city-of-newport-news-featured-image.png

City of Newport News Fraternity Hazing Attorneys | $24M Pike Settlements | Attorney911 — The Firm That Closed Beta Nu | Federal Court | Former Insurance Defense | 1-888-ATTY-911

City of Newport News, Earth, North America, United States, Virginia

If you’re reading this in City of Newport News, Virginia, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child went away to college, full of hopes and dreams, perhaps at a university nearby, or maybe one of the many state schools across Virginia and beyond. They were supposed to make friends. They were supposed to learn and grow. Instead, they were tortured. Physically abused. Psychologically tormented. Their trust was betrayed, and their future now hangs in the balance. We understand what you’re going through, and we’re here to help families in City of Newport News fight back.

We are Attorney 911. We are Legal Emergency Lawyers™. Our team, led by Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña, is dedicated to aggressively representing victims of hazing and their families, no matter where they are. While our primary offices are located in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our reach extends nationwide. We have the federal court authority and the commitment to travel to City of Newport News and beyond, ensuring that families here receive the same relentless advocacy we provide our clients every day.

We believe that no student, whether they attend Christopher Newport University, Old Dominion University, Hampton University, Virginia Tech, or the esteemed University of Virginia, should endure the barbaric practices of hazing. When institutions and organizations fail to protect our children, we step in to demand accountability.

BREAKING: Our Attorneys Are Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW – The Same Fight We’ll Bring to City of Newport News, Virginia

To understand the depth of our commitment, look no further than a case we are actively litigating right now. This isn’t theoretical; this is real, ongoing, and demonstrates exactly the kind of relentless legal pressure we exert. Just weeks ago, in November 2025, our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi, the University of Houston, and 13 individual fraternity members. This case, Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al., is a stark warning about what hazing looks like in America today, and it’s a testament to the aggressive action we take on behalf of victims.

For families in City of Newport News contemplating their child’s future at institutions across Virginia, understand that incidents like this are not unique to Texas. The same national fraternities operate at universities that draw students from Newport News Public Schools, from Warwick High School to Denbigh High School. The same dangers exist, and the same negligence can be found at institutions everywhere. We want you to know that the fight we’re waging in Houston, we are ready to bring to City of Newport News.

📰 Media Coverage That Shakes the Foundation

The case has already garnered significant attention from major news outlets, exposing the horrific details of what happened:

Even the national fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, published a defensive statement on their own website:

This isn’t just news; it’s a blueprint for accountability. This is how we bring light to the darkness of hazing, and why we are uniquely positioned to help families in City of Newport News.

💰 The Damages Sought: $10 Million

Our lawsuit, filed in Harris County Civil District Court, seeks a monumental $10 million. We named every entity responsible, from the local chapter to the national organization, the housing corporation, the University itself, its Board of Regents, and an astonishing 13 individual fraternity members, including the president, pledgemaster, and even a former member and his spouse where some hazing took place. This comprehensive approach is what it takes. This is what we will do for City of Newport News families.

The Case That Shows City of Newport News Families Why We Fight

At the heart of this case is Leonel Bermudez. Leonel was a “ghost rush,” a prospective member who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet, planning to transfer for the upcoming semester. They did this to someone who was not even their student.

Leonel accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi on September 16, 2025. What followed were weeks of systematic abuse, physical torture, and psychological torment that culminated in his hospitalization for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.

Why this matters deeply to City of Newport News families:

  • Pi Kappa Phi has over 150 chapters across America, with many chapters at universities that recruit students from City of Newport News and throughout Virginia.
  • The same “traditions” that tragically hospitalized our client in Houston are likely happening in fraternities and sororities at institutions like Christopher Newport University, Old Dominion University, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
  • Universities near City of Newport News face the same failures in oversight and institutional liability that allowed hazing to thrive at the University of Houston.
  • If your child is being hazed in City of Newport News, or anywhere they attend college, we will fight for you using the same aggressive, data-driven strategies we’re employing in Houston.

As 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.” This is the harrowing reality of hazing.

Lupe Peña underscored our firm’s mission, telling 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.” For City of Newport News families, his words resonate as a call to action.

What Happened: A Horrifying Timeline

The hazing timeline reveals a shocking progression of abuse:

  • Sept 16, 2025: Leonel accepts a bid to Pi Kappa Phi.
  • Sept 16 – Nov 3: Weeks of systematic hazing, abuse, and torture.
  • Oct 13, 2025: Another pledge is hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.
  • Oct 15, 2025: A pledge loses consciousness and collapses during a forced workout; other pledges are forced to elevate his legs until he recovers.
  • Nov 3, 2025: THE INCIDENT: Leonel is forced to do over 100 pushups, 500 squats, and other exercises while reciting the fraternity creed under threat of immediate expulsion. He becomes so exhausted he cannot stand without help. These events were tragically similar in timing to the death of Andrew Coffey at another Pi Kappa Phi chapter in 2017.
  • Nov 4-5, 2025: Leonel cannot move, his condition worsening.
  • Nov 6, 2025: His mother rushes him to the hospital as he passes brown urine—a critical sign of severe muscle breakdown.
  • Nov 6-10, 2025: Leonel spends three nights and four days hospitalized, diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
  • Nov 14, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi National officially closes the Beta Nu Chapter, as per their own website. This occurred before our lawsuit was filed, demonstrating a clear consciousness of guilt.
  • Nov 21, 2025: Our $10 MILLION LAWSUIT is filed in Harris County, immediately picked up by local news.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond Fraternity Row Stereotypes

