If you’re reading this in Lancaster County, Virginia, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child went off to college, hoping to find community and friendship. Instead, they encountered an insidious culture of abuse disguised as “tradition.” They were tortured, humiliated, and injured, and now you’re left searching for answers, comfort, and most importantly, justice. We are here to tell you that you are not alone, and we are here to help families in Lancaster County fight back.

We understand the fear and the anger that grips a parent when their child is harmed, especially by institutions that were supposed to protect them. The idea that a university or a fraternity could allow such devastating abuse is unthinkable, yet it happens, even at campuses whose alumni populate the communities of Lancaster County, from Kilmarnock to Irvington and White Stone.

Our firm, Attorney911, is on the front lines of this battle right now. We are actively engaged in a $10 million lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university over a hazing incident that left a young man hospitalized with kidney failure. This isn’t a theoretical fight for us; it’s a deeply personal mission to hold accountable every individual and institution responsible for the destruction of young lives. The same courage and aggressive legal strategy we bring to the courtrooms of Houston, Texas, we will bring to your family in Lancaster County, Virginia.

When a child from Lancaster County leaves home for college, whether it’s to a university within Virginia like the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, James Madison University in Harrisonburg, or further afield to a major institution in Texas like the University of Houston or Texas A&M, parents expect safety, growth, and learning. They do not expect their child to be subjected to brutal rituals by supposed brothers or sisters, leading to physical injury, psychological trauma, or even death. Yet, tragic hazing incidents are a national crisis, and they can happen to students from Lancaster County and at colleges across Virginia and the nation.

We want every parent, every student, and every concerned community member in Lancaster County to understand: what happened to our client, Leonel Bermudez, is a stark warning. His story is a chilling reminder of the dark reality of modern hazing, a reality that demands immediate and forceful legal intervention. We are committed to dismantling this culture of abuse, one lawsuit at a time, and we are ready to stand with you, the families of Lancaster County, to ensure that no child endures such suffering again.

The Chilling Reality: The Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Landmark Case

The case of Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al., filed in November 2025, is not just a lawsuit; it is a declaration of war against hazing. This $10 million lawsuit, filed by our firm, Attorney911, in Harris County Civil District Court, targets Pi Kappa Phi, the University of Houston, and 13 individual fraternity members for the horrific hazing of Leonel Bermudez. This case, currently unfolding in our home state of Texas, serves as a powerful testament to the aggressive, data-driven, and relentless approach we bring to hazing litigation.

This could have happened to a student from Lancaster County. The same national fraternities operate at colleges and universities that students from Lancaster High School, Lancaster Middle School, and other schools in the Rappahannock River region attend. The “traditions” that hospitalized our client are tragically common. The institutional negligence that allowed this to happen in Houston is a pervasive problem that exists at universities across Virginia and the United States. We are fighting for Leonel, and we will fight just as relentlessly for your child in Lancaster County.

Media Shines a Light on Our Fight

The gravity of Leonel’s story and our legal action has resonated across major news outlets, validating the severity of the situation and amplifying our message of accountability.

• ABC13 Houston (November 21-22, 2025) reported on the allegations of severe abuse: “Abuse and hazing led to hospitalization of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge, lawsuit alleges.” This coverage included crucial insights from our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, detailing the terrifying ordeal.
• KHOU 11 (November 21, 2025) explicitly stated the financial stakes: “$10 million lawsuit filed against UH, fraternity over hazing allegations.” They were among the first to name Leonel Bermudez and highlight university ownership of the fraternity house.
• The Houston Chronicle (November 22, 2025) provided further detail: “UH fraternity hazing lawsuit,” listing specific, horrific hazing activities detailed in our filing.
• Houston Public Media (November 24, 2025) underlined the nature of the abuse: “University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi fraternity sued for $10 million over alleged hazing,” confirming the $10 million figure and the “torture” aspect of the waterboarding.

Even Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity made a public statement on their own website on November 21, 2025, titled “Pi Kappa Phi Closes Beta Nu Chapter at the University of Houston,” acknowledging “violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards.” This public admission further strengthens our case.

Meet Leonel Bermudez: A “Ghost Rush” Targeted by Torture

Leonel Bermudez was not even officially enrolled at the University of Houston. He was a “ghost rush,” meaning he was a prospective member planning to transfer to UH for the upcoming semester. They did this to someone who was not even their student. This fact alone underscores the reckless disregard for human life and dignity that permeated this fraternity.

On September 16, 2025, Leonel accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. What followed were weeks of systematic abuse, humiliation, and physical torture that tragically culminated in his hospitalization.

Our Legal Emergency Lawyers™, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, acted swiftly, filing this landmark lawsuit demanding $10 million in damages for Leonel’s suffering. The defendants named in our suit are comprehensive, ensuring accountability across the board:

• Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity (University of Houston Beta Nu Chapter)
• Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters
• Pi Kappa Phi Housing Corporation
• The University of Houston
• The UH Board of Regents
• The Fraternity President
• The Pledgemaster
• Multiple current and former fraternity members
• Even a former member and his spouse, who hosted some of the hazing at their private residence.

This broad list of defendants demonstrates our comprehensive strategy: we will pursue every entity and individual responsible for your child’s injuries, from the national organization down to every participant.

