🚨 Hazing Lawyer in Marion County, FL | Attorney 911 Fights for Victims

If your child was hazed in Marion County, Florida — we can help.

Hazing isn’t just “tradition.” It’s abuse. It’s torture. And when fraternities, sororities, or universities in Marion County allow it to happen, they must be held accountable.

At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this battle right now — and we’re bringing that same fight to Marion County families.

📞 Call us 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

🔥 The Hazing Crisis in Marion County, FL — What Families Need to Know

Hazing isn’t just happening at big universities like Florida State or UF. It’s happening right here in Marion County — at local colleges, high schools, and even youth organizations.

The same fraternities that have killed students nationwide operate near Marion County. The same dangerous “traditions” that hospitalized our client in Houston exist at institutions in and around Marion County.

🚨 This Could Happen to Your Child in Marion County

Forced alcohol consumption — leading to alcohol poisoning
Extreme physical punishment — 500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls until collapse
Waterboarding and simulated drowning — a war crime when done to enemy combatants, but fraternities do it to students
Forced eating until vomiting — then forced to continue exercising
Sleep deprivation and exhaustion — leading to accidents and health crises
Psychological torture — humiliation, threats, and fear of retribution

Our client was hospitalized with kidney failure from hazing at a major Texas university. The same could happen to a student in Marion County — and we will fight for Marion County families just as aggressively.

⚠️ Marion County Hazing: The Hidden Danger in Our Community

Marion County is home to higher education institutions, high schools with active Greek life, and youth organizations that may engage in hazing. While Marion County doesn’t have a large university like UF or FSU, nearby institutions in Gainesville, Ocala, and other Florida cities have documented hazing incidents.

🏫 Universities and Colleges Near Marion County with Greek Life:

College of Central Florida (Ocala) – Active Greek organizations
University of Florida (Gainesville) – Major Greek system with documented hazing incidents
Santa Fe College (Gainesville) – Greek life presence
Florida Gateway College (Lake City) – Smaller but active Greek organizations

These institutions — and the national fraternities that operate on their campuses — have the same hazing culture we’re fighting in our current case.

📰 Recent Florida Hazing Cases That Should Alarm Marion County Families:

Andrew Coffey (2017, FSU, Pi Kappa Phi) – Died from forced drinking. Same fraternity that hospitalized our client.
Maxwell Gruver (2017, LSU, Phi Delta Theta) – Died from forced alcohol consumption; led to Florida’s Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony.
Multiple University of Florida cases – Hazing incidents reported in various fraternities and sororities.

These aren’t distant tragedies. This is happening in Florida — and it could happen to a Marion County student.

💔 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Marion County — Our Current Case

We are currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston for hazing that hospitalized our client, Leonel Bermudez, with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.

Here’s what happened to our client — and what could happen to a Marion County student:

✅ Waterboarded with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
✅ Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups — until he collapsed and couldn’t stand
✅ Struck with wooden paddles — physical assault
✅ Forced to eat until vomiting — then forced to continue exercising
✅ Another pledge lost consciousness — fraternity members did nothing
✅ Hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure — life-threatening condition

This wasn’t a one-time incident. It was weeks of systematic abuse — and it happened because the fraternity and university failed to stop it.

📌 Why This Matters for Marion County Families:

Pi Kappa Phi operates in Florida — including near Marion County
The same national fraternity that killed Andrew Coffey in 2017 is still operating today
Universities near Marion County have the same Greek life oversight failures as UH
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Marion County, they face the same risks

Marion County families: This is happening in Florida. It could happen to your child. And if it does, we will fight for you just as hard as we’re fighting for Leonel Bermudez.

⚖️ Legal Rights for Marion County Hazing Victims — What You Can Do

If your child was hazed in or near Marion County, you have legal rights — and we can help you enforce them.

📜 Florida Hazing Laws — What Marion County Families Need to Know

Florida has strong anti-hazing laws, including the Max Gruver Act, which makes hazing a felony in certain cases.

Florida Statute § 1006.63 — Hazing Defined:

“Hazing” means any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including, but not limited to, initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution.

This includes:

Forced consumption of food, alcohol, or drugs
Physical brutality (beatings, paddling, branding)
Sleep deprivation
Psychological abuse
Any activity that creates a substantial risk of injury

Criminal Penalties in Florida:

Offense	Penalty
Hazing resulting in injury	Misdemeanor of the first degree – Up to 1 year in jail, $1,000 fine
Hazing resulting in serious injury or death	Felony of the third degree – Up to 5 years in prison, $5,000 fine
Forced consumption resulting in death	Felony of the second degree – Up to 15 years in prison

Marion County families: Hazing is not just a school disciplinary issue — it’s a crime.

💰 Civil Lawsuits — Holding Institutions Accountable

Criminal charges punish the individuals — but civil lawsuits hold the institutions accountable.

Who can be sued in Marion County hazing cases?
✅ The local fraternity/sorority chapter – Direct responsibility
✅ The national organization – Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture
✅ The university or college – Failed to protect students; may own the property
✅ Individual members – Participated in or facilitated hazing
✅ Alumni or former members – Hosted hazing events at their homes

In our current case, we’re suing:

Pi Kappa Phi National
The local UH chapter
The University of Houston (they owned the fraternity house)
Individual members and officers

Marion County families: We will pursue every liable party in your case, too.

