If you’re reading this in Madison County, Georgia, 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 your area fight back.
We understand the deep love you have for your children here in Madison County. This is a tight-knit community, where families send their children to excellent local schools like Madison County High School, or to respected institutions across Georgia like the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia Tech in Atlanta, or other esteemed universities across the Southeast. We all hope our children will thrive, find their path, and build meaningful relationships. The idea that they could be subjected to brutal hazing while pursuing their education is unthinkable, yet it is a tragic reality. We are here to help turn your fear and anger into powerful action.
The Haunting Echoes of Hazing: What Happened to Leonel Bermudez Can Happen in Madison County, Georgia
We fight for hazing victims and their families across America, and we want families in Madison County, Georgia, to know that we are fighting this battle right now. Our firm, Attorney911, is currently litigating a landmark $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi, the University of Houston, and 13 individual fraternity members. This isn’t a theoretical fight; it’s happening right now in Harris County Civil District Court, making headlines across Houston.
Our client, Leonel Bermudez, wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet. He was a “ghost rush,” planning to transfer. What he endured was beyond anything a parent could imagine. Within weeks of accepting a bid to Pi Kappa Phi, Leonel was waterboarded with a garden hose. He was hog-tied. He was forced to eat until he vomited. He was subjected to psychological torture, sleep deprivation, and forced physical exertion until his muscles broke down and his kidneys failed. He spent four agonizing days in the hospital with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, passing urine the color of coffee.
This horrific incident is not isolated to Houston, and it’s certainly not isolated to Texas. Pi Kappa Phi, like many national fraternities, has chapters across America – including at universities where students from Madison County, Georgia, choose to attend. The same vicious “traditions” that hospitalized Leonel can, and do, occur in fraternities and sororities at institutions across Georgia and the wider Southeast. The institutional failures at the University of Houston, where a prior hazing incident in 2017 should have served as a wake-up call, are echoed at countless universities that fail to protect their students from these preventable abuses.
We tell Leonel’s story not to scare you, but to inform you with stark reality. This is what hazing looks like today. This is the kind of aggressive, systematic abuse that national organizations and universities often turn a blind eye to until a student is severely injured or, tragically, killed. And this is why we fight with every fiber of our being. We believe deeply in transforming tragedy into tangible change, and we are committed to applying this aggressive, data-driven approach for families in Madison County, Georgia, too.
For more details on Leonel’s case, you can read the comprehensive news coverage:
Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters even posted their own statement, acknowledging the chapter’s “violations” and closure: Pi Kappa Phi Official Statement
What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes
When you hear the word “hazing,” you might imagine silly pranks or embarrassing tasks. But what Leonel Bermudez endured, and what countless students across American campuses like those attended by Madison County students endure, is far from harmless fun. This is calculated, systematic abuse designed to break down individuals, enforce conformity, and create silence through fear.
Hazing is not “boys being boys” or “building character.” It is a dangerous cocktail of assault, battery, psychological torture, and reckless endangerment that can, and often does, lead to severe injury, permanent trauma, or death.
Based on our ongoing litigation and extensive research, these are the terrifying realities of modern hazing:
1. Simulated Drowning and Water Torture: Leonel was waterboarded with a garden hose. This is not a prank; it is a recognized form of torture that simulates drowning, inducing extreme fear and physical distress. When applied to combatants, it’s considered a war crime. It has no place in a university setting.
2. Extreme Physical Punishment: Pledges are often forced into brutal physical regimens designed to cause exhaustion and injury. Leonel was compelled to perform over 100 push-ups, 500 squats, high-volume “suicides” (running drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, and repeated 100-yard crawls. This forced him to exercise to such an extreme that his muscles literally broke down, leading to rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. Other pledges have lost consciousness during such drills, yet the “tradition” continues. Madison County parents sending their children to schools across Georgia and the South, be aware: this type of physical abuse extends beyond the borders of any state.
3. Forced Consumption and Poisoning: Hazing often involves forcing pledges to consume dangerous substances or excessive amounts of food or alcohol. Leonel was made to eat large quantities of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited, then forced to continue physical activity in his own vomit. This isn’t just gross; it’s a profound violation of dignity and can lead to choking, organ damage, or alcohol poisoning, which is a leading cause of hazing deaths.
