The Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuit & Accountability for Families in Cleburne County, Alabama

If Your Student Was Hazed in a Fraternity, Sorority, Corps Program, or Campus Organization, You Are Not Alone

Picture a quiet evening in Cleburne County—perhaps in Heflin or Edwardsville, Ranburne or Fruithurst. Your phone rings. It’s your child, a student at a university hours away. Their voice is strained, hesitant. They talk about “mandatory” events that keep them out until 3 AM, about older members demanding strange tasks, about feeling trapped between wanting to belong and knowing something isn’t right. Maybe they mention bruises they can’t explain, or extreme exhaustion that goes beyond normal college stress. You hear the fear, the confusion, and your parent’s intuition screams that this isn’t just “college life.”

This scenario unfolds in Alabama communities like ours and across the nation. Hazing isn’t a relic of the past; it’s a present, evolving danger that disguises abuse as “tradition” and “bonding.” At The Manginello Law Firm, operating as Attorney911 (Legal Emergency Lawyers™), we are fighting one of the nation’s most severe hazing cases right now in Texas, and we bring that same relentless advocacy to help families in Alabama and nationwide.

This guide is for you—parents and families in Cleburne County and across Alabama. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, your legal rights, the patterns of institutional failure, and the practical steps to protect your child and seek accountability. If hazing has touched your family, you don’t have to navigate this crisis alone.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for medical emergencies.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for immediate legal guidance.

In the first 48 hours:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if the student insists they are “fine.”
2. Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted:
   • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, texts), DMs, and social media posts.
   • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
   • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects used).
3. Document Everything: Write down who, what, when, and where while memories are fresh.
4. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or organization directly.
   • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
   • Post details on public social media.
   • Allow messages to be deleted or devices to be “cleaned up.”

Contact an experienced hazing attorney immediately. Evidence disappears rapidly. Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

Hazing has evolved far beyond simplistic stereotypes. It is any activity expected of someone joining, participating in, or maintaining membership in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate. For Cleburne County families, understanding these modern tactics is the first step in recognizing danger.

The Three Tiers of Modern Hazing

1. Subtle Hazing: The “Gateway”
Often dismissed as “harmless tradition,” this establishes power imbalances. It includes:

• Mandatory servitude: Acting as a 24/7 designated driver, cleaning houses, running personal errands for older members.
• Social isolation: Being cut off from non-member friends, requiring permission to socialize.
• Psychological control: Being assigned a derogatory nickname, answering only when spoken to, carrying degrading “pledge items.”
• Digital monitoring: Being required to share live location via apps, respond instantly to group chats at all hours, or submit to social media policing.

2. Harassment Hazing: Creating a Hostile Environment
These behaviors cause clear emotional or physical distress:

• Sleep deprivation: Late-night “meetings,” 3 AM wake-up calls for “activities,” multi-day events with minimal rest.
• Forced consumption: Eating excessive amounts of bland food (milk, bread, raw onions) or unpleasant substances until vomiting.
• Verbal abuse: Yelling, screaming, public humiliation, and threats.
• “Voluntary” extreme exercise: “Smokings” or calisthenics (hundreds of push-ups, wall-sits to collapse) framed as “conditioning.”

3. Violent Hazing: High Risk of Injury or Death
These are the acts that make national headlines and destroy lives:

• Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, drinking games like “Bible Study” where wrong answers mean drinking, lineups, funneling.
• Physical Assault: Paddling, beatings, tackling rituals (“glass ceiling”), forced fights.
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexual assault.
• Dangerous Environments: Being locked in freezing rooms, left outside in extreme weather, kidnapping to remote locations.
• Chemical Hazing: Having harmful substances like industrial cleaners poured on the skin, causing severe burns.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond the Stereotype

While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing pervades many campus groups:

• Fraternities & Sororities (Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Multicultural).
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading).
• Military-Style Programs (ROTC, Corps of Cadets).
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups.
• Spirit Organizations and “secret” campus societies.
• Academic or Service Clubs.

The common thread is a dynamic where established members wield power over new members through tradition, secrecy, and the powerful human desire to belong.

Law & Liability: Your Rights Under Alabama and Federal Law

Alabama Hazing Statute

Alabama has specific laws criminalizing hazing. Under Alabama Code § 16-1-23, hazing is defined as any willful act directed against a student for the purpose of initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in an organization, which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student.

Key Provisions for Cleburne County Families:

• Consent is NOT a Defense: Even if your child “agreed,” it is not a defense under the law (Alabama Code § 16-1-23(c)).
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class C misdemeanor. However, if the hazing results in serious bodily injury, it becomes a Class A misdemeanor. Organizations that knowingly permit hazing can be fined up to $5,000.
• Duty to Report: School administrators, faculty, and staff are required to report hazing incidents.
• Immunity for Reporters: Individuals who report hazing in good faith are immune from civil and criminal liability.

Civil Liability: The Path to Accountability and Compensation

A criminal case is brought by the state to punish wrongdoing. A civil lawsuit is brought by the victim or their family to recover damages and hold all responsible parties accountable. They can proceed simultaneously.

