If you’re reading this, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child was supposed to make friends at college. Instead, they were tortured. We’re here to help families in Jenkins County, Georgia fight back.

We are Attorney911, and while our main offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our reach and commitment to justice extend nationwide, including to families in Jenkins County. We understand the unique challenges facing families in more rural areas like Jenkins County when confronting powerful institutions like national fraternities and universities. The distance to major legal hubs should never be a barrier to justice. We travel, we consult remotely, and we bring our aggressive, proven strategies directly to you, just as we would for a family in our own backyard.

We are not just familiar with the theories of hazing litigation; we are actively engaged in the fight. Right now, our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña, are locked in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi, the University of Houston, and 13 individual fraternity members. This isn’t theoretical; this is real, ongoing, and demonstrates the exact level of aggressive, data-driven, and relentless representation we bring to every hazing victim’s case, whether they are in Houston, Georgia, or anywhere else in America.

The Hazing Crisis: Why Jenkins County Families Need Us

Hazing in America is a pervasive and dangerous problem, extending far beyond the stereotypes of harmless pranks or forced calisthenics. It is a crisis that claims lives, shatters futures, and leaves deep psychological scars. Every year, families from communities like Jenkins County send their bright, hopeful children off to colleges and universities, trusting that these institutions will provide a safe environment for learning and growth. What they often encounter instead is a brutal, dangerous, and often deadly world of institutionalized abuse.

According to national studies, over half of students involved in Greek organizations experience hazing. This isn’t limited to fraternities; sororities, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC programs, and numerous other student groups across the United States engage in these harmful practices. Since the year 2000, there has been at least one hazing-related death annually, a grim statistic that underscores the severity of this issue. Perhaps most alarmingly, 95% of students who are hazed do not report it, often due to fear, shame, or loyalty to their organizations.

This culture of silence allows hazing to flourish, often with the implicit or explicit complicity of universities and national organizations that prioritize reputation and “tradition” over student safety. They know hazing exists. They draft policies against it. Yet, time and again, they fail to enforce these policies, allowing dangerous behaviors to continue until a student is severely injured, hospitalized, or tragically killed. Only then do they scramble to issue statements, suspend chapters, and claim ignorance.

For parents in Jenkins County, a close-knit community where families expect a certain level of safety and accountability, the reality of hazing occurring at universities their children attend can be particularly shocking and devastating. Your child may attend college outside of Georgia, perhaps at a university that seems miles away from the values of Jenkins County. Yet, the same national fraternities that operate in major cities like Houston, Atlanta, or Tallahassee have chapters on campuses across the country, often replicating the same dangerous “traditions” that have led to tragic outcomes elsewhere.

We believe that every family, no matter their location, deserves aggressive legal representation against these powerful entities. When your child attends universities that may be a considerable distance from Jenkins County, such as the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, or even out-of-state institutions, they are vulnerable to the same hazing risks that our client faced in Houston. Attorney911 is here to bridge that gap, bringing our expertise and dedication to Jenkins County families.

The Landmark Case: Our $10 Million Fight for Leonel Bermudez

We don’t just talk about the hazing crisis; we are actively fighting it right now in Harris County Civil District Court. The case of Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al. is the centerpiece of our firm’s commitment to holding institutions accountable, and it represents exactly how aggressively we will fight for your family in Jenkins County, Georgia. This is a $10 million lawsuit filed in November 2025 against Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters, its University of Houston Beta Nu chapter, the University of Houston, its Board of Regents, and 13 individual fraternity members.

This case happened in Houston. But the same hazing happens at universities near Jenkins County, Georgia. The same national fraternities operate in your state and beyond. The same negligence exists at institutions your children might attend. And we will fight for Jenkins County families with the same aggression and data-driven strategy we’re bringing to this critical lawsuit.

Leonel Bermudez was just a “ghost rush”—a prospective member who hadn’t even officially enrolled at the University of Houston yet, planning to transfer for the upcoming semester. Yet, for weeks, he endured a systematic campaign of abuse, torture, and hazing that left him hospitalized for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.

Our client’s experience is not an isolated incident. This is what hazing looks like today. This is what these fraternities do. And this is why Attorney911 stands ready to fight for families like yours.

