Hazing Victims in LaSalle Parish Deserve Justice

The Same Hazing That Hospitalized a Houston Student Could Be Happening Near You

LaSalle Parish families: If your child attends a college or university near LaSalle Parish, they could be at risk of the same brutal hazing that sent a University of Houston student to the hospital with kidney failure. This isn’t just happening in Houston—it’s happening across America, including at institutions near LaSalle Parish where the same national fraternities operate.

At Attorney 911, we’re currently fighting a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston for what happened to our client, Leonel Bermudez. He was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until he collapsed, and struck with wooden paddles—all as part of what the fraternity called “tradition.” The result? Rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, and four days in the hospital fighting for his life.

This same abuse could be happening to students near LaSalle Parish right now. The same national fraternities involved in our Houston case have active chapters at universities throughout Louisiana. If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near LaSalle Parish, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client.

What Happened at University of Houston Could Happen Near LaSalle Parish

On November 21, 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston on behalf of Leonel Bermudez. The details of what he endured are shocking:

• Waterboarding with a garden hose—simulated drowning as a “hazing ritual”
• Forced to perform 500 squats and 100+ pushups until he couldn’t stand without help
• Struck repeatedly with wooden paddles
• Forced to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting
• Made to lie in vomit-soaked grass after being sick
• Another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
• A pledge lost consciousness during a forced workout—other pledges had to elevate his legs until he recovered

After weeks of this abuse, Bermudez collapsed at home. The next day, he was so sore he couldn’t move. The day after that, his condition worsened. On November 6, 2025, his mother rushed him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure—a life-threatening condition caused by the breakdown of muscle tissue. He spent three nights and four days in the hospital.

This didn’t happen in a vacuum. Pi Kappa Phi had a student die from hazing in 2017. The University of Houston had another student hospitalized from hazing that same year. Neither institution did enough to prevent this from happening again. And now, the same fraternity that waterboarded our client operates chapters at universities near LaSalle Parish.

LaSalle Parish Families: You Are Not Alone

If your child has been hazed at a university near LaSalle Parish, you may feel isolated, ashamed, or afraid to speak up. Many hazing victims stay silent because they fear retaliation, social ostracism, or damaging their academic future. But you are not alone, and you do not have to suffer in silence.

Our client was afraid to do an interview due to retribution. We understand that fear. That’s why we fight aggressively to protect our clients while pursuing justice on their behalf. We handle all communications with the fraternity, university, and insurance companies so you don’t have to face them alone.

We also understand the unique challenges LaSalle Parish families face. While we’re based in Houston, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including in Louisiana. We offer video consultations, travel to LaSalle Parish for meetings and depositions, and work tirelessly to ensure distance is not a barrier to justice.

The Same Fraternities Operate Near LaSalle Parish

The fraternities involved in our Houston case have chapters at universities throughout Louisiana, including near LaSalle Parish. These organizations operate under the same national structures that failed to prevent what happened to Leonel Bermudez.

Pi Kappa Phi, the fraternity we’re suing in Houston, has over 150 chapters across America. If their UH chapter was waterboarding students, how many other chapters are engaging in the same abuse? How many students near LaSalle Parish are being subjected to the same “traditions” that hospitalized our client?

Other fraternities with documented hazing histories also operate near LaSalle Parish:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) – Involved in the 2021 death of Stone Foltz at Bowling Green State University ($10.1 million settlement)
• Phi Delta Theta – Involved in the 2017 death of Maxwell Gruver at LSU ($6.1 million jury verdict)
• Beta Theta Pi – Involved in the 2017 death of Timothy Piazza at Penn State (estimated $110 million settlement)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) – Multiple hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide

These aren’t isolated incidents. They represent a systemic problem in Greek life culture—a problem that exists at universities near LaSalle Parish just as it does in Houston.

Universities Near LaSalle Parish Have the Same Responsibility as UH

The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where Leonel Bermudez was waterboarded. They collected rent while students were being tortured. They had the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down the fraternity at any time—but they chose not to act.

Universities near LaSalle Parish have the same responsibility to protect their students. They have the same power to oversee Greek life organizations. And they have the same liability when they fail to act.

