If you’re reading this in West Virginia, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child was supposed to make friends at college, to explore new ideas, and build a foundation for their future. Instead, they were tortured. They were abused. They were subjected to rituals that endangered their very life, all in the name of “tradition” or “brotherhood.” We understand what you’re going through, and we’re here to help families in West Virginia fight back.

We are Attorney911, and our firm is actively leading the charge against hazing. This isn’t theoretical for us. We’re currently in Harris County Civil District Court in Texas, relentlessly pursuing a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi, the University of Houston, and 13 individual fraternity members for the horrific hazing of Leonel Bermudez. What happened to Leonel in Houston is a stark warning for parents in West Virginia: the same national fraternities operate at colleges and universities throughout the Mountain State, engaging in the same dangerous and illegal activities. The institutions that are supposed to protect our children too often fail.

We are here to tell you that distance is not a barrier to justice. Although our headquarters are in Houston, with additional offices in Austin and Beaumont, Texas, our reach extends nationwide, including to families in West Virginia. Our federal court admissions and dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) position us uniquely to take on national fraternities wherever they operate. We offer video consultations for families across West Virginia and are prepared to travel to your state for depositions, client meetings, and trials when justice demands it. We will bring the same aggressive, data-driven, and relentless pursuit of accountability to your child’s case in West Virginia that we are demonstrating every day in the Bermudez lawsuit.

The Case That Shows West Virginia Families Why We Fight: Leonel Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston

Just a few weeks ago, in November 2025, our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit that serves as a powerful testament to our commitment to hazing victims. This isn’t just another case; it’s the centerpiece of everything Attorney911 stands for: aggressive representation, a data-driven litigation strategy, and unwavering accountability for every entity responsible for hazing injuries.

Leonel Bermudez accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Houston on September 16, 2025. What followed was a brutal, weeks-long campaign of systematic abuse and torture that landed him in the hospital for four days, suffering from severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. What makes his story even more outrageous? Leonel was not even a University of Houston student at the time. He was a “ghost rush,” planning to transfer for the upcoming semester. They did this to someone who wasn’t even enrolled yet.

This case has generated significant media attention, with outlets like ABC13, KHOU 11, Houston Chronicle, and Houston Public Media covering the details. You can read more about it here:

• ABC13 Houston: Abuse and hazing led to hospitalization of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge, lawsuit alleges
• KHOU 11: $10 million lawsuit filed against UH, fraternity over hazing allegations
• Houston Chronicle: UH fraternity hazing lawsuit
• Houston Public Media: University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi fraternity sued for $10 million over alleged hazing

Within weeks of Leonel’s hazing being reported, the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at the University of Houston was suspended. Its members voted to surrender their charter, and the chapter was permanently closed. Criminal referrals were initiated against the individuals involved. Our firm, Attorney911, didn’t stop there. We filed a $10 million lawsuit, naming the university, the national fraternity, its housing corporation, and an astonishing 13 individual fraternity members as defendants.

This is what modern hazing looks like, and this is what aggressive, expert legal action looks like. This case demonstrates that we are not theoretical; we are actively fighting right now. We tell Leonel’s story so parents in West Virginia understand that this level of abuse is truly happening, and that our firm is uniquely equipped to fight back.

What Happened: The Haunting Hazing Timeline

Leonel’s ordeal began the moment he accepted his bid to Pi Kappa Phi on September 16, 2025. What unfolded over the next month and a half were acts of sustained brutality:

• Waterboarding: Leonel was subjected to “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose,” sprayed in the face with water during calisthenics. This is torture—the kind condemned by international law. He was also “forced to run repeatedly under threat of being waterboarded.”
• Forced Eating Until Vomiting: He was made to consume “large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns” until he vomited. Afterwards, he was “forced to continue running sprints while clearly in physical distress” and even made to “lie in vomit-soaked grass.”
• Extreme Physical Punishment: This included “100+ pushups, 500 squats,” and other grueling exercises like “high-volume ‘suicides’ (running drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, ‘save-you-brother’ drills,” “two-mile warmups,” and “repeated 100-yard crawls.” He was forced to recite the fraternity creed while exercising, all “under threat of immediate expulsion” if he stopped. He exercised until he “became so exhausted he could not stand without help.” The lawsuit also alleges “being struck with wooden paddles.”
• Psychological Torture & Humiliation: Leonel was stripped to his underwear in cold weather and forced to carry a fanny pack containing “objects of sexual nature at all times.” In another horrifying incident on October 13, a different pledge was “hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour” while members prepared for a meeting. Threats of physical punishment and expulsion were constant.
• Sleep Deprivation: He was “forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours,” leading to severe exhaustion.

