🚨 Hazing Victims in Callahan County, Texas: You Are Not Alone

Callahan County parents and students — if your child has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or any organization near Callahan County, you have legal rights. And Attorney 911 is fighting this battle right now.

We are currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston. Our client was waterboarded. He was forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down. He was struck with wooden paddles. He ended up in the hospital with kidney failure.

This same hazing is happening at universities near Callahan County. The same fraternities operate near Callahan County. The same negligence exists at Callahan County institutions. And we will fight for Callahan County families with the same aggression we’re bringing to this case.

🏛️ The Hazing Crisis Near Callahan County, Texas

Hazing isn’t just happening in Houston. It’s happening at universities across Texas — including near Callahan County. The same national fraternities that waterboarded our client in Houston have chapters at institutions near Callahan County.

Callahan County families need to know:

• Hazing is not “tradition” — it’s abuse
• Hazing is not “building brotherhood” — it’s assault
• Hazing is not “boys being boys” — it’s torture
• Hazing can cause permanent injury or death

The statistics are horrifying:

• 55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing
• 40% of student athletes report hazing
• Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every year in the United States
• 95% of students who are hazed do not report it — often due to fear of retaliation

Callahan County students are at risk right now.

⚠️ What Hazing Looks Like Near Callahan County

Hazing isn’t just about drinking games. At universities near Callahan County, hazing can include:

🔴 Physical Abuse

• Beatings with paddles, belts, or other objects
• Extreme exercise until collapse (500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls)
• Forced to run in cold weather with minimal clothing
• Waterboarding or simulated drowning
• Branding or burning
• Being struck or kicked

🔴 Forced Consumption

• Forced to drink alcohol until vomiting or passing out
• Forced to eat large amounts of food until vomiting
• Forced to consume non-food substances (peppercorns, hot sauce, etc.)
• Forced to drink until reaching dangerous blood alcohol levels

🔴 Psychological Torture

• Sleep deprivation (forced to stay up all night)
• Verbal abuse and humiliation
• Isolation from friends and family
• Forced to carry embarrassing objects
• Threats of physical harm or expulsion

🔴 Sexual Abuse

• Forced nudity
• Sexual acts or simulations
• Carrying sexual objects
• Sexual assault

🔴 Medical Consequences

• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) — can cause kidney failure
• Alcohol poisoning — can be fatal
• Traumatic brain injury — from beatings or falls
• Hypothermia or heat stroke — from exposure
• PTSD, anxiety, depression — long-term psychological damage
• Death

Our client in Houston suffered rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure from extreme physical hazing. He spent four days in the hospital. This same medical emergency could happen to a Callahan County student.

💔 The Emotional Toll on Callahan County Families

Hazing doesn’t just hurt the victim. It devastates entire families.

Callahan County parents: You sent your child to college expecting them to be safe. You trusted the university. You trusted the Greek organization. That trust was betrayed.

Callahan County students: You joined a fraternity or sorority looking for friendship and community. Instead, you were abused, humiliated, and traumatized.

The emotional consequences include:

• Shame and embarrassment
• Fear of retribution if they speak out
• Loss of trust in institutions
• Anxiety and depression
• PTSD symptoms
• Academic decline
• Social withdrawal
• Suicidal thoughts

Our client is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution.” This fear is real. Callahan County victims face the same intimidation.

🏢 Who Is Liable for Hazing Near Callahan County?

When hazing occurs at universities near Callahan County, multiple parties can be held legally responsible:

1. The Local Chapter

• The fraternity or sorority chapter that organized and conducted the hazing
• Chapter officers (president, pledge master, etc.) can be sued individually
• Members who participated in hazing can be sued individually

2. The National Organization

• National fraternities and sororities have millions in assets and insurance
• They are responsible for supervising local chapters
• They knew or should have known about hazing risks
• In our case, Pi Kappa Phi National knew about “a hazing crisis” but failed to stop it

3. The University

• Universities near Callahan County have a duty to protect students
• They often own or control fraternity/sorority houses
• They have the power to regulate Greek organizations
• They knew or should have known about hazing risks
• In our case, University of Houston owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred

4. Individual Perpetrators

• Every person who participated in or facilitated hazing can be sued individually
• They can be held personally liable for damages
• In the Stone Foltz case, the chapter president was ordered to pay $6.5 million personally

5. Insurance Companies

• National organizations, universities, and individuals often have liability insurance
• These policies can provide compensation for victims
• As former insurance defense attorneys, we know exactly how to pursue these policies

⚖️ Texas Hazing Laws Protect Callahan County Victims

Texas has strong laws against hazing. Callahan County victims have legal rights.

Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157 — Anti-Hazing Law

Definition of Hazing:

Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act occurring on or off campus that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in an organization.

This includes:

• Physical brutality (beating, paddling, waterboarding)
• Sleep deprivation
• Exposure to extreme weather
• Forced exercise to exhaustion
• Forced consumption of food, alcohol, or other substances
• Any activity that creates an unreasonable risk of harm

Callahan County families: The hazing your child experienced likely violates Texas law.

Criminal Penalties for Hazing

Hazing is a crime in Texas:

Important: Organizations can also be fined up to $10,000 and lose the right to operate.

Consent Is Not a Defense

Texas law explicitly states:

“It is not a defense to prosecution that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”

This means: Even if your child “agreed” to participate, consent does not matter. The law protects students from hazing regardless of their choices.

💰 Callahan County Families Can Seek Compensation

If your child has been hazed at a university near Callahan County, you may be entitled to compensation for:

Economic Damages

• Medical bills (hospitalization, therapy, medication)
• Future medical expenses (if injuries require ongoing treatment)
• Lost wages (if hazing caused your child to miss work)
• Educational expenses (if hazing disrupted their education)
• Property damage (if personal belongings were damaged)

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish and emotional distress
• PTSD, anxiety, depression
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Humiliation and embarrassment

Punitive Damages

• In cases of egregious conduct, courts may award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoers
• This is appropriate when hazing involves torture, extreme physical abuse, or reckless disregard for safety

Callahan County families: These damages are real. We are currently seeking $10 million in our Houston hazing case. The same compensation is available for Callahan County victims.

📋 What Callahan County Families Should Do If Hazing Occurs

If your child has been hazed at a university near Callahan County, take these steps immediately:

1. Seek Medical Attention

• Even if injuries seem minor, get a medical evaluation
• Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) may not be immediately apparent
• Medical records are critical evidence

2. Preserve All Evidence

• Save all communications: Text messages, emails, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, social media posts
• Take photos: Of injuries, hazing locations, any physical evidence
• Document everything: Write down what happened, when, where, and who was involved
• Get witness information: Names and contact info of other victims or witnesses

3. Do NOT Talk to the Organization Without Legal Counsel

• The fraternity, sorority, or university may try to get your child to sign documents or make statements
• Do not sign anything without consulting an attorney
• Do not give statements to organization representatives
• Do not post on social media about the incident

4. Report the Hazing

• Consider filing a police report
• Report to the university’s Title IX office
• Report to the national organization

5. Contact an Attorney Immediately

• Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911
• We offer free consultations for Callahan County families
• We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win
• We will preserve evidence and protect your rights

Time is critical. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Statutes of limitations expire. Call us today.

🔥 Why Callahan County Families Choose Attorney 911

We are not just any law firm. We are hazing litigation specialists with unique advantages for Callahan County families:

1. We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now

• We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and University of Houston
• We know the legal strategies that work
• We know the defenses fraternities and universities will use
• We know how to counter them

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides
• We know how they think
• We know their playbook
• We know how to maximize your compensation

3. Federal Court Authority

• We are admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
• This allows us to pursue cases in federal court when appropriate
• Federal court can be advantageous for hazing cases involving civil rights violations

4. Dual-State Bar Admission

• We are licensed in Texas and New York
• This is a strategic advantage for cases against national fraternities headquartered out of state

5. Nationwide Service for Callahan County Families

• While based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide
• We offer video consultations for Callahan County families
• We travel to Callahan County for depositions, trials, and client meetings
• Distance is not a barrier to justice

6. Bilingual Services for Callahan County

• Se habla español
• We serve Spanish-speaking families without language barriers

7. Contingency Fee Representation

• $0 upfront cost for Callahan County families
• We only get paid if you get paid
• No financial risk to you

8. Proven Results

• We have 25+ years of litigation experience
• We have won millions of dollars for victims
• We have experience with complex litigation against large institutions

9. Compassionate Representation

• We understand the emotional trauma of hazing
• We treat Callahan County families with respect and dignity
• We are here to listen and support you

🏆 Our Case: The Fight We’re Bringing to Callahan County

The Incident That Should Never Have Happened

In Fall 2025, our client Leonel Bermudez accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Houston. He wasn’t even a UH student yet — he was a “ghost rush,” expected to transfer for Spring 2026.

