🚨 Hazing Lawyers in Effingham County, IL | Attorney 911
Effingham County Parents: Your Child Could Be Next
This is happening at universities near Effingham County.
A college student in Texas was waterboarded by his fraternity. He was forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down. He was struck with wooden paddles. He ended up in the hospital with kidney failure—fighting for his life.
The fraternity? Pi Kappa Phi—the same national organization that has chapters at universities across Illinois, including near Effingham County.
The university? University of Houston—but the same negligence exists at institutions near Effingham County.
This isn’t just happening in Texas. It’s happening right here in Illinois. And if your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Effingham County, they could be next.
At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this battle right now—and we’ll fight for Effingham County families with the same fury. If your child has been hazed, you have legal rights. You deserve justice. And we will get it for you.
Call us now for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911
What Happened in Texas Could Happen in Effingham County
The Case That Should Terrify Every Effingham County Parent
On November 21, 2025, our law firm filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a student who was systematically abused, tortured, and hazed during his pledge process.
Here’s what they did to him:
✅ Waterboarded him with a garden hose—simulating drowning, a form of torture
✅ Forced him to do 500+ squats, 100+ pushups, and other extreme exercises until he collapsed
✅ Struck him with wooden paddles—physical assault with a weapon
✅ Forced him to eat until he vomited, then made him lie in vomit-soaked grass
✅ Hog-tied another pledge face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
✅ Another pledge lost consciousness during a forced workout—fraternity members let him collapse
The result?
Leonel Bermudez ended up in the hospital with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring four days of inpatient care. His muscles literally broke down from the abuse. He could barely walk. His mother had to rush him to the ER when she saw him passing brown urine—a classic sign of muscle breakdown.
This didn’t happen in some dark basement in a far-off state. It happened at a major university—just like the ones near Effingham County.
Why This Matters to Effingham County Families
1. The Same Fraternities Operate Near Effingham County
Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America—including at universities in Illinois.
Other national fraternities with hazing histories near Effingham County include:
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) – Multiple hazing deaths nationwide
- Sigma Chi – Recent $10M+ hazing settlements
- Kappa Sigma – Documented hazing incidents in Illinois
- Phi Delta Theta – Responsible for Max Gruver’s death ($6.1M verdict)
- Beta Theta Pi – Timothy Piazza case ($110M+ settlement)
If it can happen in Texas, it can happen at Eastern Illinois University, University of Illinois, or any institution near Effingham County.
2. Universities Near Effingham County Are Just as Negligent
The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where Leonel Bermudez was tortured. They had the power to inspect, regulate, and shut it down—but they didn’t.
Universities near Effingham County have the same power—and the same negligence.
- Eastern Illinois University has Greek life chapters.
- University of Illinois has Greek life chapters.
- Nearby community colleges and private universities have Greek life chapters.
If your child is hazed at a fraternity or sorority near Effingham County, the university is just as liable as Pi Kappa Phi and UH.
3. They Knew This Could Happen—and Did Nothing
Pi Kappa Phi had a hazing death in 2017. A student named Andrew Coffey died from forced alcohol consumption at a Pi Kappa Phi event at Florida State University.
They had 8 years to fix their culture. They didn’t.
The University of Houston had a hazing hospitalization in 2017. A student was hospitalized with a lacerated spleen after hazing at another fraternity.
They had 8 years to implement real oversight. They didn’t.
Now, Leonel Bermudez is in the hospital with kidney failure—exactly 8 years after Andrew Coffey’s death.
If fraternities and universities near Effingham County know about hazing and do nothing, they will be held accountable.
What Is Hazing? (And Why Effingham County Parents Need to Know)
Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys.” It isn’t “tradition.” It isn’t “building brotherhood.”
Hazing is abuse. It is assault. It is torture. And it is illegal in Illinois.
Common Hazing Activities at Effingham County-Area Universities
| Category | Examples | Why It’s Dangerous |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Abuse | Paddling, beating, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion | Can cause broken bones, internal injuries, rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) |
| Forced Consumption | Alcohol (binge drinking), food (eating until vomiting), non-food substances | Alcohol poisoning, choking, internal damage |
| Psychological Torture | Waterboarding, sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats | PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation |
| Sexual Abuse | Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects | Sexual assault, long-term trauma |
| Exposure | Cold weather exposure, heat exposure, confined spaces | Hypothermia, heat stroke, suffocation |
| Servitude | Forced cleaning, driving members, running errands | Exhaustion, academic decline |
This isn’t just “hazing.” This is criminal behavior.
Illinois Hazing Laws: What Effingham County Families Need to Know
Illinois Anti-Hazing Statute (720 ILCS 5/12C-50)
Definition of Hazing in Illinois:
Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization, which causes, or is intended to cause, bodily danger, physical harm, or serious psychological injury.
Criminal Penalties in Illinois:
| Offense Level | Conduct | Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| Class A Misdemeanor | Hazing that causes bodily harm | Up to 1 year in jail, $2,500 fine |
| Class 4 Felony | Hazing that causes great bodily harm or permanent disability | 1-3 years in prison, $25,000 fine |
| Class 2 Felony | Hazing that causes death | 3-7 years in prison, $25,000 fine |
Consent is NOT a Defense in Illinois.
Just like in Texas, Illinois law explicitly states that a victim’s consent to hazing is not a defense.
Organizations Can Be Held Liable.
Fraternities, sororities, and universities can be sued for negligence, premises liability, and failure to supervise.
Who Is Liable for Hazing in Effingham County?