If a university near LaSalle Parish owns or controls property where hazing occurs, they can be held legally responsible for what happens there. If they knew or should have known about hazing risks and failed to prevent them, they can be held accountable.

LaSalle Parish Families Deserve the Same Aggressive Representation

We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This isn’t theoretical—we’re in the fight right now. LaSalle Parish families deserve the same aggressive representation we’re providing in Houston.

Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your LaSalle Parish Hazing Case:

✅ 25+ Years of Litigation Experience – Our attorneys have decades of courtroom experience fighting for victims like you.

✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We know how insurance companies think, strategize, and try to deny claims. We use that knowledge to maximize your recovery.

✅ Federal Court Authority – We’re admitted to U.S. District Court, allowing us to pursue cases nationwide, including in Louisiana.

✅ Dual-State Bar Admission – Licensed in Texas AND New York, giving us strategic advantages in cases against national organizations.

✅ Se Habla Español – Our bilingual staff serves Spanish-speaking families without language barriers.

✅ Nationwide Service – We represent hazing victims across America, including in Louisiana. We travel to LaSalle Parish for depositions and meetings.

✅ Contingency Fee Representation – You pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.

✅ Proven Results – We’ve recovered millions for personal injury victims, including in complex cases against large institutions.

✅ Compassionate Advocacy – We see your child as a person, not a paycheck. We fight hard because we truly care.

What LaSalle Parish Families Should Do If Their Child Is Hazed

If your child has been hazed at a university near LaSalle Parish, time is critical. Evidence disappears quickly, and statutes of limitations can bar your claim if you wait too long. Here’s what you should do:

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Even if your child says they’re “fine,” get them checked by a doctor. Some injuries, like rhabdomyolysis, may not show symptoms right away. Medical records are crucial evidence for your case.

2. Preserve All Evidence

• Take photos of any injuries at all stages of healing
• Save all communications – text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, emails
• Document everything – write down dates, times, locations, and descriptions of what happened
• Get witness information – names and contact info of other pledges or bystanders
• Save physical evidence – clothing, objects used in hazing, etc.

3. Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Without Legal Counsel

• They will try to control the narrative
• They may pressure your child to sign documents
• They may offer a quick, low settlement to make the problem go away
• Anything your child says can be used against them

4. Do NOT Post on Social Media

• Insurance companies and defense attorneys will scour social media for evidence to use against you
• Even innocent posts can be twisted to make your child look “fine” or “not really hurt”
• Stay off social media until your case is resolved

5. Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 or email ralph@atty911.com for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll:

• Evaluate your case
• Explain your legal rights
• Preserve evidence
• Handle all communications with the fraternity and university
• Fight aggressively for the compensation you deserve

The Legal Rights of LaSalle Parish Hazing Victims

Louisiana has strong laws against hazing, and victims have multiple legal options:

1. Civil Lawsuit for Damages

You can sue for:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages (if your child missed work or internships)
• Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
• Punitive damages (to punish the wrongdoers and deter future hazing)

2. Institutional Accountability

Universities and national fraternities can be held liable for:

• Negligent supervision (failing to prevent hazing)
• Premises liability (if hazing occurred on property they control)
• Failure to act on prior knowledge (if they knew hazing was happening)

3. Criminal Charges

Hazing is a crime in Louisiana. Depending on the severity, perpetrators could face:

• Misdemeanor charges
• Felony charges
• Jail time

We Know Who They Are. We Know Their Structures. We Know How to Sue Them.

At Attorney 911, we don’t just guess who might be responsible for hazing. We know.

We maintain one of the most comprehensive private directories of Greek organizations in America, including:

• IRS-registered fraternity housing corporations (with EINs and addresses)
• National fraternity and sorority organizations (with corporate structures)
• University oversight relationships (who controls what)

When hazing happens near LaSalle Parish, we already know:

• Who to sue at the local chapter level
• Who to sue at the national organization level
• Who to sue at the university level
• What insurance policies cover the defendants
• How to build a case that maximizes your recovery

In the Bermudez case, we’re suing:

• Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters
• The UH Beta Nu Chapter
• The Beta Nu Housing Corporation
• The University of Houston
• The UH Board of Regents
• Individual fraternity members (including the president and pledgemaster)
• Former members who hosted hazing at their residence

We will pursue the same comprehensive liability strategy for LaSalle Parish victims.