The Hazing Timeline: Weeks of Systematic Abuse

The horror Leonel endured was not a one-time event but a weeks-long campaign of systematic abuse:

• September 16, 2025: Leonel accepts his bid to Pi Kappa Phi. The hazing begins immediately.
• September 16 – November 3, 2025: For approximately seven weeks, Leonel and other pledges were subjected to a barrage of physical, psychological, and emotional torment.
• October 13, 2025: A chilling example of the fraternity’s depravity: another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. This was not even Leonel, but it highlights the pervasive nature of the abuse.
• October 15, 2025: During a forced workout, a pledge lost consciousness and collapsed. His “brothers” did not seek medical attention but forced other pledges to elevate his legs until he revived. This critical incident, known to the fraternity members, should have been a wake-up call, but the hazing continued unabated.
• November 3, 2025: This was Leonel’s breaking point. Punished for missing an event, he was forced to endure an extreme regimen:
  • 100+ pushups
  • 500 squats
  • “High-volume suicides” (running drills)
  • Bear crawls, wheelbarrows, and “save-you-brother” drills
  • Two-mile warmups followed by repeated 100-yard crawls.
  • All while being forced to recite the fraternity creed under threat of immediate expulsion.
    He became so exhausted he could not stand without help.
• November 4-5, 2025: Leonel was unable to move, his condition rapidly worsening. As Ralph Manginello told ABC13, “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…”
• November 6, 2025: Leonel’s mother, witnessing his alarming state, rushed him to the hospital. He was “passing brown urine,” a clear and terrifying sign of muscle breakdown.
• November 6-10, 2025: Leonel spent three nights and four days hospitalized, battling severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
• November 14, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi National, clearly aware of the severity of the situation and anticipating legal action, officially closed its Beta Nu Chapter at UH, as confirmed by their own website statement.
• November 21, 2025: Our firm filed the $10 MILLION LAWSUIT, bringing Leonel’s story and the fraternity’s crimes into the public eye, triggering extensive local media coverage.

Beyond the Stereotypes: What Hazing Really Looks Like

For parents in Lancaster County, the images of hazing often involve silly pranks or embarrassing tasks. Leonel Bermudez’s experience shatters these misconceptions, exposing the brutal reality of what hazing has become in some Greek organizations, sports teams, and clubs across America, including institutions that students from Lancaster County attend.

This is not “boys being boys” or innocent “tradition.” This is calculated, systematic abuse designed to inflict pain, humiliation, and control.

The Hazing Activities Leonel Endured, Alleged in Our Lawsuit:

• Waterboarding/Simulated Drowning: Pledges were subjected to “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose,” sprayed in the face while doing calisthenics. They were forced to run repeatedly under threat of being waterboarded. As Houston Public Media rightly pointed out, “Waterboarding, which simulates drowning, is a form of torture.” This is not a prank; it’s a war crime when done to enemy combatants.
• Forced Eating Until Vomiting: Leonel was forced to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited. Even then, the abuse continued; he was immediately “forced to continue running sprints while clearly in physical distress” and made to “lie in vomit-soaked grass after vomiting.”
• Extreme Physical Punishment: Beyond the pushups and squats that damaged his kidneys, other activities included high-volume “suicides” (running drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warmups, and repeated 100-yard crawls. Pledges were also struck with wooden paddles.
• Psychological Torture & Humiliation: Leonel was forced to strip to his underwear in cold weather and carry a fanny pack containing objects of a sexual nature at all times. The hog-tying incident involving another pledge underscores the depravity. He was subjected to constant threats of physical punishment and expulsion for non-compliance, alongside an enforced dress code, mandatory study hours, and weekly interviews.
• Sleep Deprivation & Exhaustion: Pledges were forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, contributing to their physical and mental exhaustion.

The Medical Nightmare: Rhabdomyolysis

The physical toll of this torture was severe and life-threatening. Leonel was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a severe medical condition caused by the breakdown of muscle tissue. This releases harmful proteins, like myoglobin, into the bloodstream, which can then damage the kidneys.

• Classic Symptoms: Leonel presented with the classic terrifying symptom of rhabdomyolysis: passing brown urine, a direct result of myoglobin flooding his system.
• Diagnosis: Doctors confirmed “very high creatine kinase levels,” indicating significant muscle damage, and the terrifying diagnosis of acute kidney failure.
• Hospitalization: He required intensive medical care, spending three nights and four days hospitalized to treat the condition and prevent permanent organ damage.
• Long-Term Impact: While Leonel survived, he faces the ongoing risk of chronic kidney disease, complications requiring dialysis, or even the need for a kidney transplant. The psychological trauma of such an ordeal is also immense, potentially leading to PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

We want parents in Lancaster County to understand that rhabdomyolysis from hazing is a real and dangerous threat. Our firm, particularly Ralph Manginello, has specific expertise in litigating these complex medical injury cases stemming from hazing abuse.

What Institutional Responses Say: A Lack of Remorse

The statements from the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi National speak volumes, not about remorse, but about damage control and a disturbing desire to return to “business as usual.”

