🚨 Hazing Victims Legal Guide: Justice for Montgomery County Families
Attorney911 Legal Emergency Lawyers™ — Now Serving Montgomery County, PA and Nationwide
If your child has been hazed at a college or university near Montgomery County, you are not alone. We are fighting this battle right now — and we will fight for Montgomery County families with the same fury.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com
🔴 URGENT: What Montgomery County Families Need to Know About Hazing
Hazing is not “tradition.” It is not “building brotherhood.” It is abuse. It is assault. It is sometimes torture. And it is illegal.
Montgomery County parents: Your children are at risk. The same national fraternities and sororities that operate at universities near Montgomery County have paid millions of dollars in hazing settlements. The same institutions that failed to protect students in Houston, Bowling Green, and LSU are operating right here in Pennsylvania.
We are currently litigating a $10 MILLION hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles — all as part of “pledging.” He ended up in the hospital with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure for four days.
This is happening right now. It could be happening to your child at a college near Montgomery County.
🏫 Hazing at Colleges Near Montgomery County, PA
Montgomery County is home to many respected educational institutions, and nearby Philadelphia and the greater Pennsylvania area host some of the nation’s most prestigious universities. Where there are universities, there is Greek life. And where there is Greek life, there is hazing.
Universities Near Montgomery County with Active Greek Life:
| Institution | Location | Greek Life Presence | Hazing Risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | Strong | Documented incidents |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | Strong | Elite culture pressures |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | Active | Urban campus risks |
| Villanova University | Villanova, PA | Strong | High-profile Greek system |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia, PA | Active | Smaller school, high risk |
| Penn State University | State College, PA | Massive | Timothy Piazza case (2017) — $110M+ settlement |
| West Chester University | West Chester, PA | Strong | Public university risks |
| Lehigh University | Bethlehem, PA | Strong | Private school pressures |
| Bucknell University | Lewisburg, PA | Active | Rural isolation risks |
| Franklin & Marshall College | Lancaster, PA | Strong | Small college risks |
Montgomery County families: If your child attends or plans to attend any of these schools — or any school with Greek life — they are at risk of hazing.
⚠️ What Hazing Looks Like at Montgomery County-Area Schools
Hazing is not just “a little roughhousing.” It is systematic abuse designed to humiliate, degrade, and sometimes physically harm new members.
Common Hazing Activities Reported at Pennsylvania Universities:
| Category | Examples | Medical Risks | Legal Risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Abuse | Beatings, paddling, branding, burning | Broken bones, internal injuries, burns | Assault, battery, hazing charges |
| Forced Consumption | Alcohol (binge drinking), food (eating until vomiting), non-food substances | Alcohol poisoning, choking, aspiration | Hazing, reckless endangerment |
| Extreme Exercise | 500+ squats, 100+ pushups, bear crawls, mile runs | Rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, cardiac arrest | Reckless endangerment, hazing |
| Waterboarding | Simulated drowning with garden hose | Drowning, asphyxiation, PTSD | Torture, assault, hazing |
| Sleep Deprivation | Forced late nights, early mornings, all-night activities | Exhaustion, accidents, mental health decline | Hazing, reckless endangerment |
| Psychological Torture | Humiliation, degradation, verbal abuse, threats | PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicide | Hazing, intentional infliction of emotional distress |
| Sexual Abuse | Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects | Sexual assault, psychological trauma | Sexual assault, hazing, battery |
| Servitude | Forced cleaning, driving members, running errands | Exhaustion, academic decline | Hazing |
Montgomery County parents: If your child is experiencing any of these activities, they are being hazed. This is not normal. This is not safe. This is illegal.
💔 The Human Cost: Hazing Injuries and Deaths
Hazing doesn’t just cause embarrassment. It causes permanent injury and death.
Medical Consequences of Hazing:
| Injury | Description | Long-Term Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Rhabdomyolysis | Muscle breakdown releasing myoglobin into bloodstream | Kidney failure, dialysis, transplant, death |
| Acute Kidney Failure | Kidneys unable to filter waste | Dialysis, transplant, chronic kidney disease |
| Alcohol Poisoning | BAC levels 3-6x legal limit | Brain damage, respiratory arrest, death |
| Traumatic Brain Injury | From beatings or falls | Permanent cognitive impairment, disability |
| Hypothermia/Hyperthermia | From exposure to elements | Organ damage, cardiac arrest, death |
| Cardiac Arrest | From extreme physical exertion | Death, permanent heart damage |
| PTSD, Anxiety, Depression | From psychological trauma | Therapy, medication, lifelong struggle |
| Death | From any of the above | Irreversible loss |
Montgomery County families: These are not hypothetical risks. These are real outcomes that have happened to real students at real universities — including the recent $10 million case we’re litigating in Texas.
