Hazing Victims in Bonneville County Deserve Justice: How Attorney 911 Fights for Idaho Families

This Happened in Houston. It Could Happen in Bonneville County. We’re Fighting to Stop It.

At Attorney 911, we’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure from extreme hazing. This isn’t just a Texas problem—the same fraternities operate at universities near Bonneville County, and the same negligence exists at Idaho institutions. If your child has been hazed in Bonneville County, we will fight for your family with the same aggression we’re bringing to this landmark case.

What Bonneville County Families Need to Know About Hazing

1. What Is Hazing?

Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them—regardless of whether they consent. Under Idaho law, hazing is illegal and can result in criminal charges. Common hazing activities include:

Physical abuse: Beatings, forced exercise to exhaustion (like the 500 squats that hospitalized our client), paddling
Forced consumption: Alcohol, food, or non-food substances (e.g., hot dogs, peppercorns, milk until vomiting)
Psychological torture: Waterboarding (yes, this happened in our case), humiliation, sleep deprivation
Sexual abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
Dangerous stunts: Extreme exposure to cold/heat, confinement, or reckless activities

This isn’t “tradition.” It’s abuse. And it’s happening at universities near Bonneville County.

2. The Medical Consequences of Hazing

Hazing can cause life-threatening injuries, including:

Rhabdomyolysis: Muscle breakdown from extreme exertion (like our client experienced), which can lead to kidney failure and death
Alcohol poisoning: Forced drinking can cause coma or death (e.g., Stone Foltz at Bowling Green State University)
Traumatic brain injury: From beatings or falls
Hypothermia or heatstroke: From exposure to extreme temperatures
PTSD, anxiety, and depression: Long-term psychological damage from abuse

Our client spent 4 days in the hospital with kidney failure after being waterboarded and forced to do 500 squats. This could happen to your child in Bonneville County.

3. Who Is Liable for Hazing in Bonneville County?

When hazing occurs, multiple parties can be held accountable:

Defendant	Why They’re Liable	Example from Our Case
Local Fraternity Chapter	Directly organizes and conducts hazing activities	Pi Kappa Phi’s UH chapter forced our client to do 500 squats, waterboarded him, and struck him with paddles
National Fraternity	Fails to supervise chapters despite knowing about hazing risks	Pi Kappa Phi knew about Andrew Coffey’s 2017 death but did nothing to prevent our client’s injuries
University	Owns or controls property where hazing occurs; fails to protect students	UH owned the Pi Kappa Phi house where our client was hazed
Individual Members	Participate in or facilitate hazing	Fraternity president, pledgemaster, and members named in our lawsuit
Alumni/Hosts	Allow hazing at their homes or properties	Former members and their spouses hosted hazing in our case
Insurance Companies	Provide coverage for institutional liability	National fraternities and universities have deep-pocketed insurance policies

Bonneville County families: If your child was hazed, we will sue every liable party—no exceptions.

4. The Legal Rights of Bonneville County Hazing Victims

Under Idaho law, hazing victims have the right to pursue compensation for:

Economic Damages

Medical bills: Hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, therapy
Lost wages: Time missed from work or internships due to injuries
Educational disruption: Tuition for missed semesters, scholarship losses, delayed graduation

Non-Economic Damages

Pain and suffering: Physical and emotional trauma from hazing
Mental anguish: PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear of retribution
Loss of enjoyment of life: Inability to participate in normal activities

Punitive Damages

Awarded when conduct is egregious, reckless, or intentional (e.g., waterboarding, forced consumption to the point of vomiting)
Meant to punish the defendants and deter future hazing

Our $10 million demand in the Pi Kappa Phi case is based on precedent. In similar cases, juries have awarded:

$6.1 million to the family of Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta)
$10.1 million to the family of Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha)
$110+ million (estimated) to the family of Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi)

Bonneville County families: These same results are possible for your case.

5. Why Bonneville County Families Choose Attorney 911

We are the only law firm in the nation with:
✅ Two former insurance defense attorneys—we know how the other side thinks and how to dismantle their defenses
✅ Active $10 million hazing lawsuit—we’re fighting this battle right now, not just talking about it
✅ Federal court authority—we can pursue Bonneville County cases in federal jurisdiction
✅ Dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York)—strategic advantage for cases against national fraternities
✅ Se habla español—bilingual support for Spanish-speaking families

We don’t just talk about hazing. We’re fighting it in court—and we’ll fight for Bonneville County families too.

What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Bonneville County

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor. Rhabdomyolysis and other conditions can be life-threatening if untreated.
Document everything: Keep all medical records, bills, and receipts.

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any items used in hazing.
Save all communications: Texts, emails, GroupMe chats, social media posts.
Write down everything: Dates, times, locations, names of participants, and what happened.

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Without Legal Counsel

They will try to control the narrative, destroy evidence, or pressure your child into silence.
Anything your child says can be used against them in court.

Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 for Bonneville County hazing emergencies)
Email ralph@atty911.com
Video consultation available for Bonneville County families who cannot travel

We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win your case.

The Hazing Crisis in Bonneville County: What’s Really Happening

1. The Same Fraternities Operate Near Bonneville County

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and other national fraternities have chapters at universities across Idaho, including:

Idaho State University (Pocatello) – Home to multiple fraternities and sororities, including Pi Kappa Phi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon
University of Idaho (Moscow) – Active Greek life with chapters of Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, and others
Boise State University – Growing Greek system with national fraternities and sororities
College of Idaho (Caldwell) – Smaller but active Greek organizations

These are the same fraternities that have paid millions in hazing settlements nationwide. If they’re hazing students in Houston, they’re hazing students near Bonneville County.

