🚨 Hazing Victims in Berrien County: You Are Not Alone. We Are Fighting For You.
This is happening in Houston. It’s happening at universities near Berrien County. And it could be happening to your child right now.
At Attorney 911, we are currently representing a young man who was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, struck with wooden paddles, and hospitalized with kidney failure after hazing at the University of Houston. The fraternity responsible? Pi Kappa Phi — a national organization with chapters at universities across America, including near Berrien County.
This isn’t “tradition.” This isn’t “brotherhood.” This is torture. This is abuse. And it’s happening at colleges and universities near Berrien County.
If your child has been hazed — whether in a fraternity, sorority, sports team, marching band, or any other student organization — you have legal rights. You have the right to hold the abusers and the institutions that enabled them accountable. And we can help.
📞 Berrien County Families: Call Us Now — 1-888-ATTY-911
Free consultation. No upfront cost. We only get paid if we win your case.
🔥 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Berrien County
Our client, Leonel Bermudez, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston. What followed was seven weeks of systematic abuse that sent him to the hospital with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure requiring four days of inpatient treatment.
The Hazing Activities That Hospitalized Our Client:
✅ Waterboarding with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
✅ Forced to perform 500+ squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
✅ Struck with wooden paddles — physical beating with weapons
✅ Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting — then forced to continue running
✅ Sleep deprivation — forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours
✅ Psychological torture — carried objects of sexual nature, stripped in cold weather, hog-tied
✅ Another pledge lost consciousness during workouts — they kept going
This wasn’t a one-time incident. This was a pattern of abuse that lasted for weeks. And it happened at a university-owned fraternity house — meaning the University of Houston knew or should have known what was happening.
⚠️ The Same Fraternities Operate Near Berrien County
Pi Kappa Phi has over 150 chapters across America, including at universities near Berrien County. The same national organization that allowed this to happen in Houston operates near Berrien County.
Other major fraternities with chapters near Berrien County have similar histories:
| Fraternity | Notable Hazing Case | Settlement/Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) | Stone Foltz (BGSU, 2021) | $10.1 Million |
| Phi Delta Theta | Maxwell Gruver (LSU, 2017) | $6.1 Million Jury Verdict |
| Beta Theta Pi | Timothy Piazza (Penn State, 2017) | $110+ Million |
| Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) | Multiple cases including Texas A&M | $1+ Million |
| Pi Kappa Phi | Andrew Coffey (FSU, 2017) | Settlement (confidential) |
| Sigma Chi | Recent UT Austin death (2025) | Lawsuit Pending |
These aren’t isolated incidents. This is a pattern. And it’s happening at universities near Berrien County.
🏛️ Universities Near Berrien County Are Complicit
In our Houston case, the University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the hazing occurred. They had the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down the chapter. They had a prior hazing incident in 2017 at a different fraternity that hospitalized a student. They did nothing to prevent this from happening again.
Universities near Berrien County have the same responsibilities:
- They own or control fraternity and sorority housing
- They have Greek life oversight offices
- They have the power to suspend or expel organizations
- When they fail to act, they are liable.
If your child was hazed at a university near Berrien County, the institution may be legally responsible.
💰 Hazing Cases Win Millions — And We Know How to Win Them
We are currently seeking $10 million in damages for our client in Houston. This number is supported by precedent:
- $10.1 Million — Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021)
- $6.1 Million Jury Verdict — Maxwell Gruver (Phi Delta Theta, 2017)
- $110+ Million — Timothy Piazza (Beta Theta Pi, 2017)
These verdicts and settlements prove that juries and courts take hazing seriously. The same results are possible for Berrien County victims.
What You Can Recover:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages (if unable to work)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
- Punitive damages (to punish the abusers)
- Educational damages (if hazing disrupted education)
And remember: We work on contingency. You pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.
🛡️ Why Berrien County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We Are Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW
We are currently litigating the $10 million Pi Kappa Phi hazing case in Houston. We know how to build these cases. We know how to win. Berrien County families get the same aggressive representation.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook
Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides to represent victims. We know how they think. We know how they try to minimize claims. We know how to fight back.
3. Federal Court Authority — We Can Pursue Your Case Anywhere
We are admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. We can pursue hazing cases nationwide, including cases involving Berrien County victims.
4. Dual-State Licensed — Texas AND New York
This gives us strategic advantage when pursuing national fraternities and sororities headquartered outside Texas.