📰 The Case That Proves Montgomery County Families Can Win
Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi — $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit (2025)
What Happened:
Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student planning to enroll at the University of Houston, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi fraternity in September 2025. Over the next seven weeks, he was subjected to systematic hazing that included:
- 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 milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting — then forced to continue running
- Forced to strip to underwear in cold weather and lie in vomit-soaked grass
- Sleep deprivation — forced to drive fraternity members at all hours
- Another pledge lost consciousness during a workout on October 15, 2025
On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was punished for missing an event. He was forced to perform extreme exercises until he could not stand without help. He crawled up the stairs when he got home. The next day, he couldn’t move. His mother rushed him to the hospital on November 6, where he was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He spent four days in the hospital.
The Aftermath:
- Pi Kappa Phi National closed the chapter on November 14, 2025 — seven days before the lawsuit was filed
- $10 million lawsuit filed on November 21, 2025 by Attorney911
- Media coverage by ABC13, KHOU 11, Houston Chronicle, Houston Public Media
- UH spokesperson called the conduct “deeply disturbing”
Why This Matters to Montgomery County Families:
- Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at universities near Montgomery County — the same organization that waterboarded our client
- The same hazing culture exists in Pennsylvania — just because it happened in Texas doesn’t mean it can’t happen here
- Universities near Montgomery County face the same liability — they own fraternity houses, they oversee Greek life, they fail to protect students
- $10 million is possible — this case proves that hazing victims win big when they fight back
⚖️ Your Legal Rights as Montgomery County Hazing Victims
Pennsylvania Hazing Law — What You Need to Know
Pennsylvania’s Anti-Hazing Law (18 Pa.C.S. § 2810):
Definition of Hazing:
Any action or situation 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.
Key Provisions:
- Consent is not a defense — Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it’s still illegal
- Criminal penalties — Hazing is a misdemeanor of the third degree (up to 1 year in jail)
- Aggravated hazing — If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death, it’s a felony of the third degree (up to 7 years in jail)
- Organizational liability — Fraternities, sororities, and universities can be fined up to $15,000
Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law (Act 80 of 2018):
Named after a Penn State student who died from hazing, this law:
- Made hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death a felony
- Required universities to publicly report hazing incidents
- Created immunity for individuals who report hazing in good faith
Montgomery County families: Pennsylvania has some of the strongest hazing laws in the country. You have legal rights. You can sue. You can hold them accountable.
Who Is Liable for Montgomery County Hazing?
When hazing occurs, multiple parties can be held legally responsible:
| Defendant | Basis for Liability | Why They Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | They did it; they’re liable |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility; directed hazing | They were in charge |
| Individual Members | Participated in hazing; failed to stop it | They were there; they’re responsible |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture | They had the power to stop it |
| University | Owned fraternity house; failed to prevent hazing | They had a duty to protect students |
| Housing Corporation | Owned/controlled property where hazing occurred | Premises liability |
| Alumni | Hosted hazing at their homes | Premises liability |
| Insurance Companies | Policies covering liability | They have the money |
Montgomery County families: You don’t have to sue just one person. You can sue everyone who played a role in the hazing. This increases your chances of a full recovery.
💰 What Montgomery County Hazing Victims Can Recover
Hazing cases can result in substantial financial compensation. The amount depends on the severity of the injuries, the egregiousness of the conduct, and the ability of the defendants to pay.
Types of Damages Available:
| Category | What It Covers | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Economic Damages | Tangible financial losses | Medical bills, lost wages, future medical costs |
| Non-Economic Damages | Intangible harm | Pain and suffering, emotional distress, PTSD |
| Punitive Damages | Punishment for outrageous conduct | Waterboarding, reckless disregard for safety |
Precedent Settlements and Verdicts:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bermudez (our case) | University of Houston | Pi Kappa Phi | Pending | $10,000,000 sought |
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | Settlement | $10,100,000+ |
| Maxwell Gruver | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | Jury Verdict | $6,100,000 |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | Settlement | $110,000,000+ |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Settlement | Confidential (major) |
Montgomery County families: These cases prove that hazing victims win millions. The same results are possible for Pennsylvania victims.
