🚨 Ohio County Hazing Lawyer: Fighting Fraternity Abuse & University Negligence
If your child was hazed at a college near Ohio County, you have legal rights — and we can help.
At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure. The same fraternities operate at universities near Ohio County. The same culture of abuse exists. And we will fight for Ohio County families with the same aggression.
Ohio County parents: You are not alone. We will come to Ohio County for your case.
🔥 The Hazing Crisis in Ohio County: What Every Parent Needs to Know
Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” It’s assault. It’s torture. It’s illegal. And it’s happening right now at colleges and universities near Ohio County.
The facts:
- 55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing
- Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every year in the United States
- 95% of hazing victims do not report it — often due to fear, shame, or loyalty to the organization
- Hazing occurs in fraternities, sororities, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC, and clubs at Ohio County-area schools
The culture is toxic. The institutions enable it. And the students pay the price.
🏥 What Hazing Does to Ohio County Students: Real Medical Consequences
Hazing isn’t just embarrassing or uncomfortable. It causes real, lasting harm — often with lifelong consequences.
Physical Injuries from Hazing:
| Injury Type | What Happens | Ohio County Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Rhabdomyolysis | Muscle breakdown causing kidney failure | Our UH client hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure after forced exercise |
| Alcohol Poisoning | Forced drinking leading to coma or death | Multiple documented deaths nationwide; occurs at Ohio County-area schools |
| Traumatic Brain Injury | From beatings, falls, or paddling | Documented in hazing cases across America |
| Hypothermia/Hyperthermia | From exposure to cold or heat | Cases of students forced to stand outside in winter or run in extreme heat |
| Broken Bones | From physical abuse | Documented in multiple hazing lawsuits |
| Internal Injuries | From beatings or forced consumption | Lacerated spleen case at UH in 2017 |
Psychological Trauma from Hazing:
- PTSD — from waterboarding, physical abuse, or witnessing abuse
- Anxiety and Depression — often requiring long-term therapy
- Suicidal Ideation — hazing survivors report increased suicidal thoughts
- Trust Issues — difficulty forming relationships after betrayal
- Academic Decline — inability to focus, dropping out
- Substance Abuse — self-medicating to cope with trauma
Ohio County parents: If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms after joining a Greek organization or team, seek medical and psychological help immediately — and contact us.
⚠️ The Ohio County Hazing Case We’re Fighting Right Now
Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston — $10 Million Lawsuit
What happened:
Leonel Bermudez, a young man planning to transfer to University of Houston, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi fraternity in September 2025. What followed was weeks of systematic abuse that hospitalized him for four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
The hazing included:
✅ Waterboarding with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
✅ Forced to do 500+ squats, 100+ pushups, bear crawls, and other extreme exercises until he collapsed
✅ Struck with wooden paddles — physical assault with weapons
✅ Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting — then forced to continue exercising
✅ Made to lie in vomit-soaked grass — humiliation and degradation
✅ Another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
✅ A pledge lost consciousness and collapsed during a workout — other pledges had to revive him
✅ Threatened with expulsion if they didn’t comply
The result:
- November 3, 2025: Bermudez collapsed after extreme hazing
- November 4-5: Became increasingly unable to move
- November 6: Mother rushed him to hospital with brown urine (sign of muscle breakdown)
- Diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure
- Hospitalized for 4 days — life-threatening condition
The institutional response:
- Pi Kappa Phi closed the chapter 7 days before the lawsuit was filed — they knew litigation was coming
- University of Houston admitted the events were “deeply disturbing” and a “clear violation of community standards”
- No one called for medical help until it was almost too late
Why this matters to Ohio County families:
- Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America — including near Ohio County
- The same national organization that allowed this torture operates near Ohio County
- Universities near Ohio County have the same power — and the same liability — as UH
- If your child is being hazed in Ohio County, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting in Houston
💰 Ohio County Hazing Lawsuits: What You Can Recover
Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Ohio County families have the same rights as families in Houston, Austin, or anywhere else.
