If you’re reading this in Lanier County, Georgia, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child was supposed to find community and make friends at college, whether here in the Peach State or out of state. Instead, they were tortured, abused, and left with injuries that could change their life forever. We are Attorney911, and we are here to help families in Lanier County and across the nation fight back against the insidious cancer of hazing.

We understand what you’re going through. The fear, the anger, the overwhelming sense of helplessness – we’ve seen it firsthand, and we know how to turn that raw emotion into a powerful force for justice. For far too long, universities, fraternities, and sororities have hidden behind claims of “tradition” and “brotherhood,” while behind closed doors, students like yours in Lanier County are being subjected to brutal, life-threatening rituals. We are here to tell you that enough is enough.

We don’t just talk about hazing; we actively seek justice for its victims. Just weeks ago, in November 2025, our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, filed a landmark $10 million lawsuit in Harris County Civil District Court against Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, the University of Houston, and 13 individual fraternity members. This is not a hypothetical fight; this is a live, ongoing legal battle that defines everything our firm stands for: aggressive representation, data-driven litigation strategy, and unwavering accountability for every entity responsible for hazing injuries and deaths.

The nightmare that unfolded in Houston could happen to any family in Lanier County.

Whether your child attends a university right here in Georgia, like Valdosta State University or the University of Georgia, or travels out of state, the same national fraternities and sororities with their dark “traditions” operate everywhere. Hazing doesn’t respect county lines, state borders, or cultural nuances; it is a national crisis, and we are proud to stand as a national guardian for its victims.

The Hazing Crisis: Why Lanier County Families Need Us

Hazing is far from the harmless pranks or innocent initiations that many people imagine. It is a dangerous, often criminal, practice that has tragically taken lives and shattered futures across the country, affecting institutions that students from Lanier County may attend. From the picturesque campuses of Athens to the bustling student life in Valdosta, the allure of Greek life or team camaraderie can mask a sinister underbelly of abuse.

Consider the reality:

• A shocking 55% of students involved in Greek organizations experience hazing, often pressured into acts they never anticipated.
• Forty percent of student-athletes report hazing, extending this crisis beyond Greek life to sports teams, clubs, and other student groups.
• Since the year 2000, there has been at least one hazing-related death every single year in the United States, a grim testament to the escalating risks.
• Disturbingly, 95% of students who are hazed never report it, often due to fear, embarrassment, or loyalty to the group that abused them.

In Lanier County, where community values and close-knit relationships are important, the idea that a child could be subjected to such brutality feels particularly jarring. Parents send their children off to college with hopes of academic growth, new friendships, and positive life experiences, not physical and psychological torment. Yet, the statistics paint a stark picture: hazing is a pervasive and dangerous reality that universities and national organizations consistently fail to prevent.

We commonly see hazing occur in:

• Fraternities and sororities at universities and colleges across Georgia.
• Sports teams, from high school athletics to collegiate programs.
• Marching bands, ROTC programs, and various clubs and student organizations.
• Military academies and other similar institutions.

The institutional failures are systemic. Universities, both nationally and in Georgia, know hazing happens on their campuses. National Greek organizations are fully aware of the dangerous practices within their chapters. They possess the power to stop it. Yet, all too often, they choose not to—until a student is hospitalized, permanently injured, or, tragically, killed. Only then do they scramble to suspend chapters, issue PR statements, and claim they are “shocked” by the “isolated” incidents. We refuse to accept this narrative.

The Landmark Case: Attorney911 Fights Back in Houston, Setting a Precedent for Lanier County

This is not just another case. This is the case that defines our aggressive, data-driven approach to hazing litigation, and it should serve as a stark warning to every fraternity, university, and student organization in Georgia and beyond.

In November 2025, Attorney911 filed a $10 million lawsuit, Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al., in Harris County Civil District Court. This case is new, it is ongoing, and it is a testament to our firm’s relentless pursuit of justice for hazing victims. Leonel Bermudez’s story is a harrowing one, but it is one that every parent in Lanier County needs to hear.

Leonel Bermudez was not even a University of Houston student when he was systematically tortured. A “ghost rush,” he was a prospective member planning to transfer to UH for the upcoming semester. He was 19 years old, looking forward to his college experience, and instead, he faced weeks of systematic abuse designed to break him down physically and psychologically.

What happened to Leonel Bermudez?

