🚨 Hazing Victims in Pinellas County: You Are Not Alone
A fraternity near Pinellas County just hospitalized a student through brutal hazing. The same fraternities operate at universities in your area. The same risks exist for your child. And we are fighting this battle right now — for Pinellas County families just like yours.
This Happened in Houston. It Could Happen in Pinellas County.
On November 3, 2025, Leonel Bermudez, a young man who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet, was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being subjected to weeks of systematic torture by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.
What they did to him:
✔ Waterboarded him with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
✔ Forced him to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
✔ Struck him with wooden paddles — physical assault
✔ Forced him to eat until he vomited, then made him keep running through his own vomit
✔ Another pledge lost consciousness during the same hazing — they kept going
The result: Leonel spent three nights and four days in the hospital fighting for his life. His muscles broke down. His kidneys failed. And this happened 8 years after another student died in the same fraternity.
Pi Kappa Phi has chapters near Pinellas County. The same national organization that ignored Andrew Coffey’s death in 2017 ignored Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization in 2025. They knew the risks. They did nothing. And now they’re planning to return to campus — as if nothing happened.
Pinellas County Parents: Your Child Is at Risk
The same fraternities that waterboarded Leonel Bermudez operate at universities near Pinellas County.
The same “traditions” that hospitalized him happen in your area.
The same negligence that failed him exists at Pinellas County institutions.
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority, they face the same risks.
Universities Near Pinellas County With Greek Life:
- University of South Florida (USF) – Tampa, FL
- Eckerd College – St. Petersburg, FL
- St. Petersburg College – St. Petersburg, FL
- Florida State University (FSU) – Tallahassee, FL (major Greek life presence)
- University of Florida (UF) – Gainesville, FL (major Greek life presence)
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, and other national fraternities with documented hazing histories have active chapters at these and other Florida universities.
If your child is pledging, they could be next.
We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now — And We’ll Fight for Pinellas County Families
We filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston on November 21, 2025. This isn’t theoretical — we are in the fight RIGHT NOW.
Pinellas County families get the same aggressive representation we’re bringing to Houston.
Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Pinellas County Hazing Case?
| Advantage | Why It Matters for Pinellas County Families |
|---|---|
| 25+ Years of Litigation Experience | We’ve taken on massive institutions — and won. Pinellas County families need attorneys who know how to fight. |
| Former Insurance Defense Attorneys | We know how insurance companies think. We know their playbook. We use it against them to maximize your recovery. |
| Federal Court Authority | We can pursue your case in federal court if needed — essential for national fraternity cases. |
| Dual-State Bar Admission | Licensed in Texas AND New York — strategic advantage for cases against national organizations. |
| Multi-Billion Dollar Case Experience | We handled the BP Texas City explosion litigation (15 deaths, 180+ injuries). We know how to take on deep-pocketed defendants. |
| Nationwide Hazing Expertise | We’re currently litigating the $10M UH hazing case. The same strategies apply to Pinellas County victims. |
| We Will Travel to Pinellas County | For depositions, trials, and client meetings — distance is not a barrier. |
| Remote Consultations Available | Pinellas County families can meet with us via video call — no need to travel. |
| Se Habla Español | Bilingual staff available to serve Spanish-speaking families. |
| Contingency Fee | $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless you get paid. Pinellas County families pay nothing out of pocket. |
The Legal Rights of Pinellas County Hazing Victims
Florida Hazing Law: What You Need to Know
Florida Statute § 1006.63 — Hazing Prohibited
Florida law defines hazing as:
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:
- Physical brutality (beatings, paddling, forced exercise)
- Forced consumption of food, alcohol, or drugs
- Sleep deprivation
- Psychological abuse
- Any activity that creates an unreasonable risk of harm
Criminal Penalties in Florida:
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Hazing (no injury) | First-degree misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail, $1,000 fine) |
| Hazing causing serious injury | Third-degree felony (up to 5 years in prison, $5,000 fine) |
| Hazing causing death | Second-degree felony (up to 15 years in prison) |
Organizations can also be held criminally liable.