This relentless abuse culminated on November 3, 2025, when, after a particularly brutal session, Leonel could barely move. As his attorney Ralph Manginello recounted to 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.”

He spent three nights and four days in the hospital, passing brown urine—a classic sign of rhabdomyolysis, a condition where muscle tissue breaks down, releasing damaging proteins into the blood. This led to acute kidney failure, a life-threatening complication. While he survived, the long-term implications for his kidney health remain a serious concern.

Why This Case Matters to West Virginia Families

What happened to Leonel Bermudez should send shivers down the spine of every parent in West Virginia whose child is contemplating Greek life.

1. Pi Kappa Phi has over 150 chapters across America, including chapters potentially near West Virginia University in Morgantown, Marshall University in Huntington, or even smaller institutions like West Virginia State University in Institute or Concord University in Athens. The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client can, and do, happen at fraternities across West Virginia.
2. Universities near West Virginia, whether they are public institutions like Shepherd University in Shepherdstown or private colleges like West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, face the same institutional liability failures as the University of Houston.
3. The national organizations overseeing these chapters, often headquartered hundreds of miles away, are aware of the risks. Pi Kappa Phi’s own actions of immediately suspending and dissolving the chapter prove they knew what was happening was wrong. They knew this could happen because eight years prior, in 2017, an FSU student died in a Pi Kappa Phi hazing ritual. The national organization knew and yet failed to prevent further harm. This pattern of negligence can be exposed at any national fraternity with chapters in West Virginia.
4. West Virginia victims often feel the same fear of retribution that has made Leonel Bermudez “fearful of doing an interview.” We protect our clients, allowing them to seek justice without fear.

As our attorney Lupe Peña stated to ABC13, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” Your child’s case in West Virginia could be the one that forces real change, that saves lives. A $10 million lawsuit sends an unmistakable message: this is the price for torturing our kids.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

Many parents in West Virginia might still think of hazing as harmless pranks or innocent initiations. We want to be absolutely clear: modern hazing is far from harmless. It is often brutal, life-threatening, and can be categorized as assault, battery, torture, or even attempted murder.

The Grim Reality of Hazing in America:

• It’s Not “Boys Being Boys”: It’s often systematic abuse, designed to degrade, control, and injure.
• The Numbers Are Sobering: Over half of students in Greek organizations report experiencing hazing. This isn’t just a fringe activity; it’s deeply embedded in the culture of many fraternities and sororities, sports teams, marching bands, and other student groups.
• A Continuous Crisis: Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every single year in the United States. These are not isolated tragedies; they are a predictable outcome of unchecked abuse.
• Silence is Pervasive: A staggering 95% of students who are hazed never report it due to fear, shame, loyalty, or the belief that “everyone goes through it.” This silence allows the cycle of abuse to continue.

Types of Hazing Incident and Their Visceral Reality

Based on the Bermudez case and other documented incidents, hazing today is terrifyingly varied and brutally effective:

• Physical Abuse: This extends far beyond a slap on the back. It includes beatings, branding with hot objects, forced calisthenics to the point of collapse (like Leonel’s 500 squats that caused kidney failure), and even “being struck with wooden paddles.”
• Forced Consumption: This is often deadly. It involves binge drinking, chugging, forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, or other non-food substances until vomiting, leading to alcohol poisoning, aspiration, or severe gastrointestinal distress.
• Psychological Torture: This can be as damaging as physical abuse. It includes humiliation, degradation (like Leonel carrying a fanny pack with sexual objects), verbal abuse, social isolation, and constant threats. The “hog-tying” incident described in Leonel’s lawsuit is a prime example of extreme psychological abuse.
• Waterboarding/Simulated Drowning: As in Leonel’s case, this is pure torture, designed to induce the terror of drowning.
• Sleep Deprivation: Forcing pledges to stay awake for extended periods, or like Leonel, “drive fraternity members during early morning hours,” leads to exhaustion, impaired judgment, and increased vulnerability.
• Exposure: This includes forcing pledges into extreme cold or heat, or confining them in small, dark spaces.
• Servitude: Forced cleaning, driving, or running endless errands for older members.