If your child is hazed at a fraternity or sorority near Effingham County, everyone involved can be held accountable:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility; directed activities |
| Individual Members | Participated in hazing; failed to stop it |
| National Organization | Knew or should have known about hazing; failed to supervise |
| University | Owns/controls property; failed to prevent hazing despite prior incidents |
| Alumni/Advisors | Allowed hazing at their homes; failed to intervene |
| Insurance Companies | Provide coverage for institutional liability |
In our Texas case, we’re suing:
✅ Pi Kappa Phi National – Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite knowing about a “hazing crisis”
✅ The UH Chapter – Directly organized and conducted the abuse
✅ University of Houston – Owned the fraternity house where torture occurred
✅ Individual Members – Participated in and facilitated the hazing
The same liability applies to Effingham County-area institutions.
What Can Effingham County Families Recover?
Hazing victims and their families are entitled to full compensation for:
1. Economic Damages
- Medical bills (hospital stays, ER visits, therapy, future treatment)
- Lost wages (time missed from work, lost internship opportunities)
- Educational damages (disrupted enrollment, lost scholarships)
- Future medical costs (kidney monitoring, potential dialysis/transplant)
2. Non-Economic Damages
- Physical pain and suffering (from paddling, forced exercise, waterboarding)
- Mental anguish (PTSD, anxiety, depression from abuse)
- Emotional distress (humiliation, shame, loss of trust)
- Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in normal activities)
3. Punitive Damages
- Punishment for egregious conduct (waterboarding, 500 squats, wooden paddles)
- Deterrence for other fraternities (to prevent future hazing)
- Message to institutions (universities and nationals must change their culture)
Precedent Cases Prove It: Hazing Victims Win Millions
| Case | Fraternity | Injury | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (2021) | Pi Kappa Alpha | Death from alcohol poisoning | $10.1M settlement |
| Max Gruver (2017) | Phi Delta Theta | Death from alcohol poisoning | $6.1M jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza (2017) | Beta Theta Pi | Death from traumatic brain injury | $110M+ settlement |
| Andrew Coffey (2017) | Pi Kappa Phi | Death from alcohol poisoning | Confidential settlement |
| Leonel Bermudez (2025) | Pi Kappa Phi | Rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure | $10M lawsuit pending |
Effingham County families can recover the same compensation.
What Should Effingham County Families Do If Their Child Is Hazed?
Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor.
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) can be life-threatening—symptoms include muscle pain, weakness, and dark urine.
- Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression) requires professional help.
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
✅ Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence.
✅ Save all communications (texts, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, emails).
✅ Write down everything—dates, times, names of people involved, what happened.
✅ Get witness information—other pledges, bystanders, friends.
✅ Do NOT delete anything—even if it seems embarrassing or incriminating.
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Without a Lawyer
- They will try to control the narrative.
- They will pressure you to sign documents.
- They will twist your words against you.
- Anything you say can be used to minimize your claim.
Step 4: Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately
- Illinois has a 2-year statute of limitations—if you wait too long, you lose your right to sue.
- Evidence disappears quickly—fraternities delete messages, universities destroy records.
- The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case.
Effingham County families: Call Attorney 911 now for a free, confidential consultation.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ✉️ ralph@atty911.com
Why Effingham County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now
- We’re 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.
- Effingham County families get the same aggressive representation.
2. We Have the Experience to Win
- 25+ years of litigation experience (Ralph Manginello)
- Former insurance defense attorneys—we know how they think and how to beat them.
- Federal court admission—we can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction.
- Dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York)—strategic advantage for national fraternities.
- Multi-million dollar case experience—we’ve won big against massive institutions.
3. We’ll Travel to Effingham County
- While we’re based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide.
- We offer video consultations for Effingham County families.
- We’ll travel to Effingham County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
4. No Upfront Costs for Effingham County Families
- We work on contingency—you pay $0 upfront.
- We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
- No risk. No hidden fees.
5. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)
- Many hazing victims near Effingham County come from Spanish-speaking families.
- We provide comprehensive legal services in Spanish—no language barriers.
6. We Care About Effingham County Families
“We see your child as a person—not a paycheck. And we will fight hard for Effingham County families, because we truly care.” — Ralph Manginello
Fraternities Near Effingham County: We Are Watching
To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and every other fraternity with chapters near Effingham County:
We are coming for you.
The same legal strategies that secured $10 million+ verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.
We track your house corporations, your alumni chapters, your national insurance structures.
We know your hazing histories.
We know your corporate structures.
We know how much you’ve paid in settlements.
If you haze students near Effingham County, we will pursue every liable entity.
The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? Shut down. Charter surrendered. Criminal referrals initiated.
Your chapter near Effingham County could be next.
Effingham County Universities: You Are Liable
To Eastern Illinois University, University of Illinois, and every institution near Effingham County:
You own the buildings. You collect the rent. You have the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down dangerous chapters.
When you fail to protect students, you are just as liable as the fraternities.
The University of Houston owned the house where a student was waterboarded. They are now facing a $10 million lawsuit.
If hazing happens at your institution near Effingham County, you will pay.
Effingham County Parents: The Time to Act Is Now
Your child trusted these organizations. That trust was betrayed.
But you have the power to fight back.
You have the power to demand justice.
You have the power to make sure this never happens to another Effingham County family.
If your child has been hazed near Effingham County, call us now:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
✉️ ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Free consultation. No upfront costs. We don’t get paid unless you do.
Effingham County Hazing Victims: You Are Not Alone
Leonel Bermudez was waterboarded. He was forced to do 500 squats until his kidneys failed. He spent four days in the hospital fighting for his life.
And he’s not alone.
Thousands of students across America—including near Effingham County—are being hazed right now.
But you don’t have to suffer in silence.
You don’t have to accept their excuses.
You don’t have to let them get away with it.
At Attorney 911, we will fight for you. We will hold them accountable. And we will make sure this never happens to another Effingham County family.
Call us now. The time to act is now.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ✉️ ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com
