🚨 Hazing Legal Emergency: What Calhoun County Families Need to Know
If your child has been hazed at a college or university near Calhoun County, Georgia, you are not powerless. You have legal rights. And we are fighting this battle right now.
At Attorney 911, we are currently representing a young man who was hospitalized with kidney failure after being waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles during fraternity hazing at the University of Houston. This isn’t just a Houston problem — it’s happening at colleges and universities near Calhoun County too.
The same fraternities. The same dangerous traditions. The same institutional failures.
If your child has been hazed in Calhoun County or anywhere in Georgia, we can help. And we will.
🔥 The Hazing Crisis in Calhoun County and Beyond
Hazing is not harmless fun. It’s not “tradition.” It’s not “building brotherhood.”
It is abuse. It is assault. It is torture.
And it’s happening right now at colleges and universities near Calhoun County.
What Hazing Looks Like in Calhoun County:
While we don’t have documented cases of hazing in Calhoun County specifically, we know that the same national fraternities and sororities that operate in Houston have chapters at universities near Calhoun County. These organizations have a long history of hazing incidents across the country — including waterboarding, forced alcohol consumption, extreme physical punishment, and psychological torture.
Potential Hazing Scenarios in Calhoun County:
- Forced drinking leading to alcohol poisoning
- Extreme physical activities causing rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) or heat stroke
- Sleep deprivation leading to accidents or health issues
- Physical assaults with paddles, belts, or other objects
- Psychological abuse including humiliation, degradation, and threats
- Sexual harassment or assault as part of “initiation” rituals
The reality: If there’s a university near Calhoun County with Greek life, there’s a risk of hazing. And if it happens, the fraternity, the national organization, and even the university can be held legally responsible.
⚠️ The University of Houston Case: A Warning for Calhoun County Families
What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Calhoun County
In November 2025, our client Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after being hazed by the Beta Nu chapter of Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston.
What they did to him:
- Waterboarded him with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
- Forced him to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
- Struck him with wooden paddles
- Forced him to eat until he vomited, then made him continue running
- Deprived him of sleep by forcing him to drive fraternity members at all hours
- Humiliated him by making him carry sexual objects and strip in cold weather
The result:
- Three nights and four days in the hospital with kidney failure
- Unable to walk or move for days
- Lifetime risk of kidney damage
Why this matters to Calhoun County:
- Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America — including near Calhoun County
- The same national organization that failed to stop Andrew Coffey’s death in 2017 failed to stop Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization in 2025
- Universities near Calhoun County have the same power — and the same liability — as the University of Houston
If your child is being hazed at a college near Calhoun County, we will fight for you with the same aggression we’re bringing to the Houston case.
💰 You Can Sue for Hazing — And Win Millions
Hazing victims and their families can and do win major lawsuits against fraternities, sororities, and universities. These cases often result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts.
Recent Hazing Verdicts and Settlements:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | $110+ million (estimated) |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Confidential settlement |
| Adam Oakes | Virginia Commonwealth | Delta Chi | $4+ million |
Calhoun County families: These results are possible for your case too. The same legal strategies apply.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Hazing Victim in Georgia
Georgia Anti-Hazing Law (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61)
Georgia law defines hazing as:
“Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a student, or any solicitation to commit such an act, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a school organization.”
Key provisions:
- Hazing is a criminal offense — up to 12 months in jail and/or $5,000 fine for misdemeanor hazing
- Hazing causing serious injury or death is a felony — up to 5 years in prison
- Consent is not a defense — even if the victim “agreed” to participate
- Organizations can be held liable — fraternities, sororities, and universities
What this means for Calhoun County families:
- You can pursue both criminal and civil action
- The fraternity, national organization, and university can all be sued
- Even if your child “consented,” the law says that doesn’t matter
Who Can Be Sued for Hazing in Calhoun County?
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing risks |
| Individual Members | Participated in or facilitated hazing |
| Chapter Advisors | Failed to oversee chapter activities |
| University/College | Failed to protect students; premises liability if hazing occurred on campus |
| Housing Corporation | Owned property where hazing occurred |
Calhoun County families: We will identify every single entity responsible for what happened to your child — and hold them all accountable.
🏥 The Medical Consequences of Hazing
Hazing isn’t just embarrassing or uncomfortable. It can cause serious, life-threatening injuries.
