If you are reading this in Georgia, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your lives. Your child went to college with hopes of making lifelong friends, building a community, and shaping their future. Instead, they endured torture, humiliation, and abuse under the guise of “tradition.” We understand what you’re going through – the fear, the anger, the profound betrayal. We’re here to help families in Georgia fight back against the insidious culture of hazing that continues to plague our universities and communities.

We are Attorney911, and we are actively fighting this battle right now in real courtrooms. Our current, and very public, $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi, the University of Houston, and 13 individuals involved in the hazing of Leonel Bermudez is not just another case for us; it is a declaration of our unwavering commitment to holding every entity responsible for hazing injuries accountable. What happened to Leonel in Houston could happen to any student at any university across Georgia, and we are prepared to bring the same aggressive, data-driven, and relentless fight to your family’s hazing case.

Leonel Bermudez was a “ghost rush,” a bright prospective transfer student not even officially enrolled at the University of Houston. Yet, he was subjected to systematic weeks of abuse that included being hog-tied, forced to eat until he vomited, brutal physical exertions that led to kidney failure, and simulated waterboarding with a garden hose – a practice considered torture by international standards. After four days in the hospital fighting for his life, Leonel is now recovering, but the physical and psychological scars remain. In our fight for justice, we’re not just seeking compensation; we’re aiming to shatter the silence, dismantle the culture of complicity, and ensure that no other family in Georgia has to endure this nightmare.

The Hazing Crisis: Why Georgia Families Need Us

Hazing is not a rite of passage; it is a crime that inflicts severe physical and psychological trauma. Across the United States, and in our own communities here in Georgia, young lives are irrevocably altered or tragically cut short by senseless acts of abuse disguised as “tradition.” If your child has been subjected to hazing at a university, college, or any organization across Georgia, know that you are not alone, and you have powerful legal options.

Whether your child attends a prominent institution like the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Emory University, or a smaller college elsewhere in the state, the risk of hazing is unfortunately present. The same national fraternities and sororities that have faced multi-million dollar lawsuits across the country maintain chapters throughout Georgia. The silence surrounding hazing incidents allows this dangerous culture to persist, but families in Georgia are now empowered to demand accountability.

We understand these are dark and confusing times. When your child is supposed to be thriving in a new environment, the discovery of hazing can be devastating. We are here to navigate the complex legal landscape, leveraging our deep knowledge of both personal injury law and the unique challenges of hazing litigation to fight for your child’s rights and your family’s future. Our firm is dedicated to being the first responders to your legal emergency, providing immediate, aggressive, and professional help when you need it most.

Our Current Battlefield: The $10 Million Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Lawsuit in Houston

The case of Leonel Bermudez against Pi Kappa Phi, the University of Houston, and 13 individual fraternity members is not just a legal battle; it’s a testament to our firm’s commitment to aggressively represent hazing victims, armed with data and an unyielding pursuit of accountability. This $10 million lawsuit, filed in November 2025 in Harris County Civil District Court, demonstrates exactly what Attorney911 stands for.

Leonel Bermudez wasn’t even a student at the University of Houston yet. He was a “ghost rush,” intending to transfer for the spring semester. He accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity on September 16, 2025. What followed was an agonizing seven weeks of systematic hazing that led to life-threatening injuries.

As reported by ABC13 Houston, KHOU 11, the Houston Chronicle, and Houston Public Media, the hazing included horrifying acts:

• Simulated Waterboarding: Pledges, including Leonel, were sprayed in the face with a garden hose while doing calisthenics, a practice acknowledged by Houston Public Media as a form of torture.
• Extreme Physical Abuse: Leonel was forced to perform over 100 pushups, 500 squats, “high-volume suicides,” bear crawls, wheelbarrows, and other physically punishing drills. These exercises continued until he became so exhausted he couldn’t stand without help. This relentless exertion resulted in severe rhabdomyolysis—a breakdown of muscle tissue—and acute kidney failure.
• Forced Consumption: He was made to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited, then forced to continue running sprints through his own vomit.
• Psychological Torture: This included being forced to carry a fanny pack containing objects of a sexual nature, being made to strip to his underwear in cold weather, and witnessing another pledge hog-tied face-down with an object in his mouth for over an hour. Threats of physical punishment or expulsion were constant.
• Sleep Deprivation: Forced to drive fraternity members in the early morning hours, leading to severe exhaustion.

