If you’re reading this in Fredericksburg, Virginia, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child went off to college, hoping to make friends, build connections, and maybe join a fraternity or sorority. Instead, they were tortured. They were abused. They were subjected to rituals that endangered their mental and physical health. We understand what you’re going through, and we’re here to help families in the Fredericksburg area fight back.

We are Attorney911, and we are legal emergency lawyers. While our roots are in Texas, our fight has expanded nationwide because hazing is a national crisis that respects no state lines or university boundaries. Just three weeks ago, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university for the horrific hazing our client endured. This isn’t just a grim statistic; it’s a real, ongoing battle for justice, and it’s the same battle we are ready to bring to Fredericksburg.

The Hazing Crisis: Why Fredericksburg Families Need Us

Hazing is not a rite of passage; it is abuse, and it’s happening at colleges and universities where Fredericksburg families send their children. The innocent desire to belong, to find community, is being twisted into a gauntlet of dehumanizing and often life-threatening rituals. We understand that parents in Fredericksburg entrust these institutions with their children’s safety, only to have that trust shattered by the very organizations meant to foster growth and camaraderie.

The Fredericksburg area, with its rich history and proximity to institutions like the University of Mary Washington, Germanna Community College, and others in the wider Virginia region, sees its share of students engaging in Greek life, sports teams, and various organizations. These same national fraternities and sororities that have faced multi-million dollar lawsuits in other states have chapters that attract students from Fredericksburg. The promise of brotherhood and sisterhood often hides a darker reality, where students are pushed to their physical and psychological limits, suffering injuries that can last a lifetime, or even lead to death.

Nationwide, statistics paint a harrowing picture:

Over 55% of students involved in Greek life experience hazing.
A staggering 95% of students who are hazed never report it due to fear of retribution, shame, or misplaced loyalty.
Since the year 2000, there has been at least one hazing-related death in the United States every single year. These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a deeply entrenched, dangerous culture that institutions often overlook until tragedy strikes.

We know that for Fredericksburg parents, hearing these numbers can be terrifying. But we want you to know that there is hope, and there is a path to accountability. Our firm is at the forefront of this fight, demonstrating that aggressive, data-driven litigation can force systemic change and secure justice for victims. The story of our client, Leonel Bermudez, is a powerful warning, but also a beacon of hope for what can be achieved with relentless legal representation.

The Landmark Case: The $10 Million Fight We’re Waging Right Now

This is not a hypothetical scenario or a theoretical legal strategy. We are actively fighting this battle in court right now. The landmark case of Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al., filed on November 21, 2025, in Harris County Civil District Court, seeks $10 million in damages. This case represents everything Attorney911 stands for: aggressive representation, data-driven litigation, and unwavering commitment to holding every responsible entity accountable for hazing injuries.

What Happened: Leonel Bermudez’s Nightmare

Leonel Bermudez was not even a University of Houston student when his ordeal began. He was a “ghost rush,” a prospective transfer student planning to enroll in the spring of 2026. He accepted a bid to Pi Kappa Phi fraternity on September 16, 2025, hoping to find a place to belong. What followed was an agonizing seven weeks of systematic abuse, psychological torture, and extreme physical punishment that left him hospitalized for four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.

We’ve shared this horrific story with major news outlets, who reported on the lawsuit:

ABC13 Houston: Abuse and hazing led to hospitalization of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge, lawsuit alleges
KHOU 11: $10 million lawsuit filed against UH, fraternity over hazing allegations
Houston Chronicle: UH fraternity hazing lawsuit
Houston Public Media: University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi fraternity sued for $10 million over alleged hazing

Our client’s mother rushed him to the hospital on November 6, 2025, when he began passing brown urine—a terrifying sign of muscle breakdown. He was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a condition where damaged muscle tissue releases proteins into the bloodstream, which then overwhelmed his kidneys, leading to acute kidney failure. He spent three nights and four days in intensive medical care battling these life-threatening conditions. His doctors informed him of the ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

As Attorney Ralph Manginello told ABC13: “When he finally made it home, he crawled up the stairs and went to bed. The next day, he was really sore and couldn’t really move. The next day was worse, and the next day, his mom rushed him to the hospital, and he had some kidney failure.”

