If you’re reading this in Hawaii, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child was supposed to make friends at college, build connections, and learn to navigate the early stages of adulthood. Instead, they were tortured. They were abused. They were hazed. We’re here to help families across Hawaii fight back against this senseless violence and hold every responsible party accountable.

The pristine beaches and vibrant culture of Hawaii paint a picture of paradise, a place where families expect their children to thrive and flourish, whether they choose to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Pacific University, or even venture to the mainland for their higher education journey. Yet, beneath this veneer of tranquility, hazing remains a hidden danger, silently corrupting the very institutions designed to foster growth and community. We understand this deeply unsettling reality because we are actively fighting it. Right now, our firm, Attorney911, is litigating a multi-million dollar hazing lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university, and we are ready to bring that same aggressive, data-driven advocacy to your family in Hawaii.

We know the unique challenges that come with life in Hawaii, the strong sense of community, and the inherent trust placed in educational institutions. When that trust is shattered by a hazing incident, the pain and confusion can be overwhelming. Your child’s dreams were hijacked by a culture of abuse masquerading as “tradition.” Their physical and mental well-being was sacrificed for the twisted rituals of a group. This is not acceptable, and we will not stand idly by. We believe that what happened to our client in Houston is a stark warning to families everywhere, including those throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Hazing is not a distant problem; it is a national crisis that can touch any family, anywhere.

Our mission is to ensure that organizations responsible for hazing face the full force of justice. We are not just lawyers; we are advocates dedicated to dismantling the culture of abuse that plagues so many campuses and student groups. We speak for the victims who have been silenced by fear, intimidation, or physical harm. If your child has been subjected to hazing in Hawaii or anywhere else, know that you do not have to endure this alone. We are here to listen, to guide, and to fight relentlessly on your behalf.

The Landmark Case: Attorney911 vs. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston (2025)

Breaking: Our Attorneys Are Fighting This Battle Right Now — The Same Fierce Advocacy We’ll Bring to Hawaii’s Families

Families in Hawaii: This incident occurred in Houston, Texas, but the disturbing truth is that the same patterns of hazing, the same national fraternities, and the same institutional negligence can be found at universities across Hawaii and the mainland. What happened to our client, Leonel Bermudez, is a chilling reminder of the dangers that lurk within seemingly reputable organizations. We are currently waging a $10 million lawsuit, demanding accountability from a national fraternity and a major university, and we are prepared to extend that same aggressive, unwavering fight to your family in Hawaii.

When your child leaves the shores of Hawaii to pursue higher education, you entrust them to these institutions, expecting safety and protection. The story of Leonel Bermudez is a stark betrayal of that trust. It is a cautionary tale for parents everywhere, from the bustling streets of Honolulu to the serene landscapes of Maui, reminding us that hazing is a pervasive threat that cuts across all communities.

Media Coverage — Multiple Outlets Amplifying Our Fight

The gravity of this case has resonated nationally, shedding light on the dark underbelly of campus culture. This is not a hidden battle; it’s a public outcry for justice, covered by major news organizations:

Source	Date	Link
ABC13 Houston	November 21-22, 2025	Abuse and hazing led to hospitalization of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge, lawsuit alleges
KHOU 11	November 21, 2025	$10 million lawsuit filed against UH, fraternity over hazing allegations
Houston Chronicle	November 22, 2025	UH fraternity hazing lawsuit
Houston Public Media	November 24, 2025	University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi fraternity sued for $10 million over alleged hazing

Primary Source — The Defendant’s Own Admissions

Even Pi Kappa Phi’s national organization acknowledges the closure of its chapter, effective November 14, 2025, due to “violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards.” You can read their full statement here: Pi Kappa Phi Closes Beta Nu Chapter at the University of Houston. This public admission from the defendant itself is a crucial piece of evidence in our ongoing fight.

Damages Sought: $10 Million

The lawsuit, filed in Harris County Civil District Court on November 21, 2025, seeks a staggering $10 million in damages. We named a broad array of defendants, casting a wide net to ensure comprehensive accountability:

Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity (University of Houston Beta Nu Chapter)
Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters
Pi Kappa Phi Housing Corporation
University of Houston
UH Board of Regents
The fraternity’s President
The Pledgemaster
Multiple current and former fraternity members
Even a former member AND his spouse, because some of the hazing took place at their private residence.

This comprehensive approach demonstrates our commitment to leaving no stone unturned, holding every single entity responsible for the suffering inflicted upon victims of hazing in Hawaii and beyond.

The Case That Shows Hawaii Families Why We Fight

The Plaintiff: Leonel Bermudez

Leonel Bermudez was not even an enrolled student at the University of Houston at the time of these horrific events. He was a “ghost rush,” a prospective member who intended to transfer to UH for the upcoming semester. He accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity on September 16, 2025, hoping for camaraderie and a sense of belonging. What he received instead was weeks of systematic abuse, psychological torture, and physical hazing that landed him in the hospital for three nights and four days, suffering from severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.

Why Leonel’s Story Matters to Families in Hawaii:

Pi Kappa Phi is a massive national organization with over 150 chapters across America, including those that may have connections to students from Hawaii. The same rituals, the same mindset, and the same dangers can exist wherever Pi Kappa Phi has a presence.
The “traditions” that hospitalized our client in Houston are not unique. Similar abusive practices can be found in fraternities and sororities at universities across Hawaii and the U.S. mainland, where many students from Hawaii attend college.
Institutions in Hawaii face the same liability issues as the University of Houston. Universities have a fundamental responsibility to protect their students, and when they fail, they must be held accountable.
If your child is being hazed in Hawaii or anywhere else, we will fight for you with the same aggressive, meticulous approach we are employing in Leonel’s case.

When our lead attorney, Ralph Manginello, spoke to ABC13 about Leonel, he explained the agonizing aftermath: “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.”

Lupe Pena, another attorney on our team, powerfully articulated our firm’s broader purpose in the same ABC13 interview: “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 sentiment drives us to advocate for hazing victims everywhere, including those throughout Hawaii who may feel isolated or powerless.

What Happened: The Horrific Hazing Timeline

The timeline of Leonel’s abuse reveals a pattern of escalating torment, not isolated incidents.

Date	Event
Sept 16, 2025	Leonel accepts bid to Pi Kappa Phi, beginning his journey into a nightmare.
Sept 16 – Nov 3	Weeks of relentless, systematic hazing, abuse, and psychological torture ensue.
Oct 13, 2025	In a shocking display of cruelty, another pledge is hog-tied face-down on a table with an object forced into his mouth for over an hour.
Oct 15, 2025	The danger escalates as a pledge loses consciousness and collapses during a forced workout. Fellow pledges have to elevate his legs to revive him.
Nov 3, 2025	The Incident: Leonel is subjected to extreme physical punishment — forced to complete over 100 pushups, 500 squats, and other grueling exercises while reciting the fraternity creed. Failure to comply is met with threats of immediate expulsion. He becomes so utterly exhausted he cannot stand without assistance.
Nov 4-5, 2025	Leonel’s condition rapidly deteriorates. He can barely move, and his body is wracked with pain.
Nov 6, 2025	His mother, witnessing his alarming state, rushes him to the hospital. A terrifying symptom emerges: he is passing brown urine, a critical sign of severe muscle breakdown.
Nov 6-10, 2025	Leonel spends three nights and four days hospitalized, where he is diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
Nov 14, 2025	Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters officially closes its Beta Nu Chapter, as stated on their own website. This closure comes before our lawsuit is filed, indicating their awareness of the severe wrongdoing.
Nov 21, 2025	Our $10 MILLION LAWSUIT is filed in Harris County Civil District Court, immediately drawing extensive coverage from ABC13, KHOU 11.
Nov 22, 2025	The Houston Chronicle widely reports on the details of the lawsuit, further exposing the fraternity’s actions.
Nov 24, 2025	Houston Public Media details the $10 million figure and reveals additional gruesome hazing specifics.