The Medical and Psychological Scars

The physical consequences, as seen in Leonel’s case, can be catastrophic:

• Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Failure: Leonel’s diagnosis, a direct result of extreme physical exertion.
• Alcohol Poisoning: A leading cause of hazing deaths.
• Traumatic Brain Injury: From beatings, falls, or uncontrolled activity.
• Hypothermia/Hyperthermia: From exposure.
• Internal Injuries: From forced impact or falls.

The psychological toll is often lifelong:

• PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Suicidal Ideation: The long-term mental health impact of enduring abuse.
• Trust Issues: Victims often struggle with trusting others, especially authority figures.
• Academic Decline: Hazing interferes with studies, leading to failing grades, withdrawals, or even dropping out.
• Substance Abuse: A common coping mechanism for trauma.

This is what hazing looks like today. It’s not a joke. It’s not a game. It’s a fundamental betrayal of trust by individuals, by groups, and by institutions that fail to protect our children.

Who Is Responsible: Holding Everyone Accountable

When hazing tears a family apart in West Virginia, our firm believes that accountability must be broad and uncompromising. It’s not just the immediate perpetrators; it’s every individual and every institution that enabled, encouraged, or failed to prevent the abuse. Our $10 million lawsuit in the Bermudez case demonstrates our aggressive strategy to pursue every potentially liable party.

The Network of Responsibility:

1. The Local Chapter: The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter directly organized and conducted the hazing of Leonel. Their active officers—the President, Pledgemaster—and individual members who participated, directed, or failed to intervene, bear direct responsibility. These are the students who inflict the abuse.
2. The National Fraternity Organization: In Leonel’s case, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc. (the national organization) is a primary defendant. National organizations often claim ignorance, but we argue they know or should know the hazing culture within their chapters. They establish policies, provide training, and have the power to supervise and sanction local chapters. When hazing occurs, it is a failure of that oversight. KHOU 11 reported that the lawsuit alleges Pi Kappa Phi National “failed to enforce anti-hazing rules and policies despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.'” Moreover, Pi Kappa Phi has a documented history of hazing deaths, including Andrew Coffey in 2017. Their failure to act after such a tragedy makes them willfully negligent.
3. The University or College: The University of Houston is a defendant because, as KHOU 11 reported, they “owned [the] fraternity house” where much of the hazing took place. Universities have a duty to keep their students safe. They control Greek life, set rules, provide housing, and have the power to regulate, suspend, or remove organizations that violate their policies. When they fail to use this authority, or ignore warning signs (like the prior hazing incident at UH in 2017 with a different fraternity), they are complicit in the harm. The University of Charleston, West Virginia University, Marshall University, many institutions near your home, may face the same liability if they fail to protect their students from hazing.
4. The Housing Corporation: These entities, often separate from the national organization, own and manage the physical fraternity houses. In Leonel’s case, the Beta Nu Housing Corporation is a defendant because they owned or controlled the chapter property. They have a responsibility to ensure premises are safe and not used for illegal activities. We track organizations like “Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc” with EIN 462267515 in Frisco, Texas, showing how these ancillary entities are tied to the national brand.
5. Individual Perpetrators: Every person directly involved in the hazing—from the chapter president who orchestrated it, to the members who participated, to those who failed to intervene—can be held personally liable. In Leonel’s case, this includes “Current Members,” “Former Members” (at whose residence hazing occurred), and even the “Spouse of Former Member” for premises liability. No one who inflicts abuse should be immune from accountability.

The “Deep Pockets” Strategy

This is not about suing individual college kids who may have limited assets. While individual perpetrators are held accountable, a true justice strategy involves targeting the “deep pockets”:

• National Fraternity/Sorority Organizations: These entities often have millions in assets, endowments, and comprehensive liability insurance policies.
• Universities and Colleges: Major institutions in West Virginia, both public and private, typically have substantial financial resources and insurance coverage.
• Insurance Carriers: These policies—whether for the national fraternity, the university, or even homeowners’ insurance for off-campus hazing locations—are critical sources of compensation.

As former insurance defense attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña know exactly how these insurance companies think, strategize, and try to minimize payouts. We leverage this insider knowledge to dismantle their defenses and maximize recovery for our clients.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof Points

For families in West Virginia, understanding the potential for significant compensation is crucial. These are not small claims. Hazing cases, especially those involving severe injury or wrongful death, have historically resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. They send an undeniable message that these brutal acts will not be tolerated. The same legal strategies that secured these landmark awards are available for victims in West Virginia.

