Hazing Lawyers Serving Tippah County, Mississippi | Attorney 911
🚨 Hazing in Tippah County: The Crisis Hitting Our Families
Tippah County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities to protect their students. They believe Greek organizations offer brotherhood and sisterhood.
But what happens when that trust is betrayed?
Hazing is not “tradition.” It’s not “building character.” It’s not “boys being boys.”
It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s torture. And it’s happening right here in Mississippi—including near Tippah County.
The Same Hazing That Hospitalized a Student in Houston Could Happen Here
In November 2025, Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston. What followed was weeks of systematic torture:
- Waterboarding with a garden hose – Simulated drowning, a war crime when used on enemy combatants.
- Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups – Until his muscles broke down, causing rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
- Struck with wooden paddles – Physical assault with weapons.
- Forced to eat until vomiting – Then made to lie in vomit-soaked grass.
- Another pledge collapsed unconscious – The fraternity did nothing to stop it.
Bermudez spent four days in the hospital fighting for his life. Pi Kappa Phi shut down the chapter—only after the damage was done.
Why does this matter to Tippah County?
- The same national fraternities operate at universities near Tippah County.
- The same “traditions” that hospitalized Bermudez exist in Mississippi.
- The same negligence that failed Bermudez could fail your child.
🏛️ Who Is Liable When Hazing Happens Near Tippah County?
Hazing doesn’t just harm the victim—it destroys families, ends careers, and sometimes ends lives. When it happens, multiple parties are responsible:
1. The Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter
- Directly organizes and conducts hazing.
- Individual members face personal liability—just like the Pi Kappa Phi members in Houston.
2. The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization
- Sets policies (or fails to enforce them).
- Knew about prior hazing deaths and did nothing (Pi Kappa Phi had a hazing death in 2017).
- Has deep pockets and insurance policies to pay damages.
3. The University
- Owns or controls the property where hazing occurs.
- Fails to supervise Greek life despite knowing the risks.
- Ignores prior hazing incidents (UH had a hazing hospitalization in 2017).
4. Individual Members & Officers
- Chapter presidents, pledgemasters, and active members who participate or fail to stop hazing.
- Former members who host hazing events at their homes.
In the Bermudez case, we’re suing ALL of them—because they ALL failed.
⚖️ Mississippi Hazing Laws: What Tippah County Families Need to Know
Mississippi has strict anti-hazing laws, and victims have strong legal rights:
Mississippi Code § 97-3-105 – Hazing Defined & Criminal Penalties
Hazing is defined as any activity that:
- Endangers the physical or mental health or safety of a student.
- Is required for initiation, admission, or membership in an organization.
- Includes physical brutality, forced consumption of alcohol/drugs, or psychological abuse.
Penalties:
- Misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail and $500 fine).
- Felony (up to 5 years in prison) if hazing causes serious injury or death.
Consent is NOT a defense—even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds perpetrators accountable.
Civil Lawsuits: Holding Institutions Accountable
Even if criminal charges aren’t filed, hazing victims can sue for damages, including:
✅ Medical bills (past and future)
✅ Lost wages & earning capacity (if injuries affect career)
✅ Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
✅ Punitive damages (to punish egregious conduct)
Precedent: Hazing lawsuits have resulted in multi-million-dollar verdicts, including:
- $10.1 million (Stone Foltz, Pi Kappa Alpha)
- $6.1 million (Max Gruver, Phi Delta Theta)
- $110+ million (Timothy Piazza, Beta Theta Pi)
Your child’s case could be next.
💔 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Mississippi
If your child has been hazed at a university near Tippah County, time is critical. Evidence disappears quickly, and Mississippi has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
✅ Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get medical documentation.
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and kidney failure (like Bermudez) can be life-threatening.
- Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression) requires professional help.
✅ Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence.
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, emails).
- Get witness names and contact info (other pledges, bystanders).
- Do NOT delete anything—even if it’s embarrassing.
✅ Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Alone
- They will try to control the narrative.
- They may destroy evidence or pressure witnesses.
- Anything you say can be used against you.
✅ Step 4: Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately
At Attorney 911, we fight for hazing victims nationwide—including Tippah County families. We offer:
- Free, confidential consultations (call 1-888-ATTY-911).
- Contingency fee representation – You pay nothing unless we win.
- Aggressive litigation – We sue universities, national organizations, and individuals.
- Nationwide reach – We serve Mississippi victims from our Houston, Austin, and Beaumont offices.
🏆 Why Tippah County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW
- We’re currently litigating the $10 million Pi Kappa Phi hazing case in Houston.
- We know exactly how these cases work—and how to win them.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook
- Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña worked for insurance companies before switching sides.
- We know how they try to deny claims—and how to defeat their tactics.
3. Federal Court Authority – We Can Sue Anywhere
- We’re admitted to U.S. District Court (Southern District of Texas).
- We can pursue cases in Mississippi even if the hazing happened out of state.
4. Dual-State Bar Admission – Texas & New York
- Strategic advantage when suing national fraternities headquartered in other states.
5. Bilingual Representation – Se Habla Español
- We serve Spanish-speaking families in Tippah County without language barriers.
6. We Travel to Mississippi for Your Case
- We come to Tippah County, Oxford, Starkville, Hattiesburg, Jackson, and beyond for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
📞 Tippah County Hazing Victims: Call Us Now
If your child has been hazed at a Mississippi university, you have legal rights. We can help.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Free consultation. No upfront costs. We only get paid if we win.
🔥 Fraternities Near Tippah County: We’re Watching You
To the fraternities and sororities operating near Tippah County:
We know your chapters. We know your national organizations. We know your insurance policies.
If you haze students in Mississippi, we will sue you. We will shut you down. And we will make you pay.
The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter learned this the hard way. Your chapter could be next.
🏛️ Universities Near Tippah County: You Are Liable
To the universities near Tippah County:
You own the fraternity houses. You control Greek life. You have the power to stop hazing.
If you fail to protect students, you will be sued. You will pay. And you will be held accountable.
The University of Houston is learning this now. Your institution could be next.
💔 Tippah County Families: You Are Not Alone
Hazing is not your child’s fault. It’s not “just part of college.” It’s abuse, and it must stop.
If your child has been hazed, we will fight for them. We will fight for you. And we will make sure this never happens to another Tippah County family.
Call us today: 1-888-ATTY-911
📍 Serving Tippah County & All of Mississippi
Attorney 911 – Houston, Austin, Beaumont
Nationwide representation for hazing victims
Justice for Tippah County. Accountability for Mississippi.