4. Psychological Degradation and Humiliation: Hazing aims to strip individuals of their self-worth. Leonel was coerced into carrying a fanny pack filled with objects of a sexual nature at all times. Another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. Pledges are forced to strip naked in cold weather, enduring verbal abuse, intimidation, and constant threats of physical punishment or expulsion if they do not comply. This relentless mental assault leaves lasting scars, often manifesting as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
5. Sleep Deprivation: Pledges are frequently denied adequate sleep, forced to attend late-night events, perform early morning tasks, or drive fraternity members at all hours. This chronic exhaustion impairs judgment, increases vulnerability to accidents, and severely impacts academic performance and overall health.
6. Physical Brutality: Beyond forced exercise, direct physical violence is common. Leonel was struck with wooden paddles. Other forms of physical abuse include beating, branding, burning, and applying harmful substances to the body.
The emotional and psychological impact of these experiences can be just as devastating as the physical injuries. Victims often suffer from PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and a profound loss of trust. They may struggle academically, socially, and professionally long after the hazing ends.
The sad truth is that hazing is not confined to obscure corners of the country. It happens at respected universities where Madison County families send their children. It happens within national fraternities and sororities that operate chapters across Georgia—including at the University of Georgia, Kennesaw State University, Georgia Southern University, and private institutions—under the guise of “brotherhood” or “sisterhood.” Attorney911 is dedicated to exposing these insidious practices and holding every responsible party accountable.
Who Is Responsible? Holding Every Entity Accountable
One of the most powerful aspects of our approach at Attorney911, and particularly evident in the Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit, is our relentless pursuit of accountability from every responsible party. When a Madison County student is severely injured or dies due to hazing, the responsibility extends far beyond just the students who directly inflict the abuse.
We identify and pursue all individuals and institutions that contributed to the harm, ensuring that financial responsibility is placed where it belongs. This includes the “deep pockets” who often try to evade accountability.
1. The Local Chapter:
The individual members and leaders of the local fraternity or sorority chapter are directly responsible for organizing and conducting hazing. In Leonel’s case, we named the chapter president, pledgemaster, and other individual members who participated in or facilitated the torture. Their direct actions, their failure to intervene, and their conscious decision to perpetrate abuse make them liable.
2. The National Fraternity or Sorority Organization:
This is often where the “deep pockets” lie. National organizations, like Pi Kappa Phi, ostensibly exist to oversee, regulate, and support their local chapters. They maintain policies against hazing, yet repeatedly fail to enforce them. We contend that these national bodies have a duty to prevent hazing, and their failure to do so constitutes negligence. We argued in Leonel’s case that the national organization knew of a “hazing crisis” and failed to act. The fact that Andrew Coffey died in a Pi Kappa Phi hazing incident in 2017, eight years before Leonel’s severe injuries, demonstrates a pattern of negligence and conscious indifference that is devastating for the national organization’s defense. These national organizations command significant financial resources, including endowments and extensive liability insurance policies, which we aggressively target to compensate victims fully.
3. The University or College:
Universities have a fundamental duty to protect their students from harm, especially on their own campuses or within institutions they officially recognize and sanction. In Leonel’s case, the University of Houston owned the very fraternity house where some of the hazing took place, making their premises liability undeniable. Furthermore, the university had prior knowledge of hazing incidents on its campus (a student was hospitalized in 2017 from Pi Kappa Alpha hazing at UH). Their failure to implement effective oversight, inspect properties, or enforce policies despite this prior warning demonstrates a systemic negligence that led directly to Leonel’s injuries. Universities often possess vast endowments and substantial insurance coverage, and we ensure they are held accountable for their institutional failures. Most universities near Madison County, Georgia—from the large state universities to smaller private colleges—have a Greek life presence and thus carry this potential liability.
4. Individual Perpetrators:
Beyond chapter leaders, any individual involved in hazing activities, whether actively participating in the abuse or passively allowing it to occur, can be held personally liable. This extends to former members who may host hazing activities at their private residences, and even their spouses if they enable such events on their property. The Stone Foltz case, where a chapter president was found personally liable for $6.5 million, underscores the very real personal financial risk individuals face when engaging in or facilitating hazing.