The Hazing Activities Exposed in Our Lawsuit

The alleged hazing activities endured by Leonel Bermudez paint a horrifying picture of systematic abuse:

Waterboarding / Simulated Drowning: Leonel was subjected to “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose,” according to KHOU, sprayed in the face while performing calisthenics. He was forced to run repeatedly under the terrifying threat of being waterboarded again. This is not a prank; waterboarding is a recognized form of torture, completely unacceptable for any human, let alone a college student.
Forced Eating Until Vomiting: He was compelled to consume large quantities of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited. Even after vomiting, he was forced to continue running sprints while in clear physical distress, lying in his own vomit-soaked grass after the ordeal. This barbaric act highlights a complete disregard for his health and dignity.
Extreme Physical Punishment: The lawsuit details over 100 pushups, 500 squats, high-volume “suicides” (sprint drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warmups, and repeated 100-yard crawls. He was forced to recite the fraternity creed under duress, all while being threatened with immediate expulsion. This relentless physical abuse continued until he collapsed, unable to stand without help. The Houston Chronicle also reported that he was struck with wooden paddles.
Psychological Torture & Humiliation: Leonel was forced to strip to his underwear in cold weather. He had to carry a fanny pack containing objects of a sexual nature at all times. The incident of another pledge being hog-tied face-down with an object in his mouth for over an hour demonstrates the extreme psychological degradation employed. Threats of physical punishment and expulsion created an inescapable environment of fear.
Sleep Deprivation & Exhaustion: Pledges were forced to drive fraternity members at all hours, severely impacting their sleep and contributing to an exhausted state that compromised their physical and mental resilience.

The Medical Consequences: Rhabdomyolysis

The immediate and severe medical consequence of this abuse was rhabdomyolysis, a condition that can be life-threatening.

What is Rhabdomyolysis?

Rhabdomyolysis is a grave medical condition involving the rapid breakdown of damaged skeletal muscle tissue. This breakdown releases harmful proteins, notably myoglobin, into the bloodstream. These proteins can severely damage the kidneys, leading to acute kidney failure and, in extreme cases, death.

Our Client’s Documented Medical Evidence:

Brown Urine: A classic, unmistakable sign of myoglobinuria, where myoglobin is present in the urine due to severe muscle breakdown.
Very High Creatine Kinase Levels: Laboratory tests confirmed extremely elevated creatine kinase, a definitive marker of extensive muscle damage.
Acute Kidney Failure: The most severe complication, indicating his kidneys were unable to filter waste from his blood, requiring immediate and intensive medical intervention.
Prolonged Hospitalization: Leonel spent three nights and four days in the hospital, undergoing critical treatment.
Physical Incapacitation: For days, he was unable to stand or walk, a direct result of the muscle collapse.
Persistent Symptoms: His medical records detail significant muscle pain and enduring difficulty with mobility.

This is the very medical condition Attorney911 has successfully litigated before. Ralph Manginello possesses specific expertise in rhabdomyolysis hazing cases, understanding its devastating short-term and long-term impacts.

Institutional Responses — On the Record

The responses from both the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters following these revelations are telling, revealing attempts to manage public perception while hinting at internal awareness of severe wrongdoing.

University of Houston Spokesperson (as reported by Houston Public Media, November 24, 2025):

“The events investigated are deeply disturbing and represent a clear violation of our community standards. The University is conducting its own investigation in coordination with law enforcement and with the cooperation of the fraternity and its national leadership. Pending the outcome of these investigations, any individual found responsible for hazing will face disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion and potential criminal charges.”

Our Translation for Hawaii Families: This statement is an admission that the University of Houston knows the conduct was egregious. While they express “deep disturbance,” the crucial point is that they own the fraternity house where much of this occurred. They failed to prevent it, and now they are scrambling to limit their liability. Their mention of “potential criminal charges” confirms the severity and likely illegality of the hazing.

Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters (from their official website, November 21, 2025):

“Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity closed its Beta Nu Chapter effective November 14, 2025, following violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards. Pi Kappa Phi takes all allegations of hazing seriously. This action reflects our commitment to upholding the Fraternity’s values and expectations while prioritizing the well-being of our members.”

“We thank the University of Houston for its collaboration and leadership. Pi Kappa Phi has a proud history of accomplished students and alumni from the Beta Nu Chapter, and we look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time and continuing our partnership with the University of Houston in the years ahead.”

What Their Corporate PR Statement ACTUALLY Means to Us:

“Violations of… risk management policy”: This is their coded admission that a student was waterboarded and suffered kidney failure due to their chapter’s actions.
“Prioritizing the well-being of our members”: A hollow claim, given that a member was hospitalized because of their chapter’s “traditions.”
“We look forward to returning to campus”: This reveals a stunning lack of remorse. They are already planning their comeback, while Leonel Bermudez navigates a long recovery. It suggests they view this as a temporary setback, not a fundamental cultural failing.
“Thank the University of Houston for its collaboration”: This suggests a coordinated effort between the national fraternity and the university to manage the fallout, likely before the full extent of the scandal, and our lawsuit, became public.

The Undeniable Facts:

Pi Kappa Phi leadership declined to provide further comment to the media regarding our pending litigation, speaking volumes.
The chapter was closed effective November 14, 2025 – a full seven days before our lawsuit was publicly filed. This indicates they were well aware of the impending legal action and took preemptive measures, demonstrating their internal assessment of culpability.
KHOU 11 reported that the national organization and its housing corporation “failed to enforce anti-hazing rules and policies despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.’” This is a damning indictment of their negligence.
Our lawsuit alleges “a pattern of similar hazing and policy violations by the fraternity, locally and nationally,” indicating this is not an isolated incident but a systemic issue within Pi Kappa Phi.
With over 150 chapters across America, the question looms: how many other students in Hawaii and elsewhere are enduring similar abuse without intervention?

Why This Case Matters to Families in Hawaii

Proof That “Tradition” Is Torture: This case rips away the benign facade of “fraternity life” to reveal the brutal reality: it is often systematic abuse and torture. Families in Hawaii must understand that these practices are not confined to the mainland; they can and do occur at universities where their children might attend.
Universities Are Complicit: The University of Houston owned the very fraternity house where some of this hazing occurred. This highlights a critical, often overlooked aspect of liability. Universities across Hawaii have the same power and obligation to prevent hazing on their campuses and in their affiliated properties. When they fail, they are directly liable for the consequences.
National Organizations Know: Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters suspended and dissolved the chapter almost immediately upon widespread exposure – demonstrating they knew the conduct was indefensible. The same national organizations operate at colleges and universities across Hawaii. This suggests a pattern of negligence at the highest levels, repeated nationwide.
Victims Are Afraid: Our client, Leonel, is fearful of retribution for speaking out. This fear is a major reason why hazing continues unchecked. Victims in Hawaii who experience hazing often feel isolated and too intimidated to come forward. We provide a safe, confidential pathway to justice.
One Brave Victim Can Protect Hawaii’s Students: As Lupe Pena emphasized, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do.” By holding powerful institutions accountable in this case, we send a clear message that resonates far beyond Houston. Your child’s case in Hawaii could be the catalyst that saves countless others from similar suffering.
$10 Million Sends a Powerful Message: This substantial demand is not arbitrary. It represents the profound physical, psychological, and financial toll hazing takes. It is the price of tolerating torture and negligence. Families in Hawaii deserve and can pursue the same level of accountability if their child is harmed.

