Hazing Victims in Atchison County Deserve Justice

This Happened in Houston. It Could Happen in Atchison County.

Atchison County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities and Greek organizations to protect their students. But too often, that trust is betrayed.

In November 2025, a young man was hospitalized after being subjected to extreme hazing at the University of Houston. He was waterboarded. Forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down. Struck with wooden paddles. The fraternity that did this to him had a documented history of deadly hazing—and the university that owned the fraternity house failed to stop it.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. It happens at universities across America—including institutions near Atchison County.

If your child has been hazed, abused, or injured in a fraternity, sorority, or other student organization, you have legal rights. At Attorney 911, we are fighting this battle right now—and we will fight for Atchison County families with the same determination.

What Is Hazing? It’s Not “Tradition.” It’s Abuse.

Hazing is any intentional, reckless, or negligent act that endangers a student’s physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization.

This includes:

• Physical abuse – Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
• Forced consumption – Alcohol, food, or other substances to the point of vomiting or injury
• Psychological torture – Waterboarding, humiliation, sleep deprivation
• Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, or carrying sexual objects
• Dangerous activities – Extreme weather exposure, confined spaces, or reckless stunts

Hazing is not harmless fun. It’s not “building brotherhood.” It’s assault, battery, and sometimes manslaughter.

The Hazing Crisis in Atchison County and Beyond

Hazing is a nationwide epidemic. According to research:

• 55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing
• 40% of student athletes report hazing
• Since 2000, at least one hazing death has occurred every year in the U.S.
• 95% of hazing victims never report it

This isn’t just happening at big universities. Hazing occurs in fraternities, sororities, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC programs, and other student organizations—including those near Atchison County.

If your child attends a college or university in Northeast Kansas, they face the same risks as students in Houston, Texas, or anywhere else in America.

The Landmark Case: $10 Million Lawsuit Against Pi Kappa Phi and University of Houston

What Happened to Leonel Bermudez

In September 2025, Leonel Bermudez accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Houston. He wasn’t even a student yet—he was a “ghost rush,” expected to transfer for the Spring 2026 semester.

What followed was weeks of systematic abuse:

• Waterboarding with a garden hose – Simulated drowning while doing calisthenics
• Forced eating until vomiting – Large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns
• Extreme physical punishment – 100+ pushups, 500 squats, bear crawls, 100-yard crawls
• Wooden paddles – Struck repeatedly as part of “discipline”
• Sleep deprivation – Forced to drive fraternity members at all hours
• Psychological humiliation – Carrying sexual objects, stripping in cold weather

On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was punished for missing an event. He was forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups, and other exercises until he collapsed. He couldn’t stand without help. He crawled up the stairs when he got home.

The next day, he couldn’t move. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He spent four days in the hospital.

The Defendants: Who Is Responsible?

Attorney 911 filed a $10 million lawsuit against:

• Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity (National Organization) – Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite knowing about a “hazing crisis”
• Beta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi – Directly organized and conducted the hazing
• University of Houston – Owned the fraternity house where the abuse occurred; failed to prevent hazing despite a prior 2017 incident
• Individual members – Including the fraternity president, pledgemaster, and others who participated

Why This Case Matters for Atchison County Families

• Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide – Including near Atchison County
• The same national fraternities that operate at UH have chapters at universities near Atchison County
• Universities near Atchison County face the same liability failures as UH
• If your child is being hazed, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting for Leonel Bermudez

Who Is Liable for Hazing in Atchison County?

If your child has been hazed, multiple parties may be legally responsible:

You don’t have to sue just one party—we will pursue everyone responsible.

What Atchison County Families Can Recover

Hazing victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for:

Economic Damages

• Medical expenses – Hospital bills, rehabilitation, future treatment
• Lost wages – Time missed from work or internships
• Educational costs – Tuition, fees, scholarships lost due to disruption

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering – The agony of rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, or other injuries
• Mental anguish – PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear of retaliation
• Emotional distress – Humiliation, shame, loss of trust
• Loss of enjoyment of life – Inability to participate in normal activities

Punitive Damages

If the conduct was egregious, reckless, or intentional, courts may award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoers and deter future hazing.

