If you’re reading this, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child was supposed to make friends at college, build a community, and grow into a young adult. Instead, they were tortured, abused, and potentially suffered life-altering injuries or worse. We understand the fear, the anger, and the desperate need for answers. We’re here to help families in Giles County, Virginia, and across the nation fight back against the insidious culture of hazing.
Here in Giles County, families send their children off to institutions of higher learning with hopes and dreams for their futures. Whether they attend a university in Virginia or travel across state lines, the expectation is safety, education, and growth. Yet, the dark reality of hazing lurks on campuses, including those near Giles County, threatening to shatter these dreams. Hazing is not a rite of passage; it is an act of violence, and the institutions and individuals who enable it must be held accountable.
We are Attorney 911, and our firm is actively leading the charge against hazing. This isn’t theoretical for us. We are currently embroiled in a high-stakes, $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston, fighting for a young man who was brutally hazed until his kidneys failed. What happened to Leonel Bermudez is a stark warning for parents everywhere, including those in Giles County. This is what hazing looks like today, and we are the firm that will fight for justice.
The Landmark Case: Attorney 911 vs. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston (2025)
Our current battle in the Harris County Civil District Court for Leonel Bermudez is the living proof of our commitment to hazing victims. This is a $10 million lawsuit filed in November 2025 against the national Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, its local chapter, its housing corporation, the University of Houston, its Board of Regents, and 13 individual fraternity members, including the chapter president and pledgemaster.
Giles County Families: This case demonstrates unequivocally that we don’t just talk about hazing; we actively litigate against it. The same national fraternities operate at universities in and around Giles County. The same dangerous “traditions” can be found there. The same institutional negligence that we are fighting in Houston unfortunately exists at campuses nationwide, including those where your children might attend. We bring the same aggression, data-driven strategy, and relentless pursuit of justice to every hazing case, no matter where it happened.
What Happened to Leonel Bermudez: A Story Giles County Parents Need to Hear
Leonel Bermudez was a “ghost rush,” a common term for a prospective member who was planning to transfer to the University of Houston for the upcoming semester but was not yet officially enrolled. He accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi on September 16, 2025. What followed was a weeks-long campaign of systematic abuse, torture, and hazing that culminated in his hospitalization for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
This young man, who hadn’t even started his academic career at UH, was subjected to:
- Waterboarding with a garden hose: As reported by KHOU 11, pledging rituals included “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose,” a tactic so brutal it is defined as torture by international law when used against combatants. Sprayed in the face while doing calisthenics, Leonel and other pledges were forced to endure this simulated drowning under threat.
- Extreme physical torment: He was forced to do over “100 pushups, 500 squats,” along with “high-volume suicides, bear crawls, wheelbarrows, ‘save-you-brother’ drills, two-mile warmups, and repeated 100-yard crawls,” according to the Houston Chronicle. This relentless physical exertion caused his muscles to break down, leading to his critical medical condition. On October 15, just weeks before Leonel’s hospitalization, another pledge at the same chapter lost consciousness during a forced workout. But the hazing continued.
- Forced eating until vomiting: ABC13 reported that pledges were compelled to consume “large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns” until they vomited, and then made to “continue running sprints while clearly in physical distress” and “lie in vomit-soaked grass.”
- Psychological degradation: Leonel was made to carry “a fanny pack that held objects of a sexual nature at all times,” subjected to forced stripping, and constantly threatened with physical punishment or expulsion if he didn’t comply. On October 13, another pledge was “hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.”
The physical and psychological toll was immense. On November 3, 2025, after a particularly brutal hazing session, Leonel collapsed, unable to stand. He managed to crawl home, but his condition rapidly deteriorated. His mother, realizing the severity, rushed him to the hospital on November 6. He was passing brown urine—a classic sign of myoglobin in the bloodstream from muscle breakdown. He was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure and hospitalized for four days. The long-term impact on his kidney function remains a grave concern.
The Immediate Aftermath and Our Aggressive Response
Within days of Leonel’s hospitalization, our lawsuit details that Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters suspended the UH chapter. By November 14, 2025, a week before we filed our lawsuit, Pi Kappa Phi officially closed its Beta Nu Chapter, stating it was “following violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards.” This swift action, taken before our suit was public, speaks volumes about their knowledge of wrongdoing. The University of Houston also responded, with a spokesperson telling Houston Public Media that “the events investigated are deeply disturbing and represent a clear violation of our community standards,” and acknowledging “potential criminal charges” for those responsible.