Weeks of escalating hazing rituals began after Leonel accepted a bid to Pi Kappa Phi on September 16, 2025. The abuse included:

• Simulated Waterboarding: Leonel was sprayed in the face with a garden hose while doing calisthenics, a terrifying act designed to simulate drowning. This is torture, a violation of human rights that no student should ever endure.
• Extreme Physical Punishment: He was forced to perform over 100 pushups, 500 squats, and relentless running drills known as “suicides.” He was made to execute “bear crawls” and “wheelbarrows,” and participate in “save-your-brother” drills, often after a two-mile “warm-up.” These activities were so intense that on one occasion, another pledge lost consciousness during a forced workout.
• Beating with Wooden Paddles: Leonel was physically struck with wooden paddles, a clear act of assault and battery.
• Forced Consumption Until Vomiting: He was made to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited. Then, in a horrific display of cruelty, he was forced to continue running sprints through his own vomit, lying in it when he finally collapsed.
• Psychological Torture and Humiliation: Leonel was stripped to his underwear in cold weather and forced to carry a fanny pack containing objects of a sexual nature at all times. He witnessed another pledge hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. Threats of physical punishment or expulsion were constant.
• Sleep Deprivation: He was forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, leading to severe exhaustion.

The Medical Catastrophe: Rhabdomyolysis and Kidney Failure

On November 3, 2025, after missing a fraternity event, Leonel was brutally punished with an extended session of these extreme physical exercises. He was forced to continue until he was so exhausted he couldn’t stand without help. He crawled up the stairs into his home. The next day, he was so sore he couldn’t move. The day after that, his condition worsened. His mother rushed him to the hospital when she realized he was passing brown urine—a classic sign of muscle breakdown.

Leonel spent three nights and four days in the hospital, grappling with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle tissue, releasing damaging proteins into the bloodstream that poison the kidneys and can lead to permanent damage or even death. His very high creatine kinase levels confirmed the extensive muscle damage. He faces ongoing risks of chronic kidney disease and other long-term health complications.

The Accountability Follows

Within days of Leonel’s hospitalization, Pi Kappa Phi National suspended the University of Houston chapter. On November 14, 2025 – just seven days before we filed our lawsuit – the chapter was officially closed, and its members voted to surrender their charter. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and initiated criminal referrals.

Our $10 million lawsuit names multiple defendants: Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters, the local Beta Nu chapter, the Pi Kappa Phi Housing Corporation, the University of Houston, the UH Board of Regents, and 13 individual fraternity members, including the chapter president, pledgemaster, and members who hosted hazing activities.

This case is concrete proof that Attorney911 isn’t theoretical. We are actively fighting right now in Harris County Civil District Court, and we will bring the same aggressive, data-driven approach to every hazing case in Lanier County.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

For families in Lanier County, it’s crucial to understand that modern hazing goes far beyond innocent pranks or harmless initiations. It has evolved into a dangerous and often criminal culture of abuse, designed to break pledges down physically, mentally, and psychologically. The practices we uncovered in the Bermudez case are unfortunately not isolated incidents; they are symptomatic of a widespread problem that impacts students from all backgrounds, even those from close-knit communities like Lanier County.

Here’s a closer look at what hazing often entails, based on our experience and documented cases:

1. Physical Abuse:

• Forced Exercise to Exhaustion: This is rampant. Students are made to perform endless push-ups, squats, sit-ups, and debilitating running drills (“suicides,” “bear crawls,” “wheelbarrows”) until they collapse. This leads to injuries like rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure, as seen with Leonel Bermudez.
• Beatings and Paddling: The use of wooden paddles, belts, or bare hands to strike pledges, causing bruising, welts, and internal injuries.
• Branding and Burning: Fraternities have been known to use hot irons or other tools to brand pledges with symbols, leaving permanent scars.
• Forced Exposure: Requiring pledges to endure extreme temperatures, such as stripping down in cold weather or remaining outside in harsh conditions, leading to hypothermia or heat stroke.
• Restraint and Confinement: Binding pledges, as seen with the “hog-tying” incident in the Bermudez case, or forcing them into small, uncomfortable spaces.

2. Forced Consumption:

• Binge Drinking and Alcohol Poisoning: This is the leading cause of hazing deaths. Pledges are forced or coerced into consuming dangerously large quantities of alcohol, often entire bottles of liquor, leading to acute alcohol poisoning, brain damage, or death. (See the cases of Andrew Coffey and Max Gruver, where Attorney911 can track trends in forced drinking cases).
• Eating Until Vomiting: Pledges are forced to rapidly consume massive amounts of specific foods (milk, raw onions, hot dogs, peppercorns, or even inedible substances) until they are violently ill. This can lead to choking, aspiration, or further physical harm if they are then forced to exercise in their vomit.
• Ingestion of Noxious Substances: Forcing pledges to consume substances that are not food or beverages, or are contaminated, leading to illness or injury.

