Hazing Victim Legal Representation in Steuben County, NY
Attorney 911 – Fighting for Justice Against Fraternity & Sorority Abuse
🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Steuben County: What Families Need to Know
Steuben County is home to vibrant college communities, including Corning Community College (CCC), Alfred State College, and Alfred University—all within a short drive. These institutions foster academic excellence and student life, but they also share a darker reality: hazing in fraternities, sororities, and student organizations.
Hazing is not harmless “tradition.” It is abuse, assault, and in many cases, a crime. Nationally, hazing has led to hospitalizations, permanent injuries, and deaths. And right now, Attorney 911 is litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—a case that sends a clear message to Greek organizations across the country, including those operating near Steuben County.
If your child has been hazed in Steuben County, you have legal rights. We can help.
🏛️ The Landmark Case: Why Steuben County Families Should Pay Attention
Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston (2025) – $10 Million Lawsuit
What Happened:
Leonel Bermudez, a prospective member of Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston, was subjected to weeks of systematic hazing in Fall 2025, including:
- Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
- Forced to perform 500+ squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
- Struck with wooden paddles
- Forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting
- Sleep deprivation and extreme physical punishment
The Result:
Bermudez developed severe rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, requiring four days of hospitalization.
Why This Matters to Steuben County:
- Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide, including near Steuben County.
- The same fraternities and sororities operating in Houston have chapters near Steuben County.
- Universities near Steuben County—like Alfred State, Alfred University, and Corning Community College—have Greek organizations that may engage in similar conduct.
- If hazing can happen at a major university like UH, it can happen at institutions near Steuben County.
The Legal Outcome:
Attorney 911 filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Bermudez, alleging:
✅ Negligence – Pi Kappa Phi and UH failed to prevent hazing.
✅ Assault & Battery – Physical abuse and torture.
✅ Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress – Psychological trauma.
✅ Premises Liability – UH owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred.
The Message to Steuben County Fraternities & Universities:
“If you haze students in Steuben County, we will hold you accountable—just like we’re doing in Houston.”
📜 Steuben County Hazing Laws: Your Legal Rights
New York, like Texas, has strict anti-hazing laws that apply to Steuben County. Under New York Education Law § 6450, hazing is defined as:
“Any act, whether physical, mental, emotional, or psychological, which subjects another person to anything that may endanger, abuse, degrade, or intimidate the person as a condition of association with a group or organization.”
Key Legal Protections for Steuben County Victims:
| Law | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| New York Education Law § 6450 | Hazing is illegal in all student organizations, including fraternities, sororities, and sports teams. |
| Consent is NOT a Defense | Even if your child “agreed” to participate, hazing is still illegal. |
| Criminal Penalties | Hazing can result in misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on severity. |
| Civil Liability | Victims can sue for medical bills, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. |
| University Responsibility | Colleges near Steuben County (Alfred State, Alfred University, Corning CC) have a duty to protect students from hazing. |
Steuben County Families: If your child was hazed, you can sue for compensation—regardless of whether criminal charges are filed.
💰 Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Millions
Hazing lawsuits result in multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements. Here’s what other families have recovered:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (2021) | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | Settlement | $10.1M |
| Maxwell Gruver (2017) | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | Jury Verdict | $6.1M |
| Timothy Piazza (2017) | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | Settlement | $110M+ |
| Andrew Coffey (2017) | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Settlement | Confidential (millions) |
| Bermudez (2025) | University of Houston | Pi Kappa Phi | Pending | $10M |
Steuben County Families:
- These cases prove that hazing victims WIN in court.
- The same legal strategies apply to Steuben County.
- If your child was injured, we can help you recover compensation.
⚖️ Who Is Liable for Hazing in Steuben County?
If your child was hazed, multiple parties can be held legally responsible:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing. |
| National Organization | Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite prior incidents. |
| University (Alfred State, Alfred University, Corning CC) | Failed to supervise Greek life; may own fraternity/sorority houses. |
| Individual Members | Participated in or facilitated hazing. |
| Chapter Officers (President, Pledgemaster, etc.) | Directed hazing activities. |
| Alumni/Advisors | Allowed hazing at their homes or provided resources. |
Steuben County Families: We will pursue every responsible party to maximize your compensation.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Steuben County
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Hazing injuries (rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, concussions) can be life-threatening.
- Document everything—hospital records, photos of injuries, witness statements.
Step 2: Preserve Evidence
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs).
- Take screenshots of any social media posts about hazing.
- Write down what happened while details are fresh.
- Do NOT delete anything—even if it seems embarrassing.
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone
- They will try to minimize liability and shift blame.
- Do NOT sign anything without legal counsel.
- Do NOT give a statement to administrators or insurance companies.
Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
- Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.
- We will protect your rights and build your case.
- No upfront fees—we only get paid if we win.
🎯 Why Steuben County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Case
- We’re actively fighting the Pi Kappa Phi case in Houston.
- The same strategies apply to Steuben County victims.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
- We know how insurance companies and universities defend hazing cases.
- We use their tactics against them to maximize your compensation.
3. Federal Court Authority
- We can pursue cases nationwide, including Steuben County.
- Dual-licensed in Texas and New York.
4. Aggressive, Compassionate Representation
- We treat your child like family.
- We fight for justice, not just settlements.
5. No Upfront Costs
- Contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win.
- We advance all case expenses.
📞 Steuben County Hazing Victims: Call Us Now
If your child was hazed in Steuben County, you have legal rights. We can help you:
✅ Hold the fraternity, sorority, and university accountable.
✅ Recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
✅ Prevent this from happening to another Steuben County student.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation.
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit: attorney911.com
We serve Steuben County and all of New York State.
We will travel to you for depositions and meetings.
🚨 Fraternities & Sororities Near Steuben County: We Are Watching
To Greek organizations operating near Steuben County:
- Pi Kappa Phi
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- Kappa Sigma
- Phi Delta Theta
- Beta Theta Pi
- Sigma Chi
- And all others
We know your chapters exist near Steuben County.
We know the same hazing culture that hospitalized our client in Houston exists here.
If you haze students in Steuben County, we will sue you, your national organization, and your university.
The Bermudez case is just the beginning.
Your chapter could be next.
🏆 Steuben County Universities: The Choice Is Yours
To Alfred State College, Alfred University, and Corning Community College:
You have a legal and moral duty to protect your students from hazing. If you fail:
- You will be sued.
- You will pay millions in damages.
- Your reputation will be tarnished.
Act now:
✅ Conduct independent hazing audits.
✅ Suspend chapters with violations.
✅ Implement real oversight—not just lip service.
The choice is yours: Protect your students, or face the consequences.
🔥 Final Message to Steuben County Families
Hazing is not “tradition.” It is abuse, assault, and sometimes murder.
If your child was hazed in Steuben County:
- You are not alone.
- You have legal rights.
- We will fight for you.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today.
Justice starts now.