Precedent Cases Show Hazing Victims Can Win Millions:

• $10.1 million – Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha)
• $6.1 million – Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta)
• $110+ million – Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi)

What Atchison County Families Should Do If Their Child Is Hazed

1. Get Medical Attention Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
• Some symptoms (like rhabdomyolysis) may not appear right away
• Medical records are critical evidence

2. Preserve All Evidence

• Take photos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence
• Save all communications – Texts, emails, GroupMe chats, social media posts
• Get witness information – Names and contact info of other pledges or bystanders
• Do not delete anything – Even if it’s embarrassing, it may be evidence

3. Do NOT Talk to the Organization or Their Lawyers

• Fraternities, sororities, and universities will try to control the narrative
• They may pressure you to sign documents or give statements
• Anything you say can be used against you

4. Contact an Attorney Immediately

• The statute of limitations in Kansas is typically 2 years – but evidence disappears quickly
• We offer free consultations – You pay nothing unless we win
• We handle all communications with the organization and their lawyers

Why Atchison County Families Choose Attorney 911

We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now

While many law firms talk about hazing, we are actively litigating a $10 million hazing case in Houston. We know how to build these cases, and we know how to win.

Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena both worked for insurance companies before switching sides to represent victims. We know their playbook—and we use that knowledge to maximize your recovery.

Nationwide Reach, Local Commitment

While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including Atchison County. We offer:

• Video consultations – Meet with us remotely
• Travel to Atchison County – For depositions, meetings, and trials
• Federal court authority – We can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction

We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español

Many hazing victims and their families are Spanish-speaking. We provide comprehensive legal services in Spanish, including:

• Consultations in Spanish
• Case communication in Spanish
• Translation of documents
• No language barriers to justice

No Upfront Costs – You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

We work on a contingency fee basis – meaning:

• $0 upfront to hire us
• No hourly fees – We don’t charge by the hour
• We only get paid if you win – Our fee comes from your settlement or verdict

The Attorney 911 Difference: We See Your Child as a Person, Not a Paycheck

We’ve seen what fraternities do to kids. We’re fighting it in court right now. We see your child as a person—not a case number, not a paycheck.

Our attorneys have:

• 25+ years of litigation experience
• Multi-million dollar case experience (including the BP Texas City explosion)
• Hazing-specific expertise (including rhabdomyolysis cases)
• A track record of holding institutions accountable

We don’t just talk about fighting hazing—we’re doing it.

Atchison County Families: You Are Not Alone

Hazing victims often feel isolated, ashamed, and afraid to speak up. You are not alone.

Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case was fearful of retribution for speaking out. We understand that fear, and we will protect you.

If your child has been hazed, call us. We will fight for you.

Contact Attorney 911 – Free Consultation for Atchison County Families

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9111)

📧 ralph@atty911.com

🌐 attorney911.com

Available 24/7 for Atchison County hazing emergencies

We serve Atchison County and all of Kansas. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

Frequently Asked Questions for Atchison County Families

Q: My child was hazed, but they don’t want to sue. Should we still talk to a lawyer?

A: Yes. Even if your child doesn’t want to sue, you should understand your legal rights. We offer free consultations—there’s no obligation to move forward.

Q: The fraternity says my child “consented” to hazing. Is that a defense?

A: No. Under Kansas and Texas law, consent is not a defense to hazing. The law explicitly states that victims cannot “consent” to being hazed.

Q: The university says they didn’t know about the hazing. Can they still be liable?

A: Yes. Universities have a duty to protect students from known risks. If they had prior hazing incidents or failed to implement proper oversight, they can be held liable.

Q: My child was hazed at a small college near Atchison County. Is it worth pursuing a case?

A: Yes. Hazing cases are about justice and accountability—not just money. Even small colleges have insurance policies that cover these incidents.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?

A: In Kansas, the statute of limitations is typically 2 years from the date of injury. However, evidence disappears quickly, so you should contact an attorney as soon as possible.

Q: We can’t afford a lawyer. How much does it cost?

A: We work on a contingency fee basis—meaning you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.

Atchison County Families: Enough Is Enough

Hazing is not tradition. It’s not bonding. It’s abuse.

Universities and Greek organizations have had decades to fix this culture. They’ve had warning after warning. And still, students are being hospitalized, traumatized, and killed.

It’s time to hold them accountable.

If your child has been hazed in Atchison County or anywhere in Kansas, call us. We will fight for you with the same determination we’re bringing to the $10 million Pi Kappa Phi case.

Your child deserves justice. Atchison County families deserve answers.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

📧 ralph@atty911.com

🌐 attorney911.com

We serve Atchison County and all of Kansas. We will travel to you. We will fight for you.