🚨 Benton County Hazing Lawyer – Fraternity Abuse Attorney – Greek Life Injury Claims

Serving Benton County, Mississippi Families – Fighting for Hazing Victims Nationwide

If your child was hazed at a Benton County college or university, you have legal rights. We can help.

📞 Call Now for Immediate Help: 1-888-ATTY-911

Hazing Happens in Benton County – And It’s Not “Tradition” – It’s Abuse

Benton County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities and Greek organizations to provide mentorship, leadership, and community. But too often, that trust is betrayed.

Hazing isn’t harmless fun. It’s not “building character.” It’s not “team bonding.” It’s abuse. And in Benton County, it’s happening right now at fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and student organizations.

If your child was hazed in Benton County, we can help.

We are Attorney 911 – a team of aggressive personal injury lawyers with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide – including students and families in Benton County, Mississippi.

We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston – a case involving waterboarding, forced exercise to the point of kidney failure, and a culture of abuse that nearly killed a student. This same culture exists at Benton County institutions. We will fight for Benton County families with the same fury.

What Is Hazing? Benton County Parents Need to Know

Hazing is any activity that:

• Endangers the physical or mental health of a student
• Is used for initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership
• Involves physical brutality, forced consumption, sleep deprivation, or humiliation

Common Hazing Activities in Benton County:
✔ Forced drinking – Alcohol poisoning risks
✔ Extreme physical punishment – Pushups, squats, bear crawls until collapse
✔ Waterboarding or simulated drowning – Torture, not tradition
✔ Forced eating until vomiting – Then forced to continue activities
✔ Sleep deprivation – Forced late nights, early mornings
✔ Beating with paddles or other objects – Physical assault
✔ Sexual humiliation or assault – Carrying sexual objects, forced nudity
✔ Psychological abuse – Threats, isolation, degradation

The result? Students end up in the hospital – or worse. In 2025 alone, multiple hazing deaths have made national news. And countless more students suffer in silence, afraid to speak out.

Hazing Is Illegal in Mississippi – And Benton County Institutions Are Liable

Under Mississippi law, hazing is a criminal offense. But beyond criminal charges, victims and families can sue for civil damages – including compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and punitive damages to punish the organization.

Who Can Be Sued in Benton County Hazing Cases?

• The local fraternity/sorority chapter – Directly responsible for hazing
• The national organization – Knew or should have known about hazing culture
• The university or college – Failed to protect students despite knowing risks
• Individual members – Participated in or facilitated hazing
• Alumni or advisors – Allowed hazing to occur on their property

Benton County universities have a duty to protect students. When they fail – when they ignore complaints, turn a blind eye, or prioritize reputation over safety – they can and should be held accountable.

We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now – And Winning

Current Case: Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston – $10 Million Lawsuit (2025)

What Happened:
Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston. Over weeks, he was subjected to systematic abuse, including:

• Waterboarding with a garden hose – Simulated drowning
• Forced to perform 500+ squats and 100+ pushups – Until he collapsed
• Struck with wooden paddles – Physical assault
• Forced to eat until vomiting – Then forced to continue running
• Sleep deprivation – Forced to drive members during early morning hours

He ended up in the hospital with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring four days of inpatient care.

Why This Matters to Benton County Families:

• Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide – including near Benton County
• The same national organization operates in Benton County – They knew about the “hazing crisis” and did nothing
• Universities near Benton County face the same liability – They own fraternity houses, regulate Greek life, and have the power to stop hazing
• This isn’t an isolated incident – It’s a pattern. Andrew Coffey died at a Pi Kappa Phi hazing event in 2017. Eight years later, Bermudez was hospitalized.

We are fighting this case aggressively – and we will bring the same fight to Benton County.

What Benton County Hazing Victims Can Recover

If your child was hazed in Benton County, you may be entitled to compensation for:

In serious cases, verdicts and settlements can reach millions of dollars. In the Stone Foltz case, the family received $10.1 million after their son died from hazing. In the Timothy Piazza case, the family received over $110 million.

