If you’re reading this, your family in Long County may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child went away to college, full of dreams and the promise of a bright future. They were supposed to make friends, learn, and grow. Instead, they were tortured. They were abused. They were hazed. We’re here to help families in Long County fight back.

We are Attorney911, and we are actively fighting these battles in courtrooms across America. Just weeks ago, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university for the horrific hazing that hospitalized our client. This case, Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi, is not just a Texas case; it’s a national warning. It represents everything we stand for: aggressive representation of hazing victims, data-driven litigation strategy, and relentless pursuit of accountability for every entity responsible for hazing injuries and deaths.

Hazing is not a harmless rite of passage. It’s not “boys being boys.” It is a dangerous, often criminal, act that tears families apart and destroys futures. When institutions designed to protect students fail, and instead enable such cruelty, we step in to ensure justice is served. If your child has been a victim of hazing in Long County or anywhere in the United States, we are the legal emergency firm you need to call.

The Hazing Crisis: Why Long County Families Need Attorney911

Long County, Georgia, like communities across America, sends its children off to college with hopes that they will thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. Whether your child attends a university within Georgia, such as the University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Southern University, or perhaps ventures to a major out-of-state institution like the University of Florida or the University of Alabama, the threat of hazing unfortunately follows them. The same national fraternities and sororities that have faced lawsuits and criminal charges in other states also have chapters in Georgia and at institutions where Long County students enroll.

We understand the unique concerns of families in Long County. The distance to a major metropolitan area like Houston might seem daunting, but our reach extends far beyond our Texas offices. Our federal court authority and dual-state bar admissions allow us to represent victims and their families in Long County and anywhere else hazing may occur. We will come to Long County for depositions, client meetings, and trials when needed, ensuring justice is accessible to you. Your child’s safety and well-being should be the university’s priority, and when it isn’t, we make sure they pay the price.

Hazing is a silent epidemic, often hidden behind closed doors and enforced by cultures of secrecy and intimidation. It impacts not only fraternities and sororities but also athletic teams, marching bands, military programs, clubs, and other student organizations. The emotional toll on families in Long County when they discover their child has been brutalized is immense. We are here to validate that pain, channel that anger, and turn it into powerful legal action.

The Landmark Case: Attorney911 vs. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston (2025)

Our current multi-million dollar fight against Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and the University of Houston is a stark reminder of the realities of hazing today. This case, filed in November 2025, centers on a young man named Leonel Bermudez, a prospective member who was not even officially enrolled at the University of Houston yet. He was a “ghost rush,” planning to transfer in the spring. What he endured during the fall pledge process was not a prank; it was systematic torture, ending with him in the hospital.

This case happened in Houston, but the same patterns of hazing occur at universities where students from Long County attend. The same national fraternities operate there, and the same institutional negligence allows it to happen. We bring the same aggressive representation to hazing victims and their families in Long County that we are currently delivering in this landmark case.

What Happened to Leonel Bermudez? The Nightmare Unveiled

Leonel Bermudez accepted a bid to join the University of Houston’s Pi Kappa Phi fraternity on September 16, 2025. For weeks, he was subjected to a campaign of physical and psychological abuse that pushed his body to its breaking point. On November 3, 2025, after an extreme hazing session, Leonel collapsed. He could barely move. Days later, his mother rushed him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He spent three nights and four days in the hospital, fighting for his life. He was passing brown urine, a horrifying sign of his muscles breaking down.

Our lawsuit alleges that Leonel was:

• Waterboarded with a garden hose: Described by media as “simulated waterboarding,” this involves being sprayed in the face with water while performing calisthenics, a form of torture.
• Hog-tied: Another pledge was found hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.
• Forced to eat until vomiting: He was made to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns, only to be forced to continue exercising in his own vomit.
• Subjected to extreme physical punishment: This included over 100 pushups, 500 squats, “suicides”, bear crawls, wheelbarrows, and forced recitation of the fraternity creed while enduring these grueling tasks. He was even “struck with wooden paddles.”
• Denied sleep: Forced to drive fraternity members during early mornings, leading to dangerous exhaustion.
• Psychological torture: Humiliation tactics included being stripped to his underwear in cold weather and carrying a fanny pack with objects of a sexual nature.

