If you’re reading this in City of Alexandria, Virginia, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child was supposed to make friends at college, to embark on an exciting new chapter. Instead, they were tortured, abused, and injured. We are here to help families in City of Alexandria fight back, to transform their pain into a powerful stand against the pervasive, destructive trend of hazing.
Here in City of Alexandria, just as in Houston where our firm is based, parents send their children to college with hopes for growth, learning, and safe exploration. Whether your child attends a university right here in Virginia, like George Mason University, George Washington University, Marymount University, or Virginia Tech, or travels out of state, the risks of hazing are real and can be devastating. Fraternities and sororities with chapters here, such as Pi Kappa Phi, are part of national organizations that have a documented history of dangerous hazing. We understand that fear, the anger, and the desperate search for answers that leads you here now. We are Attorney911, and we are actively fighting this battle.
The Nightmare in Houston: A Warning to Every City of Alexandria Family
Just weeks ago, a nightmare unfolded in Houston, a nightmare that serves as a sobering warning to every family in City of Alexandria with a child entering college. On November 21, 2025, our firm, Attorney911, filed a $10 million lawsuit in Harris County Civil District Court, making a stand against Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, the University of Houston, and 13 individual fraternity members. This is not a hypothetical case; it is a live, ongoing battle led by our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, a battle we will bring with the same ferocity to families in City of Alexandria.
The plaintiff in our lawsuit is Leonel Bermudez. His story is chillingly common, yet breathtakingly brutal. Leonel was what’s known as a “ghost rush” – a prospective member who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet, planning to transfer in the upcoming spring semester. They did this to someone who wasn’t even officially their student.
Leonel accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi on September 16, 2025. What followed was an unrelenting seven-week campaign of systematic abuse and psychological torture. This wasn’t some harmless prank; it was calculated cruelty designed to break him down.
When Leonel finally made it home on November 3, 2025, after a particularly brutal hazing session, he crawled up the stairs, collapsed into bed, and could barely move for days. His mother, seeing his rapidly deteriorating condition, rushed him to the hospital when he began passing brown urine – a terrifying sign of severe muscle breakdown. He was hospitalized for three nights and four days, diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He now faces the lifelong risk of permanent kidney damage.
This could be your child, your neighbor’s child, or a friend’s child. Hazing knows no geographic boundaries, and the same national fraternities that operated in Houston have chapters right here near City of Alexandria.
The Media is Watching: Our Fight is Public
This case isn’t happening in the shadows. News outlets like ABC13 Houston, KHOU 11, the Houston Chronicle, and Houston Public Media immediately covered our lawsuit, bringing Leonel’s story to the public eye. Pi Kappa Phi’s own national headquarters, in a telling statement on their website, confirmed they had closed their Beta Nu Chapter, citing “violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards” – a clear admission of wrongdoing.
Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, spoke directly to the media about the depths of this case. Ralph Manginello recounted the moment Leonel’s mother intervened: “When he finally made it home, he crawled up the stairs and went to bed. The next day, he was really sore and couldn’t really move. The next day was worse, and the next day, his mom rushed him to the hospital, and he had some kidney failure.” Lupe Pena emphasized the wider purpose of this lawsuit: “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”
The Chilling Timeline of Abuse for Leonel Bermudez: What Hazing Really Looks Like
The details of Leonel’s hazing are not for the faint of heart, but they are crucial for every parent in City of Alexandria to understand. This is what hazing looks like today.
Weeks of Degradation and Control (September 16 – November 3, 2025):
- Forced Servitude and Exhaustion: Leonel was made to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, leading to severe sleep deprivation and exhaustion. He adhered to an enforced dress code, dedicated long hours to study, and underwent weekly interviews with members and pledges.
- Humiliation and Threats: He was forced to carry a fanny pack containing objects of a sexual nature at all times. Non-compliance with any task would lead to threats of physical punishment or immediate expulsion from the fraternity.
- Paddling: In one instance, fraternity members struck Leonel with wooden paddles.
- Waterboarding: Pledges, including Leonel, suffered “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose,” being sprayed directly in the face while performing calisthenics. This is a form of torture, reminiscent of interrogation tactics, inflicted upon young students.
- Forced Eating and Vomiting: Leonel was compelled to consume large quantities of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited. Even after vomiting, he was forced to continue running sprints while in clear physical distress, lying in his own vomit-soaked grass.