Attorney Lupe Pena added to ABC13: “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

The Horrors Leonel Endured: What Hazing Really Looks Like Today

For weeks, Leonel was subjected to a litany of abuses:

Simulated Waterboarding: He was sprayed in the face with a garden hose while doing calisthenics, simulating drowning—a form of torture.
Extreme Physical Exertion: This included over 100 pushups, 500 squats, high-volume “suicides,” bear crawls, wheelbarrows, and “save-you-brother” drills. These forced exercises continued until he became so exhausted he couldn’t stand without help. These actions directly led to his rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
Forced Eating and Vomiting: Leonel was compelled to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and even peppercorns until he vomited. Then, in a truly dehumanizing act, he was forced to continue running sprints in his vomit-soaked clothes.
Physical Beatings: He was struck with wooden paddles.
Psychological Torture and Humiliation: He was made to carry a fanny pack with objects of a sexual nature at all times. He was forced to strip to his underwear in cold weather and sprayed with a hose. One of his fellow pledges was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.
Sleep Deprivation and Servitude: He was forced to drive fraternity members home during early mornings, leading to debilitating exhaustion.

This isn’t about “boys being boys” or “character building.” This is assault. This is battery. This is torture. It’s reckless endangerment, and in some situations, it escalates to manslaughter or murder. And these same acts can happen at the very universities and Greek life organizations that Fredericksburg families trust their children to.

Institutional Response: Proof of Failure

The response from the defendants tells a damning story. Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters, the very fraternity involved in a hazing death in 2017, immediately suspended its UH chapter on November 6, 2025, the day Leonel was hospitalized. Just eight days later, on November 14, they officially closed the chapter. This “proactive” move, celebrated with a public statement on their website, came seven days before our lawsuit was even filed.

While they released a statement lamenting “violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards,” their true colors showed when they concluded: “We look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time and continuing our partnership with the University of Houston in the years ahead.” No remorse, no apology to Leonel, just strategic maneuvering and a promise to resume operations.

Meanwhile, the University of Houston spokesperson acknowledged the events as “deeply disturbing” and a “clear violation of our community standards,” noting that they were coordinating with law enforcement on “potential criminal charges.” This is an implicit admission of their own oversight failures and the severity of the alleged conduct.

Why This Case Matters to Fredericksburg Families

The Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi case is a stark warning that echoes across the nation, directly impacting families in Fredericksburg:

It Proves Hazing is Torture: These aren’t pranks. Waterboarding is a war crime. What happened to Leonel puts hazing in its true, horrifying light.
Universities are Complicit: The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where much of this abuse occurred. Universities near Fredericksburg have the same power to supervise and regulate Greek life – and the same liability when they fail to do so.
National Organizations are Accountable: Pi Kappa Phi National had a hazing death in 2017 (Andrew Coffey at FSU). They knew their culture was dangerous and failed to fix it. This pattern of negligence exists in national organizations with chapters near Fredericksburg.
Victims Fear Retribution: Leonel Bermudez fears speaking out due to threats. This fear is a powerful tactic employed in hazing, and Fredericksburg students can face similar intimidation. We protect our clients.
A Lawsuit Can Force Change: Our $10 million lawsuit isn’t just about compensation; it’s about holding powerful institutions accountable and sending an undeniable message that might save lives in Fredericksburg and beyond.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond Fraternity Row Stereotypes

For many, the word “hazing” conjures images of harmless pranks or silly initiations. But the reality, as exemplified by Leonel Bermudez’s case, is far more sinister. Hazing today often involves systematic degradation, life-threatening physical abuse, and profound psychological trauma. It’s designed to break down individuals, foster unquestioning loyalty through fear, and enforce a twisted hierarchy.

