If you are reading this, your family in Connecticut may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child went off to college in Connecticut, or perhaps out of state, to make friends and build a future. Instead, they were tortured, abused, and seriously injured by a fraternity or other student organization. We understand what you’re going through – the fear, the anger, the confusion. We’re here to help families in Connecticut fight back against the insidious problem of hazing that continues to plague our universities and colleges.

We are Attorney911 Legal Emergency Lawyers™, and while our roots are in Texas, our reach extends nationwide, including to Connecticut. We are currently embroiled in a high-stakes, $10 million lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university for the severe hazing of a prospective member that resulted in kidney failure and hospitalization. This is not a theoretical fight for us; it is happening right now, and we bring the same aggressive, data-driven, and relentless pursuit of justice to hazing victims and their families in Connecticut.

The Haunting Echoes of Abuse: The Bermudez Case and What It Means for Connecticut Families

The story of Leonel Bermudez is a stark, terrifying warning to every parent in Connecticut whose child has thought about joining a fraternity or sorority. It happened just weeks ago, not in some distant past, but in November 2025, right in our home state of Texas, at the University of Houston. This case, Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al., is the centerpiece of everything we stand for, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to holding every responsible party accountable when hazing destroys lives.

Leonel Bermudez wasn’t even an enrolled student at the University of Houston yet. He was a “ghost rush,” a prospective transfer student who had accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi in mid-September 2025. What followed was a systematic campaign of physical and psychological torture that lasted for weeks. On November 3, 2025, after an extreme hazing session, Leonel collapsed. Within days, his mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He spent three nights and four days hospitalized, facing the agonizing reality of permanent kidney damage.

This isn’t an isolated incident, and it’s not unique to Texas. The same national fraternities that perpetuate these dangers operate on campuses throughout Connecticut, from the prestigious halls of Yale University in New Haven to the University of Connecticut’s Storrs campus, and at colleges like Trinity College in Hartford, Wesleyan University in Middletown, and Fairfield University in Fairfield. The tactics, the coercion, the institutional negligence – they are shockingly similar wherever they occur.

As attorney Ralph Manginello told ABC13 at the time, “When he finally made it home, he crawled up the stairs and went to bed. The next day, he was really sore and couldn’t really move. The next day was worse, and the next day, his mom rushed him to the hospital, and he had some kidney failure.” This is the horrifying reality for families.

Attorney Lupe Pena, our partner on this case, added, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” And that is exactly what we intend to do for Connecticut families.

The Disturbing Details: What Hazing Really Looks Like Today

For too long, hazing has been dismissed as harmless fun, “boys being boys,” or a rite of passage. The Bermudez case shatters that illusion, revealing the brutal truth of what it has become. This is what your child could face at a university in Connecticut, and it is a stark departure from any romanticized notion of camaraderie:

• Simulated Waterboarding: Leonel was sprayed in the face with a garden hose while doing calisthenics, a practice described by Houston Public Media as “waterboarding, which simulates drowning, is a form of torture.” This is not a game; it is an act of dehumanization.
• Extreme Physical Punishment: He was forced to perform over 100 pushups, 500 squats, high-volume running drills known as “suicides,” bear crawls, wheelbarrows, and repeated 100-yard crawls. He was struck with wooden paddles. This brutal regimen continued until his muscles broke down, leading to the life-threatening condition of rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. In fact, a Houston Chronicle report specifically detailed “being struck with wooden paddles.”
• Forced Consumption, Then Humiliation: Leonel and other pledges were made to eat large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until they vomited. Then, they were forced to continue running sprints, often lying in vomit-soaked grass.
• Psychological Torture and Degradation: Pledges were forced to strip to their underwear in cold weather and carry a fanny pack containing objects of a sexual nature at all times. Another pledge was even hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. Threats of physical punishment or expulsion from the fraternity were constant.
• Sleep Deprivation: Pledges were forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, which led to chronic exhaustion.

This systematic abuse left Leonel Bermudez profoundly damaged. He experienced severe muscle pain, difficulty walking, and passed brown urine, a tell-tale sign of muscle breakdown. His creatine kinase levels were dangerously high, confirming the extent of the damage. The long-term implications of his acute kidney failure are still unknown, carrying an ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage, chronic kidney disease, or even the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant.

