# **Hazing Victims in Charleston County Deserve Justice – Attorney 911 Fights for Your Rights**
Charleston County Parents: Your Child Was Betrayed
When you sent your child to college near Charleston County, South Carolina, you trusted that the university and Greek organizations would keep them safe. You believed that “brotherhood” and “tradition” were about friendship, leadership, and opportunity—not torture.
But for too many students in Charleston County and across America, hazing isn’t tradition—it’s abuse. It’s waterboarding. It’s forced drinking until vomiting. It’s extreme physical punishment that sends students to the hospital—or worse.
At Attorney 911, we are fighting this battle right now. We currently represent a student who was hospitalized after being waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Houston. We filed a $10 million lawsuit—and we’re holding every responsible party accountable.
The same fraternities operate near Charleston County. The same negligence exists at Charleston County institutions. And we will fight for Charleston County families with the same aggression.
This Isn’t Hazing—It’s Torture
What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Charleston County
Our client, Leonel Bermudez, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi in September 2025. Over the next seven weeks, he was subjected to systematic abuse that nearly killed him:
✅ 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 to eat until vomiting – Then made to lie in vomit-soaked grass
✅ Sleep deprivation – Forced to drive fraternity members at all hours
✅ Psychological torture – Threatened with expulsion if he refused
On November 3, 2025, he was punished for missing an event. He was forced to perform extreme exercises until he couldn’t move. Three days later, his mother rushed him to the hospital with kidney failure. He spent four days in the ICU with rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure.
The Same Fraternities Are in Charleston County
Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide, including near Charleston County. The same national organization that failed to stop deadly hazing after Andrew Coffey’s death in 2017 allowed Leonel Bermudez to be hospitalized in 2025.
If it happened in Houston, it can happen in Charleston County.
Universities Near Charleston County Are Complicit
The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the hazing occurred. They had the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down dangerous activities—but they didn’t.
Charleston County universities have the same responsibility. If a fraternity near Charleston County is hazing students, the university knows or should know. And if they fail to act, they are liable.
We Know How to Win These Cases
$10 Million Lawsuit Filed – The Fight Has Begun
We filed a $10 million lawsuit against:
✔ Pi Kappa Phi National – Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite knowing about a “hazing crisis”
✔ The UH Beta Nu Chapter – Directly organized and conducted the hazing
✔ University of Houston – Owned the fraternity house and failed to protect students
✔ Individual Members – Including the fraternity president, pledgemaster, and others who participated
This is the same legal strategy we will use for Charleston County families.
Precedent Cases Prove Hazing Victims Win Big
| Case | Fraternity | University | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (2021) | Pi Kappa Alpha | Bowling Green State | $10.1 Million |
| Maxwell Gruver (2017) | Phi Delta Theta | Louisiana State | $6.1 Million Jury Verdict |
| Timothy Piazza (2017) | Beta Theta Pi | Penn State | $110+ Million (estimated) |
| Andrew Coffey (2017) | Pi Kappa Phi | Florida State | Confidential Settlement |
These cases prove that juries and courts will hold fraternities and universities accountable—especially when the conduct is as extreme as waterboarding and forced exercise to the point of kidney failure.
Charleston County Families: You Have Legal Rights
What You Can Sue For
If your child was hazed near Charleston County, you may be entitled to compensation for:
✔ Medical bills (past and future)
✔ Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
✔ Lost wages (if they couldn’t work due to injuries)
✔ Educational disruption (missed classes, delayed graduation)
✔ Punitive damages (to punish the fraternity and university for reckless conduct)
Who Is Liable?
✔ The fraternity chapter (local and national)
✔ The university (if they knew or should have known)
✔ Individual members (who participated or allowed the hazing)
✔ Alumni or advisors (if they facilitated the hazing)
South Carolina Hazing Laws Protect Your Child
South Carolina has strict anti-hazing laws (S.C. Code § 59-101-200). Consent is NOT a defense—even if your child “agreed” to participate, the fraternity can still be held liable.