When Leonel finally made it home on November 3, 2025, after a particularly brutal session, he crawled up the stairs to his bed. As Attorney Ralph Manginello told ABC13, “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.” Leonel was hospitalized for three nights and four days, passing brown urine — a classic sign of myoglobin, the damaging protein released into his bloodstream which caused his kidneys to fail. He still faces the ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

The Institutional Response (or Lack Thereof)

Within days of Leonel’s hospitalization, Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters suspended the UH chapter. By November 14, 2025, they formally closed the Beta Nu Chapter. While their public statement claimed the closure was “following violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards,” this quick action, just seven days before our lawsuit was filed, speaks volumes about their awareness of the egregious wrongdoing.

The University of Houston spokesperson, as reported by Houston Public Media, called the events “deeply disturbing” and representative of “a clear violation of our community standards,” noting that “any individual found responsible for hazing will face disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion and potential criminal charges.” Yet, despite a previous $1 million hazing lawsuit against another fraternity at UH in 2017 – where a student suffered a lacerated spleen – the university failed to implement sufficient safeguards to prevent a recurrence. They owned the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place, making their negligence even more striking.

As Attorney Lupe Peña eloquently stated to ABC13, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” This case is ongoing, active, and a powerful example of the justice we seek for hazing victims. For families in Georgia, this case serves as a stark warning and a beacon of hope: this is what hazing looks like, and this is how Attorney911 fights back.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

When we talk about hazing, many parents might recall innocent pranks or lighthearted initiation exercises. But the reality is far darker and infinitely more dangerous. Hazing today is often systematic, psychologically damaging, and physically brutal, resulting in severe injuries, psychological trauma, and even death. It’s not about “boys being boys” or “building brotherhood”; it’s about power, control, and dangerous abuse.

Horrifying Realities of Modern Hazing:

• Physical Abuse: This goes far beyond mild discomfort. It includes beatings, paddling with wooden objects, branding, forced calisthenics (like the 500 squats and 100 pushups Leonel endured), forced exposure to extreme temperatures, and even simulated drowning (waterboarding with a garden hose, as in Leonel’s case). These acts can lead to broken bones, internal injuries, severe dehydration, heatstroke, hypothermia, and conditions like rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
• Forced Consumption: This often involves binge drinking of alcohol, leading to alcohol poisoning, permanent brain damage, and death. It can also include forced consumption of non-edible substances, or food until vomiting, as Leonel experienced.
• Psychological and Emotional Torture: This can be as damaging as physical abuse, including humiliation (like Leonel being forced to carry sexually suggestive items), sleep deprivation, verbal abuse, isolation, terrorization, and threats. Perpetrators often exploit the victim’s desire to belong, creating a perverse dynamic where psychological manipulation is rampant.
• Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Hazing rituals can involve forced nudity, sexual degradation, sexual assault, and coercion into sexual acts, leaving victims with deep-seated trauma.
• Endangerment and Reckless Behavior: Forced participation in dangerous stunts, illegal activities, or events where medical attention is withheld or delayed. The tragic death of Timothy Piazza at Penn State, where fraternity members delayed calling 911 for 12 hours after he suffered fatal injuries, is a horrific example.

These acts are not “traditions”; they are criminal offenses that shatter lives and families. They happen in the fraternities and sororities that operate across Georgia, on sports teams, in bands, in military organizations, and in other student groups. The victims are our children, who often suffer in silence due to fear of retaliation, shame, or the belief that exposing the truth will isolate them further. But the severe consequences of hazing demand that this silence be broken.

Who Is Responsible: Holding Everyone Accountable

Hazing is rarely the act of just one individual. It is a systemic problem enabled by a layered network of individuals and institutions that fail to prevent, address, or punish this abuse. When hazing occurs, our strategy is aggressive and comprehensive: we pursue accountability from every entity that contributed to the harm, ensuring that all liable parties bear the consequences of their actions.

