🚨 Hazing Victims in Harnett County, NC: You Are Not Alone
If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or student organization in Harnett County, North Carolina—we can help.
At Attorney 911, we are actively fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—and we’re bringing the same aggressive representation to Harnett County families.
You don’t have to stay silent. You don’t have to let them get away with it.
🔥 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Harnett County
In November 2025, our client Leonel Bermudez—a transfer student who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet—was hospitalized with kidney failure after being subjected to weeks of torture by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, including:
✅ Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
✅ Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
✅ Struck with wooden paddles
✅ Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to run through his own vomit
✅ Another pledge lost consciousness during hazing—yet they kept going
He spent 4 days in the hospital fighting for his life.
This wasn’t just “hazing.” It was torture.
And it happens in Harnett County, too.
🎯 The Same Fraternities Operate in Harnett County
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, and other national fraternities have chapters at universities near Harnett County, including:
✔ Campbell University (Buies Creek, NC)
✔ Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, NC)
✔ Methodist University (Fayetteville, NC)
✔ NC State University (Raleigh, NC)
✔ UNC Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC)
✔ Duke University (Durham, NC)
If your child was hazed at any of these schools—or any Greek organization in North Carolina—we can help.
⚖️ You Have Legal Rights in Harnett County
1. Hazing is Illegal in North Carolina
Under North Carolina General Statute § 14-35, hazing is a Class 2 misdemeanor—and if it causes serious injury or death, it can be a felony.
Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says they cannot consent to being hazed.
2. Universities Are Liable for Failing to Protect Students
If a university in Harnett County knew or should have known about hazing and failed to stop it, they can be held legally responsible.
In our Houston case:
- The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the torture happened.
- They had a prior hazing incident in 2017—yet did nothing to prevent it from happening again.
- Now, they’re named in our $10 million lawsuit.
The same could be true for universities near Harnett County.
3. National Fraternities Are Responsible for Their Chapters
National organizations like Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, and Pike have millions in assets and insurance policies.
They knew about the dangers of hazing—yet they failed to stop it.
We’re suing Pi Kappa Phi National for failing to enforce anti-hazing policies despite knowing about a “hazing crisis.”
If your child was hazed by any national fraternity in Harnett County, we can pursue the national organization for compensation.
4. Individual Members Can Be Held Personally Liable
In the Stone Foltz case, the chapter president was ordered to pay $6.5 million personally for his role in hazing that led to a student’s death.
If your child was hazed in Harnett County, we will pursue every individual responsible—including chapter leaders, pledgemasters, and active members.
💰 How Much Could Your Case Be Worth?
Hazing lawsuits have resulted in multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts, including:
| Case | Fraternity | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (BGSU, 2021) | Pi Kappa Alpha | Settlement | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver (LSU, 2017) | Phi Delta Theta | Jury Verdict | $6.1 million |
| Timothy Piazza (Penn State, 2017) | Beta Theta Pi | Settlement | $110+ million |
| Adam Oakes (VCU, 2021) | Delta Chi | Settlement | $4+ million |
Our Houston case is seeking $10 million—because that’s what it takes to send a message.
If your child was hazed in Harnett County, we will fight for the maximum compensation possible, including:
✔ Medical bills (past and future)
✔ Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
✔ Lost wages (if they missed work or school)
✔ Punitive damages (to punish the organization for their negligence)
🚨 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Harnett County
1. Get Medical Attention Immediately
Even if injuries seem minor, hazing can cause serious long-term damage, including:
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure)
- Traumatic brain injury (from beatings or falls)
- Alcohol poisoning (from forced drinking)
- PTSD, anxiety, and depression
Document everything with medical records.
2. Preserve All Evidence
✅ Photos/videos of injuries or hazing activities
✅ Text messages, GroupMe chats, social media posts about hazing
✅ Witness names and contact information
✅ Fraternity documents (pledge manuals, schedules, rules)
✅ Medical records (hospital visits, therapy notes)
Do NOT delete anything.
3. Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone
- They will try to control the narrative.
- They will pressure you to stay silent.
- They will offer lowball settlements.
Before speaking to anyone, call us.
4. Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
Hazing cases have strict deadlines. In North Carolina, you typically have 3 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit—but evidence disappears fast, and witnesses forget.
The sooner you contact us, the stronger your case will be.
📞 Call Now for a Free, Confidential Consultation
We represent hazing victims nationwide—including Harnett County, NC.
📍 Serving Harnett County from our Houston, Austin, and Beaumont offices
📞 24/7 Legal Emergency Hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com
We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.
🎯 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Harnett County Hazing Case?
1. We’re Actively Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit Right Now
We don’t just talk about hazing cases—we’re in the courtroom fighting one right now.
Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, are representing Leonel Bermudez in his lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
We know how to build these cases. We know how to win.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys—We Know Their Playbook
Both Ralph and Lupe used to work for insurance companies, defending against injury claims.
Now, we use that insider knowledge to fight for victims.
We know exactly how fraternities and universities will try to deny your claim—and we know how to beat them at their own game.
3. Federal Court Authority—We Can Sue Anywhere in the U.S.
We’re admitted to U.S. District Court (Southern District of Texas), meaning we can pursue hazing cases nationwide—including in North Carolina.
Distance is not a barrier. We will fight for Harnett County families no matter where the hazing occurred.
4. Dual-State Bar Licenses (Texas & New York)
This gives us strategic advantages when suing national fraternities (many of which are based in New York).
5. Aggressive Trial Lawyers—We Don’t Back Down
Many personal injury lawyers settle for lowball offers to avoid going to trial.
We don’t.
If the fraternity, university, or insurance company won’t offer fair compensation, we take them to court.
We have a proven track record of winning big verdicts—and we’ll do the same for Harnett County families.
6. We Speak Spanish—Se Habla Español
Many hazing victims and their families are Spanish-speaking.
We provide full legal services in Spanish, including:
✔ Consultations in Spanish
✔ Case updates in Spanish
✔ Document translation
✔ Courtroom interpretation
No language barriers. No excuses.
7. We Come to You in Harnett County
We don’t just work remotely—we travel to Harnett County for depositions, meetings, and trials.
You won’t have to come to Texas. We’ll come to you.
🏆 Our Track Record Speaks for Itself
⭐ 4.9/5 Google Rating (250+ reviews)
⭐ Millions recovered for personal injury victims
⭐ Former insurance defense attorneys (we know how they think)
⭐ Federal court admission (we can sue nationwide)
⭐ Dual-state bar licenses (Texas & New York)
Client Testimonials:
“Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer regarding my case.” — Dame Haskett
“They fought with the other party insurance and got me more of the settlement that I was expecting.” — Vivian Ruiz
“I was rear-ended and the team got right to work with my medical issues and the repair of my vehicle. They were available to answer any questions and concerns. Everyone was very professional and polite.” — MONGO SLADE
🚨 Don’t Wait—Your Rights Are at Stake
Hazing cases have strict deadlines. In North Carolina, you typically have 3 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit—but evidence disappears fast, and witnesses forget.
The sooner you contact us, the stronger your case will be.
📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
We’re here for Harnett County families. We’re here for you.
🔥 Enough is Enough. It’s Time to Fight Back.
If your child was hazed in Harnett County, NC—contact Attorney 911 today.
