If you’re reading this in Chatham County, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child went away to college, full of hope for making new friends and building a future. Instead, they were tortured. Abused. Harmed by the very people and institutions that were supposed to protect them. The dreams you had for their college experience have been replaced by nightmares of hazing, injury, and betrayal.

We understand what you’re going through. We are Attorney911, and we are here to help families in Chatham County fight back against the insidious culture of hazing. Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña, are not just lawyers; we are relentless advocates for hazing victims, currently engaged in a $10 million lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university for the severe hazing of a young man. This happened in Houston just weeks ago, but the same patterns of abuse, negligence, and institutional failure exist at colleges and universities that students from Chatham County attend, and perhaps even within Chatham County itself.

We know the fear, anger, and confusion that can engulf a family when a child is harmed by hazing. You may feel alone, intimidated by powerful fraternities, and overwhelmed by the legal system. But you are not alone. We are actively fighting for justice for hazing victims right now, and we bring that same aggressive, data-driven, and compassionate approach to families in Chatham County and across the nation.

The Hazing Nightmare: A Reality for Chatham County Families

When your child leaves Chatham County for college, whether they stay within Georgia at institutions like the University of Georgia or Georgia Tech, or venture out of state to places like the University of Houston, Pennsylvania State, or Louisiana State, you expect them to be safe. You trust that the universities and the Greek organizations they join will foster growth, community, and learning, not abuse. Sadly, for too many families in Chatham County and beyond, this trust is shattered by hazing.

Hazing is not a harmless prank or a rite of passage. It is a systematic pattern of physical, psychological, and often sexual abuse inflicted under the guise of “tradition.” It is designed to degrade, humiliate, and control. And in far too many cases, it leads to severe injury, life-altering trauma, and even death.

In Chatham County, families send their children to college with the hope that they will thrive. The strong sense of community and family values prevalent throughout Chatham County makes these incidents particularly devastating. When a child returns home from college in physical pain or psychological distress due to hazing, it shakes the very foundation of what families expect from higher education. We are here to tell you that what happened to your child is not their fault, and you do not have to suffer in silence.

The Landmark Case: We’re Fighting Hazing Right Now in Houston – The Same Fight We’ll Bring to Chatham County

To understand the dedication and aggressive representation we offer, look no further than our active, ongoing lawsuit: Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al. This isn’t just a case we read about; our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña, filed this $10 million lawsuit just weeks ago in November 2025, and we are relentlessly pursuing justice. This case is a stark warning for Chatham County families about what hazing truly looks like today, and it demonstrates exactly what kind of firm Attorney911 is: aggressive, thorough, data-driven, and relentless in pursuing accountability.

The Story of Leonel Bermudez

Leonel Bermudez was not even officially a student at the University of Houston yet. He was a “ghost rush,” a prospective transfer student who had accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. He wanted to belong, to find his place in a new university community. Instead, he was subjected to an escalating campaign of physical and psychological torture that landed him in the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The hazing included:

• Simulated Waterboarding: As reported by KHOU 11 News, Leonel was sprayed in the face with a garden hose, a tactic explicitly characterized as torture by Houston Public Media, which noted, “Waterboarding, which simulates drowning, is a form of torture.”
• Extreme Physical Exertion: He was forced to perform over 100 push-ups and 500 squats, along with “high-volume suicides,” bear crawls, wheelbarrows, and other grueling exercises until he could not stand without help. These activities were so intense that they led to his muscles breaking down.
• Forced Eating Until Vomiting: Leonel was made to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited. Then, horrifically, he was forced to continue running sprints while in physical distress and lie in his own vomit-soaked grass.
• Physical Beatings: The Houston Chronicle reported that he was “being struck with wooden paddles.”
• Psychological Torture and Humiliation: He was made to carry a fanny pack with objects of a sexual nature at all times, forced to strip to his underwear in cold weather while being sprayed with a hose, and threatened with physical punishment or expulsion if he didn’t comply. In one particularly egregious incident on October 13, another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.
• Sleep Deprivation: Leonel was forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, contributing to his physical exhaustion.

