🛡️ Hazing Victims in Collier County: Your Legal Rights and Path to Justice

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™ — Now Serving Collier County Families

If your child has been a victim of hazing in Collier County, you are not alone. The same fraternities, the same negligent universities, and the same culture of abuse that hospitalized our client in Houston are operating at institutions near Collier County. We are fighting this battle right now — and we will fight for Collier County families with the same aggression.

🚨 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Collier County

On November 21, 2025, our law firm filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a young man who was waterboarded, forced to perform 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and struck with wooden paddles during fraternity hazing. He was hospitalized for four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.

This didn’t happen in a vacuum. Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America, including near Collier County. The same national organization that allowed this to happen in Houston operates chapters where your child might be pledging. The same institutional failures that occurred at UH exist at universities near Collier County.

Collier County families: This could happen to your child. It may have already happened.

⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Collier County Hazing Victim

1. You Have the Right to Hold Abusers Accountable

Hazing is not “tradition.” It is not “building brotherhood.” It is abuse, assault, and sometimes torture. Under Florida law and federal civil rights statutes, hazing victims have the right to pursue compensation for:

• Physical injuries (rhabdomyolysis, broken bones, burns, alcohol poisoning)
• Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear of retribution)
• Medical expenses (hospitalization, therapy, future treatment)
• Lost academic opportunities (missed classes, delayed graduation, scholarship loss)
• Pain and suffering (the humiliation, fear, and long-term emotional impact)

2. Consent Is Not a Defense

Fraternities and sororities will often argue that victims “agreed to participate” or “knew the risks.” This is a lie. Florida law, like Texas law, explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. You cannot consent to being a victim of a crime. The law protects you regardless of what you “agreed” to.

3. Universities Are Liable for Failing to Protect Students

Universities have a legal duty to protect their students. When they own or control fraternity houses, when they recognize Greek organizations, and when they have prior knowledge of hazing (as UH did), they share liability for the harm that occurs. If your child was hazed at a Collier County institution, the university may be responsible.

4. National Organizations Are Liable for Systemic Failures

National fraternities and sororities have millions of dollars in assets and insurance policies. They know about the hazing culture in their chapters. They have the power to enforce anti-hazing policies. When they fail to act, they are just as liable as the local chapter. Pi Kappa Phi knew about Andrew Coffey’s death in 2017. They knew about the “hazing crisis.” They did nothing. They will pay for their negligence.

5. You Have the Right to Punitive Damages

When conduct is egregious, reckless, or intentional, courts can award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoers and send a message that this behavior will not be tolerated. Waterboarding a student is torture. Forcing someone to exercise until they collapse is reckless endangerment. These actions justify punitive damages.

💰 What Your Collier County Hazing Case Could Be Worth

Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what other families have recovered:

Collier County families: These results are possible for your case. The same legal strategies apply. The same damages are available. You deserve the same aggressive representation.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Has Been Hazed in Collier County

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor.
• Rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, and psychological trauma can have delayed symptoms.
• Medical records are critical evidence.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

• DO NOT DELETE any text messages, social media posts, or group chats about hazing.
• Take photos of injuries at all stages of healing.
• Save any physical evidence (clothing, objects used in hazing).
• Write down names and contact information of witnesses.
• Document dates, times, and locations of hazing activities.

Step 3: Do Not Talk to the Organization Without Legal Counsel

• The fraternity/sorority, university, and their lawyers will try to control the narrative.
• They will ask for statements, offer settlements, or pressure you to stay quiet.
• Anything you say can be used against you.
• Do not sign anything without consulting an attorney.

Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

• Call our hazing hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911
• Email: ralph@atty911.com
• Free, confidential consultation — we will evaluate your case at no cost.
• We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win.

Step 5: Report the Incident to Authorities

• Consider filing a police report — hazing is a crime in Florida.
• Report to the university’s Title IX office or student conduct office.
• We can guide you through this process.

⏳ Time Is Critical — Collier County Families Must Act Now

Florida’s Statute of Limitations for Hazing Cases

• Personal Injury: 4 years from the date of injury (Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a))
• Wrongful Death: 2 years from the date of death (Florida Statute § 95.11(4)(d))

Do not wait. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Your legal rights expire. Contact us today so we can preserve your case and fight for the justice your family deserves.

🏢 Who We Sue for Collier County Hazing Victims

When your child is hazed, multiple parties are responsible. We pursue every liable entity to maximize your recovery:

1. The Local Chapter

• Directly organized and conducted the hazing.
• Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster) are personally liable.
• Current and former members who participated.