Fredericksburg parents need to understand that this isn’t the hazing of movies or nostalgic tales. It is:

Physical Abuse: This can include beatings, paddling, forced calisthenics to exhaustion, branding, burning, and brutal physical assaults. The wooden paddles and extreme workouts Leonel endured are common.
Forced Consumption: This frequently involves binge drinking until unconsciousness or death, like in the tragic cases of Andrew Coffey and Max Gruver. It can also involve forced eating of vile substances or huge quantities of food until vomiting, as Leonel experienced.
Sleep Deprivation: Pledges are often kept awake for days, forced into activities at all hours, breaking them down physically and mentally. Leonel’s forced early-morning drives for fraternity members illustrate this.
Psychological Torture: This category is often overlooked but can leave the deepest scars. It includes verbal abuse, constant humiliation, isolation, threats, and degrading rituals like being forced to carry sexually suggestive objects, as Leonel was.
Exposure: Pledges can be forced to endure extreme cold or heat, restricted to small, uncomfortable spaces, or like Leonel, stripped down and sprayed with cold water.
Sexual Abuse and Humiliation: This is a tragically prevalent, though often unspoken, element of hazing, ranging from forced nudity to sexual assault.
Simulated Drowning/Waterboarding: As in Leonel’s case, this is a horrific form of torture designed to inflict extreme terror and physical distress.

The Devastating Medical and Psychological Impact

The consequences of hazing are not trivial. For Leonel, it was rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring hospitalization and potentially long-term medical challenges. Others suffer:

Alcohol Poisoning: The leading cause of hazing deaths.
Traumatic Brain Injury: From falls, beatings, or violent shaking.
Hypothermia/Hyperthermia: From exposure to extreme temperatures.
Cardiac Arrest: From extreme physical exertion or drug overdose.
PTSD, Anxiety, Depression: Long-term psychological damage, affecting a victim’s ability to study, work, and form healthy relationships. The fear of retribution Leonel felt is a direct psychological consequence.
Death: The ultimate, irreversible outcome.

Whether your child attends the University of Mary Washington here in Fredericksburg, Germanna Community College, or has gone away to a larger university in Virginia or beyond, these are the risks they face. Hazing is a pervasive problem, and it directly impacts the well-being of students from our community.

Who Is Responsible: Holding Every Liable Party Accountable

When hazing leaves a student from Fredericksburg injured or worse, a web of individuals and institutions often bears responsibility. Our $10 million lawsuit in the Bermudez case demonstrates our comprehensive approach to identifying and pursuing every party that contributed to the harm. We go beyond the immediate perpetrators to hold every enabler accountable.

Here’s who can be held responsible in a hazing incident:

The Local Chapter and Its Members

The Chapter Itself: The Sigma Chi chapter at UT Austin, the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter at LSU, or the local Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter in Houston. These entities directly organize and conduct the hazing activities.
Chapter Officers: Individuals like the chapter president, pledgemaster, or social chairs often direct and oversee the hazing. In the Bermudez case, the fraternity president and pledgemaster are specifically named as defendants. They bear leadership responsibility.
Individual Members: Any member who actively participates in hazing, encourages it, or even witnesses it and fails to intervene can be held liable for assault, battery, and negligence.
Former Members and Associates: As seen in our Bermudez case, former members who host hazing activities at their residences and their spouses who permit it on their property can be held liable. This extends premises liability and negligent supervision outside the direct chapter environment.

The National Fraternity or Sorority Organization

These national bodies claim to enforce anti-hazing policies, but their failure often leads to tragic consequences.

Failure to Supervise: Despite documented policies, national organizations frequently fail to adequately supervise their local chapters.
Failure to Enforce: They may have rules, but they often don’t enforce them until a crisis erupts. Our Bermudez case alleges the national Pi Kappa Phi organization failed to enforce rules “despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.'”
Pattern of Negligence: Like Pi Kappa Phi, which has a hazing death (Andrew Coffey in 2017) and a hospitalization (Bermudez in 2025) on its record, a history of incidents demonstrates a pattern of negligence at the national level. These patterns make hazing foreseeable and their inaction inexcusable.
Deep Pockets: National fraternities and sororities are multi-million dollar corporations with substantial assets and liability insurance policies designed to cover such incidents.

The University or College

Universities have a profound responsibility to protect their students, especially when they host and regulate Greek life.