• University of Houston Spokesperson (Houston Public Media, Nov 24, 2025): While acknowledging the “deeply disturbing” events and “clear violation of our community standards,” the university’s statement primarily focused on internal investigations and potential disciplinary actions. It read like a legal defensive posture, trying to distance the institution while preserving its image. They mentioned “potential criminal charges,” confirming the gravity of the conduct.
• Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters (pikapp.org, Nov 21, 2025): Their statement admitted to “violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards” and announced the chapter’s closure effective November 14, 2025 – seven days before our lawsuit was even filed. This proactive closure is a clear admission of guilt and an attempt to mitigate liability before public exposure. Most disturbingly, they concluded, “We look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time and continuing our partnership with the University of Houston in the years ahead.” This shows an alarming lack of genuine remorse, suggesting they view this tragedy as a temporary setback before resuming operations.

Their actions and words reveal a chilling truth: these institutions are less concerned with the well-being of the students they claim to serve and more focused on protecting their reputation and future operations. This is precisely why Attorney911 exists: to force accountability where institutions fail to take responsibility.

Why This Case Matters to Lancaster County Families: A National Problem

• Proof That “Tradition” is Torture: Leonel’s story unequivocally demonstrates that hazing is not harmless. The abuses inflicted upon him are tactics of torture, not rituals of brotherhood. This same, shocking reality can unfold at any university that a student from Lancaster County attends.
• Universities are Complicit: The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place. This is not uncommon. Universities across Virginia, such as James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, or the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, have the same power to regulate Greek life and prevent such abuses on their campuses or properties — and the same liability when they fail to do so.
• National Organizations Know: Pi Kappa Phi’s national leadership immediately closed the UH chapter. This indicates they were fully aware of the severity of the alleged conduct. The same national fraternities and sororities with chapters around Lancaster County, at universities like the University of Richmond, George Mason University, or Old Dominion University, also have a national oversight responsibility they often shirk. They know.
• Victims Are Afraid: Leonel Bermudez, through our attorneys, conveyed he is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution.” This fear is a direct result of the toxic culture of intimidation that hazing fosters. Students from the close-knit communities of Lancaster County and the Northern Neck region may feel immense pressure to remain silent, but we want them to know we will protect them.
• One Brave Victim Can Protect Lancaster County Students: As Lupe Pena emphasized, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” Leonel’s bravery, supported by his family and our firm, can send a resounding message that makes other students safer, including those from Lancaster County.
• $10 Million Sends a Message: The financial demand is not arbitrary. It is a necessary and powerful tool to force these institutions to change their behavior. A multi-million dollar verdict impacts their bottom line, sends a critical message to their national leadership, and forces them to truly reform. We are ready to send that same message for your family in Lancaster County.

Beyond the “Pranks”: What Hazing Really Looks Like

The tragic reality is that hazing, particularly in its most destructive forms, often goes unreported. This silence stems from a culture of fear, loyalty, and misunderstanding about what hazing truly entails. For parents and students in Lancaster County, it’s vital to recognize that the term “hazing” masks a pattern of abuse that can include:

• Physical Abuse: This is far from harmless. It includes beatings, paddling, branding, forced calisthenics to exhaustion (leading to injuries like rhabdomyolysis), sleep deprivation, and even sexual assault. The wooden paddles and hundreds of push-ups endured by Leonel are sickening examples.
• Forced Consumption: This often involves binge drinking to dangerous levels (a leading cause of hazing deaths), eating repulsive substances, or consuming vast quantities of food until vomiting. Leonel’s ordeal of consuming milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited, then being forced to exercise, highlights this barbaric practice.
• Psychological Abuse: Humiliation, isolation, verbal abuse, threats, and degrading rituals designed to break an individual’s spirit are common. The fanny pack with sexual objects, the hog-tying, and being forced to strip in cold weather are designed to strip pledges of their dignity.
• Sexual Harassment and Assault: This horrific aspect of hazing is far too prevalent and often goes unreported. It includes forced nudity, sexually suggestive acts, and actual sexual assault.
• Waterboarding and Simulated Drowning: Leonel’s experience with a garden hose demonstrates this shocking escalation to torture tactics.
• Exposure: Leaving pledges in isolated locations, forcing them into extreme temperatures, or confining them in small, dark spaces are forms of hazing that endanger physical and mental health.
• Servitude and Financial Exploitation: Forced cleaning, running errands, or performing tasks for members, coupled with excessive fees or demands for money, often accompany other forms of hazing.

The Medical Consequences Are Real and Often Catastrophic:

• Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Failure: As suffered by Leonel. This can lead to permanent organ damage or death.
• Alcohol Poisoning: The primary cause of hazing deaths, often resulting from forced binge drinking.
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): From beatings, falls, or assaults.
• Hypothermia/Hyperthermia: From extreme weather exposure.
• Cardiac Arrest: From extreme physical exertion.
• Permanent Physical Trauma: Broken bones, burns, deep lacerations.
• Profound Psychological Trauma: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), severe anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and long-lasting trust issues which require extensive therapy and support.
• Death: The ultimate, heartbreaking consequence that far too many families, here in Virginia and across the nation, have endured.

Tragically, these incidents are not isolated. Statistics reveal a disturbing pattern:

• Over 55% of students involved in Greek organizations experience hazing.
• Approximately 40% of student athletes report hazing as part of their team initiation.
• Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing-related death every single year in the United States.
• A staggering 95% of students who are hazed do not report it, often due to fear of retaliation, shame, or a misguided sense of loyalty.

