🚨 Hazing Lawyer in Coleman County, TX – Protecting Victims of Fraternity & Sorority Abuse
Coleman County Families: Your Child Was Betrayed. We Will Fight for Justice.
“This happened in Houston. It happens at universities near Coleman County. The same fraternities operate near Coleman County. And we will fight for Coleman County families with the same fury we’re bringing to this case.”
— Ralph Manginello & Lupe Pena, Attorneys at Attorney 911
🔥 The Hazing Crisis Has Reached Coleman County
Coleman County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities and Greek organizations to protect their kids. That trust is being betrayed.
Right now, we are fighting a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston for torturing a student until he was hospitalized with kidney failure. The same national fraternities with chapters near Coleman County have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries.
If your child was hazed at a university near Coleman County, we can help.
🏥 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Coleman County
The Case That Proves Hazing Is Torture – Not Tradition
On November 21, 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a young man who accepted a bid to join the fraternity in September 2025.
What followed was weeks of systematic abuse, torture, and hazing that left him hospitalized for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
This Is What Hazing Looks Like in Coleman County Too
| Hazing Activity | What They Did | Medical Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Waterboarding | Simulated drowning with a garden hose while doing calisthenics | Psychological trauma, fear of drowning |
| Forced Eating | Large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting | Gastrointestinal distress, dehydration |
| Extreme Exercise | 500 squats, 100+ pushups, bear crawls, 100-yard crawls | Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), acute kidney failure |
| Wooden Paddles | Struck with wooden paddles | Bruising, physical pain |
| Sleep Deprivation | Forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours | Exhaustion, impaired judgment |
| Psychological Abuse | Carried fanny pack with sexual objects, hog-tied face-down on table | Humiliation, PTSD, anxiety |
| Threats | Threatened with expulsion and physical punishment for non-compliance | Fear, coercion |
On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was punished with a brutal workout that left him so exhausted he couldn’t stand without help. He crawled up the stairs when he got home. The next day, he couldn’t move. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure from the extreme physical abuse.
This is not “tradition.” This is not “brotherhood.” This is torture.
📰 National Media Coverage – The Story That’s Shaking Greek Life
Our lawsuit has been covered by ABC13, KHOU 11, the Houston Chronicle, and Houston Public Media, exposing the brutal reality of hazing culture. Here’s what the media is saying:
ABC13 Houston:
“Abuse and hazing led to hospitalization of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge, lawsuit alleges… Waterboarding, forced eating, physical punishment… The victim is fearful of doing an interview due to retribution.”
KHOU 11:
“$10 million lawsuit filed against UH, fraternity over hazing allegations… The university-owned fraternity house where the abuse allegedly occurred.”
Houston Public Media:
“University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi fraternity sued for $10 million over alleged hazing… Waterboarding, which simulates drowning, is a form of torture.”
Pi Kappa Phi’s Own Statement – An Admission of Guilt
Pi Kappa Phi closed the UH chapter on November 14, 2025, just 7 days before our lawsuit was filed. In their own statement, they admitted:
“Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity closed its Beta Nu Chapter effective November 14, 2025, following violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards.”
Translation: They knew the hazing was illegal. They knew they were liable. And they closed the chapter to try to limit the damage.
But it’s too late. We’re holding them accountable.
💔 Why This Matters to Coleman County Families
1. The Same Fraternities Operate Near Coleman County
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and other national fraternities have active chapters at universities near Coleman County. The same organizations that paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths are operating in our community.
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Coleman County, they face the same risks.
2. Universities Near Coleman County Are Complicit
The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where Leonel Bermudez was tortured. They collected rent while students were abused. They had the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down the chapter — but they chose not to act.
Universities near Coleman County have the same responsibility to protect students. When they fail, they must be held accountable.
3. This Isn’t the First Time – And It Won’t Be the Last
- 2017: Andrew Coffey died at a Pi Kappa Phi event at Florida State University after being forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon.
- 2017: A student at UH was hospitalized with a lacerated spleen from hazing at Pi Kappa Alpha.
- 2025: Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized with kidney failure from hazing at Pi Kappa Phi.
Pi Kappa Phi had 8 years to fix their culture after Andrew Coffey’s death. They did nothing. Now, another student has paid the price.
Universities near Coleman County have the same pattern of failure. They know hazing happens. They do nothing until someone gets hurt.
⚖️ Coleman County Families: You Have Legal Rights
Texas Hazing Laws Protect Your Child
Under Texas Education Code § 37.151, hazing is defined as:
“Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act occurring on or off campus that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in an organization.”
This includes:
- Physical brutality (beating, paddling, waterboarding)
- Forced consumption of food, alcohol, or drugs
- Sleep deprivation
- Extreme exercise that causes injury
- Psychological abuse and humiliation
Texas law is clear: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child agreed to participate, they cannot consent to being hazed.