3. Psychological and Emotional Torture:

• Humiliation and Degradation: Requiring pledges to wear embarrassing clothing, perform humiliating acts, or endure verbal abuse and ridicule. The fanny pack with sexual objects Leonel Bermudez was forced to carry is a prime example.
• Sleep Deprivation: Forcing pledges to stay awake for extended periods, disrupting their academic performance, psychological well-being, and physical health. The lawsuit alleges Leonel Bermudez was forced to drive fraternity members in the early morning hours, contributing to his exhaustion.
• Isolation and Ostracism: Deliberately ignoring, shunning, or isolating pledges to create a sense of fear and desperation.
• Threats and Intimidation: Threatening physical harm, social exclusion, or expulsion from the group if pledges do not comply. This creates an environment of fear that prevents reporting. Leonel Bermudez was explicitly threatened with expulsion if he failed to meet hazing demands.
• Love Bombing and Manipulation: Alternating between periods of intense abuse and moments of warmth or acceptance, creating a trauma bond that makes it difficult for victims to break away.

4. Sexual Abuse:

• Forced Nudity or Sexual Acts: Requiring pledges to strip naked, engage in sexual acts, or simulate sexual acts.
• Sexualized Objects: The use of sexually suggestive objects as part of rituals, often accompanied by derogatory comments, creating extreme discomfort and mental anguish.

The Medical and Psychological Aftermath:
The consequences of hazing are severe and long-lasting:

• Acute Physical Injuries: Broken bones, concussions, burns, internal organ damage, extreme dehydration, rhabdomyolysis, and kidney failure.
• Toxic Overdoses: From forced alcohol or drug consumption.
• Psychological Trauma: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), severe anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, loss of self-esteem, and difficulty forming trusting relationships.
• Academic and Career Impact: Declining grades, withdrawal from school, loss of scholarships, damaged reputation, and setbacks in future career prospects.
• Death: The ultimate, tragic consequence, robbing families in Lanier County and across the country of their children.

It is critical for families in Lanier County to understand that this is not “boys being boys” or simple “pranks.” This is abuse, it is assault, and it is frequently criminal. These are the shocking realities that we must expose and hold accountable.

Who Is Responsible: Holding Every Entity Accountable

When a child from Lanier County is subjected to hazing, the responsibility extends far beyond the few individuals who directly inflict the abuse. Our aggressive, data-driven strategy at Attorney911 is to identify and pursue every single entity that enabled, permitted, or directly participated in the hazing. The Bermudez lawsuit exemplifies this comprehensive approach.

Here are the categories of defendants we target, and why they are legally liable:

1. The Local Chapter of the Fraternity/Sorority:

• Why they’re liable: This is the primary orchestrator. The local chapter directly planned, executed, and enforced the hazing rituals. Officers like the chapter president, pledgemaster, and other leaders are central to this. Individual members who actively participated in the abuse are also directly liable for assault and battery.
• Attorney911’s Action: In the Bermudez case, we sued the Beta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, along with the chapter president, pledgemaster, and multiple current and former members.

2. The National Fraternity or Sorority Organization:

• Why they’re liable: National organizations hold charters for local chapters and are supposed to oversee their activities, provide anti-hazing policies, and ensure member safety. They have a duty to supervise. When hazing occurs, it often points to a systemic failure at the national level – either they knew about the hazing culture and did nothing, or their policies and enforcement were too weak to prevent it. They often have knowledge of “a hazing crisis,” as alleged in the Bermudez case, but fail to act. They are often the “deep pockets” in these cases, with substantial assets and liability insurance.
• Attorney911’s Action: We sued Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc. (the national headquarters). We highlight their documented history of hazing, including the death of Andrew Coffey in 2017, proving they had ample notice that their practices were deadly.

3. The University or College:

• Why they’re liable: Universities have a non-delegable duty to protect their students’ safety, both on and off campus, especially when they recognize and endorse Greek life organizations. This liability is amplified if the university:
  • Owns or controls the property where hazing occurred (as the University of Houston did with the Pi Kappa Phi house). This creates premises liability.
  • Had prior knowledge of hazing on campus (as UH did with the 2017 lacerated spleen case).
  • Failed to adequately supervise Greek life, investigate complaints, or enforce anti-hazing policies.
  • Failed to intervene despite signs of hazing.
• Attorney911’s Action: We sued the University of Houston and the UH Board of Regents, citing their ownership of the fraternity house and their prior knowledge of hazing incidents on campus.

4. Housing Corporations and Alumni Boards:

• Why they’re liable: Many fraternities and sororities operate through separate housing corporations, often managed by alumni, that own or lease the chapter houses. These entities have a responsibility to maintain safe premises and ensure that illegal or dangerous activities are not occurring on their property. Alumni often play a significant, sometimes detrimental, supervisory role in local chapter culture.
• Attorney911’s Action: The lawsuit specifically targets the Beta Nu Housing Corporation.