- Extreme Physical Exertion: This involved high-volume “suicides” (running drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warmups, and repeated 100-yard crawls. He was forced to recite the fraternity creed while enduring this abuse.
Escalation and Collapse:
Tragically, these incidents weren’t isolated. Our lawsuit alleges other pledges experienced similar or worse treatment. On October 13, another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. Just two days later, on October 15, a pledge lost consciousness and collapsed during a forced workout, requiring other pledges to elevate his legs until he recovered. These acts, horrific as they are, did not halt the abuse.
On November 3, 2025, Leonel was punished for missing an event. This final, brutal session included 100+ pushups, 500+ squats, and continuous high-intensity exercises until he was so exhausted he could not stand without help. These actions led directly to his kidney failure.
The Horrific Medical Consequences: Rhabdomyolysis and Kidney Failure
Leonel’s medical diagnosis underscores the severe, life-threatening nature of modern hazing. Rhabdomyolysis occurs when damaged muscle tissue releases harmful proteins into the bloodstream, which can then overwhelm and destroy the kidneys. The signs Leonel exhibited were classic: dark, brown urine due to myoglobin in his bloodstream, indicating profound muscle breakdown, and significantly elevated creatine kinase levels. His acute kidney failure was a direct result of the extreme physical exertion forced upon him. The long-term implications are severe, including potential chronic kidney disease, the need for dialysis, or even a kidney transplant. This isn’t just physical pain; it’s a profound, potentially lifelong alteration of his health.
Ralph Manginello, our managing partner, has specific expertise in rhabdomyolysis hazing cases, making our firm uniquely equipped to handle the complex medical and legal aspects of Leonel’s situation.
Institutional Indifference: How the University and National Fraternity Failed
One of the most damning aspects of this case is the clear evidence of institutional failure. The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where much of this hazing occurred. This fact makes their liability undeniable under premises liability laws. Furthermore, our lawsuit highlights that the University of Houston had a prior hazing hospitalization in 2017 involving a different fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha. This means UH had eight years to implement genuine safeguards, yet they failed. Leonel Bermudez is now paying the price for their inaction.
Similarly, Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters has an even more tragic history. In 2017, Andrew Coffey, a pledge at Florida State University, died from extreme alcohol poisoning during a Pi Kappa Phi hazing event. That was eight years ago. Despite this horrific incident, which the national organization undoubtedly knew about, they failed to prevent the same deadly patterns from repeating at their University of Houston chapter. When KHOU 11 reported on our lawsuit, they alleged that the national organization “enabled the harmful environment by failing to enforce anti-hazing rules and policies despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.'” They knew. They simply chose not to act.
This pattern of negligence and conscious indifference is not unique to Texas. It happens at universities across the nation, including those in or near City of Alexandria. The Greek organizations operating at George Mason University, George Washington University, Marymount University, and Virginia Tech, for example, are often chapters of these same national fraternities. When they fail to protect students, they must be held accountable.
What Hazing “Tradition” Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes
For many parents, “hazing” conjures images of harmless rituals or a little roughhousing. The truth, as revealed by Leonel’s case, is far more sinister. Hazing is a calculated form of torture and abuse, often shrouded in secrecy and psychological manipulation.
It’s crucial for families in City of Alexandria and beyond to understand that modern hazing encompasses a wide range of dangerous activities:
- Physical Abuse: This includes beatings, paddling, branding, forced exertion to the point of collapse (like Leonel’s 500 squats), sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme weather, and simulated drowning or waterboarding.
- Forced Consumption: This frequently involves binge drinking of alcohol, often to lethal levels, but can also include forced eating until vomiting, or even consuming non-food items.
- Psychological Torture: Humiliation, degradation, verbal abuse, isolation, threats, and coerced acts like carrying sexually explicit items. These tactics inflict deep emotional and mental scars, leading to PTSD, anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation.
- Sexual Abuse: Forced nudity, coerced sexual acts, and sexual assault are tragically a part of hazing culture in some organizations.
The outcomes are dire. Hazing leads to concussions, broken bones, internal organ damage, extreme dehydration, alcohol poisoning, and conditions like rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. The long-term psychological damage can be as severe as the physical, creating a generation of students traumatized by institutions that were supposed to foster growth.