🛡️ What Montgomery County Families Should Do If Their Child Is Hazed
Step-by-Step Action Guide
If your child has been hazed, follow these steps immediately:
| Step | Action | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ensure Safety | Remove your child from the situation immediately | Prevent further harm |
| 2. Seek Medical Attention | Take your child to the emergency room or urgent care | Document injuries; rule out life-threatening conditions |
| 3. Preserve Evidence | Save all texts, social media, photos, videos, witness names | Critical for building your case |
| 4. Do NOT Confront the Organization | Do not talk to fraternity/sorority leaders without legal counsel | They will destroy evidence, coordinate stories |
| 5. Do NOT Post on Social Media | Stay off social media about the incident | Anything you post can be used against you |
| 6. Contact an Attorney | Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 | Know your rights; protect your child |
| 7. File a Police Report | Report the hazing to local law enforcement | Criminal charges may apply |
| 8. Report to the University | File a formal complaint with the university’s Title IX or student conduct office | Institutional accountability |
| 9. Document Everything | Keep a journal of symptoms, medical visits, conversations | Strengthen your case |
| 10. Do NOT Accept a Settlement Without Counsel | Insurance companies will offer lowball settlements | An attorney can get you 10x more |
Montgomery County parents: Time is critical. Evidence disappears. Memories fade. Statutes of limitations expire. Act now to protect your child’s rights.
🚨 What NOT to Do If Your Child Is Hazed
| ❌ Don’t | ✅ Do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Don’t confront the fraternity/sorority alone | Contact an attorney first | They will destroy evidence and intimidate you |
| Don’t delete any messages or posts | Preserve everything | Deletion = destruction of evidence |
| Don’t post on social media about the incident | Stay quiet online | Anything you post can be used against you |
| Don’t sign anything from the organization | Have an attorney review it | You may be waiving your rights |
| Don’t talk to insurance companies without counsel | Let your attorney handle it | They will try to lowball you |
| Don’t assume it’s “not that bad” | Get medical attention | Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) aren’t immediately obvious |
| Don’t wait to act | Contact an attorney immediately | Statutes of limitations expire; evidence disappears |
🎯 Why Montgomery County Families Choose Attorney911
We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now — And We Will Fight for Montgomery County Families
Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, are currently litigating a $10 MILLION hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to build these cases. We know how to win. We know how to hold institutions accountable.
Why Montgomery County Families Trust Us:
| Advantage | How It Helps Montgomery County Families |
|---|---|
| Hazing Litigation Expertise | We are currently fighting a hazing case; we know the tactics, the defenses, and how to win |
| Former Insurance Defense Attorneys | We know how insurance companies think and how to beat them |
| Federal Court Authority | Can pursue cases in federal court for Montgomery County victims |
| Dual-State Bar Admission | Texas AND New York — strategic advantage for national fraternity cases |
| 25+ Years of Litigation Experience | Battle-tested in courtrooms across Texas and federal courts |
| Multi-Million Dollar Case Experience | BP Texas City explosion, high-profile criminal defense, catastrophic injury cases |
| Se Habla Español | Bilingual staff to serve Montgomery County’s diverse community |
| Nationwide Service | We represent hazing victims across America, including Montgomery County |
| Contingency Fee | $0 upfront; we don’t get paid unless you win |
| Compassionate Representation | We see your child as a person, not a paycheck |
📞 Montgomery County Families: Contact Us Now
If your child has been hazed at a college or university near Montgomery County, PA, time is critical.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit: attorney911.com
We offer:
- Free case evaluations for Montgomery County families
- Video consultations for remote meetings
- Willingness to travel to Montgomery County for depositions and trials
- $0 upfront — we work on contingency
Montgomery County parents: You don’t have to fight this alone. We are here to help.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions for Montgomery County Families
Q: What is hazing, exactly?
A: Hazing is any activity that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation into an organization. This includes physical abuse, forced consumption, sleep deprivation, psychological torture, and more. In Pennsylvania, hazing is illegal regardless of whether the victim “consented.”