In a civil hazing case, you can seek compensation for:

• Medical Expenses (past and future): Emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, therapy, medications.
• Lost Wages & Earning Capacity: Time off work, delayed education, diminished future earnings due to permanent injury.
• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain and emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression, humiliation).
• Wrongful Death Damages: If hazing results in death, families can recover funeral costs, loss of companionship, and emotional anguish.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

A thorough investigation identifies every entity with responsibility:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As an organization, if it authorized or tolerated the conduct.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to supervise, enforce policies, or act on known patterns of abuse. (This is where our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine proves invaluable—we track these national organizations).
4. The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations (if the hazing is sex-based).
5. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, alumni advisors, or event venues that enabled the conduct.

Federal Overlays: Title IX and the Stop Campus Hazing Act

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, universities have a legal duty to investigate and address it. Failure to do so can create separate federal liability.
• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs, increasing transparency for families.

Proof of What We Can Do: The Leonel Bermudez vs. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi Case

Right now, our firm is leading one of the most serious hazing lawsuits in the country. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student and Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu chapter) pledge who suffered life-threatening injuries in Fall 2025.

This case is not a hypothetical; it is active, high-stakes litigation demonstrating exactly how we fight for hazing victims. Here’s what happened:

The Hazing: During his pledge period, Bermudez was subjected to systematic abuse. He was forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms and humiliating items at all times. He endured enforced dress codes, overnight chauffeuring duties, and weekly interrogations. The physical hazing included extreme workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting. On November 3, he was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion.

The Catastrophe: The abuse led to rhabdomyolysis—a severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, could not stand, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels. He faces a lifelong risk of permanent kidney damage.

Our Action: We filed a $10 million lawsuit in Harris County, Texas, against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the local housing corporation, the UH Board of Regents, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. Following our lawsuit and media exposure (Click2Houston report, ABC13 coverage), the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter was suspended and its members voted to surrender their charter. The university called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

Why This Matters for Cleburne County Families: This case proves our firm’s capability to take on powerful universities and national fraternities. The same organizations operating in Texas—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Alpha Order, and others—also have chapters at Alabama universities. The same insurance companies defend them. The same institutional playbook for denial and delay is used everywhere. Our experience in this Texas courtroom translates directly to helping your family in Alabama.

The Greek Life Landscape: Where Cleburne County Students May Be at Risk

Cleburne County students attend universities across Alabama and the Southeast, many with robust and historically problematic Greek life systems. Understanding this landscape is crucial.

Major Alabama Universities with Significant Greek Life

• University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa): One of the largest Greek systems in the nation.
• Auburn University: A major SEC school with a deeply entrenched Greek culture.
• University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), University of South Alabama, Jacksonville State University, Troy University, and others all have active fraternity and sorority communities.

National Organizations with Documented Hazing Histories

The fraternities and sororities on Alabama campuses are chapters of national organizations. Many have long, documented histories of hazing incidents across the country, which creates “foreseeability” and strengthens claims against their national headquarters. These include:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Has faced numerous hazing deaths and injury lawsuits nationwide.
• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Responsible for the Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green State University ($10M+ settlement).
• Phi Delta Theta: Responsible for the Max Gruver death at LSU, leading to Louisiana’ “Max Gruver Act.”
• Pi Kappa Phi: The national organization we are currently suing in the Bermudez case.
• Kappa Alpha Order: Frequently involved in physical hazing and suspensions.
• Many National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC or “Divine Nine”) organizations have also faced hazing allegations, often involving physical paddling traditions.

When a chapter at the University of Alabama or Auburn repeats the same dangerous rituals that caused injury at a chapter in Ohio or Louisiana, it demonstrates the national organization’s failure to adequately prevent harm.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Our Investigative Edge

Winning a hazing case requires converting outrage into a compelling legal argument backed by undeniable evidence. This is where our firm’s unique resources and experience create a decisive advantage.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

We methodically gather and preserve:

• Digital Evidence: The #1 source of proof. We secure group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), text messages, DMs, and social media posts that plan, document, or brag about hazing. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages. Our video on using your phone to document evidence explains critical first steps.
• Internal Organization Records: Through discovery, we obtain the national fraternity’s risk management files, prior incident reports for the chapter, pledge education materials, and communications between local and national leaders.
• University Records: We subpoena the school’s prior disciplinary records for the same organization, proving a pattern they knew or should have known about.
• Medical Documentation: Comprehensive records linking the injuries directly to the hazing events.
• Witness Testimony: Interviews with other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: A Blueprint for National Cases

While this specific database tracks Texas entities, it exemplifies the investigative depth we apply to every case. We don’t start from scratch; we know how to trace the corporate and insurance structures behind Greek organizations. For an Alabama case, we:

1. Identify the local chapter and its officers.
2. Investigate the national headquarters’ structure and insurance carriers.
3. Research the national organization’s hazing history across the country to establish pattern and practice.
4. Uncover the network of alumni housing corporations and advisory boards that exercise control.
   This proactive, data-driven approach prevents defendants from claiming they were “unaware” or “rogue.”