For parents in City of Newport News, it’s vital to recognize that modern hazing is far more insidious and dangerous than outdated notions of “pranks” or “boys being boys.” It is systematic abuse designed to break down individuals, not build character, as the horrifying details of Leonel Bermudez’s experience reveal:

Simulated Waterboarding: KHOU reported “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose,” where pledges were sprayed in the face with a hose during calisthenics. They were forced to run, incessantly threatened with waterboarding if they didn’t comply. This isn’t just a cruel prank; it’s a form of physiological torture, considered a war crime when inflicted upon enemy combatants. Yet, members of Pi Kappa Phi inflicted it on a prospective student.

Forced Eating Until Vomiting: Leonel and other pledges were made to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until they vomited. Afterward, they were forced to continue running sprints while clearly in physical distress and made to lie in their own vomit-soaked grass. This tactic is designed to induce extreme physical discomfort and humiliation.

Extreme Physical Punishment: The hazing involved relentless physical exertion: over 100 pushups, 500 squats, high-volume “suicides” (sprint drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warmups, and repeated 100-yard crawls. They were forced to recite the fraternity creed while exercising until they could not stand. Worse, the Houston Chronicle reported “being struck with wooden paddles.” This brutal regimen left Leonel unable to stand, eventually leading to muscle breakdown and kidney failure. Another pledge even lost consciousness during these workouts on October 15, yet the abuse continued.

Psychological Torture & Humiliation: Students were forced to strip to their underwear in cold weather and carry a fanny pack containing “objects of a sexual nature” at all times. The lawsuit documents another pledge being hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. These acts are designed to humiliate, degrade, and instill fear through extreme psychological pressure, reinforced by threats of physical punishment or expulsion from the fraternity.

Sleep Deprivation & Exhaustion: Leonel was forced to drive fraternity members at extremely early morning hours, contributing to his profound exhaustion. This constant disruption of sleep and forced servitude further weakened his physical and mental state.

This level of abuse transcends “hazing.” It is assault, battery, torture, and reckless endangerment that, in many tragic cases across the country, has led to manslaughter or even murder. It is certainly criminal under Virginia law, just as it is in Texas.

The Medical Consequences: Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Failure

The physical toll on Leonel was catastrophic. He suffered from rhabdomyolysis, a condition where damaged muscle tissue releases proteins and electrolytes into the blood. This deluge can overwhelm the kidneys, leading to potentially fatal complications. In Leonel’s case, this resulted in acute kidney failure.

  • Brown urine: A frightening, classic symptom of rhabdomyolysis, indicating the presence of myoglobin from his damaged muscles.
  • Very high creatine kinase levels: Lab tests confirmed severe muscle damage.
  • Acute kidney failure: A life-threatening condition necessitating urgent, intensive medical intervention.
  • Four days of hospitalization: Leonel required constant medical care to stabilize his condition and prevent permanent damage.

Ralph Manginello, with specific expertise in rhabdomyolysis hazing cases, understands the long-term implications of such an injury. This isn’t a minor bump or bruise; it’s a profound systemic trauma that can leave lasting health consequences.

Institutional Responses: A Blatant Indifference

The responses from the institutions involved speak volumes about their priorities.

The University of Houston spokesperson, as reported by Houston Public Media, stated, “The events investigated are deeply disturbing and represent a clear violation of our community standards… Any individual found responsible for hazing will face disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion and potential criminal charges.” While seemingly condemning, this statement ultimately admits that the University’s standards were violated under their watch and that they are now scrambling to contain the fallout and limit their own liability.

Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters issued their own statement on their website, confirming they “closed its Beta Nu Chapter effective November 14, 2025, following violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards.” They claim to “take all allegations of hazing seriously” and prioritize “the well-being of our members.” Yet, this closure happened before our lawsuit was even filed, suggesting a desperate attempt to mitigate damage. More chillingly, their statement concluded: “We look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time.” This isn’t remorse; it’s a thinly veiled promise to continue business as usual once public outrage subsides. This is why we fight for City of Newport News hazing victims.