The systematic abuse culminated on November 3, 2025. When he finally made it home, he could barely move. As 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.” Leonel was hospitalized for three nights and four days, diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure – a direct result of the extreme physical punishment inflicted upon him. The danger was so great that he was “passing brown urine,” a clear sign of muscle breakdown that can lead to permanent kidney damage or even death.

Within weeks of this hazing being reported, the chapter was suspended, and its members voted to surrender their charter. The chapter was permanently closed by the national organization. Criminal referrals were initiated. But that wasn’t enough. Attorney911 filed a $10 million lawsuit naming the University of Houston, the UH Board of Regents, the national Pi Kappa Phi organization, its housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity members, including the chapter president, pledgemaster, and even a former member and his spouse who hosted hazing at their residence.

This case, happening right now in Harris County Civil District Court, is proof that Attorney911 doesn’t just talk about fighting hazing; we are actively in the trenches, aggressively seeking justice for victims. The tragic events Leonel endured serve as a stark warning to Chatham County families about the dangers of hazing today, and they demonstrate our firm’s unwavering commitment to holding every responsible party accountable.

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.” We believe that fighting for justice for Leonel Bermudez can help prevent other students from Chatham County from enduring the same nightmare.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

For many Chatham County parents, the image of hazing may be of silly pranks or harmless dares from decades past. But the reality is far more sinister. Hazing today is often about systematic degradation and abuse. It is not about building character or camaraderie; it is about power, control, and intimidation. What Leonel Bermudez endured, like numerous other victims across the nation, is not a game. It is assault, battery, torture, and a blatant disregard for human life.

We often hear about the psychological toll of hazing, but tragically common are the devastating physical injuries:

• Rhabdomyolysis, like Leonel suffered, is the breakdown of muscle tissue, releasing harmful proteins into the bloodstream that can, and often do, lead to acute kidney failure, permanent kidney damage, and even death. The forced extreme exercise and physical beatings in hazing situations are direct causes.
• Alcohol poisoning is a leading cause of hazing deaths, as pledges are forced into dangerous binge drinking rituals. Max Gruver, an 18-year-old at LSU, died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol during a “Bible Study” event where he was punished for wrong answers by drinking more. His BAC was 0.495—over six times the legal limit.
• Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), can result from beatings, falls, or being left incapacitated, as in the case of Timothy Piazza at Penn State. He suffered a TBI after falling repeatedly down stairs while severely intoxicated and was left for 12 hours before anyone called for help.
• Organ damage such as a lacerated spleen, like a UH student suffered in 2017, can result from blunt force trauma during physical hazing.
• Hypothermia, hyperthermia, and dehydration can occur from forced exposure to extreme temperatures or lack of access to water, particularly during strenuous physical activity.

Beyond the physical, hazing inflicts profound psychological damage. Victims often suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), severe anxiety, depression, and long-term trust issues. The fear of retribution that Leonel Bermudez feels, as noted by his attorney Ralph Manginello, is a common and crippling aspect of hazing’s impact. Students from Chatham County and elsewhere go to college seeking belonging, not lasting trauma.

The hazing crisis statistics are alarming: over 55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing, and tragically, since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every single year in the United States. Ninety-five percent of students who are hazed do not report it, often due to fear, shame, or misplaced loyalty. This is why aggressive legal action is so crucial – to force accountability when institutions fail to act.

Who Is Responsible: Holding Everyone Accountable for Hazing in Chatham County

When hazing occurs, it’s never just the actions of a few “bad apples.” There is always a network of individuals and organizations that are either directly involved, negligently allow it to happen, or intentionally look the other way. At Attorney911, we believe in holding every single responsible party accountable, and our lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston reflects this comprehensive approach. For Chatham County families, this means we will identify and pursue every entity that allowed harm to come to your child.