Stone Foltz: Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021) — Over $10 Million

Stone Foltz, a sophomore at Bowling Green State University, died in March 2021 after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a Pi Kappa Alpha “Big/Little” event. His BAC was five times the legal limit. This tragedy resulted in one of the largest public university hazing payouts in Ohio history:

• $2.9 Million from Bowling Green State University.
• $7.2 Million from Pi Kappa Alpha National and several individual members.
• Total: Over $10.1 Million.

Additionally, in December 2024, a jury ordered Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president, to pay $6.5 Million in personal liability. This shows that individual officers, even college students, can face massive personal judgments.

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

Max Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman at LSU, died in September 2017 during a Phi Delta Theta “Bible Study” where he was forced to consume excessive alcohol for incorrect answers. His BAC was 0.495.

• A jury awarded his family $6.1 Million in damages.
• Several fraternity members faced criminal charges, with one, Matthew Naquin, convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to prison.
• The widespread outrage led to the passage of the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana, making hazing a felony.

Timothy Piazza: Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017) — Over $110 Million (Estimated)

Timothy Piazza, a 19-year-old pledge at Penn State, died in February 2017 after falling down a flight of stairs repeatedly during a Beta Theta Pi hazing event where he was forced to consume 18 drinks in 82 minutes. Fraternity members waited over 12 hours before calling 911.

• The exact settlement amount is confidential but is estimated to be over $110 Million, paid by the national fraternity and Penn State.
• 18 fraternity members faced criminal charges, with several convicted of involuntary manslaughter, hazing, and other offenses.
• This case led to Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.

Andrew Coffey: Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017) — Same Fraternity, Deadly History

Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old Pi Kappa Phi pledge at Florida State University, died in November 2017 after being forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon during a “Big Brother Night.”

• Nine fraternity members were criminally charged.
• The Pi Kappa Phi national chapter at FSU was permanently closed.
• While the civil settlement amount is confidential, this case is a smoking gun for our Leonel Bermudez lawsuit, demonstrating a documented pattern of deadly hazing within the Pi Kappa Phi national organization. They knew deadly hazing was a problem eight years ago, yet failed to prevent Leonel’s hospitalization.

What These Precedents Mean for West Virginia Families

These cases are not isolated tragedies. They are a national pattern. They prove:

• Juries will award millions for hazing injuries and deaths. The egregious nature of hazing often leads to significant punitive damages, intended to punish the perpetrators and deter future abuse.
• Universities and national organizations are consistently held liable. They cannot escape responsibility by claiming ignorance or blaming individual members.
• Hazing incidents drive legislative change. From the Max Gruver Act to the Timothy J. Piazza Law, these cases force states to enact stronger anti-hazing statutes.
• Attorney911’s $10 million demand for Leonel Bermudez is not extraordinary; it is directly in line with these established precedents. In fact, given the egregious nature of waterboarding and the explicit torture involved, our demand reflects the severe physical and psychological trauma inflicted.

For families in West Virginia, these cases offer hope and illustrate the devastating financial and legal consequences faced by the institutions and individuals who enable hazing. If your child has been subjected to such abuse, our firm is prepared to leverage these precedents and our aggressive legal strategies to fight for maximum compensation, just as we are doing in the Bermudez case.

West Virginia Law Protects You: Understanding Your Rights

For families in West Virginia dealing with the aftermath of hazing, understanding the legal landscape is crucial. While our firm is based in Texas, the principles of civil liability, federal laws, and the growing national consensus against hazing mean that victims in West Virginia have powerful legal recourse.

Like many states, West Virginia has laws against hazing, and even when a specific state statute isn’t directly applicable, general principles of negligence and civil liability always are. Furthermore, laws like West Virginia Code § 18-12B-1, known as “Alex and Andrew’s Law,” explicitly define and prohibit hazing, provide penalties for violations, and require schools to adopt anti-hazing policies (named after Alex Davis and Andrew Michael, victims of hazing at West Virginia University). This specific legislation provides a strong foundation for civil claims against individuals and institutions.

West Virginia’s “Alex and Andrew’s Law” (West Virginia Code § 18-12B-1)

This law defines hazing comprehensively, makes it a misdemeanor offense, and requires institutions to implement anti-hazing policies, investigate reports, and report incidents annually. It also provides for potential felony charges in cases of serious injury or death, mirroring the intent of Texas law. This strong state law in West Virginia provides explicit grounding for both criminal prosecution and civil liability.

Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Prosecution

Even if criminal charges are not pursued, victims and their families in West Virginia have strong grounds for civil lawsuits to recover damages. These civil claims operate under principles of tort law that exist in every state, regardless of local hazing statutes.

1. Negligence Claims: This is the most common civil claim. It argues that a party (the fraternity, national organization, university, or individual) owed a duty of care to the victim, breached that duty, and this breach directly caused the victim’s injuries and damages. For instance, a university owes a duty to provide a safe environment, and failing to properly supervise Greek life can be a breach.
2. Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by the university or a housing corporation (like the University of Houston in the Bermudez case), they can be held liable for creating or allowing dangerous conditions to exist. This is particularly relevant if hazing happens at a fraternity house either on-campus, or off-campus but still within the institution’s oversight.
3. Negligent Supervision: This applies when an organization (a national fraternity) fails to properly oversee its local chapter, or a university fails to properly oversee its Greek life organizations. If they knew or should have known that hazing was occurring or was likely to occur, and they did nothing to stop it, they are liable for negligent supervision.
4. Assault and Battery: Individual fraternity members who physically harm a pledge can be sued directly for assault (the threat of harm) and battery (the actual physical contact). This is particularly relevant in cases like Leonel’s, involving waterboarding, paddling, and forced exercise.
5. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: This claim applies when outrageous conduct intentionally or recklessly causes severe emotional distress. The psychological torture and humiliation Leonel endured, or similar extreme acts, would certainly qualify.
6. “Consent is NOT a Defense”: This is a critical legal reality. Just as in Texas and many other states, West Virginia law does not recognize consent as a valid defense to hazing. Victims cannot legally “consent” to criminal acts or profound physical and emotional harm. Any claim by a fraternity or university that “they knew what they were signing up for” or “they could have left” is legally baseless and morally bankrupt.

For families in West Virginia, our firm’s experience with these legal theories, combined with our federal court authority, means we can pursue your child’s hazing case effectively, regardless of where it occurred. The law is on your side, and we are here to ensure it is powerfully enforced.

Why Attorney911 Is the Choice for West Virginia Hazing Victims

When your family in West Virginia is facing the horror of hazing, you need legal representation that is not only experienced but also deeply committed and strategically positioned for victory. Attorney911 offers a unique blend of credentials, expertise, and a battle-tested approach that makes us the obvious choice for hazing victims nationwide, including those in West Virginia.

Our Unmatched Credentials and Advantages

1. 25+ Years of Courtroom Experience: Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, brings over two decades of aggressive courtroom litigation against formidable opponents. This isn’t just theory; it’s proven experience repeatedly put to the test.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys: Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña are former insurance defense attorneys. We have literally seen their playbook from the inside. We know how insurance companies and corporate defendants strategize, evaluate claims, and attempt to minimize or deny payouts. This insider knowledge is our unfair advantage, allowing us to anticipate their moves and dismantle their defenses. As Lupe Peña often says, we will “outwork, outsmart, and outfight the other side.”
3. Federal Court Admissions: Our attorneys are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. This federal authority means we can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction, which can be critical when dealing with national fraternities and universities. This also enables us to travel and litigate cases across state lines, including for victims in West Virginia.
4. Dual-State Bar Licenses (Texas and New York): This dual licensing provides a strategic advantage, especially when confronting national fraternity and sorority organizations that may be headquartered elsewhere. Our ability to legally operate in multiple states strengthens our hand in complex, multi-jurisdictional hazing litigation.
5. Multi-Billion Dollar Case Experience: Ralph Manginello’s involvement in the BP Texas City Explosion litigation (a mass tort against a massive corporate defendant resulting in 15 deaths and 180+ injuries) demonstrates our capacity to take on the largest institutions and secure significant results. The same strategic prowess applies to major universities and national fraternities.
6. Hazing-Specific Expertise: We’re not just personal injury lawyers; we are hazing litigation specialists. We have specific expertise in cases involving rhabdomyolysis (like Leonel Bermudez’s case), physical assault, and institutional negligence in Greek life. We know the nuances of hazing culture, investigation, and prosecution.
7. Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit: We aren’t hypothetically talking about hazing; we are actively fighting it right now in Harris County Civil District Court. This gives us unparalleled, real-time insight into the strategies necessary to win these cases against major defendants.
8. “Se Habla Español”: Our bilingual staff, including Lupe Peña who is fluent in Spanish, ensures that language barriers never stand in the way of justice. We proudly serve Hispanic families in West Virginia and across the country.
9. No Upfront Cost: Contingency Fees: We understand that families in West Virginia faced with a hazing crisis are already under immense strain. We take hazing cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay $0 upfront. We only get paid if, and when, we win your case. This aligns our interests with yours and ensures that financial concerns never prevent access to top-tier legal representation.
10. A Father’s Dedication: As a father of three, Ralph Manginello deeply understands the profound impact of harm to a child. This personal perspective fuels our passionate commitment to protecting other families.
11. Client-Centric Approach with High Client Satisfaction: Our 4.9-star rating with over 250 reviews on Google My Business speaks volumes. Our clients consistently highlight our consistent communication, empathetic approach, and relentless fight for maximum settlement. Testimonials like “You are FAMILY to them and they protect and fight for you as such” (Chad Harris) or “This place feels like having a family over your case” (Kiwi Potato) reflect our commitment to every individual client.