What Ohio County Hazing Victims Can Sue For:
| Category | What It Covers | Ohio County Application |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, doctor visits, therapy, future treatment | Our UH client: 4-day hospitalization; Ohio County victims face similar bills |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work; lost internship opportunities | Ohio County students may lose jobs or internships due to hazing injuries |
| Educational Damages | Tuition for lost semesters, scholarship loss | Hazing often causes academic decline or withdrawal |
| Pain and Suffering | Physical pain from injuries | Torture-level hazing causes severe physical pain |
| Mental Anguish | PTSD, anxiety, depression, trauma | Waterboarding and extreme hazing cause lasting psychological damage |
| Punitive Damages | To punish egregious conduct and deter future hazing | Waterboarding, 500 squats, wooden paddles — juries award punitive damages for this level of abuse |
Ohio County Hazing Settlements: What Juries Award
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | Death; Settlement | $10.1 Million |
| Maxwell Gruver | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | Death; Jury Verdict | $6.1 Million |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | Death; Settlement | $110+ Million |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Death; Settlement | Confidential (major) |
| Bermudez (our case) | University of Houston | Pi Kappa Phi | Hospitalization; Pending | $10 Million |
Ohio County families: These same results are possible for your case. The same legal strategies apply.
⚖️ Ohio County Hazing Laws: What You Need to Know
Indiana Hazing Law: Criminal and Civil Liability
While specific to Indiana, hazing laws share common principles. Hazing is illegal in every state, including Indiana, and victims have legal rights.
Key legal principles for Ohio County families:
- Consent is not a defense — Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it doesn’t matter. Hazing is illegal regardless of consent.
- Universities can be held liable — If they knew or should have known about hazing, they can be sued.
- National fraternities/sororities can be held liable — They have a duty to supervise their chapters.
- Individual perpetrators can be held personally liable — Including chapter officers and active members.
- There is a statute of limitations — You typically have 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. Do not wait.
Ohio County parents: If your child was hazed, you have legal rights. Contact us immediately to protect those rights.
🏛️ Who Can Be Sued for Ohio County Hazing?
When we sue for hazing, we don’t just sue the individuals who participated. We sue everyone who allowed it to happen.
Defendants in Ohio County Hazing Lawsuits:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Ohio County Application |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Chapter officers, members who participated |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture | Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, etc. |
| Housing Corporation | Owned property where hazing occurred | Many Ohio County fraternity houses are owned by housing corps |
| University | Owned property; failed to protect students | Universities near Ohio County own many fraternity houses |
| Individual Members | Participated in or failed to stop hazing | Each member who participated can be sued personally |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility | President, pledgemaster, etc. — personal liability |
| Alumni | Allowed hazing at their homes | Many Ohio County hazing events occur at alumni homes |
| Spouses of Members | Allowed hazing at their property | Premises liability for hosting hazing |
Ohio County families: We sue everyone responsible to maximize your recovery.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Ohio County
Immediate Steps for Ohio County Families:
- Get medical attention immediately — Even if injuries seem minor, document everything
- Preserve all evidence — Texts, photos, videos, social media posts, witness names
- Do NOT talk to the fraternity/sorority or university without legal counsel
- Do NOT post on social media about the incident — Anything you post can be used against you
- Contact an attorney immediately — Evidence disappears fast; statutes of limitations apply
Detailed Evidence Checklist for Ohio County Families:
| Evidence Type | What to Save |
|---|---|
| Medical Records | Hospital records, ER visits, doctor notes, therapy records |
| Photos/Videos | Injuries at all stages of healing; hazing activities if any exist |
| Communications | Text messages, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, emails |
| Witness Information | Names and contact info of other pledges, witnesses, bystanders |
| Documents | Pledge manuals, schedules, rules given to your child |
| Financial Records | Medical bills, lost wages, tuition/fees paid |
| Academic Records | Impact on grades, enrollment, scholarships |
Ohio County parents: Do not delete anything. Even messages that seem harmless may be important evidence.