2. The National Organization

• Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies.
• Knew about prior hazing incidents and did nothing.
• Has deep pockets and insurance coverage.

3. The University

• Owns or controls the property where hazing occurred.
• Failed to supervise Greek life despite prior incidents.
• Knew or should have known about the hazing culture.

4. Individual Perpetrators

• Each person who participated in or facilitated hazing.
• Personal assets and homeowner’s insurance may provide coverage.

5. Alumni and Hosts

• Former members who allowed hazing at their homes.
• Premises liability for hosting dangerous activities.

🎯 Why Collier County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now

We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This is not theoretical — we are in the fight. Collier County families get the same aggressive representation.

2. We Know How to Win Against Powerful Institutions

• Former insurance defense attorneys — we know how defendants think and how to dismantle their defenses.
• Federal court authority — we can pursue your case in federal court if needed.
• Dual-state bar admission — licensed in Texas and New York, with nationwide reach.
• Proven track record — we’ve recovered millions for victims of institutional negligence.

3. We Understand the Hazing Culture

• We know how Greek organizations operate.
• We know their playbook for denying liability.
• We know how to expose their systemic failures.
• We know how to find the money — insurance policies, assets, deep pockets.

4. We Treat Collier County Families Like Family

• Bilingual staff — Se habla español.
• Compassionate representation — we understand the trauma you’re going through.
• Transparent communication — you’ll always know what’s happening with your case.
• No upfront costs — we work on contingency so you can focus on healing.

5. We Will Travel to Collier County for Your Case

• Video consultations — meet with us remotely.
• In-person meetings — we will come to Collier County for depositions, client meetings, and trials.
• Local connections — we work with Collier County medical providers, experts, and investigators.

📞 Collier County Hazing Hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911

If your child has been hazed in Collier County, call us now. Every minute counts. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Your legal rights expire.

We are here 24/7 to help Collier County families.

🔍 What to Expect When You Call

1. Free, confidential consultation — we listen to your story.
2. Case evaluation — we assess the strength of your case.
3. Evidence preservation — we guide you on what to save.
4. Immediate action — we send preservation letters to defendants.
5. No obligation — you decide if you want to move forward.

You are not alone. We are here to fight for you.

🏛️ Universities and Colleges Near Collier County — We Are Watching

Collier County is home to Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), and is near major institutions including:

• Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) — Fort Myers, FL
• Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) — Multiple campuses including Naples
• Ave Maria University — Ave Maria, FL
• Hodges University — Naples, FL
• Lorenzo Walker Technical College — Naples, FL
• Keiser University — Multiple Florida locations including Naples

These institutions have Greek organizations. These organizations have hazing risks. We are monitoring these schools for hazing incidents. If your child has been hazed at any Collier County institution, we will hold the university and the fraternity accountable.

Fraternities Operating Near Collier County That Have Paid Millions for Hazing

These same fraternities have chapters at universities near Collier County. If your child is pledging one of these organizations, they face the same risks.

🚫 A Warning to Fraternities Near Collier County

To the fraternities operating near Collier County:

We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — if your chapter operates near Collier County, know this:

• We track your house corporations, alumni chapters, and national insurance structures.
• We know your documented history of hazing deaths and injuries.
• We know how to pierce the corporate veil and hold individuals personally liable.
• We know how to find the money — your insurance policies, your assets, your deep pockets.

The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston learned this the hard way. Your chapter could be next.

📢 To Collier County Parents: Talk to Your Children About Hazing

Hazing doesn’t always look like what you expect. It’s not just “a little roughhousing.” It can include:

✅ Physical abuse — beatings, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion
✅ Forced consumption — alcohol, food, non-food substances until vomiting
✅ Waterboarding — simulated drowning (as seen in our Houston case)
✅ Sleep deprivation — forced late nights, early mornings, disrupted sleep
✅ Psychological torture — humiliation, degradation, threats of expulsion
✅ Sexual abuse — forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects

Talk to your children. Ask them what’s really happening. Let them know they can come to you — and to us — if they’re being hazed.

🏆 Our Promise to Collier County Hazing Victims

1. We will listen — your story matters.
2. We will investigate — we leave no stone unturned.
3. We will fight — we don’t back down from powerful institutions.
4. We will win — we have the experience, the strategy, and the determination to secure justice for your family.
5. We will protect — we will shield you from retaliation and intimidation.

Collier County families: You are not powerless. You have rights. You have Attorney 911.

📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911

Free consultation. No upfront costs. We don’t get paid unless you win.

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™ — Serving Collier County Hazing Victims

Offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont — Serving Collier County and Nationwide