Here’s who legally can be held responsible in a hazing lawsuit, and who we will target in a Chatham County hazing case:

1. The Local Chapter: This includes the specific fraternity or sorority chapter involved. They are directly responsible for organizing and conducting the hazing activities. These chapters are often unincorporated associations, but they still hold shared liability.
2. Chapter Officers: Individuals in leadership positions, such as the chapter president, pledgemaster, vice president, or risk manager, bear significant responsibility. They design, approve, and oversee the hazing rituals, and their actions or inactions directly lead to the harm. In the Bermudez case, we explicitly named the fraternity president and pledgemaster, among others.
3. Individual Members: Any fraternity or sorority member who actively participates in, facilitates, encourages, or fails to intervene in hazing that causes injury can be held personally liable. This extends even to alumni members who host hazing events at their residences, as shown by the inclusion of a former member and his spouse as defendants in the Bermudez lawsuit, whose home was a site of the abuse.
4. The National Organization: Every national fraternity or sorority has a national headquarters that sets policies, provides oversight, and often collects dues from its chapters. They have a duty to prevent hazing and enforce anti-hazing policies across all their chapters. When they fail to do so, they are directly liable for the harm caused. In the Bermudez case, a key allegation from KHOU 11 was that the national organization “failed to enforce anti-hazing rules and policies despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.'” The death of Andrew Coffey at a Pi Kappa Phi chapter in 2017 provides damning evidence that the national organization has known about deadly hazing for years and still failed to prevent it. We track every national organization with chapters near Chatham County, from Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Alpha Epsilon to Phi Delta Theta and Beta Theta Pi, and know their histories.
5. The Housing Corporation: Many fraternities and sororities operate through a separate entity called a “housing corporation” that owns or manages the physical property. This corporation can be held liable for allowing hazing to occur on its premises, particularly if it was aware of the activities or should have been. In our Bermudez case, the Beta Nu Housing Corporation was named as a defendant.
6. The University or College: The institution itself often bears significant responsibility. Universities have a duty to protect their students and provide a safe educational environment. This responsibility is heightened when they own the property where hazing takes place, as the University of Houston did in the Bermudez case. Universities often have codes of conduct they fail to enforce, Greek life advisors who fail to supervise, and prior knowledge of hazing that they fail to address. The fact that the University of Houston had a prior hazing hospitalization in 2017 involving a different fraternity highlights their institutional negligence and direct knowledge of the problem on their campus yet their failure to prevent another severe incident. The UH Board of Regents was named in our lawsuit for exactly these institutional oversight failures.
7. Insurance Carriers: Behind many of these parties are insurance policies—liability insurance for the national organizations, institutional policies for universities, and homeowner’s or renter’s insurance for individual members. These “deep pockets” are the primary source of compensation for victims. Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña, both have extensive experience as former insurance defense lawyers, giving us unparalleled insight into how insurance companies operate, value claims, and ultimately pay out. This insider knowledge is a critical advantage for Chatham County families.

No matter where the hazing occurred – whether at a fraternity house, an off-campus residence, a practice field, or during a secret pledge event – we will meticulously investigate every angle to ensure every responsible party contributes to the justice our Chatham County clients deserve.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof for Chatham County Victims

Hazing cases are frequently portrayed as difficult to win, with fraternities and universities often relying on the victim’s “consent” defense. But the truth, backed by multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements across the country, is that these cases can be won, and won decisively. These landmark cases prove that juries and courts are increasingly unwilling to tolerate the systemic abuse that hazing represents. For Chatham County families seeking justice, these precedents demonstrate that substantial compensation is not only possible but necessary.

