If you’re reading this in Chattahoochee County, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child was supposed to make friends at college, perhaps at nearby universities like Columbus State University or even further north at the University of Georgia or Georgia Tech. Instead, they were tortured. We’re here to help families in Chattahoochee County fight back against the insidious scourge of hazing that permeates college campuses across America.

The idyllic image of college life, with its vibrant Greek organizations and spirited traditions, often masks a dangerous underbelly. Hazing, disguised as tradition, brotherhood, or initiation, is a brutal form of abuse that continues to inflict severe physical and psychological trauma on students. In Chattahoochee County, parents send their children off to institutions of higher learning with hopes for their future, trusting that universities and fraternities will protect them. All too often, that trust is shattered.

We are Attorney911, and we are Legal Emergency Lawyers™. While our offices are based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our reach extends nationwide, including to families in Chattahoochee County. We understand the fear, anger, and confusion that follows a hazing incident, and we are passionately committed to aggressive representation for victims and their families. We don’t just talk about hazing; we’re actively fighting it right now in Harris County, Texas, through a landmark lawsuit that epitomizes our relentless pursuit of justice and accountability—the $10 million lawsuit arising from the horrific hazing of Leonel Bermudez by Pi Kappa Phi.

The Haunting Reality of Hazing: It’s Not “Boys Being Boys”

Hazing is not a rite of passage; it is abuse. It’s systematic. It’s dangerous. And in places like Chattahoochee County, where community values often emphasize safety and care for our youth, the reality of hazing can be particularly shocking. The forms of hazing are as varied as they are cruel, and they extend far beyond innocent pranks. They include:

• Physical Abuse: Beatings, paddling, forced calisthenics to the point of collapse, branding, burning, or even exposure to extreme elements.
• Forced Consumption: Binge drinking of alcohol, eating until vomiting, or consuming non-food items. These are often coupled with physical exertion, exacerbating the danger.
• Sleep Deprivation: Being forced to stay awake for extended periods, enduring late-night or early-morning activities that deplete physical and mental reserves.
• Psychological Torture: Humiliation, degradation, verbal abuse, cyberbullying, isolation, and threats that inflict deep emotional wounds.
• Sexual Abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, or the carrying of sexually suggestive objects, which constitute a grave violation of a person’s dignity and safety.
• Simulated Waterboarding: A horrifying form of torture that mimics drowning, as seen in our current lawsuit.

The consequences are devastating and can range from acute medical emergencies to lifelong psychological trauma, and tragically, death. For Chattahoochee County families whose children attend college across the state or even across the country, knowing these dangers exist is paramount. Whether your child is at a school in Georgia like Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University, or even a smaller institution, these risks are real.

A Personal Nightmare: The Leonel Bermudez Story – A Warning to Chattahoochee County Families

The case of Leonel Bermudez is not merely a legal proceeding to us; it is a raw, terrifying example of modern hazing. This is a story that every parent in Chattahoochee County needs to hear, because incidents like this are not isolated; they are a nationwide pattern. What happened to Leonel in Houston could tragically happen to a student from Chattahoochee County at any campus where Greek life flourishes.

In November 2025, Attorney911 filed a $10 million lawsuit in Harris County Civil District Court against Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, the University of Houston, its Board of Regents, the fraternity’s housing corporation, and thirteen individual fraternity members. This lawsuit is not just about compensation; it’s about forcing accountability and sending an unmistakable message that this abhorrent behavior will not be tolerated.

Leonel Bermudez was a “ghost rush”—a prospective member of Pi Kappa Phi who wasn’t even formally enrolled at the University of Houston yet. He was planning to transfer for the upcoming semester. They did this to someone who wasn’t even officially their student.