The problem festers because universities and national Greek organizations, despite possessing anti-hazing policies, frequently fail to enforce them effectively. They often know hazing occurs but turn a blind eye until a tragedy forces their hand, only then closing chapters and claiming shock. This institutional negligence and deliberate indifference are central to our legal strategy.

Who Is Responsible? We Sue Everyone Who Participated or Allowed It.

When your child from Lancaster County is harmed by hazing, the scope of accountability extends far beyond just the individual perpetrators. Our strategy targets everyone who played a role in the abuse, or whose negligence allowed it to happen. In the Bermudez case, and in every hazing case we take, we identify all liable parties to maximize justice and compensation.

1. Greek Organizations (Local Chapters)

The immediate perpetrators are the local chapters that actively organize and carry out hazing rituals. In Leonel’s case, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter is directly responsible for designing and implementing the torturous activities. This includes:

• Chapter Officers: Individuals like the chapter president, pledgemaster, and other leaders who direct or sanction hazing are held particularly accountable. These individuals hold positions of authority and actively facilitate the abuse.
• Individual Members: Every member who participates in hazing, fails to intervene, or actively conceals the abuse can be named in a lawsuit. Their actions, or inactions, contribute directly to the harm inflicted.

2. National Fraternity/Sorority Organizations

These are powerful, well-funded entities with vast resources and a fundamental responsibility to oversee their local chapters. Our lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters highlights their profound negligence.

• Failure to Supervise: Despite possessing anti-hazing policies, national organizations often fail to actively monitor and enforce these rules at the local level. In Pi Kappa Phi’s case, the death of Andrew Coffey in 2017 provided clear notice of deadly hazing within its chapters, yet Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized in 2025. This demonstrates a systemic failure.
• Knowledge of a “Hazing Crisis”: As alleged in our lawsuit, KHOU 11 reported that the national organization and housing corporation had “knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.'” This means they knew the problem was pervasive, yet failed to prevent further harm. This conscious indifference supports claims for punitive damages.
• Deep Pockets: National fraternities and sororities often possess multi-million dollar endowments, significant assets, and extensive liability insurance policies. They have the financial means to compensate victims, and we will aggressively pursue those resources.

3. Universities & Colleges

Educational institutions have a profound duty to protect their students. When hazing occurs on their campus, within organizations they recognize, or on property they own, their liability can be extensive. The University of Houston and the UH Board of Regents are key defendants in Leonel’s case.

• Premises Liability: Crucially, the University of Houston owned and controlled the Pi Kappa Phi house where significant hazing occurred. This makes them directly liable for conditions on their property. Students from Lancaster County attend universities across Virginia, many of which own or heavily influence Greek housing.
• Failure to Regulate and Supervise: Universities have the inherent power to regulate, suspend, or remove student organizations that engage in misconduct. Their failure to enforce these powers, or to adequately supervise Greek life, constitutes negligence.
• Prior Knowledge: The University of Houston had a student hospitalized from hazing in 2017 (a different fraternity). This means they had a clear warning and failed to implement sufficient safeguards to prevent a recurrence, underscoring institutional negligence.
• Institutional Resources: Like national fraternities, major universities possess substantial endowments, state funding, and extensive liability insurance, making them prime targets for accountability.

4. Individual Perpetrators

Every single person who actively participated in, commanded, or facilitated the hazing of your child can be held personally liable. This includes the chapter president, pledgemaster, and any member involved. In Leonel’s case, even a former member and their spouse were named because they allowed hazing to occur at their private residence, demonstrating how broad the net of accountability can be cast. These individuals, often students or recent graduates, are not merely “kids being kids”; their actions can lead to criminal charges and significant personal financial liability, as seen in precedent cases where individual officers have been ordered to pay millions.

5. Insurance Carriers

Behind every university and national organization are extensive insurance policies. As former insurance defense attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena bring invaluable insight into how these companies operate. We know their strategies, their tactics, and their internal playbooks. We use this insider knowledge to dismantle their defenses and maximize compensation for our clients. These deep-pocketed insurers are a primary source of recovery for victims and are a critical component of our strategy.

We want to be crystal clear: this is not about merely punishing college students. It is about holding powerful institutions and all responsible individuals accountable for systematic abuse and negligence. Every penny recovered holds them explicitly responsible and sends an undeniable message to ensure no other child from Lancaster County or anywhere else suffers the same fate.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof

For families in Lancaster County grappling with the aftermath of hazing, understanding the financial scope of justice is important. These are not minor personal injury claims; they are often multi-million dollar battles against powerful institutions. We have the proof: precedent cases across the nation demonstrate that juries and settlements award substantial compensation for hazing injuries and deaths.

The message to fraternities, universities, and national organizations is unequivocal: Hazing costs millions. The same legal strategies that secured these landmark sums are precisely what we apply to cases for victims from Lancaster County.