This all happened to a young man who wasn’t even an enrolled student yet. He was just a prospective transfer, seeking to belong. This story serves as a critical warning for all parents in Long County: hazing is real, it is brutal, and it could happen to your child.

The Defendants: Holding Everyone Accountable

Our $10 million lawsuit names multiple defendants, reflecting our strategy to expose every layer of responsibility:

• Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity (National Headquarters): For failing to enforce anti-hazing policies despite documented knowledge of a “hazing crisis” within their organization.
• University of Houston and the UH Board of Regents: For institutional negligence, including owning the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place and failing to protect students despite previous hazing incidents on campus.
• 13 individual fraternity members: Including the chapter president, pledgemaster, and others who directly participated in and facilitated the abuse, alongside former members and even a spouse who allowed hazing to occur at their private residence.

Within days of the hazing being reported, the UH chapter of Pi Kappa Phi was suspended, and members voted to surrender their charter, leading to its permanent closure. Criminal referrals were initiated. The University of Houston officially stated that the events were “deeply disturbing” and represented a “clear violation” of their standards. Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, while admitting “violations,” simultaneously announced they “look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time,” a clear sign of their lack of genuine remorse and intent to resume operations as if nothing happened.

We don’t just talk about hazing; we’re actively fighting it. When you choose Attorney911, you choose a firm with proven experience against powerful institutions, ready to ensure that what happened to Leonel Bermudez, or any other student in Long County, is met with aggressive litigation and a demand for full accountability. You can read more about this ongoing case from reputable news sources:

• ABC13 Houston: Abuse and hazing led to hospitalization of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge, lawsuit alleges
• KHOU 11: $10 million lawsuit filed against UH, fraternity over hazing allegations
• Hoodline: University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Face $10M Lawsuit Over Alleged Hazing and Abuse

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

Many parents in Long County may have a vague idea of hazing—maybe some uncomfortable pranks or embarrassing rituals. The reality, as evidenced by our current lawsuit and countless others nationwide, is far more sinister. Hazing today is increasingly violent, psychologically damaging, and often life-threatening.

It is not about “building character” or “team bonding.” It is about control, degradation, and intentionally inflicting harm.

Drawing from our cases and national statistics, hazing takes many forms:

1. Physical Abuse and Torture:

• Extreme physical exertion: Forced calisthenics (like the 500 squats and 100+ pushups Leonel endured), forced runs, and drills until collapse. In our case, a pledge even lost consciousness during a workout. This can lead to severe medical conditions like rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
• Beatings and Paddling: Students are struck with hands, belts, or objects like wooden paddles, causing severe bruising and internal injuries.
• Branding and Burning: Intentional infliction of permanent marks on the body.
• Sleep Deprivation: Forced late nights, early mornings, and disruption of natural sleep cycles, leading to exhaustion, impaired judgment, and increased vulnerability.
• Exposure to Elements: Being forced to strip to minimal clothing in cold weather, or as in Leonel’s case, being sprayed with a garden hose while minimally clothed.
• Waterboarding/Simulated Drowning: One of the most horrifying acts, it involves restricting airflow or pouring water over a student’s face, inducing the terrifying feeling of drowning. This is torture, plain and simple.

2. Forced Consumption:

• Alcohol Poisoning: Requiring pledges to consume dangerous amounts of alcohol, leading to blackouts, hospitalization, irreversible brain damage, or death, as in the tragic cases of Stone Foltz, Max Gruver, and Andrew Coffey.
• Eating until Vomiting: Forcing students to ingest bizarre or excessive amounts of food or non-food substances until they vomit, often coupled with further humiliation, as experienced by Leonel Bermudez.
• Dangerous Substances: Making students consume substances that risk their health, from rotten food to human waste.