The statistics are alarming: over 55% of students involved in Greek organizations report experiencing hazing. Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing-related death every year in the United States. A staggering 95% of students who are hazed do not report it, often due to fear of retribution, shame, or a misplaced sense of loyalty. Universities and national organizations are aware of these statistics, yet they often prioritize reputation and “tradition” over student safety until tragedy strikes.
Who Is Responsible for Hazing Injuries in City of Alexandria? Everyone Who Contributed.
When hazing incidents occur that result in severe injury or death, a web of individuals and institutions often bears responsibility. Our $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston is a clear demonstration of our commitment to holding every liable party accountable.
In a hazing case in City of Alexandria, just like in Houston, we pursue claims against:
- The Local Chapter: The specific fraternity or sorority chapter directly involved in organizing and carrying out the hazing activities. This includes their officers, such as the president and pledgemaster, who direct the abuse.
- Individual Members: Every member who actively participated in, encouraged, or failed to intervene in the hazing can be held personally liable. This extends to former members who may host hazing events off-campus, and even their spouses if they knowingly permit such activities on their property. As you saw in the Stone Foltz case, individual officers can be held personally liable for millions of dollars.
- The National Organization: National fraternities and sororities, like Pi Kappa Phi, often claim their policies prohibit hazing. However, if they fail to adequately supervise their local chapters, enforce their own rules, or address a known “hazing crisis,” they are directly responsible. These national bodies typically have significant assets and insurance coverage, making them key defendants.
- The University or College: Educational institutions have a fundamental duty to protect their students. If a university owns the property where hazing takes place (as the University of Houston did), knows about a history of hazing on its campus, or demonstrates negligent oversight of Greek life, it can be held liable. Their failure to act, despite prior incidents and knowledge of hazing risks, is a serious breach of their responsibility.
- Housing Corporations: Many fraternities and sororities have separate housing corporations that own or manage their chapter houses. These entities can be liable under premises liability theories if they allow unsafe activities to occur on their property.
- Insurance Carriers: The “deep pockets” in these cases often come from the liability insurance policies held by the national organizations, universities, and sometimes even the homeowners’ or renters’ insurance of individual defendants. Our experience as former insurance defense attorneys, particularly Mr. Manginello and Mr. Peña, gives us an invaluable insider’s perspective on how to navigate these policies and maximize recovery for our clients.
Our firm aggressively targets every party responsible, because we understand that accountability must extend from the individual perpetrators to the highest levels of institutional leadership.
The Cost of Negligence: Multi-Million Dollar Precedents for Hazing Victims
The families in City of Alexandria need to know that seeking justice for hazing is not just possible, but repeatedly results in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. These cases send an undeniable message to fraternities, universities, and national organizations: hazing costs dearly. Our $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez aligns directly with established precedent and reflects the severe consequences of such egregious actions.
Here are just a few landmark cases that prove hazing victims can and do win substantial compensation:
Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021) — $10.1 Million+
Stone Foltz died in 2021 after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a Pi Kappa Alpha “Big/Little” initiation. The consequences were severe:
- $2.9 Million paid by Bowling Green State University.
- $7.2 Million from Pi Kappa Alpha National and individual fraternity members.
- $6.5 Million judgment (December 2024) against Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president, held personally liable.
This case is particularly relevant to Leonel’s, as it involved extensive physical abuse and a similar level of institutional negligence leading to severe injury and death. The total payout demonstrates that our $10 million demand is firmly rooted in legal precedent.
Maxwell Gruver (Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta, 2017) — $6.1 Million Verdict
Maxwell Gruver died in 2017 from acute alcohol poisoning during a forced drinking ritual in his Phi Delta Theta pledge process. When asked questions about fraternity history, wrong answers meant forced drinking.
- A jury awarded his family $6.1 Million.
- This case also led to criminal convictions, including negligent homicide, and the passage of the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony in Louisiana.
The Gruver case proves that juries are willing to deliver substantial verdicts against fraternities and their members when presented with compelling evidence of hazing’s destructive impact.
Timothy Piazza (Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi, 2017) — $110 Million+ (Estimated Settlement)
Timothy Piazza died in 2017 after consuming 18 drinks in 82 minutes during a Beta Theta Pi initiation ritual, falling down stairs, and suffering a traumatic brain injury. Fraternity members waited 12 hours before seeking medical help.
