🚨 Hazing Victims in Oceana County, Michigan: You Are Not Alone

A fraternity near Oceana County just hospitalized a student with kidney failure from hazing. The same fraternities operate at universities in your community. The same abuse could be happening to your child right now.

If your son or daughter has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or any student organization in Oceana County, you have legal rights. Attorney 911 is currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston — and we’re bringing that same fight to Oceana County families.

Call now for a free, confidential consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911

🏢 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Oceana County

On November 3, 2025, Leonel Bermudez — a transfer student who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet — was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after being hazed by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

The torture he endured included:

• Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
• Being struck with wooden paddles
• Forced to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups until he couldn’t stand
• Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting
• Lying in vomit-soaked grass after vomiting
• Another pledge was hog-tied face-down with an object in his mouth
• A pledge lost consciousness and collapsed during hazing

He spent 3 nights and 4 days in the hospital fighting for his life.

This didn’t happen in some distant state. This happened in Texas — and the same fraternities operate at universities near Oceana County. The same “traditions” exist. The same culture of abuse persists. Your child could be next.

📚 Hazing Isn’t “Tradition” — It’s Abuse

Universities and fraternities want you to believe hazing is just “harmless tradition.” They’re lying.

Hazing is:

• Assault (being hit, paddled, forced to exercise)
• Battery (unwanted physical contact)
• Torture (waterboarding, sleep deprivation)
• Reckless endangerment (forcing alcohol, extreme exercise)
• Sometimes manslaughter (when it kills)
• Always illegal in Michigan and across America

It’s not about “building brotherhood.” It’s about power, control, and abuse.

💔 Why Victims Don’t Speak Up (And Why You Should)

We know why hazing victims in Oceana County stay silent:

• Fear of retaliation — “If I speak up, the fraternity will ruin my college experience”
• Shame and embarrassment — “I don’t want people to know what happened to me”
• Loyalty to the group — “I don’t want to get my friends in trouble”
• Not recognizing it as hazing — “I thought this was just how it’s done”
• Thinking it’s not serious enough — “Other people had it worse”

But here’s the truth:

• The fraternity will protect itself first — they’ve already shown they don’t care about your child
• The university will protect its reputation — they’ll try to keep it quiet
• The national organization will close the chapter and pretend it never happened — like Pi Kappa Phi did in Houston
• The only people who will fight for your child are YOU and your attorney

You have the power to stop this. You have the power to protect the next student.

⚖️ Your Legal Rights as an Oceana County Hazing Victim

1. Michigan Has Strong Anti-Hazing Laws

Michigan’s anti-hazing law (MCL 750.411t) defines hazing as:

“Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization.”

This includes:

• Physical brutality (paddling, beatings, forced exercise)
• Forced consumption of alcohol, food, or other substances
• Sleep deprivation
• Psychological abuse and humiliation
• Any activity that creates a risk of harm

Hazing is a misdemeanor in Michigan, punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. If the hazing causes serious injury or death, it becomes a felony with much harsher penalties.

Importantly, consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says that doesn’t matter.

2. You Can Sue for Civil Damages

Beyond criminal charges, you can file a civil lawsuit to recover compensation for:

• Medical bills (hospital stays, doctor visits, therapy)
• Future medical expenses (if injuries require long-term treatment)
• Lost wages (if your child had to miss work or internships)
• Pain and suffering (physical pain from injuries)
• Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression from the abuse)
• Punitive damages (to punish the defendants and deter future hazing)

In our current case, we’re seeking $10 million for Leonel Bermudez’s injuries. Similar results are possible for Oceana County victims.

3. Multiple Parties Can Be Held Liable

You don’t just sue the students who did the hazing. You sue everyone who allowed it to happen:

These organizations have deep pockets and insurance policies that can pay substantial settlements.

🏛️ Who Is Liable at Oceana County Universities?

Oceana County is home to West Shore Community College, but students from the area often attend universities across Michigan where Greek life thrives. The same fraternities and sororities that hazed Leonel Bermudez have chapters at these schools near Oceana County:

Universities Near Oceana County with Greek Life:

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, and other national fraternities have active chapters at these universities.

If your child attends or plans to attend any of these schools, they face the same hazing risks that hospitalized Leonel Bermudez.

💰 What Your Oceana County Hazing Case Could Be Worth

Hazing cases result in substantial settlements and verdicts. Here’s what similar cases have awarded:

Factors that increase your case value:

• Severity of injuries (hospitalization, surgery, permanent damage)
• Egregiousness of conduct (waterboarding, forced alcohol, physical abuse)
• Pattern of hazing (prior incidents at the chapter or university)
• Institutional knowledge (university or nationals knew about hazing and did nothing)
• Cover-up attempts (destroying evidence, intimidating witnesses)

📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Oceana County

STEP 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

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

STEP 2: Preserve All Evidence

• Take photos of injuries at all stages of healing
• Screenshot all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs)
• Save physical evidence (clothing worn during hazing, objects used)
• Get witness names and contact info (other pledges, bystanders)
• Do NOT delete anything — even if it seems embarrassing

STEP 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization

• Do NOT speak to fraternity/sorority leadership
• Do NOT speak to university administrators alone
• Do NOT sign anything from the organization
• Do NOT post about the incident on social media
• Anything you say can be used against you

STEP 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately

• Call Attorney 911: 1-888-ATTY-911
• We offer free, confidential consultations
• We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win
• We can preserve evidence before it disappears
• We can protect you from retaliation

⏳ Why You Must Act NOW — The Clock Is Ticking

Michigan law gives you only a limited time to file a lawsuit:

If you wait too long, you lose your right to sue forever.

