Hazing Lawyers in Lewis County, Missouri – Attorney 911 Fights for Hazing Victims

Hazing Isn’t Tradition. It’s Torture. And It’s Happening Near Lewis County.

Lewis County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. But at universities across Missouri and the nation, hazing remains a dangerous reality. What happened at the University of Houston with Pi Kappa Phi fraternity—where a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his kidneys failed, and hospitalized for four days—isn’t an isolated incident. It’s happening at colleges near Lewis County too. And if it’s happening to your child, you have legal rights.

At Attorney 911, we’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to hold fraternities, sororities, universities, and national organizations accountable. Lewis County families deserve the same aggressive representation we provide in Houston—no matter where the hazing occurred.

The Hazing Crisis in Missouri: What Lewis County Families Need to Know

1. Hazing Is Widespread—and Often Deadly

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” It’s a systematic form of abuse that has killed students across America. Since 2000, at least one student has died from hazing every single year in the U.S. In Missouri, hazing incidents have been documented at universities including:

• University of Missouri (Mizzou) – Multiple hazing incidents, including forced alcohol consumption and physical abuse in Greek organizations.
• Missouri State University – Hazing reports in fraternities and sports teams.
• Truman State University – Hazing allegations in Greek life.
• Universities near Lewis County – Small colleges and regional institutions are not immune. Hazing happens wherever Greek life, sports teams, or student organizations operate.

The same national fraternities involved in high-profile hazing deaths—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta—have active chapters at Missouri universities. If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Lewis County, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.

2. Missouri’s Anti-Hazing Laws: What’s Legal, What’s Criminal

Missouri has strong anti-hazing laws, but many families don’t realize their child’s experience may be illegal. Under Missouri Revised Statutes § 578.360, hazing is defined as:

“Any activity which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into, or affiliation with, any organization.”

This includes:

• Physical brutality (beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion)
• Forced consumption (alcohol, food, or other substances)
• Sleep deprivation (late-night activities, forced driving)
• Psychological abuse (humiliation, threats, isolation)
• Sexual abuse (forced nudity, sexual acts)

Hazing is a Class A misdemeanor in Missouri, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. If hazing causes serious injury or death, it can be charged as a felony.

Key legal point for Lewis County families:

Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, Missouri law explicitly states that consent does not excuse hazing. Fraternities and sororities cannot hide behind “tradition” to justify abuse.

The University of Houston Case: Why It Matters for Lewis County

What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Missouri

In November 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston after our client, Leonel Bermudez, was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure from weeks of brutal hazing. The fraternity subjected him to:

✅ Waterboarding with a garden hose – Simulated drowning, a form of torture.
✅ 500+ squats and 100+ pushups – Forced until he collapsed and couldn’t stand.
✅ Forced eating until vomiting – Milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns consumed until he threw up, then forced to continue exercising.
✅ Wooden paddles – Struck repeatedly as punishment.
✅ Sleep deprivation – Forced to drive fraternity members at all hours.
✅ Psychological torture – Carrying a fanny pack with sexual objects, threats of expulsion.

Leonel wasn’t even a UH student yet. He was a “ghost rush”—a prospective member expected to transfer the next semester. The fraternity hazed him before he was even enrolled.

Why This Case Is a Warning for Lewis County

1. The same fraternities operate near Lewis County.

   • Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide, including at universities in Missouri.
   • Other fraternities with hazing deaths (Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta) also have Missouri chapters.

2. Universities near Lewis County have the same liability.

   • The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the hazing occurred.
   • Missouri universities with Greek life have the same duty to protect students—and the same liability when they fail.

3. National organizations know about the problem—and do nothing.

   • Pi Kappa Phi had 8 years to fix their culture after Andrew Coffey died from hazing at Florida State in 2017.
   • They didn’t. Leonel Bermudez paid the price.
   • If national organizations won’t act, the courts will force them to.