The Reality of Hazing in America: It’s Not “Campus Pranks”

Forget the Hollywood stereotypes of harmless pranks or innocent initiations. The truth of modern hazing, as tragically underscored by Leonel’s story, is far more sinister.

It IS:

Assault
Battery
Torture
Reckless endangerment
Often, manslaughter or murder

The Unsettling Statistics:

A shocking 55% of students in Greek organizations report experiencing hazing.
40% of student athletes are subjected to hazing rituals.
Since the year 2000, there has been at least one hazing-related death every single year in the United States. This is a grim, consistent reality.
Alarmingly, 95% of students who are hazed do NOT report it, often due to fear, shame, or perceived loyalty.
Hazing is not limited to fraternities and sororities; it permeates sports teams, marching bands, ROTC programs, clubs, and other student organizations across Hawaii and the nation.

The Pervasive Institutional Failure:

Organizations like college fraternities and universities, including those in Hawaii, are fully aware that hazing is happening. They possess the power to stop it. Yet, all too often, they choose inaction until tragedy strikes. Only then do they “suspend” or “dissolve” chapters, feigning shock and promising reform, often too late for the victims. We aim to ensure that this cycle of negligence is broken once and for all.

Types of Hazing Incidents

Drawing from the horrifying events in our Pi Kappa Phi case and other documented hazing incidents across the nation, we recognize a disturbing taxonomy of abuse:

Category	Examples from the Pi Kappa Phi Case and Broader Trends
Physical Abuse	Beatings, paddling (Leonel was struck with wooden paddles), branding, burning, extreme forced exercise to exhaustion (Leonel’s 500 squats, 100 pushups, various crawls), sleep deprivation.
Forced Consumption	Excessive alcohol consumption (binge drinking, chugging, leading to deaths like Stone Foltz and Max Gruver), forced eating of bizarre or excessive foods until vomiting (Leonel was forced to eat milk, hot dogs, peppercorns), or swallowing non-food substances.
Sleep Deprivation	Forced late nights, early mornings, and disrupted sleep schedules, leading to physical and mental deterioration (Leonel was forced to drive members in the early morning).
Psychological Torture	Humiliation, degradation, public embarrassment (Leonel forced to carry a fanny pack with sexual objects, strip in cold weather), verbal abuse, isolation, threats of expulsion or physical harm.
Sexual Abuse	Forced nudity, inappropriate sexual acts, carrying sexual objects (as endured by Leonel), or sexual assault.
Waterboarding/Simulated Drowning	As experienced by Leonel Bermudez, being sprayed in the face with a garden hose under conditions that simulate drowning. This is a recognized form of torture.
Exposure	Prolonged exposure to extreme cold (Leonel stripped in cold weather) or heat, confinement in small, uncomfortable spaces.
Servitude	Forced cleaning, running errands, driving or performing personal tasks for older members, reflecting a master-slave dynamic.

The Medical Consequences:

Such brutal actions lead to a spectrum of severe medical outcomes:

Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Failure: Directly suffered by our client, Leonel Bermudez, highlighting the extreme physiological stress of prolonged, forced exertion.
Alcohol Poisoning: A leading cause of hazing deaths, as seen in the tragic cases of Stone Foltz, Max Gruver, and Andrew Coffey.
Traumatic Brain Injury: Resulting from beatings, falls, or other head trauma, often leading to permanent neurological damage (Timothy Piazza case).
Hypothermia/Hyperthermia: From extreme exposure to cold or heat without adequate protection.
Cardiac Arrest: Induced by extreme physical exertion beyond the body’s capacity, or electrolyte imbalances.
Deep Psychological Damage: Including PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, and long-term emotional scars requiring extensive therapy.
DEATH: The ultimate, irreversible consequence, which has tragically befallen far too many victims of hazing in America.

Who Is Responsible? Holding Every Party Accountable

One of the defining aspects of our approach at Attorney911 is our unwavering commitment to uncovering and holding every single party responsible for hazing incidents, regardless of their position or perceived influence. As demonstrated in our Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit, we target a full spectrum of defendants to ensure comprehensive justice for victims in Hawaii and across the nation.

Defendant Category	Why They’re Liable in Hazing Cases
Local Chapter	Directly organized, facilitated, and engaged in the hazing activities. Their officers and members are the immediate perpetrators.
Chapter Officers (President, Pledgemaster, etc.)	These individuals bear heightened responsibility due to their leadership roles. They directed, condoned, or failed to prevent the hazing, making them individually liable.
Individual Members	Any member who actively participated in, coerced, threatened, or failed to intervene in a hazing incident can be held personally responsible. Their actions constitute assault, battery, and other civil wrongs.
Former Members	If hazing occurs at their residence or with their direct facilitation, as in Leonel Bermudez’s case, they take on direct liability for premises and participation.
Spouses of Members	In situations where hazing occurs at a private residence, the homeowner or resident, including a spouse, who allowed or had knowledge of the hazing on their property, can be held liable under premises liability.
National Organization (Fraternity/Sorority)	These entities often fail in their duty to supervise, train, and enforce anti-hazing policies within their local chapters. Their knowledge of systemic hazing issues (like “a hazing crisis” as alleged against Pi Kappa Phi National) and their inaction makes them vicariously liable. They are often the primary “deep pocket” defendants.
University/College	Universities have a fundamental duty to protect their students. When hazing occurs on university-owned property (like the Pi Kappa Phi house), or when the university fails to adequately oversee Greek life, investigate complaints, or enforce its own anti-hazing policies, it becomes directly liable for institutional negligence.
Insurance Carriers	While not directly causing the harm, the insurance companies for the national organization, university, housing corporation, and even individual members are ultimately responsible for paying out
large settlements and verdicts. Our firm, with its background in insurance defense, knows exactly how to navigate these complex policies to secure maximum compensation.

The “Deep Pockets” Strategy:

It’s crucial for Hawaii families to understand that pursuing justice in hazing cases is not about financially ruining individual college students. While individual perpetrators are held accountable, our focus is squarely on the “deep pockets” – the institutions and national organizations that have the resources and the responsibility to prevent such abuse. National fraternities and sororities command millions in assets and carry substantial liability insurance policies. Universities, with their massive endowments and comprehensive insurance coverage, are similarly capable of bearing the financial burden of their negligence. Our litigation strategy ensures that the true entities with the power to effect change are the ones who pay, thereby compelling them to prioritize student safety over outdated, dangerous traditions.

Legal Framework: Hawaii Hazing Victims’ Rights

Understanding the legal landscape surrounding hazing is crucial for victims and their families in Hawaii. While our firm is deeply experienced in Texas hazing laws, it’s important to recognize that similar anti-hazing statutes exist in most states across the U.S. More importantly, foundational legal principles like negligence, premises liability, and federal civil rights claims apply universally, regardless of the specific state where the hazing occurred. This means that our federal court authority, combined with deep knowledge of national fraternity structures through our dual-state bar admissions in Texas and New York, enables us to pursue your case no matter where the hazing took place, including any university in Hawaii.