Institutional Negligence: Universities can be held liable for failing to adequately staff Greek life offices, provide proper oversight, or enforce their own anti-hazing policies. The University of Houston owned the Pi Kappa Phi house where hazing occurred, making their liability particularly egregious.
Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on university-owned property, or property the university controls, they have a duty to maintain a safe environment.
Failure to Act on Prior Knowledge: As with the University of Houston, which had a prior hazing hospitalization in 2017, institutions cannot claim ignorance when similar incidents occur later. This establishes a pattern of foreseeable harm.
Negligent Retention/Supervision: If university staff (e.g., Greek life advisors) had knowledge of hazing and failed to act, the university may be liable.
Board of Regents/Trustees: These governing bodies often carry ultimate legal responsibility for institutional failures, as seen in our naming of the UH Board of Regents.

Insurance Carriers

Behind every individual and institution are insurance policies. We pursue:

General Liability Policies: For national fraternities, universities, and sometimes local chapters.
Homeowner’s or Renter’s Insurance: For individual members or former members who host hazing.
Excess/Umbrella Policies: Additional layers of coverage that can be crucial in high-value cases.

As former insurance defense attorneys, both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena bring invaluable insight into how insurance companies operate. They know their playbook, their strategies for minimizing payouts, and precisely how to dismantle their defenses to maximize recovery for our clients. We don’t just guess who’s responsible; our intelligence databases allow us to identify every entity with skin in the game, from the local Fredericksburg chapter to the national Greek organization.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof for Fredericksburg Victims

Families in Fredericksburg grappling with the aftermath of hazing often wonder if legal action is truly effective. The answer is a resounding YES. Hazing lawsuits have consistently resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, sending a powerful message that institutions and individuals will pay for their negligence. These aren’t just numbers; these are real families who found justice and forced change.

Landmark Verdicts & Settlements: Paying for Negligence

These precedent cases underscore that our $10 million demand in the Bermudez case is not only justified but in line with what juries and judges have awarded for similar egregious conduct. The same legal strategies apply to cases arising in Fredericksburg.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)

💰 TOTAL: $10.1 MILLION+

Stone Foltz, a 20-year-old student, died from alcohol poisoning after a Pi Kappa Alpha “Big/Little” event where he was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol. His family received substantial compensation:

$2.9 Million from Bowling Green State University, the largest public university hazing payout in Ohio history.
$7.2 Million from Pi Kappa Alpha National and individual fraternity members.
In a separate but related action in December 2024, Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president, was personally ordered to pay a $6.5 million judgment for his role in the hazing. This proves that individual perpetrators cannot escape financial accountability. Our $10 million demand is firmly supported by this precedent.

Maxwell Gruver – Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017)

💰 TOTAL: $6.1 MILLION JURY VERDICT

Maxwell Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman, died from acute alcohol poisoning during a Phi Delta Theta “Bible Study” event where he was forced to drink excessive alcohol for answering questions incorrectly. His family received a $6.1 million jury verdict. This tragic case also led to the passage of Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony. The jury’s outrage at hazing resulted in a significant financial award and legislative change, a powerful message for any jury hearing about Leonel’s waterboarding.

Timothy Piazza – Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017)

💰 TOTAL: $110+ MILLION (Estimated)

Timothy Piazza, a 19-year-old student, died from a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding after a Beta Theta Pi bid acceptance ceremony where he was forced to consume 18 drinks in 82 minutes. Fraternity brothers waited 12 hours before calling 911 despite his obvious injuries. The civil lawsuits ultimately resulted in a confidential settlement estimated at over $110 million, marking one of the largest hazing payouts in history. The powerful evidence, including surveillance footage, exposed the fraternity’s deliberate indifference and led to 18 criminal charges against members, some resulting in convictions and prison sentences. Pennsylvania also passed the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017)

⚠️ THE SAME FRATERNITY INVOLVED IN OUR CASE

Andrew Coffey died from acute alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during a Pi Kappa Phi “Big Brother Night.” This leads to a critical point for our Bermudez case: Pi Kappa Phi has a documented history of hazing deaths. They knew their culture was dangerous. They had eight years between Andrew’s death in 2017 and Leonel’s hospitalization in 2025 to fix it. They failed. This prior incident establishes a clear pattern of negligence and foreseeability.