4. Hazing isn’t just a “big school” problem.

   • Small colleges and regional universities near Lewis County have Greek life too.
   • Hazing happens in fraternities, sororities, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC, and clubs.
   • No institution is immune.

What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Lewis County

Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

If your child shows any of these signs after hazing, seek emergency medical care:

• Severe muscle pain or weakness (sign of rhabdomyolysis)
• Dark or brown urine (sign of muscle breakdown)
• Difficulty walking or standing
• Vomiting or nausea after forced eating/drinking
• Confusion, dizziness, or loss of consciousness
• Signs of alcohol poisoning (slurred speech, slow breathing, pale skin)

Even if injuries seem minor, get them checked. Some effects (like kidney damage or psychological trauma) may not appear immediately.

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

Do NOT delete anything. Collect and save:
✔ Medical records (hospital visits, doctor’s notes, therapy records)
✔ Photos/videos of injuries, hazing activities, or locations
✔ Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, emails about hazing
✔ Social media posts (screenshots of fraternity/sorority accounts)
✔ Witness names and contact info (other pledges, friends, bystanders)
✔ Any documents (pledge manuals, schedules, rules)

If your child is still in the hazing environment:

• Do NOT confront the organization alone. They will destroy evidence and intimidate witnesses.
• Do NOT sign anything from the fraternity, sorority, or university without legal advice.

Step 3: Report the Hazing

• File a police report (hazing is a crime in Missouri).
• Report to the university’s Title IX office (hazing often violates student conduct codes).
• Report to the national organization (if it’s a fraternity/sorority).

Important: If you report to the university without a lawyer, they may try to protect the institution—not your child. We can help you navigate this process.

Step 4: Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately

The clock is ticking.

• Missouri has a 5-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases, but evidence disappears fast.
• Universities and fraternities will destroy records, intimidate witnesses, and pressure victims to stay silent.
• The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.

At Attorney 911, we:
✅ Travel to Lewis County for depositions, meetings, and trials.
✅ Offer free, confidential consultations—no obligation.
✅ Work on contingency—you pay $0 upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.
✅ Have former insurance defense attorneys—we know how they’ll try to deny your claim.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Hazing in Lewis County?

When hazing happens, multiple parties can be sued, including:

In our Pi Kappa Phi case, we’re suing:

• The local chapter
• Pi Kappa Phi National
• The University of Houston (they owned the fraternity house)
• Individual members and officers
• A former member and his spouse (hazing occurred at their home)

Lewis County families can pursue the same defendants.

What Compensation Can Lewis County Hazing Victims Recover?

Hazing causes physical, emotional, and financial harm. Victims may be entitled to:

Economic Damages (Tangible Costs)

• Medical bills (hospital stays, ER visits, therapy, future treatment)
• Lost wages (time missed from work or internships)
• Educational expenses (tuition for missed semesters, lost scholarships)
• Future medical costs (if injuries require long-term care)

Non-Economic Damages (Pain & Suffering)

• Physical pain from injuries (rhabdomyolysis, broken bones, burns)
• Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression from abuse)
• Humiliation and shame (from degrading hazing rituals)
• Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in activities)
• Wrongful death (if hazing leads to a fatality)

Punitive Damages (Punishment for Egregious Conduct)

If the hazing was particularly cruel or intentional, courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendants and deter future misconduct.

Precedent cases show hazing settlements and verdicts in the MILLIONS:

• $10.1 million – Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha)
• $6.1 million – Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta)
• $110+ million – Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi)
• $10 million – Our current Pi Kappa Phi case (pending)

Why Lewis County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now

While other firms talk about hazing cases, we’re actively litigating one. Our $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston is ongoing, and we’re using every legal tool to hold them accountable.

Lewis County families get the same aggressive representation.

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña worked for insurance companies before switching sides. We know how they:

• Try to minimize claims
• Delay payments
• Deny liability
• Blame the victim

We use that insider knowledge to fight back.