Consider these powerful examples:

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Stone Foltz, a 20-year-old BGSU student, died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a Pi Kappa Alpha initiation event. His family ultimately secured over $10.1 million in settlements. Bowling Green State University paid $2.9 million, and Pi Kappa Alpha national along with individual defendants contributed an additional $7.2 million. In December 2024, a jury ordered Daylen Dunson, the chapter president during the hazing, to pay an additional $6.5 million in personal liability. This case sets a direct precedent for our client’s $10 million demand, demonstrating that both universities and fraternities pay millions, and individuals can face massive personal judgments.
• Maxwell Gruver – Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017): Max Gruver, an 18-year-old LSU freshman, died of acute alcohol poisoning after a Phi Delta Theta hazing ritual where he was forced to drink if he answered questions incorrectly. His blood alcohol content was a staggering 0.495. A jury awarded his family a $6.1 million verdict against the fraternity. This case not only resulted in a significant financial award but also led to Louisiana passing the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony offense.
• Timothy Piazza – Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017): Timothy Piazza, a 19-year-old sophomore, died after a Beta Theta Pi bid acceptance night where he was forced to consume 18 drinks in 82 minutes. He fell down stairs multiple times, suffering a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding, and was left for 12 hours before fraternity members called for help. His family secured an estimated $110 million+ in settlements from multiple defendants. The Penn State case was particularly strong due to security camera footage documenting the entire horrific incident. This case led to the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania, increasing penalties for hazing.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Tragically, Andrew Coffey died from alcohol poisoning after a Pi Kappa Phi “Big Brother Night” where he was forced to drink a full bottle of bourbon. This is the same national fraternity as in our Bermudez case. While the settlement amount was confidential, nine fraternity members were charged with hazing, and FSU’s Pi Kappa Phi chapter was permanently closed. This incident eight years ago is damning evidence that Pi Kappa Phi National knew about deadly hazing within its chapters and still failed to prevent the kind of abuse Leonel Bermudez endured.

These cases send an undeniable message: hazing has a steep price. The national organizations and universities involved have paid out well over $130 million in these documented cases alone, demonstrating that holding powerful institutions accountable is not only possible but imperative. For Chatham County families, these precedents show that justice can prevail, and the strategies that secured these multi-million dollar outcomes are precisely what Attorney911 brings to your case. We know these prior cases intimately, and we leverage them to ensure defendants in Chatham County hazing cases understand the severity of their financial exposure.

Texas Law Protects You: Understanding Your Rights in Chatham County

For Chatham County families, understanding the legal landscape is crucial. While our firm is based in Texas, where we filed the Bermudez lawsuit, the principles outlined in Texas law are mirrored by anti-hazing statutes in many states, and the broader civil liability theories apply nationwide. Moreover, our admission to federal courts and dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) allow us to pursue your hazing case regardless of where in Chatham County or the nation the incident occurred.

Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157 — Anti-Hazing Law

Texas law provides a robust framework to combat hazing, defining it broadly and imposing significant penalties. Most importantly for victims, it states unequivocally that consent is not a defense.

Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151): The law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in an organization, if the act:

• Endangers mental or physical health or safety.
• Includes physical brutality (e.g., whipping, beating, striking, placing harmful substances on the body). Our client Leonel Bermudez was struck with wooden paddles.
• Involves sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement, or calisthenics that pose an unreasonable risk or adversely affect health. Leonel was sleep-deprived, exercised to exhaustion (500 squats, 100 push-ups, bear crawls), stripped to his underwear in cold weather, and sprayed with a hose. These activities directly led to his rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
• Involves the consumption of food, liquid, or alcohol that subjects the student to unreasonable risk. Leonel was forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited.
• Induces or requires an activity that violates the Penal Code. Much of the hazing Leonel endured fits the definition of assault and battery.

Leonel Bermudez’s case perfectly aligns with multiple elements of this legal definition, leaving no doubt that he was a victim of hazing under Texas law.

Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152): Texas law designates hazing as a criminal offense. Engaging in hazing is a Class B Misdemeanor (up to 180 days jail). If hazing causes serious bodily injury, it’s a Class A Misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail), and if it causes death, it’s a State Jail Felony (up to 2 years in state jail). Leonel’s rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure undoubtedly qualify as “serious bodily injury,” making the perpetrators liable for criminal charges. Indeed, the University of Houston spokesperson acknowledged “potential criminal charges” in their statement to Houston Public Media.

Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): Organizations that condone or encourage hazing, or whose officers or members commit hazing, face fines and denial of the right to operate on campus. This means the local chapter, the national organization, and potentially the university can face direct penalties.

Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154): This is perhaps the most critical aspect of Texas anti-hazing law for victims and their families. It explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution for an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” This directly refutes the common defense that victims “knew what they were getting into” or “freely participated.” The law recognizes the inherent power imbalance and coercive nature of hazing, making it impossible to legally consent to such abuse. This principle is key to securing justice for Chatham County victims, eliminating a common legal hurdle.

Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Charges

In addition to criminal penalties, victims and their families can pursue civil lawsuits for damages. These civil claims are typically based on several legal theories:

• Negligence: This is the most common theory, arguing that the defendants (fraternity, university, individuals) owed a duty of care to the student, breached that duty by allowing or causing hazing, and that breach directly caused the injuries and damages.
• Premises Liability: If hazing occurred on property owned or controlled by the university (as in the Bermudez case, where UH owned the fraternity house) or another entity, they can be held liable for maintaining an unsafe environment or failing to prevent a foreseeable danger.
• Negligent Supervision: National organizations and universities have a duty to supervise their chapters and Greek life, respectively. A failure to adequately monitor, train, or intervene when hazing occurs constitutes negligent supervision.
• Assault and Battery: Individual participants in hazing who physically attack or offensively touch a victim can be sued directly for intentional torts like assault and battery.
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: When hazing involves extreme and outrageous conduct (like waterboarding or hog-tying) that causes severe emotional distress, victims can pursue claims for the intentional infliction of emotional distress.

These civil liability principles apply regardless of location, meaning Chatham County victims have robust legal avenues for seeking justice and compensation. We leverage these laws to construct airtight cases, ensuring every responsible party is held accountable.

Why Attorney911 Is the Obvious Choice for Chatham County Families

When your child has been subjected to devastating hazing, you need legal representation that is aggressive, empathetic, and has a proven track record against powerful institutions. Attorney911 offers Chatham County families a unique blend of qualifications and a fierce commitment to victims that sets us apart. We are not just another personal injury firm; we are specialists in hazing litigation, and we are currently fighting this very battle.

1. Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit: This is not theoretical. As detailed with Leonel Bermudez’s case, we are actively engaged in a major hazing lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university. This means we are up-to-date on the latest tactics, legal arguments, and strategies required to win these complex cases. Chatham County families benefit directly from this active, frontline experience.
2. Unparalleled Insider Knowledge from Former Insurance Defense Lawyers: Both of our managing partners, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Eleno Peña, previously worked as defense attorneys for insurance companies. They’ve seen the opposition’s playbook firsthand. Ralph Manginello has over 25 years in the courtroom, starting his career defending insurance companies before switching to represent injured victims. Lupe Peña worked for Litchfield Cavo LLP, a nationwide insurance defense firm. This means we know exactly how fraternities, universities, and their insurance carriers will try to minimize, delay, and deny claims. We leverage this insider knowledge to dismantle their defenses and maximize recovery for our Chatham County clients.
3. Extensive Litigation Experience Against Major Corporate and Institutional Defendants: Ralph Manginello was involved in the multi-billion dollar mass tort litigation against BP following the catastrophic Texas City refinery explosion that killed 15 workers. This experience demonstrates our capacity to take on massive corporate defendants with limitless resources – a skill directly applicable to litigation against powerful national fraternities and multi-billion dollar universities for Chatham County victims.
4. Federal Court Authority: We are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, providing us with jurisdiction to pursue cases in federal court nationwide. This is a critical advantage when suing national organizations that operate across state lines or when the hazing triggers federal civil rights violations. We can pursue your Chatham County case in any appropriate federal jurisdiction.
5. Dual-State Bar Admissions (Texas and New York): This gives us a strategic advantage when dealing with national fraternities and sororities, many of which are headquartered or have significant operations outside of Texas. Our ability to practice in New York, a major hub for national organizations, enhances our reach and leverage.
6. “Se Habla Español”: Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish, and our team is bilingual. This allows us to effectively serve Hispanic families in Chatham County and beyond, ensuring no language barrier stands between victims and justice. We understand the unique challenges faced by immigrant families and offer compassionate, comprehensive legal support.
7. Deep Expertise in Related Injuries: Ralph Manginello has specific expertise in rhabdomyolysis hazing cases, such as Leonel Bermudez’s situation, and has litigated cases involving Kappa Sigma and Texas A&M University. Our firm frequently handles catastrophic injury cases, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and wrongful death, all of which are tragically common outcomes of severe hazing.
8. Client-Centered, Empathetic Approach: We treat every Chatham County family like our own. We know this is an incredibly difficult time, and we provide constant communication, support, and transparency. As our client Chad Harris said, “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client that’s caught in the middle of many other cases. You are FAMILY to them and they protect and fight for you as such.”
9. No Upfront Costs – Contingency Fee Basis: We understand that expensive medical bills and lost wages add financial strain to emotional trauma. That’s why we take hazing cases on a contingency fee basis. Chatham County victims pay absolutely $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless YOU get paid. This ensures that expert legal representation is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.
10. Willingness to Travel: While our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we proudly serve hazing victims in Chatham County and nationwide. We leverage technology for remote consultations and are fully prepared to travel to Chatham County for depositions, meetings, and trials when necessary. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