Our Approach to Serving West Virginia Families

• Immediate Response: When you face this kind of legal emergency, we move first, fast, and decisively.
• Expert Witness Network: We build our cases with a robust network of experts, including medical professionals (nephrologists for kidney damage, neurologists for TBI), Greek life cultural experts, and specialists in institutional negligence.
• Rapid Evidence Preservation: We instruct clients immediately on how to preserve critical evidence—texts, photos, medical records, social media, witness statements—before it disappears. (See our YouTube video: “Using Your Phone to Document Evidence” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs).
• Willingness to Travel: For necessary depositions, client meetings, or trials in West Virginia, our attorneys are prepared to travel. Distance is never a barrier to pursuing justice.
• Remote Consultations: For your convenience, families in West Virginia can easily connect with our attorneys via video consultation.

If a university, a national fraternity, or an insurance company tries to silence West Virginia hazing victims, we take it to court. We fight for you, with you, every step of the way.

What To Do Right Now: Actionable Steps for West Virginia Families

If your child has been hazed in West Virginia, you are likely overwhelmed, angry, and scared. But this is not the time to be silent or passive. Immediate, decisive action is crucial to protect your child’s rights and build a strong legal case.

8 Critical Steps to Take Immediately:

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately: This is paramount. Even if injuries seem minor, or your child resists, insist on a thorough medical evaluation. Some hazing-related injuries, like rhabdomyolysis or internal organ damage, may not be immediately apparent. Document everything. Explain to medical staff that the injuries were a result of hazing. This medical record is vital evidence.
2. Preserve ALL Evidence: Think of every piece of information as a puzzle piece for your case.
   • Text Messages, Group Chats, Social Media: Take screenshots of every relevant communication on platforms like GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger, texts, and emails. This includes messages from fraternity members, pledges, or witnesses about the hazing activities, warnings, or discussions about the incident. Do NOT delete anything!
   • Photos and Videos: Gather any photos or videos of the hazing activities themselves, the location where they occurred, or any physical injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, swelling) on your child’s body. Document the healing process over time. (Watch our YouTube video on “Using Your Phone to Document Evidence” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs).
   • Documents: Collect any pledge manuals, schedules, “rules,” or materials given to your child during the pledging process.
   • Witness Information: Get the names, phone numbers, and contact information of any other pledges, fraternity/sorority members, or bystanders who witnessed the hazing. Their testimony can be invaluable.
   • Medical and Financial Records: Keep meticulous records of all medical bills, hospital statements, emergency room reports, doctors’ notes, therapy records, and receipts for medications. Also, track any lost wages or academic expenses due to the incident.
3. Do NOT Communicate with the Fraternity, University, or Their Lawyers: Once you suspect hazing, do not allow your child to speak with anyone from the fraternity, the university administration, or their legal representatives without consulting your own attorney first. They are NOT on your side; they are trying to protect their own interests and will often try to minimize, contain, or discredit your child’s claims. Do NOT sign anything they give you.
4. Stay Off Social Media: This is critical. Do NOT post anything about the hazing incident, your child’s injuries, or the legal process on any social media platform. Anything you post can be used against your case by the defense. Advise your child to do the same. (See our YouTube video: “Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY).
5. Contact an Experienced Hazing Litigation Attorney IMMEDIATELY: Time is of the essence. In West Virginia, like many states, there is a statute of limitations (typically two years) for personal injury claims. Missing this deadline means you lose your right to sue forever. Evidence degrades, witnesses’ memories fade, and organizations may destroy records if not put on notice. The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case will be.
6. Consider Filing a Police Report: Depending on the severity of the hazing, it may constitute criminal activity (assault, battery, reckless endangerment). Filing a police report can create an official record and may lead to a criminal investigation, which often aids a civil case.
7. Know Your Child’s Rights in West Virginia: Under West Virginia’s “Alex and Andrew’s Law,” institutions have a duty to prevent hazing, investigate reports, and address violations. Your child has certain rights as a student or prospective student that were violated.
8. Understand Your Child Is Not to Blame: Hazing preys on the desire to belong. Your child did not “consent” to abuse; they were coerced and manipulated. West Virginia law does not recognize consent as a defense to hazing.