The Institutional Cover-Up: Why Universities and Nationals Are Also at Fault

The horror of the Bermudez case is compounded by the fact that it was entirely preventable. Our $10 million lawsuit names not only the local chapter and its individual members but also the University of Houston, its Board of Regents, and the national Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. Why? Because they all knew, or should have known, that such dangers existed, and they failed to act.

• Pi Kappa Phi National’s History of Death: Perhaps the most damning evidence against the national fraternity is this: Andrew Coffey died in 2017 after a Pi Kappa Phi hazing event at Florida State University, forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon. Eight years later, Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized under strikingly similar circumstances. This proves a pattern of negligence and a fundamental failure to learn from tragedy. As KHOU 11 reported, the national organization allegedly failed to enforce anti-hazing rules “despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.'”
• University of Houston’s Prior Knowledge: This wasn’t UH’s first hazing scandal either. In 2017, a student named Jared Munoz was hospitalized with a lacerated spleen from hazing at another fraternity on campus, Pi Kappa Alpha. Even after a $1 million lawsuit and a grand jury indictment, UH evidently failed to implement effective safeguards. To make matters worse, as KHOU 11 pointed out, the Pi Kappa Phi house where much of Leonel’s hazing occurred was a “University-owned fraternity house.” This places undeniable premises liability on the university.
• A Statement of Convenience, Not Remorse: When the lawsuit gained traction, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters posted a statement on their website, acknowledging “violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards” and announcing the chapter’s closure. Crucially, they dissolved the chapter on November 14, 2025, a week before our lawsuit was officially filed on November 21. This shows a consciousness of guilt and a scramble to limit liability. Their statement even had the audacity to say, “We look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time,” rather than expressing genuine remorse for Leonel’s suffering.

This pattern of willful blindness, deliberate indifference, and institutional failure is precisely what we fight against. Whether in Connecticut or Texas, national organizations and universities have a duty to protect students, and when they fail, they must be held accountable.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes in Connecticut

The stories families in Connecticut read about hazing often focus on alcohol poisoning, but the truth is far more sinister and varied. Hazing is about power, control, and humiliation, and it can take many forms, inflicting severe physical, psychological, and emotional damage. If you’re a parent in Connecticut, it’s crucial to understand what modern hazing entails, as it’s often hidden in plain sight.

Common Hazing Activities That Harm Students in Connecticut and Nationwide:

• Physical Abuse: This goes far beyond harmless pranks. It includes beatings, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion – like the 500 squats and 100 pushups Leonel Bermudez endured – and exposure to extreme temperatures. Imagine your child at the University of Connecticut being forced to strip in freezing weather or subjected to extreme exertion until their muscles begin to fail.
• Forced Consumption: While alcohol poisoning is tragically common, forced consumption can also involve eating until vomiting (as in Leonel’s case with milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns), consuming vile, non-food substances, or even forcing drug use.
• Sleep Deprivation: Pledges are often deprived of sleep through late-night activities and forced early mornings, leading to exhaustion that compromises their physical and mental health. This can severely impact academic performance at colleges like Sacred Heart University in Fairfield or Quinnipiac University in Hamden.
• Psychological Torture: This can be the most insidious form of hazing, leaving deep, lasting scars. It includes verbal abuse, threats, forced humiliation (like Leonel carrying a fanny pack with sexual objects or another pledge being hog-tied), isolation, or emotional manipulation that breaks down a student’s self-worth.
• Sexual Hazing: This is a particularly egregious and unfortunately common form of abuse, involving forced nudity, sexually suggestive acts, or even sexual assault.
• Simulated Waterboarding/Drowning: As seen in Leonel’s case, this extreme form of torture involves restricting a person’s breathing until they believe they are drowning. It is intentionally designed to terrorize.
• Servitude and Scapegoating: Pledges are often forced to clean, run errands, or act as personal servants for older members, reinforcing a power imbalance and stripping them of dignity.
• Academic Interference: Hazing can disrupt study time, force students to miss classes, or put their academic standing and scholarships at risk, jeopardizing their future at institutions like Central Connecticut State University in New Britain.

The Devastating Medical and Psychological Consequences:

Beyond the immediate trauma, hazing leaves profound and often permanent damage:

• Rhabdomyolysis and Kidney Failure: As Leonel’s case painfully illustrates, extreme physical exertion can cause muscle tissue to break down and release harmful proteins into the bloodstream, leading to kidney damage and even death.
• Alcohol Poisoning: The tragic deaths of students like Max Gruver and Andrew Coffey are a stark reminder of the lethal consequences of forced binge drinking.
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): From falls during forced activities, physical beatings, or lack of medical care after collapse.
• PTSD, Anxiety, Depression: The psychological scars of hazing can last a lifetime, manifesting as severe anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Victims often struggle with trust issues and academic decline.
• Sexual Trauma: Victims of sexual hazing may suffer lifelong psychological and emotional distress.
• Death: The ultimate, irreversible consequence, leaving families in Connecticut and across the nation shattered.

