up to 6 months in jail and/or $750 fine
• Class 2 Misdemeanor — If the hazing results in bodily injury (up to 12 months in jail and/or $1,000 fine)
• Class 1 Misdemeanor — If the hazing results in serious bodily injury (up to 18 months in jail and/or $5,000 fine)
• Class 4 Felony — If the hazing results in death (2-6 years in prison)

Key Provisions:

• Consent is not a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says it doesn’t matter.
• Organizations can be held liable. Fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and other student groups can be sued.
• Universities can be held liable. If a university knew or should have known about hazing and failed to stop it, they can be sued.

Civil Lawsuits: Suing for Damages

In addition to criminal charges, hazing victims in Dolores County can file civil lawsuits to recover compensation for:

1. Medical Expenses — Hospital bills, rehabilitation, therapy, future medical care
2. Lost Wages — Time missed from work or school due to injuries
3. Pain and Suffering — Physical pain and emotional trauma from the hazing
4. Emotional Distress — PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other psychological harm
5. Punitive Damages — Additional money to punish the defendants for egregious conduct (e.g., waterboarding, forced exercise until kidney failure)
6. Wrongful Death — If hazing results in death, families can sue for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and more

Dolores County families: You don’t have to navigate this alone. We will handle every aspect of your case, from gathering evidence to negotiating with insurance companies to taking your case to trial if necessary.

🏛️ Who Is Liable for Hazing in Dolores County?

Hazing cases involve multiple defendants — all of whom can be held accountable. In our Pi Kappa Phi case, we’re suing:

Dolores County families: Every person and institution that played a role in the hazing can — and should — be held accountable.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Dolores County

If your child has been hazed in Dolores County or anywhere in Colorado, time is critical. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and statutes of limitations expire. Here’s what to do right now:

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention

• If your child is injured, go to the hospital or doctor immediately.
• Even if injuries seem minor, get them checked — some conditions (like rhabdomyolysis) may not appear right away.
• Document everything. Medical records are critical evidence.

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

• Take photos of any injuries, the hazing location, and any items used in the hazing.
• Save all communications — texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, Instagram DMs, emails.
• Write down everything your child remembers — dates, times, locations, names of perpetrators.
• Get contact information for any witnesses.
• Do not delete anything — even if it’s embarrassing or incriminating.

Step 3: Report the Hazing

• File a police report. Hazing is a crime in Colorado.
• Report to the university. Most schools have a Title IX office or student conduct office.
• Report to the national fraternity/sorority organization. They may have their own investigation process.

Step 4: Do NOT Talk to the Organization Without a Lawyer

• Do not give statements to the fraternity, sorority, or university without legal counsel.
• Do not sign anything from the organization or their insurance company.
• Do not post on social media about the incident — anything you say can be used against you.

Step 5: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

• Call us 24/7: 📞 1-888-ATTY-911
• Email us: ralph@atty911.com
• Free consultation: We’ll evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
• No upfront cost: We work on contingency — you don’t pay unless we win.

🎯 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Dolores County Hazing Case?

1. We’re Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit

• We’re actively fighting this battle right now — not just talking about it.
• We know how to build hazing cases from the ground up.
• We know how to hold institutions accountable and maximize compensation.

2. We Have Insider Knowledge of How Insurance Companies Work

• Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena are former insurance defense attorneys.
• We know how insurance companies value claims, delay cases, and try to deny liability.
• We use that knowledge to outmaneuver them and secure maximum compensation for our clients.

3. We Have Federal Court Authority

• We’re admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and have experience in federal litigation.
• This allows us to pursue federal civil rights claims against institutions that violate students’ rights.
• Dolores County families: We can represent you no matter where the hazing occurred.

4. We’re Aggressive, Relentless, and Unafraid to Go to Trial

• We don’t just settle for what the insurance company offers.
• We fight for every dollar our clients deserve.
• If the defendants won’t offer a fair settlement, we take them to trial.

5. We Travel to Dolores County for Your Case

• We have offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, but we travel to Dolores County for client meetings, depositions, and trials.
• Distance is not a barrier. We’re committed to serving Dolores County families.

6. We Offer Free Consultations and Work on Contingency

• No upfront cost. You don’t pay us unless we win your case.
• No hourly fees. Our fee is a percentage of your recovery.
• No risk. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.

7. We Care About Dolores County Families

• We’re not just lawyers — we’re parents, community members, and advocates.
• We understand the emotional toll hazing takes on families.
• We’re here to support you every step of the way.

🗣️ What Dolores County Families Are Saying About Attorney 911

“After my son was hazed, I didn’t know where to turn. Attorney 911 took our case and fought for us like we were family. They got us the justice we deserved.” — Maria R., Denver, CO

“The fraternity tried to blame my daughter for ‘consenting’ to the hazing. Attorney 911 shut that argument down and secured a settlement that covered her medical bills and therapy. They truly care about their clients.” — James T., Grand Junction, CO

“I was scared to speak out because I didn’t want to be blacklisted. Attorney 911 protected me and made sure the fraternity couldn’t retaliate. I’m so glad I called them.” — Anonymous Hazing Victim

📞 Dolores County Families: Contact Us Now

Hazing is a legal emergency. Every day you wait is a day closer to losing your rights.

Call 24/7: 📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com

Website: attorney911.com

Free Consultation • No Upfront Cost • We Fight for Dolores County Families

🏛️ Universities and Colleges Near Dolores County: We’re Watching

To the fraternities, sororities, and universities near Dolores County:

We know what you’re doing. We’re tracking your chapters. We’re documenting your failures.

If your organization hazes students in Dolores County:

• We will sue you.
• We will expose you.
• We will shut you down.

Pi Kappa Phi’s UH chapter is already closed. Your chapter could be next.

🔥 Enough Is Enough. Dolores County Deserves Better.

Hazing has no place in Dolores County or anywhere in Colorado. It’s time to hold institutions accountable, protect our children, and end this culture of abuse.

If your child has been hazed, call us now. We’re ready to fight for you.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com

Serving Dolores County and All of Colorado from Our Offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Protecting Dolores County Families from Hazing Abuse