In cases like Leonel Bermudez’s, we don’t just sue the students directly involved; we cast a wide net to include everyone with a duty to protect, a knowledge of the risk, or a hand in the misconduct.

1. The Individual Perpetrators:

• Chapter Officers: The fraternity president, pledgemaster, internal and external vice presidents, risk manager, and other leaders who direct or condone hazing activities. These are often the architects of the abuse.
• Active Members: Any members who participate in, encourage, or fail to intervene in hazing rituals. Even seemingly passive participation can incur liability.
• Former Members/Alumni: Individuals who host hazing events at their private residences, as seen in the Bermudez case where a former member and his spouse were named defendants for allowing hazing at their home.
• Witnesses Who Fail to Act: In some cases, individuals who witness severe hazing and fail to report it or seek help can also be held responsible, especially if they are in positions of authority.

2. The Local Chapter:
The specific fraternity or sorority chapter involved is directly responsible for the actions of its members and for any organized hazing activities. This entity can be dissolved, fined, and held liable for damages.

3. The National Fraternity or Sorority Organization:
These national bodies often have vast resources, insurance policies, and a duty to oversee their local chapters. They are typically held liable for:

• Failure to Supervise: Not adequately monitoring their local chapters to prevent hazing.
• Failure to Enforce Policies: Having anti-hazing policies but failing to enforce them, or doing so only after severe harm occurs. Pi Kappa Phi, for instance, had a death on its record (Andrew Coffey in 2017) yet still failed to prevent Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization eight years later.
• Negligent Training: Not providing adequate anti-hazing training to chapter members and officers.
• Pattern of Behavior: When multiple chapters of the same national organization have a history of hazing incidents, it demonstrates a systemic failure that points to national leadership.

4. The College or University:
Universities and colleges have a significant responsibility to protect their students from harm, especially those participating in campus-sanctioned organizations. Their liability can stem from:

• Institutional Negligence: Failing to implement, monitor, or enforce anti-hazing policies. The University of Houston, for example, faced a hazing lawsuit in 2017 yet still allowed Leonel Bermudez’s hazing to occur in a university-owned fraternity house in 2025.
• Failure to Intervene: Not acting on previous reports or known instances of hazing.
• Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on university-owned property, the institution can be held responsible for maintaining an unsafe environment.
• Lack of Oversight: Insufficient monitoring of Greek life or other student organizations.
• Title IX Violations: In cases involving sexual assault or gender-based violence during hazing, universities may be liable for failing to address Title IX complaints.

5. Housing Corporations:
These entities often own and manage fraternity or sorority houses. They can be held liable if hazing occurs on their property and they fail to ensure a safe environment or ignore dangerous activities. The Beta Nu Housing Corporation was named in the Bermudez lawsuit.

6. Insurance Carriers:
Ultimately, the financial compensation often comes from the liability insurance policies held by the national organizations, universities, housing corporations, and even the personal homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies of individual defendants. Our firm, uniquely composed of former insurance defense attorneys like Lupe Peña, understands how these companies operate and how to maximize recovery from them.

We leave no stone unturned in identifying every potentially liable party, leveraging our “insider” knowledge of how insurance companies and large institutions operate. For Georgia families, this means a comprehensive and aggressive pursuit of justice, holding every responsible entity accountable for the harm inflicted on your child.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof

For any family in Georgia trying to comprehend the legal recourse after a hazing incident, understanding previous verdicts and settlements can offer crucial insight. These cases are not just about monetary compensation; they are about forcing institutions to change, sending an undeniable message that hazing will no longer be tolerated, and ultimately, saving lives. The financial outcomes in hazing cases can be substantial, reflecting the severe physical, emotional, and long-term damages inflicted on victims and their families.