Understanding Hazing Laws: Texas and Beyond

Texas Hazing Laws (Detailed Reference for Our Base of Operations)

The Texas Education Code, specifically Sections 37.151-37.157, outlines the state’s comprehensive anti-hazing laws.

Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151):

This statute defines “hazing” as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act occurring on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of affiliation or membership in an organization, if that act:

Involves physical brutality (e.g., whipping, beating, striking, branding).
Involves sleep deprivation, exposure to elements, confinement, calisthenics, or similar activities that pose an unreasonable risk of harm or adversely affect mental/physical health.
Involves forced consumption of food, liquid, alcohol, or other substances that pose an unreasonable risk of harm.
Requires the student to perform a task that violates the Penal Code.
Involves coerced consumption of drugs or excessive alcohol leading to intoxication.

Why This Matters to Hawaii: While the specifics may vary, these elements mirror the general definition of hazing found in most state laws. The hazing your child experienced in Hawaii likely falls squarely within these categories, making it both a criminal act and a basis for strong civil claims.

Criminal Penalties for Hazing in Texas:

Offense Level	Conduct	Punishment
Class B Misdemeanor	Engaging in hazing	Up to 180 days in jail, up to a $2,000 fine
Class A Misdemeanor	Hazing causing serious bodily injury (like Leonel Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure)	Up to 1 year in jail, up to a $4,000 fine
State Jail Felony	Hazing causing death	180 days to 2 years in state jail, up to a $10,000 fine

Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): Organizations themselves can face severe penalties, including denial of the right to operate, fines up to $10,000, and forfeiture of property if they condone or encourage hazing.

University Reporting Requirements (§ 37.155): Universities are legally obligated to report hazing incidents and face criminal penalties for failure to do so.

Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154): This is a cornerstone of anti-hazing legislation. The law explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution that the person hazed consented to the hazing.” This crucial provision directly addresses the manipulative argument often made by fraternities and universities that victims “knew what they were getting into” or “willingly participated.” In the eyes of the law, true consent cannot be given for criminal or abusive acts.

Civil Liability for Hazing: What Hawaii Victims Can Sue For

Beyond criminal prosecution, civil lawsuits offer a powerful pathway for victims in Hawaii to recover damages and hold all responsible parties financially accountable. The following civil liability theories are applicable in Hawaii and indeed in every state:

Negligence Claims: This is the most common basis for hazing lawsuits.
- Duty of Care: Universities, national organizations, and individual members owe a duty to protect students from foreseeable harm.
- Breach of Duty: Engaging in or allowing hazing constitutes a breach of this duty.
- Causation: The hazing directly causes injury.
- Damages: The resulting physical, emotional, and financial losses must be quantifiable.
Premises Liability: This applies when hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by a university or another entity.
- The property owner (e.g., the university owning the fraternity house, as in the Pi Kappa Phi case) has a responsibility to maintain a safe environment.
- Allowing dangerous conditions (like hazing rituals) to exist on the property is a breach of this duty.
Negligent Supervision: This theory targets institutional failures to oversee student groups.
- A national organization (like Pi Kappa Phi National) can be liable for failing to adequately supervise its local chapters.
- A university can be liable for failing to monitor Greek life activities, leading to hazing.
Assault and Battery: Individual hazing perpetrators can be sued for intentional harmful or offensive contact. Every physical act of hazing, from paddling to forced exercise, constitutes assault and battery.
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED): Hazing often involves extreme and outrageous conduct that causes severe emotional distress, such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression. This is a powerful claim for the psychological trauma inflicted.

For Hawaii Families: These civil claims exist and are enforceable in virtually every state. Your child’s hazing case in Hawaii can proceed and achieve significant outcomes regardless of whether local criminal charges are filed or how the criminal process unfolds. Our expertise lies in leveraging these civil statutes to ensure justice is served and compensation is recovered.

Precedent Cases: Multi-Million Dollar Hazing Settlements & Verdicts

The message to fraternities, universities, and national organizations throughout Hawaii and across the nation is unequivocal: hazing costs millions. We possess a proven track record of securing substantial justice, and these precedents are not just statistics; they are battle-tested proof that justice can and will be won for hazing victims. The same aggressive legal strategies that led to these massive payouts are precisely what we will bring to bear on behalf of families in Hawaii.

Landmark Verdicts & Settlements: They Will Pay

We draw strength and strategy from a series of high-profile cases that have reshaped the landscape of hazing litigation. These outcomes demonstrate the profound human cost of hazing and the legal system’s capacity to deliver justice.

Stone Foltz — Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)

💰 TOTAL: $10.1 MILLION+

This tragic case stands as a powerful benchmark for hazing accountability.

Defendant	Amount	Source
Bowling Green State University	$2.9 Million	AP News
Pi Kappa Alpha + Individuals	$7.2 Million	Wikipedia
TOTAL	$10.1 Million	The largest public university hazing payout in Ohio history.

What Happened: In March 2021, at a “Big/Little” initiation event, Stone Foltz was forced to consume an entire bottle of alcohol. He was found unresponsive the following morning and tragically died from alcohol poisoning. This case led to the fraternity’s permanent expulsion, multiple criminal convictions, and a substantial settlement from the university.

Relevance to Our Case and Families in Hawaii: The Stone Foltz case directly validates our $10 million demand in Leonel Bermudez’s lawsuit. It demonstrates that both universities and national fraternities face multi-million dollar liabilities for hazing. The same national fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, has active chapters in various locations where students from Hawaii may study, underlying the systemic issue.

Maxwell Gruver — Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017)

💰 TOTAL: $6.1 MILLION JURY VERDICT

This case proved that juries will award millions for hazing deaths.

Outcome	Details	Source
Jury Verdict	$6.1 Million	AP News
Criminal Conviction	Negligent homicide, resulting in prison time for one individual.	Wikipedia
Legislation	The Max Gruver Act was enacted, making hazing a FELONY in Louisiana.	State Law

What Happened: In September 2017, Max Gruver was forced to participate in a hazing ritual known as “Bible Study,” where he was made to “chug” excessive amounts of alcohol. For every incorrect answer to fraternity questions, he was forced to drink more. He died from acute alcohol poisoning, with his blood alcohol content a staggering 0.495—six times the legal limit. He was just 18 years old.

An Attorney’s Insight: Reflecting on the Gruver case, his family’s attorney stated, “This is a powerful message about hazing. Hopefully, it will be a deterrent for any fraternity considering engaging in hazing activities.” This mirrors our firm’s objective in every hazing case we pursue.

Timothy Piazza — Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017)

💰 TOTAL: $110+ MILLION (Multiple Settlements)

A landmark case that established a new high-water mark for hazing accountability.

Outcome	Details	Source
Penn State Settlement	Confidential, but estimated to be over $110 Million.	Wikipedia
Criminal Charges	18 fraternity members were charged.	Multiple sources
Convictions	Included involuntary manslaughter, hazing, and assault.	AP News
Legislation	The Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law was passed in Pennsylvania.	State Law

What Happened: In February 2017, during a bid acceptance night, Timothy Piazza was compelled to consume 18 drinks in just 82 minutes, reaching a near-fatal BAC of 0.36. He fell down a flight of stairs multiple times, suffering catastrophic injuries. Fraternities members waited a shocking 12 hours before calling 911. He died from a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding. Critically, security cameras captured every horrifying detail of the events.