🎯 Why Ohio County Families Choose Attorney 911
We’re not just hazing lawyers. We’re former insurance defense attorneys who know how they think.
| Advantage | What It Means for Ohio County Families |
|---|---|
| 25+ Years Courtroom Experience | Battle-tested in state and federal courts — we can fight for you in Ohio County |
| Former Insurance Defense Attorneys | We know how insurance companies value claims and try to deny them — we use that knowledge against them |
| Federal Court Admission | Can pursue Ohio County cases in federal court — important for national fraternity defendants |
| Dual-State Bar Admission | Texas AND New York licensed — strategic advantage against national organizations |
| Se Habla Español | Bilingual staff — Ohio County Spanish-speaking families welcome |
| Nationwide Hazing Expertise | Currently litigating $10M UH hazing case — same strategies available for Ohio County victims |
| Willing to Travel | We will come to Ohio County for depositions, trials, and client meetings |
Ohio County families: We understand what you’re going through. We’ve seen the medical records. We’ve heard the stories. We know the culture. We will fight for you like family.
📞 Ohio County Hazing Victims: Call Now for Free Consultation
If your child was hazed at a college near Ohio County, call us immediately.
Ohio County Hazing Hotline:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
Available 24/7 for Ohio County families
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
We work on contingency — $0 upfront for Ohio County families. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
🏠 Serving Ohio County from Houston, Austin & Beaumont
While we are based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including Ohio County. We can evaluate your case through:
- Video consultations — Meet with us remotely
- Phone consultations — 1-888-ATTY-911
- Travel to Ohio County — For depositions, trials, and client meetings
Ohio County families: Distance is not a barrier to justice.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions for Ohio County Families
Q: My child was hazed but doesn’t want to sue. Should we still call a lawyer?
A: Yes. Even if your child doesn’t want to sue, you should consult with an attorney to:
- Understand your legal rights
- Preserve evidence in case they change their mind
- Know what to do if the university or fraternity contacts you
- Protect against retaliation
Many hazing victims change their minds when they realize the extent of their injuries or the institutional cover-up.
Q: The fraternity says my child “consented” to the hazing. Can they still sue?
A: Absolutely. In most states, including Indiana, consent is not a defense to hazing. The law explicitly says that even if a student agreed to participate, it doesn’t matter — hazing is illegal regardless.
The fraternity’s “consent” argument is their #1 defense — and it fails as a matter of law.
Q: We’re worried about retaliation. How do you protect clients?
A: We take retaliation very seriously. We:
- Advise clients not to engage with the fraternity or university without legal counsel
- Monitor for any signs of intimidation or retaliation
- Take legal action if retaliation occurs
- Protect client identities when possible
Our UH client is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution.” We understand that fear, and we protect our clients.
Q: How much does it cost to hire a hazing lawyer?
A: Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis — we only get paid if we win your case. Our fee is a percentage of your recovery.
Ohio County families: You pay $0 to hire us. We take the financial risk so you can focus on your child’s recovery.
Q: How long do Ohio County hazing lawsuits take?
A: Every case is different, but most hazing lawsuits take 1-3 years from filing to resolution. Factors that affect timeline:
- Severity of injuries
- Number of defendants
- Whether the case settles or goes to trial
- Court schedules
Our UH case was filed in November 2025. We expect it to be resolved in 2026-2027.
Q: Can we sue if the hazing happened off-campus?
A: Yes. Hazing laws apply on or off campus. Many hazing incidents occur at:
- Fraternity houses (even if not owned by the university)
- Off-campus apartments
- Hotels
- Remote locations
We sued for hazing that occurred at a former member’s residence in our UH case.
Q: What if my child was hazed at a community college near Ohio County?
A: You can still sue. Hazing laws apply to all educational institutions, including:
- Community colleges
- Private colleges
- Trade schools
- High schools
We represent hazing victims from all types of schools.
Q: The university says they had “no knowledge” of the hazing. Can we still sue them?
A: Yes. Universities can be held liable for:
- Premises liability — if they own the property where hazing occurred
- Negligent supervision — if they failed to monitor Greek life
- Institutional negligence — if they had prior incidents and failed to act
In our UH case, the university owned the fraternity house — they can’t claim ignorance.
🔍 Ohio County Hazing Warning Signs: What Parents Should Watch For
Hazing often starts with subtle signs and escalates. Ohio County parents: Watch for these red flags.