3. Psychological and Emotional Torment:

• Humiliation and Degradation: Forced public displays of subservience or embarrassment, wearing degrading items (like the fanny pack with sexual objects Leonel had to carry), or being subjected to verbal abuse.
• Isolation and Ostracism: Deliberately excluding students, making them feel worthless, or threatening social exclusion if they do not comply.
• Threats and Intimidation: Constant threats of physical harm, expulsion from the organization, or social retaliation. Our client, Leonel Bermudez, is still fearful of speaking out due to retribution, a testament to the deep psychological impact.
• Sleep Deprivation: Beyond the physical toll, this is a method of psychological manipulation, making victims more suggestible and less able to resist.

4. Sexual Abuse and Exploitation:

• Forced Nudity: Requiring students to be naked in front of others.
• Sexual Acts: Forcing participation in or witnessing of sexual acts, or suffering sexual assault.
• Symbolic Sexual Degradation: As in Leonel’s case, forcing students to carry objects of a sexual nature as a constant form of humiliation.

5. Servitude and Forced Labor:

• Personal Servitude: Forcing pledges to run errands, clean up after members, or act as personal drivers at all hours.
• Academic Interference: Demanding time-consuming tasks that interfere with studies, leading to academic decline.

These are not isolated incidents. The statistics are horrifying:

• 55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing.
• Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every year in the United States.
• 95% of students who are hazed do NOT report it, often due to fear, shame, or misplaced loyalty.

The Long County community needs to understand that these aren’t college “pranks.” They are criminal offenses that institutions are often complicit in by failing to create genuinely safe environments. When those failures lead to injury or death, Attorney911 is here to secure justice for your family.

Who Is Responsible: Holding Every Entity Accountable

When hazing occurs, it’s rarely just one or two individuals acting alone. There is typically a systemic failure involving multiple layers of individuals and organizations. Our approach is comprehensive: we identify and pursue every single entity that bears responsibility, from individual perpetrators to the largest institutions. This strategy maximizes accountability and potential compensation for victims in Long County.

1. The Local Chapter:
The most direct perpetrators are often the active members of the local fraternity or sorority chapter involved. This includes the chapter’s leadership—the president, pledgemaster, and other officers—who actively organize, direct, and encourage hazing activities. Other individual members who participate in, witness, or fail to stop the hazing are also liable. In the Bermudez case, we have named 13 individual fraternity members, including the president and pledgemaster, making them personally accountable.

2. The National Organization:
Every local Greek chapter operates under the umbrella of a national fraternity or sorority organization. These national bodies have a duty to oversee their chapters, implement anti-hazing policies, and ensure compliance. When they fail, that failure can be catastrophic. Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters, for example, is a defendant in our Bermudez lawsuit because our investigation revealed that they possessed knowledge of a “hazing crisis” and failed to enforce rules, despite the documented death of Andrew Coffey in a Pi Kappa Phi hazing incident in 2017. These are powerful organizations with significant assets and insurance, and we will pursue them relentlessly.

3. The University or College:
Universities have a fundamental responsibility to provide a safe environment for their students. This includes protecting them from hazing, whether it occurs on campus property or is directly linked to student organizations operating under their purview. In the Bermudez case, the University of Houston is a key defendant because it owned the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place. They had the power to regulate, inspect, and intervene. Furthermore, the University of Houston had prior knowledge of severe hazing on its campus, with another student hospitalized in 2017 due to similar abuse. Their failure to act proactively makes them directly culpable. This applies equally to universities attended by students from Long County.

4. Housing Corporations and Alumni Boards:
Many fraternities operate through separate housing corporations that manage the physical property. These entities can be held liable if hazing occurs on their premises and they fail to ensure a safe environment. Additionally, alumni boards often provide guidance and funding to local chapters, potentially influencing their culture and operations. In our Bermudez case, the Beta Nu Housing Corporation is a defendant, along with a former member and his spouse who allowed hazing sessions at their private residence. This expands the net of responsibility to those who facilitate hazing off-campus.

