Hazing Lawyer in Burke County, Georgia | Attorney 911
Justice for Hazing Victims in Waynesboro, Midville, and Across Burke County
Burke County families: If your child has been hazed at a college, university, or Greek organization near Waynesboro, Midville, or anywhere in Burke County, Georgia — you are not alone. We are fighting this battle right now, and we will fight for you.
At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and hospitalized with kidney failure. This same hazing happens at institutions near Burke County. The same fraternities operate near Burke County. The same negligence exists at Burke County-area schools.
We serve hazing victims across Georgia, including Burke County. While based in Texas, our federal court authority and nationwide reach allow us to represent Burke County families and pursue justice no matter where the hazing occurred.
The Hazing Crisis in Georgia and Burke County
Hazing is not just a problem in Texas — it’s a national epidemic that affects students across America, including right here in Burke County. Fraternities and sororities with chapters near Burke County have the same dangerous cultures that led to our client’s hospitalization.
Burke County families should know:
- The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths and injuries nationwide have active chapters at universities near Burke County
- Hazing incidents like what happened at University of Houston can — and do — occur at institutions near Burke County
- Universities in Georgia face the same Greek life oversight challenges that allowed hazing at UH
- Burke County students deserve the same aggressive legal representation we provide
If your child attends college near Burke County, they face the same hazing risks.
What Is Hazing? Georgia Law and Burke County Realities
Georgia law defines hazing as any intentional or reckless act that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation with any organization. This includes:
- Physical abuse: Beatings, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion
- Forced consumption: Alcohol, food, or other substances to the point of vomiting or injury
- Psychological torture: Humiliation, degradation, sleep deprivation
- Sexual abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
- Waterboarding and simulated drowning: As seen in our current case
Hazing is not “tradition.” It’s not “building character.” It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s often criminal.
Georgia Hazing Laws: Your Rights as a Burke County Parent
Georgia has strong anti-hazing laws designed to protect students:
- Georgia Code § 16-5-60: Hazing is a misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and fines up to $1,000
- Georgia Code § 16-5-61: If hazing results in serious bodily injury or death, it becomes a felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison
- Consent is not a defense: Even if your child “agreed” to participate, Georgia law explicitly states that consent does not excuse hazing
- Organizations can be held liable: Fraternities, sororities, and universities can face civil liability for hazing incidents
Burke County families have legal rights. We will help you enforce them.
Who Is Liable for Hazing in Burke County?
When hazing occurs near Burke County, multiple parties may be responsible:
- The local chapter — Directly organized and conducted the hazing
- National fraternity/sorority organization — Failed to supervise, knew of risks, failed to enforce anti-hazing policies
- University or college — Failed to prevent hazing despite having authority to regulate Greek life
- Individual members — Participated in or facilitated the hazing
- Alumni or advisors — Allowed hazing to occur at their properties or under their supervision
- Housing corporations — Owned or controlled property where hazing occurred
In our current case, we are suing ALL of these entities — and we will pursue every responsible party for Burke County families.
Medical Consequences of Hazing: What Burke County Families Need to Know
Hazing can cause severe, life-threatening injuries:
- Rhabdomyolysis — Muscle breakdown that can lead to kidney failure (as seen in our current case)
- Acute alcohol poisoning — Can be fatal; common in forced drinking hazing
- Traumatic brain injury — From beatings, falls, or other physical abuse
- Hypothermia or heat stroke — From exposure to extreme temperatures
- Cardiac arrest — From extreme physical exertion
- PTSD, anxiety, and depression — Long-term psychological damage from abuse
- Death — Hazing has killed students across America, including in Georgia
Burke County families: If your child has been hazed, seek medical attention immediately. Then call us.
What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Burke County
Immediate Steps for Burke County Families:
- Seek medical attention — Even if injuries seem minor, get checked. Some conditions like rhabdomyolysis may not show symptoms immediately.
- Preserve all evidence — Save texts, photos, videos, social media posts, witness contact information.
- Do NOT talk to the organization — Fraternities, sororities, and universities will try to control the narrative. Do not give statements without legal counsel.