Why This Case Matters to City of Newport News Families

  1. Proof That “Tradition” is Torture: These aren’t harmless rites. They are systematic abuse. Such practices are not confined to Texas; they can happen at Christopher Newport University, Old Dominion University, or any institution your child might attend here in City of Newport News or elsewhere in Virginia.
  2. Universities Are Complicit: The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where much of this hazing occurred. Universities that draw students from City of Newport News, like those within the Virginia Community College System or the Virginia University System, have the same power to regulate Greek life and prevent hazing. Their failure to act makes them liable.
  3. National Organizations Know: Pi Kappa Phi National immediately dissolved the chapter, confirming they knew exactly what was wrong. The same national organizations operate chapters throughout Virginia. They know hazing is happening, and too often, they choose to turn a blind eye until tragedy strikes.
  4. Victims Are Afraid: Leonel Bermudez is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution,” a fear chillingly common among hazing victims. Students at City of Newport News colleges who have been hazed face the same terrifying dilemma. We protect our clients and ensure their voices are heard safely.
  5. One Brave Victim Can Protect City of Newport News Students: As Lupe Peña said, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do.” Your decision to seek justice for hazing in City of Newport News could literally save lives.
  6. $10 Million Sends a Message: This substantial legal demand is a powerful message to fraternities, universities, and national organizations that the cost of torturing our children is devastatingly high. City of Newport News families can send the same message.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

Parents in City of Newport News often have a vague idea of what hazing entails, perhaps recalling movie tropes or mild “initiations.” The reality, however, is far grimmer, involving practices that amount to physical and psychological torture. This is not about building leadership or camaraderie; it’s about breaking down individuals through fear, pain, and humiliation.

The Reality of Hazing in America:

  • It is not “boys being boys” or “character building.” It is assault, battery, torture, reckless endangerment, and far too often, it leads to manslaughter or murder.
  • The statistics are chilling: Over 55% of students in Greek organizations and 40% of student athletes report experiencing hazing. Tragically, since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every single year in the United States. Ninety-five percent of students who are hazed never report it due to fear, shame, or loyalty.
  • Hazing is pervasive: It occurs not only in fraternities and sororities, but also in sports teams, marching bands, ROTC programs, clubs, and other student organizations.
  • The Institutional Failure: Universities and national organizations are fully aware that hazing is rampant. They possess the power to stop it but frequently choose not to, until a student is hospitalized or dies. Only then do they “suspend” chapters and claim to be “shocked.”

Common Types of Hazing Incidents We See (Drawing from the Bermudez Case and Others):

  • Physical Abuse: This includes beatings, brandings, brutal forced exercise to the point of collapse, paddling (like the wooden paddles reported in the Bermudez case), and sometimes even burning.
  • Forced Consumption: Binge drinking, often until consciousness is lost or organs fail, is a hallmark. But it also extends to forced eating until vomiting (as experienced by Leonel with milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns), and consumption of non-food substances.
  • Sleep Deprivation: Forcing pledges to stay awake for extended periods, or disrupting their sleep patterns with late-night activities and early-morning duties, physically and mentally debilitates them.
  • Psychological Torture: This category includes systematic humiliation, degradation, verbal abuse, isolation, and explicit threats. The fanny pack with sexual objects, the hog-tying incident, and continuous threats of expulsion for non-compliance against Leonel Bermudez are prime examples.
  • Sexual Abuse: Disturbingly, hazing can involve forced nudity, unwanted sexual acts, carrying sexual objects, and other forms of sexual assault. This is a severe and criminal form of hazing that can lead to lifelong trauma.
  • Waterboarding/Simulated Drowning: As Leonel Bermudez experienced with a garden hose, this is a form of torture that mimics drowning, inducing extreme fear and physical distress.
  • Exposure: Leaving pledges in isolated or extreme environments, such as cold weather (e.g., stripping pledges to underwear in cold temperatures as happened in Leonel’s case), or confined spaces.
  • Servitude: Forced cleaning, driving members around, or running errands for active members, turning pledges into personal servants.

Tragic Medical Consequences:

The consequences of such brutal hazing are often severe and can be lifelong:

  • Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Failure: Directly seen in our UH case.
  • Alcohol Poisoning: A common and deadly outcome of forced binge drinking.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury: From beatings, falls, or repeated blows to the head.
  • Hypothermia/Hyperthermia: From extreme exposure.
  • Cardiac Arrest: From extreme physical exertion, especially in individuals with undiagnosed conditions.
  • PTSD, Anxiety, Depression: Long-term psychological damage is almost universal, often requiring extensive therapy.
  • DEATH: The ultimate, irreversible tragedy that far too many families, including some near City of Newport News, have experienced.

Who Is Responsible: Everyone Who Participated or Allowed It

One of the most crucial aspects of hazing litigation is identifying all liable parties. Our Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit exemplifies our thorough approach. We cast a wide net, ensuring every individual and institution that contributed to the harm is held accountable.

1. The Local Chapter:
The Beta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi directly organized and conducted the hazing. The chapter members, particularly officers like the president and pledgemaster, were intimately involved in directing these activities. Beyond direct participation, the chapter bears vicarious liability for the actions of its members and for creating an environment where such abuse was not only tolerated but mandated.