Evidence disappears quickly:

• Text messages get deleted
• Social media posts get removed
• Witnesses forget details
• Organizations destroy records
• Security camera footage gets erased

The sooner you contact us, the stronger your case will be.

🎯 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Oceana County Hazing Case?

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 the tactics fraternities and universities use to avoid accountability
• We’re already in the fight — and we’re bringing that fight to Oceana County

2. We Have Insider Knowledge

• Both our attorneys are former insurance defense lawyers
• We know how insurance companies try to minimize claims
• We know how national fraternities try to hide their assets
• We use that knowledge to maximize your recovery

3. We Serve Oceana County Families

• While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide
• We offer video consultations for Oceana County families
• We travel to Michigan for depositions, trials, and client meetings
• We handle everything remotely so you don’t have to come to Texas

4. We Work on Contingency — $0 Upfront

• You pay nothing to hire us
• You pay nothing while we work on your case
• We only get paid if we win your case
• If we don’t win, you owe us nothing

5. We Have a Proven Track Record

• 4.9-star rating on Google (250+ reviews)
• Millions recovered for personal injury victims
• Federal court authority — we can pursue your case in federal court if needed
• Dual-state bar licenses — Texas and New York

6. We Understand the Culture

• Ralph Manginello is a former athlete and youth sports coach
• We understand team dynamics, locker room culture, and the pressures students face
• We know how to expose the reality behind “tradition”

📞 Oceana County Families: Call Now for Help

If your child has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or any student organization near Oceana County, we can help.

Call Attorney 911 now for a free, confidential consultation:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
Available 24/7 for Oceana County hazing emergencies

🔥 Warning to Fraternities Operating Near Oceana County

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, and all other fraternities with chapters near Oceana County:

We are watching.

The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter. The same pattern of negligence we’re proving in our current case exists in your organization.

If your chapter harms students in Oceana County, we will pursue every liable entity:

• Your national organization
• Your local chapter
• Your housing corporation
• Your chapter officers
• Your individual members
• Your alumni

We already shut down the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at University of Houston. Your chapter could be next.

Clean up your chapters. Enforce your policies. Protect your members. Or face the consequences.

🏆 What You Can Achieve by Coming Forward

1. Justice for Your Child

• Hold the people who hurt your child accountable
• Make them answer for what they did
• Ensure they can’t do it to someone else

2. Financial Compensation

• Medical bills paid
• Therapy costs covered
• Compensation for pain and suffering
• Punitive damages to punish wrongdoers

3. Systemic Change

• Force universities to implement real oversight
• Make national fraternities enforce anti-hazing policies
• Create safer environments for future students

4. Prevent Future Victims

• Your case could save lives
• Like the families of Stone Foltz, Max Gruver, and Timothy Piazza, you can turn tragedy into change
• Your child’s voice can protect others

📢 Message to Oceana County Parents

You sent your child to college to learn, to grow, to make friends — not to be tortured.

When you dropped them off at their dorm, you trusted the university to keep them safe. You trusted the fraternity to be a positive influence. You trusted that the adults in charge would protect your child.

That trust was betrayed.

Now it’s time to fight back. It’s time to demand accountability. It’s time to say enough is enough.

Your child deserves justice. Your family deserves compensation. And the next student deserves to be protected.

Call Attorney 911 now: 1-888-ATTY-911

❤️ In Memory of Those Lost to Hazing

Every year, students die from hazing. Their names should never be forgotten:

• Andrew Coffey — Pi Kappa Phi, Florida State University (2017)
• Max Gruver — Phi Delta Theta, Louisiana State University (2017)
• Timothy Piazza — Beta Theta Pi, Penn State University (2017)
• Stone Foltz — Pi Kappa Alpha, Bowling Green State University (2021)
• Adam Oakes — Delta Chi, Virginia Commonwealth University (2021)
• Tucker Hipps — Sigma Phi Epsilon, Clemson University (2014)
• Collin Wiant — Sigma Pi, Ohio University (2018)
• And too many others

Their deaths were preventable. Their families deserve justice. Their memories demand change.

📞 Oceana County Hazing Victims: Call Now

You are not alone. We are here to help.

Call Attorney 911 for a free, confidential consultation:

1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
Available 24/7

We serve Oceana County families — and hazing victims nationwide.