5. Housing Corporations and Alumni Boards:
Many fraternity chapters operate through separate housing corporations or alumni boards that own and manage the physical properties. These entities often provide financial backing and oversight to the local chapter. Their failure to ensure a safe environment within the property they control makes them directly liable for incidents that occur there. Attorney911 meticulously researches these complex corporate structures to identify every potential defendant.
6. Insurance Carriers:
Ultimately, compensation for victims often comes from the various insurance policies held by these responsible parties. This includes general liability policies of national organizations and universities, homeowner’s insurance policies of individuals who own properties where hazing occurs, and other personal liability coverages. As a firm with former insurance defense attorneys, we have invaluable insider knowledge of how these carriers assess, deny, and settle claims. This insight allows us to dismantle their defense strategies and maximize recovery for our clients. Lupe Peña, in particular, spent years working for a nationwide insurance defense firm, giving us an “unfair advantage” in anticipating and counteracting the strategies of opposing counsel.
For Madison County families struggling with the devastating consequences of hazing, understanding who can be held responsible is the first step toward justice. We leave no stone unturned, meticulously identifying every culpable party, from the individual students who commit the acts to the national organizations and universities who enable them.
What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof Your Fight Matters
The fight against hazing is not just about justice; it’s also about sending a resounding message that torture and abuse have no place in higher education. The landmark hazing cases across the country, where victims and their families have secured multi-million dollar outcomes, serve as powerful precedents. These cases prove that when families stand up and fight, they can win substantial compensation, fundamentally change dangerous cultures, and push for stricter anti-hazing laws. These same precedents apply to cases originating in Madison County, Georgia.
Here’s a look at some of the most significant hazing settlements and verdicts that inform our aggressive $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez:
1. Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021-2024)
Total Recovery: $10.1 MILLION+
Stone Foltz died in 2021 from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a Pi Kappa Alpha “Big/Little” event. The university paid $2.9 million, and Pi Kappa Alpha National, along with individual members, settled for $7.2 million. Most recently, in December 2024, a jury ordered Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president, to pay an additional $6.5 million in personal liability. This case is crucial because it demonstrates that our $10 million demand for Leonel Bermudez, a surviving victim of severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure, is squarely in line with modern valuations for hazing injuries and deaths.
2. Maxwell Gruver – Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017)
Total Verdict: $6.1 MILLION
Max Gruver died in 2017 with a BAC of 0.495 after a Phi Delta Theta “Bible Study” event where he was forced to drink if he answered questions incorrectly. His family secured a $6.1 million jury verdict, and his death spurred the passage of the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony in Louisiana. This case powerfully illustrates how juries react to egregious hazing, often awarding millions to victims’ families, and how civil litigation can drive significant legislative change.
3. Timothy Piazza – Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017)
Total Recovery: $110 MILLION+ (Estimated)
Timothy Piazza died in 2017 from a traumatic brain injury after consuming 18 drinks in 82 minutes during a Beta Theta Pi ritual. Fraternity members waited 12 hours to call 911 despite his obvious distress, a delay captured on security cameras. The family secured a confidential settlement estimated at over $110 million, and Piazza’s death ignited nationwide conversations about hazing, leading to Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law. This case is a testament to the immense value of cases with strong evidence and deliberate indifference from perpetrators.
4. Adam Oakes – Virginia Commonwealth University / Delta Chi (2021-2024)
Total Settlement: $4 MILLION+
Adam Oakes died in 2021 from alcohol poisoning during a Delta Chi big-little event. His family recently settled their wrongful death lawsuit for over $4 million, with an initial demand of $28 million. This case further reinforces the multi-million dollar scale of hazing settlements and how they contribute to establishing foundations and new legislation combatting hazing.
5. Andrew Coffey – Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017)
Total Settlement: Confidential
Critically, Andrew Coffey died in 2017 from alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother Night” at Pi Kappa Phi – the very same national fraternity involved in Leonel Bermudez’s case. While the settlement amount was confidential, the incident led to criminal charges and the chapter’s permanent closure. This prior death, directly linked to Pi Kappa Phi, underscores the national organization’s eight-year failure to address its hazing culture, making Leonel’s injuries entirely foreseeable and reinforcing the claim for punitive damages.
