🚨 Hazing Victims in Cleveland County, Arkansas: Your Legal Rights and How to Seek Justice

This Could Happen in Cleveland County. It Has Happened Before. It Will Happen Again — Unless We Stop It.

If you or someone you love has been a victim of hazing in Cleveland County, Arkansas, you are not alone. What happened to Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston — waterboarding, forced exercise to the point of kidney failure, and psychological torture — happens at colleges and universities across America, including institutions near Cleveland County.

The same national fraternities that operate at the University of Arkansas, Henderson State University, and other schools in the region have chapters with the same dangerous cultures. The same negligence exists at local institutions. And Cleveland County families deserve the same aggressive legal representation that Attorney 911 is providing in Houston.

We are currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for what they did to Leonel Bermudez. We know how to build these cases. We know how to win. And we will fight for Cleveland County victims with the same determination.

🏥 What Happened to Leonel Bermudez — And What Could Happen in Cleveland County

Leonel Bermudez, a young man who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. What followed was weeks of systematic abuse that hospitalized him for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.

The Hazing Activities That Sent Him to the Hospital:

• Waterboarding with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
• Forced to perform 500+ squats and 100+ pushups — until he collapsed
• Struck with wooden paddles — physical assault
• Forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting — then forced to continue exercising
• Forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass — humiliation and degradation
• Sleep deprivation — forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours
• Psychological torture — threats of expulsion, enforced dress codes, weekly interrogations
• Another pledge lost consciousness and collapsed — they kept going

On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was punished for missing an event. He was forced to perform extreme exercises until he could not stand without help. He crawled up the stairs when he got home. The next day, he was so sore he couldn’t move. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure, requiring four days of inpatient care.

Why This Matters to Cleveland County Families

• Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide, including at universities near Cleveland County.
• The same “traditions” that hospitalized Bermudez exist at local fraternities and sororities.
• Universities near Cleveland County face the same liability failures as UH.
• If your child is being hazed in Cleveland County, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting in Houston.

⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Hazing Victim in Cleveland County

1. Hazing Is Illegal in Arkansas

Arkansas law (Ark. Code Ann. § 6-5-201) defines hazing as:

“Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act… that endangers the physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in an organization.”

This includes:

• Physical brutality (paddling, beatings, forced exercise)
• Forced consumption of food, alcohol, or drugs
• Psychological abuse (humiliation, threats, sleep deprivation)
• Sexual assault or harassment
• Any activity that creates a risk of serious injury or death

Consent is NOT a defense. Even if a victim “agreed” to participate, Arkansas law explicitly states that consent does not justify hazing.

2. Who Is Liable for Hazing in Cleveland County?

If your child was hazed, multiple parties can be held legally and financially responsible, including:

In our Pi Kappa Phi case, we are suing:

• The local chapter
• Pi Kappa Phi National
• The University of Houston (which owned the fraternity house)
• Individual members and officers
• Former members and their spouses

Cleveland County families can pursue the same defendants.

💰 What Compensation Can Cleveland County Hazing Victims Recover?

Hazing victims and their families may be entitled to economic, non-economic, and punitive damages, including:

1. Economic Damages (Actual Financial Losses)

• Medical expenses — hospital bills, doctor visits, medications, rehabilitation, future medical care
• Lost wages — time missed from work due to injuries or recovery
• Educational losses — tuition for missed semesters, lost scholarships, academic disruptions
• Therapy and counseling — treatment for PTSD, anxiety, depression, or other psychological trauma

2. Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)

• Physical pain and suffering — from injuries sustained during hazing
• Mental anguish — trauma, fear, and emotional distress caused by the abuse
• Humiliation and degradation — psychological harm from forced activities
• Loss of enjoyment of life — impact on daily activities, social life, and college experience
• Permanent disability or disfigurement — long-term physical or psychological consequences

3. Punitive Damages (To Punish and Deter)

Punitive damages are awarded when the conduct is especially egregious, reckless, or intentional. They are meant to punish the wrongdoers and deter future hazing.

In our Pi Kappa Phi case, punitive damages are justified because:

• The fraternity waterboarded a student (a form of torture)
• They forced exercise until he collapsed and required hospitalization
• They knew about prior hazing deaths (Andrew Coffey in 2017) and did nothing
• The university owned the fraternity house and failed to stop the abuse

Punitive damages can reach millions of dollars, especially when institutions are involved.

📋 What to Do If You or Your Child Was Hazed in Cleveland County

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor.
• Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) may not show symptoms immediately.
• Medical records are critical evidence for your case.

Step 2: Document Everything

• Take photos of any injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, etc.).
• Save all communications — text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, emails, social media posts.
• Write down everything you remember — dates, times, locations, what was said, who was present.
• Get witness information — names and contact info of other victims or bystanders.

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Without Legal Counsel

• They will try to control the narrative and minimize your claim.
• Anything you say can be used against you in court.
• Do not sign anything without consulting an attorney.