Here’s a look at landmark cases that demonstrate the significant compensation and impact hazing litigation can achieve:

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Total: $10.1+ Million
  • Stone Foltz died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a Pi Kappa Alpha hazing event. The family received a $2.9 million settlement from Bowling Green State University and another $7.2 million from Pi Kappa Alpha National and several individuals. The chapter president, Daylen Dunson, was personally ordered to pay $6.5 million in a judgment in December 2024. This case unequivocally established that university negligence and fraternity misconduct both carry hefty penalties, aligning perfectly with our $10 million demand for Leonel Bermudez.
• Maxwell Gruver, Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017): $6.1 Million Jury Verdict
  • Maxwell Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman, died from acute alcohol poisoning after a Phi Delta Theta “Bible Study” hazing event where pledges were forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol for incorrect answers. A jury awarded his family $6.1 million, and several fraternity members faced criminal charges, with one convicted of negligent homicide. This verdict led to the “Max Gruver Act,” making hazing a felony in Louisiana, proving that justice can ignite legislative change.
• Timothy Piazza, Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017): Total: $110+ Million (Estimated)
  • Timothy Piazza died from a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding after being forced to consume 18 alcoholic drinks in 82 minutes during a Beta Theta Pi hazing event. Fraternity members waited 12 hours to call for help, and security cameras captured the entire horrific ordeal. The family’s confidential settlements are estimated to exceed $110 million, and the case resulted in multiple criminal convictions and Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.” This monumental outcome underscores that irrefutable evidence coupled with severe negligence leads to massive compensation.
• Andrew Coffey, Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Confidential Settlement
  • Andrew Coffey died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during a Pi Kappa Phi “Big Brother Night.” This is the same national fraternity involved in Leonel Bermudez’s case. While the settlement amount remains confidential, nine fraternity members faced criminal charges, and the FSU chapter was permanently closed. The fact that Pi Kappa Phi had a death on its record in 2017 makes their failure to prevent Leonel’s hospitalization in 2025 all the more egregious and supports demands for substantial punitive damages.
• Jared Munoz, University of Houston / Pi Kappa Alpha (2017): $1 Million Lawsuit
  • At Leonel’s own university, the University of Houston, Jared Munoz was hospitalized with a lacerated spleen due to hazing at a Pi Kappa Alpha chapter. A $1 million lawsuit was filed, and a grand jury even indicted the national organization. This incident proves that UH had direct knowledge of severe hazing on its campus eight years before Leonel’s case, yet failed to implement sufficient preventive measures.

These precedents, often resulting in multi-million dollar payouts, significant legal reforms, and even criminal convictions, demonstrate a nationwide pattern. For families in Georgia, these cases offer a powerful blueprint for legal strategy: aggressive litigation holds institutions accountable, forces lasting change, and secures justice for victims. Our $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez is not an outlier; it is precisely in line with this history of high-stakes, high-impact hazing litigation.

Texas Law Protects You: Understanding Your Rights in Georgia

While our firm is headquartered in Texas, where the Bermudez case is actively being litigated, similar anti-hazing laws and civil liability theories exist in most states, including Georgia. Furthermore, our federal court authority and dual-state bar admissions (Texas and New York) allow us to pursue justice for hazing victims across state lines, ensuring that what we achieve in Texas can be applied to the unique circumstances of families in Georgia.

The legal framework for hazing in Texas, as outlined in the Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157, is robust and designed to protect students. Many of these principles are mirrored in Georgia’s own laws and general personal injury statutes.

Key Provisions of Texas Hazing Law (and their relevance to Georgia):

• Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151): Texas broadly defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for the purpose of affiliation with an organization. This includes physical brutality, sleep deprivation, forced consumption, and any activity causing an unreasonable risk of harm. The specific acts Leonel Bermudez endured—waterboarding, forced consuming, extreme calisthenics, and being struck with paddles—are clear violations of this definition. Georgia’s laws, and generally accepted legal standards, would also recognize these acts as hazing.
• Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152): Hazing is a crime in Texas, ranging from a Class B Misdemeanor for participating to a State Jail Felony for hazing that causes death. Hazing causing “serious bodily injury,” like the rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure Leonel suffered, is a Class A Misdemeanor, carrying up to a year in jail. This means that individuals who perpetrate hazing can face criminal prosecution, a reality that the University of Houston’s spokesperson acknowledged by mentioning “potential criminal charges” in Leonel’s case. Georgia has similar criminal statutes.
• Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): Organizations themselves can be penalized, including fines and losing the right to operate on campus, if they condone or encourage hazing. This holds local chapters and national organizations directly responsible for the actions of their members.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154): This is one of the most critical aspects of modern anti-hazing law. Texas law explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution for an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” This means that any argument by a fraternity or university that “the victim volunteered” or “knew what they were getting into” is legally invalid. This vital protection exists to prevent organizations from exploiting coercion, peer pressure, and the desire to belong. This principle is widely recognized in hazing litigation across the nation.

Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Charges

Even if criminal charges are not pursued or result in a conviction, every hazing incident can form the basis of a powerful civil lawsuit. Civil claims allow victims and their families to seek financial compensation for their injuries and suffering, which is often far more comprehensive than what criminal penalties might address. These civil theories are universally applicable, including in Georgia:

• Negligence: This is the most common civil claim. It asserts that the organizations and individuals involved had a duty to keep students safe, they breached that duty through their hazing activities or lack of oversight, and this breach directly caused the victim’s injuries and damages.
• Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by a university, fraternity, or even an individual, those property owners have a responsibility to maintain a safe environment.
• Negligent Supervision: This applies to national organizations and universities that fail to adequately supervise local chapters or student groups, leading to hazing.
• Assault and Battery: These intentional torts directly apply to physical acts of hazing like beatings, forced physical exertion, and simulated waterboarding. Those who inflict such harm can be sued individually.
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: For acts so outrageous and extreme they cause severe emotional and psychological trauma, victims can seek compensation under this theory. The psychological impact of hazing can be profound and long-lasting.

For families in Georgia, understanding these legal avenues is the first step toward reclaiming justice. No matter where the hazing occurred in Georgia – whether at a small college in Athens or a large university in Atlanta – the principles of legal accountability remain steadfast. We will bring our expertise in these civil claims to your case, ensuring that every responsible party faces the full force of the law.

Why Attorney911: Your National Hazing Litigation Experts in Georgia

When your child is harmed by hazing in Georgia, you need more than just a local personal injury lawyer. You need a legal team with national reach, deep experience fighting powerful institutions, and a proven track record of aggressively pursuing hazing cases. Attorney911 offers precisely that. While our primary offices are based in Texas, the nature of hazing litigation, which often involves national fraternities and federal claims, allows us to represent victims across the United States, including those in Georgia.

Here’s why families in Georgia should choose Attorney911 for their hazing case:

• Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation: We are not theoretical. We are currently embroiled in the $10 million Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit, fighting directly against a national fraternity and a major university. This means we are actively navigating the complexities of modern hazing litigation, from gathering evidence to countering aggressive defense strategies. For your Georgia case, you get the benefit of a firm already in the trenches.
• Former Insurance Defense Insiders: Our firm’s strength lies in its unique composition: both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña are former insurance defense attorneys. This invaluable “insider” knowledge means we understand exactly how insurance companies and large institutions (like national fraternities and universities) strategize to deny or minimize claims. Lupe Peña’s background with a national defense firm like Litchfield Cavo LLP gives us unparalleled insight into the defense playbook, enabling us to dismantle their arguments and maximize your recovery. We know how they think because we used to think like them.
• Federal Court Authority and Dual-State Bar Admissions: Hazing cases against national fraternities often involve complex federal jurisdiction. Our attorneys are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and Ralph Manginello is dual-state licensed in Texas and New York. This broad legal authority allows us to pursue national organizations wherever they may be headquartered or operate, providing a critical strategic advantage for your Georgia case.
• Track Record in High-Stakes Litigation: Ralph Manginello’s experience includes involvement in the multi-billion dollar BP Texas City Explosion litigation, demonstrating our firm’s capability to stand against and achieve results from massive corporate defendants. This aggressive approach is precisely what’s required when confronting powerful national fraternities and well-funded universities in Georgia.
• Data-Driven Litigation Strategy: We maintain an extensive database of Greek organizations, their corporate structures, and their reported hazing histories. We don’t guess who is liable; we know. This intelligence allows us to identify and pursue every responsible entity, from local chapter officers to national board members, their housing corporations, and their insurance providers. We track their EINs, their assets, and their patterns of negligence.
• Unrelenting Pursuit of Accountability: We target everyone responsible. In the Bermudez case, we sued the national fraternity, the university, the housing corporation, and 13 individual members, including the spouse of a former member who hosted hazing activities. This comprehensive approach ensures that no responsible party escapes accountability.
• Contingency Fee Representation: We understand that families facing the trauma of hazing may worry about the financial burden of legal action. That’s why we take hazing cases on contingency. You pay us $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless and until you get paid. This ensures that expert legal representation is accessible to every victim in Georgia, regardless of their financial situation.
• Compassionate and Bilingual Support: We believe that effective legal representation requires genuine empathy. We are a family-centered firm, and we treat your family’s pain as our own. Our staff is bilingual, and we offer services in Spanish, ensuring that language is never a barrier to justice for Georgia’s diverse communities.
• National Reach, Local Dedication: While we are based in Texas, we are committed to serving hazing victims across the United nation, including Georgia. We offer remote consultations via video, and our attorneys are prepared to travel to Georgia for depositions, meetings, and trials when necessary. Distance is not a barrier to justice; aggression is our strategy.
• Media and Public Pressure: We understand the power of public awareness in hazing cases. Our current lawsuit has garnered significant media attention from major Houston outlets, putting pressure on institutions and forcing them to confront their negligence publicly. We are prepared to leverage similar strategies for cases in Georgia.