This is not the “brotherhood” or “sisterhood” your child imagined. This is abuse, pure and simple. And for any parent in Connecticut whose child has endured this nightmare, we want you to know: it is unacceptable, and we are here to fight for justice.

Who Is Responsible? Holding Every Party Accountable for Hazing in Connecticut

When hazing occurs in Connecticut, the responsibility extends far beyond the individual college students who inflict the abuse. We meticulously identify every entity that contributed to the harm, ensuring that all liable parties – especially those with the deepest pockets – are held accountable for their negligence, indifference, or direct actions. Just as in the Bermudez case, we cast a wide net to ensure comprehensive justice.

Here’s who can be held responsible for hazing in Connecticut:

1. The Local Fraternity or Sorority Chapter: This is the most obvious target. The local chapter directly organized, participated in, and often encouraged the hazing activities. Their bylaws, rules, and “traditions” often create an environment ripe for abuse.
2. Individual Fraternity or Sorority Members: This includes the specific individuals who engaged in the hazing, including officers like the president, pledgemaster, or risk manager who directed or allowed the abuse. It also includes members who actively participated or stood by and watched without intervening. As the $6.5 million judgment against the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter president in the Stone Foltz case shows, individual members can face severe personal liability. Even former members who hosted hazing at their residences, as seen in the Bermudez case, can be held liable.
3. The National Fraternity or Sorority Organization: National organizations are often large corporations with substantial assets and insurance policies. They have a duty to oversee their chapters, establish and enforce anti-hazing policies, and intervene when hazing occurs. When deadly or severely injurious incidents happen repeatedly, as with Pi Kappa Phi after Andrew Coffey’s death and Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization, it proves a systemic failure at the national level. These national organizations operate on campuses across Connecticut, from New Haven to Hamden.
4. The University or College: Universities in Connecticut, like everywhere else, have a legal and moral obligation to provide a safe environment for their students. This includes preventing foreseeable harm like hazing within their Greek life systems or student organizations. When a university owns the fraternity house where hazing occurs, or when it has a documented history of hazing incidents on its campus (like UH), its liability for negligent supervision or premises liability is significantly heightened. We will investigate the university’s knowledge of hazing, its enforcement of anti-hazing policies, and its response to previous incidents.
5. University or Greek Life Administrators: Specific administrators within the university, such as the Dean of Students or the Director of Greek Life, may be personally liable if their actions or inactions directly contributed to the hazing.
6. Fraternity or Sorority House Corporations/Alumni Associations: These separate legal entities often own the physical fraternity houses and can exert significant influence over chapter activities. They have a responsibility to ensure safe living environments and can be held liable for negligence, especially if they knew about or enabled hazing on their property.
7. Parents of Individual Members (in some cases): While less common, parents may sometimes be brought into lawsuits, especially if they were aware of hazing occurring on their property or if their child’s conduct demonstrates a pattern of recklessness that they enabled.
8. Insurance Carriers: Ultimately, the largest source of compensation often comes from the liability insurance policies held by the national organization, the university, the local chapter, and even individual members. As former insurance defense attorneys, both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena bring invaluable insight into how these companies operate and how to maximize recovery from them.

We diligently investigate every potential party, leveraging our “Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine” (which we will discuss more later) to uncover all entities that could be held accountable. No stone is left unturned in our pursuit of justice for hazing victims and their families in Connecticut.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof of Accountability for Connecticut Victims

When a hazing incident tears through a family in Connecticut, the question often becomes: Can we truly fight these powerful institutions? The answer is a resounding yes. Our commitment to Leonel Bermudez’s $10 million lawsuit is not an anomaly; it is built upon a foundation of landmark verdicts and settlements across the country, proving that aggressive, skilled legal representation can secure life-changing compensation and drive systemic change.

These cases send a clear, unequivocal message to fraternities, universities, and national organizations: hazing costs millions. And the same legal strategies that achieved these results are available to hazing victims and their families in Connecticut.