For Chatham County parents searching in the dark for help, Attorney911 offers not just legal expertise, but a firm that embodies the fury of fighting injustice and the compassion for those who have been wronged. We are the experienced, aggressive, and dedicated advocates your family needs.

What to Do Right Now: Actionable Steps for Chatham County Families

If your child has been a victim of hazing in Chatham County or anywhere else, the time to act is now. Hazing cases are complex, evidence disappears rapidly, and legal deadlines (like the 2-year statute of limitations in most personal injury and wrongful death cases in Texas and many other states) can quickly expire. Every hour counts.

Here are immediate steps Chatham County families should take:

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately: Your child’s health is the absolute priority. Even if injuries seem minor, or if psychological trauma is the primary concern, seek professional medical assessment. For physical injuries, go to the emergency room or see a doctor. For emotional distress, consult a therapist or counselor. Ensure everything is documented in medical records. A delay in seeking treatment can be used by defense attorneys to argue that the injuries were not severe or not related to the hazing.
2. Preserve ALL Evidence: This cannot be stressed enough. Hazing organizations and universities are notorious for destroying evidence once an incident comes to light.
   • Medical Records: Obtain copies of all hospital records, doctor’s notes, emergency room visits, and therapy records.
   • Photos and Videos: Take photos of any physical injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, swelling) at all stages of healing. If there are any photos or videos of the hazing activities themselves, save them immediately.
   • Communications: This is often the most critical evidence. DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING. Save all text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchat messages, Instagram DMs, emails, or any other digital communications related to the hazing. These often contain direct evidence of instruction, threats, and discussions among members.
   • Witness Information: Collect names and contact information for any other pledges, fraternity/sorority members, or bystanders who witnessed the hazing.
   • Documents: Keep any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, or codes of conduct given to your child.
   • Financial Records: Document all medical bills, receipts for treatment, and any lost wages or academic fees incurred due to the hazing.
   • Academic Records: Gather information on how the hazing impacted your child’s grades, enrollment status, or scholarships.
3. Do NOT Communicate with the Fraternity, University, or Their Lawyers: Once a hazing incident occurs, these institutions will immediately go into crisis management mode. They will attempt to collect statements, sometimes under the guise of an “internal investigation,” that can later be used against you. They will try to get you to sign documents that waive your rights. Do NOT delete any messages, post on social media, or talk to anyone from the organization or university without legal counsel. Let your attorney handle all communications.
4. Do NOT Post on Social Media: Anything your child posts, or that you post, about the incident or their recovery can be used by the defense to undermine your case. Assume everything posted on social media is public and discoverable.
5. Contact Attorney911 Immediately: The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can begin preserving critical evidence, securing expert witnesses, and building a strong case. We offer free, confidential consultations for Chatham County families. You will speak directly with an experienced hazing litigation attorney who understands your child’s situation. We will explain your legal options, answer your questions, and guide you through the next steps.

For Chatham County families, whether your child attends a local institution or a major university across the country, the dangers of hazing are real. When the unthinkable happens, you need strong, experienced advocates who will fight tirelessly for justice. We are equipped with the knowledge, experience, and fierce determination to hold powerful institutions and individuals accountable.

Chatham County Metro Hazing Watch: 188 Organizations Under Our Radar

While our Bermudez case is in Houston, we understand that Chatham County has unique educational institutions or sends its students to major centers. Chatham County is part of the larger Savannah-Hinesville-Statesboro metropolitan statistical area, which means many students from Chatham County will attend universities like Savannah State University, Georgia Southern University (in nearby Statesboro), or the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Many others will pursue higher education at larger statewide institutions in Georgia or across the Southeast.

Our firm maintains one of the most comprehensive private directories of Greek organizations across Texas, including detailed information on over 125 IRS-registered Greek organizations, their EINs, legal names, and insurance structures. This intelligence system allows us to identify parent organizations, housing corporations, and alumni groups behind the Greek letters, so we know exactly who is responsible and who to sue. We bring this same data-driven approach to every case, understanding the structure of major national fraternities that have chapters in or near Chatham County.

For example, our database includes IRS-registered entities such as Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 462267515) in Frisco, Texas, and Kappa Sigma Mu Gamma Chapter Inc (EIN 133048786) in College Station, Texas. These real legal names and EINs, sourced directly from IRS B83 public filings, are not just entries in a database; they represent the specific entities that own property, collect funds, and hold insurance policies – the very defendants we target when hazing occurs. The Beta Nu Housing Corporation, for instance, corresponds to the Pi Kappa Phi chapter we sued at University of Houston. This meticulous tracking means we don’t guess; we know exactly who to pursue when a student from Chatham County is harmed.

The Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area, our home base, contains 188 Greek organizations. Across 25 metropolitan areas in Texas alone, there are a total of 1,423 Greek-related organizations that we track. These numbers underscore the pervasive nature of Greek life and the extensive network of entities that can be held accountable when hazing happens. Universities like Savannah State University and Georgia Southern University, where many Chatham County students might attend, host chapters of numerous national fraternities and sororities – the same organizations that have histories of multi-million dollar hazing settlements.

To the fraternities, sororities, and their associated entities operating in or near Chatham County: We know who you are. We know your corporate structures. We know your national organizations have paid millions in hazing settlements. If your chapter harms students from Chatham County, Attorney911 will find every liable entity and hold you accountable. The Beta Nu chapter at UH learned this the hard way – and we are ready to bring the same fight to any organization that abuses students near Chatham County.

Contact Us: Your First Responders to a Legal Emergency

If you’re a Chatham County parent reading this at 2 AM, consumed by worry and fear for your child, know this: You don’t have to face this nightmare alone. We are here, ready to listen, advise, and fight for you.

Your child didn’t deserve this. You deserve justice.

🚨 CHATHAM COUNTY FAMILIES: IMMEDIATE HELP IS AVAILABLE.

CALL OUR LEGAL EMERGENCY HOTLINE:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

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

We are available 24/7 for a free, confidential consultation. We will come to you, schedule a video conference, or meet you in one of our Texas offices. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

Remember, time is critical. Evidence can disappear, witness memories fade, and legal deadlines approach quickly. Don’t let fear or intimidation prevent you from seeking justice for your child. Just as we are aggressively fighting for Leonel Bermudez in Houston, we will tirelessly fight for your family in Chatham County.

Chatham County Hazing Victims: Enough is enough.