🛡️ Cherokee County Hazing Victims: Your Legal Rights and How to Fight Back

Cherokee County Families: Hazing Happens Here Too — And You Have Rights

If your child attends college near Cherokee County, Georgia, they face the same hazing risks that hospitalized our client in Houston. The same fraternities operate at universities across Georgia. The same “traditions” exist. The same negligence occurs.

And just like in Houston, Cherokee County families have legal rights.

At Attorney 911, 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. We know how to win. And we will bring the same aggressive representation to Cherokee County families.

This Happened in Houston — It Could Happen in Cherokee County

🚨 The Case That Shows What Hazing Really Is

In November 2025, our client Leonel Bermudez — a young man who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet — was hospitalized 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, 100 pushups, bear crawls, and 100-yard crawls until his muscles broke down
• Struck him with wooden paddles — physical assault
• Forced him to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited — then made him keep exercising in his own vomit
• Hog-tied another pledge face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
• Threatened expulsion if he didn’t comply
• Made him drive fraternity members at all hours — leading to exhaustion

The result:

• Severe rhabdomyolysis — his muscles broke down, releasing toxins into his blood
• Acute kidney failure — life-threatening condition
• 3 nights, 4 days in the hospital fighting for his life

This wasn’t “tradition.” This wasn’t “brotherhood.” This was torture.

Why This Matters to Cherokee County Families

🏛️ The Same Fraternities Operate Near Cherokee County

Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America — including in Georgia. The same national organization that waterboarded our client in Houston has chapters at universities near Cherokee County.

Universities near Cherokee County with Greek life include:

• Reinhardt University (Waleska, GA) — just minutes from Cherokee County
• Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, GA)
• University of North Georgia (Dahlonega, GA)
• Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA)
• University of Georgia (Athens, GA)

If it happened at UH, it can happen at any of these schools.

🎓 Universities Near Cherokee County Are Just as Liable

The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where our client was tortured. They collected rent while students were being abused. They had the power to inspect and shut down the chapter — but they didn’t.

Universities near Cherokee County have the same power — and the same responsibility.

If your child is hazed at a fraternity or sorority near Cherokee County, the university can be held liable if they:

• Own or control the property where hazing occurred
• Knew or should have known about hazing risks
• Failed to implement effective oversight
• Had prior hazing incidents and did nothing

💔 Hazing Doesn’t Just Happen at Fraternities

Hazing occurs in:

• Fraternities and sororities — the most common
• Sports teams — high school and college
• Marching bands — forced alcohol, physical abuse
• ROTC programs — military-style hazing
• Honor societies — academic hazing
• Clubs and organizations — even seemingly “harmless” groups

If your child was hazed in Cherokee County or anywhere in Georgia, we can help.

📜 Your Legal Rights as a Cherokee County Hazing Victim

1. Georgia Hazing Law — Criminal and Civil Liability

Georgia has strong anti-hazing laws that apply to all organizations, including those near Cherokee County.

Georgia Code § 16-5-61 — Hazing

(a) As used in this Code section, the term “hazing” means to subject a student to an activity which endangers or is likely to endanger the physical health of a student, regardless of a student’s willingness to participate in such activity.

Key points:

• Consent is NOT a defense — Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the organization can still be held liable
• Criminal penalties — Hazing is a misdemeanor in Georgia, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and $1,000 fine
• Civil liability — Victims can sue for damages, including medical bills, pain and suffering, and punitive damages

2. Civil Lawsuits — Holding Institutions Accountable

Even if criminal charges aren’t filed, you can file a civil lawsuit to hold the organization, university, and individuals accountable.

Who can be sued:

• The local chapter — the fraternity or sorority that conducted the hazing
• The national organization — they have deep pockets and insurance
• The university — if they knew or should have known about hazing
• Individual members — the people who directly participated
• Chapter officers — the leaders who allowed it to happen
• Alumni — if hazing occurred at their home

What you can sue for:

• Medical expenses — hospital bills, therapy, future treatment
• Lost wages — if your child missed work or internships
• Pain and suffering — physical and emotional trauma
• Punitive damages — to punish the organization and prevent future hazing

💰 Multi-Million Dollar Precedents — Cherokee County Families Can Win Big

Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. The same results are possible for Cherokee County victims.

🏆 Recent Hazing Verdicts and Settlements

Our $10 million demand for Leonel Bermudez is directly in line with these precedents.

Why These Cases Matter for Cherokee County

1. Juries award millions for hazing victims — even when the victim survives
2. Universities and national organizations pay — they have deep pockets
3. Pattern evidence matters — if a chapter has prior hazing incidents, damages increase
4. Punitive damages are awarded when conduct is outrageous (like waterboarding)

Cherokee County families: These same results are possible for you.

⚖️ What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Cherokee County

🚨 Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Even if your child seems “fine,” get them checked out.

Hazing injuries can be life-threatening and may not show symptoms right away:

• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) — can cause kidney failure (like our client)
• Alcohol poisoning — can be fatal
• Traumatic brain injury — from beatings or falls
• Heat stroke or hypothermia — from forced exposure
• Internal injuries — from paddling or physical abuse
• PTSD, anxiety, depression — psychological trauma can be severe

Go to the emergency room if:

• Your child has severe muscle pain
• Their urine is dark brown or red (sign of rhabdomyolysis)
• They can’t walk or move normally
• They lose consciousness
• They show signs of alcohol poisoning (confusion, vomiting, slow breathing)
• They talk about self-harm or suicide

Document everything:

• Take photos of injuries
• Save all medical records
• Keep a journal of symptoms

📱 Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

Evidence disappears fast. Preserve it immediately.