5. We Will Travel to Berrien County
For depositions, trials, and client meetings — we come to you. Distance is not a barrier to justice.
6. Bilingual Staff — Se Habla Español
We serve Spanish-speaking families without language barriers.
7. 25+ Years of Litigation Experience
Ralph Manginello has been trying cases for over 25 years. We have handled multi-million dollar cases and taken on massive corporate defendants.
8. Proven Track Record
- $10 million hazing lawsuit currently pending
- Millions recovered for personal injury victims
- Hundreds of cases won by exposing flawed evidence
📋 What To Do If Your Child Has Been Hazed in Berrien County
Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately
Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor. Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) may not be immediately apparent.
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Take photos of injuries at all stages
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram, emails)
- Write down everything you remember about the hazing
- Get names and contact info of witnesses
- Do NOT delete anything — even if it seems embarrassing
Step 3: Do NOT Confront the Organization
- Do NOT talk to fraternity/sorority leadership
- Do NOT talk to university administrators alone
- Do NOT sign anything
- Do NOT post on social media about the incident
Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 or email ralph@atty911.com
We offer free consultations. We will evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
Step 5: Let Us Handle Everything
- We will handle all communications with the fraternity, sorority, and university
- We will gather evidence and build your case
- We will negotiate with insurance companies
- If necessary, we will take your case to trial
❓ Frequently Asked Questions for Berrien County Families
Q: My child consented to participate. Can we still sue?
A: YES. Texas law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the law says that doesn’t matter.
Q: The hazing happened off-campus. Does that matter?
A: NO. Texas hazing law applies on or off campus. If the hazing was related to joining an organization, the location doesn’t matter.
Q: The fraternity says it was just “tradition.” Is that a defense?
A: NO. “Tradition” does not justify illegal activity. Assault is assault. Torture is torture. No amount of tradition makes it legal or acceptable.
Q: We’re worried about retaliation. Will you protect my child?
A: YES. We take client safety very seriously. Our client in the Houston case is fearful of retribution — we understand this fear and will protect your child’s identity and safety.
Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: In Texas, you generally have 2 YEARS from the date of injury. But evidence disappears quickly, and witnesses forget. Contact us immediately to protect your rights.
Q: We can’t afford a lawyer. How much does this cost?
A: $0 upfront. We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict, not from your pocket.
Q: My child attends college outside Berrien County. Can you still help?
A: YES. We represent hazing victims nationwide. Wherever the hazing occurred, we can pursue your case.
🎯 Our Message to Fraternities and Sororities Near Berrien County
We know who you are. We know where you are. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your history of hazing.
And when you haze students near Berrien County, we will use every piece of this intelligence to hold you accountable.
The Pi Kappa Phi chapter at University of Houston learned this the hard way. Your chapter could be next.
📢 To Berrien County Parents: This Is What Hazing Looks Like
You send your children to college expecting them to be safe. You trust the university to protect them. You trust the Greek organizations to provide a positive experience.
But this is what’s really happening:
- Waterboarding — simulated drowning with garden hoses
- Forced exercise until collapse — 500 squats, 100 pushups
- Wooden paddles — physical beating with weapons
- Forced eating until vomiting — then forced to keep running
- Sleep deprivation — forced to drive members at all hours
- Psychological torture — humiliation, degradation, fear
This is not “brotherhood.” This is not “sisterhood.” This is abuse. This is assault. This is criminal.
And it’s happening at universities near Berrien County.
🚨 Berrien County Families: This Could Be Your Child
If your child is:
- Pledging a fraternity or sorority near Berrien County
- Joining a sports team, marching band, or ROTC program
- Participating in any student organization with initiation rituals
- They are at risk of hazing.
Talk to your children. Ask them what’s really happening. And if they’ve been hazed — call us immediately.
📞 Berrien County Hazing Victims: Call Now — 1-888-ATTY-911
Free consultation. No upfront cost. We only get paid if we win.
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
We serve Berrien County and all of America. We will fight for your family.
🔥 Enough Is Enough. It Stops Now.
To fraternities and sororities near Berrien County:
We are watching. We are documenting. We are coming for you.
To universities near Berrien County:
We know you have the power to stop this. When you fail to act, you are liable.
To Berrien County families:
You are not alone. We are fighting for you. And we will not stop until justice is served.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com
Berrien County hazing victims: Your fight is our fight. Let’s win it together.
