🚨 Hazing Legal Emergency in Bandera County, TX: Your Child Could Be Next — Here’s What Every Parent Needs to Know

Bandera County families: If your child is in college or considering joining Greek life, this message is for you.

A $10 million hazing lawsuit was just filed in Houston that should send shockwaves through every parent in Bandera County. A young man named Leonel Bermudez was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, struck with wooden paddles, and hospitalized with kidney failure—all because he wanted to join a fraternity at the University of Houston.

Here’s why this should terrify Bandera County parents:

• The same fraternities that did this operate at universities near Bandera County
• The same hazing culture exists in Bandera County Greek organizations
• The same negligence exists at Bandera County institutions
• And your child could be next

At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this battle in court right now. We’re holding these organizations accountable—and we’re ready to do the same for Bandera County families.

📞 Bandera County Parents: Call Us Immediately If You Suspect Hazing — 1-888-ATTY-911

🔥 What Happened to Leonel Bermudez — And What Could Happen to Your Child

Leonel Bermudez wasn’t even a University of Houston student yet. He was what’s called a “ghost rush”—a prospective member expected to transfer for the upcoming semester. The fraternity recruited him, then subjected him to weeks of systematic abuse that put him in the hospital for four days with kidney failure.

Here’s what they did to him:

✅ Waterboarded him with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
✅ Forced him to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he couldn’t stand
✅ Struck him with wooden paddles — physical assault with weapons
✅ Forced him to eat until he vomited — then made him keep running through his own vomit
✅ Made him carry a fanny pack with sexual objects — constant humiliation
✅ Forced him to drive fraternity members at all hours — sleep deprivation
✅ Hog-tied another pledge for over an hour — false imprisonment

The result? Rhabdomyolysis—his muscles literally broke down, releasing toxins that nearly destroyed his kidneys. He spent four days in the hospital fighting for his life.

Bandera County parents: This isn’t “boys being boys.” This isn’t “tradition.” This is torture. And it’s happening at universities near Bandera County right now.

🏛️ The Same Fraternities Operate Near Bandera County

The fraternity that did this to Leonel Bermudez—Pi Kappa Phi—has 150 chapters across America, including at universities near Bandera County. Other fraternities with documented hazing histories also operate in our region:

Bandera County parents: These aren’t isolated incidents. This is a culture of abuse that exists at universities near Bandera County.

🏫 Universities Near Bandera County Are Complicit

The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where Leonel Bermudez was waterboarded. They collected rent while students were being tortured. They had the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down the chapter at any time.

They did nothing.

And here’s the worst part: UH already had a hazing hospitalization in 2017—a different fraternity, same university. They had eight years to fix this problem. They failed.

Universities near Bandera County face the same liability:

• They own or control fraternity houses
• They have the power to regulate Greek life
• They know hazing happens — but they look the other way
• When a student gets hurt, they’re responsible

💰 The Cost of Hazing: Multi-Million Dollar Settlements Are the New Reality

Hazing isn’t just dangerous—it’s expensive. And universities and fraternities are starting to pay:

Bandera County families: These aren’t just numbers. They’re messages. They’re saying: “If you haze our children, you will pay.”

⚖️ Texas Law Is on Your Side — Consent Is NOT a Defense

When fraternities try to defend themselves, they’ll say:

• “He agreed to participate”
• “He knew what he was signing up for”
• “He could have left at any time”

Texas law says: CONSENT DOES NOT MATTER.

Texas Education Code § 37.154 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.”

Bandera County parents: The law is clear. If your child is hazed, it’s not their fault—no matter what the fraternity says.

🚨 Warning Signs Your Child Is Being Hazed in Bandera County

Hazing often starts subtly and escalates. Watch for these red flags:

Behavioral Changes:

• Suddenly secretive about fraternity/sorority activities
• Avoids talking about “pledging” or “new member” activities
• Shows signs of sleep deprivation (exhaustion, dark circles)
• Withdraws from family and friends
• Shows signs of anxiety, depression, or PTSD
• Suddenly quits the organization without explanation

Physical Signs:

• Unexplained bruises, cuts, or injuries
• Weight loss or signs of poor nutrition
• Signs of alcohol poisoning (vomiting, confusion, blackouts)
• Extreme muscle soreness or difficulty walking
• Signs of dehydration or heat exhaustion

Academic Impact:

• Grades suddenly dropping
• Missing classes or assignments
• Suddenly talking about transferring or dropping out

If you notice these signs, ACT IMMEDIATELY. Your child may be in danger.