What to save:
✅ Text messages — GroupMe, iMessage, WhatsApp, Snapchat
✅ Social media posts — Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter/X
✅ Photos and videos — from hazing events or injuries
✅ Emails — from the organization, university, or members
✅ Pledge manuals or documents — any written rules or schedules
✅ Witness information — names and contact info of other victims or bystanders
✅ Clothing or objects — anything used in hazing (paddles, fanny packs, etc.)

What NOT to do:
❌ Delete anything — even old posts can be evidence
❌ Talk to the organization — they will try to control the narrative
❌ Sign anything — don’t sign waivers or agreements
❌ Post on social media — anything you post can be used against you

🚫 Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization or University Alone

They are not on your side.

• The fraternity/sorority will try to minimize what happened
• The university will try to protect their reputation
• Their lawyers will try to get you to say things that hurt your case

Before you talk to anyone:

• Call an attorney
• Let your lawyer handle all communication

📞 Step 4: Call Attorney 911 — Free Consultation for Cherokee County Families

We are currently litigating a $10 MILLION hazing case — and we’re ready to fight for Cherokee County victims too.

Call us 24/7:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Or email:
📧 ralph@atty911.com

We offer:
✅ Free, confidential consultation — no obligation
✅ Contingency fee representation — $0 upfront for Cherokee County families. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
✅ Nationwide service — we represent hazing victims across Georgia and America
✅ Video consultations — meet with us remotely if you can’t travel
✅ We come to you — we’ll travel to Cherokee County for depositions and meetings

🔍 How We Build a Winning Hazing Case for Cherokee County Victims

1. Identify All Responsible Parties

We don’t just sue the local chapter. We pursue everyone who allowed this to happen:

• The local fraternity/sorority
• The national organization (they have deep pockets)
• The university (if they knew or should have known)
• The individual members who participated
• The chapter officers who allowed it
• The alumni who hosted hazing at their homes

2. Gather Irrefutable Evidence

We work with:

• Medical experts to document injuries
• Hazing culture experts to explain the dynamics
• Investigators to track down witnesses
• Digital forensics to recover deleted messages and posts

We know what evidence wins cases — and we know how to get it.

3. Prove Institutional Negligence

We show that the organization knew or should have known about hazing and failed to stop it.

For example:

• Did the national organization know about prior hazing incidents at other chapters?
• Did the university know about prior hazing at their Greek organizations?
• Did chapter officers ignore warnings or prior incidents?

If the answer is yes, we hold them accountable.

4. Maximize Your Compensation

We fight for every dollar you deserve, including:

• Medical bills — past, present, and future
• Lost wages — if your child missed work or internships
• Pain and suffering — physical and emotional trauma
• Punitive damages — to punish the organization and prevent future hazing

Our goal: A settlement or verdict that sends a message — hazing must stop.

🎯 Why Cherokee County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Currently Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Case

We’re not just talking about hazing — we’re actively litigating a major hazing lawsuit right now. We know the strategies that work.

2. We’re Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides. We know exactly how they think. We know their playbook — and we use it against them.

3. We Have Federal Court Authority

We’re admitted to U.S. District Court, which allows us to pursue Cherokee County cases in federal jurisdiction when needed.

4. We’re Dual-Licensed in Texas and New York

This gives us strategic flexibility when pursuing national fraternity organizations headquartered in other states.

5. We Offer Contingency Fees — $0 Upfront for Cherokee County Families

We understand that cost is a concern. That’s why we take hazing cases on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win.

6. We Speak Spanish — Se Habla Español

Many hazing victims and families are Spanish-speaking. We provide full legal services in Spanish.

7. We Care About Your Child — Not Just the Money

We’ve seen what hazing does to kids. We see your child as a person — not a paycheck. And we will fight hard for Cherokee County families because we truly care.

📢 Warning to Fraternities and Sororities Near Cherokee County

To the fraternities and sororities operating near Cherokee County:

We are watching.

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

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma — if your chapter operates near Cherokee County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America.

Every national fraternity with chapters near Cherokee County should review their hazing policies immediately. We have proven these cases can be won.

Universities near Cherokee County: The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. Act now — or face the same accountability.

💔 To the Victims of Hazing in Cherokee County

You didn’t deserve this.

What happened to you wasn’t “tradition.” It wasn’t “brotherhood.” It wasn’t “building character.”

It was abuse. It was assault. It was wrong.

And you have the right to fight back.

You are not alone. Our client in Houston was afraid of retribution too. But he stepped forward — and now we’re fighting for him.

Your case could save lives. Lupe Pena said it best:

“If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Be brave. Step forward. Cherokee County victims: Enough is enough.

📞 Cherokee County Families: Call Us Now

If your child was hazed in Cherokee County or anywhere in Georgia, we can help.

Call 24/7 for a free, confidential consultation:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Or email:
📧 ralph@atty911.com

We serve Cherokee County and all of Georgia — and we come to you.

$0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.

Let’s fight back — together.