- The family settled for an estimated $110 Million, although the exact amount is confidential.
- This tragedy also resulted in numerous criminal charges and convictions, and the passage of the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law in Pennsylvania.
The sheer magnitude of this settlement highlights the potential for massive recovery when hazing involves severe injuries, gross negligence, and damning evidence (in this case, security camera footage captured everything).
Andrew Coffey (Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi, 2017) — The Same Fraternity
Andrew Coffey died in 2017 from alcohol poisoning during a Pi Kappa Phi “Big Brother Night” at FSU, forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon.
- Crucially, this was the SAME national organization, Pi Kappa Phi, that hazing Leonel Bermudez in 2025. This undeniable pattern of deadly behavior reveals a national organization that knew its culture was dangerous and failed to reform. This is why we argue for punitive damages against Pi Kappa Phi.
These precedents underscore a critical truth for families in City of Alexandria: hazing is a legal liability that institutions and individuals are increasingly being held accountable for. Our firm leverages this history of successful litigation to aggressively pursue the maximum compensation for our clients.
Justice in the Commonwealth: Virginia Hazing Laws Protect Your Child
While our firm is based in Texas, the principles of anti-hazing legislation and civil liability are remarkably consistent across the United States. Furthermore, our federal court admissions and dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) allow us to pursue hazing cases nationwide, including for families in City of Alexandria, Virginia, regardless of where the incident occurred.
The Commonwealth of Virginia, like Texas, has robust anti-hazing laws designed to protect students and hold perpetrators accountable. Understanding these laws is crucial for any City of Alexandria family considering legal action.
Virginia Hazing Laws:
Virginia’s anti-hazing statute, similar to Texas Education Code, explicitly outlines what constitutes hazing and the penalties for engaging in it. The law defines hazing as any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into any organization.
Key aspects of Virginia’s law that resonate with our legal strategy:
- Broad Definition: Virginia’s definition often covers physical brutality, forced consumption, sleep deprivation, and psychological abuse — all of which Leonel Bermudez endured. This means the abhorrent acts committed in Houston are also illegal activities in Virginia.
- Criminal Penalties: Virginia law imposes criminal penalties for hazing. For example, hazing that results in bodily injury is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. If hazing results in the death of a student, it can be prosecuted as a felony. The University of Houston spokesperson mentioning “potential criminal charges” in our case highlights this dual track of criminal and civil liability.
- Consent is Not a Defense: This is a critical legal protection for victims. Just like in Texas, where Education Code § 37.154 clearly states, “It is not a defense to prosecution that the person hazed consented to the hazing,” Virginia law generally aligns with this principle. Fraternities and universities cannot escape accountability by claiming “the victim voluntarily participated” or “knew what they were signing up for.” The law recognizes the immense power dynamic and coercion inherent in hazing.
- Institutional Responsibility: Similar to the University of Houston’s potential liability, colleges and universities in Virginia also have a duty to prevent hazing and address it when it occurs. Institutions like George Mason University or George Washington University, for example, have their own anti-hazing policies and procedures. Failure to enforce these, or to adequately oversee Greek life, can lead to direct institutional liability.
- Reporting Requirements: Virginia statutes may include requirements for educational institutions to report hazing incidents, much like Texas does. Failure to report can also carry penalties and can signal institutional negligence.
Civil Liability in Virginia:
Beyond criminal charges, Virginia law allows for civil lawsuits to recover damages for hazing victims. The civil liability theories we employ in our Texas cases are equally applicable for a hazing injury or death that occurs in City of Alexandria or elsewhere in Virginia:
- Negligence Claims: We can prove that the fraternity, its members, the national organization, and the university owed a duty of care to the student, breached that duty through hazing, and directly caused the injuries and resulting damages.
- Premises Liability: If hazing occurred on property owned or controlled by the university or a housing corporation (like the University of Houston’s ownership of the Pi Kappa Phi house), those entities can be liable for allowing dangerous conditions to exist.
- Negligent Supervision: This applies if the national organization failed to adequately supervise its local chapter, or if the university failed to properly oversee its Greek life organizations.
- Assault and Battery: Individual perpetrators can be sued for intentional harmful or offensive contact, which directly covers acts like paddling, forced physical abuse, and waterboarding.
- Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: The extreme and outrageous nature of hazing, especially psychological manipulation and degradation, can form the basis for claims of severe emotional distress.
For families in City of Alexandria, this means that even if the hazing incident involved a university or fraternity outside of Virginia, our firm can leverage our experience and federal court authority to pursue justice. The legal landscape across America is increasingly hostile to hazing, offering powerful avenues for civil recovery.
Why Attorney911 Is the Right Choice for City of Alexandria Hazing Victims
When your family in City of Alexandria is grappling with the aftermath of hazing, you need more than just a lawyer; you need a relentless advocate who understands the unique complexities of these cases and possesses the experience to win. Attorney911 is built for these fights. We are aggressive, data-driven, and deeply committed to securing justice for hazing victims and their families, regardless of where they are in the country, including City of Alexandria, Virginia.
Real Hazing Litigation, Right Now:
This isn’t an abstract specialty for us. We are currently prosecuting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for the waterboarding and kidney failure suffered by Leonel Bermudez. This case is happening at this very moment in Harris County Civil District Court. This means we are actively engaged in discovery, depositions, and trial preparation in a high-stakes hazing case. This real-time experience translates directly into an unparalleled advantage for your case in City of Alexandria. We are not just talking about hazing; we are fighting it.
Insider Knowledge: We Know Their Playbook:
Both our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, and our associate attorney, Lupe Pena, are former insurance defense lawyers. This is not a coincidence; it’s a strategic advantage. They spent years working on the other side, defending insurance companies and corporations against personal injury claims. They know exactly how insurance adjusters and defense lawyers strategize, how they value claims, and the tactics they employ to minimize payouts. Now, they use that invaluable insider knowledge to dismantle the defenses of national fraternities, universities, and their insurers in hazing cases, securing the maximum compensation for our clients. For families in City of Alexandria, this means we anticipate every move the defense will make and build a case designed to counter it effectively.
Battle-Tested Against Giants:
Ralph Manginello’s 25+ years of courtroom experience includes involvement in the multi-billion dollar mass tort litigation against BP following the catastrophic Texas City refinery explosion. This experience demonstrates our capacity to take on massive corporate defendants with virtually unlimited resources – a skill directly applicable to litigating against powerful national fraternities and large universities. We are not intimidated by the “deep pockets” or the high-powered legal teams that will defend them.
Nationwide Reach, Personalized Service for City of Alexandria:
While our primary offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our commitment to hazing victims extends nationwide.
- Federal Court Authority: We are admitted to practice in U.S. District Courts, giving us the jurisdiction to pursue cases involving national organizations and multi-state defendants, often leveraging federal hazing laws or civil rights statutes. This means we can represent your family in City of Alexandria in federal court.
- Dual-State Bar Licenses: Ralph Manginello is licensed in both Texas and New York, providing a strategic advantage when dealing with national fraternities and sororities that may be headquartered or operate significantly in different jurisdictions.
- We Travel to You: Distance is not a barrier to justice. For significant hazing cases, our attorneys are prepared to travel to City of Alexandria for depositions, client meetings, and trial, ensuring a personal and dedicated approach.
- Remote Consultations: For your convenience, we offer video consultations, allowing families in City of Alexandria to connect with our experienced legal team quickly and easily from the comfort of their home.
Se Habla Español:
Our bilingual staff, including Lupe Pena, who is fluent in Spanish, ensures that language is never a barrier to justice. We are equipped to provide comprehensive legal services to Spanish-speaking families in City of Alexandria affected by hazing, ensuring clear communication and understanding throughout the legal process.
No Upfront Costs: Contingency Fee Representation:
We understand the financial strain that medical bills, lost wages, and the trauma of hazing can place on families. That’s why we take hazing cases on a contingency fee basis. This means:
- You pay $0 upfront. You do not owe us any legal fees unless and until we secure compensation for you through a settlement or verdict.
- Our interests are aligned. We only get paid if you get paid, motivating us to fight aggressively for the maximum possible recovery.
- Access to Justice: This payment model ensures that every family, regardless of their financial situation, has access to top-tier legal representation against powerful institutions.
A Profound Personal Connection:
Ralph Manginello, as a father of three and a former youth coach, deeply understands the team dynamics and pressures that can lead to hazing. He knows what’s at stake when a family’s child is harmed. This empathy, combined with his unwavering aggression in the courtroom, forms the core of our firm’s approach. We don’t just see a case; we see your child, your family, and the profound injustice you’ve suffered. As one of our clients, Chad Harris, put it, “You are FAMILY to them and they protect and fight for you as such.”