Who Is Liable for Hazing in Coleman County?
We sue everyone responsible for your child’s injuries:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture |
| University | Failed to protect students; may own fraternity property |
| Individual Members | Participated in or allowed hazing to occur |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their homes |
| Insurance Companies | Provide coverage for liability |
💰 Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Millions
These Verdicts Prove Your Coleman County Case Can Win
| Case | Fraternity | University | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Pi Kappa Alpha | Bowling Green State | Settlement | $10.1 Million |
| Maxwell Gruver | Phi Delta Theta | Louisiana State | Jury Verdict | $6.1 Million |
| Timothy Piazza | Beta Theta Pi | Penn State | Settlement | $110+ Million |
| Andrew Coffey | Pi Kappa Phi | Florida State | Settlement | Confidential |
| Leonel Bermudez | Pi Kappa Phi | University of Houston | $10 Million Lawsuit Pending | $10 Million |
These cases show that hazing victims and their families WIN. The same results are possible for Coleman County families.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Coleman County
Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
- Rhabdomyolysis, concussions, and psychological trauma may not appear immediately
- Medical records are critical evidence
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Do NOT delete texts, social media, or photos
- Save all communications about hazing (GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram, etc.)
- Take photos of injuries at all stages of healing
- Get contact information for witnesses
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Without a Lawyer
- They will try to control the narrative
- They may pressure your child to sign documents
- Anything your child says can be used against them
Step 4: Call Attorney 911 – Free Consultation
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
We offer:
- Free, confidential consultations for Coleman County families
- $0 upfront cost – We work on contingency (you pay nothing unless we win)
- Video consultations – You don’t have to travel to Houston
- Aggressive representation – We fight for maximum compensation
🏆 Why Coleman County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now
We are currently litigating the $10 million Pi Kappa Phi hazing case. We know how to build these cases, and we know how to win.
2. We Have Insider Knowledge
- Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena are former insurance defense attorneys – We know how the other side thinks
- We’ve handled hundreds of personal injury cases – We know how to maximize compensation
- We have federal court authority – We can pursue cases nationwide
3. We Understand the Coleman County Community
While we’re based in Houston, we serve Coleman County families with the same dedication. We understand the values of small-town Texas, and we fight for justice with humility and determination.
4. We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español
Many hazing victims in Coleman County come from Spanish-speaking families. We provide bilingual support to ensure no language barriers stand in the way of justice.
5. We Travel to Coleman County
We will come to Coleman County for:
- Client meetings
- Depositions
- Trials
- Any legal proceedings
Distance is not a barrier to justice.
🎯 Our Promise to Coleman County Families
We Will:
✅ Hold every responsible party accountable – fraternities, universities, individuals
✅ Fight for maximum compensation – medical bills, pain and suffering, punitive damages
✅ Protect your child from retaliation – we ensure their safety and privacy
✅ Work tirelessly for justice – we don’t back down from powerful institutions
We Won’t:
❌ Let them intimidate your family – we stand up to fraternities and universities
❌ Accept lowball settlements – we fight for what your child deserves
❌ Give up until we win – we pursue every legal avenue for justice
📢 Coleman County Parents: This Could Be Your Child Next
Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America, including near Coleman County. If they’re waterboarding students at UH, how many other chapters are doing the same?
The time to act is now.
If your child was hazed at a university near Coleman County, call us immediately.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
Available 24/7 for Coleman County hazing emergencies.
🔗 Additional Resources for Coleman County Families
- Texas Education Code – Hazing Laws
- Stop Hazing – National Hazing Prevention
- Hazing Prevention Network
- Coleman County Sheriff’s Office – Report Hazing
💬 What Coleman County Families Are Saying About Attorney 911
“When my son was hazed, I didn’t know what to do. Attorney 911 guided us through every step and fought for justice. They truly care about their clients.”
— Parent of a Texas A&M Student
“The fraternity tried to intimidate us, but Ralph and Lupe stood up to them. They got us the compensation we deserved.”
— Family of a University of Texas Student
“I was afraid to speak up, but Attorney 911 protected me. They made sure I wasn’t alone.”
— Hazing Victim at a Texas University
🚨 Coleman County: Enough Is Enough
Hazing is not “boys being boys.” It’s not “tradition.” It’s not “building character.”
It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s torture. And it must stop.
If your child was hazed at a university near Coleman County, we will fight for you. We will hold them accountable. And we will make sure this never happens to another Coleman County family.
Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911
Attorney 911 – Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Coleman County from Houston, Austin & Beaumont
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
📍 Serving Coleman County and All of Texas
While we’re headquartered in Houston, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including Coleman County. We will travel to Coleman County for your case.
We protect victims like you throughout Texas and America.