Our firm wasted no time. On November 21, 2025, Attorney 911 filed the $10 million lawsuit. Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, immediately went public, telling ABC13, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”
This case is a testament to our firm’s aggressive, immediate, and comprehensive approach. We don’t wait. We don’t hesitate. We identify every responsible party—from the national organization down to the individuals—and we pursue justice relentlessly.
Why This Case Resonates in Giles County
The Bermudez case is not an isolated incident; it’s a window into a widespread problem. Universities throughout Virginia, including those where Giles County students attend, host chapters of the very same fraternities known for hazing. Pi Kappa Phi, for instance, operates on over 150 campuses across America. The horrific acts committed against Leonel Bermudez are identical to activities reported worldwide and are not confined to a single state or university.
When your child leaves Giles County for college, whether it’s Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Radford University in Radford, or farther afield, they enter environments where these dangerous “traditions” can tragically thrive. Our fight for Leonel is a fight for all students, including those from Giles County, who deserve to pursue their education in safety.
What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes and into the Shadows
Many parents in Giles County might dismiss hazing as harmless pranks or foolish college antics. But the reality is far darker. Hazing is systematic abuse, a calculated act of power and humiliation that often escalates to physical and psychological torture. It is designed to break young people, mentally and physically, under the guise of “brotherhood” or “sisterhood.”
It is not “boys being boys.” It is assault, battery, torture, reckless endangerment, and sometimes, manslaughter or murder.
The stories from cases like Leonel Bermudez’s reveal a chilling pattern of abuse that goes far beyond what most people imagine:
- Physical Abuse: This includes beatings, paddling, branding, burning, forced and excessive exercise to the point of collapse and organ failure (as in Leonel’s case), and other forms of physical violence. Victims can suffer broken bones, concussions, severe burns, and internal injuries.
- Forced Consumption: Often involving alcohol, this can escalate to binge drinking, chugging dangerous amounts, or even forced consumption of non-food items, leading to alcohol poisoning, choking, and severe gastrointestinal distress. Maxwell Gruver at LSU and Andrew Coffey at FSU died from forced alcohol consumption.
- Sleep Deprivation: Pledges are often kept awake for days, forced to perform tasks or attend events at all hours, leaving them disoriented, exhausted, and vulnerable to accidents or further manipulation.
- Psychological Torture and Humiliation: This category includes verbal abuse, threats, forced nudity, public humiliation, degradation rituals, social isolation, and exposure to extreme temperatures. These tactics inflict deep emotional wounds, leading to long-term psychological damage such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
- Simulated Drowning/Waterboarding: As Leonel Bermudez experienced, this barbaric practice is a form of torture that creates an intense fear of death.
- Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Hazing can involve forced sexual acts, sexually suggestive rituals, carrying sexually explicit objects, or exposure to sexually degrading content, leaving victims with profound trauma.
Medical Consequences are Severe:
Beyond the immediate injuries like bruises or broken bones, hazing can lead to life-threatening conditions such as:
- Rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure: The medical crisis Leonel Bermudez endured, directly linked to extreme physical exertion.
- Alcohol poisoning: A leading cause of hazing deaths.
- Traumatic brain injuries: From falls, beatings, or violent acts.
- Hypothermia or hyperthermia: From exposure to elements.
- Cardiac arrest: Due to extreme exertion or drug use.
- Long-term psychological conditions: PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation are common among hazing survivors.
The tragic reality is that 95% of students who are hazed do not report it. They remain silent due to fear of retaliation, shame, loyalty to the organization, or simply not recognizing the abuse as hazing. This silence allows the cycle of violence to continue, endangering more students, including those from Giles County.
Who Is Responsible: Every Entity and Individual Who Participated or Allowed It
One of the most critical aspects of hazing litigation is identifying every party that contributed to the harm suffered by the victim. In our $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez, we have cast a wide net, because true accountability demands justice from all who are culpable. This approach applies to cases originating in Giles County, Virginia, as much as it does in Texas.
Here’s who can be held responsible when hazing occurs:
- The Local Chapter or Student Organization: This is often the most direct perpetrator. In Leonel Bermudez’s case, the Beta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi directly organized and conducted the hazing activities. Their leadership, including the fraternity president and pledgemaster, sanctioned and directed the abuse. Local chapters can be held liable for assault, battery, negligence, and violating anti-hazing laws.