These documented outcomes demonstrate a clear pattern: institutions and national organizations are being held accountable for millions. Our firm has the expertise to leverage these precedents. For families in Madison County, Georgia, contemplating legal action after a hazing incident, these cases provide powerful proof that justice, and significant financial compensation, are truly attainable. We believe that money is not enough to heal the emotional scars, but it is a powerful tool to force change, prevent future tragedies, and ensure lifetime care for those who have been permanently injured.
Texas Law Protects You: How the Law Fights Hazing
For families in Madison County, Georgia, whose child has been impacted by hazing, understanding the legal framework is crucial. While our firm is headquartered in Texas, a state with robust anti-hazing laws, the principles and types of civil actions we pursue are applicable nationwide. Additionally, our federal court admissions and dual-state bar licenses mean we can represent victims across state lines, bringing the full force of federal and state laws to bear on your case.
Texas has some of the toughest anti-hazing laws in the nation, providing a strong foundation for our litigation. These laws also serve as a blueprint for what defines illegal hazing, and similar statutes exist in most other states, including Georgia.
Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157 — The Anti-Hazing Law
At its core, Texas law broadly defines hazing as:
Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act occurring on or off campus, by one person or acting with others, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization, if the act endangers the mental or physical health or safety of the student.
This definition encompasses various forms of abuse, directly mirroring what Leonel Bermudez endured and what many Madison County students might face:
- Physical Brutality: This includes acts like whipping, beating, striking (such as with wooden paddles), branding, or placing harmful substances on the body.
- Endangerment of Health or Safety: Activities like sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements (such as being stripped outside in cold weather), confinement in small spaces, or extreme calisthenics (like Leonel’s 500 squats and 100 pushups) that pose an unreasonable risk of harm or adversely affect health.
- Forced Consumption: This covers compelling a student to consume food, liquid, alcohol, or other substances (such as eating until vomiting, as Leonel was forced to do) in a way that risks their health or safety.
- Criminal Acts: Any activity that requires a student to violate a criminal law.
- Coercing Intoxication: Forcing a student to consume drugs or alcohol to the point of intoxication.
A Critical Legal Pillar: Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154)
This is perhaps the most vital aspect of anti-hazing law for Madison County families to understand. Fraternities and universities will often attempt to deflect blame by claiming the victim “consented” to the activities or “knew what they were signing up for.” Texas law explicitly shatters this defense:
“It is not a defense to prosecution… that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”
This means that regardless of whether a student “agreed” to participate under duress, fear, or peer pressure, the act of hazing remains illegal and actionable. This provision is powerful and helps us dismantle a primary defense tactic.
Criminal Penalties:
Texas law imposes severe criminal penalties for hazing, ranging from Class B misdemeanors for engaging in or failing to report hazing, to Class A misdemeanors for hazing causing serious bodily injury, and even State Jail Felonies for hazing that results in death. This means that individuals involved in hazing, like those who assaulted Leonel, can face jail time and fines, not just civil lawsuits.
Organizational Liability (§ 37.153):
Beyond individuals, organizations that condone, encourage, or whose members commit hazing acts also face penalties. This includes fines, denial of the right to operate on campus, and even forfeiture of property. This provision is key to holding local chapters and national organizations directly accountable.
University Reporting Requirements (§ 37.155):
Universities are legally obligated to report hazing incidents. Failure to do so can also lead to criminal penalties for administrators. This ensures transparency (in theory) and provides another avenue for accountability when institutions try to cover up incidents.
Civil Liability for Hazing Across All States:
Beyond direct statutory violations, hazing incidents also give rise to several civil legal claims that can be pursued regardless of the state, including for Madison County, Georgia, victims:
- Negligence: This is perhaps the most common claim, asserting that the university, national organization, and individual members had a duty of care to protect the student, breached that duty through hazing, and that breach directly caused the student’s injuries and damages.
- Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by the university (as in Leonel’s case where UH owned the fraternity house) or by a fraternity housing corporation, these entities can be held liable for failing to maintain a safe environment.
- Negligent Supervision: Claims can be made that national organizations failed to adequately supervise their local chapters, or that universities failed to properly oversee Greek life activities.
- Assault and Battery: Direct physical abuse, like paddling or forced physical contact, constitutes civil assault and battery, for which individuals can be held liable.
- Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED): When hazing involves extreme and outrageous conduct that causes severe emotional distress (like trauma from waterboarding), IIED claims can be pursued.
- Wrongful Death: In the most tragic cases, families can file wrongful death lawsuits, seeking compensation for the loss of their loved one, including lost companionship, future earnings, and other damages.
For Madison County families, these legal principles mean that a powerful legal framework exists to pursue justice. We leverage these laws to protect your child’s rights and ensure that those responsible for their pain are held fully accountable.
Why Attorney911? Your Trusted Legal Partner in Madison County, Georgia
When your family in Madison County, Georgia, faces the unimaginable horror of a hazing injury or death, you need more than just a lawyer. You need an aggressive advocate, an empathetic guide, and a relentless fighter who understands what’s at stake. That’s who we are at Attorney911. We are a firm built on 25+ years of courtroom experience, deep insider knowledge of how the opposition operates, and an unwavering commitment to justice for victims. We are ready to bring our expertise directly to Madison County families.
Here’s why families in Madison County, Georgia, should choose Attorney911:
1. We’re Actively Fighting This Battle Right Now:
We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston in the Leonel Bermudez case. This isn’t theoretical; this is real, ongoing litigation where we are aggressively holding a national fraternity, a major university, and multiple individuals accountable for severe hazing. Madison County families get the same battle-tested, aggressive representation. We’re not just talking about hazing; we’re in the trenches fighting it.
2. Deep Insider Knowledge of the Opposition:
Both Ralph Manginello, our managing partner, and Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, are former insurance defense lawyers. They spent years working for the insurance companies and corporations, learning their strategies, their weaknesses, and their internal playbooks. Now, they use that invaluable insider knowledge to dismantle the defense of fraternities, universities, and their insurance carriers. This “insurance counter-intelligence system” is a critical advantage for Madison County victims facing powerful institutions trying to minimize their claims. Lupe Peña, in particular, honed his skills at a nationwide insurance defense firm, making him uniquely equipped to anticipate the defense’s every move.
3. Unparalleled Courtroom and Federal Experience:
Ralph Manginello brings over 25 years of courtroom experience, including high-stakes complex litigation like the BP Texas City Explosion mass tort case. This demonstrates our capacity to take on massive corporate defendants and win. Furthermore, both Ralph and Lupe are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, granting us federal court authority to pursue cases nationwide. Ralph’s dual-state bar licenses (Texas AND New York) provide a strategic advantage when litigating against national fraternities headquartered anywhere in the country. This means that geographic distance between Madison County, Georgia, and our Texas offices poses no barrier to our ability to represent you effectively. We will travel to Madison County for depositions, meetings, and trials as needed, ensuring your case receives the personalized attention it deserves.
4. Comprehensive Hazing Litigation Expertise:
We don’t just handle general personal injury; we have specific and deep expertise in hazing litigation, including cases involving rhabdomyolysis injuries (like Leonel Bermudez’s medical condition), Kappa Sigma fraternity hazing, Texas A&M University hazing cases, and wrongful death from hazing. We understand the nuances of student organizations, university oversight, and the specific dynamics of hazing culture. Ralph Manginello’s background as a Hall of Fame athlete and youth coach also gives him unique insight into the pressures and environments that can lead to hazing.
5. We Come to You: Nationwide Reach for Madison County Families:
We proudly serve Madison County, Georgia, and hazing victims across America. While our headquarters are in Houston, our commitment to justice knows no geographical bounds. We offer convenient video consultations for Madison County families, and our attorneys are prepared to travel wherever necessary—for client meetings, depositions, or trials—to ensure your case is expertly handled. Our message is clear: distance is not a barrier to justice.