Hazing is Not Just a Texas Problem: It’s a National Epidemic

These multi-million dollar outcomes clearly demonstrate that juries, judges, and legislators across the country are fed up with hazing.

Our $10 million demand is supported by precedent. Even for cases resulting in serious injury but not death, like Leonel’s, the potential for multi-million dollar recovery is clear.
Juries hate hazing. The egregious conduct involved—especially torture like waterboarding—outrages ordinary people and often results in significant punitive damages.
Criminal charges often run parallel to civil lawsuits. The UH spokesperson’s mention of “potential criminal charges” in Leonel’s case underscores this dual path to accountability.
These tragic incidents drive legislative change. From the Max Gruver Act to the Timothy J. Piazza Law, these cases have made hazing a felony in several states.

The message to fraternities, universities, and national organizations with chapters in the Fredericksburg area is unequivocal: Hazing costs millions. We have the receipts. We’re ready to bring the same level of legal expertise and aggressive representation to Fredericksburg families to ensure that those responsible pay a steep price.

Texas Law Protects You: Understanding Your Rights in Fredericksburg

While Fredericksburg is in Virginia, it’s crucial for families here to understand the robust legal framework being used in neighboring states and how federal laws provide broad protection. Our firm operates nationally, and the principles of hazing law, civil liability, and negligence apply across state lines. Furthermore, our dual-state bar admissions (Texas and New York) and federal court authority allow us to pursue justice regardless of where these national fraternities are headquartered or where the hazing occurred.

The Legal Foundation: Texas Hazing Laws as an Example

Texas, like many other states, has specific laws addressing hazing. These statutes provide a strong foundation for both criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits. For Fredericksburg families, these laws illustrate the severity with which society views hazing:

Texas Education Code § 37.151: Defining Hazing
Texas law defines hazing broadly to include any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in an organization. This includes:

Physical brutality: Whipping, beating, striking (like wooden paddles), branding, calisthenics (like Leonel’s 500 squats to exhaustion).
Sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement: Leonel’s forced early-morning drives and being stripped in cold weather fall under this.
Forced consumption: Food (like eating until vomiting), liquid, or alcohol to an unreasonable degree.
Acts violating the Penal Code: Any activity that requires a student to commit a crime.
Coercion to consume drugs or excessive alcohol: Designed to get a student intoxicated.

Leonel Bermudez’s case meets multiple elements of this definition, from physical brutality (paddles, extreme calisthenics) to forced consumption (milk, hot dogs, peppercorns) and exposure (sprayed with hose in cold).

Consent is NOT a Defense: A Critical Legal Point

Perhaps the most crucial aspect of hazing law, and one often misunderstood, is found in Texas Education Code § 37.154:

“It is not a defense to prosecution for an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”

This is paramount. When a fraternity or university in Fredericksburg tries to claim, “He agreed to participate,” or “She knew the risks,” the law unequivocally states that consent is irrelevant. You cannot consent to being a victim of a crime. This provision strips away one of the most common defenses used by hazing perpetrators and institutions.

Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Charges

Even if criminal charges aren’t filed, or they’re unsuccessful, victims from Fredericksburg can pursue powerful civil claims:

Negligence Claims: The core of most personal injury lawsuits. We demonstrate that the university, national fraternity, and individuals owed a duty of care to the student, breached that duty through hazing, directly caused injuries, and those injuries resulted in damages. This theory applies universally.
Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by the university (like the UH fraternity house), they have a legal duty to maintain a safe environment.
Negligent Supervision/Retention: When institutions fail to properly supervise their Greek life organizations or retain staff who ignore hazing complaints, they are liable.
Assault and Battery: Individual perpetrators can be sued for intentional harmful contact (e.g., beating, paddling, forced physical acts).
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: The outrageous and extreme nature of hazing, like waterboarding, can lead to claims for severe emotional suffering, including PTSD.

These civil claims exist in Virginia and every other state, allowing Fredericksburg families to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and even punitive damages—designed to punish egregious conduct and prevent future incidents.

A Federal Angle: Our Nationwide Reach

Our federal court admissions mean we are equipped to handle cases in federal courts across the country, including those that challenge hazing under federal civil rights statutes, such as Title IX. This significantly expands the scope of accountability, as national fraternities and universities often operate across state lines and receive federal funding.