Behavioral Changes:
- Sudden secrecy about activities
- Unexplained bruises, injuries, or exhaustion
- Withdrawal from family and friends
- Sudden decline in academic performance
- Increased anxiety or depression
- Fear of certain people or places
- Unexplained absences from home or school
Physical Signs:
- Bruises, cuts, or burns
- Difficulty walking or moving
- Signs of dehydration or malnutrition
- Unexplained weight loss
- Sleep deprivation (dark circles, fatigue)
- Signs of alcohol or drug use
Academic Impact:
- Skipping classes
- Dropping grades
- Missing assignments
- Withdrawing from courses
- Talking about transferring or dropping out
Social Media Clues:
- Deleted posts or accounts
- New, secretive social media groups
- Posts about “traditions” or “brotherhood”
- Photos of large groups in matching outfits
- References to “pledging” or “new members”
Ohio County parents: If you notice these signs, ask questions — and consider contacting us.
🏆 Our Ohio County Hazing Case Results
While we can’t guarantee results, we have a proven track record of fighting — and winning — against powerful institutions.
Current Case:
- Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston — $10 million lawsuit pending
- Allegations: Waterboarding, forced exercise, physical abuse, hospitalization
- Status: Filed November 2025; active litigation
Past Experience:
- Ralph Manginello: 25+ years litigation experience; former insurance defense attorney; federal court admission
- Lupe Pena: Former national insurance defense attorney; federal court admission
- Firm Experience: BP Texas City explosion litigation; multi-million dollar personal injury cases
Ohio County families: We know how to fight — and win — against universities and national fraternities.
🎓 Ohio County Colleges & Universities: Where Hazing Happens
Ohio County is home to several colleges and universities where Greek life thrives. The same national fraternities and sororities that have been involved in hazing deaths operate at Ohio County-area schools.
Colleges and Universities Near Ohio County:
| Institution | Location | Greek Life Presence | Hazing Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University Southeast | New Albany, IN (~50 miles from Ohio County) | Active Greek life | High |
| University of Louisville | Louisville, KY (~60 miles from Ohio County) | Large Greek system | Very high |
| Bellarmine University | Louisville, KY (~60 miles) | Active Greek life | High |
| Spalding University | Louisville, KY (~60 miles) | Greek organizations | Moderate |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville, KY (~60 miles) | Smaller Greek presence | Moderate |
Fraternities with Hazing Histories Near Ohio County:
| Fraternity | Notable Hazing Cases | Chapters Near Ohio County |
|---|---|---|
| Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) | Stone Foltz (2021) — $10.1M settlement | Yes |
| Pi Kappa Phi | Andrew Coffey (2017) — death; Bermudez (2025) — our case | Yes |
| Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) | Multiple hazing deaths and injuries | Yes |
| Phi Delta Theta | Maxwell Gruver (2017) — $6.1M verdict | Yes |
| Beta Theta Pi | Timothy Piazza (2017) — $110M+ settlement | Yes |
Ohio County parents: If your child is joining a Greek organization at a college near Ohio County, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.
📢 Message to Ohio County Fraternities: We Are Watching
To fraternities operating near Ohio County:
We are watching. We are documenting. We are building cases.
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 — if your chapter operates near Ohio County, know this:
- We track your housing corporations
- We track your alumni chapters
- We track your national organization’s insurance
- We track your documented history of hazing
If you haze students in Ohio County, we will pursue every liable entity. We already shut down Beta Nu at UH. Your chapter could be next.
To university administrators near Ohio County:
The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. Act now or face the same accountability.
🏁 Ohio County Families: Your Next Steps
If your child was hazed at a college near Ohio County, time is critical. Here’s what to do:
- Call us immediately — 1-888-ATTY-911
- Preserve all evidence — Don’t delete anything
- Get medical and psychological help — Document everything
- Do not talk to the fraternity or university without legal counsel
- Let us handle the legal fight — We’ll come to Ohio County for your case
Ohio County hazing victims: You are not alone. We are fighting this battle right now — and we will fight for you.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
We don’t get paid unless you get paid. $0 upfront for Ohio County families.