5. Insurance Carriers:
Ultimately, the significant financial compensation in hazing cases often comes from the insurance policies held by the national organizations, universities, and sometimes even individual homeowners’ policies. As former insurance defense attorneys, both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena bring invaluable insight into how these companies operate. We know their strategies for minimizing payouts, and we use that insider knowledge to negotiate from a position of strength and maximize recovery for our clients in Long County.

Why this matters for Long County families: We don’t just go after the easily identifiable culprits. We map out the entire network of individuals and institutions that contributed to your child’s trauma. We leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice, ensuring that everyone who played a role in the hazing is held accountable.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof

The devastation of hazing can incur enormous medical costs, psychological trauma, lost educational opportunities, and, tragically, wrongful death. Justice demands not just accountability, but also compensation that reflects the full scope of these damages. History has shown that juries and settlements in hazing cases can reach into the tens and even hundreds of millions of dollars. These landmark verdicts and settlements serve as powerful precedents, demonstrating that significant recovery is possible for victims like your child from Long County.

The message to fraternities, universities, and national organizations is clear: hazing costs millions.

Landmark Verdicts and Settlements:

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

   • What Happened: Stone Foltz, a 20-year-old pledge, was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event. He died from alcohol poisoning.
   • Outcome: The university settled for $2.9 million, and Pi Kappa Alpha national fraternity along with individual members settled for $7.2 million. Additionally, in December 2024, a jury ordered Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president, to pay $6.5 million personally to the Foltz family.
   • Significance for Long County: Our $10 million demand in the Bermudez case aligns directly with this precedent, proving that such figures are not only justified but achievable. This case also shows that individual perpetrators can face massive personal liability.

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

   • What Happened: Max Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman, was forced to participate in a “Bible Study” where he was made to drink excessive amounts of alcohol for answering questions incorrectly. He died from acute alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495).
   • Outcome: A jury awarded the Gruver family $6.1 million. Criminal charges led to a negligent homicide conviction. The tragedy also spurred the passage of the “Max Gruver Act,” making hazing a felony in Louisiana.
   • Significance for Long County: This illustrates that juries are willing to award multi-million dollar verdicts for wrongful death due to hazing, sending a strong deterrent message.

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

   • What Happened: Timothy Piazza, a 19-year-old pledge, was forced to drink 18 alcoholic drinks in 82 minutes. Highly intoxicated, he fell down stairs multiple times, sustaining a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding. Fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling 911. He died days later.
   • Outcome: While confidential, settlements are estimated to exceed $110 million. Multiple fraternity members were charged, with several convicted of involuntary manslaughter and hazing. Pennsylvania passed the “Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.”
   • Significance for Long County: This case, with its strong evidence captured by security cameras, demonstrates that when combined with egregious conduct, hazing cases can yield monumental outcomes.

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

   • What Happened: Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old pledge, was forced to consume an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during a “Big Brother Night.” He died from alcohol poisoning.
   • Outcome: Nine fraternity members were charged, and the FSU chapter was permanently closed. The family reached a confidential settlement.
   • Significance for Long County: This is critical for our Bermudez case, as it involves the same national fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi. Our firm argues that Pi Kappa Phi National had eight years since Coffey’s death to address its hazing culture but failed, leading directly to Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization. This establishes a pattern of knowing disregard for safety.

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

   • What Happened: Adam Oakes, a freshman, died from alcohol poisoning after a Delta Chi hazing event.
   • Outcome: The family settled for over $4 million, and six fraternity members faced criminal charges. This led to “Adam’s Law” in Virginia.
   • Significance for Long County: Another example of a multi-million dollar settlement showcasing the severe financial consequences for negligent fraternities.

What these precedents mean for Long County families:
These cases prove that significant compensation is not only possible but expected for hazing victims. They stand as a testament to the fact that aggressive legal action can compel institutions to change and, more importantly, provide meaningful restitution to families who have suffered unimaginable loss and pain. Our Bermudez case, even with a living victim who endured horrific injuries, seeks $10 million – a figure well-supported by these national precedents and the egregious nature of the hazing. Your family in Long County deserves the same fight.