2. Individual Perpetrators:
In our lawsuit, we’ve identified and named 13 individual fraternity members, including the chapter president, pledgemaster, and other active members who participated directly in the hazing. Crucially, we also named former members and even the spouse of a former member, because some major hazing sessions occurred at their private residence. Anyone who directly inflicted harm, encouraged it, permitted it on their property, or failed to intervene can be held personally liable. Virginia law, like Texas, holds individuals accountable for their criminal and civil actions.

3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization:
Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters is a central defendant in our case. National organizations have significant oversight responsibilities. They set policy, provide training, and are supposed to enforce national anti-hazing rules. In the Bermudez case, the lawsuit alleges that the national organization and its housing corporation “failed to enforce anti-hazing rules and policies despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.'” The fact that Andrew Coffey died in a Pi Kappa Phi hazing incident in 2017 makes their knowledge of severe risk undeniable. National organizations often hold millions in assets and liability insurance, making them “deep pockets” crucial for securing substantial compensation.

4. The University or College:
The University of Houston is a major defendant because it owned and directly controlled the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place. Universities have an undeniable duty to protect their students. They have the power to regulate, suspend, or ban Greek organizations, and a responsibility to provide a safe educational environment. When they fail to do so, especially when they have prior knowledge of hazing, their institutional negligence makes them liable. This applies to universities drawing from City of Newport News, whether private, public, or military academies like the United States Coast Guard Academy or the Virginia Military Institute that may have similar “initiation rites.”

5. Housing Corporations:
These entities often own and manage the physical property of fraternity houses. As property owners, they can be held liable under premises liability laws if they failed to maintain a safe environment and allowed dangerous conditions, such as ongoing hazing, to persist. The Beta Nu Housing Corporation is a defendant in our case.

6. Insurance Carriers:
Behind every national organization, university, homeowner, and even individual, there are often insurance policies. Our firm, with attorneys like Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña who have extensive experience from the insurance defense side, knows exactly how to identify these policies and pursue every available avenue for compensation. We are adept at unraveling complex insurance structures, from national liability policies to homeowner’s insurance that may cover individual defendants.

This is not about suing broke college kids. It’s about leveraging every legal tool to hold powerful institutions and negligent individuals accountable. For families in City of Newport News, this means we will identify all relevant parties, from local colleges to national Greek letter organizations, and build an unassailable case.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof

The fight against hazing is not new, and brave victims and their families have secured landmark victories that underscore the severity of these cases. For families in City of Newport News, these multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements send a clear message: justice can be won, and the cost of hazing is devastatingly high. We will apply the same proven legal strategies to cases originating from or impacting City of Newport News.

Landmark Verdicts & Settlements: They Will Pay

1. Stone Foltz — Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)

  • Total Award: Over $10.1 Million
    • Bowling Green State University: Settled for $2.9 Million.
    • Pi Kappa Alpha National + Individuals: Settled for $7.2 Million.
    • Daylen Dunson (individual chapter president): A December 2024 judgment awarded $6.5 million against him personally.
  • What Happened: In March 2021, Stone Foltz died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a Pi Kappa Alpha initiation event.
  • Relevance: This case directly supports our $10 million demand in the Bermudez case. It demonstrates that both universities and national fraternities face multi-million dollar liabilities for hazing. The personal judgment against a former chapter president shows how deeply individual accountability can run, a critical point for any hazing injury or death in City of Newport News.

2. Maxwell Gruver — Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017)

  • Total Award: $6.1 Million Jury Verdict
  • What Happened: In September 2017, Max Gruver died from acute alcohol poisoning with a BAC of 0.495 (six times the legal limit) during a Phi Delta Theta “Bible Study” event where he was forced to drink if he answered questions incorrectly.
  • Relevance: This jury verdict unequivocally proves that juries are willing to award millions for hazing deaths. It led to the “Max Gruver Act” in Louisiana, making hazing a felony, showing that these cases inspire significant legislative change. This verdict is a powerful warning to Greek organizations and universities in City of Newport News that juries hate hazing.

3. Timothy Piazza — Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017)

  • Total Award: Over $110 Million (Estimated Settlements)
  • What Happened: In February 2017, Timothy Piazza was forced to consume 18 alcoholic drinks in 82 minutes during a “gauntlet” ritual. After falling repeatedly down stairs, he suffered a traumatic brain injury. Fraternity brothers waited 12 hours before calling 911. Security cameras captured the entire horrific event.
  • Relevance: This catastrophic case, with its immense settlements (estimated at over $110 million), demonstrates the potential for astronomical damages when evidence of egregious conduct and institutional failure is undeniable, as in our Bermudez case. It also led to Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.”

4. Andrew Coffey — Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017)

  • Total Award: Confidential Settlement
  • What Happened: On November 3, 2017, Andrew Coffey died from acute alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during a “Big Brother Night” event.
  • Relevance: This is the SAME national fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, as in our ongoing Bermudez case. Andrew Coffey died eight years before Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized. This provides irrefutable “pattern evidence” that Pi Kappa Phi National knew about deadly hazing within its chapters and failed to act, directly bolstering our claims for punitive damages for families in City of Newport News.

