If you’re reading this in Louisiana, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child went away to college, full of hopes and dreams, expecting to make friends and build a future. Instead, they were subjected to brutal hazing, abused, traumatized, or worse. We understand what you’re going through, and we’re here to help families in Louisiana fight back.

Hazing isn’t just a Texas problem; it’s a nationwide crisis that touches every state, including Louisiana. The same fraternities that operate at our universities here in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont also have chapters at Louisiana State University, Tulane, the University of Louisiana Lafayette, and many other institutions across Louisiana. The same national organizations that have paid millions in settlements due to hazing deaths and injuries in other states are active in Louisiana. And the same university negligence that allows hazing to flourish exists on campuses throughout Louisiana.

We are Attorney911, and we are legal emergency lawyers. While our headquarters are in Houston, Texas, our reach extends far beyond state lines. We are actively fighting hazing right now, leading a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for the horrific hazing of Leonel Bermudez. Leonel was waterboarded, forced to eat until he vomited, hog-tied, and subjected to physical and psychological torture that led to kidney failure and a four-day hospitalization. This isn’t theoretical for us; we are in the trenches of this battle, seeking justice for a young man whose dream of brotherhood turned into a nightmare. We bring this same aggressive, data-driven approach, and unwavering commitment to accountability to families across Louisiana.

Distance is not a barrier to justice. We offer video consultations for Louisiana families, and our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña, are prepared to travel to Louisiana for depositions, trials, and client meetings whenever needed. Your child’s future, and your family’s peace of mind, are too important to navigate alone.

The Haunting Echoes of Houston: What Happened to Leonel Bermudez and What It Means for Louisiana Families

The case of Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al. is not just another lawsuit; it is a stark, recent, and utterly horrifying example of what hazing looks like in America today. This $10 million lawsuit, filed in Harris County Civil District Court in November 2025 by our firm, Attorney911, against Pi Kappa Phi, the University of Houston, and 13 individual fraternity members, serves as a critical warning to parents in Louisiana about the dangers lurking in plain sight.

Leonel Bermudez was just a “ghost rush” – a prospective member who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet. He was planning to transfer for the upcoming semester. Yet, this vulnerability was exploited. Beginning on September 16, 2025, after accepting a bid to Pi Kappa Phi, Leonel’s dreams of brotherhood quickly devolved into weeks of systematic abuse and torture.

The Unthinkable Acts of Hazing

What Leonel endured was far beyond the stereotypical “pranks” many still associate with hazing. This was extreme physical and psychological torment:

• Waterboarding: Leonel was subjected to “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose,” sprayed in the face repeatedly while forced to do calisthenics. This is a form of torture, an act considered a war crime when inflicted upon enemy combatants. Yet, it was inflicted upon a college student in Houston.
• Forced Eating until Vomiting: He was compelled to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited. Then, in an act of sickening cruelty, he was forced to continue running sprints through his own vomit, eventually being made to lie in the vomit-soaked grass.
• Extreme Physical Punishment: On November 3, 2025, alone, he was forced to perform over 100 push-ups, 500 squats, and numerous other exercises like high-volume “suicides,” bear crawls, wheelbarrows, and 100-yard crawls while reciting the fraternity creed. He was threatened with immediate expulsion if he stopped. This relentless exertion continued until his body simply broke down, leaving him unable to stand without help.
• Physical Brutality: The lawsuit also alleges pledges were “struck with wooden paddles” – a direct act of physical assault.
• Psychological Torture and Humiliation: Leonel was forced to carry a fanny pack containing “objects of a sexual nature” at all times. In a separate, equally disturbing incident on October 13, another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. Pledges were forced to strip to their underwear in cold weather and endured sleep deprivation, driving members during early morning hours, leading to utter exhaustion.

The Devastating Medical Consequences

The cumulative effect of this brutal hazing led to a severe medical emergency. On November 6, 2025, Leonel’s mother rushed him to the hospital. He was “passing brown urine,” a classic indicator of muscle breakdown. Doctors diagnosed him with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. Rhabdomyolysis is a dangerous condition where damaged muscle fibers release their contents into the bloodstream, overwhelming the kidneys and potentially leading to permanent damage or even death. Leonel spent three nights and four days hospitalized, a stark testament to the life-threatening injuries he sustained. He remains at risk for long-term complications, a constant reminder of the abuse he suffered.

As Ralph Manginello told ABC13, “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.”

The Institutional Response: Too Little, Too Late

Within days of Leonel’s hospitalization, Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters suspended the UH chapter, eventually closing it permanently on November 14, 2025, just
seven days before our lawsuit was filed. Similarly, a University of Houston spokesperson stated to Houston Public Media that “The events investigated are deeply disturbing and represent a clear violation of our community standards.” Both institutions acknowledged wrongdoing, but only after Leonel was hospitalized and the specter of a lawsuit loomed.

Pi Kappa Phi’s own website statement revealed a disturbing lack of remorse, declaring that they “look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time.” This statement, made as Leonel was recovering from kidney failure, speaks volumes about their priorities.

Why This Case is a Dire Warning for Louisiana Families

This isn’t an isolated incident in Texas; it’s a pattern that repeats across the nation. Families in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, Lake Charles, and every community in Louisiana whose children attend universities or participate in Greek life must understand:

• The Same Fraternities Operate in Louisiana: Pi Kappa Phi, with over 150 chapters nationwide, has active chapters in Louisiana. The “traditions” that hospitalized Leonel in Houston can, and do, happen at chapters across Louisiana.
• Louisiana Universities Face Similar Failures: The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place, yet failed to prevent it despite a prior hazing hospitalization in 2017. Universities in Louisiana hold similar power and responsibility over Greek life and can be held just as accountable for institutional negligence.
• Hazing is Torture, Not Tradition: Leonel’s story shatters any illusion that hazing is harmless fun. It’s systematic abuse, designed to break spirits and bodies. Every parent in Louisiana needs to see this for what it is.
• Accountability Starts Now: This lawsuit sends a clear message: aggressive, data-driven legal action can force accountability, shutter dangerous chapters, and demand millions in damages from those responsible. We bring this same ferocity to Louisiana victims.

As Lupe Peña told 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.” For affected families in Louisiana, our firm is ready to be your advocate, your voice, and your relentless champion against the institutions that betrayed your trust.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

When we talk about hazing, many people still picture harmless pranks or mild inconveniences. However, as Leonel Bermudez’s case tragically illustrates, hazing today is often a brutal, calculated campaign of physical, psychological, and sometimes sexual abuse. It is designed to degrade, humiliate, and control, often leading to severe injury, lasting trauma, and even death. This is not “boys being boys” or character-building; it is a profound betrayal of trust that betrays the very core of human dignity.

The Disturbing Reality of Modern Hazing:

• Physical Abuse: This goes far beyond a slap on the wrist. We’re talking forced, extreme physical exertion to the point of collapse and organ failure, like the 500 squats and 100 push-ups that left Leonel Bermudez with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. It includes beatings, paddling, branding, and dangerous calisthenics. In Louisiana, and elsewhere, students have suffered broken bones, concussions, and internal injuries from such abuse.
• Forced Consumption: This often involves massive quantities of alcohol, leading to life-threatening alcohol poisoning, as seen in tragic deaths like Max Gruver at LSU. But it also includes forcing pledges to eat until they vomit, or consume vile, non-food substances, as Leonel Bermudez was.
• Psychological Torture: This can be even more insidious and long-lasting than physical injuries. It involves humiliation, degradation, sleep deprivation, verbal abuse, threats, and isolation. Being forced to carry sexually suggestive items, or hog-tied, as happened to pledges in Leonel’s case, is designed to strip dignity and create profound psychological scars. Victims often suffer from PTSD, severe anxiety, and depression long after the physical wounds heal.
• Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: Hazing can escalate to forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexual harassment, or outright sexual assault. These are not isolated incidents but a terrifying component of some hazing rituals.
• Waterboarding and Simulated Drowning: Leonel’s experience demonstrated that hazing can involve methods widely recognized as severe torture. The fear of drowning, the deliberate deprivation of breath—these are not “pranks.” They inflict deep terror and psychological damage.
• Exposure: Pledges are often forced to endure extreme cold or heat, sleep in unsafe conditions, or be confined in small, uncomfortable spaces, risking hypothermia, heatstroke, or physical injury.
• Servitude and Control: Hazing often involves forced labor, running errands, cleaning, or driving members around at all hours, stripping pledges of their autonomy and basic needs for rest and safety.

The Consequences are Catastrophic:

The severe nature of these activities has devastating health impacts that Louisiana families must be aware of:

• Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Failure: This is what Leonel Bermudez experienced. Muscle breakdown products flood the kidneys, leading to organ failure and potential long-term damage or death.
• Alcohol Poisoning: Forced binge drinking is a leading cause of hazing deaths. Max Gruver, a freshman at LSU, died with a BAC over six times the legal limit.
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): From falls, beatings, or violent shaking, TBI can result in permanent cognitive and physical impairments.
• Hypothermia/Hyperthermia: Exposure to extreme temperatures can cause organ damage or death.
• Cardiac Arrest: Extreme physical exertion, especially in individuals with underlying conditions, can lead to heart failure.
• Sexual Trauma: Victims of sexual hazing endure profound and lasting psychological wounds.
• Psychological Disorders: PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation are common and often debilitating long-term consequences.

The Stark Statistics:

• 55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing. This means that hazing is not rare but alarmingly pervasive.
• 40% of student athletes report hazing. It extends beyond Greek life into various student activities.
• Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every year in the United States. This isn’t a historical problem; it is an ongoing tragedy.
• 95% of students who are hazed do NOT report it. Shame, fear of retaliation, and perceived loyalty keep victims silent.
• Hazing occurs not only in fraternities and sororities but also in sports teams, marching bands, ROTC, clubs, and other student organizations on campuses across Louisiana.

The administrators at LSU, Tulane, the University of Louisiana Lafayette, and other Louisiana institutions, along with the national fraternities active there, are fully aware of these realities. Yet, time and again, they fail to prevent these horrors until a student is hospitalized or dies, at which point they offer apologies, close chapters, and attempt to manage the public relations fallout. We are here to ensure that their self-serving responses are met with genuine accountability.

Who Is Responsible: Every Entity and Individual Who Enabled the Abuse

When hazing leaves a student in Louisiana injured or dead, it’s rarely just one person or one group to blame. Our firm, Attorney911, operates under a simple, yet powerful principle: we cast a wide net of accountability. As demonstrated in our ongoing $10 million lawsuit involving Leonel Bermudez, we target every individual and institution that played a role, directly or indirectly, in allowing the abuse to occur.

The Layers of Liability:

1. The Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter:

   • Direct Perpetrators: The chapter leadership (President, Pledgemaster, Rush Chair) directly organizes and condones the hazing activities. The individual members participate in, or fail to stop, the abuse.
   • Vicarious Liability: The chapter is often an unincorporated association, but its actions are attributable to its members and, collectively, to its existence as an organization.
   • In the Bermudez Case: The Beta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston directly orchestrated and carried out the waterboarding, forced eating, extreme exercise, and other egregious acts. Its officers and members are direct defendants.

2. The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization:

   • Failure to Supervise: These organizations manage chapters across the country, including those in Louisiana. They issue anti-hazing policies, conduct training, and have the authority to suspend or revoke chapters. When hazing occurs, it’s often a failure of national oversight.
   • Knowledge of Pattern: Many national organizations have a documented history of hazing incidents, injuries, and deaths across their chapters. This establishes a pattern of negligence and foreseeability. As revealed in the KHOU 11 report on the Bermudez case, Pi Kappa Phi National was alleged to have “failed to enforce anti-hazing rules and policies despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.'”
   • Deep Pockets: National fraternities are well-funded corporations, often with multi-million dollar insurance policies. They are primary targets for substantial damages.
   • In the Bermudez Case: Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., the national organization, is a central defendant. Their history, including the death of Andrew Coffey at their FSU chapter, proves they had ample notice of a deadly hazing culture yet failed to prevent Leonel Bermudez’s severe injuries eight years later.

3. The University or College:

   • Duty to Protect: Universities in Louisiana have a legal and moral obligation to protect their students, including those participating in Greek life. This duty extends to preventing foreseeable harm.
   • Control over Greek Life: Universities approve chapters, oversee their activities, provide advisors, and often own or regulate fraternity and sorority houses. They have the power to intervene, investigate, and discipline.
   • Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on university-owned or controlled property, the institution can be liable for failing to maintain a safe environment. In the Bermudez case, the University of Houston owned the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place, making their liability for premises negligence undeniable.
   • Negligent Supervision: Universities can be held responsible for negligently supervising Greek life and for failing to act on past warnings or known patterns of hazing on their campus.
   • In the Bermudez Case: The University of Houston and the UH Board of Regents are key defendants. Their prior experience with a student hospitalized from hazing in 2017 (at a different UH fraternity) establishes institutional knowledge and a failure to implement effective safeguards.

4. Individual Perpetrators (Members, Pledgemasters, Officers):

   • Direct Liability: Anyone who actively participates in, directs, or encourages hazing can be held personally liable for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and other torts.
   • Piercing the Corporate Veil: While organizations often seek to shield individuals, courts can and do hold students and other participants personally responsible, especially for egregious acts. The $6.5 million judgment against Daylen Dunson, a former chapter president in the Stone Foltz case, is a powerful precedent for individual accountability.
   • In the Bermudez Case: Thirteen individual fraternity members, including the President, Pledgemaster, current members who participated, and even a former member and his spouse (for allowing hazing at their residence), are named defendants. This sends a clear message that no one involved gets a free pass.

5. Housing Corporations and Alumni Boards:

   • These entities often own and manage the physical fraternity or sorority houses and provide oversight and funding. They can be held liable for premises liability or for failing to adequately supervise the chapter residents.
   • In the Bermudez Case: The Pi Kappa Phi Housing Corporation is a defendant, responsible for the property where some of the hazing occurred.

6. Insurance Carriers:

   • Ultimately, the significant monetary damages often come from the liability insurance policies held by the national organizations, universities, and individuals (e.g., homeowner’s insurance). As former insurance defense attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña possess invaluable insider knowledge to navigate these policies and ensure maximum recovery.

For Louisiana families, this comprehensive approach means that when your child is harmed by hazing, we don’t just point fingers; we hold everyone responsible accountable. From the students who inflicted the abuse to the national organizations who enabled it, and the universities who turned a blind eye – they will all face justice.

What These Cases Win: Millions for Hazing Victims

When a family in Louisiana or anywhere else faces the nightmare of hazing, one of the most pressing questions is, “Can we really win this fight?” The answer, unequivocally, is yes. High-profile hazing cases across the nation have resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, sending a powerful message that institutions and individuals will be held accountable. These precedents are not just statistics; they are hard-won battles that prove justice is attainable, and they inform our aggressive $10 million demand in the Leonel Bermudez case.

Louisiana families, these cases prove that suffering from hazing does not have to be a silent tragedy. We will fight for you to receive the same level of compensation and accountability.

Landmark Verdicts & Settlements:

1. STONE FOLTZ — Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)

   Total Payout: $10.1 Million+

   • What Happened: In March 2021, Stone Foltz, a pledge at Pi Kappa Alpha, was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” initiation. He died from alcohol poisoning.
   • The Outcome: The Foltz family received $2.9 million from Bowling Green State University and $7.2 million from the national Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and individual members, making it the largest public university hazing payout in Ohio’s history. Criminal charges were also filed, leading to convictions.
   • Lesson for Louisiana: This case, specifically, validates our $10 million demand in the Bermudez case. It shows that both the university and the fraternity are held financially accountable for their roles.

2. MAXWELL GRUVER — Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017)

   Total Payout: $6.1 Million Jury Verdict

   • What Happened: In September 2017, Max Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman, died from acute alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495) after being forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol during a Phi Delta Theta “Bible Study” event at LSU. If he answered questions incorrectly, he had to drink more.
   • The Outcome: A jury awarded the Gruver family $6.1 million. One fraternity member was convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to prison. The tragedy also led to the passage of Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony in Louisiana.
   • Lesson for Louisiana: This is a local case to you. It proves that juries in Louisiana are willing to award multi-million dollar verdicts for hazing deaths. It also shows the power of these cases to drive legislative change right here in your state.

3. TIMOTHY PIAZZA — Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017)

   Total Payout: $110 Million+ (Estimated in Settlements)

   • What Happened: In February 2017, Timothy Piazza, a pledge at Beta Theta Pi, was forced to consume 18 drinks in 82 minutes, reaching a near-fatal BAC of 0.36. He then fell down a flight of stairs, suffering traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding. Fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling 911. Security cameras in the house captured the horrifying events.
   • The Outcome: While confidential, settlements are estimated to exceed $110 million. 18 fraternity members were charged, and multiple were convicted of involuntary manslaughter, hazing, and assault. Pennsylvania passed the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.
   • Lesson for Louisiana: When evidence is strong and the conduct is egregious, as in Leonel’s waterboarding case, settlements can reach astronomical figures. This case highlights the importance of evidence, which we relentlessly pursue.

4. ANDREW COFFEY — Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017)

   Total Payout: Confidential Settlement (with Criminal Charges)

   • What Happened: In November 2017, Andrew Coffey, a pledge at Pi Kappa Phi (the same national fraternity involved in Leonel Bermudez’s case), was forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during a “Big Brother Night.” He died from acute alcohol poisoning.
   • The Outcome: Nine fraternity members were charged with hazing. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter was permanently closed at FSU. The family reached a confidential settlement.
   • Lesson for Louisiana: This is undeniable pattern evidence. Pi Kappa Phi National knew about deadly hazing within its chapters eight years before Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized. This makes the actions against Leonel entirely foreseeable and strongly supports punitive damages against the national organization.

5. ADAM OAKES — Virginia Commonwealth University / Delta Chi (2021)

   Total Payout: $4+ Million Settlement

   • What Happened: In February 2021, Adam Oakes died from alcohol poisoning after a Delta Chi hazing event at VCU.
   • The Outcome: The family settled for over $4 million, and several fraternity members faced criminal charges. Virginia passed Adam’s Law.
   • Lesson for Louisiana: This recent case further underscores the significant financial consequences for hazing.

6. JARED MUNOZ — University of Houston / Pi Kappa Alpha (2017)

   • What Happened: In 2017, a University of Houston student, Jared Munoz, was hospitalized with a lacerated spleen after a hazing incident at Pi Kappa Alpha. He filed a $1 million lawsuit, and a grand jury indicted the national chapter.
   • Lesson for Louisiana: This proves the University of Houston had prior knowledge of severe hazing on its campus, yet failed to prevent Leonel Bermudez’s injury. Louisiana universities with similar histories face the same liability.

Why These Precedents Matter for Louisiana Families:

• Your Case Has Value: These multi-million dollar outcomes demonstrate that hazing injuries and deaths have significant legal value, covering not only medical bills and lost earnings but also profound pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
• Accountability for Institutions: Universities and national fraternities in Louisiana cannot escape responsibility. These cases show they are on the hook for their failures in oversight and negligence.
• Individual Accountability: The $6.5 million judgment against an individual chapter president in the Foltz case proves that students who perpetrate hazing can and will be held personally accountable, not just the large organizations.
• Driving Change: Many of these cases directly led to stronger anti-hazing laws. Your case in Louisiana could provide the necessary impetus for legislative reform to protect future students.
• The Power of Advocacy: These results didn’t happen by accident. They were achieved by aggressive legal teams who understood how to build compelling cases, present them to juries, and negotiate from positions of strength. That’s precisely what Attorney911 offers Louisiana families.

When we tell Louisiana families we are fighting for $10 million in the Bermudez case, it is not an arbitrary number. It is a figure grounded in legal precedent and a fierce determination to ensure that the pain, trauma, and suffering inflicted by hazing are met with the fullest measure of justice.

Texas Law Protects You: How Hazing Victims in Louisiana Can Use Legal Frameworks

While our firm, Attorney911, is rooted in Texas, our expertise in hazing litigation, federal court admissions, and dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) allows us to serve victims across the entire United States, including Louisiana. The principles of justice and the legal theories used to pursue hazing cases in Texas are broadly applicable nationwide. Understanding the robust legal framework in a state like Texas, where we are actively litigating a $10 million hazing case, demonstrates the potential legal avenues available to Louisiana families.

The Texas Anti-Hazing Law: A Strong Foundation (and one we can leverage)

Texas has one of the nation’s most comprehensive anti-hazing statutes, the Texas Education Code (§ 37.151-37.157). This law defines hazing broadly and imposes significant criminal penalties, while also offering crucial civil protections:

• Broad Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151): Texas law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off campus, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in an organization. This includes:

  • Physical Brutality: Whipping, beating, striking (like the wooden paddles in Leonel’s case), branding, placing harmful substances on the body.
  • Sleep Deprivation, Exposure, Calisthenics: Acts like forced early-morning drives, stripping in cold weather, and extreme physical exertion (the 500 squats and 100 push-ups that caused Leonel’s kidney failure) fall under this.
  • Forced Consumption: Requiring students to consume food, liquid, or alcohol that subjects them to unreasonable risk of harm (like Leonel’s forced eating until vomiting, or the forced alcohol consumption in the Max Gruver case at LSU).
  • Illegal Activities: Any activity that violates the Penal Code.
  • Coercing Alcohol/Drug Consumption: Forcing a student to consume illicit drugs or alcohol to the point of intoxication.
  • Louisiana Application: Many states, including Louisiana, have similar anti-hazing laws, and the conduct Leonel endured would likely violate Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, which makes hazing a felony. The definitions are often robust enough to cover a wide range of abuses.

• Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154): This is perhaps the most critical provision. Texas law explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution… that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” This powerful statute directly counters the age-old defense that victims “knew what they were signing up for” or “could have left.”

  • Louisiana Application: This principle—that you cannot consent to a crime or to certain types of severe bodily harm—is foundational in law across the United States. Even if your child “went along with it,” they cannot legally consent to abuse.

• Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152): Individuals who engage in hazing can face charges ranging from a Class B Misdemeanor (up to 180 days jail) to a State Jail Felony for hazing causing death (180 days to 2 years in state jail, plus a $10,000 fine). Hazing causing serious bodily injury (like Leonel’s kidney failure) is a Class A Misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail).

  • Louisiana Application: Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act similarly makes hazing a felony, demonstrating a strong state commitment to criminalizing this dangerous behavior. Criminal and civil cases can run concurrently, strengthening the pursuit of justice.

• Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): Organizations that condone or encourage hazing, or whose members commit hazing, face fines up to $10,000, denial of permission to operate on campus, and forfeiture of property.

  • Louisiana Application: This means the local chapters, and often the national organizations, can face direct institutional penalties in addition to civil monetary damages.

• University Reporting Requirements (§ 37.155): Universities must report hazing incidents to state authorities. Failure to do so is a Class B Misdemeanor.

  • Louisiana Application: Such reporting requirements exist in many states and highlight the legal obligation of universities to monitor and address hazing.

Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Charges for Louisiana Victims

Even if criminal charges are not filed or do not lead to convictions, Louisiana families can still pursue significant civil damages for hazing. This is where our expertise comes to bear.

1. Negligence Claims: This is a cornerstone of most personal injury lawsuits. We demonstrate that the universities, national fraternities/sororities, and local chapters had a duty of care to protect students, that they breached that duty by allowing hazing, that this breach caused your child’s injuries, and that these injuries resulted in damages.
2. Premises Liability: If the hazing occurred on property owned or controlled by the university (like the UH fraternity house in Leonel’s case) or an alumni housing corporation, Louisiana laws hold property owners responsible for unsafe conditions.
3. Negligent Supervision: When national organizations fail to properly oversee their Louisiana chapters, or when Louisiana universities fail to adequately supervise Greek life, they can be held liable for negligent supervision.
4. Assault and Battery: Individual perpetrators of hazing (those who directly inflicted physical abuse or caused harmful contact) can be sued directly for assault (threat of harm) and battery (actual harmful contact).
5. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: For egregious conduct that causes severe emotional distress, such as the torture Leonel endured, civil claims can be brought to compensate for profound psychological trauma.
6. Wrongful Death: If hazing leads to a student’s death, families in Louisiana can file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages for their immense loss, including loss of companionship, future earnings, and funeral expenses.
7. Vicarious Liability: Institutions can be held responsible for the actions of their agents or members. For example, a national fraternity can be vicariously liable for the actions of its local chapter if they maintain sufficient control.

For Louisiana families, the message is clear: the law is on your side. Whether through robust state anti-hazing statutes like the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana, or through well-established civil liability theories, there are powerful legal mechanisms to hold everyone responsible accountable. Our firm knows how to wield these tools effectively, applying the same aggressive strategies we use in Texas to secure justice for hazing victims across Louisiana.

Why Attorney911 Is the Obvious Choice for Louisiana Hazing Victims

When your family in Louisiana is grappling with the devastating aftermath of hazing, choosing the right legal representation is the most critical decision you’ll make. You need more than just a lawyer; you need a relentless advocate who understands the intricate landscape of hazing litigation, who has proven experience against powerful institutions, and who genuinely cares about your child’s well-being. Attorney911 offers Louisiana families an unparalleled combination of expertise, aggression, and compassion.

Our Core Strengths: Your Unfair Advantage Against Hazing:

1. Actively Fighting Now – The Bermudez Case is Proof:

   • We aren’t theoretical. We are currently leading a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for the horrific hazing of Leonel Bermudez. This means we are actively in court, pursuing discovery, and challenging defendants in a live hazing case right now.
   • Louisiana Benefit: You get a firm that proves its commitment with ongoing, real-world action, applying the same strategies from this high-stakes case to your family’s fight in Louisiana. We don’t just talk about hazing litigation; we live it.

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook:

   • Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña began their careers defending insurance companies and corporations. This “insider knowledge” is invaluable. We know exactly how universities, national fraternities/sororities, and their insurance carriers think, strategize for denial, and try to minimize payouts.
   • Louisiana Benefit: While they are busy strategizing against you, we’ve already anticipated their every move. We use their own tactics against them, ensuring your case gets maximum leverage and the largest possible settlement, even when dealing with Louisiana-based defendants and their insurers. Mr. Peña even worked for Litchfield Cavo LLP, a nationwide defense firm, giving us insight into strategies employed across state lines.

3. Federal Court Admissions – Beyond State Lines:

   • We are admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. This federal authority means we can pursue hazing cases in federal courts across the country, providing an additional powerful avenue for justice if the case merits federal jurisdiction.
   • Louisiana Benefit: Many national fraternities operate across state lines, making them susceptible to federal lawsuits. This expands your options in Louisiana, allowing us to bring claims against national organizations or in contexts where federal civil rights laws might apply.

4. Dual-State Bar Licenses – Texas AND New York:

   • Ralph Manginello is licensed in both Texas and New York. This dual licensure provides a significant strategic advantage, especially when dealing with national fraternities and sororities often headquartered or incorporated in various states.
   • Louisiana Benefit: It enhances our ability to navigate multi-state litigation, pursue discovery from out-of-state entities, and act as lead counsel in complex cases involving defendants with national footprints, directly impacting fraternities with chapters in Louisiana.

5. Multi-Billion Dollar Case Experience – No Defendant is Too Big:

   • Ralph Manginello’s involvement in the BP Texas City Explosion litigation, a mass tort against a global corporate giant, demonstrates our capacity to take on and win against the largest, most well-resourced defendants.
   • Louisiana Benefit: Facing a major Louisiana university or a national fraternity/sorority with vast resources can be intimidating. Our experience shows we are undaunted by powerful defendants and will aggressively pursue justice regardless of their size or influence.