West Virginia Families: Trust Our Expertise

We understand that reaching out for help after such a traumatic event can be daunting. But you are not alone. Our firm has the deep knowledge and experience needed to investigate, build, and litigate hazing cases against powerful institutions. We will work tirelessly to hold everyone responsible accountable for the harm they caused, and to secure the maximum possible compensation for your child.

Distance is not a barrier. We regularly consult with families across the nation via phone and video conference, making our expert legal services accessible to you in West Virginia. We are committed to leveling the playing field against well-funded universities and national fraternities. Your pursuit of justice sends a powerful message that hazing will not be tolerated in West Virginia or anywhere else.

West Virginia Families: Have You or Your Child Been Hazed?

If your family in West Virginia has endured the nightmare of hazing, you have legal rights. We are not just talking about this fight; we are in it right now, actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against major institutions. We know how to build these cases, hold institutions accountable, and pursue justice relentlessly. West Virginia families deserve the same aggressive and effective representation.

West Virginia Families – Call Now for a FREE, Confidential Consultation

Your child’s future, and the safety of countless other students, may depend on your action. Don’t wait. The clock is ticking on legal deadlines, and critical evidence can disappear. We are available 24/7 to provide immediate help.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com

Website: attorney911.com

We operate on a CONTINGENCY FEE BASIS – meaning $0 upfront for West Virginia families. We don’t get paid unless and until YOU get paid. This ensures that expert legal representation is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.

We Serve West Virginia Hazing Victims – And Hazing Victims Nationwide

While our physical offices are located in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our ability to serve hazing victims extends far beyond. We understand that hazing is a national crisis, affecting colleges, universities, and student organizations across West Virginia – from West Virginia University in Morgantown to Marshall University in Huntington, and many campuses in between. Your location in West Virginia is not a barrier to justice because:

• Federal Court Authority: Our attorneys are admitted to federal courts, allowing us to pursue cases in federal jurisdiction, an essential avenue when engaging national organizations.
• Dual-State Bar Licenses: With licensure in both Texas and New York, we possess the legal flexibility to navigate complex, multi-state litigation, particularly against national fraternity and sorority organizations that may be headquartered or incorporated in various states.
• Video Consultations: We offer secure and confidential video consultations, making it convenient for West Virginia families to connect with our legal team from their home, without the need for travel.
• Commitment to Travel: When necessary for depositions, critical meetings, or trials, our attorneys are prepared to travel to West Virginia to advocate for your case in person. We go where justice demands.

We represent victims of hazing in all its forms, not just Greek life. This includes:

• Fraternities and sororities at institutions across West Virginia.
• Sports teams, from high school to university level in cities like Charleston and Parkersburg.
• Marching bands and other student organizations at colleges like Fairmont State University or West Liberty University.
• ROTC programs and other clubs in communities throughout West Virginia.

To Other Victims of the University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi Hazing:

We know Leonel Bermudez was not the only one. Our lawsuit details how another pledge collapsed and lost consciousness on October 15, and others were subjected to the same waterboarding, forced eating, and physical abuse. If you or someone you know was part of that fall 2025 pledge class – or any other hazing incident involving this chapter – you have rights, and we can represent you.

As Lupe Peña so powerfully 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 all those responsible to justice, and let’s ensure no other West Virginia family has to endure this pain.

Your Legal Emergency Hotline:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

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

We are ready to fight for you and your family in West Virginia.