5. Individual Perpetrators:

• Why they’re liable: Any individual who actively participated in hazing, coerced others, or failed to intervene when they had a duty to do so, can be held personally liable for assault, battery, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. This includes current members and even former members who might host hazing events at their residences.
• Attorney911’s Action: Our lawsuit names 13 individual fraternity members, including the former member and his spouse at whose residence some major hazing sessions occurred. This spouse’s inclusion demonstrates our thoroughness in pursuing premises liability on any property where hazing happens. The $6.5 million personal judgment against Daylen Dunson in the Stone Foltz case shows that individuals can face severe financial consequences.

6. Insurance Carriers:

• Why they’re the “deep pockets”: While not a direct defendant in the same way, insurance companies for the national organization, the university, the housing corporation, and even individual homeowner’s policies are often the ultimate source of compensation. Our lawyers, with their background in insurance defense, are adept at navigating these complex multi-layered policies to maximize settlement and verdict amounts.

The combination of all these parties creates a formidable defense team for the hazers. But with Attorney911, your family from Lanier County will have an equally formidable and experienced legal team on your side, ready to peel back every layer of responsibility and ensure comprehensive accountability.

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

For families in Lanier County struggling with the aftermath of hazing, the financial implications are often overwhelming. Medical bills, lost income, therapy costs, and the permanent impact on a student’s future career or education can be devastating. However, history shows that justice in hazing cases comes with multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, sending a clear message that abuse will not be tolerated. These outcomes prove that families in Lanier County can and do win substantial compensation.

The message to hazing organizations, universities, and individuals is clear: Your “traditions” will cost you millions. These results are not confined to the states where they happened; the same legal strategies apply to families seeking justice in Lanier County, Georgia.

Here are some of the landmark cases that set these critical precedents:

1. Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021) – TOTAL: $10.1 Million+

• The Tragedy: Stone Foltz, a 20-year-old pledge, died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” initiation event.
• The Outcome: Bowling Green State University paid $2.9 million, and Pi Kappa Alpha national fraternity along with individuals settled for $7.2 million. This was the largest public university hazing payout in Ohio history. In December 2024, a former chapter president, Daylen Dunson, was personally ordered to pay an additional $6.5 million in a civil judgment.
• Significance for Lanier County: This case directly supports our $10 million demand in the Bermudez lawsuit. It proves that even without a death, the physical and psychological trauma can justify multi-million dollar awards. It also highlights the personal financial ruin facing individual members involved in hazing.

2. Maxwell Gruver – Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017) – TOTAL: $6.1 Million Jury Verdict

• The Tragedy: Max Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman, died from acute alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495) during a Phi Delta Theta “Bible Study” where he was forced to chug alcohol for incorrect answers.
• The Outcome: A jury awarded the Gruver family $6.1 million. The case also led to criminal convictions and the passage of the “Max Gruver Act,” making hazing a felony in Louisiana.
• Significance for Lanier County: This jury verdict unmistakably shows that individuals will find hazing abhorrent and award substantial damages. It also demonstrates how strong public desire for justice can lead to new, tougher anti-hazing laws.

3. Timothy Piazza – Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017) – TOTAL: $110+ Million (Multiple Settlements)

• The Tragedy: Timothy Piazza, 19, died after consuming 18 alcoholic drinks in 82 minutes during a Beta Theta Pi pledge event. He fell down stairs multiple times, suffered a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding, and fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling 911.
• The Outcome: While confidential, settlements from the university, national fraternity, and individuals are estimated to exceed $110 million. Multiple fraternity members faced criminal charges, with some receiving prison sentences. Pennsylvania passed the “Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.”
• Significance for Lanier County: This case demonstrates the immense financial and legal consequences when clear evidence (like security camera footage) exposes the horrific details of hazing. It underscores how universities and national organizations are compelled to pay massive sums.

4. Andrew Coffey – Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017) – Settlement (Confidential Amount)

• The Tragedy: Andrew Coffey, 20, died from acute alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during a “Big Brother Night” at a Pi Kappa Phi chapter. This is the same national fraternity as the Bermudez case.
• The Outcome: Nine fraternity members faced criminal charges, the FSU chapter was permanently closed, and a civil settlement was reached (amount confidential).
• Significance for Lanier County: This is a crucial precedent for our Bermudez case. It reveals a pattern of deadly hazing within Pi Kappa Phi’s national organization, proving they had ample notice of their dangerous culture years before Leonel Bermudez was waterboarded. This strengthens the argument for an aggressive stance against the national fraternity.

5. Adam Oakes – Virginia Commonwealth University / Delta Chi (2021) – $4+ Million Settlement

• The Tragedy: Adam Oakes, a freshman, died from alcohol poisoning after a Delta Chi big-little event where he was forced to consume a liter of Jack Daniel’s.
• The Outcome: His family received a $4 million-plus settlement and successfully advocated for “Adam’s Law,” which mandated hazing education and reporting in Virginia.
• Significance for Lanier County: Yet another example of a multi-million dollar settlement for a hazing death, inspiring legislative changes and demonstrating a powerful pathway to justice and reform.