Choosing Attorney911 means choosing a legal partner who lives and breathes hazing litigation, who understands the intricacies of the defense, and who is fully equipped to fight for the justice your child deserves, no matter where you are in Georgia.

What to Do Right Now: Actionable Steps for Georgia Hazing Victims

The aftermath of a hazing incident can be traumatic and confusing. You may feel overwhelmed, angry, and unsure of what steps to take. Time is critical. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and legal deadlines approach. Here is clear, actionable guidance for families in Georgia whose child has been impacted by hazing:

Step 1: Prioritize Safety and Medical Attention

• Remove Your Child from the Situation: Ensure your child is physically safe and separated from the hazing environment immediately.
• Seek Medical Care Immediately: Even if injuries seem minor or appear days later, get a thorough medical evaluation from a doctor or hospital. Hazing can cause hidden injuries like rhabdomyolysis or internal damage that aren’t immediately apparent. Brown urine, muscle stiffness, or unusual pain after physical activity are red flags. Medical records are paramount for your legal case.
• Seek Mental Health Support: Hazing inflicts profound psychological trauma. Connect your child with a therapist, counselor, or mental health professional experienced in trauma. Therapy records will document psychological damages for your case.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence—Everything!

• Document Injuries: Take clear, timestamped photos and videos of all visible injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, rashes), as well as any medical equipment, casts, or bandages. Continue to photograph the healing process over time. If your child was hospitalized, obtain photos of them in the hospital bed.
• Save All Communications: This is critical. DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING. Save every text message, GroupMe chat, Snapchat conversation, Instagram DM, email, or any other digital communication related to the hazing or the organization involved. These often contain explicit instructions, threats, details of events, and admissions of guilt.
• Identify Witnesses: Collect the names and contact information of other pledges, fraternity/sorority members, schoolmates, or bystanders who witnessed the hazing or heard about it. Their testimony can be invaluable.
• Gather Documents: Keep any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, recruitment materials, or codes of conduct provided by the organization or university.
• Track Financial Costs: Keep meticulous records of all medical bills, prescription costs, therapy expenses, lost wages (if your child missed work), and any academic fees or tuition costs incurred due to the hazing.
• Record Everything: Encourage your child to keep a detailed journal of what happened, including dates, times, locations, who was involved, and what specific acts occurred. This should be as detailed as possible.