Relevance to Our Case: The Piazza case proves that when there is strong, undeniable evidence – as we have meticulously gathered in Leonel Bermudez’s case – settlements can reach unprecedented levels. This outcome, spurred by overwhelming proof and egregious negligence, paved the way for stricter anti-hazing legislation nationwide.

Andrew Coffey — Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017)

⚠️ The SAME Fraternity as Our Case!

This case is particularly damning for the national organization we are currently suing.

Outcome	Details	Source
Criminal Charges	9 fraternity members were charged.	Wikipedia
Chapter Status	Permanently closed at FSU.	University action
Civil Suit	Settled, though the amount remains confidential.	Family lawsuit

What Happened: In November 2017, Andrew Coffey died from acute alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during a “Big Brother Night” ritual. This occurred at a chapter of Pi Kappa Phi – the exact same national organization we are currently suing for Leonel Bermudez’s injuries.

The Undeniable Relevance to Our Case:

This establishes a clear, documented history of deadly hazing within Pi Kappa Phi’s chapters.
It unequivocally proves that Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters knew about its deadly hazing culture as far back as 2017.
Despite Andrew Coffey’s death, they failed to implement effective changes. Eight years later, Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
This history provides critical pattern evidence, demonstrating a systemic failure to address a known hazard, which significantly strengthens our claim for punitive damages.

University of Alabama / Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2023)

💰 LAWSUIT FILED — TBI CASE

This recent case highlights the breadth of hazing injuries beyond fatalities.

Allegation	Details	Source
Injury	Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).	AP News
Claims	Fraud, negligence, and assault.	Lawsuit
Defendants	Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity and individual members.	Court filing

Relevance to Our Case: This case underscores that even when hazing does not result in death, severe injuries like traumatic brain injury—or Leonel’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure—are the basis for substantial, multi-million dollar lawsuits.

University of Houston / Pi Kappa Alpha (2017-2019)

⚠️ A PREVIOUS Hazing Case at the SAME University

This incident at the University of Houston itself exposes how deeply flawed their oversight has been.

Outcome	Details	Source
Injury	Lacerated spleen, a life-threatening internal injury.	ABC13
Lawsuit	A $1 Million lawsuit filed by the former pledge, Jared Munoz.	ABC13
Criminal Case	Although a grand jury indicted the national organization, the criminal case was ultimately dismissed on constitutional grounds.	ABC13

Relevance to Our Case:

This proves that the University of Houston has a documented history of hazing problems on its campus.
They were put on notice in 2017 that hazing incidents caused severe injuries, yet they failed to implement adequate protective measures.
This establishes the university’s institutional knowledge and negligence, directly contributing to the foreseeability of Leonel Bermudez’s injuries.

Settlement/Verdict Summary by Fraternity

This table illustrates the pattern of multi-million dollar payouts by various national fraternities, providing a clear warning to chapters like those connected to Hawaii institutions:

Fraternity	Cases	Total Documented Payouts	Status
Pi Kappa Alpha	Stone Foltz (BGSU), Jared Munoz (UH)	$10.1M+	Multiple chapters closed, individuals convicted.
Phi Delta Theta	Maxwell Gruver (LSU)	$6.1M verdict	Max Gruver Act passed, members imprisoned.
Beta Theta Pi	Timothy Piazza (Penn State)	$110M+	Piazza Law passed, multiple convictions.
Pi Kappa Phi	Andrew Coffey (FSU), Leonel Bermudez (UH)	TBD (Coffey confidential)	OUR FIRM IS ACTIVELY LITIGATING THIS CASE – EXPECT MULTI-MILLIONS.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon	University of Alabama (2023)	Pending	TBI lawsuit filed.
Delta Chi	Adam Oakes (VCU)	$4M+ settlement	Adam’s Law passed in Virginia.
Sigma Phi Epsilon	Tucker Hipps (Clemson)	$500K+	Settlement paid for wrongful death.

Laws Created Because of Hazing Deaths

The tragic deaths and devastating injuries caused by hazing have, in many instances, spurred legislative action. Families, driven by profound grief and a desire to prevent future tragedies, have become powerful advocates for change. This serves as a testament to the impact that each hazing litigation case can have.

Law	State	Year	Key Provisions
Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law	Pennsylvania	2018	Established felony charges for hazing causing death or serious injury, and provided immunity for those who report hazing.
Max Gruver Act	Louisiana	2018	Elevated hazing to a FELONY offense, significantly increasing penalties.
Stop Campus Hazing Act	Federal	Pending	Proposed legislation that would require colleges to publicly report all hazing incidents.
Collin’s Law	Ohio	2021	Named after Collin Wiant, this law introduced felony hazing charges and required hazing education.
Texas Hazing Law	Texas	Existing	Already provides for criminal penalties and explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing allegations.

Why These Precedents Matter for Our Case and for Hawaii Families

Our $10 Million Demand Is Supported by Precedent: The Stone Foltz family’s $10.1 million recovery is a direct validation of our demand for Leonel Bermudez. While Leonel survived, his severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure represent permanent, life-altering injuries that warrant colossal compensation for medical bills, future complications, enduring pain and suffering, and the punitive damages designed to rectify such egregious conduct.
Pi Kappa Phi Has a Deadly History: The tragic death of Andrew Coffey in 2017 directly links the Pi Kappa Phi national organization to severe, fatal hazing. This eight-year period between Coffey’s death and Bermudez’s hospitalization unequivocally establishes a pattern of negligence and a systemic failure within the fraternity to address a known, deadly risk. This is not mere oversight; it’s a profound institutional failure that demands accountability.
The University of Houston Was on Notice: The 2017 hazing incident involving Jared Munoz, another UH student hospitalized with a lacerated spleen, demonstrably proves that the University of Houston was fully aware of the hazing problem on its campus. Their failure to implement effective preventative measures in the eight years that followed directly contributed to Leonel Bermudez’s injuries, establishing their own institutional negligence and culpability.
Juries Despise Hazing: The $6.1 million verdict awarded in the Max Gruver case (a jury that ruled directly against the fraternity) vividly demonstrates the outrage that juries feel when confronted with the barbarity of hazing. When confronted with details like waterboarding, forced eating, 500 squats, and being struck with wooden paddles, any jury, including one in Hawaii, will be similarly appalled and motivated to deliver a strong message through a substantial award.
Criminal Charges May Follow: In Texas, hazing is a crime with penalties ranging up to a State Jail Felony for hazing that causes death. The University of Houston spokesperson’s explicit mention of “potential criminal charges” underscores the severe legal ramifications facing those involved in Leonel’s hazing. Civil lawsuits often run parallel to criminal investigations, each strengthening the case for justice.