Texas Law Protects You: Understanding Your Rights in Long County

When the emotional trauma of hazing strikes a family in Long County, understanding your legal rights can feel overwhelming. However, both Texas state laws and general civil liability principles provide powerful tools for justice. While we are based in Houston, our expertise in Texas law, combined with our federal court admissions, means we can bring this knowledge and fight to victims nationwide, including those from Long County. Even if the incident occurred outside of Georgia, we can still help your child seek justice.

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

Texas has one of the strongest anti-hazing laws in the nation, providing a clear legal framework that defines hazing and establishes severe criminal and civil penalties. This law is critical to our approach in the Bermudez case and mirrors legislation in many other states.

Key Provisions:

1. Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151): Texas law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of joining an organization, if the act:

   • Involves physical brutality: Such as whipping, striking, branding, or placing harmful substances on the body (e.g., being struck with wooden paddles in the Bermudez case).
   • Causes unreasonable risk of harm: Through sleep deprivation, exposure to elements, confinement, or excessive calisthenics (e.g., Leonel’s forced 500 squats and waterboarding that led to kidney failure).
   • Involves forced consumption: Of food, liquid, alcohol, or other substances that pose an unreasonable risk of harm (e.g., forcing Leonel to eat until he vomited).
   • Requires criminal acts: Any activity forcing a student to violate the Penal Code.
   • Coerces consumption of drugs or excessive alcohol: Leading to probable intoxication.

   Long County Insight: The conduct Leonel Bermudez endured, including simulated waterboarding, forced exercise to exhaustion, and forced eating, falls squarely within multiple clauses of this comprehensive definition. Similar definitions exist in anti-hazing laws in Georgia and other states.

2. Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152): Hazing is not just a university policy violation; it’s a crime.

   • Engaging in hazing is a Class B Misdemeanor.
   • Hazing causing serious bodily injury is a Class A Misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail, $4,000 fine). This applies directly to Leonel’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
   • Hazing causing death is a State Jail Felony (up to 2 years state jail, $10,000 fine).

3. Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): The organization itself is guilty if it “condones or encourages hazing” or if its members commit hazing. Penalties include fines up to $10,000 and denial of the right to operate on campus.

4. CONSENT IS NOT A DEFENSE (§ 37.154): This is arguably the most powerful provision for victims. 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.”

   Long County Insight: This provision directly refutes the common defense used by fraternities and universities: “Your child willingly participated” or “they could have left.” Texas law (and similar laws in other states) makes it clear that young people cannot legally consent to being tortured, abused, or endangered. This is crucial for Long County families who may feel their child bears some responsibility; the law says otherwise.

5. University Reporting Requirements (§ 37.155): Universities must report hazing incidents, and failure to do so is a Class B Misdemeanor. This holds institutions accountable for transparency.

Civil Liability: Suing for Damages

Beyond criminal charges and organizational penalties, victims and their families in Long County can pursue civil lawsuits for damages. These lawsuits aim to compensate the victim for their injuries and hold all responsible parties financially accountable.

• Negligence: This is the most common civil claim. We argue that institutions (universities, national fraternities) owed a duty of care to the student, breached that duty by allowing hazing, and that this breach directly caused the injuries and damages. This is a core argument in the Bermudez case against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi National.
• Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by the university or fraternity housing corporation, those entities can be liable for failing to maintain a safe environment. The fact that the University of Houston owned the fraternity house where Leonel was hazed is a powerful element of our lawsuit.
• Negligent Supervision: National organizations and universities have a duty to supervise their chapters and Greek life. Their failure to do so, especially when they have knowledge of past hazing incidents, constitutes negligent supervision.
• Assault and Battery: Individual perpetrators who inflict physical harm can be sued directly for intentional torts like assault and battery, regardless of whether they are also criminally charged.
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: The extreme and outrageous nature of hazing, especially acts like waterboarding, can lead to claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, compensating the victim for severe psychological trauma.
• Wrongful Death: In tragic cases where hazing leads to a student’s death, families can file wrongful death lawsuits, seeking compensation for lost companionship, financial support, and pain and suffering.