As Ralph Manginello, our managing partner, expressed 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.” This visceral account paints a terrifying picture that any parent can understand.

Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, added 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.” This statement encapsulates the profound mission behind our litigation—to prevent future tragedies and stand up for victims.

The Hazing Timeline: Weeks of Systematic Abuse

The horror Leonel endured unfolded over weeks:

• September 16, 2025: Leonel accepts a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi.
• September 16 – November 3, 2025: Weeks of relentless, systematic hazing begin.
• October 13, 2025: In a chilling sign of the chapter’s culture, another pledge is hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.
• October 15, 2025: Another pledge loses consciousness and collapses during forced exercises, requiring others to elevate his legs. These incidents illustrate the culture of extreme physical punishment and neglect of member safety within the chapter that was directly applicable to Leonel.
• November 3, 2025: Leonel is forced to undergo extreme physical punishment as retribution for missing an event. This includes over 100 pushups, 500 squats, “high-volume suicides,” bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother drills,” and repeated 100-yard crawls. He is forced to recite the fraternity creed while exercising, under threat of expulsion. By the end, he is so exhausted he cannot stand without help.
• November 4-5, 2025: Leonel’s condition worsens. He is severely sore and unable to move.
• November 6, 2025: His mother rushes him to the hospital after he begins passing brown urine—a classic sign of severe muscle breakdown.
• November 6-10, 2025: Leonel is hospitalized for three nights and four days, diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
• November 14, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi National closes its Beta Nu Chapter, a move that came before our lawsuit was filed, indicating their awareness of the severity of the allegations.
• November 21, 2025: Attorney911 files the $10 million lawsuit in Harris County Civil District Court, drawing immediate local and national media attention.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

For Jenkins County families, it’s crucial to understand that hazing has evolved far beyond the pranks you might imagine from movies or old stories. This is not about cleaning a common room or participating in light-hearted traditions. This is systematic brutality.

The hazing Leonel Bermudez endured, and what countless other students face, included tactics that could be considered torture:

• Waterboarding / Simulated Drowning: Leonel was subjected to simulated waterboarding with a garden hose, sprayed directly in his face during calisthenics. This is a tactic recognized globally as torture.
• Forced Eating Until Vomiting: He was compelled to consume large quantities of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited, then forced to continue running sprints through his own vomit, demonstrating a profound level of degradation and physical abuse.
• Extreme Physical Punishment: The activities on November 3, causing kidney failure, were not merely “tough workouts.” They included 100+ pushups, 500 squats, “high-volume suicides,” bear crawls, wheelbarrows, and 100-yard crawls, all while being threatened and demoralized. Another pledge losing consciousness during similar workouts highlights the extreme danger.
• Psychological Torture & Humiliation: Leonel was forced to carry a fanny pack with objects of a sexual nature, stripped to his underwear in cold weather, and witnessed another pledge hog-tied with an object in his mouth. These acts are designed to break a student down psychologically.
• Sleep Deprivation: Forced early morning drives for fraternity members led to dangerous exhaustion, impacting physical and mental well-being.
• Physical Brutality: The shocking revelation of pledges being struck with wooden paddles is a clear act of assault and battery.

The Medical Consequences: Rhabdomyolysis and Kidney Failure

Leonel’s body literally broke down from the abuse. Rhabdomyolysis is a dangerous condition where damaged muscle tissue releases proteins into the bloodstream, which can overwhelm and destroy the kidneys. The presence of brown urine is a classic sign, indicating that myoglobin (the muscle protein) is being filtered by the kidneys, often leading to acute kidney failure. His four-day hospitalization was critical, and he faces the ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage. This is a severe, life-altering injury that demands significant accountability.

Who Is Responsible: Holding Every Participant and Institution Accountable

When hazing occurs, it’s never just the actions of a few “bad apples.” It’s a systemic failure, often enabled by multiple layers of individuals and institutions. In cases like Leonel’s, we leave no stone unturned, pursuing every entity that bears responsibility, just as we will for hazing victims and their families in Jenkins County, Georgia.