What followed was weeks of systematic abuse and hazing that hospitalized him with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He spent four days in the hospital fighting for his life.

The Hazing Activities Exposed

The lawsuit details the following hazing activities:

• Waterboarding with a garden hose — simulated drowning
• Forced to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups — until he couldn’t stand
• Struck with wooden paddles — physical beating
• Forced to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns — until vomiting
• Forced to continue running sprints — while in physical distress after vomiting
• Forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass — after vomiting
• Hog-tying another pledge — face-down on table with object in mouth
• Sleep deprivation — forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours
• Threats of physical punishment and expulsion — for non-compliance
• Another pledge collapsed unconscious — during forced workouts

On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was punished for missing an event. He was forced to perform extreme exercises until he collapsed and couldn’t stand. 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 rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.

The Institutional Failures

Pi Kappa Phi National:

• Knew about a “hazing crisis” but failed to enforce anti-hazing policies
• Had 8 years to fix their culture after Andrew Coffey died in 2017 at a Pi Kappa Phi event
• Closed the UH chapter 7 days before the lawsuit was filed — they knew litigation was coming

University of Houston:

• Owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred
• Had a prior hazing incident in 2017 at another fraternity that hospitalized a student
• Failed to implement effective oversight despite knowing the risks

The Legal Response

On November 21, 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against:

• Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc. (national organization)
• Beta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi (local chapter)
• Beta Nu Housing Corporation
• University of Houston
• UH Board of Regents
• Fraternity president
• Pledgemaster
• Current and former members
• A former member and his spouse (hazing occurred at their residence)

The Media Coverage

The case has been covered by multiple media outlets:

• ABC13 Houston — detailed allegations of waterboarding and forced eating
• KHOU 11 — reported the $10 million lawsuit and “hazing crisis” knowledge
• Houston Chronicle — described specific hazing activities like “high-volume suicides” and bear crawls
• Houston Public Media — called waterboarding “a form of torture”

The Defendant Admissions

Pi Kappa Phi’s own statement admitted:

• They closed the Beta Nu Chapter for “violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy”
• They take hazing “seriously” (despite Andrew Coffey’s death in 2017)
• They “look forward to returning to campus” — no remorse, already planning comeback

University of Houston’s spokesperson said:

• The events are “deeply disturbing”
• They represent a “clear violation of our community standards”
• Individuals will face “disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion and potential criminal charges”

🎯 This Could Be Happening Near Callahan County

Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America — including at universities near Callahan County. If they were waterboarding students in Houston, how many other chapters are doing the same?

Callahan County parents: The same national fraternities that tortured our client operate at institutions near Callahan County. The same negligence exists at Callahan County universities. The same hazing culture persists.

Our $10 million lawsuit is not just about Houston. It’s about protecting every student in America — including students near Callahan County.

📢 Message to Fraternities Operating Near Callahan County

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and every other fraternity with chapters near Callahan County:

We are watching.

The same legal strategies we’re using in Houston apply to your chapters. We track your house corporations. We track your alumni chapters. We track your national insurance structures.

If your Texas chapters harm students, we will pursue every liable entity. We already shut down the Beta Nu chapter. Your chapter could be next.

The message is clear:

• Waterboarding is torture
• Forced exercise to collapse is reckless
• Striking with paddles is assault
• Hazing is illegal
• You will pay

🏛️ Message to Universities Near Callahan County

To the University of Texas System, Texas A&M System, and every university near Callahan County:

The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.

You own the fraternity houses. You have the power to regulate. You have the duty to protect. When you fail to act, you share liability.

Our message to Callahan County universities:

• Know the signs of hazing
• Take reports seriously
• Implement real oversight
• Or face the same accountability as UH

🚨 Callahan County Families: Time Is Critical

Texas law gives you only 2 years to file a lawsuit after a hazing injury. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Memories fade.

Callahan County families: If your child has been hazed, contact us immediately.

Callahan County Hazing Victims — We Are Here For You

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 — Available 24/7 for Callahan County families
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

Free consultation. No upfront cost. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.

Callahan County families: You are not alone. We are fighting for you. Enough is enough.

🏆 Together, We Can End Hazing Near Callahan County

Our client’s case is about more than compensation. It’s about sending a message that hazing will not be tolerated.

Callahan County families: Your case can help protect the next student. Your bravery can save lives.

Join us in the fight. Hold them accountable. Make Callahan County universities safe.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today.