What These Precedents Mean for Lanier County Families:

• Multi-Million Dollar Recovery is Real: These cases are not small claims. They routinely result in multi-million dollar payouts that help families cover exorbitant medical costs, mental health support, lost educational opportunities, and long-term care, alongside crucial compensation for pain, suffering, and the tragic loss of life.
• Institutions Will Pay: Universities and national Greek organizations have the deepest pockets and the most to lose in terms of reputation. They are the primary targets, forced to settle or face devastating verdicts.
• Justice Can Bring Change: Many of these cases directly led to new anti-hazing laws, creating a legacy of protection for future students. Your case in Lanier County could be the one that forces real change within Georgia institutions.
• Pattern Evidence is Powerful: Our ability to connect the dots between global hazing incidents, like Andrew Coffey’s death, and your child’s experience strengthens the argument that these were not random acts but part of a foreseeable, systemic problem.

We have seen the pattern, we have studied the outcomes, and we know how to secure similar results for hazing victims in Lanier County. If your child has been subjected to hazing, the legal precedent is on your side, and Attorney911 is ready to fight.

Legal Framework: Lanier County Victims’ Rights Under the Law

For families in Lanier County grappling with the trauma of hazing, understanding your legal rights is a critical first step towards justice. While our firm is based in Texas, where we are actively litigating the Bermudez case under robust anti-hazing statutes, similar laws exist across the United States. Furthermore, hazing cases often involve federal civil rights claims and numerous negligence claims which apply regardless of the specific location, meaning Attorney911 can pursue your case effectively, whether the hazing occurred in a bustling campus in Georgia or across state lines.

Let’s examine the powerful legal tools at our disposal, drawing parallels between Texas law (our home base) and the principles that protect students in Lanier County:

1. Anti-Hazing Statutes:
Though specific state statutes vary, most states now have laws criminalizing hazing. These laws typically define hazing broadly to include any act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation or membership in an organization.

• Texas Example (Education Code § 37.151): Defines hazing to include acts of physical brutality (whipping, striking, beating), sleep deprivation, exposure to elements, calisthenics creating unreasonable risk (like the 500 squats that caused Leonel Bermudez’s kidney failure), forced consumption of substances (such as the milk and peppercorns in the Bermudez case), and activities violating the Penal Code.
• Lanier County Application: What happened to your child in Lanier County almost certainly falls within the criminal definition of hazing under state law. These statutes aren’t just for criminal charges; they provide a strong foundation for civil lawsuits by demonstrating the illegal nature of the conduct.

2. Consent is NOT a Defense:
This is one of the most critical legal protections for hazing victims. Fraternities, universities, and individuals often try to argue that “the student consented” or “knew what they were getting into.” The law explicitly rejects this.

• Texas Example (Education Code § 37.154): “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.”
• Lanier County Application: This principle is common across states and is crucial. A student cannot legally consent to being tortured, abused, or subjected to illegal acts. The power imbalance, fear of retribution, and psychological manipulation inherent in hazing negate true consent. We will shut down any attempt by defendants to blame the victim in Lanier County.

3. Civil Liability Theories – Beyond Criminal Charges:
Even if criminal charges are not filed or do not result in convictions, a civil lawsuit allows victims to pursue compensation for their injuries. We leverage multiple legal theories to hold all responsible parties accountable:

• Negligence Claims: This is the bedrock of many personal injury cases. We must prove that the defendants (individual members, the local chapter, the national organization, the university) owed a duty of care to the student, breached that duty through their hazing or failure to prevent it, and that this breach directly caused the student’s injuries and damages. This applies in Lanier County and every state.
• Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by the university (like the Pi Kappa Phi house at UH) or a housing corporation, these entities have a responsibility to maintain a safe environment. Failing to stop illegal hazing activities on their property makes them liable.
• Negligent Supervision/Retention: Universities and national organizations have a duty to supervise their chapters and members. If they fail to do so, or retain individuals with a known history of hazing, they can be held liable. The consistent pattern of hazing across chapters in the Pi Kappa Phi national organization, even after the death of Andrew Coffey, is a prime example of such negligence.
• Assault and Battery: Any unwelcome physical contact, such as the wooden paddles or simulated waterboarding in the Bermudez case, constitutes assault (the threat) and battery (the actual physical contact). These claims target individual perpetrators but can also extend to organizations that condoned them.
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED): Reserved for particularly egregious conduct, IIED claims target situations where defendants engage in outrageous behavior designed to cause severe emotional distress. The psychological torture involved in hazing (humiliation, threats, forced sexualized acts) often meets this high legal standard.
• Conspiracy: If multiple parties conspired to commit the hazing, they can all be held jointly liable.
• Wrongful Death Claims: In the tragic event of a hazing-related death, families can sue for wrongful death, seeking compensation for lost emotional support, financial contributions, and suffering.