Landmark Verdicts & Settlements That Paved the Way:

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Total: $10.1 Million+

  • Stone Foltz, a pledge at Pi Kappa Alpha, died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” initiation. The consequences were severe:
    • Bowling Green State University paid $2.9 million.
    • Pi Kappa Alpha national and individual members paid an additional $7.2 million.
    • Perhaps most significantly, in December 2024, the former chapter president, Daylen Dunson, was ordered to pay $6.5 million in personal liability.
  • Relevance to Connecticut: This case directly supports our $10 million demand in the Bermudez case. It demonstrates that both universities and national fraternities are held to account with multi-million dollar payouts, and crucially, that individual members can face crippling personal judgments. This could and should happen in Connecticut.

• Maxwell Gruver – Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017): $6.1 Million Verdict

  • Maxwell Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman, died from acute alcohol poisoning with a BAC of 0.495 after being forced to drink during a “Bible Study” hazing event at Phi Delta Theta.
  • A jury awarded the Gruver family $6.1 million. The incident also led to criminal convictions, including negligent homicide, and spurred the passage of the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony in Louisiana.
  • Relevance to Connecticut: This jury verdict proves that when hazing cases proceed to trial, juries are willing to award significant sums. The criminal and legislative outcomes show the broader societal impact and the potential for a verdict to drive change. Connecticut families pursuing justice can learn from this precedent.

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017): $110 Million+ (Estimated)

  • Timothy Piazza, a Penn State pledge, died after being forced to consume 18 drinks in 82 minutes. He fell down a flight of stairs multiple times, suffering a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding. Fraternity brothers waited 12 hours before calling 911.
  • While confidential, the civil settlement is estimated to be over $110 million, making it one of the largest hazing payouts in U.S. history. Multiple fraternity members faced criminal charges and convictions, and Pennsylvania enacted the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.
  • Relevance to Connecticut: This case highlights the massive compensation possible when evidence is strong (security cameras captured everything), egregious conduct is undeniable, and institutional negligence is clear. If a similar sequence of events occurred at a university in Connecticut, the financial consequences could be equally enormous.

• Andrew Coffey – Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Confidential Settlement

  • Andrew Coffey died from alcohol poisoning after a Pi Kappa Phi “Big Brother Night” event where he was forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon. Nine fraternity members were charged, and the chapter was permanently closed.
  • Crucial for the Bermudez Case: This is the SAME national fraternity as Leonel Bermudez’s case. It establishes a clear pattern of deadly hazing within Pi Kappa Phi, showing they had ample warning and failed to prevent another tragedy. This dramatically strengthens arguments for punitive damages against Pi Kappa Phi National for their conscious indifference. The same national organization, Pi Kappa Phi, has chapters at institutions across Connecticut.

What This Means for Connecticut Families:

These cases are not just statistics; they are human tragedies that resulted in justice and, in many instances, lasting legislative change. For families in Connecticut grappling with a hazing incident, these precedents offer powerful encouragement:

1. Your Case Has Value: If your child was severely injured or died due to hazing, your case has significant potential value, capable of achieving multi-million dollar outcomes.
2. Institutional Accountability is Real: Universities and national organizations are being held responsible, demonstrating that their claims of ignorance or helplessness are no longer valid defenses.
3. Punitive Damages are Possible: When hazing involves extreme, malicious, or grossly negligent conduct, juries are willing to award punitive damages to punish wrongdoers and deter future abuse. The waterboarding and physical torture in the Bermudez case are prime examples of conduct that warrants such damages.
4. Change Can Happen: These cases have led to stronger anti-hazing laws and improved awareness nationwide. Your pursuit of justice in Connecticut can contribute to this critical wave of reform.

We are not simply attorneys who handle hazing cases; we are actively fighting one of the most significant hazing lawsuits in the country right now. This means we are at the forefront of this litigation, understanding the nuances, the latest defenses, and the most effective strategies to win. We are ready to bring that same expertise and commitment to Connecticut.

Connecticut Law Protects You: Understanding Your Rights Against Hazing

While our firm is headquartered in Texas, we represent hazing victims across the country, including those in Connecticut. This is because the fundamental legal principles, particularly within federal courts and against national organizations, remain consistent. Connecticut has its own specific anti-hazing laws designed to protect students, and these laws, coupled with broader civil liability theories, provide a powerful framework for seeking justice.