Our lawsuit names a comprehensive list of defendants, each of whom played a role in contributing to Leonel’s injuries:

• The Local Chapter: The Beta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston directly organized and conducted the hazing activities. They are primarily responsible for the immediate harm.
• Chapter Officers and Individual Members: Key leaders like the fraternity president and pledgemaster, along with the 13 individual members named in the lawsuit, actively directed or participated in the hazing. They are personally liable for their actions. We’ve seen in other cases, like Stone Foltz’s, that individual officers can be held directly responsible for millions of dollars.
• Former Members and Their Spouses: In Leonel’s case, former members and even one of their spouses were named as defendants because hazing activities occurred at their private residence. This expands the scope of liability to those who enable or provide the venue for abuse.
• The National Organization: Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters is a crucial defendant. Despite closing the chapter immediately after the incident, their own statements confirm “violations” of their policies. Our lawsuit alleges they failed to supervise, failed to enforce anti-hazing policies, and knew of “a hazing crisis.” This isn’t theoretical; Pi Kappa Phi has a documented history, including the death of Andrew Coffey at Florida State University in 2017. They had eight years to fix their culture and failed. National organizations possess vast resources and insurance, making them a key target for substantial damages.
• The University: The University of Houston itself, along with its Board of Regents, is a defendant. The University owned the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place, giving them direct control and responsibility for premises safety. More critically, the University of Houston had a prior hazing hospitalization incident in 2017 involving a different fraternity. They had eight years to implement effective oversight and safeguard their students. Their failure to act, despite prior knowledge, directly contributed to Leonel’s injuries, rendering them culpable for institutional negligence and premises liability.

This multi-faceted approach to litigation ensures that no responsible party can evade accountability. We pursue not just the immediate perpetrators, but also the “deep pockets”—the national organizations and universities—whose negligence and willful indifference allow these tragedies to occur. Our experience as former insurance defense attorneys gives us a unique advantage in understanding how these very institutions attempt to shield themselves from liability, enabling us to dismantle their defenses strategically.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof That Justice Is Possible

For Jenkins County families reeling from a hazing incident, understanding the potential financial recovery can be a critical step toward healing and rebuilding. Our $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez is not an arbitrary figure; it is directly supported by a strong foundation of precedent-setting multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in hazing cases across the country. These cases send a clear message: hazing costs millions, and institutions will pay.

Consider these landmark cases that have shifted the landscape of hazing litigation:

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Totaling $10.1 Million+
  Stone Foltz, a pledge at Pi Kappa Alpha, died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a hazing ritual. The subsequent legal actions led to Bowling Green State University settling for $2.9 million, while Pi Kappa Alpha National and several individuals settled for an additional $7.2 million. Most recently, in December 2024, the former chapter president, Daylen Dunson, was ordered to pay a personal judgment of $6.5 million. This case alone directly supports our $10 million demand, demonstrating the value placed on even non-death severe injuries when institutions and fraternities are held accountable.
• Maxwell Gruver, Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017): $6.1 Million Jury Verdict
  Max Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman, died from acute alcohol poisoning with a BAC of 0.495 after being forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol during a “Bible Study” hazing event. A jury awarded his family $6.1 million, and the tragedy also led to the passage of the “Max Gruver Act,” making hazing a felony in Louisiana. This verdict shows that juries are willing to award substantial sums for hazing deaths and injuries and that these cases can drive significant legislative change.
• Timothy Piazza, Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017): $110+ Million (Estimated Settlements)
  Timothy Piazza died after falling down stairs multiple times during a Beta Theta Pi hazing ritual, suffering a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding. Fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling 911. Security cameras inside the house captured the horrific events. While confidential, settlements in this case are estimated to exceed $110 million, making it one of the largest hazing payouts in history. His death led to Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.” This case powerfully demonstrates how strong evidence and egregious conduct can lead to massive financial and legislative consequences.
• Andrew Coffey, Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017):
  This case is particularly relevant to Leonel’s because it involved the same national fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi. Andrew Coffey died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink a full bottle of bourbon during a “Big Brother Night” event. Nine fraternity members were criminally charged, and the chapter was permanently closed. Although the civil settlement amount was confidential, the incident highlights a devastating pattern of behavior within Pi Kappa Phi, demonstrating that they had clear notice of deadly hazing within their organization years before Leonel’s injuries.
• Adam Oakes, Virginia Commonwealth University / Delta Chi (2021): $4+ Million Settlement
  Adam Oakes died from alcohol poisoning after a Delta Chi hazing event. His family recently reached a confidential settlement exceeding $4 million, and his death spurred Virginia’s “Adam’s Law.” This ongoing series of tragic cases, all resulting in significant financial recovery, reinforces the legal viability and strong precedent for hazing victims.