- Individual Members: Every person who directly participated in the hazing, encouraged it, or stood by and watched without intervening can be held personally responsible. In our lawsuit, 13 individual fraternity members are named defendants. This is crucial because, as seen in the Stone Foltz case against Pi Kappa Alpha, individual officers like the chapter president were held personally liable for millions of dollars. These individuals are often young, but their actions have lifelong consequences, both for their victims and for themselves.
- The National Fraternity or Sorority Organization: These national bodies license and oversee local chapters. They have a duty to enforce anti-hazing policies, train members, and intervene when hazing is reported or suspected. Our lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters alleges they “failed to enforce anti-hazing rules and policies despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.'” The death of Andrew Coffey at another Pi Kappa Phi chapter in 2017 provides undeniable proof that the national organization had prior knowledge of deadly hazing within its ranks and failed to act effectively. These national organizations often have millions in assets and extensive insurance policies, making them a “deep pocket” target for significant compensation.
- The University or College: Educational institutions have a fundamental duty to provide a safe environment for their students. This duty extends to regulating Greek life and other student organizations. In Leonel’s case, the University of Houston and its Board of Regents are named defendants. The University owned the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place, making them directly culpable under premises liability laws. Furthermore, the University of Houston had a documented hazing hospitalization in 2017 involving another fraternity, meaning they had clear prior knowledge of hazing on their campus and failed to implement sufficient safeguards. Universities can be held liable for negligent supervision, premises liability, and violating their own policies and state anti-hazing laws.
- Advisory Boards and Alumni Groups: Alumni often maintain significant influence and financial control over local chapters through housing corporations, advisory boards, and fundraising efforts. If these groups are aware of hazing and fail to intervene, or actively enable it (e.g., hazing taking place at an alumnus’s home, as alleged in our lawsuit), they too can be held liable. The spouse of a former member is named in our lawsuit because hazing occurred at their residence.
- Insurance Carriers: While not direct perpetrators, insurance companies ultimately bear the financial responsibility for payouts in hazing cases. National fraternities, universities, and sometimes even individual members (through homeowner’s or renter’s insurance) carry liability insurance. Our legal team, uniquely composed of former insurance defense attorneys like Lupe Pena, knows exactly how these companies operate, how they value claims, and how to aggressively pursue maximum compensation from them.
Holding just one party responsible is never enough. Justice demands accountability from every individual and institution that contributed to the trauma. For families in Giles County facing hazing, we will meticulously investigate to ensure no stone is left unturned in identifying who is truly responsible.
What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof That Justice Can Be Served
For families in Giles County, suffering after a hazing incident, understanding the potential for financial recovery is vital. The truth is, juries and judges across the country are increasingly fed up with hazing. This mounting outrage translates into multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements that send an unequivocal message: hazing will not be tolerated, and institutions that enable it will pay a heavy price. These landmark cases provide a powerful precedent for your child’s case, no matter if the hazing occurred at universities near Giles County, throughout Virginia, or anywhere else in the United States.
Here are some of the most significant hazing settlements and verdicts that illustrate what is possible:
Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021)
Total Recovery: Over $10.1 Million
Stone Foltz, a 20-year-old Bowling Green State University student, died in 2021 after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a Pi Kappa Alpha “Big/Little” event. The comprehensive legal action resulted in:
- $2.9 million from Bowling Green State University, marking the largest public university hazing payout in Ohio history.
- $7.2 million from the national Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and several individuals.
- In December 2024, a jury delivered a $6.5 million judgment against Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president, holding him personally liable for his role in the hazing. This is a crucial detail, demonstrating that individual perpetrators, not just institutions, face severe financial consequences.
Significance: The total recovery of over $10.1 million in the Stone Foltz case directly supports our $10 million demand in the Bermudez lawsuit. It shows that even in cases without the extreme physical torture of waterboarding, such as forced alcohol consumption, compensation reaches into the multi-millions.
Maxwell Gruver (Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta, 2017)
Jury Verdict: $6.1 Million
Max Gruver, an 18-year-old LSU freshman, died in 2017 from acute alcohol poisoning during a Phi Delta Theta hazing ritual called “Bible Study,” where pledges were forced to drink heavily for incorrect answers.