Strategic Angles for This Case to Influence Hazing Accountability in Hawaii

Our litigation strategy is built on powerful, undeniable legal angles designed to expose negligence and compel accountability:

“Pi Kappa Phi Didn’t Learn from Andrew Coffey”: We will highlight the chilling fact that Pi Kappa Phi National allowed another student to be severely harmed eight years after one of their pledges died from hazing. This demonstrates a systemic, unaddressed problem.
“UH Knew – They Had a 2017 Hazing Case”: The University of Houston’s prior hazing incident means they cannot claim ignorance. They had a duty to act and failed.
“Waterboarding Is Torture”: We will relentlessly emphasize that the activities Leonel endured are not “hazing” but acts of torture, designed to break a human spirit.
“They’re Already Planning to Come Back”: Pi Kappa Phi’s public commitment to resume operations demonstrates a shocking lack of remorse, strengthening the case for punitive damages to truly deter future misconduct.
“He Wasn’t Even a Student Yet”: The fact that Leonel was a “ghost rush” and not yet officially enrolled at the university broadens the scope of responsibility and highlights the fraternity’s reckless disregard.
“Consent Is Not a Defense in Texas (and Most States)”: We will aggressively shut down any attempt to blame Leonel by invoking state laws that unambiguously state consent cannot legalize hazing.
“150 Chapters – How Many More?”: We will use Pi Kappa Phi’s own nationwide footprint to demonstrate the potential for systemic abuse requiring a vast inquiry into their practices.
“They Knew About ‘a Hazing Crisis'”: The allegation that Pi Kappa Phi National was aware of a “hazing crisis” before Leonel’s incident is a damning piece of evidence, demonstrating conscious indifference.
“UH Owned the Torture Chamber”: The ownership of the fraternity house by the University of Houston provides a clear avenue for premises liability, asserting the university’s direct responsibility for what occurred on its property. This is a critical point that could apply to many colleges in Hawaii that own or manage student housing.

These strategic arguments are not merely legal tactics; they are moral imperatives that resonate deeply with juries and the public. They transform a personal tragedy into a universal call for justice, sending an unmistakable warning to every university and fraternity in Hawaii and across America.

Victim Guidance: What Hawaii Families Should Do Right Now

If you are a family in Hawaii whose child has been impacted by hazing, the moments immediately following the incident are critical. We understand that you may be overwhelmed, scared, and unsure of where to turn. However, taking swift and decisive action can profoundly impact the success of a potential legal claim. Our firm, Attorney911, operates with a robust client intake protocol tailored to support victims and families in Hawaii through this difficult time.

Client Intake Protocol: Qualifying Questions for Hawaii Hazing Cases

We meticulously evaluate every potential hazing case from Hawaii to determine its viability and strength. This initial assessment helps us understand the full scope of what happened and how best to proceed. We look for specific factors that indicate a strong legal position:

Factor	Why It Matters for Your Child’s Case in Hawaii
Clear Hazing Conduct	Did the activities your child endured meet the legal definition of hazing in Hawaii or the state where it occurred? This involves examining whether the acts were intentional, knowing, or reckless, and whether they endangered physical or mental health for the purpose of affiliation.
Documented Injuries	Are there medical records of physical injuries, hospitalizations, or clinic visits? This is crucial for establishing the severity of harm sustained during hazing. This includes records from Hawaii hospitals or medical centers if your child was treated there on return.
Psychological Harm	Is there evidence of PTSD, anxiety, depression, or other emotional distress directly linked to the hazing? Counseling or therapy records from Hawaii-based mental health professionals can be vital.
Identifiable Defendants	Can we identify the specific individuals involved, the local fraternity or sorority chapter, the national organization, and the university? Our specialized databases help us connect all responsible entities, even if the incident occurred far from Hawaii.
Evidence Available	Have any text messages, photos, videos, GroupMe chats, Snapchat logs, or witness statements been preserved? The more concrete evidence, the stronger the case. We’ll guide you on how to secure evidence from Hawaii-based phones and accounts.
Pattern of Abuse	Was this a one-time incident, or does it appear to be part of a systemic pattern of hazing within the organization? A pattern strengthens claims against institutions.
Institutional Knowledge	Did the university or national organization know, or should they have known, about prior hazing incidents or a general culture of hazing? This establishes a critical layer of negligence.
Timing	Is the incident within the statute of limitations? This is typically two years from the date of injury or discovery of injury in most states, including Hawaii, but can vary. Acting quickly is paramount.

For Families in Hawaii: If your child’s hazing incident aligns with these factors, our firm is uniquely positioned to assist you, regardless of the geographical distance. We offer free, confidential consultations and are prepared to travel to Hawaii if necessary to prosecute your case. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free evaluation.

Our Pi Kappa Phi case against the University of Houston serves as a powerful testament to the necessity of comprehensive case building:
✅ Clear hazing — waterboarding, forced eating, extreme exercise.
✅ Documented injuries — four-day hospitalization, rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure.
✅ Identifiable defendants — named individuals, chapter, national organization, university.
✅ Abundant evidence — detailed allegations, explicit timeline, documented locations.
✅ Pattern of abuse — weeks of systematic abuse, another pledge collapsing in the same period.
✅ Institutional knowledge — the University of Houston owned the house and had a prior hazing incident.
✅ Timely action — incident occurred Fall 2025, lawsuit filed within weeks.

Evidence Requirements: What We Need From You

The key to any successful hazing lawsuit is thorough evidence preservation. Hazing often occurs in secret, and perpetrators frequently try to cover their tracks. Your immediate actions can make all the difference.

Preserve Everything and Contact Us Immediately:

Evidence Type	What and How to Save and Secure
Medical Records	Obtain every record: hospital records, emergency room visit reports, primary care physician notes, specialist consultations (e.g., nephrologist for kidney issues, psychologist for trauma), therapy records, lab results, and medication prescriptions. These document the physical and psychological toll.
Photos/Videos	Save all visual evidence: photos of injuries at every stage of healing, any pictures or videos taken during hazing activities, or any relevant footage of the environment where hazing occurred. If your child has a friend in Hawaii who took photos of injuries, secure those.
Communications	Critical evidence lies within digital conversations. Save all text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchat logs, Instagram Direct Messages, Discord servers, emails, and any other digital communication relevant to the hazing. Do not delete anything.
Witness Information	Collect names, contact details, and any statements from other pledges, active members who witnessed or participated, or any other bystanders. Witnesses may be reluctant to come forward, but their testimony can be invaluable.
Documents	Preserve all physical and digital documents: pledge manuals, fraternity/sorority rules, schedules, any “secret” documents, information packets, or internal communications related to the pledge process.
Financial Records	Keep meticulous records of all costs incurred: medical bills (even if paid by insurance initially), lost wages due to missed work or school, lost internship opportunities, and any tuition/fees for academic periods lost or disrupted.
Academic Records	Document any impact on your child’s academic performance, grades, enrollment status, or scholarship eligibility. Hazing often leads to academic decline or withdrawal.

Crucial Actions to AVOID (Do Not Do These Things):

Do NOT delete ANY messages, social media posts, or files. This can be considered spoliation of evidence and severely harm your case.
Do NOT talk to fraternity/sorority national leadership, local chapter officers, or university administrators without legal counsel present. They are not on your side; their goal is to protect their organization.
Do NOT sign anything from the organization or university. You could unknowingly waive your legal rights.
Do NOT post about the incident on social media. Anything posted can be used against you by the defense to undermine your credibility or the severity of your injuries. Refer to our video: “Don’t Post on Social Media After an Accident | Attorney911 Injury Tip”.
Do NOT give recorded statements to anyone (including insurance adjusters) without your attorney’s guidance. Refer to our video: “Never Talk to the Insurance Company After an Accident | Injury Lawyer Advice”.

Timeline Considerations: Why Acting Quickly in Hawaii is Crucial

The legal clock begins ticking the moment an injury occurs. This is dictated by the “statute of limitations,” which sets a strict deadline for filing a lawsuit.

In most states, including Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years from the date of the injury.
For wrongful death cases, it is generally two years from the date of death.

Do Not Wait — The Consequences of Delay:

Evidence Disappears: Digital evidence can be deleted, and physical evidence can be destroyed or lost.
Witnesses Forget or Disperse: Memories fade, and student witnesses may graduate and move away, making them harder to locate.
Organizations Destroy Records: Faced with potential litigation, organizations may purge incriminating documents unless legally compelled to preserve them.
Your Rights Expire: Missing the statute of limitations deadline means forever losing your right to sue, regardless of the merits of your case.

Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case, Leonel Bermudez, and his family understood this urgency. He was hospitalized in early November, and our lawsuit was filed within weeks. This swift action allowed us to preserve critical evidence and immediately put all defendants on notice. We extend this same urgency to families throughout Hawaii; if your child has been hazed, prompt action is your strongest ally.

Victim Categories & Case Types: How Hazing Impacts Lives

Hazing leaves a devastating mark on victims, affecting them physically, psychologically, and academically. We recognize that these impacts can manifest in various ways, leading to distinct types of legal claims.

Living Victims — Physical Injury Cases

Like our courageous client Leonel Bermudez, many hazing victims suffer severe physical trauma:

Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Failure: Leonel’s diagnosis, requiring a four-day hospitalization, illustrates the ultimate physical breakdown that can result from forced, extreme exertion. This can lead to long-term health complications and expensive ongoing medical care.
Physical Incapacitation: For days, Leonel was unable to move or walk, profoundly impacting his daily life and academic pursuits.
Long-Term Health Consequences: Ongoing kidney issues, chronic pain, and susceptibility to re-injury often follow such severe trauma.
Psychological Trauma: Beyond physical pain, the ordeal leaves deep psychological scars, fears, and anxieties.

Other Common Physical Injury Categories from Hazing:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): From beatings, falls, or repeated head trauma.
Broken Bones: Fractures from falls, assaults, or forced activities.
Burns: From branding, scalding liquids, or exposure to excessive heat.
Hypothermia/Frostbite: From prolonged exposure to cold weather or cold water (as seen with Leonel’s being stripped and sprayed with a hose).
Internal Injuries: From forced consumption of dangerous substances or blunt force trauma.
Sexual Assault Injuries: The most grievous physical and psychological violations.
Alcohol Poisoning: A frequent and often fatal consequence of forced binge drinking.

Living Victims — Psychological Trauma Cases

Hazing’s damage is not always visible but is no less profound. Victims often endure severe psychological trauma, whether or not there are accompanying physical injuries:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): The repeated exposure to fear, humiliation, and abuse can lead to classic PTSD symptoms, including flashbacks, nightmares, hyper-vigilance, and emotional numbness.
Anxiety Disorders: Generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and social anxiety are common, making it difficult to return to normal college life or social interactions.
Depression: Feelings of hopelessness, despair, and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.
Suicidal Ideation: The overwhelming psychological burden can, tragically, lead to thoughts of self-harm.
Trust Issues: Victims often struggle to trust peers, authority figures, and even family members, leading to isolation.
Academic Decline: Psychological distress directly impacts a student’s ability to focus, study, and attend classes, often resulting in failed courses or academic withdrawal.
Social Withdrawal: Shame, embarrassment, and fear of judgment can lead to victims isolating themselves from friends and family.
Substance Abuse: Some victims turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to self-medicate the pain and trauma.

Leonel’s “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution” demonstrates a real psychological injury—the chilling aftermath of intimidation and control. We recognize and document these invisible wounds with the same rigor as physical injuries.

Wrongful Death / Family Cases

When hazing claims a life, the impact is catastrophic, and the legal avenue shifts to wrongful death claims. These cases represent the highest level of human tragedy and therefore often result in the largest verdicts and settlements.

Families Can Sue for Wrongful Death: This allows surviving family members to seek compensation for their devastating loss.
Damages Exceed Personal Injury: Compensation includes not only the financial losses but also the profound emotional void: loss of companionship, grief, pain and suffering of the survivors, and the loss of future financial support and services the deceased would have provided.
Significant Punitive Damages: Juries often award substantial punitive damages in wrongful death hazing cases to punish the egregious behavior and deter future acts, as seen in many precedent cases.
Parallel Legal and Criminal Justice: Wrongful death cases often generate criminal investigations and charges against individual perpetrators, creating a dual path to justice.

These cases often attract major settlements because juries understand the immeasurable value of a life lost, the preventability of such tragedies, and the profound failure of institutions to protect young lives. Holding accountable those responsible honors the memory of the deceased and works to prevent future deaths.

Damages & Compensation: Seeking Full Justice for Hawaii Victims

When your child is hazed, the suffering extends beyond immediate physical pain. It encompasses a broad spectrum of losses—medical, financial, emotional, and psychological. Our goal at Attorney911 is to pursue comprehensive compensation that covers every aspect of this damage for victims in Hawaii.

Economic Damages — What We Calculate

These are the quantifiable financial losses, which we meticulously document and project:

Damage Type	What This Means for Hazing Victims
Medical Expenses	All costs, past and future, related to treating injuries: hospital stays (like Leonel’s four days), emergency room visits, specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, surgeries, medications, and physical therapy. This can include specialist care for conditions like kidney damage or severe psychological trauma.
Lost Wages & Opportunities	Income lost due to missed work during recovery, as well as the loss of potential earnings from internships, part-time jobs, or future career opportunities if the injuries cause long-term limitations.
Lost Academic Investment	The financial impact of disrupted education: tuition and fees for semesters missed or failed, the cost of repeating courses, and the loss of scholarships or grants due to academic decline or withdrawal.
Future Earning Capacity	If a hazing injury leads to permanent physical or psychological limitations, we calculate the long-term impact on your child’s ability to earn a living throughout their career.
Rehabilitation Costs	Costs for long-term physical, occupational, or psychological therapy, and any adaptive equipment needed for recovery.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses	Any costs directly related to the injury and recovery not covered elsewhere, such as travel to medical appointments, specialized equipment, or necessary assistive care.

Non-Economic Damages — Pain and Suffering

These damages compensate for the intangible, non-financial losses that profoundly impact a victim’s quality of life. In Texas, and in many states, there is no cap on pain and suffering in personal injury cases (only medical malpractice claims may have caps).

Damage Type	How It Applies to Hazing Victims
Physical Pain	The intense physical agony endured during the hazing itself (such as the torture of waterboarding, paddling, extreme exercise), the pain of hospitalization and medical procedures, and chronic or ongoing pain during recovery.
Mental Anguish	The deep emotional and psychological distress resulting from the trauma: intense fear, terror, panic, shame, humiliation, and the profound sense of betrayal experienced during and after the hazing.
Emotional Distress	This encompasses the broader spectrum of emotional consequences, including PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, a diminished sense of self-worth, and the debilitating fear of retribution (as Leonel experienced).
Loss of Enjoyment of Life	The inability to participate in activities once cherished, the loss of a normal college experience, the inability to engage in social events or physical activities, and the overall reduced quality of life due to injuries and trauma.
Disfigurement	Any permanent scarring from branding, burns, physical assaults, or surgical interventions. This can lead to profound self-consciousness and psychological distress.
Loss of Consortium	This applies to families, compensating for the loss of companionship, affection, support, and guidance that a family member provides, particularly relevant in severe injury or wrongful death cases.

Punitive Damages — Punishing Egregious Conduct

Punitive damages are a critical component of hazing lawsuits, serving to punish defendants for particularly egregious behavior and to deter similar acts in the future. They are awarded when conduct is:

Grossly negligent (showing a conscious indifference to extreme risk)
Reckless
Intentional
Designed to harm

Hazing is the epitome of such conduct.