5. University of Alabama / Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2023)

  • Total Award: Lawsuit Filed (pending)
  • What Happened: Lawsuit filed alleging a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from hazing, claiming fraud, negligence, and assault against SAE and individuals.
  • Relevance: This case shows that even non-death, serious injury cases (like Leonel Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure) are being actively pursued with major lawsuits, setting another important precedent for hazing victims across the country, including those near City of Newport News.

6. UT Austin Sigma Chi (November 2025)

  • Total Award: Lawsuit Recently Filed
  • What Happened: An 18-year-old freshman died by suicide following “horrific abuse” during Sigma Chi hazing.
  • Relevance: This tragic case, filed the same week our Bermudez lawsuit was announced, underscores the pervasive and deadly nature of hazing, even here in Texas. It sends an immediate, clear warning to any fraternity, including those at Christopher Newport University or William & Mary, that the consequences of hazing can be fatal.

Laws Created Because of Hazing Deaths:

These horrific incidents have driven legislative change, turning tragedy into a legacy of protection. From the “Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law” in Pennsylvania to Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act” and Ohio’s “Collin’s Law,” these laws strengthen protections for students. Texas already has a foundational anti-hazing law, but these additional federal and state efforts emphasize the growing national resolve to combat hazing. Our firm is committed to supporting these efforts and leveraging them for the benefit of hazing victims in City of Newport News.

Why These Precedents Matter for Our Case and for City of Newport News Victims:

  • Our $10 Million Demand is Supported by Precedent: Cases like Stone Foltz ($10.1M) directly validate our demand. Even though Leonel survived, his injuries (kidney failure, rhabdomyolysis) are severe, lifelong, and excruciating, demanding significant compensation for medical bills, future complications, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
  • Pi Kappa Phi Has a Death on Their Record: The death of Andrew Coffey at an FSU Pi Kappa Phi chapter in 2017 means the national organization had undeniable awareness of the risk. Eight years later, Leonel was hospitalized. This establishes a clear pattern of negligence and conscious indifference.
  • University of Houston Has a Prior Hazing Incident: The 2017 hospitalization of a student at UH from hazing by Pi Kappa Alpha means the University had prior notice. They knew. They failed to implement protections. Their negligence is glaring. This is a crucial lesson for universities in Virginia, such as James Madison University or George Mason University, which may have their own historical hazing issues.
  • Juries Hate Hazing: The $6.1 million verdict in the Gruver case proves that juries are outraged by hazing and are willing to award significant sums. The egregious conduct in our case—waterboarding, forced eating, 500 squats—will undoubtedly provoke similar outrage from a jury.
  • Criminal Charges May Follow: Texas law, like Virginia law under its Code § 18.2-56, makes hazing a crime, with potential for felony charges in cases of death. The UH spokesperson’s mention of “potential criminal charges” confirms this possibility, strengthening the civil case.

Texas Hazing Law Protects You, City of Newport News

For families in City of Newport News, understanding the legal landscape is crucial. While our firm is based in Texas, where our lead case is currently being litigated, the principles of hazing law and civil liability apply across states, including Virginia. Our federal court admissions also allow us to pursue certain hazing cases in relevant federal jurisdictions, wherever they may be.

Texas Hazing Laws: A Model for Accountability

Texas law is robust in its stance against hazing, offering clear protections and pathways for accountability.

Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157 — Anti-Hazing Law

  • Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151): Texas law broadly defines hazing as “any intentional, knowing, or reckless act occurring on or off campus, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging… if the act: (1) is any type of physical brutality… (2) involves sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other similar activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm… (3) involves consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage… (4) is any activity that… involves a violation of the Penal Code… (5) involves coercing… the student to consume… an alcoholic beverage or liquor in an amount that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the student is intoxicated.”

    • City of Newport News Application: Virginia’s anti-hazing law (Code § 18.2-56) has a similar broad definition, encompassing any act “to initiate, admit, continue, or enhance membership” through “brutality… mental or physical requirement or obligation… that causes or is likely to cause bodily danger or physical or psychological harm.” The hazing your child experienced, whether in Virginia or another state, almost certainly violates both criminal statutes and triggers civil liability.

  • Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152): Texas outlines severe criminal penalties, from Class B Misdemeanors for mere participation, to Class A Misdemeanors for hazing causing serious bodily injury (up to 1 year jail, $4,000 fine), and even State Jail Felonies for hazing causing death (up to 2 years state jail, $10,000 fine).

    • City of Newport News Application: Virginia’s hazing law also provides for criminal penalties, starting with a Class 1 misdemeanor, and escalating to a Class 5 felony if the hazing results in injury to another. If death occurs, that becomes a Class 4 felony. This illustrates that such egregious conduct is rarely just a “fraternity matter.”

  • Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): Organizations that condone, encourage, or whose officers/members commit hazing can face fines up to $10,000, denial of operating rights, and forfeiture of property.

    • City of Newport News Application: These penalties for organizations extend nationally, showing that universities and fraternities can face serious institutional consequences.

  • Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154): This is perhaps the most crucial legal protection: “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.”