Starting September 16, 2025, for weeks, Leonel endured systematic abuse and torture. This was not a single bad night; it was a calculated campaign of degradation. He was:

• Waterboarded with a garden hose, simulating drowning. This is a form of torture condemned globally, yet it was inflicted upon a young man seeking friendship.
• Hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour, a depersonalizing act of physical restraint.
• Forced to eat until he vomited—large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns—and then made to continue running sprints across vomit-soaked grass.
• Subjected to extreme physical punishment, including 100+ push-ups, 500 squats, high-volume “suicides” (running drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, and repeated 100-yard crawls. This was a daily ordeal that pushed his body to its absolute limits.
• Struck with wooden paddles, a direct act of physical assault.
• Deprived of sleep, forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, leading to dangerous exhaustion.
• Humiliated by being forced to strip to his underwear in cold weather and carry a fanny pack containing objects of a sexual nature.

The culmination of this brutality occurred on November 3, 2025. After extreme physical exertion, Leonel collapsed, unable to stand without help. He crawled home, and over the next two days, his condition severely worsened. On November 6, his mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was passing brown urine—a tell-tale sign of severe muscle breakdown. He was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring a harrowing three nights and four days in the hospital for intensive medical treatment. He faces the ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

As Attorney Ralph Manginello recounted to ABC13 Houston, “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.”

Attorney Lupe Pena, reflecting our firm’s mission, 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.”

Within days of Leonel’s hospitalization, the Pi Kappa Phi chapter was suspended. On November 14, just days before we filed our lawsuit, the national fraternity announced the chapter was permanently closed, with members voting to surrender their charter. But their statement still brazenly declared, “we look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time.” This reveals a chilling lack of remorse and a systemic attitude that views such incidents as temporary setbacks, not profound failures.

The University of Houston’s spokesperson called the events “deeply disturbing” and acknowledged a “clear violation of our community standards,” even mentioning “potential criminal charges.” These are admissions that speak volumes about their awareness of the severity of the situation and their own institutional failures.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

For parents in Chattahoochee County, it’s crucial to understand that hazing isn’t just movie scenes or isolated incidents. The reality is far more brutal and insidious. It’s a spectrum of abuse designed to break down individuals and enforce loyalty through fear, pain, and humiliation.

Forget the romanticized notions of “brotherhood” or “sisterhood.” What Leonel endured, and what countless others suffer, is criminal battery, assault, reckless endangerment, and sometimes, even manslaughter or murder. This is not about building character; it’s about psychological manipulation and physical torment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing. Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every year in the United States. These aren’t statistics; they are lives, families, and futures irrevocably altered. And 95% of students who are hazed never report it due to fear of retribution, shame, or loyalty to the organization.

Who Is Responsible When Hazing Strikes in Chattahoochee County? We Hold Everyone Accountable.

When hazing leaves a student from Chattahoochee County injured or dead, we cast a wide net of accountability. Our legal strategy is built on identifying and pursuing every single entity that enabled, encouraged, or failed to prevent the abuse. This includes:

1. Local Chapter: The undergraduate members and officers who actively planned, participated in, or permitted the hazing. In Leonel’s case, this includes the chapter president, pledgemaster, and various members.
2. National Fraternity or Sorority Organization: The national body that charters and oversees local chapters. They are often liable for negligent supervision, failing to enforce anti-hazing policies, and knowing about a pattern of hazing across their organization but choosing to do nothing. Pi Kappa Phi, for example, has over 150 chapters nationwide.
3. Housing Corporations: Often separate entities that own or manage fraternity/sorority houses. If hazing occurs on their property, they can be held liable under premises liability laws.
4. Colleges and Universities: Institutions have a duty to protect their students. If they own the property where hazing happens (as the University of Houston did), if they fail to adequately supervise Greek life, or if they ignore warning signs, they can be held directly responsible. Universities near Chattahoochee County, such as Columbus State University or the University of Georgia, have this same legal obligation.
5. Individual Perpetrators: Every person who actively participated in, directed, or failed to intervene in a hazing incident can be sued personally. This extends to former members who may host hazing off-campus, and even their spouses if they permitted illegal activities on their property.
6. Insurance Carriers: These organizations often hold substantial liability insurance policies that are designed to cover such incidents. As former insurance defense attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena know precisely how to navigate these policies and ensure maximum recovery.