4. Organizational Liability:
Most state laws, including Texas, specifically allow for organizations themselves to be held liable if they condone, encourage, or fail to prevent hazing. This means the local chapter, the housing corporation, and the national organization can be named defendants. Penalties can include fines, suspension of operating privileges, and forfeiture of property.

5. University Reporting Requirements:
Many states mandate that universities report hazing incidents. Failure to do so can result in penalties for the institution, including criminal charges for administrators. We can compel the production of these reports, revealing patterns of past incidents and institutional knowledge.

For a family in Lanier County seeking help, this complex legal landscape might seem daunting. But for experienced hazing litigation attorneys like Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, it is our battlefield. We understand how to assemble these legal claims into a powerful case, leveraging every statutory provision and civil theory to ensure that every responsible party – from individual students to multi-million dollar institutions – is held accountable.

Why Attorney911 is the Clear Choice for Lanier County Hazing Victims

When your family in Lanier County faces the unimaginable horror of a hazing incident, you need more than just a lawyer; you need a relentless advocate who understands the intricate legal landscape, knows the tactics of powerful institutions, and genuinely cares about your child’s future. Attorney911 embodies this dedication, and our expertise makes us the obvious choice for hazing victims in Lanier County and across the nation.

Here’s why Attorney911 stands apart:

1. Unparalleled Hazing Litigation Experience – We’re Fighting this Battle RIGHT NOW:

• The Bermudez Case: This isn’t theoretical. We are currently prosecuting a live, $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston in Harris County. We are in the trenches, actively fighting to expose systematic abuse and secure justice for a client whose experience of waterboarding and kidney failure echoes the kind of trauma your child might have faced. This means we are uniquely positioned to understand the latest strategies, challenges, and legal avenues in hazing litigation directly relevant to Lanier County.
• Specialized Focus: Our firm has deep expertise in severe hazing-related medical conditions like rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, which were central to the Bermudez case. We also have extensive experience with fraternity litigation against national organizations like Kappa Sigma and addressing institutional negligence, such as at Texas A&M University.

2. Insider Knowledge: Former Insurance Defense Attorneys on YOUR Side:

• Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena both began their careers defending insurance companies and corporations. This isn’t a coincidence; it’s a strategic advantage for our clients.
• Lupe Pena’s background with Litchfield Cavo LLP, a nationwide insurance defense firm, gave him firsthand insight into how major corporations and their insurers strategize, devalue claims, and try to avoid responsibility. He learned their playbook from the inside – and now uses that knowledge to dismantle their defenses and maximize recovery for hazing victims.
• When institutions, their counsel, or their insurance companies try to minimize the severity of hazing or deny claims, we anticipate their every move. We speak their language, and we know how to counter their strategies effectively.

3. Extensive Courtroom and Mass Tort Experience:

• 25+ Years of Courtroom Experience: Ralph Manginello is a battle-tested trial attorney with over two decades of aggressive litigation experience in state courts across Texas and federal courts. His background includes involvement in mass tort litigation, such as the multi-billion dollar BP Texas City Explosion case, involving dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries against massive corporate defendants. This experience proves our capacity to take on complex, high-stakes cases against multi-billion dollar institutions like national fraternities and universities.
• Federal Court Admissions: Both Ralph and Lupe are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. This is crucial for hazing cases which often involve federal civil rights claims or multi-state national organizations, allowing us to pursue justice in federal jurisdiction even for families in Lanier County.

4. Strategic Dual-State Bar Admissions:

• Ralph Manginello is licensed to practice law in both Texas AND New York. This dual-state admission provides a significant strategic advantage in hazing litigation, as many national fraternities and sororities are headquartered or have substantial operations in states well beyond Texas. It gives us broader authority and flexibility to pursue these organizations wherever needed.

5. Comprehensive Data and Intelligence Network:

• We don’t guess who to sue. We maintain one of the most comprehensive private directories of Greek organizations in Texas, including IRS-registered entities, EINs, legal names, addresses, housing corporations, alumni chapters, and insurance details. This allows us to quickly identify every entity liable for hazing, dismantling their attempts to hide behind corporate veils. We understand that organizations ranging from Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc. with EIN 462267515 in Frisco, Texas, to Kappa Sigma Mu Gamma Chapter Inc. with EIN 133048786 in College Station, Texas, are all part of a larger network that can be held accountable. This deep knowledge means we can track specific national brands operating at universities near Lanier County and sue every responsible party, just as we are doing in the Bermudez case.

6. Empathetic, Client-Centered Approach:

• We understand the profound emotional toll hazing takes on victims and their families. Our approach extends beyond legal strategy; we offer a warm, compassionate environment where Lanier County families are treated like family. We pride ourselves on consistent communication, ensuring you are informed and supported at every stage of your case. Our 4.9-star rating and over 250 Google reviews attest to our commitment to client care.