6. Hazing-Specific Expertise – We Understand the Nuances:

   • We have direct experience in hazing litigation, including cases involving rhabdomyolysis – the very injury sustained by Leonel Bermudez. We understand the specific medical, psychological, and institutional dynamics unique to hazing.
   • Louisiana Benefit: We don’t need to learn on the job. We already know the hazing culture, the defense tactics, and the specific legal arguments that win these complex cases, saving you time and increasing your chances of success.

7. Data-Driven Litigation Strategy – We Know Who to Sue:

   • We maintain one of the most comprehensive private directories of Greek organizations in Texas, including EINs, legal names, addresses, house corporations, and insurance structures. We don’t guess; we know exactly who the liable entities are.
   • Louisiana Benefit: While centered in Texas, our methodology for identifying every corporate entity, from national headquarters to local housing corporations, is applicable anywhere. If hazing happens on a Louisiana campus, we can quickly identify every target.

8. Compassionate, Parent-Facing Approach – You’re Not Just a Case:

   • We know your fear, your anger, and your pain. We approach every family in Louisiana with empathy and understanding, treating you like family. Our goal is not just a settlement, but justice, accountability, and the prevention of future tragedies.
   • Louisiana Benefit: You’ll have a legal team that truly hears you, guides you through every step, and fights for your child’s future as if it were their own. As a father of three, Ralph Manginello understands the stakes for Louisiana families.

9. Contingency Fees – No Upfront Cost for Louisiana Families:

   • We take hazing cases on contingency. This means you pay us absolutely $0 upfront. We only get paid if and when we win your case.
   • Louisiana Benefit: This removes financial barriers, allowing any family in Louisiana, regardless of their economic situation, to access top-tier legal representation against powerful adversaries.

When your child has been subjected to hazing in Louisiana, the path to justice can seem daunting. But with Attorney911, you have a proven, aggressive, and deeply committed team ready to fight for you. We provide remote consultations, making it easy for Louisiana families to connect with us, and we are fully prepared to travel to Louisiana for depositions, trials, and meetings. Choose the firm that is actively winning these battles. Choose Attorney911.

What To Do Right Now: Actionable Steps for Louisiana Families After Hazing

When hazing strikes, the immediate aftermath can be overwhelming. Fear, anger, confusion, and despair can paralyze action. But for families in Louisiana, acting quickly and strategically is paramount to protecting your child’s legal rights and ensuring that justice can be served. The institutions and individuals responsible for hazing will immediately begin to protect themselves; you need to protect your child.

Here are the critical steps you should take right now:

Step 1: Prioritize Your Child’s Health and Safety

Your child’s physical and mental well-being are the absolute priority.

• Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Even if injuries seem minor, or your child is resisting, get them evaluated by a medical professional. Hazing injuries, like rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and organ damage suffered by Leonel Bermudez, can have delayed symptoms. Document everything, no matter how small.
  • Why: Medical records are irrefutable evidence. Delays in seeking care can be used by defense attorneys to argue that the injuries were not severe or not caused by hazing.
• Seek Mental Health Support: Hazing inflicts profound psychological trauma. Connect your child with a therapist or counselor specializing in trauma.
  • Why: Documentation of emotional distress, PTSD, anxiety, or depression is crucial for non-economic damages.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

Hazing evidence is often hidden, deleted, or destroyed. You must proactively preserve everything.

• DO NOT Delete Anything: Instruction your child (and anyone involved) not to delete any text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchat messages, Instagram DMs, emails, photos, videos, or social media posts related to the hazing. Deleting evidence can severely harm your case.
  • Why: These communications often contain direct proof of hazing instructions, threats, coercion, and discussions among perpetrators.
• Take Photos and Videos:
  • Injuries: Photograph any visible injuries (bruises, marks, rashes, burns) as they appear and as they heal. Document severe exhaustion.
  • Location: If safe and possible, take photos or videos of the hazing location, if it still contains relevant items (e.g., alcohol containers, unusual setups).
  • Why: Visual evidence is incredibly powerful and helps juries understand the reality of the situation.
• Identify Witnesses: Gather names and contact information for anyone who witnessed the hazing or has knowledge of it – other pledges, former members, bystanders.
  • Why: Witness testimony can corroborate your child’s account and strengthen the case against a united defense.
• Collect Documents: Save all relevant documents, including:
  • Any pledge manuals, schedules, or rules given to your child.
  • University codes of conduct or Greek life rules.
  • Medical bills, insurance statements, and prescription receipts.
  • Academic records if hazing impacted grades or enrollment.
  • Why: These documents establish expectations, protocols, damages, and often prove policy violations.