3. Nationwide Reach – We Come to Lewis County

We’re based in Texas, but we represent hazing victims across America, including Lewis County. We:
✔ Travel to Lewis County for depositions, meetings, and trials.
✔ Offer video consultations for families who can’t travel.
✔ Pursue cases in federal court (we’re admitted to U.S. District Court).
✔ Know how to sue national organizations (we’re licensed in Texas and New York).

4. No Upfront Costs – We Work on Contingency

We understand that Lewis County families may be facing medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma. That’s why:

• You pay $0 upfront.
• We only get paid if we win your case.
• Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict—never from your pocket.

5. We Protect Your Privacy

Hazing victims often fear retaliation, social ostracism, or academic consequences. We:
✔ Keep your case confidential until you’re ready to go public.
✔ Protect you from intimidation by fraternities, sororities, or universities.
✔ Handle all communications with defendants—so you don’t have to.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hazing Lawsuits in Lewis County

Q: My child “consented” to hazing. Can we still sue?

A: YES. Missouri law explicitly states that consent is NOT a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the fraternity, sorority, or university can still be held liable.

Q: The university says they didn’t know about the hazing. Does that protect them?

A: NO. Universities have a duty to monitor Greek life and student organizations. If they failed to investigate prior incidents or ignored warning signs, they can still be held liable.

Q: We’re worried about retaliation. Will suing make things worse?

A: We’ll protect you. We’ve represented hazing victims who feared retribution, and we know how to:

• Keep your identity confidential during early stages.
• File legal motions to prevent intimidation.
• Hold defendants accountable for any attempts at retaliation.

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

A: Missouri has a 5-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases, but evidence disappears fast. The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.

Q: What if the hazing happened at a small college near Lewis County?

A: It doesn’t matter. Hazing happens at big universities and small colleges alike. We’ve seen cases at:

• State universities (Mizzou, Missouri State)
• Private colleges (Truman State, William Woods)
• Community colleges (some have Greek life or clubs)
• Military academies (ROTC hazing is common)

If hazing occurred, we can help—no matter the size of the school.

Q: Can we sue if the hazing didn’t cause physical injury?

A: YES. Even if your child wasn’t hospitalized, they may have suffered:

• Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
• Emotional distress (humiliation, shame)
• Financial losses (missed work, therapy costs)

These are all compensable damages.

Fraternities and Sororities Near Lewis County: We’re Watching You

To fraternities and sororities operating near Lewis County:

We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña. And we are coming for every chapter that thinks it can haze our children and walk away.

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Phi Gamma Delta:

If your chapter is near Lewis County, know this:

• We track your corporate structures (EINs, housing corporations, alumni chapters).
• We know your national organizations have paid millions in hazing settlements.
• We know which universities have failed to protect students.
• If you haze near Lewis County, we will sue you, your nationals, and your university.

The Pi Kappa Phi chapter at University of Houston? SHUT DOWN after our lawsuit. Your chapter could be next.

Universities Near Lewis County:

The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where our client was waterboarded. They knew about prior hazing incidents and did nothing. If your institution fails to protect students, you will face the same accountability.

Lewis County Families: You Are Not Alone

If your child has been hazed near Lewis County, you have legal rights—and we can help you enforce them.

✅ Free, confidential consultation – Call 1-888-ATTY-911 or email ralph@atty911.com.
✅ No upfront costs – We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we win.
✅ Nationwide representation – We come to Lewis County for your case.
✅ Aggressive legal action – We don’t back down from fraternities, sororities, or universities.

This isn’t just about compensation. It’s about stopping the cycle of abuse. As Lupe Peña said about our Pi Kappa Phi 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.”

Lewis County families: Let’s bring it to light in Missouri.

📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911

📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

🌐 Website: attorney911.com

We fight for hazing victims in Lewis County—and we don’t stop until justice is served.