Step 4: Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney

• Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.
• We handle hazing cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win.
• We will preserve evidence, investigate the incident, and build your case.

Step 5: Report the Hazing to Authorities

• File a police report — hazing is a crime in Arkansas.
• Report to the university’s Title IX office — hazing often violates Title IX.
• Report to the national fraternity/sorority — they may have internal reporting mechanisms.

⏳ Act Fast — Arkansas Has a 3-Year Statute of Limitations

Arkansas law gives you three years from the date of the hazing incident to file a lawsuit. However, evidence disappears quickly, and witnesses’ memories fade.

The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.

In our Pi Kappa Phi case, we filed the lawsuit within weeks of the incident. This allowed us to:

• Preserve critical evidence before it was destroyed.
• Secure witness statements while memories were fresh.
• Hold the defendants accountable before they could cover up the truth.

🔍 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Cleveland County Hazing Case?

1. We Are Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Case

• We are actively fighting against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
• We know exactly how these organizations operate and how to defeat their defenses.
• We have proven strategies to maximize compensation for victims.

2. We Have Former Insurance Defense Attorneys on Our Team

• Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies and defense firms before switching sides to represent victims.
• We know how insurance companies think, how they value claims, and how they try to deny or minimize payouts.
• We use this insider knowledge to outmaneuver the defense and secure the compensation you deserve.

3. We Have Federal Court Authority

• We are admitted to practice in U.S. District Court, which allows us to pursue cases in federal jurisdiction.
• This is critical for cases involving national fraternities/sororities or institutional negligence.

4. We Are Willing to Go to Trial

• Many personal injury attorneys settle cases quickly to avoid the time and expense of trial.
• We are trial attorneys — we are not afraid to take your case to court if that’s what it takes to get justice.
• Our track record of successful jury verdicts puts pressure on defendants to settle for fair amounts.

5. We Travel to Cleveland County

• We have offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, but we serve clients nationwide.
• We will travel to Cleveland County for depositions, client meetings, and trials.
• We offer remote consultations for Cleveland County families who cannot travel.

6. We Work on Contingency — You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

• No upfront fees.
• No hourly charges.
• We only get paid if you get paid.
• This allows Cleveland County families to fight back against powerful institutions without financial risk.

📞 Cleveland County Families: Call Us Now for a Free Consultation

If you or your child has been a victim of hazing in Cleveland County, Arkansas, you don’t have to face this alone. We are here to help.

Call Attorney 911 today at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation. We will:

• Listen to your story.
• Explain your legal rights.
• Help you understand your options.
• Fight aggressively for the compensation and justice you deserve.

Remember: The same fraternities and sororities that operate in Cleveland County have paid millions in settlements for hazing cases nationwide. They have deep pockets and insurance policies designed to pay for these claims. You deserve to be compensated for what they did to you or your child.

🚫 A Message to Fraternities and Sororities Near Cleveland County

To the chapters of Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, and every other Greek organization operating near Cleveland County:

We are watching. We are building cases. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your history of hazing settlements.

If you haze students in Cleveland County, we will find every liable entity. We will pursue every insurance policy. We will hold every individual accountable.

The Pi Kappa Phi chapter at the University of Houston is shut down. The fraternity president who allowed the hazing in our case faces personal liability. The university that owned the fraternity house is being sued for millions.

This is your warning. Clean up your chapters. Enforce your policies. Protect your members. Because if you don’t, we will.

🏛️ A Message to Universities Near Cleveland County

To the University of Arkansas, Henderson State University, and every other institution near Cleveland County:

You have a duty to protect your students. When you fail, you share liability.

The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where Leonel Bermudez was waterboarded and hospitalized. They had the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down the chapter. They chose not to.

If hazing happens on your campus, we will hold you accountable.

• Implement real oversight of Greek life.
• Conduct independent audits of fraternity and sorority chapters.
• Train your staff to recognize and report hazing.
• Enforce your policies — don’t just talk about “zero tolerance.”

Because if you don’t, we will.

🎓 To Students in Cleveland County: You Have the Power to Stop This

If you’re in a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or any organization that engages in hazing, you have a choice:

1. Participate in the abuse — and risk criminal charges, personal liability, and a lifetime of regret.
2. Speak up and stop it — and help prevent the next tragedy.

You can report hazing anonymously. You can be a whistleblower. You can save a life.

And if you’ve already been hazed, you don’t have to stay silent. We will protect your identity. We will fight for you. We will make sure this never happens to another student.

📢 Enough Is Enough. It’s Time for Change.

Hazing isn’t tradition. It isn’t bonding. It isn’t brotherhood or sisterhood.

It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s torture. And it has to stop.

Leonel Bermudez was waterboarded. He was forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down. He ended up in the hospital with kidney failure.

This isn’t hazing. This is a war crime when done to enemy combatants. When done to college students, it’s just as wrong.

Cleveland County families: You don’t have to accept this. You have legal rights. You have powerful allies. You have Attorney 911.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. Let’s put an end to hazing in Cleveland County — and across America.