Our firm has earned a 4.9-star rating with over 250 reviews on Google My Business, reflecting our commitment to client communication, aggressive representation, and securing favorable outcomes. Clients consistently remark on our responsiveness and the personal care they receive. As Devin Hebert shared, “The staff provides great customer service and show they are a firm that cares about their clients! Attorney Manginello & Leonore were both extremely nice, helpful, and made sure I was informed throughout the entire process. They’re the best!”
When it comes to hazing, Attorney911 is not theoretical. We are actively fighting the battle right now, bringing our data-driven litigation strategy, insider knowledge, and aggressive representation to bear against every entity responsible. We are ready to bring that same fight for justice to your family in City of Alexandria.
What to Do Right Now if Your Child Was Hazed: Urgent Steps for City of Alexandria Families
If your family in City of Alexandria is reeling from a hazing incident, the moments immediately following the discovery are critical. Your actions now can profoundly impact your child’s recovery and the strength of any future legal claim. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, but taking these steps can protect your child and their rights.
Step 1: Prioritize Safety and Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Your child’s physical and mental well-being is the absolute priority.
- Remove Your Child: Immediately remove your child from any environment where hazing is occurring or might occur.
- Emergency Medical Care: If your child has visible injuries, is experiencing severe pain, disorientation, has consumed excessive alcohol or other substances, or shows any signs of rhabdomyolysis (muscle weakness, dark urine, severe muscle pain), call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room in City of Alexandria or the surrounding Virginia area immediately. Hospitals like Inova Alexandria Hospital are equipped to handle critical care.
- Document Everything Medically: Even if injuries seem minor, seek medical attention from a doctor in City of Alexandria. Delays in seeking treatment can be used by the defense to argue that the injuries were not severe or not related to the hazing. Ensure all symptoms, complaints, and suspected causes are clearly documented in medical records.
- Mental Health Support: Hazing inflicts deep psychological wounds. Seek support from a mental health professional in City of Alexandria who specializes in trauma. Document all therapy sessions and diagnoses related to PTSD, anxiety, depression, or other emotional distress.
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence Immediately
This is arguably the most crucial step for building a strong legal case. Evidence disappears quickly, and fraternities, universities, and individual perpetrators will often attempt to destroy or hide anything incriminating.
- Medical Records: Obtain copies of all medical records, doctor’s notes, hospital discharge papers, lab results (especially for blood and urine tests), and bills related to your child’s injuries and treatment.
- Photos and Videos:
- Injuries: Take clear, well-lit photos of all physical injuries (bruises, cuts, swelling) at all stages of healing.
- Hazing Environment: If safe to do so, photograph or video any locations where hazing occurred (fraternity house, off-campus residence, specific rooms, fields, parks). Note conditions like cleanliness, lighting, and any objects found.
- Physical Evidence: If any physical objects were involved (e.g., paddles, fanny packs, alcohol containers, buckets), photograph them without touching, if possible.
- Digital Communications: This is a goldmine of evidence in hazing cases.
- Texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, Facebook Messages, Emails: Your child must screenshot and save EVERYTHING. This includes messages from fraternity members, chapter officers, and other pledges. Look for threats, instructions, derogatory comments, or discussions about hazing activities.
- Social Media Posts: Screenshot any relevant posts or stories from fraternity members, the chapter’s accounts, or other pledges.
- DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING. Deleting messages can be considered spoliation of evidence and severely weaken a case. If your child is pressured to delete messages, that is itself evidence of a cover-up.
- Witness Information: Collect names, phone numbers, and email addresses of anyone who witnessed the hazing, other pledges, or anyone who might have knowledge of the fraternity’s activities. Many might be scared, but their testimony can be vital.
- Fraternity/University Documents: Save any pledge manuals, schedules, rulebooks, or communications from the fraternity or university outlining expected behavior or prohibited activities. These can highlight policy violations.
- Financial Records: Keep track of all expenses related to the hazing incident, including medical bills, therapy costs, lost wages from missed work, and any tuition or fees for semesters disrupted.
Step 3: Do NOT Communicate with the Perpetrators or Institutions Without Legal Counsel
This is a critical warning. What you say can and will be used against you.