For Fredericksburg families, this means that even though our main offices are in Texas, our expertise and reach are not limited. The legal principles, the tactics of the defendants, and our strategies for accountability are universal. We will stand with you, leveraging every legal avenue to ensure justice is served.

Why Attorney911 is the Choice for Fredericksburg Hazing Victims

When your family in Fredericksburg faces the unthinkable trauma of hazing, you need more than just a lawyer; you need battle-tested advocates who understand the insidious nature of these cases and possess the strategic insight to win. Attorney911 brings a unique blend of experience, empathy, and raw legal power to every hazing case, a combination unmatched in the field.

Our Uncommon Advantages: What We Bring to Fredericksburg Families

Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Case: This is our most significant differentiator. We aren’t just talking about hazing; we’re in the trenches right now, fighting Pi Kappa Phi National and the University of Houston over Leonel Bermudez’s horrific hazing. This isn’t theoretical; this is real-time, aggressive litigation against a national fraternity and a major university. Fredericksburg families get the same exact proven legal firepower.
Former Insurance Defense Attorneys: Both Ralph P. Manginello and Lupe Eleno Peña worked on the inside for insurance companies. They know the defense playbook—how claims are valued, how evidence is undermined, and how the system attempts to minimize payouts. Now, they use that insider knowledge to deconstruct the defense’s arguments and maximize recovery for our clients. This is an unfair advantage for you.
25+ Years of Courtroom Experience: Ralph Manginello is a seasoned trial attorney with over two decades of experience. He’s handled complex, high-stakes litigation, including the multi-billion dollar BP Texas City Explosion cases. This level of experience means he is not intimidated by large institutions or their legal teams, offering Fredericksburg families aggressive representation against powerful adversaries.
Federal Court Authority & Dual-State Bar Admissions: We are admitted to practice in U.S. District Courts and licensed in both Texas and New York. This gives us strategic flexibility to pursue national fraternities and universities, regardless of where they are headquartered. For Fredericksburg victims, this means we can take on national organizations that affect Greek life in Virginia and across the country.
Se Habla Español: Lupe Eleno Peña is fluent in Spanish, and our team is bilingual. This is crucial for serving the diverse communities in Fredericksburg and ensuring that language barriers never stand in the way of justice for Hispanic families affected by hazing.
“Outwork, Outsmart, Outfight” Philosophy: This is Lupe Peña’s mantra. He brings an aggressive, strategic approach honed from years of defending insurance companies against personal injury claims. Now, he applies that same relentless effort to championing victims. He will outwork, outsmart, and outfight the opposition for your Fredericksburg hazing case.
No Upfront Fees – We Work on Contingency: Facing a legal battle after a hazing incident can seem financially daunting. That’s why we take all hazing cases on a contingency basis. Fredericksburg families pay absolutely nothing upfront. Our payment is contingent on your success: we don’t get paid unless we win your case. This ensures that every family, regardless of financial means, has access to top-tier legal representation.
Willingness to Travel & Remote Consultations: While our main offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we are committed to serving hazing victims nationwide, including those in Fredericksburg. We offer convenient video consultations for initial meetings, and our attorneys are prepared to travel to Fredericksburg for depositions, critical meetings, and trials when necessary. Distance will never be a barrier to justice for your family.
Deep Understanding of Hazing’s Insidious Nature: Ralph Manginello’s background as a Hall of Fame athlete and youth coach gives him unique insight into team dynamics and the pressures young people face, including how hazing can thrive even in seemingly positive environments. We don’t see hazing as an abstract legal concept; we understand its human cost.
Unwavering Client Focus: Our 4.9-star rating on Google with over 250 reviews reflects our commitment to our clients. Testimonials from families like yours speak to our consistent communication, empathetic approach, and relentless fight for maximum settlements. We treat your family like our own. As one client, Chad Harris, put it: “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client that’s caught in the middle of many other cases. You are FAMILY to them and they protect and fight for you as such.”

We Don’t Just Talk About Hazing; We’re Fighting It Right Now.