In our Pi Kappa Phi case, the evidence supporting punitive damages is overwhelming:

Waterboarding: An act of intentional torture.
Forcing Exercise Until Collapse: A reckless disregard for the student’s physical safety that led to organ failure.
Continuing Hazing After Another Pledge Collapsed: A demonstration of gross negligence, ignoring a clear warning sign.
Hog-Tying a Pledge: Outrageous and sadistic conduct.

Punitive damages send an unmistakable message: society will not tolerate such brutality, and the organizations that permit it will pay a heavy price.

Defendant Targets: Who We Sue

Our firm’s comprehensive approach to hazing litigation ensures that every potentially liable party is identified and included in the lawsuit. We don’t just sue the easiest target; we methodically pursue everyone involved to maximize accountability for victims in Hawaii.

Greek Organizations (Local Chapters)

The local chapter is always a primary defendant. In Leonel Bermudez’s case:

The University of Houston chapter of Pi Kappa Phi directly organized, implemented, and engaged in the hazing activities.
Individual officers, such as the Chapter President and Pledgemaster, directed these activities.
Active members participated in these abusive rituals.

Liability: Local chapters and their officers are liable for direct participation, vicarious liability for the actions of their members, and negligent supervision.

National Fraternity/Sorority Organizations

These are often the “deep pockets” in hazing litigation:

Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters in our case immediately suspended and dissolved the UH chapter once the allegations became public. This response, while seemingly decisive, implicitly admits that the chapter’s conduct was indefensible and violated their standards.
Their negligence stems from various failures: failing to adequately supervise local chapters, failing to enforce anti-hazing policies, providing insufficient training, and knowing about systemic hazing problems (like the alleged “hazing crisis” within Pi Kappa Phi).
They cannot claim ignorance when they dissolve a chapter the moment hazing is exposed. Their failure to act proactively, especially after previous incidents like Andrew Coffey’s death, makes them demonstrably liable. National organizations like Pi Kappa Phi, or any other fraternity with chapters across Hawaii, possess substantial assets and comprehensive insurance coverage, making them crucial targets for compensation.

Universities & Colleges

Universities, including those in Hawaii, bear significant responsibility for student safety, especially when incidents occur on their property:

The University of Houston was made a defendant because it owned and directly controlled the Pi Kappa Phi house where much of the hazing took place. This established direct premises liability.
Universities have the inherent power to regulate, suspend, or permanently remove organizations. Their failure to use this power, or to adequately monitor Greek life, constitutes negligence.
As exemplified by the 2017 hazing case at UH involving Pi Kappa Alpha, the university often has a history of prior hazing incidents, establishing a pattern of failure to protect students.
Universities possess substantial endowments, state funding, and comprehensive insurance policies, making them capable defendants.

Individual Perpetrators

Every person who directly participated in, facilitated, or failed to intervene in hazing can be held personally liable:

In our Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit, we explicitly named the fraternity president, pledgemaster, other chapter leaders, current members who actively participated, and even former members who hosted hazing at their residences.
Critically, we also named the spouse of a former member who allowed hazing to occur on their property, expanding the scope of individual liability.

Holding these individuals accountable sends a powerful message and ensures that responsibility is felt at every level, not just by the larger institutions.

Insurance Carriers

Ultimately, the goal of a hazing lawsuit is to secure financial compensation. This often comes from:

The national organization’s liability insurance, which typically carries high policy limits.
The university’s institutional insurance, covering its negligence and premises liability.
Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies held by individual members or alumni who facilitated hazing on their property.
Various personal liability coverages.

As former insurance defense attorneys, both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena bring invaluable insider knowledge to the table. They know exactly how these insurance companies operate, how they value claims, and the tactics they employ to minimize payouts. This unique insight allows Attorney911 to pursue these policies aggressively and maximize the recovery for our clients, including hazing victims in Hawaii.

Call to Action for Hawaii Hazing Victims

🚨 Hawaii Families: Has Your Child Been Hazed? You Have Legal Rights.

We are currently representing a hazing victim against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston in a $10 MILLION lawsuit. This is not theoretical; this is an active battle we are fighting right now. We know how to build these complex cases. We know how to expose institutional negligence. We know how to hold national organizations and universities accountable. And we will bring this same aggressive, data-driven fight to your family in Hawaii.

The pain, fear, and anger you may be feeling are valid. What happened to your child was not a harmless prank or a rite of passage. It was abuse, and it was wrong. We are here to help you turn that anguish into action and to ensure that no other family in Hawaii has to endure what yours has.

Hawaii Families — Call Now — Free Consultation

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
We are available 24/7 for Hawaii hazing emergencies.

We work on CONTINGENCY — meaning $0 upfront for Hawaii families. You don’t pay us unless and until we WIN your case.

What Hawaii Hazing Victims Should Do Right Now:

Get Medical Attention Immediately: If your child has not yet received comprehensive medical care for their physical or psychological injuries, do so without delay. Document everything, as medical records are crucial evidence.
Preserve ALL Evidence: Secure every piece of relevant information. This includes all text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchat logs, Instagram DMs, emails, photos, and videos related to the hazing. Do not delete anything from your child’s phone or social media accounts. Note the names of any witnesses.
Do NOT Communicate with Defendants: Absolutely do not speak to the fraternity or sorority leadership, the university administration, or their lawyers without consulting with your own legal counsel first. Any statements, even innocent ones, can be used against you.
Do NOT Post on Social Media: Refrain from posting anything about the incident on any social media platform. The defense will meticulously scour your child’s online presence for anything that could undermine their claim.
Call Us IMMEDIATELY: Time is of the essence. The statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death cases is typically two years in most states. Evidence disappears quickly, and memories fade. The sooner you act, the stronger your case.
Hawaii Families: Distance is not a barrier to justice. We offer convenient video consultations for families across the Hawaiian Islands. Our attorneys are prepared to travel to Hawaii for depositions, client meetings, and trials when necessary.

We Serve Hawaii Hazing Victims — And Hazing Victims Nationwide

While our headquarters are in Houston, Texas, we understand that hazing is a pervasive national crisis, affecting colleges and universities across Hawaii and the entire United States. Our ability to represent families regardless of location is powered by:

Federal court authority: Our admission to U.S. District Courts allows us to pursue cases in federal jurisdiction, which often spans multiple states.
Dual-state bar licenses: Our attorneys hold licenses in both Texas and New York, providing broader legal reach and expertise, especially when dealing with national organizations.
Video consultations: We leverage technology to provide seamless virtual consultations, allowing Hawaii families to connect with our expert legal team remotely and confidentially.
Travel commitment: We are committed to justice wherever it takes us. Our attorneys will travel to Hawaii for in-person meetings, witness depositions, and trial proceedings as required.

Hazing is not limited to Greek life. We represent victims of hazing in a wide array of student organizations, whether they are located in Hawaii or elsewhere:

Fraternities and sororities at universities in Hawaii or on the mainland.
Sports teams and athletic clubs in Hawaii.
Marching bands and other performing arts groups.
ROTC programs and military academies.
Any club, organization, or group that uses abusive “initiation” practices.

To Other Victims of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing:

We know there are more of you.

Leonel Bermudez was not the only victim of the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter’s brutality. Reports confirm another pledge lost consciousness during a forced workout on October 15, and others were subjected to the same waterboarding, forced eating, and extreme physical abuse.

You have rights too. We can represent you.

As Lupe Pena passionately stated, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Call us. Let’s bring them ALL to justice.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com

For Hawaii Hazing Victims — Call our Legal Emergency Hotline 24/7. Your future, and the safety of other students, depends on it.