Connecticut’s Anti-Hazing Law: Clear Protection for Students

Connecticut’s state statute concerning hazing is outlined in Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-182a, “Hazing.” This statute defines hazing and establishes criminal penalties for those who engage in or permit it. For Connecticut families, this is a critical starting point:

• Definition of Hazing: The law broadly defines hazing as any action that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in, any organization. This includes activities such as:
  • Forced Physical Activity: Any forced activity that could physically harm or mentally distress a participant.
  • Forced Consumption: Requiring any student to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance, except in limited social settings, to excess.
  • Humiliation: Any activity that subjects an individual to embarrassment or ridicule.
  • Isolation: Requiring individuals to be deprived of food, sleep, or contact with others.
• Criminal Penalties: Those found guilty of hazing can face criminal charges, including imprisonment and fines. If serious physical injury or death results from hazing, the penalties are even more severe.

Crucially, Connecticut law, like Texas law, recognizes that consent is often negated by coercion and power imbalances inherent in hazing. While the Connecticut statute itself does not contain an explicit “consent is not a defense” clause like Texas, the nature of hazing – involving threats, peer pressure, and the desire to belong – means that any purported “consent” can be legally challenged as coerced. Leonel Bermudez, for instance, feared expulsion if he didn’t comply, clearly demonstrating a lack of free will. This is a point we emphasize: True consent cannot exist when coercion and intimidation are present. Your child in Connecticut cannot legally consent to be tortured or abused.

Beyond Criminal Charges: Civil Lawsuits for Connecticut Victims

While criminal prosecution addresses the wrongdoer’s actions on behalf of the state, a civil lawsuit allows victims and their families in Connecticut to seek compensation for the immense damages they have suffered. Here are the key legal theories we pursue:

1. Negligence: This is the bedrock of most personal injury claims. We would argue that:
   • Duty of Care: The fraternity, national organization, and university owed your child a duty to protect them from foreseeable harm.
   • Breach of Duty: They breached this duty by allowing hazing to occur, failing to supervise, or failing to enforce anti-hazing policies (like Pi Kappa Phi’s failure despite Andrew Coffey’s death, or UH’s failure despite previous incidents).
   • Causation: This breach directly caused your child’s injuries.
   • Damages: Your child suffered quantifiable harm as a result.
2. Premises Liability: If the hazing occurred on property owned or controlled by the university or a housing corporation (as with the University of Houston in the Bermudez case), they may be liable for failing to maintain a safe environment.
3. Negligent Supervision: This applies to entities that had a responsibility to oversee the hazing perpetrators but failed to do so. This often targets national fraternities for their local chapters or universities for their Greek life organizations.
4. Assault and Battery: Individual members who physically harmed your child (e.g., paddling, forced exercise, waterboarding) can be sued for intentional torts like assault and battery.
5. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED): Reserved for extreme cases, IIED targets conduct so outrageous and severe that it causes profound emotional suffering. The psychological torture and simulated waterboarding in the Bermudez case are clear examples of such conduct.
6. Wrongful Death: If hazing leads to a fatality in Connecticut, families can file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for their profound loss, including grief, loss of companionship, financial support, and funeral expenses.
7. Dram Shop Liability: If alcohol was illegally provided to minors or visibly intoxicated individuals during hazing, the individuals or establishments providing that alcohol could be held liable under Connecticut’s dram shop laws.
8. Civil Conspiracy: If multiple individuals or entities conspired to engage in unlawful hazing activities, they can all be held jointly responsible.

Federal Court Authority: Extending Our Reach to Connecticut

While our firm is based in Texas, our attorneys are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and Ralph Manginello is also admitted to the New York State Bar. This federal court authority and multi-state licensure are crucial advantages for hazing cases, especially when national fraternities, often headquartered out of state, are involved. We can pursue hazing cases in federal court, allowing us to represent victims in Connecticut regardless of our physical location, and if necessary, travel to Connecticut for depositions, client meetings, or trials.

For families in Connecticut, it’s vital to understand that the law is on your side. You are not without recourse. We are dedicated to ensuring that these legal protections are vigorously enforced for every victim of hazing in Connecticut.

Why Attorney911 Is the Choice for Connecticut Hazing Victims

When your family in Connecticut faces the unimaginable trauma of hazing, you need more than just any lawyer. You need an advocate who understands the unique complexities of hazing litigation, who is not intimidated by powerful institutions, and who approaches your case with both fierce aggression and profound empathy. At Attorney911 Legal Emergency Lawyers™, we are that team.