Our ongoing $10 million lawsuit centered around Leonel Bermudez proves our dedication and expertise. We identified and sued every responsible party: the national Pi Kappa Phi organization, a local housing corporation, the University of Houston, its Board of Regents, and 13 individual fraternity members, including the president and pledgemaster.

This is the level of comprehensive, relentless, and data-driven litigation we bring to every hazing case. For Fredericksburg families, this means having allies who are not afraid to take on powerful institutions and whose strategy is validated by current, active litigation.

What to Do Right Now: Actionable Steps for Fredericksburg Families

If your child in Fredericksburg, Virginia, or anywhere across the country has been subjected to hazing, the moments immediately following the incident are critical. Emotions can run high—anger, fear, confusion, and a desire to protect your child. But swift, strategic action is necessary to preserve evidence and protect your legal rights. Here’s a clear, actionable guide for Fredericksburg families:

Step 1: Prioritize Safety and Seek Emergency Medical Care

Remove Your Child from the Situation: Ensure your child is physically safe and separated from any further hazing.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately: Even if injuries seem minor, or if psychological trauma is the primary concern, consult a medical professional.
- Document Everything: Ensure all injuries are thoroughly documented in medical records. Tell doctors exactly what happened, and that the injuries are hazing-related. For physical injuries like Leonel’s rhabdomyolysis, medical reports are the bedrock of the case.
- Address Psychological Trauma: Hazing often leaves deep mental scars, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. A therapist or counselor can provide crucial support and documentation of the psychological impact.
Do Not Delay Medical Treatment: Defense attorneys will argue that a delay means the injuries weren’t serious or weren’t caused by the hazing. Your child’s health and your legal case depend on prompt medical attention.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence Immediately

This cannot be stressed enough. Evidence disappears quickly, and fraternities and universities are adept at damage control.

Digital Communication is Key:
- Text Messages: Save every text message related to recruitment, pledging, and hazing. This includes direct messages with members, group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram DMs). Do NOT delete anything.
- Social Media: Screenshot all relevant posts, photos, and messages. If there are discussions about upcoming events or acknowledgments of hazing, save them.
- Emails: Secure all emails from the fraternity, the university, or individual members.
Photos and Videos:
- Injuries: Take clear, well-lit photographs of any physical injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, rashes) from multiple angles, and continue to document the healing process over time.
- Hazing Locations: If safe to do so, photograph or video the areas where hazing occurred—the fraternity house, basement, off-campus locations, specific rooms, or items used in the hazing.
- Physical Evidence: Pictures of alcohol containers, specific clothing, or items mentioned in the hazing rituals.
Documents: Collect any “pledge manuals,” schedules, rules, or communications distributed by the fraternity.
Witness Information: Gather names, phone numbers, and email addresses of anyone who witnessed the hazing or has knowledge of the events—other pledges, sympathetic members, or bystanders. Your child’s fear of retribution is real, but a trusted friend might be willing to cooperate.
Financial Records: Keep track of all medical bills, therapy costs, and any lost wages or academic expenses incurred due to the hazing.
Academic Records: Document any impact on grades, enrollment status, or scholarship eligibility.
Clothing: Preserve any clothing worn during the hazing that might have vomit, stains, or damage. Place them in a paper bag (not plastic) to avoid degradation.

Step 3: Crucial “Do Nots” – Protect Your Case

DO NOT Communicate with the Fraternity, University, or Their Lawyers: Anything your child or you say can and will be used against you. They are not on your side. Let your attorney handle all communications.
DO NOT Post on Social Media: Refrain from posting any details about the hazing incident, your injuries, or your legal intentions on social media. The defense will comb through your child’s and your social media accounts for anything that can undermine your case. Avoid posting photos of your child appearing “fine” or “having fun” after the incident.
DO NOT Give Recorded Statements: Insurance adjusters, university officials, or fraternity representatives may ask for recorded statements. Politely refuse. You are not legally obligated to provide one without your attorney present.
DO NOT Sign Anything: Do not sign any documents, releases, or agreements from the fraternity, university, or insurance companies without legal review. You could inadvertently waive your rights.
DO NOT Delete Evidence: It is crucial never to delete emails, text messages, or social media posts related to the hazing. This could be considered spoliation of evidence, which can severely damage your case.