What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Charleston County
Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, document everything.
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening.
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Save all texts, GroupMe chats, and social media messages about the hazing.
- Take photos of injuries (bruises, cuts, burns).
- Get witness names and contact information.
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone
- They will try to control the narrative.
- They may destroy evidence or pressure witnesses.
- Anything you say can be used against you.
Step 4: Call Attorney 911 – 1-888-ATTY-911****
- Free consultation – We’ll evaluate your case at no cost.
- No upfront fees – We work on contingency (you pay nothing unless we win).
- Nationwide representation – We serve Charleston County families from our Houston, Austin, and Beaumont offices.
Why Charleston County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now
- We filed the $10 million Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit—we’re in the fight.
- We have 25+ years of litigation experience.
- We know how fraternities and universities will defend themselves—because we used to work for the other side.
2. We Know How to Win Against Powerful Institutions
- We took on BP after the Texas City explosion (15 deaths, 180+ injuries).
- We’ve won millions for victims of 18-wheeler crashes, workplace injuries, and wrongful death.
- We don’t back down from insurance companies or billion-dollar organizations.
3. We Travel to Charleston County for Your Case
- We have offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, but we serve clients nationwide.
- We will come to Charleston County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
- We offer video consultations for Charleston County families who can’t travel.
4. We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español
- Hazing affects all students, including Charleston County’s Hispanic community.
- We have bilingual attorneys and staff to ensure no language barriers.
5. We Work on Contingency – $0 Upfront
- You pay nothing unless we win your case.
- No hourly fees, no retainers—just aggressive representation to get you the compensation you deserve.
Charleston County: The Time to Act Is Now
⚠️ Statute of Limitations – Don’t Lose Your Rights
- In South Carolina, you typically have 3 years to file a personal injury lawsuit.
- If you wait too long, you lose your right to sue forever.
- Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and fraternities destroy records.
⏳ Evidence Disappears Fast
- Fraternities delete texts and social media posts.
- Universities destroy internal reports.
- Witnesses forget details or are pressured to stay silent.
The sooner you contact us, the stronger your case will be.
Charleston County Parents: This Could Be Your Child Next
Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide, including near Charleston County. If they waterboarded a student in Houston, how many other chapters are doing the same?
Your child could be next.
Fraternities Near Charleston County with Hazing Histories
| Fraternity | Known Hazing Incidents | Nearby Charleston County Schools |
|---|---|---|
| Pi Kappa Phi | Andrew Coffey (2017, FSU) – Death Leonel Bermudez (2025, UH) – Hospitalized |
College of Charleston, Citadel, Charleston Southern |
| Sigma Alpha Epsilon | Multiple hazing deaths nationwide | University of South Carolina, Clemson |
| Pi Kappa Alpha | Stone Foltz (2021, BGSU) – Death | College of Charleston, Furman |
| Phi Delta Theta | Maxwell Gruver (2017, LSU) – Death | Clemson, USC Upstate |
This isn’t just happening in Texas—it’s happening in South Carolina too.
Charleston County: Enough Is Enough
What We’re Fighting For
- Justice for Leonel Bermudez – Holding Pi Kappa Phi and UH accountable.
- Preventing future hazing – Sending a message that this won’t be tolerated.
- Protecting Charleston County students – Ensuring no other family goes through this.
What You Can Do
✅ If your child was hazed – Call us 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation.
✅ If you know someone who was hazed – Share this page with Charleston County families.
✅ If you’re a Charleston County parent – Talk to your child about hazing risks.
✅ If you’re a student – Report hazing to your university or call us anonymously.
Charleston County: Call Now – 1-888-ATTY-911
We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. And we are coming for every fraternity, every university, and every individual who thinks they can torture our kids and get away with it.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com/hazing
Free consultation. No upfront fees. We fight for Charleston County families.
🔥 Share This Page to Protect Charleston County Students
#StopHazing #CharlestonCountyJustice #Attorney911