6. Empathetic, Bilingual, and Client-Centered Approach:
We understand the immense trauma and pain hazing inflicts. Our team is genuinely compassionate, treating every Madison County family like our own. Our staff is bilingual and proficient in Spanish (“Se Habla Español”), ensuring that language barriers never prevent access to justice for our diverse families, including any Hispanic families in Madison County. We keep you informed at every step, offering clear communication and guidance through a challenging process.
7. No Upfront Costs: Contingency Fee Basis:
We believe that no family should be denied justice due to financial constraints. We take hazing cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay $0 upfront. Our firm only gets paid if, and when, we win your case. This removes the financial burden and risk from your family, allowing you to focus on healing while we focus on securing justice and maximum compensation.
8. Proven Track Record and Social Proof:
Our firm boasts a 4.9-star rating on Google My Business with over 250 reviews, reflecting our dedication and successful outcomes. Our clients consistently praise our communication, aggressive advocacy, and genuine care. As one client put it, “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them and they protect and fight for you as such.” Another stated, “He is a true hero, Saved our family’s life.” We bring this same level of dedication to every family we represent, including yours in Madison County.
For Madison County families, choosing Attorney911 means choosing a legal team that combines aggressive legal strategy with deep empathy. We are committed to making a difference, one hazing case at a time, protecting your children and holding culpable institutions accountable.
What To Do Right Now: Actionable Steps for Madison County Families
If your child in Madison County, Georgia, has been a victim of hazing, the moments immediately following the incident are critical. Panic, confusion, and fear are natural responses, but quick and decisive action can profoundly impact the outcome of any potential legal action. We are here to guide you through these challenging first steps.
This guidance is designed for the worried parent in Madison County, Georgia, searching for answers at 2 AM. These are clear, actionable steps inspired by our work on cases like Leonel Bermudez’s:
1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention:
Your child’s health is the absolute priority. Even if injuries seem minor, or your child is hesitant, insist on a thorough medical examination. Some severe conditions, like rhabdomyolysis (as Leonel suffered) or internal injuries, may not manifest immediately. Timely medical care ensures their well-being and creates an indisputable record of their injuries. Go to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, St. Mary’s Health Care System, or any nearest emergency facility right away.
2. Preserve ALL Evidence – Act Now, Not Later:
This is perhaps the most crucial step. Hazing organizations and universities will often try to destroy or hide evidence. You must act quickly.
- Medical Records: Obtain copies of all hospital records, emergency room visits, doctor’s notes, lab results (like creatine kinase levels for rhabdo), and any therapy or counseling records.
- Photos and Videos: Take pictures of any visible injuries (bruises, cuts, burns) immediately and throughout the healing process. If any photos or videos of the hazing itself exist, save them discreetly. Our video “Can You Use Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case?” emphasizes the importance of relentless documentation.
- Digital Communications: Screenshot and save everything – text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchat conversations, Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger chats, emails, and any social media posts related to the hazing or the organization. These often contain directive orders, threats, humiliating content, and proof of who knew what.
- Documents: Collect any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, or guidelines provided to your child by the organization.
- Witness Information: Gather names and contact details of other pledges, fraternity/sorority members, or any bystanders who witnessed the hazing or your child’s distress. Their testimony can be invaluable.
- Financial Records: Keep track of all medical bills, receipts for medications, travel expenses to appointments, and any documentation of lost wages or academic fees incurred due to the incident.
3. Do NOT Communicate with the Organization or University Without Legal Counsel:
This is a trap. Fraternity leaders, national representatives, and university administrators are not on your side. Their primary goal is to protect their institution, not your child.
- No Statements: Do NOT give any recorded statements or written accounts to the fraternity, the national organization, university officials, or their insurance companies. Anything you say can be twisted and used against you.
- No Signatures: Do NOT sign any documents, releases, or agreements presented by anyone associated with the fraternity or university without first having an attorney review them. You could unwittingly waive your child’s legal rights.
- Refer to Attorney: Once you retain us, direct all inquiries to our legal team. As our video “Never Talk to the Insurance Company After an Accident” warns, they are trained to minimize your claim.