The Same Hazing Culture Exists Near LaSalle Parish

The fraternities involved in our Houston case operate chapters at universities throughout Louisiana, including near LaSalle Parish. These organizations share the same national structures, the same “traditions,” and the same failure to prevent abuse.

Pi Kappa Phi has over 150 chapters across America. If their UH chapter was waterboarding students, how many other chapters are doing the same? How many students near LaSalle Parish are being subjected to the same “traditions” that hospitalized our client?

Other fraternities with documented hazing problems also operate near LaSalle Parish:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) – Paid $10.1 million after the death of Stone Foltz
• Phi Delta Theta – Paid $6.1 million after the death of Maxwell Gruver
• Beta Theta Pi – Paid an estimated $110 million after the death of Timothy Piazza
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) – Multiple hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide

This isn’t just about one fraternity or one university. It’s about a culture of abuse that exists across Greek life—a culture that could be harming students near LaSalle Parish right now.

Warning to Fraternities Operating Near LaSalle Parish

To the fraternities operating chapters near LaSalle Parish:

We are watching.

The same legal strategies that are securing multi-million dollar verdicts nationwide apply to your chapters. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your national organizations’ failure to prevent hazing.

If your chapter harms a student near LaSalle Parish, we will pursue every liable entity—from the individual members to the national organization to the university that allows you to operate.

Consider this your warning.

The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? Shut down after our lawsuit. Charter surrendered. Criminal referrals initiated. Our client’s $10 million case is ongoing.

Your chapter could be next.

Universities Near LaSalle Parish: The Same Institutional Negligence Exists Here

The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where Leonel Bermudez was waterboarded. They collected rent while students were being tortured. They had a prior hazing incident in 2017 and did nothing to prevent it from happening again.

Universities near LaSalle Parish have the same power—and the same liability.

If your institution:

• Owns or controls fraternity/sorority housing
• Has the power to regulate Greek life
• Knows or should know about hazing risks
• Fails to act on prior incidents

You can be held legally responsible when hazing occurs.

The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant in our case exists at universities near LaSalle Parish. Act now, or face the same accountability.

$10 Million Sends a Message—LaSalle Parish Families Can Send the Same Message

We’re currently seeking $10 million for our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case. This isn’t just about compensation—it’s about sending a message that hazing will not be tolerated.

Precedent cases show that hazing victims can and do win big:

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

These same results are possible for LaSalle Parish victims.

$10 million is the price for torturing our children. LaSalle Parish families can send the same message to fraternities operating near you.

LaSalle Parish Families: We Will Fight for You

If your child has been hazed at a university near LaSalle Parish, we want to help. We offer:

✅ Free, confidential consultations – Call 1-888-ATTY-911 or email ralph@atty911.com

✅ Nationwide representation – We serve hazing victims across America, including in Louisiana

✅ Video consultations – Meet with us remotely if you can’t travel to Houston

✅ Travel to LaSalle Parish – We come to you for depositions, meetings, and trials

✅ Contingency fee representation – You pay nothing unless we win your case

✅ Aggressive advocacy – We fight hard because we truly care about our clients

✅ 24/7 availability – Hazing emergencies don’t wait for business hours

Take Action Now—Before It’s Too Late

Hazing victims often delay seeking help due to shame, fear, or loyalty to the organization. But evidence disappears quickly, and statutes of limitations can bar your claim if you wait too long.

Every day you wait is a day closer to losing your legal rights.

If your child has been hazed at a university near LaSalle Parish, call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911 or email ralph@atty911.com.

We will:

• Evaluate your case
• Explain your legal rights
• Preserve evidence
• Handle all communications with the fraternity and university
• Fight aggressively for the compensation you deserve

Enough Is Enough

Lupe Pena said it best when discussing our Houston case:

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

LaSalle Parish families: Enough is enough.

Enough waterboarding. Enough forced consumption. Enough physical abuse. Enough psychological torture. Enough hospitals. Enough funerals.

It’s time to hold them accountable.

Call Attorney 911 today at 1-888-ATTY-911. We’re ready to fight for you.