📋 What to Do If You Suspect Hazing in Bandera County

STEP 1: GET MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY

If your child is injured or showing signs of distress, take them to the emergency room. Hazing injuries like rhabdomyolysis can be life-threatening.

STEP 2: PRESERVE ALL EVIDENCE

• Take photos of any injuries
• Save all text messages and social media communications
• Document everything your child tells you
• Keep all medical records
• Get names of other pledges or witnesses

STEP 3: DO NOT CONFRONT THE ORGANIZATION

• Do not contact fraternity/sorority leadership
• Do not post on social media about the incident
• Do not sign anything from the organization
• Do not give statements to university administrators

STEP 4: CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IMMEDIATELY

Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911. We offer free consultations and we work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.

STEP 5: REPORT TO AUTHORITIES

• Consider filing a police report
• File a Title IX complaint with the university
• Report to Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

❓ Frequently Asked Questions from Bandera County Parents

Q: My child signed a waiver. Does that mean we can’t sue?

A: No. Under Texas law, consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child signed a waiver, it doesn’t protect the organization from liability.

Q: My child was drinking. Does that mean they can’t recover damages?

A: No. If the drinking was forced or coerced as part of hazing, it doesn’t prevent recovery. Forced consumption is a form of hazing.

Q: We’re not in Houston. Can Attorney 911 still help us?

A: Absolutely. While we’re based in Houston, we serve hazing victims nationwide. We can evaluate your case through video consultation and travel to Bandera County for depositions and meetings.

Q: How much does it cost to hire an attorney?

A: Nothing upfront. We work on contingency—we only get paid if we win your case. There are no hourly fees, no retainers.

Q: What if my child doesn’t want to pursue legal action?

A: We understand that victims often fear retribution. We can discuss options for anonymous reporting and confidential settlements. The most important thing is to document the abuse to protect future victims.

Q: What kind of compensation can we recover?

A: Depending on the severity of the hazing, you may be entitled to:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Lost wages
• Punitive damages (to punish the organization)
• In wrongful death cases, funeral expenses and loss of companionship

Q: How long do we have to take legal action?

A: In Texas, you generally have 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. However, evidence disappears quickly, so act immediately.

🎯 Why Bandera County Families Choose Attorney 911

✅ We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW

We’re currently representing Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We’re not just talking about hazing—we’re in the courtroom fighting it.

✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena used to defend insurance companies. We know their playbook. We know how they try to minimize claims. And now we use that knowledge to maximize recovery for victims.

✅ Aggressive, Compassionate Representation

We understand the trauma hazing victims experience. We treat our clients with respect and compassion, while fighting aggressively in court.

✅ Nationwide Reach

We serve hazing victims across America, including Bandera County. Our federal court authority and dual-state bar licenses allow us to pursue cases wherever they occur.

✅ No Upfront Costs

We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win. Bandera County families face no financial barrier to justice.

✅ Se Habla Español

We have bilingual staff to serve Spanish-speaking families without language barriers.

📞 Bandera County Parents: This Is an Emergency — Call Now

If your child has been hazed—or if you even suspect hazing—call us immediately.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

We offer free, confidential consultations. We’ll evaluate your case, explain your rights, and help you decide the best course of action.

Remember: Evidence disappears quickly. Witnesses forget. The statute of limitations is ticking. The time to act is NOW.

🚨 Final Warning to Bandera County Fraternities and Universities

To every fraternity operating near Bandera County:

We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured multi-million dollar verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter. If your members haze students, we will pursue every liable entity.

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, and all other nationals:

Your chapters near Bandera County have the same hazing culture we’re fighting in Houston. Know that Attorney 911 represents victims across America. We’re coming for every chapter that harms students.

To universities near Bandera County:

The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. Act now or face the same accountability.

🏆 Our Promise to Bandera County Families

We promise to:

1. Listen to your child’s story with compassion
2. Investigate thoroughly to uncover all liable parties
3. Preserve every piece of evidence
4. Fight aggressively for maximum compensation
5. Protect your child from retaliation
6. Hold every responsible party accountable
7. Prevent this from happening to another Bandera County family

Bandera County parents: Your child deserves safety. They deserve justice. They deserve Attorney 911.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 — Call now before it’s too late.