We understand that choosing legal representation for such a sensitive and devastating issue is a deeply personal decision. Here’s why families in Connecticut should choose us:

1. Active, Front-Line Experience: We Are Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW.

   • Unlike firms that might claim general personal injury experience, we are currently litigating one of the most significant hazing lawsuits in the country: the Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi case, a $10 million lawsuit against a national fraternity, a major university, and multiple individuals for horrific hazing that caused kidney failure. This isn’t theoretical; it’s our daily fight, and we bring that same energy and expertise to every case in Connecticut.
   • You can read about our ongoing case in the news:
     • ABC13 Houston: Abuse and hazing led to hospitalization of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge, lawsuit alleges
     • KHOU 11: $10 million lawsuit filed against UH, fraternity over hazing allegations
     • Houston Chronicle: UH fraternity hazing lawsuit

2. Unrivaled “Insider” Knowledge and Strategy.

   • Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena are former insurance defense attorneys. This is a critical advantage. We have seen their playbook from the inside. We know how insurance companies, universities, and national fraternities strategize to deny claims, minimize payouts, and protect their bottom lines. Now, we use that knowledge to dismantle their defenses and maximize recovery for our clients in Connecticut.
   • Lupe Peña’s experience at Litchfield Cavo LLP, a nationwide insurance defense firm, gave him firsthand insight into how large corporations and their insurers operate. He knows their valuation methods, their delay tactics, and their subrogation strategies. Every tactic they taught him to use against victims, he now uses to win for our clients.

3. Extensive Litigation Experience Against Major Corporate Defendants.

   • Ralph Manginello’s involvement in the multi-billion dollar BP Texas City Explosion Litigation (which involved 15 deaths and over 180 injuries) demonstrates our capacity to take on massive corporate defendants with virtually unlimited resources. Hazing cases against national fraternities and universities require this same caliber of aggressive, high-stakes litigation experience. Connecticut families need a legal team that isn’t intimidated.
   • With over 25 years of courtroom experience, Ralph is a battle-tested trial attorney who knows how to present a compelling case to a jury.

4. Nationwide Reach and Federal Court Authority for Connecticut Cases.

   • While our offices are based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our legal capabilities extend to Connecticut and across the entire United States.
   • Our admission to the U.S. District Court allows us to pursue cases in federal jurisdiction, which is often essential when dealing with national organizations.
   • Ralph Manginello’s dual-state bar admission (Texas AND New York) provides a strategic advantage for cases against national fraternities often headquartered outside of Texas.
   • We utilize remote consultation technology (video calls) to connect with Connecticut families and will TRAVEL TO CONNECTICUT for depositions, mediations, and trials as needed. Distance will not be a barrier to securing justice for your child.

5. A Data-Driven Approach: Our “Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine.”

   • We don’t guess who is responsible; we know. Our firm maintains one of the most comprehensive private directories of Greek organizations in Texas, analyzing over 1,400 entities across 25 metro areas. This includes EINs, legal names, addresses, house corporations, and alumni chapters. This allows us to identify every entity with the deepest pockets – and therefore, everyone to sue.
   • For example, our database includes:
     • Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 462267515) in Frisco, Texas. This is the very entity behind the UH chapter we sued.
     • Kappa Sigma Mu Gamma Chapter Inc (EIN 133048786) in College Station, Texas.
     • Sigma Alpha Epsilon Texas Sigma Incorporated (EIN 882755427) in San Marcos, Texas.
   • This detailed understanding of corporate structures enables us to penetrate the maze of shell organizations and hold every responsible party accountable, whether they are in Texas or in Connecticut.

6. Empathetic, Parent-Facing Advocacy.

   • As parents ourselves, we understand the profound pain and anger that accompanies a hazing incident. We speak directly to worried parents, not in cold legal jargon, but with compassion and commitment. We treat Connecticut families like our own.
   • Ralph, a father of three, and Lupe, deeply rooted in his Texas heritage, both understand what’s at stake. Our team is bilingual (Se Habla Español) and committed to ensuring no family faces a language barrier to justice, including the diverse communities of Connecticut.

7. No Upfront Costs: Contingency Fee Basis.

   • We handle hazing cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely $0 upfront to hire us. We cover all litigation costs and expenses, and we only get paid if we win your case. This levels the playing field, ensuring that powerful universities and national fraternities cannot outspend or outlast victims in Connecticut.