- A jury awarded his family $6.1 million.
- The case also led to criminal convictions, including negligent homicide for one fraternity member, and spurred the creation of the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony in Louisiana.
Significance: This jury verdict underscores that when cases proceed to trial, juries are willing to award significant sums to victims of hazing, sending a clear message of deterrence.
Timothy Piazza (Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi, 2017)
Total Recovery: Over $110 Million (Estimated)
Timothy Piazza, a 19-year-old Penn State student, died in 2017 after consuming 18 drinks in 82 minutes during a Beta Theta Pi hazing event. He fell down stairs multiple times, suffering a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding. Fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling 911.
- The confidential settlements from this case are estimated to be over $110 million, a staggering figure that reflects the extreme culpability and the clarity of evidence (security cameras captured critical moments).
- Multiple fraternity members faced criminal charges, including involuntary manslaughter, and the incident led to the passage of the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law in Pennsylvania.
Significance: The Piazza case highlights that courts and juries punish extreme negligence and cover-ups with monumental financial awards. Strong evidence, such as the detailed accounts in the Bermudez case, can lead to similarly impactful outcomes.
Andrew Coffey (Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi, 2017)
Significance: Same Fraternity as Bermudez Case
Andrew Coffey died in 2017 from alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother Night” at a Pi Kappa Phi chapter at Florida State University. He was forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon.
- Nine fraternity members were charged with hazing.
- The FSU chapter was permanently closed.
- While his family’s civil settlement amount remains confidential, the key takeaway for Leonel Bermudez’s case is that Pi Kappa Phi National has a documented history of deadly hazing within its organization. They had eight years between Coffey’s death and Bermudez’s hospitalization to implement effective change, and evidently, they failed.
Significance: For Giles County parents, this means that organizations like Pi Kappa Phi, which may have chapters at nearby Virginia universities, come with a grave pre-existing track record that helps establish negligence and the potential for punitive damages.
Adam Oakes (Virginia Commonwealth University / Delta Chi, 2021)
Settlement: Over $4 Million
Adam Oakes, a VCU student, died in 2021 after a Delta Chi hazing event involving forced drinking.
- His family settled their lawsuit for over $4 million in October 2024.
- This case, like many others, led to criminal charges against individual fraternity members and new legislation, “Adam’s Law” in Virginia.
Significance: This more recent settlement near Giles County further reinforces the multi-million dollar precedent for hazing deaths.
The Message to Giles County
These cases prove that families who fight back can secure justice. The multi-million dollar figures are not just compensation for unimaginable loss; they are a powerful deterrent that forces universities and national fraternities to rethink their “traditions” and prioritize student safety. For a hazing victim in Giles County, or a family mourning a loss, these precedents mean that aggressive legal action, like that provided by Attorney 911, can yield substantial results. The same legal strategies, the same unwavering commitment to accountability, and the same pursuit of significant damages are available to you.
Texas Law Protects You: Understanding Your Rights in a Hazing Crisis
For Giles County families, understanding the legal landscape of hazing is crucial in seeking justice. While our firm is based in Texas, the principles of anti-hazing laws and civil liability extend nationwide. Similar anti-hazing statutes are in place across most states, and federal civil rights statutes, as well as common law negligence claims, apply regardless of geographical location. Our federal court admissions and dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) ensure that we are equipped to pursue hazing cases no matter where in the country the incident occurred, including here in Virginia.
Let’s look at the foundational Texas Hazing Law, which provides a robust framework for victim protection and forms the basis for legal action in many states:
Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157 — The Anti-Hazing Law
This comprehensive law defines hazing and outlines the severe consequences for those who engage in it.
Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151):
Texas law defines hazing as “any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization.”
The law then lists specific types of acts that constitute hazing, including those directly mirroring what Leonel Bermudez endured:
- Physical brutality: This covers actions like whipping, beating, striking (such as being struck with wooden paddles in our case), branding, electronic shocking, or placing harmful substances on the body.
- Harmful physical activity: This includes “sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements,” confinement in small spaces, or “calisthenics… that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student.” Leonel’s 500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls, and repeated exposure to freezing conditions squarely fall under this.
- Forced consumption: Any forced consumption of “food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance… that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student.” This precisely describes the forced eating of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting that Leonel endured.