What this means for Long County families: While the specifics of Georgia’s anti-hazing laws, such as Max’s Law, may differ slightly from Texas, the underlying civil theories of negligence, premises liability, and the principle that consent is not a defense are universally applied or widely adopted. Our expertise in these complex legal areas transcends state lines, making Attorney911 a formidable advocate for any hazing victim from Long County. We meticulously build each case, collecting evidence to prove beyond a doubt that the defendant’s actions (or inactions) led to severe harm.

Why Attorney911: Your Champion in the Fight Against Hazing

Choosing the right legal team is paramount when your family in Long County is grappling with the trauma of hazing. You need more than just a lawyer; you need a legal emergency team with the expertise, determination, and resources to take on powerful institutions. Attorney911 is that team. We are not just advocates; we are warriors dedicated to securing justice for victims and preventing future tragedies.

Unmatched Experience and Proven Aggression:

1. Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit: This isn’t theoretical. We are currently in the thick of a high-stakes battle against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston in the Bermudez case. We aren’t just reading about these cases; we are making the headlines. This active, real-time experience means Long County families benefit from the most current, aggressive, and data-driven litigation strategies available. Our current fight demonstrates our firm’s deep commitment and expertise in hazing litigation.

2. Long County Families Get Seasoned Courtroom Experience: Ralph Manginello brings over 25 years of battle-tested courtroom experience. He has successfully handled complex personal injury and criminal defense cases, including multi-billion dollar mass tort litigation against BP after the Texas City Explosion. This experience means we are not intimidated by large corporate defendants or university legal teams.

3. Insider Knowledge: We Know Their Playbook: Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña are former insurance defense attorneys. They spent years working on the “other side,” defending insurance companies and corporations. This gives us an invaluable unfair advantage. We know exactly how insurance companies and institutional defense lawyers think, strategize, and attempt to minimize or deny claims. We leverage this insider knowledge to dismantle their defenses and maximize recovery for our clients from Long County.

4. Nationwide Reach with Federal Court Authority: Hazing incidents often involve national fraternities and universities in different states. While our physical offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, our attorneys are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and Ralph Manginello is also admitted to the New York State bar, giving us federal court authority and dual-state licensure. This means we can pursue hazing cases against national organizations, no matter where they are headquartered or where the incident occurred, providing Long County families with seamless, powerful representation.

5. Hazing-Specific Expertise: Our firm has specialized experience with hazing-related injuries, including rhabdomyolysis cases like Leonel Bermudez’s. We understand the unique medical and psychological complexities of these cases, ensuring all damages—physical, emotional, and financial—are accounted for.

6. Data-Driven Litigation: We employ powerful intelligence systems to track Greek organizations. Our extensive database includes over 125 IRS-registered Greek organizations in Texas, complete with EINs, legal names, and addresses. This means when hazing happens, we don’t guess who’s responsible; we know exactly who to sue. For example, our database identified the Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc with EIN 462267515 in Frisco, Texas, the same entity behind the UH chapter we sued. This systematic approach ensures no liable party can hide.

Compassionate Advocacy and Client-Centered Service:

1. Empathetic and Parent-Facing Approach: We understand that Long County families facing hazing trauma are scared, angry, and seeking guidance. Our tone is always empathetic, warm, and direct. We speak to you as worried parents, not as legal colleagues. We listen to your story, validate your pain, and guide you through every step of the legal process.

2. No Upfront Cost: Contingency Fees: We believe that financial hardship should never be a barrier to justice. We take hazing cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay us absolutely nothing upfront. We cover all litigation costs, and we only get paid if—and when—we win your case. This allows Long County families to pursue justice without added financial stress. You can learn more about how this works in our video: How Contingency Fees Work.

3. Accessible and Responsive: Legal emergencies don’t keep business hours, and neither do we. We offer free consultations 24/7. Long County families can reach us by phone, email, or video consultation. We make connecting with expert legal help easy and safe, regardless of geographical distance. Our client testimonials consistently praise our communication and responsiveness, ensuring you’re always informed and supported.