4. Stay Off Social Media:
Anything posted online can and will be scrutinized by defense attorneys. Avoid posting about the hazing incident, your child’s injuries, or even outwardly “happy” photos that could be used to diminish the perceived severity of their trauma. Do not delete old posts, as that could be seen as destruction of evidence. Our short video “Don’t Post on Social Media After an Accident” underscores this critical advice.
5. Understand the Statute of Limitations – Time is Critical:
In most states, including Georgia and Texas, there is a strict deadline (typically two years from the date of injury or death) to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. This is called the “statute of limitations.” If you miss this deadline, you forever lose your right to pursue legal action. Hazing victims often delay reporting due to shame, fear, or misguided loyalty. However, every day that passes makes evidence harder to find and witnesses harder to locate. Our video “Is There a Statute of Limitations on My Case?” details why acting quickly is essential.
6. Contact Attorney911 Immediately for a Free Consultation:
The most important step you can take is to call us. We understand the unique complexities of hazing cases and the immense emotional toll they take on Madison County families. Your initial consultation is completely free and confidential. We will evaluate your child’s situation, explain their rights, and outline the best path forward. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we secure compensation for you.
We are ready to bring the full force of our experience, resources, and aggressive litigation strategy to bear on your child’s case, whether the incident occurred at a Georgia university or anywhere else across the country. Let us fight for the justice your Madison County family deserves.
Madison County, Georgia Families: Have You or Your Child Been Hazed? Call Attorney911 Now.
If your family in Madison County, Georgia, is grappling with the devastating aftermath of a hazing incident, you are not alone. And you certainly do not have to fight this battle by yourself. You have legal rights, and we are here to help you exercise them aggressively. We are currently in the midst of a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for severe hazing, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to justice for victims. The same aggressive, informed, and tenacious representation we bring to cases in Houston, we are ready to bring to your family in Madison County, Georgia.
What happened to your child was not a rite of passage; it was abuse. It was a betrayal of trust. And those responsible—the individual perpetrators, the local chapter, the national organization, and the negligent university—must be held accountable.
Madison County, Georgia Families — Call Our Legal Emergency Hotline Now
The clock is ticking. Evidence can disappear, memories can fade, and legal deadlines approach quickly. Do not waste another moment wondering what to do.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
This is our dedicated Legal Emergency Hotline, available to Madison County families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your initial consultation is completely free and confidential. There is no obligation, only answers and a clear path forward.
- Email Us: You can also reach us directly at ralph@atty911.com if that is more comfortable for you.
- Visit Our Website: Learn more about our firm and our commitment to justice at attorney911.com.
We work on a Contingency Fee Basis for Madison County families: You pay absolutely $0 upfront. We cover all the costs of litigation, and we only get paid if, and when, we successfully secure compensation for you. Our interests are completely aligned with yours.
We Represent Hazing Victims Nationwide, Including Madison County, Georgia
While our offices are based in Texas (Houston, Austin, and Beaumont), our federal court admissions and strategic dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) allow us to represent hazing victims anywhere in the United States, including Madison County, Georgia.
- We Come to You: Distance is not a barrier to justice. Our attorneys are prepared to travel to Madison County, Georgia, for important client meetings, depositions, or trials as necessary.
- Remote Consultations: We offer convenient and secure video consultations, allowing Madison County families to connect with our legal team from the comfort and privacy of their own homes.
- Comprehensive Experience: We represent victims of hazing in fraternities, sororities, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC programs, clubs, and any other student organization where abuse is disguised as initiation.
- Se Habla Español: Our bilingual team is ready to serve Spanish-speaking families in Madison County, Georgia,
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Your child’s life, their future, and their well-being are paramount. Do not let fear or intimidation prevent you from seeking justice. We are passionate, skilled, and ready to fight for your family.
To Other Victims of Hazing: Speak Up, You Are Not Alone
If you or another student at your university in or near Madison County, Georgia, have been subjected to hazing, please understand that you are not alone. We know there are more victims. In the Leonel Bermudez case, there were other pledges who suffered, including one who lost consciousness, and another who was hog-tied.
As Lupe Peña said regarding Leonel’s case, “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 in coming forward can protect countless others.
Call us. Let us bring them all to justice.
# 📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com