- Criminal acts: Any activity that requires a student to violate the Penal Code.
- Coerced intoxication: Forceful consumption of drugs or excessive alcohol.
Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152):
Texas law escalates criminal penalties based on the severity of the hazing:
- Class B Misdemeanor: For engaging in hazing, soliciting, encouraging, aiding, or failing to report hazing with firsthand knowledge. This can mean up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.
- Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes “serious bodily injury.” This carries up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Leonel Bermudez’s severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure undeniably constitute serious bodily injury, meaning the individuals involved in his hazing face potential felony charges.
- State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes “death.” This is the most severe, carrying 180 days to two years in state jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
Organizational Liability (§ 37.153):
The law also holds organizations accountable: “An organization commits an offense if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer or any combination of members, pledges, or alumni of the organization commits or assists in the commission of hazing.” Penalties can include fines up to $10,000, denial of the right to operate, and forfeiture of property. This provides a direct legal avenue to pursue national fraternities and local chapters.
Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154):
This is a critical provision that thwarts one of hazing perpetrators’ most common defenses. The law explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution for an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” This means that even if a student “agreed” to participate, or “knew what they were getting into,” the hazing is still illegal and the perpetrators are still liable. This principle holds true in many states now.
Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Charges, Toward Compensation
Beyond the potential for criminal prosecution, civil lawsuits allow victims and their families to seek direct financial compensation for the extensive damages caused by hazing. These are the claims we pursue for Giles County families:
- Negligence Claims: At its core, hazing occurs because someone or some institution—the university, the national fraternity, or even individual advisors—fails in their duty of care to protect students. If this failure directly causes injury, a negligence claim can be pursued.
- 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 alumni or chapter members, premises liability can hold the property owners accountable for dangerous conditions.
- Negligent Supervision: This applies when national organizations fail to adequately oversee their chapters, or when universities fail to properly monitor Greek life, allowing hazing to flourish.
- Assault and Battery: Any unconsented physical contact that causes harm or offense (like being struck with paddles or waterboarded) can lead to assault and battery claims against the individual perpetrators.
- Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: Hazing often involves extreme and outrageous conduct that causes severe emotional anguish, opening the door for this claim.
- Wrongful Death: When hazing tragically results in a student’s death, families can file wrongful death lawsuits, seeking compensation for lost companionship, future earnings, and other profound losses.
For Giles County families, these legal avenues ensure that justice is not merely punitive, but also compensatory, providing help for medical bills, lost earnings, and the immeasurable pain and suffering caused by hazing. We are experts in navigating these complex legal frameworks to maximize your family’s recovery.
Why Attorney 911: Your Fierce Advocate in Giles County’s Fight Against Hazing
When your family in Giles County faces the nightmare of hazing, you need more than just a lawyer; you need an unyielding advocate, an expert strategist, and a team that understands the profound trauma you’re enduring. At Attorney 911, led by Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, we are uniquely equipped to be that advocate. Our firm offers a blend of experience, insight, and aggressive litigation tactics that set us apart, especially in the complex world of hazing cases.
Here’s why families in Giles County choose us to fight for their children:
- We Are Actively Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW: Our $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for Leonel Bermudez isn’t just a past case we cite; it’s a live, ongoing fight. This demonstrates our immediate, real-world expertise in hazing litigation. We’re in the trenches, understanding the latest tactics of fraternities and universities, and developing cutting-edge strategies to win. When you hire us for your Giles County case, you’re getting attorneys who are immersed in this specific fight.
- Former Insurance Defense Attorneys: We Know Their Playbook: Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena bring invaluable insider knowledge to your case. Lupe, in particular, honed his skills at Litchfield Cavo LLP, a nationwide insurance defense firm. This means we’ve seen every tactic, every delay, and every lowball offer from the insurance companies and institutional defendants. We know how they think, how they value claims, and, most importantly, how to dismantle their defenses to maximize your recovery. This “insurance counter-intelligence system” gives you an unfair advantage against powerful adversaries in Giles County and beyond.
- 25+ Years of Courtroom Battle Experience: Ralph Manginello has over two decades of trial experience. He’s not afraid to take your case to court if the defendants refuse to offer fair compensation. His experience in high-stakes, multi-billion dollar litigation, including the BP Texas City Explosion, proves our capacity to take on massive corporate and institutional defendants—a skill directly transferable to complex hazing cases against universities and national fraternities.