4. Bilingual Services (Se Habla Español): For our Spanish-speaking families in Long County, our bilingual staff and attorneys, including Lupe Peña, are here to ensure no language barrier ever stands in the way of obtaining justice.

5. Deep Roots and Personal Values: Ralph Manginello is a father of three who understands the profound fear and anger a parent feels when their child is harmed. His background as a hall of fame athlete and youth coach gives him unique insight into the cultures that breed hazing. Lupe Peña, a third-generation Texan from Sugar Land, brings similar deep community values and a powerful commitment to justice. We fight for your child as if they were our own.

When tragedy strikes, whether your child is in college in Georgia or elsewhere, Attorney911 is your dedicated partner. We offer immediate, aggressive, and professional help for your legal emergency. Distance to Long County is not a barrier; justice is our destination, and we are prepared to travel wherever it takes us.

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

If your child in Long County or attending college elsewhere has been a victim of hazing, the moments immediately following the incident are critical. While the emotional toll is immense, quick and precise action can dramatically impact the success of any legal action. Do not delay. Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do right now:

1. Prioritize Medical Attention:

   • Seek immediate medical help: Even if injuries seem minor, get your child to a doctor, urgent care, or emergency room. Hazing injuries, like rhabdomyolysis or internal organ damage from binge drinking, may not be immediately apparent but can be life-threatening. Leonel Bermudez’s kidney failure was diagnosed after days of worsening symptoms.
   • Document everything: Ensure medical professionals meticulously record all injuries, symptoms, and your child’s account of how they occurred. This creates a critical paper trail.
   • Keep all records: Retain copies of all hospital records, doctor’s notes, lab results (like creatine kinase levels for rhabdomyolysis), bills, and prescriptions. If psychological trauma is present, seek therapy and keep those records too. Learn more about the importance of medical documentation: [Why Seeing a Doctor Right After an Accident Is Critical](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= (Channel Video) and [How to Work With Your Lawyer for the Best Case Outcome](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= (Channel Video).

2. Preserve All Evidence — EVERYTHING: Hazing is often covert, making evidence collection paramount.

   • Digital communications: Immediately screenshot and save every text message, GroupMe chat, Snapchat conversation, Instagram DM, email, or social media post related to the hazing. Pay attention to messages from fraternity/sorority members, pledges, and your child. These often contain direct evidence, instructions, or threats.
   • Photos and videos: Photograph any physical injuries (bruises, marks, burns) as soon as possible, and continue to document their healing process. If any photos or videos of the hazing activities or location exist, save them securely. Even images of pledges together or at events can be helpful. You can learn more about this in our video: Can You Use Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case?.
   • Physical evidence: Preserve clothing worn during the hazing, any items used in the hazing, or anything else that could be relevant.
   • Witness information: Collect names and contact details of other pledges, active members who seem sympathetic, or anyone who witnessed parts of the hazing. Their testimony can be invaluable.
   • Organizational documents: Keep any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, or communications from the fraternity/sorority or university.
   • Academic and financial records: Document any impact on grades, enrollment status, scholarships, and any lost wages or tuition fees.

   DO NOT:

   • Delete anything: Deleting digital evidence can be seen as obstruction and harm your case.
   • Post on social media: Refrain from posting about the incident or your child’s injuries on any social media platform. Anything you post can be used by defense attorneys to undermine your case. Our video on Don’t Post on Social Media After an Accident emphasizes this critical point.

3. Limit Communication with Others:

   • Do NOT talk to the fraternity/sorority: Avoid all communication with chapter members, leadership, or alumni. They will attempt to control the narrative, gather information, or pressure your child into silence.
   • Do NOT talk to the university administration alone: If the university initiates an investigation, do NOT give statements or attend meetings without legal counsel present. Universities prioritize protecting their institution, not your child.
   • Do NOT sign anything: Never sign any documents presented by the fraternity, university, or their representatives without your attorney reviewing them first. You could inadvertently waive critical legal rights.
   • Do NOT talk to insurance companies: Do not speak with any insurance adjusters, even from your own insurer, without your lawyer present. Adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. Our video Never Talk to the Insurance Company After an Accident provides crucial warnings.