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

If your child was hazed — or if you suspect hazing — follow these steps immediately:

🏥 Seek Medical Attention
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening
- Medical records are critical evidence
📸 Document Everything
- Take photos of injuries
- Save all text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs
- Get names and contact info of witnesses
- Keep any physical evidence (clothing, objects used in hazing)
🚫 Do NOT Confront the Organization Alone
- They will destroy evidence, coordinate stories, and intimidate witnesses
- Do not sign anything without legal counsel
- Do not give statements to the fraternity, sorority, or university
📞 Contact an Experienced Hazing Lawyer Immediately
- Call Attorney 911: 1-888-ATTY-911
- We offer free consultations for Marion County families
- We work on contingency — you pay nothing upfront
- We will preserve evidence and protect your rights
📝 Report to Authorities
- Consider filing a police report
- Report to the university’s Title IX office
- Report to the national fraternity/sorority organization

💰 What Damages Can Marion County Families Recover?

Hazing causes physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial losses. We fight to recover full compensation for Marion County victims, including:

🩺 Medical Expenses

Emergency room visits
Hospital stays
Rehabilitation and therapy
Future medical care (dialysis, surgery, etc.)

💔 Pain and Suffering

Physical pain from injuries
Emotional trauma from abuse
PTSD, anxiety, depression
Humiliation and shame

💸 Lost Wages and Earning Capacity

Time missed from work during recovery
Impact on future career opportunities
If injuries are permanent, loss of earning potential

🎓 Educational Damages

Disruption to academic progress
Tuition and fees for missed semesters
Loss of scholarships

⚖️ Punitive Damages

If the conduct was egregious (waterboarding, extreme physical abuse)
Meant to punish the defendants and deter future hazing

In our current case, we’re seeking $10 million — and we will pursue the same for Marion County families.

🏆 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Marion County Hazing Case?

🔥 We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now

We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston
We know how to build these cases — and we know how to win
Marion County families get the same aggressive representation we’re bringing in Houston

👨‍⚖️ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook

Both of our attorneys worked for insurance companies before switching sides
We know how they value claims, delay cases, and try to deny liability
We use that knowledge to maximize your recovery

🏛️ Federal Court Authority — We Can Pursue Your Case Anywhere

We are admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
We can pursue hazing cases nationwide, including in Florida
We will travel to Marion County for depositions, trials, and client meetings

🗣️ Bilingual Representation — Se Habla Español

Hazing victims come from all backgrounds
We serve Spanish-speaking families in Marion County with full bilingual support

💼 Contingency Fee — You Pay Nothing Upfront

We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win
No hourly fees, no retainers
We only get paid when you get paid

📞 24/7 Availability — We’re Here When You Need Us

Hazing emergencies don’t wait for business hours
Call us anytime: 1-888-ATTY-911
We respond immediately to protect your rights

📢 To Fraternities and Sororities Near Marion County: We Are Watching

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — and every other Greek organization operating near Marion County:

We are tracking your chapters. We are documenting your hazing histories. We know about your prior incidents, prior settlements, and prior failures to act.

If your chapter harms a Marion County student, we will pursue every liable entity — including you, your national organization, and the university that enables you.

The same legal strategies that won $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.

The Beta Nu chapter at UH that waterboarded our client? They’re now shut down. Your chapter could be next.

🎓 To Universities Near Marion County: The Same Liability Applies to You

University of Florida, College of Central Florida, Santa Fe College, Florida Gateway College — and every other institution near Marion County:

You have a duty to protect your students. When you own fraternity houses, when you recognize Greek organizations, when you collect tuition from students who are hazed — you are liable.

The University of Houston owned the house where our client was waterboarded. They are now being sued for $10 million.

If your institution fails to prevent hazing, you will face the same accountability.

📞 Marion County Families: Call Us Before It’s Too Late

Hazing victims often wait to come forward because of:

Shame and embarrassment
Fear of social retaliation
Loyalty to the organization
Not realizing they have legal rights

But the longer you wait, the harder it is to build your case.

⏳ Florida has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases.
⏳ Evidence disappears — texts get deleted, witnesses forget, organizations destroy records.
⏳ The fraternity and university will try to silence you.

Marion County families: Don’t wait. Call us now.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com

Free consultation. No upfront cost. We fight for you.

🔍 Frequently Asked Questions for Marion County Families

❓ My child was hazed, but they “consented.” Can we still sue?

Yes. Florida law says consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the organization can still be held liable.

❓ The hazing happened off-campus. Can we still sue the university?

Yes. Universities have a duty to protect students from foreseeable harm — even off-campus. If the university knew about hazing risks and failed to act, they can be held liable.

❓ My child wasn’t seriously injured. Is it still worth pursuing?

Yes. Even minor hazing can cause long-term psychological harm. We can help you document the impact and pursue compensation.

❓ We don’t live in Texas. Can Attorney 911 still help us?

Yes. While we’re based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including in Florida. We offer video consultations and will travel to Marion County for your case.

❓ How much does it cost to hire a hazing lawyer?

Nothing upfront. We work on contingency — we only get paid if we win your case. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

❓ What if the fraternity or university threatens us?

Contact us immediately. We will protect you from retaliation and ensure your rights are enforced.

🚨 Marion County Families: This Is Your Wake-Up Call

Hazing isn’t just happening at big schools like FSU or UF. It’s happening in Florida — and it could happen to your child in Marion County.

We are fighting this battle right now — and we’re ready to fight for Marion County families.