Overcoming Standard Defense Tactics

We know the playbook because we’ve fought it before. We anticipate and counter defenses like:

• “The Victim Consented”: We argue—and the law supports—that consent under coercion and power imbalance is invalid. Alabama statute explicitly rejects this defense.
• “It Was Off-Campus”: Liability is not determined by geography but by control, sponsorship, and foreseeability.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We expose the national organization’s knowledge of prior incidents and its inadequate supervision or enforcement of its own policies.
• “Insurance Doesn’t Cover This”: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney. He knows precisely how these insurers argue and how to overcome coverage exclusions to secure compensation for our clients.

Practical Guide for Cleburne County Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and First Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight change.
• Secrecy about organizational activities, new vocabulary, or evasive answers.
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or defensiveness.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Financial requests for unexplained “fines,” “dues,” or purchases.

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Prioritize Safety: If there’s immediate danger, call 911.
2. Listen & Document: Talk calmly with your child. Write down dates, details, and names they mention.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help them screenshot everything before it’s deleted. Photograph injuries.
4. Seek Medical Care: Get a professional evaluation, even for psychological trauma.
5. Consult a Lawyer BEFORE Reporting: An attorney can guide you on how to report to the university or police without compromising evidence or your position. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

For Students: Is This Hazing and How Do You Get Out?

Ask Yourself:

• Am I being pressured or coerced?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences for refusing?
• Am I being told to keep it a secret?
  If you answer “yes,” it is hazing.

How to Exit Safely:

• Your safety comes first. You have the right to leave any organization at any time.
• Tell a trusted person outside the group (parent, friend, RA) first.
• Submit your resignation in writing (email/text) to the chapter president.
• Do not attend “one last meeting” where you could be pressured or threatened.
• If you fear retaliation, report that fear immediately to campus authorities and police. Document any threats.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage a Case

Our video on client mistakes that can ruin an injury case details these pitfalls. In hazing cases, they include:

• Deleting evidence (messages, photos) out of shame or fear.
• Confronting the organization directly, giving them a head start to destroy evidence and coach witnesses.
• Signing university-offered resolutions or waivers without legal advice.
• Posting about the incident on social media, creating a discoverable record that defense attorneys will scrutinize.
• Waiting too long. Alabama has statutes of limitations. Evidence and witness memories fade. Contact us promptly to protect your rights.

Why Choose The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911?

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need advocates who are not intimidated by powerful institutions and who understand the complex mechanics of these cases.

We are Texas-based hazing litigation specialists serving families nationwide, including in Alabama. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation Experience: We are currently leading the $10 million Leonel Bermudez vs. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are in the fight right now.
• Insider Insurance Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), is a former insurance defense lawyer for national firms. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers try to deny, delay, and minimize claims. He uses that insider knowledge to secure maximum compensation for our clients. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background.
• Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants: Founding attorney Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff lawyers involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have proven we can stand toe-to-toe with the deepest-pocketed institutional defendants. See Ralph Manginello’s profile for his full credentials.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise clients navigating both systems.
• Investigative Depth & Resources: We employ a network of experts—digital forensics specialists, medical professionals, economists, and life-care planners—to build an unassailable case.
• Nationwide Service Model: While our physical offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, we serve hazing victims and families across the country. For Alabama cases, we can serve as co-counsel with a local Alabama attorney or act as lead counsel on cases with connections to Texas (like a national fraternity headquartered or insured here). We provide free consultations and case evaluations to families anywhere in the U.S.
• Spanish-Language Services: Se habla Español. Mr. Peña is fluent in Spanish, ensuring Hispanic families in Cleburne County and beyond can access help in their preferred language.
• “No Fee Unless We Win” Policy: We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront costs. Our fees are calculated as a percentage of the recovery we secure for you. Watch our video explaining how contingency fees work.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you are a parent in Cleburne County, Heflin, Edwardsville, or anywhere in Alabama, and you believe your child has been hazed, we are here to listen and help.

During your free consultation, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights under Alabama and federal law.
• Outline the potential paths forward, including civil litigation.
• Discuss our no-cost-upfront fee structure.
• Answer your questions honestly.

You are not alone in this fight. The same organizations that injure students in Texas operate in Alabama. The same institutional cover-ups happen. The same need for aggressive, experienced legal advocacy exists.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) today:

• Call our Legal Emergency Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com (for Spanish)

Let us use our experience, our data-driven approach, and our relentless commitment to justice to help your family find answers, secure accountability, and begin the journey toward healing.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of Our Active Hazing Case:

• Click2Houston investigation: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/
• ABC13 coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Using your phone to document evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Understanding statutes of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client mistakes to avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Our Firm:

• Main Website & Contact: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. The outcome of any legal matter depends on the specific facts and circumstances. If you need legal advice, please consult with a licensed attorney directly. Contacting us does not establish an attorney-client relationship until an agreement is signed.