4. Confirm the Hazing Law of the State Where it Occurred:

   • While we are well-versed in Texas hazing laws, including the principle that consent is not a defense, it’s important to understand the specific laws of the state where the hazing took place, whether it’s in Georgia or another state. This will inform the optimal legal strategy.

5. CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY:

   • Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now: The statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death cases in most states, including Georgia, is typically two years from the date of the injury or death. This may seem like a long time, but evidence disappears, memories fade, and important deadlines can be missed. Act quickly to preserve your rights. Our video, Is There a Statute of Limitations on My Case?, explains the urgency.
   • Free consultation: Our initial consultation is always free. This allows us to evaluate your child’s case, understand the specifics of what happened, and inform you of your legal options without any financial obligation from your Long County family.
   • Distance is not a barrier: Even if your child was hazed far from our Texas offices, we can still help. We offer remote video consultations for Long County families and are committed to traveling for depositions, trials, and meetings as needed to secure justice.

Taking these immediate steps will help us build the strongest possible case for your child and hold all responsible parties accountable for the horrific trauma they inflicted. We are ready to bring our aggressive, experienced fight to your Long County family.

Contact Us: Your Legal Emergency Hotline

If you are a family in Long County, Georgia, and your child has been a victim of hazing, you are experiencing a legal emergency. We understand the fear, anger, and utter devastation you must be feeling. We are here to help. At Attorney911, we are not just lawyers; we are relentless advocates for hazing victims and their families across the nation. We are the legal emergency firm currently fighting a $10 million lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university for heinous hazing. We bring that same fight, that same data-driven strategy, and that same unwavering commitment to justice for families in Long County.

You have legal rights. Your child deserves justice. We are fighting this fight right now – and we will fight for Long County victims, too.

Long County Families, Call Our Legal Emergency Hotline Now for a Free Consultation:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email Us: ralph@atty911.com

Website: attorney911.com

We are available 24/7 for hazing emergencies. This is not a time to wait. The clock is ticking on legal deadlines, and critical evidence can disappear rapidly. A call to 1-888-ATTY-911 connects you directly to the help you need, day or night.

Your Concerns Addressed:

• Cost: We take all hazing cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely $0 upfront. We only get paid if, and when, we win your case. Our interests are fully aligned with yours, ensuring that financial concerns never prevent your Long County family from seeking justice.
• Location: Although headquartered in Houston, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including those in Long County, Georgia. Our federal court admissions and willingness to travel for depositions, client meetings, and trials ensure that distance is never a barrier to high-quality legal representation. We can conduct comprehensive video consultations with your family in Long County.
• Privacy: We understand the immense sensitivity surrounding hazing incidents. We prioritize your child’s privacy and work diligently to protect their identity and well-being throughout the legal process.
• Immigration Status: If your child is an international student or from an immigrant family, do not fear. Your immigration status does not affect your right to seek justice for hazing. We are here to protect all victims, and our bilingual staff (Se Habla Español) ensures that language is never a barrier to your legal rights.

To Other Victims of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing:

We know Leonel Bermudez was not the only one. We know other pledges were subjected to similar abuse, whether waterboarding, forced eating, extreme physical punishment, or other atrocities. We know some of you witnessed these horrific acts. Just weeks before Leonel’s hospitalization, another pledge collapsed and lost consciousness during forced workouts.

You have rights too. We are ready to represent you. Join Leonel in holding these institutions accountable.

As Lupe Pena 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.” Your courage to come forward could save countless other students from enduring the same trauma.

Call us. Let’s bring them ALL to justice.

Your child deserves better. Your family deserves justice. And the institutions that allowed this to happen must be held accountable. Let Attorney911 be your champion in this fight.

Connect with Ralph Manginello directly | Learn more about Lupe Peña’s expertise | Visit our wrongful death practice area page