8. Media Savvy and Public Pressure.

   • We understand the role of media in complex, high-stakes cases. With Ralph’s background in journalism, we know how to investigate, uncover facts, and tell a compelling story. Our current $10 million lawsuit has garnered significant media attention from ABC13, KHOU 11, the Houston Chronicle, and Houston Public Media, which helps apply pressure on defendants. We can leverage this for cases in Connecticut when appropriate, ensuring public accountability.

Choosing Attorney911 means choosing a legal team that is not just knowledgeable but passionate, proven, and actively engaged in fighting the very battles your family faces. For hazing victims in Connecticut, your emergency is our emergency, and we are ready to answer the call.

What To Do Right Now: Actionable Steps for Connecticut Hazing Victims and Their Families

When hazing strikes, the immediate aftermath can be disorienting and frightening. However, the steps you take in the initial hours, days, and weeks are critical to protecting your legal rights and building a strong case. For families in Connecticut grappling with this nightmare, here is a clear, actionable guide on what to do right now.

Step 1: Prioritize Safety and Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Your child’s health and safety are paramount.

• Remove Your Child from the Situation: If they are still in a dangerous environment, get them out immediately.
• Seek Medical Help: Whether the injuries seem minor or severe, get professional medical attention right away. Delays in seeking treatment can significantly harm your case, as insurance companies or defense attorneys will argue your injuries weren’t serious enough to warrant immediate care.
  • Go to the Emergency Room: If there’s any doubt about the severity, or if symptoms like those Leonel experienced (inability to move, dark urine, extreme muscle pain) are present, go to the nearest emergency room in Connecticut. For instance, Yale New Haven Hospital, Hartford Hospital, or St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.
  • Document Everything: Ensure all injuries, symptoms, and the suspected cause (hazing) are accurately recorded in medical reports. Keep every receipt and record related to medical care, therapy, and medications.
• Seek Psychological Support: Hazing inflicts severe emotional and psychological trauma. Connecting with a mental health professional in Connecticut can provide crucial support and also help document the psychological impact for your case.

Step 2: Preserve ALL Evidence – Digital and Physical

In hazing cases, evidence is fleeting and can be deliberately destroyed. This is the most critical step after ensuring safety.

• Digital Communications (Texts, Social Media, Group Chats): This is often the “smoking gun” in hazing cases.
  • DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING. Even if it seems irrelevant or embarrassing, preserve every text message, Snapchat, GroupMe conversation, Instagram DM, email, or any other digital communication. These chats often contain direct evidence of coercion, instructions for hazing, threats, or admissions of guilt.
  • Screenshot Everything: Take screenshots of entire conversations, profiles, posts, and stories. This preserves content that might be deleted by perpetrators.
  • Save Videos and Photos: Any videos or photos of hazing activities, injuries, or even social events around the time of the hazing are invaluable. If your child has images of any injuries, document them daily as they heal. Ralph Manginello emphasizes, “Take pictures. Take pictures. Take pictures. Take more pictures than you think you need to.”
• Physical Evidence:
  • Clothing: Preserve any clothing worn during hazing, especially if it’s torn, stained, or damaged.
  • Hazing Paraphernalia: If any items used in the hazing (e.g., paddles, blindfolds, specific containers) are accessible, document them with photos or, if safe and legal, secure them.
  • Location Photos: Take photos of the location where the hazing occurred – fraternity house, dorm room, off-campus residence, park, or any other site. Our lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi benefited from knowing the hazing occurred in a university-owned house.
• Witness Information: Get the names, phone numbers, and any other contact information for anyone who witnessed the hazing, including other pledges, fraternity/sorority members, or bystanders. They may be reluctant to speak initially, but their testimony can be crucial.
• Documents from the Organization/University: Save any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, recruitment materials, or communications from the fraternity/sorority or the university regarding Greek life or anti-hazing policies.

Step 3: Crucial “DO NOTs” to Protect Your Case

What you don’t do is just as important as what you do.

• DO NOT Talk to the Fraternity/Sorority, University, or Their Lawyers: They are not on your side. Their goal is to protect themselves and minimize liability. Any statement you give them, even seemingly innocent, can be twisted and used against you.
• DO NOT Give Recorded Statements: Never agree to a recorded statement for anyone without legal counsel present and advising you.
• DO NOT Sign Anything: Do not sign any waivers, releases, or documents from the fraternity/sorority, university, or any insurance company. You could inadvertently sign away your legal rights.
• DO NOT Post on Social Media: This is paramount. Anything your child or family posts on social media can and will be scrutinized by defense attorneys. Even innocent photos of your child smiling can be used to argue they were “not that injured.” Our video “Don’t Post on Social Media After an Accident” covers this critical mistake.
• DO NOT Delete Anything: Destroying evidence (even accidentally) can lead to severe legal penalties and undermine your entire case.