- No Contact with Fraternity/Sorority: Do not allow your child to speak with fraternity/sorority leaders, members, or alumni about the incident without our attorneys present. They will try to control the narrative, minimize their actions, or intimidate your child.
- No Contact with University Administration (Alone): The university’s primary goal will be to protect its own liability and reputation. Do not give any statements to deans, Greek life advisors, or other administrators without legal counsel. They may try to coerce your child into signing waivers or statements that compromise their rights.
- Avoid Social Media Discussions: Do not post anything about the incident on social media. The defense will meticulously scour all social media for anything that can be used to discredit your child or minimize their injuries.
- DO NOT Sign Anything: Never sign any documents presented by the fraternity, university, or their insurance companies without a lawyer reviewing them first. These documents often waive your legal rights.
- DO NOT Accept Money: Do not accept any offers of payment for medical bills or “apologies” from the fraternity or university. These are often attempts to buy your silence and prevent a larger lawsuit.
Step 4: Contact Attorney911 Immediately
Time is of the essence in hazing cases.
- Statute of Limitations: In many states, including Virginia, the statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death cases is two years from the date of injury or death. This means you have a limited window to file a lawsuit, and waiting can forfeit your rights. Evidence also disappears rapidly the longer you wait.
- Free, Confidential Consultation: Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We are available 24/7. We will listen to your story with empathy and respect, assess the viability of your case, and explain your legal options without any pressure.
- Expert Guidance: Our team will immediately begin working to preserve evidence, identify all liable parties, and construct a robust legal strategy. We will handle all communications with the universities, national organizations, and insurance companies, shielding your family from further stress.
- Remote Accessibility: For families in City of Alexandria, we offer video consultations to make the process as convenient as possible. We can connect with you securely and discuss your case in detail, even from a distance.
Remember Lupe Pena’s words: “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 decision to act can not only secure justice and compensation for your child but can also prevent another family in City of Alexandria from enduring the same nightmare.
City of Alexandria Families: Enough is Enough. Call Us Today.
If your child has been subjected to the horrific reality of hazing at a college or university, whether here in City of Alexandria, Virginia, or anywhere across the United States, you are not alone. You didn’t deserve this. Your child didn’t deserve this. What happened was not a misguided tradition; it was abuse, assault, and a profound betrayal of trust by institutions and individuals that had a duty to protect.
Our attorneys at Attorney911 are fighting this battle right now. Our $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston is proof that we don’t just talk about hazing; we actively combat it in the courtroom. We are prepared to bring that same aggressive, data-driven, and relentless pursuit of accountability to your case in City of Alexandria.
Your Legal Rights Are Real. We Are Here to Help.
- You Have a Claim: If your child suffered physical injury, psychological trauma, or any form of abuse due to hazing, you have legal rights to seek justice and compensation.
- We Know How to Win: Our proven track record, insider knowledge of insurance defense strategies, and current high-stakes litigation experience position us to secure maximum recovery for your family.
- No Upfront Cost: We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. Your financial situation will not prevent you from accessing the highest caliber legal representation.
- Nationwide Reach: While our firm is based in Texas, don’t let distance deter you. Our federal court admissions, dual-state bar licenses, and willingness to travel ensure we can represent victims across America, including right here in City of Alexandria, Virginia.
City of Alexandria Families – Get Your Free, Confidential Consultation Now.
The time to act is now. Evidence can disappear, memories can fade, and legal deadlines (like the two-year statute of limitations in most states) loom. Don’t let shame, fear, or loyalty prevent you from seeking the justice your child deserves and protecting others from future harm.
📞 Call our Legal Emergency Hotline, 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911
✉️ Email our managing partner directly: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit our website: attorney911.com
We offer compassionate, confidential video consultations for families in City of Alexandria, allowing you to connect with our expert legal team from the comfort and privacy of your home. We come to City of Alexandria for depositions, client meetings, and trials when necessary. Distance is not a barrier when justice is on the line.
No matter where the hazing occurred – whether at George Mason University, George Washington University, Marymount University, Virginia Tech, or any institution across the nation – we are ready to fight for you.
Let our fight in Houston be the blueprint for your fight in City of Alexandria. Let’s prevent another tragedy. Let’s bring true accountability. Enough is enough.