We firmly believe that no institution or individual should profit or continue operations while students are being tormented under their watch. We go after the “deep pockets” because that’s what it takes to enact real change. It’s about accountability, not just sympathy.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof

For Chattahoochee County families wondering if legal action can truly make a difference, the answer is a resounding yes. Our $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez is not an anomaly; it is directly supported by a pattern of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in hazing cases nationwide. These precedents send a clear message: hazing costs millions, and we have the receipts.

• Stone Foltz at Bowling Green State University (2021) / Pi Kappa Alpha: The Foltz family received over $10.1 million in settlements from Bowling Green State University and Pi Kappa Alpha national fraternity after Stone died from forced binge drinking. His chapter president was later ordered to pay $6.5 million personally. This case alone is direct precedent for our $10 million demand.
• Maxwell Gruver at Louisiana State University (2017) / Phi Delta Theta: An 18-year-old freshman, Max Gruver, died of acute alcohol poisoning from a hazing ritual. A jury awarded his family a $6.1 million verdict. This case led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony.
• Timothy Piazza at Penn State University (2017) / Beta Theta Pi: Timothy Piazza died from a traumatic brain injury after falling repeatedly while severely intoxicated during a hazing event. Fraternity members waited 12 hours to call 911. The family settled for an estimated $110 million+, and 18 fraternity members faced criminal charges, with several serving jail time. Pennsylvania enacted the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.
• Andrew Coffey at Florida State University (2017) / Pi Kappa Phi: Tragically, this is the same national fraternity as in Leonel Bermudez’s case. Andrew Coffey died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon in 2017. Nine fraternity members were charged, and Pi Kappa Phi’s chapter was permanently closed. The family reached a confidential settlement. This proves Pi Kappa Phi has a documented history of hazing deaths and knew the risks.

These cases are not isolated tragedies; they expose a systemic failure across Greek life and university oversight. They also prove that aggressive legal action can yield substantial financial compensation for victims and, more importantly, force institutional change. For families in Chattahoochee County, these multi-million dollar outcomes serve as a solemn promise: justice is possible.

Texas Law Protects You: Consent Is Not a Defense

While Leonel Bermudez’s case is centered in Texas, the protective mechanisms of anti-hazing laws are increasingly strong across the nation. For Chattahoochee County families, understanding the legal framework in Texas provides insight into where the law stands today.

The Texas Education Code (§ 37.151-37.157) clearly defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of affiliation with an organization. This includes physical brutality, sleep deprivation, exposure, forced calisthenics, and consumption of harmful substances. The hazing Leonel endured fits multiple elements of this definition.

Crucially, Texas law also establishes criminal penalties for hazing:

• Engaging in hazing is a Class B Misdemeanor.
• Hazing causing serious bodily injury, like Leonel’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure, is a Class A Misdemeanor for individual perpetrators, carrying up to 1 year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
• Hazing causing death is a State Jail Felony, with up to 2 years in state jail and a $10,000 fine.

Perhaps the most powerful provision for victims is Texas Education Code § 37.154, which 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 means that any narrative from fraternities or universities claiming “he agreed to participate” or “he could have left” is irrelevant under Texas law. Coercion, peer pressure, and the desire to belong negate true consent in these situations. This vital legal backing strengthens our ability to fight for justice for students from Chattahoochee County and beyond.

Beyond criminal charges, civil lawsuits allow victims to pursue:

• Negligence Claims: For failure to exercise reasonable care.
• Premises Liability: If the hazing occurred on property owned or controlled by the university or fraternity.
• Negligent Supervision: When national organizations or universities fail to oversee chapters or Greek life adequately.
• Assault and Battery: Direct claims against individuals involved in physical acts.
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: For outrageous conduct causing severe emotional harm.

These civil claims are recognized in nearly every state, meaning that our fundamental legal approach applies to victims in Chattahoochee County regardless of where their child was hazed.