These precedents underscore Attorney911’s ability to achieve substantial results for hazing victims like Leonel Bermudez and your child in Jenkins County. We know that institutions and national organizations will fight aggressively to avoid responsibility. Still, as these cases demonstrate, with expert legal representation, the truth can prevail, and justice can be served. The multi-million dollar figures are not just payouts; they are powerful messages that force change and hold powerful entities accountable.

Texas Law Protects You: Understanding Your Legal Recourse in Hazing Cases

For Jenkins County families, understanding the legal landscape is crucial, even if the hazing incident occurred outside of Georgia. While we are based in Texas, where our current landmark case is unfolding, the legal principles of accountability, negligence, and seeking justice for hazing victims are broadly applicable across state lines. Furthermore, our federal court admissions and dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) allow us to pursue cases with national implications, ensuring that your location in Jenkins County does not limit your legal options.

Texas, like many states, has robust anti-hazing laws that offer significant protection to victims and their families. These laws are designed not only to impose criminal penalties but also to lay the groundwork for civil litigation, which is where families can seek substantial compensation for the damages they have suffered.

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

• Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151): Texas law broadly defines hazing as “any intentional, knowing, or reckless act…directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in an organization if the act…endangers the mental or physical health or safety of the student.” The law then provides specific examples that directly relate to Leonel’s case:
  • “Any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking…” (e.g., being struck with wooden paddles).
  • “Sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other similar activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm…” (e.g., forced early morning exercises, stripping in cold weather, 500 squats to the point of kidney failure).
  • “Consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage…that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm…” (e.g., forced eating until vomiting).
    As you can see, the hazing Leonel experienced checks multiple boxes under this legal definition.
• Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152): Texas law treats hazing as a serious offense. While engaging in hazing can be a Class B Misdemeanor, hazing causing serious bodily injury (like Leonel’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure) can be a Class A Misdemeanor, carrying up to a year in jail. Tragically, hazing that causes death is a State Jail Felony, with up to two years in state jail. These criminal statutes often run parallel to civil lawsuits, bolstering the case for accountability. The University of Houston spokesperson even acknowledged “potential criminal charges” in their public response to Leonel’s case.
• Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): Critically, Texas law states that an “organization commits an offense if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer or any combination of members, pledges, or alumni… commits or assists in the commission of hazing.” This means the local chapter and the national organization can be held directly responsible. Penalties can include fines up to $10,000, denial of permission to operate on campus, and forfeiture of property.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154): This is perhaps one of the most powerful provisions of Texas law and many other state anti-hazing statutes. The law explicitly states, “It is not a defense to prosecution… that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” This completely disarms the common defense tactic by universities and fraternities that the victim “voluntarily participated” or “knew what they were signing up for.” Under Texas law, you cannot consent to being hazed.

Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Prosecution

While criminal charges aim to punish offenders, civil lawsuits, like the one we’ve filed for Leonel, enable victims and their families to recover financial compensation for their immense suffering and losses. These claims can be brought against multiple parties and offer broader avenues for justice that Jenkins County families deserve:

1. Negligence Claims: This is the bedrock of many hazing lawsuits. It asserts that the university, national fraternity, or local chapter had a “duty of care” to protect students, that they “breached” that duty by allowing or causing hazing, and that this breach directly “caused” the victim’s “damages.”
2. Premises Liability: In situations where hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by the university (as it did in Leonel’s case, where UH owned the fraternity house) or a local chapter’s housing corporation, premises liability claims can be filed. This holds property owners responsible for dangerous conditions on their land.
3. Negligent Supervision: This theory holds that national organizations and universities can be liable if they fail to adequately supervise their chapters or Greek life programs, especially when they know of prior hazing incidents or a general “hazing crisis.”
4. Assault and Battery: Individual fraternity members who physically harm a pledge can be sued for intentional torts like assault (threatening harm) and battery (causing harmful physical contact, such as striking with paddles or forced hose spraying).
5. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: The extreme and outrageous nature of hazing acts, such as waterboarding or public humiliation, often gives rise to claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress, addressing the profound psychological trauma victims endure.
6. Wrongful Death: Tragically, when hazing results in death, the victim’s family can file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for their profound loss, including future earnings, companionship, and emotional suffering.