- Do NOT post on social media — Anything you post can be used against you in legal proceedings.
- Contact an attorney — Call Attorney 911 immediately. We offer free consultations for Burke County families.
Why Burke County Families Should Call Attorney 911:
✅ We are fighting this battle RIGHT NOW — Our $10 million hazing lawsuit is active and ongoing
✅ We have proven results — Multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts in personal injury cases
✅ We serve Burke County — Federal court authority allows us to represent Georgia families
✅ We work on contingency — Burke County families pay $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless you win
✅ We travel to Burke County — For depositions, trials, and client meetings
✅ We offer remote consultations — Burke County families can meet with us via video
Why Burke County Families Choose Attorney 911
The Attorney 911 Difference for Burke County Hazing Victims:
| Advantage | How We Help Burke County Families |
|---|---|
| 25+ Years of Litigation Experience | Proven courtroom success fighting for victims |
| Former Insurance Defense Attorneys | We know how insurance companies think and how to maximize your claim |
| Federal Court Authority | Can pursue Burke County cases in federal jurisdiction |
| Dual-State Bar Admission | Texas AND New York — strategic advantage for cases involving national organizations |
| Nationwide Hazing Expertise | Currently litigating $10M UH hazing case — same strategies available for Burke County victims |
| Se Habla Español | Bilingual staff serving Spanish-speaking Burke County families |
| Contingency Fee Representation | $0 upfront for Burke County families — we don’t get paid unless you win |
Our Hazing Case: What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Burke County
This case happened in Houston. But the same hazing happens at institutions near Burke County. The same fraternities operate near Burke County. The same negligence exists at Burke County-area schools.
The Incident:
Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student not yet enrolled at University of Houston, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi fraternity on September 16, 2025. What followed was weeks of systematic abuse and hazing that hospitalized him for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
The Hazing Activities:
- Waterboarding with a garden hose — Simulated drowning, a form of torture
- Forced to do 500+ squats and 100+ pushups — Until he collapsed and couldn’t stand
- Struck with wooden paddles — Physical assault with weapons
- Forced consumption of 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 — Humiliation, threats of expulsion, carrying sexual objects
- Another pledge lost consciousness and collapsed — Yet the hazing continued
The Medical Consequences:
- Rhabdomyolysis — Muscle breakdown causing kidney damage
- Acute kidney failure — Life-threatening condition requiring hospitalization
- Three nights, four days in the hospital — Fighting for his life
- Brown urine — Classic sign of muscle breakdown
- Very high creatine kinase levels — Confirms severe muscle damage
The Institutional Failures:
- Pi Kappa Phi National — Knew about “a hazing crisis” but failed to enforce anti-hazing policies
- University of Houston — Owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred; had prior hazing incident in 2017
- Individual members — Participated in and facilitated the abuse
The Legal Action:
- $10 million lawsuit filed — Against Pi Kappa Phi National, local chapter, University of Houston, and individual members
- Chapter closed by national organization — Admitted “violations” of risk management policies
- University investigating — UH spokesperson called conduct “deeply disturbing”
- Media coverage — ABC13, KHOU 11, Houston Chronicle, Houston Public Media
Burke County families: This is what hazing looks like. This is what happens when institutions fail to protect students. This could happen to your child at a college near Burke County.
Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Millions
Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. These same outcomes are possible for Burke County victims:
Stone Foltz — Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
- $10.1 million total settlement — Largest public university hazing payout in Ohio history
- University paid $2.9 million — Institutional liability
- Fraternity and individuals paid $7.2 million — Organizational and personal liability
Maxwell Gruver — Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017)
- $6.1 million jury verdict — Juries award millions for hazing deaths
- Led to Max Gruver Act — Made hazing a felony in Louisiana
Timothy Piazza — Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017)
- $110+ million estimated settlement — Strong evidence leads to massive outcomes
- 18 fraternity members criminally charged — Multiple convictions
Burke County families: These verdicts prove that hazing cases win. The same legal strategies apply to Burke County cases.
Burke County Universities and Colleges: Greek Life Hazing Risks
Burke County families send their children to colleges and universities across Georgia. Many of these institutions have active Greek life organizations with documented hazing risks:
