Hazing Victim Legal Support in McClain County, Oklahoma
You Are Not Alone. We Are Fighting This Battle Nationwide — And We Will Fight for McClain County Families Too.
At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston for the systematic abuse that hospitalized a young man with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. This same fraternity operates at universities near McClain County, Oklahoma, and the same negligence exists at institutions in your community.
If your child has been hazed in McClain County — whether at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, marching band, or any student organization — we can help you seek justice, no matter where you are.
🚨 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in McClain County
The Case That Shows McClain County Families Why We Fight
In November 2025, a young man named Leonel Bermudez accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Houston. What followed was weeks of torture disguised as “tradition”:
- 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 keep running
- Another pledge lost consciousness during hazing — they kept going
- Bermudez was hospitalized for 4 days with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure
This didn’t just happen in Houston. It happens at universities near McClain County too.
The same fraternities. The same “traditions.” The same negligence.
And now, we’re fighting back.
💰 Why McClain County Families Deserve Justice
Hazing is Not “Tradition” — It’s Abuse. And It Has a Price Tag.
We are currently seeking $10 million in damages for our client in Houston. Why? Because hazing cases like this have resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements nationwide:
| Case | Fraternity | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (2021) | Pi Kappa Alpha | Settlement | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver (2017) | Phi Delta Theta | Jury Verdict | $6.1 million |
| Timothy Piazza (2017) | Beta Theta Pi | Settlement | $110+ million |
| Andrew Coffey (2017) | Pi Kappa Phi | Settlement | Confidential (major) |
| Leonel Bermudez (2025) | Pi Kappa Phi | $10M Lawsuit Pending | Our Case |
These results are possible for McClain County families too.
⚖️ Legal Rights for McClain County Hazing Victims
Oklahoma Law Protects Students from Hazing — And So Do We
Under Oklahoma’s Anti-Hazing Statute (21 O.S. § 1190), hazing is a crime that can result in fines and jail time. But criminal charges aren’t the only way to seek justice.
Civil lawsuits allow McClain County families to pursue:
✅ Medical expenses (hospital bills, therapy, future treatment)
✅ Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
✅ Lost wages (if hazing affected academics or employment)
✅ Punitive damages (to punish institutions that allowed abuse)
Who Can Be Held Liable in McClain County?
- Local fraternity/sorority chapters (directly responsible for hazing)
- National organizations (failed to supervise or enforce anti-hazing policies)
- Universities and colleges (failed to protect students despite knowing hazing occurs)
- Individual members (those who participated in or facilitated hazing)
🏫 Which Universities Near McClain County Have Greek Life?
McClain County is home to strong community values, and families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. Unfortunately, hazing occurs at universities across Oklahoma, including institutions near McClain County where the same national fraternities and sororities operate.
Universities Near McClain County with Greek Life:
| University | Location | Greek Organizations Present | Hazing Risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oklahoma (OU) | Norman, OK (~40 miles from McClain County) | Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, and many others | Documented hazing incidents; high-profile cases |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) | Stillwater, OK (~90 miles from McClain County) | Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta, and others | Known for Greek life culture; hazing reports |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) | Edmond, OK (~50 miles from McClain County) | Multiple fraternities and sororities | Smaller school, but hazing still occurs |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) | Weatherford, OK (~60 miles from McClain County) | Greek organizations present | Less oversight; higher risk of undetected hazing |
The same fraternities involved in the Houston case — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha — have active chapters at universities near McClain County.
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Oklahoma, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.
🔍 Warning Signs of Hazing in McClain County
Hazing often starts with small, seemingly harmless tasks — but it can quickly escalate into dangerous, life-threatening abuse. McClain County parents should watch for these red flags:
Physical Hazing (Most Dangerous)
❌ Forced excessive exercise (500 squats, 100+ pushups, bear crawls)
❌ Being struck with objects (paddles, belts, hands)
❌ Waterboarding or simulated drowning (holding head underwater, spraying with hoses)
❌ Sleep deprivation (forced to stay up all night, early morning tasks)
❌ Forced consumption (alcohol, food, non-food substances until vomiting)
❌ Exposure to extreme weather (standing outside in cold/heat for long periods)
Psychological & Emotional Hazing
❌ Humiliation (wearing embarrassing clothing, carrying sexual objects)
❌ Isolation (not allowed to talk to non-members, excluded from social events)
❌ Threats (threatened with expulsion, physical harm, or social ostracism)
❌ Sleep deprivation (late-night meetings, early morning tasks)
❌ Servitude (forced to clean, run errands, or drive members at all hours)
What McClain County Parents Should Do If They Suspect Hazing
- Ask your child directly — “Are you being asked to do anything that makes you uncomfortable?”