For Jenkins County familes, it’s imperative to remember that these civil legal options exist regardless of whether criminal charges are filed or pursued. We focus on securing the financial recovery needed to cover medical bills, therapy, lost educational opportunities, and the immense pain and suffering that hazing inflicts.

Why Attorney911: Your Fierce Advocates for Justice in Jenkins County

Choosing the right legal team after a hazing incident is one of the most critical decisions a family in Jenkins County, Georgia will make. You need more than just a lawyer; you need fierce advocates who understand the complexities of hazing litigation, who know how to navigate the legal system against powerful institutions, and who genuinely care about your child’s well-being. Attorney911 is that team.

Our firm, led by Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña, brings a unique blend of experience, insight, and aggressive dedication to every case. While our physical offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our commitment to hazing victims and their families in Jenkins County and across the nation is unwavering. We understand that local firms in smaller areas may not possess the specialized expertise or resources to challenge well-funded national fraternities and major universities. That’s where we come in.

1. Unmatched Experience in High-Stakes Litigation:
Ralph Manginello, our managing partner, brings over 25 years of courtroom experience to the table. His background includes involvement in mass tort litigation, specifically the multi-billion dollar lawsuits against BP after the Texas City refinery explosion. This experience means he knows how to take on massive corporate defendants and win. The same strategic approach used against an oil giant is deployed against national fraternities and universities. His admission to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and his dual-state bar license (Texas and New York) provide the federal authority and national reach necessary to champion your case, no matter where the hazing occurred in Jenkins County or beyond.

2. Insider Knowledge from Former Insurance Defense Attorneys:
This is perhaps our most significant competitive advantage. Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña are former insurance defense attorneys. Mr. Peña, in particular, honed his skills at Litchfield Cavo LLP, a national defense firm, where he represented insurance companies and corporations in a wide array of cases. This means we have seen the defense’s playbook from the inside. We know how insurance companies value claims, how they strategize to minimize payouts, and the tactics they use to delay and deny justice. Now, we use that insider knowledge to anticipate their moves, dismantle their arguments, and maximize compensation for our clients. No one knows how to beat them better than someone who used to be them.

3. Active, Ongoing Hazing Litigation: The Bermudez Case:
We aren’t just reading about hazing; we’re in the trenches fighting it. Our $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston is proof of our active commitment and expertise. This ongoing case demonstrates our aggressive, thorough, and data-driven approach. We leverage intelligence databases, meticulously track organizational structures, and leave no stone unturned to hold every responsible entity accountable. The same dedication and tactical prowess currently applied in Harris County will be brought to bear for your Jenkins County hazing case.

4. Deep Understanding of Hazing Dynamics and Medical Consequences:
Ralph Manginello has specialized expertise in rhabdomyolysis hazing cases, such as Leonel’s. His journalism background further equips him to investigate, uncover hidden facts, and tell compelling stories that resonate with judges and juries. He also understands the environments where hazing flourishes, having been a Hall of Fame athlete and youth coach, giving him insight into team dynamics and the pressures young people face. Lupe Peña’s background in dram shop liability cases is especially relevant where hazing involves forced alcohol consumption.

5. Compassionate, Client-Centered Approach:
We understand that Jenkins County families facing a hazing crisis are going through immense emotional turmoil. Our tone is empathetic, warm, and parent-facing. We prioritize clear communication, ensuring you are informed at every stage of your case. Our Google reviews, with an average of 4.9 stars across 250+ reviews, frequently praise our team for treating clients “like family” and providing “consistent communication.” Our staff is bilingual and genuinely passionate about helping victims.

6. Contingency Fee Basis: No Upfront Costs for Jenkins County Families:
We believe that access to justice should not be determined by your ability to pay. That’s why we take hazing cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay $0 upfront to hire us. We cover all the litigation costs, and we only get paid if we win your case. If we don’t recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing for our legal fees. This levels the playing field, allowing Jenkins County families to fight powerful fraternities and universities without financial burden. You risk nothing by calling us for a free consultation.