    • City of Newport News Application: This critical provision, common in many state hazing laws, including Virginia, dismantles the common defense used by perpetrators: “they knew what they were signing up for” or “they could have left.” The law recognizes that true consent is impossible under duress, coercion, and social pressure. Your child cannot legally consent to being hazed.

  • University Reporting Requirements (§ 37.155): Universities in Texas are mandated to report hazing incidents. Failure to report is a crime.

    • City of Newport News Application: Many states have similar reporting requirements for transparency and accountability. Violation of these laws demonstrates further institutional negligence.

Civil Liability for Hazing: What City of Newport News Victims Can Sue For

Beyond criminal charges, civil lawsuits provide the only pathway for victims and families in City of Newport News to recover compensation for their immense suffering and losses. Regardless of whether criminal charges are pursued, a civil case can proceed to hold all responsible parties financially accountable.

  1. Negligence Claims: This is the bedrock of most personal injury claims. We argue that institutions (universities, national fraternities) and individuals owed a duty of care to the student, breached that duty (by allowing or participating in hazing), directly causing the injuries and resulting in quantifiable damages. This applies across City of Newport News and all states.
  2. Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by the university (like the UH fraternity house), or even a private residence of a member, the property owner can be held liable for failing to maintain a safe environment.
  3. Negligent Supervision: This applies when national fraternities fail to adequately supervise their local chapters, or when universities fail to monitor Greek life activities, allowing hazing to flourish unchecked.
  4. Assault and Battery: Individuals who directly inflict physical harm (e.g., striking with paddles, forced waterboarding) can be sued for intentional torts like assault and battery, allowing for personal accountability.
  5. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED): Hazing practices are often so extreme and outrageous that they meet the high bar for IIED claims, compensating victims for severe psychological trauma, PTSD, and mental anguish.
  6. Vicarious Liability: This legal principle allows an entity (like a national fraternity or university) to be held responsible for the actions of its agents (local chapters, student organizations, employees), even if they didn’t directly participate.
  7. Wrongful Death: In the most tragic cases, where hazing results in death, surviving family members can bring a wrongful death claim to recover for emotional distress, loss of companionship, financial support, and funeral expenses.

For City of Newport News families, these civil claims are universally available. Our firm is equipped to navigate these complex legal theories and pursue justice aggressively, ensuring that geographical distance does not diminish your rights.

Why Attorney911: Your Legal Emergency Lawyers™

When your child is suffering from hazing, you need immediate, aggressive, and professional help. You need tenacious advocates who are not afraid to take on powerful institutions. You need Attorney911. Our firm is not just another personal injury law firm; we are uniquely positioned to be the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for hazing victims in City of Newport News, Virginia, and nationwide.

What Sets Us Apart for City of Newport News Hazing Victims:

  • We Are Actively Fighting Hazing Right Now: Our $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston is proof. We didn’t just read about hazing; we are in the trenches of litigation against a major national fraternity and a large university. This direct, recent experience gives us unparalleled insight into current hazing tactics, institutional defenses, and effective legal strategies. City of Newport News families don’t get theoretical advice; they get battle-tested expertise.
  • Decades of Courtroom Experience: Ralph Manginello brings over 25 years of battle-tested trial experience. He has pursued complex cases against massive corporations, notably participating in the multi-billion dollar mass tort litigation against BP following the Texas City refinery explosion that killed 15 workers. This experience demonstrates his capacity to take on defendants of any size, a crucial advantage when facing national fraternities and large universities.
  • Insider Knowledge: Former Insurance Defense Attorneys: Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña began their careers defending insurance companies and corporations. Mr. Peña, in particular, worked for Litchfield Cavo LLP, a national defense firm, where he learned their strategies for minimizing claims across diverse practice areas. This means we know their playbook inside and out. We anticipate their tactics, dismantle their defenses, and leverage this insider knowledge to maximize recovery for our clients. For City of Newport News families, this is an unfair advantage: we know how the other side thinks because we used to be the other side.
  • Federal Court Authority: Our admission to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and Ralph’s experience in the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals, means we are authorized to litigate cases in federal courts. Many hazing cases involve federal questions (e.g., Title IX, civil rights violations, multi-state defendants), and federal court jurisdiction can be a significant strategic advantage. For City of Newport News victims, regardless of where they were hazed, we can often pursue justice at the federal level.
  • Dual-State Bar Admission (Texas & New York): Ralph Manginello’s license in both Texas and New York provides a strategic edge. Many national fraternities and sororities are headquartered outside of Texas, with New York being a common hub for corporate operations and insurance carriers. This dual licensure strengthens our ability to pursue claims against national organizations wherever they may be incorporated or operate.
  • Se Habla Español: Our bilingual staff, including Lupe Peña who is fluent in Spanish, ensures that language is never a barrier to justice. We are dedicated to serving Spanish-speaking families in Hispanic communities within City of Newport News and beyond, providing compassionate and comprehensive legal support without any linguistic hurdles.
  • Contingency Fee Basis: No Upfront Cost to You: We understand that families grappling with the trauma of hazing shouldn’t also bear the burden of legal fees. We take hazing cases on contingency. This means you pay absolutely nothing upfront. We only get paid if and when we win your case. This removes financial barriers, allowing every City of Newport News family to access aggressive legal representation against powerful defendants.
  • Reputation for Aggression and Results: Our firm has a proven track record, reflected in over 250 five-star Google reviews and consistent media attention. Clients describe Ralph Manginello as a “true PITT BULL and fighter.” We are known for our aggressive approach and our willingness to take cases to trial if necessary, refusing to back down from insurance companies or powerful institutions.
  • Compassionate & Client-Centered Approach: Despite our aggressive legal posture, we maintain a warm, empathetic, and parent-facing approach. Our testimonials frequently highlight how clients feel “like family.” We prioritize constant communication, keeping you informed at every step. For City of Newport News families dealing with profound emotional distress, we offer not just legal expertise but genuine human support.
  • Comprehensive Client Education: Through our “Attorney 911” podcast, YouTube channel, and published articles, we empower victims with knowledge. We demystify the legal process, explain your rights, and guide you through the complexities of personal injury and hazing litigation. We believe informed clients make the best decisions for their future.
  • Willingness to Travel: While our offices are in Texas, distance is not a barrier to justice. We utilize video consultations for initial meetings and are committed to traveling to City of Newport News for depositions, client meetings, and trials as needed. Your location doesn’t prevent us from fighting for you.