Step 3: Avoid Critical Mistakes

• DO NOT Talk to the Organization or University (Alone): Fraternity leadership, national representatives, and university administrators are primarily concerned with protecting their institutions. Any statements your child makes could be twisted and used against them. Politely refer them to your attorney.
• DO NOT Sign Anything: Never sign documents, waivers, or confidentiality agreements presented by the fraternity, university, or their legal representatives without consulting your own attorney.
• DO NOT Post on Social Media: Anything posted by your child or their friends on social media (photos, videos, comments, even general updates about feeling “okay”) can be used by the defense to undermine their injuries or credibility. Advise your child to stay off social media regarding the incident until the case is resolved.
• DO NOT Destroy Evidence: Deleting texts, photos, or social media posts can be considered spoliation of evidence and severely harm your case.

Step 4: Contact Attorney911 Immediately

• Time is of the essence. Most states, including Georgia, have a statute of limitations (often two years for personal injury and wrongful death cases). If you miss this deadline, you forfeit your right to seek justice.
• Our team is available 24/7. The consultation is completely free and confidential. We will evaluate your child’s case, explain your legal options, and outline a clear path forward.
• Distance is not a barrier. While based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including those in Georgia. We offer remote video consultations and are committed to traveling to Georgia for your case as needed, ensuring you have access to our expert legal counsel.

For families in Georgia, your child’s safety, well-being, and right to justice are our priority. We understand the unique challenges of fighting powerful institutions, and we have the experience, the strategy, and the unwavering commitment to stand by your side.

Contact Us: Your Legal Emergency Hotline in Georgia

If your family in Georgia has been impacted by hazing, you are facing a legal emergency that demands immediate and aggressive action. We are Attorney911, and we are ready to answer that call. Our commitment to fighting for hazing victims is not just theoretical; it’s being demonstrated right now in courtrooms. The same relentless pursuit of justice we’re applying in our $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez is available to your family in Georgia.

Georgia Families: Call Our Legal Emergency Hotline Now. The Consultation is FREE.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

You pay nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis. We don’t get paid unless and until YOU get paid. This removes the financial burden and ensures that your family, no matter your economic situation, can access the expert legal representation you deserve.

Why Every Moment Counts for Georgia Families:

• Statute of Limitations: In most states, including Georgia, there’s a strict two-year deadline (statute of limitations) to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Missing this deadline means losing your right to seek compensation forever.
• Evidence Preservation: Eyewitness memories fade, digital evidence can be deleted, and physical evidence can disappear quickly. The sooner we are involved, the better we can preserve critical information for your case.
• Institutional Tactics: Universities and fraternities will act swiftly to protect their reputations and minimize liability. They have legal teams ready to deflect blame. You need your own experienced advocates to counter their strategies from day one.

Our Commitment to Georgia Victims:

We know that hazing happens at colleges and universities across Georgia, affecting students in Athens, Atlanta, Savannah, Macon, Augusta, and every community in between. The same national fraternities with chapters at institutions like the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Emory University, Georgia State, Kennesaw State, and other schools throughout Georgia operate under the same national guidelines and often foster the same dangerous cultures.

Attorney911 brings:

• National Expertise: Our federal court admissions and dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) allow us to pursue national organizations anywhere, including those whose chapters operate in Georgia.
• Remote Accessibility: We offer confidential video consultations, making it easy for Georgia families to meet with our attorneys without geographical constraints.
• Willingness to Travel: Our attorneys are prepared to travel to Georgia for critical meetings, depositions, and trials, ensuring your case receives the personalized attention it deserves.

Whether the hazing occurred in a fraternity house near the University of Georgia campus, on a sports field at Georgia Tech, within a sorority at Emory, or any student organization in Georgia, we are here to help. Hazing is a pervasive issue, affecting fraternities, sororities, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC programs, and various clubs and organizations throughout Georgia. If your child was impacted in any of these settings, contact us.

We are calling on other victims of hazing at the University of Houston, or any institution in Georgia, to come forward. Leonel Bermudez was not the only one hazed by Pi Kappa Phi. Another pledge collapsed and lost consciousness. Others suffered psychological abuse. If you or your child were also subjected to these events, we can represent you. As Lupe Peña emphasized, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Don’t suffer in silence. Don’t let these institutions silence you. Your courage can prevent another family in Georgia from experiencing this nightmare.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now. Let us fight for the justice and accountability your child deserves.