Landmark Verdicts & Settlements: They Will Pay

Here’s an overview of some key precedent cases that demonstrate the significant financial consequences for hazing:

• STONE FOLTZ — Bowling Green State University (Pi Kappa Alpha): TOTAL $10.1 MILLION+

  • What Happened: In March 2021, Stone Foltz, 20, was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a Pi Kappa Alpha “Big/Little” event. He was found unresponsive the next morning and died from alcohol poisoning. The fraternity was permanently expelled, and multiple members faced criminal convictions.
  • The Payout: The Foltz family received $2.9 million from Bowling Green State University and an additional $7.2 million from Pi Kappa Alpha National and several individuals. Most recently, in December 2024, a jury ordered Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president, to pay $6.5 million in a personal gross negligence judgment. This $10.1 million combined recovery stands as the largest public university hazing payout in Ohio history.
  • Relevance to Our Case (and Lancaster County): The $10.1 million total recovery mirrors our demands in the Bermudez case. This precedent demonstrates that universities (like institutions your child attends from Lancaster County) and national fraternities are both held accountable. Crucially, it shows that individual officers, not just the organization, can be hit with multi-million dollar personal judgments.

• MAXWELL GRUVER — Louisiana State University (Phi Delta Theta): $6.1 MILLION JURY VERDICT

  • What Happened: In September 2017, 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver was forced to consume excessive alcohol during a Phi Delta Theta “Bible Study” event at LSU. He died from acute alcohol poisoning with a BAC over six times the legal limit.
  • The Payout: A jury awarded the Gruver family $6.1 million. One fraternity member was convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to prison. The case also spurred the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony in Louisiana.
  • Relevance to Our Case (and Lancaster County): This powerful jury verdict confirms that when cases go to trial, juries are willing to award millions for hazing deaths. It also highlights how these cases can drive legislative change, impacting laws that protect students from communities like Lancaster County.

• TIMOTHY PIAZZA — Penn State University (Beta Theta Pi): $110+ MILLION (Estimated Settlements)

  • What Happened: In February 2017, Timothy Piazza, 19, was forced to drink 18 drinks in 82 minutes during a Beta Theta Pi bid acceptance night. He fell down basement stairs multiple times, suffering a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding. Fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling 911. Security cameras captured the entire horrific ordeal.
  • The Payout: The Piazza family reached multiple confidential settlements estimated to total over $110 million, a staggering sum. 18 fraternity members faced criminal charges, with multiple convictions including involuntary manslaughter. This case led to Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.
  • Relevance to Our Case (and Lancaster County): This case sets the high watermark for hazing liability, demonstrating that when evidence is strong and the conduct is egregious, and the institutional failures profound, settlements can reach nine figures. It reinforces the importance of meticulous evidence collection, just as we are doing in the Bermudez case.

• ANDREW COFFEY — Florida State University (Pi Kappa Phi): Confidential Settlement

  • What Happened: In November 2017, 20-year-old Andrew Coffey died from alcohol poisoning during a Pi Kappa Phi “Big Brother Night” ritual where he was forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon.
  • The Payout: Nine fraternity members were charged, and the chapter was permanently closed. The family reached a confidential civil settlement.
  • Relevance to Our Case (and Lancaster County): This case is particularly damning for our current lawsuit because Pi Kappa Phi is the SAME NATIONAL FRATERNITY. Andrew Coffey’s death, just eight years prior to Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization, proves that Pi Kappa Phi National had explicit knowledge of deadly hazing within its ranks and failed to take adequate measures to prevent a recurrence. This establishes a clear pattern of negligence and conscious indifference.

• ADAM OAKES — Virginia Commonwealth University (Delta Chi): $4+ Million Settlement

  • What Happened: In February 2021, Adam Oakes, a freshman at VCU, died from acute alcohol poisoning after a Delta Chi hazing event.
  • The Payout: The Oakes family settled for over $4 million from Delta Chi National and VCU. Six fraternity members pleaded guilty or no contest to hazing charges. The Oakes family championed “Adam’s Law” in Virginia, introducing new anti-hazing legislation.
  • Relevance to Our Case (and Lancaster County): This case is particularly close to home for Lancaster County families, demonstrating that tragic hazing incidents and significant legal action can occur at Virginia universities. It reinforces that even non-death, serious injury cases like Leonel’s can command multi-million dollar compensation.

These cases are not isolated tragedies; they are a national pattern. They demonstrate that when a young life is irrevocably harmed by hazing, families secure justice, holding accountable not only the immediately involved individuals but also the powerful national organizations and universities that enable such cultures. We are bringing this track record of success and fierce advocacy to hazing victims and their families in Lancaster County.

Texas Law Protects You, and Other Anti-Hazing Laws Across the Nation.

While our firm is rooted in Texas, the principles of justice and accountability for hazing victims apply universally. Many provisions within Texas anti-hazing laws are mirrored in states across the nation, including Virginia. Furthermore, the foundational legal theories of negligence, premises liability, and civil rights violations are enshrined in federal and state laws, allowing us to pursue justice for Lancaster County victims regardless of where the incident occurred.