Q: My child said they “agreed” to participate. Can we still sue?
A: Yes. Pennsylvania law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the organization can still be held liable.
Q: What if my child is afraid of retribution?
A: We understand. Our client in the Houston case is also fearful of retribution. We will protect your child’s identity and safety. The law provides protections for victims who report hazing.
Q: How much is my child’s case worth?
A: Every case is different. Factors include:
- Severity of injuries
- Medical expenses
- Psychological impact
- Egregiousness of conduct
- Ability of defendants to pay
- Pattern of prior incidents
Precedent cases have resulted in settlements and verdicts ranging from $4 million to $110 million.
Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for personal injury is 2 years from the date of injury. Do not wait. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your rights expire.
Q: Can we sue if the hazing happened in another state?
A: Yes. We can evaluate your case regardless of where the hazing occurred. Our federal court authority and nationwide experience allow us to represent victims across America, including Montgomery County families whose children were hazed out of state.
Q: What if the university says they didn’t know?
A: Universities are responsible for knowing what happens on their campuses. If they own the fraternity house, they have a duty to inspect and regulate. If they have prior hazing incidents, they had actual notice. Ignorance is not a defense.
Q: How much does it cost to hire Attorney911?
A: $0 upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis — we don’t get paid unless you win. Our fee is a percentage of your recovery, so you never pay out of pocket.
Q: What if my child was hazed at a high school near Montgomery County?
A: Hazing occurs at high schools too. We can evaluate cases involving high school sports teams, clubs, and other organizations. The same laws apply.
Q: Can we sue if no one was physically injured?
A: Yes. Psychological trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression are all compensable injuries. Even if your child wasn’t hospitalized, they may have a case.
Q: What if my child is an international student?
A: Your child’s immigration status does not affect their right to compensation. We have bilingual staff and experience representing international students. You have the same rights as any other student.
📋 Montgomery County Hazing Victim Checklist
Use this checklist to protect your child’s rights:
✅ Safety First — Remove your child from the hazing environment immediately
✅ Medical Attention — Seek emergency care or urgent care to document injuries
✅ Evidence Preservation — Save all texts, social media, photos, videos, witness names
✅ No Social Media — Stay off social media about the incident
✅ No Confrontation — Do not talk to the organization without legal counsel
✅ No Statements — Do not give statements to insurance companies or university officials
✅ Police Report — File a report with local law enforcement
✅ University Report — File a formal complaint with the university
✅ Document Everything — Keep a journal of symptoms, medical visits, conversations
✅ Contact Attorney911 — Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation
🏆 Our Commitment to Montgomery County Families
We are not just attorneys. We are advocates for change.
When we took the Pi Kappa Phi case, we didn’t just see a legal claim. We saw a young man who was tortured. We saw a family betrayed by institutions they trusted. We saw a culture that needed to be stopped.
Our commitment to Montgomery County families:
- We will fight for your child as if they were our own.
- We will hold every responsible party accountable — no matter how powerful.
- We will use this case to protect other Montgomery County students.
- We will not rest until the hazing culture changes.
Montgomery County parents: Your child deserves justice. Your family deserves compensation. Together, we can make a difference.
🔥 Final Message to Montgomery County Fraternities and Universities
To the fraternities and sororities operating near Montgomery County:
We know who you are. We know your national organizations. We know your chapters. We know your alumni. We know your insurance carriers.
We are watching.
The same legal strategies that are securing $10 million verdicts in Texas apply to your chapters in Pennsylvania.
If you haze students in Montgomery County, we will find every liable entity. We will sue your chapter, your nationals, your university, and your individual members.
We already shut down the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. Your chapter could be next.
To the universities near Montgomery County:
You own the fraternity houses. You oversee Greek life. You have the power to stop hazing.
When you fail to protect students, you become liable. When you ignore prior incidents, you become negligent. When you allow torture on your property, you become complicit.
The University of Houston is being sued right now for exactly this failure. Your institution could be next.
The choice is yours: Act now to prevent hazing, or pay millions when it happens.
Montgomery County families: You are not alone. We are here to help.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com
Attorney911 Legal Emergency Lawyers™ — Fighting for Montgomery County Hazing Victims