2. Universities Near Bonneville County Are Failing to Protect Students

In our case, the University of Houston owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred and had a prior hazing incident in 2017—yet they failed to prevent it from happening again.

This same negligence exists at Idaho universities:

Idaho State University: Has faced scrutiny over Greek life conduct in the past
University of Idaho: Has disciplined fraternities for policy violations
Boise State University: Has suspended Greek organizations for misconduct

Bonneville County families: If your child was hazed, the university is likely liable.

3. Hazing Is a Nationwide Epidemic—and Idaho Is Not Immune

55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing (National Study on Student Hazing)
40% of student athletes report hazing (Alfred University study)
Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death per year in the U.S.
95% of hazing victims do not report it (National Collaborative for Hazing Research and Prevention)

Bonneville County parents: If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority, they are at risk.

How Attorney 911 Fights for Bonneville County Families

1. We Sue Everyone Responsible

In our Pi Kappa Phi case, we’re suing:

The local chapter for organizing the hazing
The national fraternity for failing to supervise
The university for owning the property and failing to protect students
Individual members for participating in or facilitating the abuse

We don’t just sue one party—we sue them all to maximize your recovery.

2. We Use Our Insider Knowledge Against Them

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña are former insurance defense attorneys. We know:

How insurance companies minimize claims
How fraternities hide evidence
How universities protect their reputations
How to counter their defenses (e.g., “he consented”)

We’ve seen their playbook—and now we’re using it against them.

3. We Travel to Bonneville County for Your Case

While we’re based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including Bonneville County. We will:

Travel to Bonneville County for depositions, meetings, and trials
Offer video consultations for families who cannot travel
Handle all communications with the fraternity, university, and insurance companies

Distance is not a barrier to justice.

4. We Work on Contingency—You Pay Nothing Upfront

We understand that Bonneville County families may be concerned about legal costs. That’s why we take hazing cases on contingency:

$0 upfront—no retainer, no hourly fees
We only get paid if we win your case—our fee comes from the settlement or verdict
No risk to you—if we don’t win, you owe us nothing

Case Study: How We’re Fighting the Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Case

What Happened

In September 2025, Leonel Bermudez accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston. Over the next 7 weeks, he was subjected to systematic abuse, including:

Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
Struck with wooden paddles
Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting
Another pledge lost consciousness during a workout—they kept going

On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was punished for missing an event. He was forced to exercise until he could not stand without help. He crawled up the stairs when he got home. The next day, he couldn’t move. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. He spent 4 days in the hospital.

What We Did

Filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi, the University of Houston, and individual members
Secured media coverage from ABC13, KHOU 11, Houston Chronicle, and Houston Public Media
Forced Pi Kappa Phi to close the chapter (they admitted “violations” of their own policies)
Exposed their “hazing crisis”—they knew about systemic hazing and did nothing

Why This Matters for Bonneville County

Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide, including near Bonneville County
The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client exist at Idaho fraternities
Universities near Bonneville County face the same liability failures as UH
If your child is hazed in Bonneville County, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting for Leonel Bermudez

Frequently Asked Questions for Bonneville County Families

1. Can we sue if the hazing happened off-campus?

Yes. Hazing is illegal regardless of where it occurs. If your child was hazed at a fraternity house, a private residence, or anywhere else, we can pursue legal action.

2. What if my child “consented” to the hazing?

Consent is not a defense under Idaho law. Even if your child agreed to participate, the fraternity and university are still liable for any harm caused.

3. How long do we have to file a lawsuit?

In Idaho, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is 2 years from the date of the hazing. Do not wait—evidence disappears, and your rights expire.

4. Can we sue if our child wasn’t hospitalized?

Yes. Even if your child wasn’t hospitalized, they may have suffered PTSD, anxiety, depression, or other psychological harm from hazing. These injuries are compensable.

5. What if the fraternity tries to intimidate us?

They will. In our case, our client is fearful of retribution for speaking out. We protect our clients and ensure their safety throughout the legal process.

6. How much is our case worth?

Every case is unique, but hazing cases often result in multi-million dollar settlements or verdicts. Factors that increase case value include:

Severity of injuries (e.g., hospitalization, surgery, permanent damage)
Egregious conduct (e.g., waterboarding, forced consumption, paddling)
Institutional knowledge (e.g., prior hazing incidents at the same chapter)
Cover-up attempts (e.g., destruction of evidence, intimidation)

Bonneville County Families: You Are Not Alone

Hazing is a national crisis, and Idaho is not immune. If your child has been hazed, you have the right to seek justice. Attorney 911 is here to fight for you.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 Now

24/7 for Bonneville County hazing emergencies
Free consultation—we’ll evaluate your case at no cost
$0 upfront—we work on contingency

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

The Message to Bonneville County Fraternities: We Are Watching

To the fraternities operating near Bonneville County:

We know who you are.
We know your corporate structures.
We know your national organizations have paid millions in hazing settlements.
We know how to sue you.

If your chapter harms students in Bonneville County, we will pursue every liable entity—the university, the national organization, the housing corporation, and every individual member.

We already shut down the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at UH. Your chapter could be next.

Final Words to Bonneville County Families

This is not just about compensation. It’s about accountability.

Every time a fraternity hazes a student, they send a message: “We can do whatever we want, and no one will stop us.”

We’re here to change that message.

If your child has been hazed in Bonneville County, call us now. We will fight for them. We will fight for you. And we will make sure this never happens to another Bonneville County family.

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

Enough is enough.