7. Bilingual Legal Services (Se Habla Español):

• Lupe Pena is fluent in Spanish, allowing us to provide comprehensive legal services to Hispanic families affected by hazing without language barriers. This ensures that every family in Lanier County, regardless of their native language, can access justice.

8. Contingency Fee Basis – No Upfront Costs:

• We understand that legal fees can be a major concern, particularly when facing medical bills and other financial burdens. That’s why we take hazing cases on a contingency basis. This means you pay absolutely $0 upfront. We only get paid if, and when, we win your case. This removes financial barriers and aligns our interests directly with yours.

9. Commitment to Nationwide Service for Hazing Victims:

• While our main offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, our reach extends to Lanier County and across the country. Through remote consultations, federal court authority, and a willingness to travel for depositions, client meetings, and trials, we ensure that distance is never a barrier to justice. We will come to Lanier County if your case requires it, bringing our deep expertise directly to your doorstep.

The battle against hazing requires a unique blend of legal prowess, strategic insight, and unwavering determination. Attorney911 possesses all these qualities. We honor victims like Leonel Bermudez by fighting relentlessly, and we are ready to bring that same fierce advocacy to your child’s hazing case in Lanier County.

What to Do Right Now: Actionable Guidance for Lanier County Families

If your child in Lanier County has been involved in a hazing incident, the moments immediately following discovery can be critical for their well-being and for preserving their legal rights. It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed, but taking these immediate, definitive steps can make a monumental difference in the strength of any future legal action.

1. Prioritize Safety and Seek Immediate Medical Attention:

• Physical Safety First: Ensure your child is physically removed from the hazing environment and is safe from further abuse or retaliation.
• Seek Medical Care Immediately: Even if injuries seem minor, or your child is hesitant, get professional medical evaluation right away. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some serious injuries, like rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure experienced by Leonel Bermudez, may not be immediately apparent.
  • Go to the Emergency Room: For any significant physical symptoms, pain, or if your child was forced to consume alcohol or other substances.
  • See a Doctor: Follow up with primary care physicians or specialists for all injuries.
  • Document Everything: Ensure all medical visits, diagnoses, treatments, medications, and prognoses are thoroughly documented in medical records. This creates an objective timeline of the harm caused by hazing. Insurance companies and defense attorneys will use any delay in medical care to argue your child wasn’t seriously injured.

2. Preserve All Evidence – “Document Everything!”:
The defense will try to discredit your child’s story. Your most powerful weapon is evidence.

• Photos and Videos:
  • Injuries: Take clear, timestamped photos of all physical injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, swelling) at the time of discovery and continue to document their healing progression.
  • Environment: If safe to do so, photograph or video any locations where hazing occurred, especially if physical evidence (paraphernalia, alcohol containers, dirty spaces) is visible.
  • People: If you can identify individuals involved, and it is safe, document their presence.
• Communications are CRITICAL:
  • Screenshots, Screenshots, Screenshots: Save every text message, GroupMe chat, Snapchat, Instagram DM, Facebook message, email, or any other digital communication related to the hazing. This includes conversations before, during, and after the incident. These messages often contain direct evidence of coercion, threats, planning, and admissions.
  • Do NOT Delete: Never delete any communications. Deleting evidence can be considered spoliation and can severely damage a case. If you’re unsure, save it.
• Witness Information: Obtain names, phone numbers, and any other contact information for fellow pledges, other students, bystanders, or anyone who may have witnessed or has knowledge of the hazing.
• Pledge Materials: Save any pledge manuals, handbooks, schedules, rules, or other documents provided by the fraternity or sorority.
• Financial Records: Keep track of all medical bills, therapy costs, expenses related to missed classes or tutoring, and any lost wages if your child was employed.
• Academic Records: Document any impact on your child’s grades, their ability to attend classes, or any decisions to withdraw or change educational plans.

3. Do NOT Engage with the Institution or Perpetrators Without Legal Counsel:
This is perhaps the most crucial “DO NOT” when a child from Lanier County is hazed.

• Do NOT Talk to Fraternity/Sorority Members or Alumni: They will try to silence, intimidate, or fabricate stories. They are not on your side.
• Do NOT Talk to University Administration Alone: Universities have extensive legal resources and their primary goal is often to protect the institution’s reputation, not your child’s legal rights. Any statements given to them can be used against your child later. If demanded, state that your child will only provide a statement with legal counsel present.
• Do NOT Sign Anything: Never sign any documents presented by the fraternity, sorority, university, or their representatives. These documents may contain waivers of rights or confidentiality agreements that can compromise your legal options.
• Do NOT Post on Social Media: Anything posted about the incident, your child’s condition, or even seemingly unrelated social activities can be twisted and used by the defense to argue your child wasn’t seriously injured, wasn’t truly traumatized, or was “partying voluntarily.” Stay completely silent on all social media platforms regarding the incident and your child’s well-being.
• Do NOT Attempt to Confront Perpetrators: This can escalate the situation, destroy evidence, or open your child up to further harm or accusations.