7. Nationwide Reach and Local Connection:
While headquartered in Houston, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including those in Jenkins County, Georgia. Our dual-state bar admissions and federal court authority enable us to pursue cases in any jurisdiction. We adapt our strategies to both personal injury and criminal defense laws specific to individual states and counties. We utilize remote consultation technologies for your convenience and are prepared to travel to Jenkins County for depositions, client meetings, or trial, ensuring that distance is never a barrier to justice. We are deeply connected to the values of community and accountability that resonate with families in Jenkins County.

What To Do Right Now: Actionable Steps for Jenkins County Families

If your child in Jenkins County, Georgia, or while away at college, has been a victim of hazing, the moments immediately following the incident are critical. While it may feel overwhelming, taking swift, decisive action can significantly impact the strength and outcome of a potential legal case. We are here to guide you through these crucial first steps.

Here’s what Jenkins County families should do right now:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention, Even for Seemingly Minor Injuries: Your child’s health is the absolute top priority. Even if injuries seem minor, or if they are primarily psychological, get them to a doctor, urgent care, or emergency room immediately. This not only ensures their well-being but also creates a vital medical record documenting the injuries. Adrenaline can mask pain, and conditions like rhabdomyolysis may have delayed symptoms. Do not delay, as insurance companies and opposing counsel will use any gap in treatment to claim the injuries were not severe or not caused by hazing.
2. Preserve All Possible Evidence — Document Everything!
   • Medical Records: Obtain copies of all hospital records, doctor’s notes, diagnostic test results, rehabilitation facility records, and therapy notes.
   • Photos and Videos: Take clear, timestamped photos of any physical injuries (bruises, cuts, burns) immediately, and continue to document the healing process. If any photos or videos of the hazing itself exist (shared by other pledges, found online), save them securely. Keep photos of the location where the hazing occurred. Our firm highly recommends “Using Your Phone to Document Evidence” to help capture crucial details [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs].
   • Digital Communications: SAVE EVERYTHING. This includes text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchat conversations, Instagram DMs, emails, and any social media posts related to the hazing. Do not delete anything, even if it seems irrelevant or embarrassing. These communications are often smoking guns.
   • Witness Information: Collect names, phone numbers, and any other contact details for other pledges, witnesses, or anyone who might have seen or heard about the hazing incident.
   • Documents: Preserve any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, or agreements given to your child by the fraternity or organization.
   • Financial Records: Keep track of all medical bills, therapy costs, lost wages from missed work, or any tuition fees lost due to academic disruption.
   • Academic Records: Document any impact on grades, enrollment status, or scholarship eligibility.
3. Do NOT Communicate with the Perpetrators or Institutions Without Legal Counsel:
   • Do NOT talk to fraternity/sorority leadership or members: They will try to control the narrative, deny involvement, or pressure your child into silence.
   • Do NOT talk to university administrators or their lawyers alone: University officials are legally obligated to protect the institution first, not your child. Any statements made can be used against your case.
   • Do NOT sign anything: Never sign any documents from the fraternity, the university, or their insurance companies without a lawyer’s review. You could be waiving crucial legal rights.
   • Do NOT post about the incident on social media: Anything posted online can and will be used against your child to discredit their claims or minimize their injuries. We advise staying completely off social media for a period of time. Our video on “Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case” emphasizes social media pitfalls [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY].
4. Understand Your Rights Regarding Consent: In many states, including Texas, consent is NOT a defense to hazing. This means even if your child appeared to “agree” to participate, the law recognizes the inherent coercion and power dynamics at play. Do not let anyone convince you that your child is at fault because they “consented.”
5. Contact an Experienced Hazing Litigation Attorney Immediately: Time is of the essence. The sooner you involve legal counsel, the sooner evidence can be preserved, witnesses can be interviewed, and critical investigations can begin. In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death cases is typically two years from the date of injury or death. This means you have a limited window to file a lawsuit before you lose your right to seek compensation forever. “Texas Statutes of Limitations” details these critical deadlines [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c]. Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs to you. We don’t get paid unless we win your case.

Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Database: Empowering Your Jenkins County Case

Attorney911 prides itself on being data-driven and prepared. We don’t guess who’s responsible for hazing; we know. We maintain one of the most comprehensive private directories of Greek organizations in Texas, spanning the entire state. This includes detailed information like Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), legal names, addresses, and corporate structures for over 125 IRS-registered Greek entities, including house corporations and alumni chapters. For Jenkins County families, this means we can apply the same rigorous research to identify responsible parties no matter where the hazing occurred.

When hazing happens, these organizations will often hide behind the façade of “student activity.” But behind those Greek letters are tax-exempt corporations with EINs, bank accounts, real estate holdings, and insurance policies. Our database allows us to identify every liable entity, ensuring we know exactly who to sue.

Let’s illustrate with some examples from our database:

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc: EIN 462267515, located in Frisco, Texas. This is the housing corporation behind the very University of Houston chapter we sued in the Bermudez case. We knew their corporate structure before we even filed the lawsuit.
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation: EIN 371768785, located in Missouri City, Texas.
• Kappa Sigma Mu Gamma Chapter Inc: EIN 133048786, located in College Station, Texas.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Texas Sigma Incorporated: EIN 882755427, located in San Marcos, Texas.
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc Theta Delta: EIN 475370943, located in Houston, Texas.
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Epsilon Kappa: EIN 746064445, located in Nederland, Texas.

These are just a few examples. We track these across 25 metropolitan areas in Texas alone, with a total of 1,423 Greek-related organizations, including social fraternities and sororities, their house corporations, alumni chapters, and honor societies. For instance, the Houston metropolitan area is home to 188 Greek-related organizations, while the Dallas-Fort Worth metro boasts 510. This intelligence allows us to quickly identify, trace, and pursue every potential defendant, from the local chapter to the national headquarters and their associated corporate entities.

The power of this database lies in its ability to connect national patterns to local chapters. For instance, Pi Kappa Phi’s national organization has chapters on over 150 campuses across America. Our database allows us to track these chapters, their corporate structures, and their histories. This means that if Pi Kappa Phi operates a chapter near Jenkins County, Georgia, we are already aware of its structure and national ties, and we can quickly build a case based on their documented national history of hazing.

National Hazing Records: A Warning to Every Fraternity

The egregious acts suffered by Leonel Bermudez are not isolated. They are part of a dangerous pattern within national fraternities that has resulted in countless injuries and deaths. We meticulously track these incidents, leveraging them as pattern evidence to demonstrate foreseeability and institutional negligence in every case we undertake, including those for families in Jenkins County.

Consider the grim records of these national fraternities, whose names you will find on campuses across the country, including potentially at universities attended by students from Jenkins County:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE): This fraternity has an appalling record. In 2021, Stone Foltz at Bowling Green State University died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol. The total settlements, including those from the national organization and the university, exceeded $10 million. In December 2024, the chapter president at the time was personally ordered to pay an additional $6.5 million. PIKE was also involved in the 2012 death of David Bogenberger at Northern Illinois due to alcohol poisoning, leading to a $14 million settlement. If your child is pledging a Pi Kappa Alpha chapter, they are joining an organization that has paid over $24 million in hazing death settlements alone in the last decade. Same letters. Same traditions. Same danger. We track active Pi Kappa Alpha corporations in Texas, such as the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Epsilon Kappa (EIN 746064445) in Nederland, Texas, demonstrating their widespread presence.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The very fraternity involved in our Bermudez case. This organization has a documented history of deadly hazing. In 2017, Andrew Coffey died at Florida State University from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during a hazing ritual. Eight years after Andrew Coffey’s death, Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized under the watch of the same national organization. This is not coincidence; it’s a pattern of systemic failure.
• Beta Theta Pi: Responsible for the death of Timothy Piazza at Penn State in 2017. He died from a traumatic brain injury after falling down stairs multiple times during “the gauntlet,” a forced drinking ritual. Fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling 911. Settlements in this case are estimated to exceed $110 million.
• Phi Delta Theta: Linked to the death of Max Gruver at Louisiana State University in 2017. He died from acute alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink during a “Bible Study” hazing event. A jury delivered a $6.1 million verdict against the fraternity.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): In 2021, a Texas A&M student suffered chemical burns during a hazing ritual, leading to a settlement over $1 million. The national organization has a long and troubled history of hazing allegations across the country. We also track their chapters in Texas, including Sigma Alpha Epsilon Texas Sigma Incorporated (EIN 882755427) in San Marcos.
• Delta Chi: Involved in the death of Adam Oakes at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2021 from alcohol poisoning, leading to a recent $4+ million settlement.
• Kappa Sigma: In 2001, Chad Meredith died at the University of Miami during a hazing incident, resulting in a $12.6 million jury verdict.
• Sigma Chi: Recently involved in a settlement exceeding $10 million in 2024 after a hazing incident at the College of Charleston.