Common Hazing Injuries:
| Injury | Cause | Potential Consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Rhabdomyolysis | Extreme physical exertion (e.g., 500 squats) | Kidney failure, death |
| Alcohol Poisoning | Forced drinking | Coma, death, brain damage |
| Traumatic Brain Injury | Beatings, falls | Permanent cognitive impairment |
| Internal Bleeding | Physical assault | Organ damage, death |
| Heat Stroke | Forced outdoor activities in extreme heat | Organ failure, death |
| Hypothermia | Forced outdoor activities in cold weather | Frostbite, death |
| Psychological Trauma | Humiliation, threats, assault | PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicide |
| Sexual Assault | Forced sexual acts | Trauma, STIs, pregnancy |
If your child has suffered any of these injuries due to hazing, they deserve compensation — and we will fight to get it.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Has Been Hazed in Calhoun County
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
- Document everything — medical records are critical evidence
- If your child shows signs of rhabdomyolysis (dark urine, severe muscle pain, inability to move), seek emergency care immediately
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Take photos of any injuries at all stages of healing
- Save all communications — texts, emails, GroupMe chats, social media messages
- Document witness names and contact information
- Keep all physical evidence — clothing, objects used in hazing
- Do NOT delete anything — even if it seems embarrassing or irrelevant
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization Without Legal Counsel
- Do NOT give statements to the fraternity, sorority, or university without talking to a lawyer first
- Do NOT sign anything from the organization
- Do NOT post on social media about the incident
- Anything you say can and will be used against you
Step 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately
- The statute of limitations in Georgia is 2 years — don’t wait
- Evidence disappears quickly — witnesses forget, messages get deleted
- We offer free consultations — no risk to call
- We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win
Step 5: Report the Incident
- File a police report — hazing is a crime in Georgia
- Report to the university — they are required to investigate
- Consider filing a Title IX complaint if sexual harassment or assault was involved
📞 Call Attorney 911 Now — Free Consultation for Calhoun County Families
If your child has been hazed at a college or university near Calhoun County, call us immediately.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We offer:
✅ Free, confidential consultations
✅ No upfront costs — we work on contingency
✅ Aggressive representation — we don’t back down from powerful institutions
✅ Nationwide reach — we can represent Calhoun County families no matter where the hazing occurred
✅ Compassionate support — we understand what you’re going through
We are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit in Texas — and we will bring that same fight to Calhoun County.
🎯 Why Calhoun County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now
- We are currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston
- We know how to build these cases — and how to win
- Calhoun County families get the same aggressive representation
2. We Have Insider Knowledge of How These Organizations Operate
- Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena are former insurance defense attorneys
- We know how fraternities, universities, and insurance companies try to minimize claims
- We use that knowledge to maximize your recovery
3. We Have Federal Court Authority
- Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- Can pursue cases in federal court — critical for suing national organizations
- Can represent Calhoun County families nationwide
4. We Are Dual-State Licensed
- Licensed in Texas and New York
- Strategic advantage for suing national fraternities/sororities headquartered in multiple states
5. We Have a Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Results
- BP Texas City explosion litigation — mass tort experience
- Wrongful death cases — representing families who lost loved ones
- Catastrophic injury cases — securing compensation for life-altering injuries
- Hazing-specific expertise — rhabdomyolysis, Kappa Sigma, Texas A&M cases
6. We Treat Calhoun County Families Like Family
- We understand the emotional toll hazing takes on families
- We provide compassionate, personalized support
- We fight for you like we would fight for our own children
🚨 The Time to Act Is Now — Before It’s Too Late
Why You Can’t Wait:
- Evidence Disappears — Texts get deleted. Witnesses forget. Photos vanish.
- Statute of Limitations — In Georgia, you have only 2 years to file a lawsuit.
- Universities and Fraternities Will Circle the Wagons — They will try to control the narrative. They will try to intimidate witnesses. They will try to destroy evidence.
- Other Victims May Come Forward — The sooner you act, the more likely we are to find other victims and build a stronger case.
- Your Child Deserves Justice — Every day you wait is another day the people who hurt your child go unpunished.
Don’t let them get away with it. Call us now.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com
We are Attorney 911. We are your first responders in a legal emergency.
And we are ready to fight for Calhoun County families.