Why Attorney911 Is the Choice for Chattahoochee County Hazing Victims

Choosing the right legal team after a hazing incident is one of the most critical decisions a Chattahoochee County family will make. We understand the emotional toll, the financial strain, and the overwhelming confusion. At Attorney911, we offer unparalleled advantages that benefit our clients directly:

1. Currently Litigating a $10M Hazing Lawsuit: We aren’t theoretical. Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, are in the fight right now in Harris County, building a powerful case against a national fraternity and a major university. Chattahoochee County families get the same aggressive methodology and real-time expertise.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys: Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena (yes, Lupe is male, and he/him pronouns are correct for him) previously worked defending insurance companies. They know the insurance companies’ entire playbook—their strategies, their delay tactics, their lowball offers. Now, they use that insider knowledge to meticulously dismantle the opposition’s defense and maximize our clients’ recovery. This is an unfair advantage for victims.
3. Federal Court Authority & Dual-State Bar Admission: We are admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, allowing us to pursue cases in federal jurisdiction, which is often crucial when dealing with national organizations. Ralph Manginello is also licensed in New York, giving us a strategic edge against national fraternities headquartered across the country. We will travel to Chattahoochee County, or anywhere justice needs us, for depositions, client meetings, or trials.
4. 25+ Years of Courtroom Experience: Ralph Manginello brings over two decades of battle-tested litigation experience, including involvement in mass torts like the BP Texas City Explosion litigation, demonstrating his capacity to take on powerful corporate defendants. Lupe Pena adds over 12 years of experience with a national defense firm, further fortifying our team.
5. Hazing-Specific Expertise: Ralph has direct experience with rhabdomyolysis cases and litigation involving specific fraternities. This specialized knowledge is critical for understanding the medical and cultural nuances unique to hazing incidents.
6. “Se Habla Español”: Our bilingual staff, including Lupe Pena, ensures that Spanish-speaking families in Chattahoochee County receive comprehensive legal guidance without any language barriers, making justice accessible to everyone.
7. Contingency Fee Representation: We understand that families suffering from hazing trauma shouldn’t have to worry about legal fees. We take hazing cases on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case. This levels the playing field against well-funded universities and national organizations.
8. Compassionate, Client-Centered Approach: Our Google reviews (4.9 stars with over 250 reviews) frequently praise our communication, responsiveness, and how we treat clients “like family.” We are dedicated to supporting Chattahoochee County families through these traumatic times. As one client, Chad Harris, put it, “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.”

What to Do Right Now if Your Child Has Been Hazed in Chattahoochee County

If your child has been the victim of hazing, whether in Chattahoochee County or at a university further away, immediate action is crucial. The emotional shock and fear can be paralyzing, but your legal rights depend on acting swiftly.

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Even if injuries seem minor, get your child to a doctor or emergency room. Rhabdomyolysis, like Leonel Bermudez suffered, can have delayed symptoms. Medical records are vital evidence.
2. Preserve All Evidence: This is paramount.
* Text Messages & Group Chats: Screenshots of every message, especially from platforms like GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, or WhatsApp. These often contain direct evidence of hazing, threats, or coercion. Do NOT delete anything!
* Photos & Videos: Any images or videos of injuries, hazing activities, or the locations where hazing occurred. These are powerful tools for communicating the truth.
* Witness Information: Names and contact details of other pledges, fraternity/sorority members, or bystanders who witnessed the hazing.
* Documents: Any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, or communications your child received from the organization or university.
* Medical Records & Bills: Keep every record of doctor’s visits, hospital stays, therapy sessions, and medical expenses.
* Academic & Financial Records: Note how hazing impacted grades, enrollment, and any lost wages or scholarship opportunities.
3. Do NOT Communicate Alone:
* Do NOT talk to fraternity/sorority leadership, university administration, or their lawyers without legal counsel. They are not on your side; they protect their institution.
* Do NOT give recorded statements to anyone other than your attorney.
* Do NOT sign any documents from the organization or university without consulting an attorney.
4. Stay Off Social Media: Anything posted online can and will be used against your child’s case. Do not delete past posts (as this could be considered destruction of evidence), but refrain from discussing the hazing incident in any public online forum.
5. Contact Attorney911 Immediately: The statute of limitations (typically two years for personal injury and wrongful death cases in most states, including Georgia) is a strict deadline. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and opportunities for justice can be lost. Our legal emergency hotline is available 24/7. Even if you’re in Chattahoochee County, we can provide remote consultations and travel to you as needed.

We are not just litigators; we are advocates. When hazing changes a life, we are there to fight for the future that was stolen.

Chattahoochee County Families – Call Now – Free Consultation

If your child has been irrevocably harmed by hazing, whether physically, emotionally, or tragically, has lost their life, you have legal rights. We are fighting this battle right now, and we will fight for Chattahoochee County victims with the same aggression and expertise.

Call our Legal Emergency Hotline, available 24/7:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Visit our website: attorney911.com

We work on Contingency – meaning $0 upfront for Chattahoochee County families. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.

We serve hazing victims nationwide, including Chattahoochee County and its surrounding communities. While our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, hazing harms students throughout Georgia, at colleges like Columbus State University, the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and beyond. We offer video consultations for Chattahoochee County families, and our commitment to justice means we will travel for depositions, trials, and critical client meetings wherever your case leads us.

Hazing is not limited to fraternities and sororities. We represent victims of hazing in:

• Fraternities and sororities near Chattahoochee County
• Sports teams in Chattahoochee County
• Marching bands at universities attended by Chattahoochee County students
• ROTC programs
• Clubs and organizations
• Military academies
• Any group that uses abuse as an initiation or membership ritual.

To other victims of the Pi Kappa Phi hazing at the University of Houston: We know there are more of you. Leonel was not alone. Another pledge suffered a hog-tying incident. Yet another lost consciousness during a forced workout. Your rights matter too. As Lupe Pena emphasized, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” Call us. Let’s bring them all to justice.

They Have Names. They Have Faces. They Have Careers. Now They Have Accountability.

The national president of Pi Kappa Phi, Joseph A. Brady, III, and the National Council, which included Walter “Wally” Wahlfeldt, Andrae L. Turner, Ben Bush, William Russell Faulkner, Todd Sargent, and Dwayne Todd, had the authority to implement policies that failed. They had knowledge of prior hazing deaths. Their failure to act led to Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization.

The University of Houston leadership, including its President and Board of Regents, also bears responsibility for cultivating an environment where such atrocities could occur, especially after prior hazing incidents on their campus.

We also know the dangers posed by these national organizations. Our internal intelligence database, comprising over 125 Texas-registered Greek organizations, highlights the depth of their operations. For example, Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc. (EIN 462267515, Frisco, Texas) is one of dozens of entities we track. In the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metro area alone, there are 188 Greek-related organizations, a vast network with financial resources that need to be held accountable. And if a student from Chattahoochee County attends Georgia Southern, for example, we know that national organizations like Pi Kappa Alpha (which has paid over $24 million in hazing death settlements nationwide) might have chapters there with the same dangerous “traditions.”

Attorney911 does not guess who might be responsible for hazing. We know. We maintain one of the most comprehensive private directories of Greek organizations in Texas, including EINs, legal names, addresses, house corporations, and insurance structures. When hazing happens, we already know who to sue. This proactive data intelligence, combined with our aggressive litigation strategy, is precisely what Chattahoochee County families need to take on powerful fraternities, universities, and their insurers.

We understand that Chattahoochee County parents deserve to know the real dangers. The same national network of fraternities with documented histories of hazing operates at universities throughout Georgia. This includes Pi Kappa Alpha, with its $24 million in hazing death settlements; Beta Theta Pi, which faced over $110 million in settlements for the death of Timothy Piazza; and Pi Kappa Phi, the very fraternity we are suing, which has a death on its record from Andrew Coffey. This repeated pattern of harm across different universities and specific fraternities proves that these are not isolated incidents but systemic failures of oversight and culture. We use these precedents to fight for Chattahoochee County families.

The Beta Nu chapter learned this the hard way. Your chapter could be next.

The ultimate goal of our litigation is to send a clear message: Students are not disposable, and institutions will be held fully accountable for their failures to protect them.

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