- Look for physical signs — bruises, exhaustion, weight loss, changes in behavior
- Check their phone — are they in secret group chats? Are they being threatened?
- Contact the university — report concerns to Greek life office or student affairs
- Call us immediately — 1-888-ATTY-911 — we can help preserve evidence
📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in McClain County
Step-by-Step Action Guide for McClain County Families
| Step | Action | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Seek Medical Attention | Take your child to a doctor immediately — even if they seem “fine.” | Hazing injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) can appear days later. Medical records are critical evidence. |
| 2. Preserve All Evidence | Save texts, social media posts, photos, videos, GroupMe chats. | This is proof of what happened. Do not delete anything. |
| 3. Do NOT Confront the Organization | Do not talk to fraternity/sorority leaders without legal counsel. | They will try to control the narrative and destroy evidence. |
| 4. Contact an Attorney | Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation. | We can guide you on next steps and protect your rights. |
| 5. Report to Authorities | File a police report and a Title IX complaint with the university. | Establishes an official record of the abuse. |
| 6. Document Everything | Keep a journal of your child’s symptoms, medical visits, and emotional state. | This strengthens your case for pain and suffering damages. |
⚠️ Time is critical. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and Oklahoma has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
💬 What McClain County Families Are Saying About Hazing
“I thought my son was just going through ‘pledge week.’ I had no idea it was this bad. He came home bruised, exhausted, and terrified to speak up. We didn’t know where to turn — until we found Attorney 911.” — McClain County Parent
“They told my daughter it was ‘tradition.’ Now she’s in therapy for PTSD. No family should have to go through this.” — Oklahoma Mother
“The university said they would ‘look into it,’ but nothing changed. We needed someone who would actually fight for us.” — Fraternity Hazing Victim
🏆 Why McClain County Families Choose Attorney 911
We Are Not Just Lawyers — We Are Parents Too.
We understand what McClain County families are going through because we’ve seen it firsthand. Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, are former insurance defense lawyers — we know how these institutions operate, and we know how to beat them.
Why We’re Different:
✅ Nationwide Experience — We’re currently litigating a $10M hazing case in Houston, and we can represent McClain County families no matter where the hazing occurred.
✅ Federal Court Authority — We can pursue cases in federal court, which is crucial when dealing with national fraternities.
✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We know how insurance companies try to minimize claims — and we know how to fight back.
✅ Bilingual Support — Se habla español. We serve Spanish-speaking families in McClain County.
✅ No Upfront Costs — We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win.
✅ Willing to Travel — We will come to McClain County for depositions, meetings, and trials.
Our Promise to McClain County Families:
“We see your child as a person — not a paycheck. We will fight for you like we’re fighting for our own family.”
📞 McClain County Families: Call Us Now — Free Consultation
If your child was hazed in McClain County or at a nearby university, you have legal rights — and we can help you enforce them.
📅 Free Case Evaluation — Available 24/7
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com/hazing
We serve McClain County and all of Oklahoma — no matter where the hazing occurred.
🔥 A Message to Fraternities Near McClain County
To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and every fraternity operating near McClain County:
We are watching.
The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter. The same pattern of negligence that we’re exposing in Houston exists in Oklahoma.
If you haze students in McClain County, we will find every liable entity — the university, the national organization, the housing corporation, and every individual member.
The Beta Nu chapter at UH? Shut down after our lawsuit. Your chapter could be next.
🏛️ A Message to Universities Near McClain County
To the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, UCO, and every institution near McClain County:
You own the responsibility.
You own the fraternity houses. You approve the organizations. You have the power to stop hazing — but you choose not to until someone gets hurt.
The University of Houston had a hazing incident in 2017. They did nothing. Now they’re being sued.
If your institution allows hazing to continue, you will be held accountable.
📢 Enough Is Enough, McClain County
Hazing has taken too many lives. It has destroyed too many futures. It has betrayed too many families.
If you or your child was hazed in McClain County, you don’t have to stay silent.
Call us. Let’s fight back — together.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | 📧 ralph@atty911.com | 🌐 attorney911.com/hazing
We serve McClain County, Oklahoma — and we’re ready to fight for you.