4. Contact an Experienced Hazing Litigation Attorney IMMEDIATELY:
Time is of the essence.

• The Statute of Limitations: Most states, including Georgia, have strict deadlines (statutes of limitations) for filing personal injury lawsuits, typically two years from the date of the injury. For wrongful death cases, this deadline is also usually two years from the date of death. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to sue forever.
• Evidence Disappears: With each passing day, critical evidence can be lost, deleted, or forgotten. Witnesses’ memories fade, and perpetrators may destroy incriminating communications.
• Protect Your Rights: An attorney can immediately send “preservation letters” to all potential defendants, legally obligating them to prevent the destruction of evidence.
• Free Consultations: Attorney911 offers free, confidential consultations. There is no financial risk in calling us to understand your child’s legal options. We represent clients on a contingency fee basis – you pay nothing unless we win your case.
• Remote & Accessible: Even if you’re in Lanier County, we offer video consultations, and our attorneys are prepared to travel to you for depositions, local court proceedings, and client meetings as needed.

This is a legal emergency. Do not navigate it alone. We are available 24/7 for families in Lanier County, Georgia, and across the United States. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now. Let us help you turn a nightmare into a fight for justice, just as we are doing for Leonel Bermudez and his family.

Contact Us: Your Legal Emergency Team for Lanier County

If your child in Lanier County has been a victim of hazing, you are facing a legal emergency. We understand the fear, the anger, and the desperation that comes with such a devastating event. But you are not alone, and you do not have to fight this battle by yourselves. Attorney911 is here, ready to bring our aggressive, data-driven legal power to your corner, just as we are doing with the breaking $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.

We are experts in hazing litigation, and we are available 24/7 to provide immediate, strategic guidance to families in Lanier County and nationwide.

🚨 LANIER COUNTY FAMILIES: CALL OUR LEGAL EMERGENCY HOTLINE NOW!

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Connect with us directly:

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

Why Contact Us Now?

1. Free and Confidential Consultation: There is absolutely no cost to speak with us about your child’s hazing incident. We offer free, no-obligation consultations to assess your case and explain your legal options. Your privacy is paramount.
2. No Upfront Fees – We Work on Contingency: We understand that dealing with hazing trauma is incredibly expensive, from medical bills to missed academic opportunities. You pay us absolutely nothing unless, and until, we win your case either through a settlement or a jury verdict. We bear the financial risk, not you.
3. Nationwide Reach, Local Focus: While our main offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our expertise and reach extend to Lanier County, Georgia, and across the United States. Hazing is a national problem, and we bring national-level expertise to local communities.
   • Remote Consultations: We can meet with your family via video call, no matter where you are in Lanier County.
   • Willingness to Travel: Our attorneys are prepared to travel to Lanier County for depositions, court appearances, and critical client meetings if your case demands it. Distance will not be a barrier to securing justice.
   • Federal Court Authority: Our admission to federal courts gives us the power to pursue cases against national organizations and universities that operate across state lines, which is common in hazing litigation.
4. Time is Critical (Statute of Limitations): Legal deadlines, known as statutes of limitations, are strict. In many states, including Georgia for personal injury cases, you typically have two years from the date of the injury (or death) to file a lawsuit. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and without quick legal action, your rights can be extinguished forever. Don’t delay—every moment counts.
5. Stop Hazing Before it Happens Again: Your brave decision to step forward can prevent other families in Lanier County from enduring the same nightmare. As Lupe Pena said, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Who Do We Help in Lanier County?

We represent victims of hazing in all contexts, including:

• Students hazed in fraternities and sororities at universities near Lanier County, such as Valdosta State University, the University of Georgia, and others across Georgia and the nation.
• Athletes hazed on sports teams (high school, club, or collegiate level).
• Members of marching bands, ROTC programs, clubs, and other student organizations in Lanier County schools or at nearby universities.
• Victims of any organization that uses abuse, degradation, or dangerous rituals as part of its “initiation” or membership process.

Hispanic Families in Lanier County: Se Habla Español

We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Lanier County. Lupe Pena is fluent in Spanish, and our bilingual staff ensures that language is never a barrier to justice. We are equipped to provide comprehensive legal services, including consultations, communication, and legal documents, entirely in Spanish for your convenience and comfort.

Take the first step towards justice today. Your call to 1-888-ATTY-911 could be the most important one you ever make for your child’s future.

You deserve accountability. Your child deserves justice.