Step 4: Contact an Experienced Hazing Litigation Attorney Immediately

Time is of the essence.

• Call 1-888-ATTY-911 Right Now: We offer free, confidential consultations 24/7. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can begin protecting your rights, preserving evidence, and building your case.
• Statute of Limitations: Most states, including Connecticut, have a strict two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. This means you have a limited window to file a lawsuit from the date of the injury. For hazing, this can be complex if there are ongoing incidents or delayed-onset injuries, but it is always safer to act quickly. Our video “Is There a Statute of Limitations on My Case?” deeply explores this.
• Expert Guidance: An experienced attorney familiar with hazing litigation, like Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, knows what evidence to look for, how to deal with stubborn institutions, and how to navigate the complex legal landscape.

For Connecticut victims and families, your nightmare is real, but so is your path to justice. We are equipped to handle your case, whether the hazing occurred at Yale, UConn, or any other institution in Connecticut or beyond. Do not face this alone. Call us. Let us be your first responder to this legal emergency.

Call Us Now: Your First Step Towards Justice in Connecticut

If your child has been subjected to hazing in Connecticut or anywhere in the country, you are experiencing a legal emergency. The trauma is immense, the stakes are high, and the path to justice can seem daunting. But you are not alone. We are Attorney911 Legal Emergency Lawyers™, and we are ready to stand with you.

We are actively fighting hazing right now, demanding $10 million in the Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit for the severe injuries sustained by a young man who was brutally hazed. This isn’t just a case; it’s a testament to our resolve, our data-driven approach, and our unwavering commitment to holding powerful institutions accountable. We bring this same aggressive, empathetic, and expert representation to families in Connecticut.

Hazing is not a harmless prank. It is abuse, it is often criminal, and it can have life-altering, even fatal, consequences. Universities and national fraternities across Connecticut, from the bustling campuses in Stamford and New Haven to the quieter colleges in Storrs, have a responsibility to protect students that they routinely fail to uphold.

Connecticut Families — Your Emergency Demands an Immediate Response.

Call our Legal Emergency Hotline 24/7 for a Free Consultation:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email Us Directly:
ralph@atty911.com

Visit Our Website for More Information:
attorney911.com

We work on a contingency fee basis: This means $0 upfront cost for you in Connecticut. We bear all the financial risks of litigation. You do not pay us a single dollar unless and until we win your case. This ensures that every family, regardless of financial means, can access top-tier legal representation against powerful defendants. Our video “How Contingency Fees Work” explains this in detail.

Why Call Us Today?

• Time is Critical: The statute of limitations in Connecticut, like many states, usually allows two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, crucial evidence like text messages and security footage can disappear rapidly. Do not delay.
• Evidence Preservation: The sooner we are involved, the quicker we can ensure all vital evidence – digital and physical – is preserved. Our video “Can You Use Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case?” illustrates just how important this is.
• Protect Your Rights: Universities, Greek organizations, and their insurance companies will attempt to gather information or have you sign documents that could jeopardize your claim. Let us manage all communication and protect your interests.
• Expertise in Hazing Litigation: We are not general personal injury lawyers who occasionally handle hazing. We are deeply immersed and actively litigating a landmark hazing case, giving us unparalleled insight and strategy.
• Nationwide Reach: While we are based in Texas, our federal court authority and willingness to travel mean we can effectively represent families in Connecticut. We offer video consultations for your convenience, and our attorneys will come to Connecticut for critical depositions, mediations, and trials as needed.

Your Child’s Story Matters. Let Us Tell It.

Every time a parent picks up the phone to connect with us, they are making a powerful statement. They are saying “enough is enough” – a sentiment echoed by Attorney Lupe Pena in our ongoing case. By coming forward, you not only seek justice for your own child but also contribute to a larger movement demanding accountability and preventing future tragedies on campuses across Connecticut and the nation.

Do not let fear, shame, or the perceived power of these institutions prevent you from seeking justice. We understand the emotional toll, and we are here to shoulder the legal burden so you can focus on your family’s healing.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now. Your call is confidential, your consultation is free, and your fight is our fight.