When you choose Attorney911, you’re not just hiring lawyers; you’re gaining a team that is emotionally invested in your child’s recovery and driven by a righteous fury to hold wrongdoers accountable. We see your child as a person, not a case file, and we will fight fiercely for justice for your City of Newport News family.

What to Do Right Now: Actionable Guidance for City of Newport News Families

If your child has been subjected to hazing, the moments immediately following the incident are critical. While the emotional turmoil can be overwhelming, quick and decisive action can make all the difference in preserving evidence and strengthening your legal case in City of Newport News.

1. Prioritize Medical Attention – Document Everything

Your child’s health and safety come first. Seek immediate medical attention, even if injuries seem minor or the full extent of harm is not immediately apparent. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some conditions, like rhabdomyolysis or internal injuries, only manifest later.

  • Go to the ER or a doctor: Whether it’s Sentara Port Warwick, Newport News Shipbuilding Occupational Health, or another medical facility in the City of Newport News area, ensure a medical professional examines your child.
  • Be explicit: Tell medical staff exactly what happened and that you suspect hazing. This ensures it is documented in medical records.
  • Keep all records: Retain copies of all hospital records, doctor’s notes, test results (like the creatine kinase levels that confirmed Leonel Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis), bills, prescriptions, and any recommendations for ongoing care or therapy.
  • Document psychological impact: Trauma from hazing often leads to PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Seek mental health counseling and maintain records of all therapist notes, diagnoses, and treatment plans.

2. Preserve All Evidence – Your Child’s Voice in Court

The strength of your case hinges on the evidence you can provide. Hazing often occurs in secret, and perpetrators frequently try to destroy evidence.

  • Text Messages & Group Chats: Critical evidence often lies in group texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, and other messaging apps. Screenshots of communications about pledge activities, threats, instructions, photos, or videos are invaluable. Even seemingly innocuous messages can paint a picture of coercion or control.
  • Photos & Videos: If available, preserve any photos or videos of hazing activities. Critically, take detailed photos of your child’s injuries at all stages of healing – bruises, cuts, burns, or any physical manifestations. Continue to document the healing process over time.
  • Social Media: Go through your child’s social media accounts for any posts, stories, or messages related to the fraternity/sorority or events. Remember, the defense will scrutinize these accounts.
  • Documents: Save any “pledge manuals,” schedules, rules, or communications received from the organization or university.
  • Witness Information: Collect names and contact information for any other pledges, active members who may be sympathetic, or bystanders who witnessed hazing or its effects. Their testimony can be crucial.
  • Financial Records: Keep track of medical bills, lost wages (if your child missed work or internships), and any tuition or fees for a semester disrupted by the hazing.

CRITICAL: DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING. Deleting messages or social media posts, even if you think they are unhelpful, can be seen as spoliation of evidence and severely harm your case.

3. Avoid These Common Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case:

  • Do NOT talk to the fraternity/sorority leadership or members: They are obligated to protect their organization, not your child. Any communication without legal counsel can be twisted or used against you.
  • Do NOT talk to university administration or their lawyers alone: Universities, like fraternities, will prioritize protecting their reputation and limiting liability. Any statements given can be used to shift blame or minimize the incident.
  • Do NOT sign anything: Never sign any documents from the organization, university, or insurance companies without having it reviewed by your attorney. You could inadvertently waive your child’s rights.
  • Do NOT post about the incident on social media: Anything posted can be used by the defense to discredit your child or minimize their suffering. Assume everything is discoverable.
  • Do NOT delay: The legal process is time-sensitive. Evidence vanishes, memories fade, and most jurisdictions, including Virginia, have a strict statute of limitations (typically two years for personal injury, similar to Texas’s two-year rule).