Texas Hazing Laws: A Strong Legal Foundation

Our legal efforts are often bolstered by strong state anti-hazing legislation. In Texas, the Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157 (Anti-Hazing Law) provides a powerful framework:

• Broad Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151): Texas law defines hazing expansively, covering virtually any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in an organization. This includes physical brutality, sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, calisthenics (like Leonel’s 500 squats that caused kidney failure), forced consumption of food or alcohol (like Leonel’s compelled eating until vomiting), and any activity that violates the Penal Code. Leonel’s experience, which included waterboarding, forced extreme exercise, and humiliation, unequivocally falls under this definition in multiple categories.
• Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152): Hazing is not just a university policy violation; it’s a crime. Depending on the severity of the injury, hazing can range from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Class A Misdemeanor (for serious bodily injury, like Leonel’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure) or even a State Jail Felony (for hazing causing death). The University of Houston spokesperson’s remark about “potential criminal charges” in Leonel’s case underscores this aspect.
• Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): This critical provision states that an organization commits an offense if it “condones or encourages hazing” or if officers, members, or alumni commit or assist in hazing. This allows us to hold entire chapters and national organizations liable, imposing fines and even revoking their right to operate.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154): This is perhaps the most crucial aspect of anti-hazing statutes like Texas’s. The law explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution… that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” This directly counters the common, despicable defense often used by fraternities and universities – that the victim “voluntarily participated” or “knew what they were signing up for.” We want families in Lancaster County to understand: no student can legally consent to abuse or criminal activity.
• University Reporting Requirements (§ 37.155): Universities are legally mandated to report hazing incidents and face penalties for failure to do so, providing another layer of accountability.

Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Charges

Even if criminal charges are not pursued or result in acquittal, civil lawsuits provide a powerful avenue for victims from Lancaster County to seek justice and compensation. Our firm extensively utilizes these civil theories:

1. Negligence Claims: This is a fundamental legal principle nationwide. Institutions and individuals owe a “duty of care” to students. When they breach that duty (by hazing, failing to supervise, or ignoring warnings) and cause injury, they are liable for damages. This applies to universities, national organizations, and individual members.
2. Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on university-owned or controlled property, or at a private residence (as in Leonel’s case where a former member and spouse were named), the property owners have a duty to maintain a safe environment. Their failure to do so can lead to liability. This is particularly relevant given that the University of Houston owned the Pi Kappa Phi house where much of the abuse occurred.
3. Negligent Supervision: National organizations have a duty to oversee their chapters, and universities have a duty to supervise Greek life. When this supervision is negligent or absent, allowing hazing to flourish, they are liable for the resulting harm.
4. Assault and Battery: Any direct physical contact that is harmful or offensive, such as the waterboarding, paddling, or forced exercise Leonel endured, constitutes assault and battery. Each individual perpetrator can be sued for these intentional torts.
5. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED): When hazing involves extreme and outrageous conduct designed to cause severe emotional distress, a victim can sue for IIED. Leonel’s psychological trauma from torture certainly fits this criterion.
6. Vicarious Liability: This legal doctrine allows us to hold national organizations liable for the actions of their local chapters and universities liable for organizations they oversee, even if they didn’t directly orchestrate the hazing.

These civil claims are robust in every state, including Virginia. Our federal court authorization and dual bar licenses (Texas and New York) mean that we can pursue these claims for Lancaster County families effectively, irrespective of where the hazing occurred. The law is firmly on the side of victims, and we leverage every available legal tool to hold accountable those who betray that trust.

Why Attorney911 Is the Obvious Choice for Lancaster County Families

When a hazing tragedy strikes your family in Lancaster County, you need more than just a lawyer; you need battle-tested advocates who deeply understand this complex and emotionally charged area of law. You need a firm that treats your pain as their own, and fights with unmatched aggression. Attorney911 is that firm.

25+ Years of Courtroom Battle-Testing

Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, brings over a quarter-century of intensive courtroom experience to every case. He is not afraid to take on formidable opponents. From high-stakes mass tort litigation against corporate giants like BP in the Texas City explosion case (which involved 15 deaths and 180+ injuries) to complex federal civil rights cases, Ralph has proven his capacity to fight and win against the most powerful defendants. This aggressive, unyielding spirit is precisely what families in Lancaster County need when confronting national fraternities and universities.

Insider Knowledge: Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena bring a critical, almost unfair, advantage to our clients: they are former insurance defense attorneys.

• Ralph Manginello: Started his career on the defense side, learning the tactics, strategies, and weak points of insurance companies firsthand.
• Lupe Pena: Worked for Litchfield Cavo LLP, a prominent nationwide insurance defense firm. He defended insurance companies and corporations against products liability, personal injury, workers’ compensation, construction law, and commercial litigation claims. He saw their internal playbooks, their valuation methods, their delay tactics, and their strategies to minimize payouts.

This combined experience means we understand how the “other side” thinks. We’ve been in their war room. We know their strategies to deny claims, minimize injuries, and wear down victims. Now, we use that very same insider knowledge to dismantle their defenses and maximize recovery for families from Lancaster County. This is critical counter-intelligence that creates an undeniable advantage.

Nationwide Reach with Federal Court Authority & Dual-State Bar Licenses

While our offices are based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our ability to represent hazing victims from Lancaster County and across the country is absolute:

• Federal Court Admissions: Both Ralph and Lupe are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and Ralph has experience in the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals. This federal authority means we can pursue cases in federal courts, which often have jurisdiction over national organizations and multi-state incidents.
• Dual-State Bar Licenses: Ralph is licensed in both Texas AND New York. This dual licensure provides a significant strategic advantage when litigating against national fraternities headquartered outside Virginia, as many are.
• Willingness to Travel: Distance is not a barrier to justice. We are fully prepared to travel to Lancaster County, or wherever your child’s college is located in Virginia, for depositions, key meetings, and trial if necessary.
• Remote Consultations: For families in Lancaster County who may find travel challenging, we offer convenient video consultations, ensuring immediate access to expert legal advice.

The Bermudez Case: Proof We’re Actively Fighting

We aren’t just theoretically discussing hazing; we are leading the fight right now. Our $10 million lawsuit in the Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi case is tangible proof of our aggressive and effective approach. This active litigation demonstrates precisely what kind of firm Attorney911 is: we take on the powerful, we dig deep, and we do not back down until justice is served. Families in Lancaster County have our solemn promise: you will receive this same level of aggressive, dedicated, and data-driven representation.

Compassion, Communication, and Contingency Fees

Beyond our legal prowess, we pride ourselves on a client-centered approach:

• Empathetic & Bilingual Staff: Our team is warm, friendly, and genuinely empathetic. We understand the trauma you’re experiencing. Our bilingual staff offers Se Habla Español services, ensuring Spanish-speaking families from Lancaster County and beyond have full access to legal representation without language barriers.
• Exceptional Communication: We believe in keeping you informed at every step. Our client testimonials consistently praise our responsiveness and clear communication, treating clients “like family.” As Dame Haskett said, “Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer regarding my case.”
• Contingency Fees: We understand that facing a legal battle while dealing with medical bills and emotional trauma is financially daunting. That’s why we take hazing cases on a CONTINGENCY BASIS. This means:
  • NO UPFRONT COSTS: You pay absolutely nothing to hire us initially.
  • WE DON’T GET PAID UNLESS YOU DO: Our fees are a percentage of the compensation we win for you, ensuring our interests are perfectly aligned with yours. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing for our legal fees. This levels the playing field, allowing any family from Lancaster County, regardless of their financial situation, to challenge powerful fraternities and universities.

Unshakeable Values

Ralph Manginello’s background as a Hall of Fame athlete and youth coach gives him unique insights into team dynamics and the pressures that can lead to hazing. His personal commitment, coupled with Lupe Pena’s deep Texas roots and relentless work ethic, drives our firm. As Ralph says, “I started Attorney911 to make sure people suffering from a legal emergency received immediate, aggressive, and professional help from someone they could trust.” We see your child as a person, not a case number, and we will fight fiercely to help your family through this traumatic period.

For Lancaster County, where community values and a strong sense of family are paramount, the betrayal of trust inherent in hazing hits particularly hard. We stand ready to extend our hand of support and our unwavering legal expertise to your family.

What To Do Right Now If Your Child Is a Victim of Hazing

If your family in Lancaster County has been shattered by a hazing incident, the moments immediately following discovery are critical. Your actions now can profoundly impact the strength of any future legal claim. We provide clear, actionable steps for you to take, designed to protect your child’s rights and preserve crucial evidence.

Step 1: Prioritize Safety and Medical Attention

Your child’s physical and mental well-being is paramount.

• Remove Your Child from the Situation: Ensure they are immediately safe from any further hazing or intimidation.
• Seek Immediate Medical Attention: No matter how minor the injuries may seem, or if only psychological trauma is evident, seek medical care immediately. Go to an emergency room, urgent care, or a trusted physician.
  • Document Everything: Ensure medical personnel document every injury, symptom, and your child’s account of what happened. Mention that the injuries are hazing-related.
  • Request All Records: Obtain copies of all medical records, imaging results (X-rays, MRIs), doctor’s notes, and billing statements.
• Seek Mental Health Support: Hazing inflicts severe psychological trauma. Connect your child with a therapist or counselor specializing in trauma. Ensure these sessions are documented.

Step 2: Preserve ALL Evidence – Do NOT Delete Anything

The digital footprint of hazing is often extensive and can be crucial evidence.

• Text Messages & Group Chats: Take screenshots of every relevant text message, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DM, GroupMe, WhatsApp, or other messaging app conversation. This includes messages from fraternity/sorority members, pledges, and communications about mandatory events or threats.
• Photos & Videos: Any photos or videos of hazing activities, injuries, or relevant locations should be immediately saved and backed up. Even a picture of a bruise after the event is critical. Our firm uses modern techniques, including AI-assisted tools, to help clients document evidence. We advise you to “Take pictures. Take pictures. Take pictures. Take more pictures than you think you need to,” as Ralph Manginello often emphasizes.
• Social Media: DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS. Even innocent posts from weeks before the incident can be relevant. And DO NOT POST ABOUT THE INCIDENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Anything your child posts can and will be used against them.
• Documents: Save any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, membership agreements, or other documents provided by the organization or university.
• Witness Information: Collect names and contact information of other pledges, fraternity/sorority members who may have witnessed or participated, or any other individuals who may have relevant information. Their testimony can be invaluable.
• Financial Records: Keep track of medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages (if your child missed work), and any tuition or fees paid that were disrupted by the hazing.

Step 3: Crucial “DO NOTs”

These actions can severely harm your case:

• DO NOT Communicate with the Fraternity/Sorority or University ALONE: Do not talk to chapter leadership, fraternity/sorority national representatives, university officials, or their attorneys without legal counsel. They are not on your side; they are gathering information to protect their institution.
• DO NOT Give Recorded Statements: Never provide a recorded statement to anyone outside your legal team.
• DO NOT Sign Anything: Do not sign any documents, releases, or agreements from the fraternity/sorority or university without having an attorney review them first. You could inadvertently waive your rights.
• DO NOT Delete or Alter Evidence: This includes text messages, emails, photos, or social media posts. Destroying evidence can lead to severe legal penalties and undermine your entire case.
• DO NOT Post on Social Media: As mentioned, avoid discussing the incident, your injuries, or the legal process on any social media platform. Anything you post can be used against you.

Step 4: Contact an Experienced Hazing Litigation Attorney IMMEDIATELY

Time is of the essence in hazing cases.

• Statute of Limitations: In Virginia, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is generally two years from the date of injury. For wrongful death, it’s also typically two years from the date of death. This is not a lot of time, especially with the complexities of these cases. Delaying can cost you your legal rights.
• Evidence Disappearance: The longer you wait, the more likely physical evidence will be cleaned up, digital evidence will be deleted, and witnesses’ memories will fade or they will be pressured into silence.
• Our Immediate Action: When you contact us, our team moves swiftly to preserve evidence, notify defendants (putting them on notice not to destroy evidence), and begin building your case. Just as we filed Leonel Bermudez’s lawsuit within weeks of his hospitalization, we will act with the same urgency for your family in Lancaster County.

We represent victims across the country, including those from Lancaster County, Virginia. We offer free consultations and our contingency fee structure means there’s no financial barrier to getting the expert legal help you need. Do not face this nightmare alone.

Lancaster County Families: Call Now – Free Consultation

If you’re a family in Lancaster County, Virginia, and your child has been a victim of hazing, you are facing a crisis that demands immediate, aggressive, and expert legal action. What happened to Leonel Bermudez in Houston, the brutal torture and hospitalization, is a stark reality that could just as easily befall a student from your community attending a university in Virginia or anywhere else.

We want to empower you with the knowledge that you have legal rights, and we are actively fighting this exact fight right now. The same fierce advocacy and data-driven strategy we’ve deployed in Leonel’s $10 million lawsuit will be brought to bear for your family in Lancaster County.

Call Our Legal Emergency Hotline Now

We are available 24/7 because legal emergencies don’t adhere to business hours. Your call will be answered by someone who understands, who cares, and who is ready to help.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com

Website: attorney911.com

We work on CONTINGENCY. For Lancaster County families, this means $0 upfront. You pay us nothing unless and until we win your case. This commitment ensures that financial concerns never stand between you and the justice your child deserves.

What Should Lancaster County Hazing Victims Do Right Now?

1. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION: Ensure your child receives comprehensive medical care immediately, even for seemingly minor injuries or psychological trauma. Document everything.
2. PRESERVE ALL EVIDENCE: Save every text message, GroupMe chat, Snapchat, photo, video, and document. Identify all witnesses. Do not delete or alter anything. This is CRITICAL.
3. DO NOT TALK TO ANYONE: Do not communicate with the fraternity/sorority, university officials, or their attorneys without our legal counsel. They are not on your side.
4. DO NOT POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Refrain from posting about the incident on any social media platforms.
5. CALL US IMMEDIATELY: The statute of limitations (typically two years in Virginia for personal injury and wrongful death) means time is running out. Evidence disappears quickly. Every moment counts.

We Serve Lancaster County Hazing Victims—and Hazing Victims Nationwide

While our primary offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our reach extends far beyond. Hazing is a national scourge, and we are equipped to represent victims throughout the United States, including Lancaster County, Virginia.

• Federal Court Authority: Our attorneys are admitted to practice in federal courts, which often have jurisdiction over national organizations and multi-state incidents.
• Dual-State Bar Licenses: Ralph Manginello is licensed in both Texas and New York, providing broader legal reach, especially when dealing with national fraternities and sororities (many of which are based on the East Coast).
• Video Consultations: For the convenience of Lancaster County families, we offer secure and comprehensive video consultations, allowing you to connect with our expert team remotely.
• Travel Commitment: We commit to traveling to Lancaster County for depositions, critical meetings, and trial, ensuring a personal and dedicated approach to your case. Distance is never a barrier to pursuing justice.

Hazing is not confined to Greek life. We represent victims of hazing in a wide array of organizations where abuse is masquerading as initiation in and around Lancaster County, including:

• Fraternities and sororities at universities like the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, James Madison University, or the College of William & Mary.
• Sports teams in high schools or colleges.
• Marching bands and other performance groups.
• ROTC programs.
• Clubs and other student organizations.
• Military academies or specialized institutions.

To Other Victims of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing: We Know You Are Out There.

Leonel Bermudez was not the only victim in the Pi Kappa Phi hazing. Another pledge collapsed unconscious. Others were waterboarded, forced to eat until they vomited, and subjected to extreme physical torment.

If you or your child were also victimized in this incident, or any other hazing event, you have rights. We can represent you, and your testimony can be crucial in holding these institutions fully accountable. As Lupe Pena bravely stated, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Call us now. Let’s bring them ALL to justice. For your family in Lancaster County, for Leonel, and for every student who deserves protection—we will fight.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com