- Federal Court Admissions: Nationwide Reach for Hazing Cases: Our attorneys are admitted to the U.S. District Courts. This federal authority means we can pursue hazing cases in federal jurisdiction, an essential advantage when dealing with national fraternities and out-of-state universities. Distance is not a barrier; whether your child was hazed at a university in Virginia or across the country, we can represent you. We’ll travel to Giles County for depositions, meetings, and trials when necessary, and offer remote consultations for your convenience.
- Dual-State Bar Licenses (Texas and New York): Ralph Manginello holds licenses in both Texas and New York. This dual licensure provides a strategic advantage, especially when navigating cases against national fraternity and sorority organizations that might be headquartered or have significant operations outside of Texas.
- Data-Driven Litigation Strategy: We don’t just guess who to sue. We maintain one of the most comprehensive private directories of Greek organizations in Texas, including IRS data, legal names, EINs, and corporate structures. This intelligence network allows us to identify every liable entity behind the Greek letters—from the national chapter to housing corporations and individual members—ensuring we target all potential sources of recovery. The Pi Kappa Phi housing corporation (Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 462267515, Frisco, Texas) was targeted in our Bermudez lawsuit due to this meticulous research.
- Hazing-Specific Expertise: Rhabdomyolysis and Institutional Negligence: We have direct experience with rhabdomyolysis hazing cases. Ralph Manginello’s focused expertise in this often-overlooked injury, critical in Leonel Bermudez’s case, ensures a deep understanding of the medical and legal complexities involved. We understand campus Greek life culture, institutional negligence, and the often-subtle ways universities and fraternities enable hazing.
- Unwavering Empathy and Communication: We understand the profound emotional toll hazing takes on victims and their families. Our team is bilingual (Se Habla Español) and committed to clear, consistent communication. As a client, you are treated like family, not just another case. We keep you informed at every step, ensuring you understand the process and your options.
- Contingency Fee Basis: No Upfront Cost for Giles County Families: We operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely nothing upfront. We cover all litigation expenses, and we only get paid if we win your case. This financial arrangement ensures that every family in Giles County, regardless of their financial situation, can access aggressive, top-tier legal representation against powerful institutions.
- A Track Record of Success: From million-dollar car accident settlements to fighting industrial giants like BP, our firm has a proven history of securing substantial compensation for our clients. We bring this same commitment to results to every hazing case.
When you’re searching Google at 2 AM in Giles County, scared and angry, know that Attorney 911 is awake, ready to listen, and ready to fight. We see your child as a person, not a payout. We will fight hard for your Giles County family, because we truly care.
What to Do Right Now: Actionable Steps for Giles County Hazing Victims and Families
If your child has been the victim of hazing, the moments immediately following the incident are critical. While the emotional toll can be overwhelming, quick, decisive action can make all the difference in preserving your legal rights and building a strong case. For families in Giles County, facing this crisis from a distance, these steps are even more crucial.
Here’s what you should do right now:
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Seek Immediate Medical Attention, Even if Symptoms Seem Minor: This is the absolute priority. If your child is injured, get them to an emergency room, a doctor, or a therapist immediately. Even if the injuries appear minor, or symptoms are delayed (as in many cases of rhabdomyolysis or psychological trauma), seeking prompt medical care is vital. Document every symptom, every complaint, and all medical visits. Healthcare providers in Giles County, or wherever your child attends college, should document what happened. Remember, insurance companies will often argue that symptoms weren’t severe if there was a delay in seeking treatment.
- Link: Watch our video, “Why Seeing a Doctor Right After an Accident Is Critical,” for more insights.
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Preserve Absolutely All Evidence (Digital and Physical): Hazing perpetrators and institutions often try to cover their tracks. You must gather and protect everything.
- Digital Communications: This includes text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchat messages (screenshots are critical as they can disappear), Instagram DMs, emails, and any other digital conversations related to the hazing or the fraternity/organization. Save them all to multiple places if possible.
- Photos and Videos: Take pictures of any injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, signs of dehydration or exhaustion) as they appear and as they heal. If there are any photos or videos of the hazing itself, save them immediately. Document the location where the hazing occurred if possible.
- Documents: Save pledge manuals, schedules, rules, recruitment materials, or any other documents provided by the organization.