Step 4: Contact an Experienced Hazing Litigation Attorney Immediately

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 Now: The statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death cases in Virginia, like many states, is generally two years. However, hazing cases are complex, evidence disappears, and memories fade. The sooner you act, the stronger your case.
- Call us—we’re available 24/7.
- The initial consultation is always free and confidential.
- We can conduct video consultations for Fredericksburg families, making it easy to speak with us remotely.
Level the Playing Field: Universities and national fraternities have vast resources, legal teams, and crisis management experts. You need equally powerful advocates on your side. We have the experience, the data, and the commitment to fight for Fredericksburg families against these institutions.

For Fredericksburg families, the journey to justice may seem overwhelming, but you do not have to walk it alone. We are here to guide you, fight for you, and ensure that every person and institution responsible for your child’s trauma is held fully accountable.

Contact Us: Your Legal Emergency Starts Here for Fredericksburg

If you’re a parent in Fredericksburg, Virginia, whose child has been subjected to the horrors of hazing, your legal emergency has already begun. You need immediate, aggressive, and professional help. Attorney911 is here to answer that call. We are actively fighting this battle in court right now, and we are ready to bring our unique expertise and relentless advocacy to your Fredericksburg hazing case.

Fredericksburg Families: Call Our Legal Emergency Hotline Now

We understand that reaching out is often the hardest step, especially when you’re dealing with the trauma of hazing. But time is of the essence. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and legal deadlines approach quickly.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, because legal emergencies don’t keep business hours. Whether it’s 2 AM or 2 PM, our team is ready to listen and provide a free, confidential consultation.

Email us directly: ralph@atty911.com

Visit our website: attorney911.com

Our Commitment to Fredericksburg Families: No Upfront Costs, No Barriers

We believe that every hazing victim, regardless of their financial situation, deserves top-tier legal representation. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis.

You pay absolutely nothing upfront.
We don’t get paid unless and until you get paid.
This means we share the risk of litigation, aligning our interests perfectly with yours.

We Serve Fredericksburg Hazing Victims, and Hazing Victims Nationwide

While our primary offices are located in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our reach and expertise extend to Fredericksburg, Virginia, and across the United States. Hazing is a national crisis, and we are equipped to pursue justice wherever it occurs.

Remote Consultations: For Fredericksburg families, we offer convenient and confidential video consultations, allowing you to speak with our attorneys from the comfort of your home.
Federal Court Authority: Our admission to U.S. District Courts means we can pursue cases in federal jurisdictions, crucial for cases involving national fraternities or federal civil rights claims.
Dual-State Bar Licenses: Ralph Manginello holds licenses in both Texas and New York, providing a strategic advantage in litigating against national organizations often headquartered or operating in complex, multi-state structures.
Willingness to Travel: For critical stages of your case, such as depositions or trials, our attorneys are prepared to travel to Fredericksburg or other necessary locations. Distance is not a barrier to justice when your child has been harmed.

We Represent Victims of Hazing in All Organizations

Hazing is not limited to Greek life. We are prepared to represent hazing victims from any student organization or group, including:

Fraternities and sororities at universities like the University of Mary Washington, Germanna Community College, and other institutions across Virginia.
Sports teams in high school, college, or club settings.
Marching bands and other performing arts groups.
ROTC programs.
Academic clubs, social organizations, and community groups.
Military academies and military settings.

If your child has been subjected to abusive rituals in any context of “initiation” or group membership in the Fredericksburg area, we can help.

Attorney911: Your Legal Emergency Lawyers™

We are Legal Emergency Lawyers™ because we recognize that what your family is going through is nothing short of a crisis. We move first, fast, and decisively. We have done so for Leonel Bermudez, and we will do so for you. Our $10 million lawsuit is proof that we don’t just talk about hazing; we actively fight it.

Your call to 1-888-ATTY-911 is your first step toward holding the responsible parties accountable, seeking the justice and compensation your family deserves, and helping prevent future tragedies for other Fredericksburg families.

📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now. Let us help you turn your family’s pain into power. Let’s bring them to justice. Enough is enough.