Hazing Lawyers for Broome County Families: Justice for Victims of Fraternity and Sorority Abuse

Broome County Parents: Your Child Was Betrayed

If your son or daughter was hazed at a college near Broome County, they trusted the Greek organization and the university to keep them safe. That trust was broken. What happened to them wasn’t “tradition.” It wasn’t “team bonding.” It was abuse—and it may have been a crime.

At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this battle right now. Our attorneys are representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston after a student was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure. The same fraternities and sororities operate on campuses near Broome County. The same negligence exists at local institutions. And we will fight for Broome County families with the same determination.

You don’t have to stay silent. You don’t have to let them get away with it.

The Hazing Crisis in Broome County and Beyond

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “girls bonding.” It’s a dangerous, often illegal, culture of abuse that has led to hospitalizations, permanent injuries, and even deaths across the country. And it’s happening right here in Broome County’s backyard.

What Hazing Really Looks Like Near Broome County

Hazing can take many forms, but all of them are designed to humiliate, degrade, and endanger students. Common hazing activities include:

• Physical abuse: Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion (like the 500 squats our client endured)
• Forced consumption: Alcohol poisoning, forced eating until vomiting, consuming dangerous substances
• Psychological torture: Waterboarding (simulated drowning), sleep deprivation, public humiliation
• Sexual abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
• Extreme servitude: Acting as personal drivers, cleaning fraternity/sorority houses, running errands at all hours

These aren’t pranks. They’re crimes.

Hazing by the Numbers: A National Epidemic

• 55% of college students in Greek organizations experience hazing
• 40% of student athletes report being hazed
• Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every year in the U.S.
• 95% of hazing victims do not report it due to fear of retaliation or social exclusion

Broome County families: If your child was hazed, they are not alone—and they don’t have to suffer in silence.

The Landmark Case That Proves Hazing Victims Can Win

$10 Million Lawsuit Against Pi Kappa Phi and University of Houston

Our attorneys are currently representing Leonel Bermudez, a young man who was hazed so severely at the University of Houston’s Pi Kappa Phi fraternity that he was hospitalized for four days with rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and kidney failure.

What Happened to Leonel Bermudez?

• Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
• Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
• Struck with wooden paddles
• Forced to eat until he vomited, then made to lie in vomit-soaked grass
• Another pledge lost consciousness during a hazing workout—yet the abuse continued
• Hospitalized for four days with kidney failure

This didn’t happen in some far-off state. It happened in Texas—and the same fraternities and sororities operate near Broome County.

Why This Case Matters for Broome County Families

1. Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide, including near Broome County. If they allowed this at UH, how many other chapters are doing the same?
2. The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the hazing occurred. Universities near Broome County have the same power—and the same responsibility—to stop hazing.
3. Pi Kappa Phi had already killed a student before. In 2017, Andrew Coffey died at a Pi Kappa Phi event at Florida State University from forced alcohol consumption. They had eight years to fix their culture—and they failed.
4. The University of Houston had a prior hazing incident in 2017 when a student was hospitalized with a lacerated spleen. They knew hazing was happening—and they did nothing to stop it.

Broome County families: If your child was hazed, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting for Leonel Bermudez.

Who Is Liable for Hazing in Broome County?

When hazing happens, everyone involved can be held legally responsible—not just the students who participated, but the organizations that enabled it.

Potential Defendants in a Broome County Hazing Case

Broome County families: We will pursue every liable party to ensure full accountability.

What Broome County Hazing Victims Can Recover

Hazing victims in Broome County may be entitled to compensation for:

Economic Damages

• Medical bills (hospital stays, surgeries, therapy, future treatment)
• Lost wages (time missed from work or internships)
• Educational expenses (tuition for missed semesters, lost scholarships)
• Future earning capacity (if injuries affect long-term career prospects)

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering (from injuries, medical treatments, recovery)
• Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear of retaliation)
• Humiliation and shame (from degrading hazing rituals)
• Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in normal activities)

Punitive Damages

If the hazing was especially egregious (like waterboarding, extreme physical abuse, or forced consumption leading to hospitalization), courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendants and deter future misconduct.

Broome County families: Our attorneys have secured millions for victims of abuse. We will fight for the maximum compensation your child deserves.

Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Millions

Hazing cases do not go unpunished. Juries and courts have awarded millions to victims and their families. Here are just a few examples:

Broome County families: These verdicts prove that hazing victims can win big. We will fight for the same justice for your child.

Broome County Families: What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed

If your child was hazed at a college near Broome County, time is critical. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and legal deadlines expire. Here’s what you should do immediately:

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention

• Even if injuries seem minor, get a medical evaluation.
• Some conditions (like rhabdomyolysis or concussions) may not show symptoms immediately.
• Medical records are crucial evidence in your case.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

• Save all communications: Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, emails, social media posts.
• Take photos/videos: Injuries, hazing locations, any items used in hazing.
• Document everything: Write down what happened, who was involved, and when.
• Do not delete anything—even if it seems embarrassing or incriminating.

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity/Sorority or University Alone

• They will try to control the narrative and minimize liability.
• Anything you say can be used against you.
• Do not sign anything without consulting an attorney.

Step 4: Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately

• Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.
• We will evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
• We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.

Why Broome County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now

While other firms talk about hazing cases, we’re actively litigating one. We represent Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to build these cases—and we know how to win.

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Before we represented victims, we defended insurance companies. We know their tactics, their strategies, and how they try to minimize claims. Now, we use that knowledge to fight for victims like your child.

3. Federal Court Authority

We are admitted to U.S. District Court, which means we can pursue hazing cases in federal court—a powerful advantage when suing national fraternities and universities.

4. Dual-State Licensed (Texas & New York)

We are licensed in both Texas and New York, giving us strategic flexibility to pursue cases against national organizations headquartered in different states.

5. We Travel to Broome County

We will come to Broome County for depositions, meetings, and trials. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

6. Bilingual Representation (Se Habla Español)

Our staff is fluent in Spanish, ensuring that no Broome County family faces language barriers in seeking justice.

7. No Upfront Costs—We Work on Contingency

We understand that Broome County families may be concerned about legal fees. That’s why we take hazing cases on a contingency basis—you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we win your case.

Broome County Hazing Victims: You Are Not Alone

Hazing leaves victims feeling shame, fear, and isolation. But you don’t have to face this alone. Our attorneys are here to fight for you, protect your rights, and hold the responsible parties accountable.

What We Will Do for Your Family:

✅ Conduct a thorough investigation to gather evidence
✅ Identify all liable parties (fraternity, university, individuals)
✅ Handle all communications with insurance companies and defendants
✅ Pursue maximum compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and punitive damages
✅ Protect your child from retaliation and ensure their safety
✅ Fight for systemic change to prevent future hazing incidents

Broome County Families: Contact Us Now

If your child was hazed at a college near Broome County, don’t wait. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and legal deadlines expire.

Call Attorney 911 now for a free, confidential consultation:

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

We serve Broome County and all of New York. We travel to you. We fight for you.

Enough is enough. It’s time for justice.