Benton County families deserve the same justice.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Benton County

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately

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

2. Preserve All Evidence

• Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs – Screenshot everything
• Photos and videos – Document injuries and hazing locations
• Witness information – Get names and contact info of other victims or bystanders
• Physical evidence – Clothing, objects used in hazing, alcohol containers

3. Do NOT Confront the Organization Alone

• Do not talk to fraternity/sorority leadership without legal counsel
• Do not give statements to university administrators alone
• Do not sign anything from the organization or their lawyers

4. Do NOT Post on Social Media

• Anything you post can be used against you
• Avoid discussing the incident online
• Avoid posting photos that could be misinterpreted

5. Contact an Attorney Immediately

• 2-year statute of limitations – You have limited time to act
• Evidence disappears quickly
• Witnesses forget details
• Organizations destroy records

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

Why Benton County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We Are Currently Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Case

• We know how to build these cases
• We know how to win against universities and national organizations
• Benton County families get the same aggressive representation

2. We Are Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• We know how insurance companies think
• We know their playbook – because we used to write it
• We use that knowledge to maximize your recovery

3. We Have Federal Court Authority

• Can pursue Benton County cases in federal court
• Dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York)
• Experience with national defendants

4. We Will Travel to Benton County

• For depositions, trials, and client meetings
• Distance is not a barrier to justice
• We come to you

5. We Offer Remote Consultations

• Video consultations available
• Phone consultations available
• Benton County families can get help immediately

6. We Work on Contingency – $0 Upfront

• No fee unless we win your case
• No hourly billing
• Benton County families pay nothing upfront

7. We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español

• Bilingual staff available
• Spanish-speaking attorneys
• No language barriers to justice

Benton County Universities and Greek Organizations – We Are Watching

To fraternities and sororities operating near Benton County:

• Pi Kappa Phi
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon
• Pi Kappa Alpha
• Phi Delta Theta
• Kappa Sigma
• Sigma Chi
• And every other organization

We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapters.

To Benton County universities and colleges:

• You own the fraternity houses
• You regulate Greek life
• You have the power to stop hazing
• When you fail, you will be held accountable

To all Greek organizations with chapters near Benton County:
The Bermudez case is a warning. Clean up your chapters – or we will clean them out in court.

Benton County Hazing Statistics – The Crisis Is Real

• 55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing (National Study)
• 40% of student athletes report hazing (National Study)
• Since 2000, at least one hazing death per year in the U.S. (Hank Nuwer)
• 95% of hazing victims do not report it (National Study)
• Hazing occurs in fraternities, sororities, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC, and clubs

Benton County is not immune. If your child attends college near Benton County, they face these risks. And if they’re hazed, we will hold the responsible parties accountable.

Frequently Asked Questions – Benton County Hazing Cases

Q: My child was hazed in Benton County. Can you help even though you’re based in Texas?

A: Yes. We represent hazing victims nationwide, including Benton County. We offer remote consultations and will travel to Benton County for your case.

Q: How much does it cost to hire a hazing lawyer?

A: Nothing upfront. We work on contingency – you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict.

Q: What if my child consented to the hazing? Can we still sue?

A: Yes. Under Mississippi law, consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the organization can still be held liable.

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

A: Typically 2 years from the date of injury in Mississippi. But don’t wait – evidence disappears, and witnesses forget. Call us immediately.

Q: What if my child is afraid of retaliation?

A: We understand. Hazing victims often fear speaking out. We protect our clients’ privacy and work to prevent retaliation. Your safety is our priority.

Q: Can we sue the national fraternity, or just the local chapter?

A: Both. National organizations often have deeper pockets and greater liability. We sue everyone responsible.

Q: What if the hazing didn’t cause serious physical injury?

A: You can still recover. Psychological trauma, humiliation, and emotional distress are compensable. Even if your child wasn’t hospitalized, they may have a case.

Benton County Hazing Resources

Mississippi Anti-Hazing Law

Mississippi Code § 97-3-105 makes hazing a misdemeanor or felony, depending on severity.

Report Hazing in Benton County

• Campus Police – File a report with your university’s police department
• Mississippi State University (if applicable) – MSU Hazing Policy
• University of Mississippi (if applicable) – Ole Miss Hazing Policy
• National Hazing Hotline – 1-888-NOT-HAZE

Mental Health Support

• Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Call 988
• Mississippi Department of Mental Health – https://www.dmh.ms.gov

Benton County Families – You Are Not Alone

Hazing leaves victims feeling isolated, ashamed, and afraid. But you are not alone.

We have seen what fraternities do to kids. We’ve seen the hospitalizations. We’ve seen the deaths. We’ve seen the cover-ups.

We are fighting back.

If your child was hazed in Benton County, call us now for a free, confidential consultation.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com/hazing

We serve Benton County, Mississippi – and hazing victims nationwide.

The consultation is free. The call is confidential. The fight for justice starts now.