4. Call Us Immediately – The Attorney911 Advantage for City of Newport News

The moments after a hazing incident are a true legal emergency. You need a team that acts fast, aggressively, and decisively. That’s Attorney911.

Why immediate action with us matters for City of Newport News families:

  • Preserve Evidence: We’ll immediately send preservation letters to all potential defendants, legally compelling them to retain all relevant records, communications, and surveillance footage.
  • Navigate Complexities: Hazing cases involve a tangled web of individual, local chapter, national organization, and university liabilities. We excel at unraveling this complexity.
  • Protect Your Rights: We’ll handle all communications with the fraternity, university, and their legal teams, shielding your family from manipulation and coercion.
  • Time is of the Essence: The statute of limitations for personal injury in Virginia is generally two years from the date of the injury. For wrongful death, it’s also two years. While this might seem like a long time, building a strong hazing case requires extensive investigation and often takes many months. Delays can be fatal to a claim. Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case was hospitalized November 6, and our lawsuit was filed within weeks – that’s the kind of immediate action we take.

We offer free, confidential consultations, available 24/7. We can conduct video meetings with City of Newport News families, and our commitment to traveling for depositions, meetings, and trials means distance is never a barrier to justice.

Your child didn’t ask for this. But you can demand accountability. Call us. Let us begin the fight.

🚨 City of Newport News Families: You Have Legal Rights. We Are Fighting This Fight Right Now.

If your child has been hazed at Christopher Newport University, Old Dominion University, Hampton University, or any college where a student from City of Newport News attends, know that you are not alone. What happened to our client in Houston is not an isolated incident; it’s a terrifying pattern that repeats across campuses nationwide. We are Attorney 911, and we are fighting this battle RIGHT NOW – and we will bring that same aggressive, data-driven fight to City of Newport News victims.

Our attorneys are currently representing a hazing victim against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston in a landmark $10 MILLION lawsuit. This is not theoretical; this is active litigation demonstrating our expertise in building these complex cases, holding powerful institutions accountable, and securing significant justice for victims. Families in City of Newport News can expect and will receive the same fierce representation.

City of Newport News Families — Call Now — Free Consultation

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com

You can reach us 24/7 for hazing emergencies involving students from City of Newport News. We work on a CONTINGENCY FEE basis, which means there are $0 upfront costs for City of Newport News families. We don’t get paid unless YOU get paid. This ensures that financial concerns never prevent desperate families from seeking the justice they deserve.

What City of Newport News Hazing Victims Should Do Right Now:

  1. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION: If your child has not yet received professional medical care, do so immediately. Documenting injuries is paramount for linking them directly to the hazing incident.
  2. PRESERVE ALL EVIDENCE: Time is of the essence. Gather and secure every text message, GroupMe chat, Snapchat, Instagram post, photo, video, and witness name. Do not delete anything. This digital footprint can be the most powerful evidence in your case. You can use your phone to help document evidence; watch our video: Using Your Phone to Document Evidence.
  3. DO NOT TALK TO THE FRATERNITY/SORORITY, UNIVERSITY, OR THEIR LAWYERS: Any statements given to them without legal counsel can be used against your child. Let your attorney be the sole point of contact.
  4. DO NOT POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Even seemingly harmless posts about daily life can be distorted by the defense to undermine your child’s claims of suffering.
  5. CALL US IMMEDIATELY: Virginia, like Texas, has a strict statute of limitations (typically two years) for personal injury and wrongful death cases. Evidence disappears, and memories fade. Every day that passes can weaken your claim. We can also discuss common mistakes that can ruin your injury case; learn more here: Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case.
  6. DISTANCE IS NOT A BARRIER: Even though our offices are in Texas, our firm serves hazing victims nationwide. We offer convenient video consultations for City of Newport News families and commit to traveling to Virginia for critical aspects of your case, such as depositions, client meetings, and trials, when necessary.

We Serve City of Newport News Hazing Victims – And Hazing Victims Nationwide

Hazing is endemic, not isolated to specific regions or organizations. We represent victims of hazing in:

  • Fraternities and sororities at colleges and universities throughout Virginia, including those where students from City of Newport News enroll.
  • Sports teams, from high school to NCAA collegiate programs.
  • Marching bands, ROTC programs, and other student clubs and organizations that perpetuate abusive “initiation” rites.
  • Military academies and other intense institutional environments.

Hazing is not limited to Greek life in City of Newport News; it permeates any organization that uses abuse to enforce submission.

To Other Victims of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing:

We know there are more of you. Leonel Bermudez was not the only one subjected to this terror. Another pledge collapsed and lost consciousness. Others endured the waterboarding, the forced eating, the brutal workouts. You have legal rights too, and we can represent you.

As Lupe Peña so powerfully stated, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Call us. Join the fight. Together, we can bring them ALL to justice.

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