These documented incidents, massive settlements, and criminal convictions are not just statistics; they are proof of systemic failures by national fraternal organizations. They demonstrate that these fraternities, with chapters on campuses perhaps even in Georgia at institutions like the University of Georgia, Georgia Southern University, or Georgia Tech, consistently fail to protect their pledges.

For Jenkins County parents whose children might be considering Greek life, this is a stark warning. The “same letters” on a campus near you carry the “same danger” seen in these tragic cases. Attorney911 uses this extensive database of incidents and settlements to expose the patterns of negligence, hold national organizations accountable, and fight for the justice your family deserves.

WE ARE WATCHING. We track every one of these organizations. We know their history, their corporate structures, and their extensive liability. If your child is hazed by a chapter of any national fraternity or sorority in Jenkins County, Georgia, or while away at college, we will find every responsible party and hold them accountable. The Beta Nu chapter of Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston is now shut down, with millions sought in damages. Your child’s chapter could be next.

Contact Us: Your Legal Emergency Hotline for Jenkins County Hazing Victims

If your family in Jenkins County, Georgia, is grappling with the devastating aftermath of hazing, you are not alone. You have legal rights, and we are here to fight for them. Attorney911 is currently engaged in the most critical hazing litigation in the country, fighting for Leonel Bermudez against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston in a demanding $10 million lawsuit. We bring the same aggressive, data-driven, and client-focused representation to every hazing victim we represent, no matter where they are in Jenkins County or across the nation.

DO NOT WAIT. The window for seeking justice is limited, and evidence can disappear quickly.

Jenkins County, Georgia Families: Call Us Now for a Free, Confidential Consultation.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com

Our Legal Emergency Hotline is available 24/7 for Jenkins County hazing victims and their families.

We proudly operate on a CONTINGENCY FEE BASIS: This means you pay $0 upfront. We cover all case expenses, and our fees are only collected if we successfully recover compensation for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. This ensures that every family, regardless of financial means, has access to top-tier legal representation against powerful institutions.

We Serve Jenkins County, Georgia Hazing Victims, and Hazing Victims Nationwide

While our primary offices are based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our legal capabilities extend far beyond state lines:

• Federal Court Authority: Our attorneys are admitted to the U.S. District Court, granting us the power to litigate cases in federal courts across the country.
• Dual-State Bar Admissions: With attorneys licensed in both Texas and New York, we possess a strategic advantage in managing cases against national fraternities and sororities that may have headquarters or significant operations in different states.
• Willingness to Travel: Distance is not a barrier to justice. We are prepared to travel to Jenkins County, Georgia, or wherever needed, for depositions, client meetings, and trials to ensure you receive the dedicated representation you deserve.
• Remote Consultations: For your convenience and privacy, we offer video and phone consultations, allowing Jenkins County families to connect with our expert legal team without needing to travel.

Hazing extends beyond Greek life. We represent victims of hazing in a wide array of organizations, including:

• Fraternities and sororities at institutions your child might attend, such as the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, or other colleges nationwide.
• Sports teams, from high school to university level, in Jenkins County or elsewhere.
• Marching bands and other performance groups.
• ROTC programs and military academies.
• Clubs, student organizations, and any group that uses abusive “initiation” rituals.

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 from forced workouts, and how another was hog-tied with an object in his mouth. We know there are others who endured the same waterboarding, forced eating, and physical abuse.

You have rights too, and we can represent you. Your testimony and experience can be critical in strengthening the case and ensuring all responsible parties are held fully accountable. As Lupe Peña stated, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Call us. Let’s bring them all to justice together. Your bravery in coming forward can be the catalyst for lasting change, protecting future generations of students from this insidious practice.

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