Civil Liability: Who Can Be Sued?
In Florida, hazing victims can sue:
- The local fraternity/sorority chapter — directly responsible for hazing
- The national organization — failed to supervise, enforce anti-hazing policies
- The university — failed to protect students despite knowing hazing occurs
- Individual members — participated in or facilitated hazing
- Chapter advisors/alumni — allowed hazing to occur
- Insurance companies — policies may cover damages
Florida has no cap on pain and suffering damages — meaning juries can award substantial compensation for physical and emotional harm.
What Pinellas County Families Should Do If Their Child Is Hazed
Step-by-Step Action Guide
| Step | Action | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Get medical attention immediately | Even if injuries seem minor, get checked. Rhabdomyolysis and alcohol poisoning symptoms may be delayed. Medical records are critical evidence. |
| 2 | Preserve all evidence | Save texts, social media messages, photos, videos, GroupMe chats. Do not delete anything. |
| 3 | Do not talk to the fraternity/sorority | They will try to control the narrative. Anything you say can be used against you. |
| 4 | Do not post on social media | Insurance companies and defense attorneys will use your posts to minimize your claim. |
| 5 | Report to authorities | Consider filing a police report. Hazing is a crime in Florida. |
| 6 | Report to the university | File a Title IX complaint or report to the Dean of Students. |
| 7 | Contact an attorney immediately | The statute of limitations is typically 2 years in Florida. Evidence disappears quickly. |
The Hazing Crisis in Florida: A Pattern of Abuse
Florida has seen multiple hazing deaths and serious injuries in recent years:
| Year | Victim | University | Fraternity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Andrew Coffey | Florida State University | Pi Kappa Phi | Died from alcohol poisoning during hazing. Chapter closed. |
| 2017 | Maxwell Gruver | Louisiana State University | Phi Delta Theta | Died from alcohol poisoning. $6.1 million jury verdict. |
| 2017 | Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | Died from traumatic brain injury. $110+ million settlement. |
| 2014 | Robert Champion | Florida A&M University | Marching Band | Died from hazing. Multiple convictions. |
This isn’t just happening at fraternities. Hazing occurs in:
- Sororities
- Sports teams
- Marching bands
- ROTC programs
- Clubs and honor societies
Pinellas County families: Your child could be at risk in any of these organizations.
The Message to Pinellas County Fraternities and Universities
To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and every fraternity operating near Pinellas County:
We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured multi-million dollar verdicts nationwide apply to your chapters. We track your house corporations, your alumni chapters, your national insurance structures.
If your chapter harms students in Pinellas County, we will pursue every liable entity. We already shut down Beta Nu at UH. Your chapter could be next.
To universities in Pinellas County:
The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. You have the power to stop hazing. You choose not to.
Act now — or face the same accountability.
Pinellas County Families: You Deserve Justice
Hazing isn’t “boys being boys.” It isn’t “tradition.” It isn’t “building brotherhood.”
It is abuse. It is assault. It is torture. And it is illegal.
If your child has been hazed in Pinellas County, you have rights. You have options. And you have allies.
We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. We are fighting this battle right now. And we will fight for you.
📞 Call Now for a Free Consultation
Pinellas County Hazing Victims: 1-888-ATTY-911
Email: ralph@atty911.com
We serve Pinellas County families on a contingency basis — $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
We will travel to Pinellas County for your case. We will fight for you just like we’re fighting for Leonel Bermudez.
Time is critical. Evidence disappears. The statute of limitations is ticking. Call now.
Pinellas County Parents: You Sent Your Child to College for an Education — Not to Be Tortured
We will hold those responsible accountable. We will get justice for your family. And we will make sure this never happens to another Pinellas County student.
Enough is enough.