Step 3: Guard Your Communications

The institutions and individuals responsible will attempt to control the narrative and minimize their liability.

• DO NOT Talk to the Fraternity/Sorority Leadership or Members: They are not your allies. Anything your child or you say can be twisted and used against you.
• DO NOT Give Statements to University Administration Alone: Universities have a vested interest in protecting their reputation. Their “investigation” may be designed to protect the institution, not your child. If you must speak with them, insist on having legal counsel present.
• DO NOT Sign Anything: Never sign any documents presented by the fraternity, university, or their representatives without your attorney’s review. These documents may waive your child’s legal rights.
• DO NOT Post on Social Media: Anything posted can and will be used against your child. Even seemingly innocuous posts can be taken out of context. Until your case is fully resolved, avoid discussing the incident online.
  • Why: Limiting communication protects your child’s privacy and prevents inadvertently providing ammunition to the defense.

Step 4: Contact Attorney911 Immediately – Time is Critical

Waiting to seek legal counsel can jeopardize your child’s case.

• The Statute of Limitations: In most personal injury cases in Louisiana and across the U.S., there is a strict 2-year statute of limitations from the date of injury or discovery of injury. For wrongful death, it’s 2 years from the date of death. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to sue forever.
  • Why: Time is not on your side. Evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and defendants may have more time to cover their tracks.
• Expert Guidance from the Start: An experienced hazing litigation attorney can immediately send out preservation letters to all potential defendants, legally compelling them to retain evidence. We can guide you through every step, ensuring you don’t make mistakes that could ruin your case.
• Free, Confidential Consultation: We offer a completely free, no-obligation consultation to all Louisiana families affected by hazing. We listen, evaluate your unique situation, and explain your legal options without any upfront cost.
  • Why: You have nothing to lose by calling. We can quickly assess the viability of your case and begin building a strategy.

Louisiana families, please remember: your child’s courage in coming forward can protect countless other students. Do not let fear or silence win. Take action now.

Contact Us: Your Legal Emergency Starts Here for Louisiana Hazing Victims

When you and your family in Louisiana are reeling from the trauma of hazing, you need immediate, aggressive, and compassionate legal support. You need an advocate who understands your pain and is relentless in the pursuit of justice. That’s precisely what Attorney911 offers. We are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit, and we bring that same unwavering commitment to every client, every case, nationwide.

Get Help for Hazing in Louisiana — Call Us 24/7:

We understand that legal emergencies don’t adhere to business hours. That’s why our hotline is available around the clock, ready to provide the immediate assistance your family needs.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Connect with us instantly:

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

Why Contacting Us Now Is Critical for Louisiana Families:

• Time is of the Essence: Hazing cases have strict deadlines, including statutes of limitations (often 2 years in most states, including certain aspects in Louisiana). Critical evidence can disappear rapidly, and witness memories fade. Delaying action can jeopardize your entire case.
• No Upfront Costs: We take hazing cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely $0 upfront to hire our firm. We only get paid if, and when, we win your case. This removes any financial barrier to accessing top-tier legal representation.
• Free, Confidential Consultation: Your initial consultation with us is always free and confidential. This is your opportunity to share your story, understand your legal options, and get expert advice without any obligation.
• We Protect Your Rights: The university, the national fraternity, and individual perpetrators will immediately begin to protect themselves. You need a powerful legal team on your side to protect your child’s rights from the very beginning.

Our Commitment to Louisiana Hazing Victims:

Even though our headquarters are in Houston, Texas, our dedication to fighting hazing knows no geographic boundaries.

• Remote Consultations: We offer convenient and secure video consultations for Louisiana families, allowing you to connect with our attorneys from the comfort and privacy of your home.
• Willingness to Travel: Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña, are fully prepared to travel to Louisiana for depositions, client meetings, and trials whenever your case demands our presence. Distance will not be a barrier to securing justice for your child.
• Federal Court Authority: Our admission to federal courts provides additional avenues for pursuing claims against national organizations, expanding your options for justice in Louisiana.
• Bilingual Services: Se habla español. Our team includes bilingual staff, ensuring that Spanish-speaking families in Louisiana receive clear, comprehensive legal support without language barriers.

Take That First Step Towards Justice:

Don’t face this agonizing journey alone. The courage it takes to confront powerful institutions is immense, but you don’t have to do it by yourself. Leonel Bermudez’s story is a testament to the fact that one brave victim, supported by aggressive legal advocacy, can spark immense change.

If your child has been hazed on a campus in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, Lafayette, Monroe, or any community in Louisiana, call us today. Let us bring your fight for accountability to light. Enough is enough.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for your free consultation. We are here to fight for your Louisiana family.