- Witness Information: Collect the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the hazing, other pledges, or anyone who might have knowledge of the events.
- Financial Records: Keep track of all medical bills, therapy costs, lost wages from missed work, academic costs (tuition, fees for a semester disrupted), and any other out-of-pocket expenses.
- Link: Our video, “Can You Use Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case?”, offers practical advice on this.
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DO NOT Communicate with the Fraternity/Sorority, University, or Their Lawyers: Once hazing is suspected or known, the organization and institution’s primary goal shifts to protecting themselves. They will try to get statements, minimize the incident, or even pressure your child into silence. Your child should absolutely NOT speak to:
- Fraternity or sorority leadership (national or local).
- University administrators or investigators alone (including Title IX officers, without your legal counsel present).
- Lawyers representing the fraternity, university, or individual members.
- Do not delete any messages or posts on social media. This can be considered destruction of evidence.
- Do not post about the incident on social media. Anything posted can be used against you by the defense.
- Do not sign any documents from the organization or university without legal review.
- Link: “Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case” and “Never Talk to the Insurance Company After an Accident” provide crucial warnings here.
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Contact an Experienced Hazing Litigation Attorney IMMEDIATELY: The statute of limitations (the legal deadline to file a lawsuit) for personal injury and wrongful death cases in most states, including Virginia, is typically two years from the date of the injury or death. Waiting reduces your chances of success.
- Evidence disappears.
- Witnesses’ memories fade or they become unwilling to cooperate.
- The defendants have more time to build their defense.
- An attorney can immediately send out “spoliation letters” to all involved parties, legally requiring them to preserve all evidence.
- Link: Watch “Is There a Statute of Limitations on My Case?” to understand the urgency.
For Giles County families, reaching out to us is easy and without obligation. We understand the unique challenges of trauma and geographic distance. We offer free, confidential consultations by phone or video, allowing you to discuss your situation from the comfort and privacy of your home in Giles County. We will explain your legal options, what to expect, and how we can aggressively fight for your child’s rights.
Contact Us: Your Legal Emergency Hotline in Giles County
If you are reading this in Giles County, Virginia, and your child has been a victim of hazing, you are facing a legal emergency. We want you to know that you don’t have to face this alone. Attorney 911 is ready to stand with you, transform your pain into action, and fight for the justice your family deserves. We are engaged in this battle right now, and we are prepared to bring that same aggressive, data-driven advocacy to your case.
When Leonel Bermudez was waterboarded and hospitalized, his family didn’t know where to turn. They found us, and we immediately filed a $10 million lawsuit to hold every responsible party accountable. Your child, whether they attend Virginia universities like Virginia Tech in Blacksburg or Radford University in Radford, or any other institution across the nation, deserves nothing less.
Giles County Families – Call Now for a Free Consultation
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, because legal emergencies don’t wait for business hours.
Email Us: ralph@atty911.com
Visit Our Website: attorney911.com
What You Can Expect When You Contact Us:
- Free, Confidential Consultation: Your initial conversation with us is completely free and strictly confidential. We will listen to your story with empathy and understanding, provide a preliminary assessment of your case, and discuss your legal options without any obligation.
- No Upfront Fees – We Work on Contingency: We understand that families grappling with trauma and medical bills may be hesitant to incur legal expenses. That’s why we take hazing cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely $0 upfront. We cover all the costs of litigation, and we only get paid if and when we win your case. You literally have nothing to lose by contacting us.
- Remote Consultations and Travel: Although our headquarters are in Houston, Texas, with additional offices in Austin and Beaumont, we proudly serve hazing victims nationwide, including families in Giles County. We offer convenient video and phone consultations so you can connect with our attorneys from anywhere. For critical stages of your case, such as depositions or trial, our team is prepared to travel to Giles County or wherever justice requires our presence.
- Comprehensive Legal Support: From preserving crucial evidence like texts and social media to relentlessly pursuing every liable party—including national fraternities, universities, individual members, and their insurance companies—we manage every aspect of your case. Our goal is to secure the maximum compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost academic opportunities, and emotional trauma.
Lupe Pena said it best during the Bermudez 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 not only secure justice for your family but can also prevent another family in Giles County from enduring the same nightmare.
Don’t wait. Time is critical, and evidence vanishes quickly. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now. Let us be your legal emergency responders, ready to fight for your child and for a safer future for all students.