🛡️ Edwards County Hazing Lawyers | Fraternity Abuse Attorneys | Attorney 911

Serving Edwards County, Texas and Nationwide

🚨 Hazing in Edwards County: A Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight

Edwards County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities, fraternities, and sororities to provide a positive experience. But behind the Greek letters and campus traditions lies a dark reality: hazing is happening right here in Texas — and it’s happening to Edwards County students.

The same fraternities that waterboarded a student at the University of Houston operate chapters near Edwards County. The same universities that failed to protect students in Houston have the same oversight failures at institutions serving Edwards County. And the same national organizations that paid millions after hazing deaths are still operating near Edwards County — because no one has stopped them.

At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this battle right now. We’re representing a hazing victim who was hospitalized after extreme abuse at a Texas fraternity. We’ve filed a $10 million lawsuit against the fraternity, its national organization, the university, and individual members. This isn’t theoretical for us. We’re in the fight.

And we’re bringing that fight to Edwards County.

📍 Hazing Near Edwards County: The Institutions at Risk

Edwards County is a tight-knit community with deep Texas values — family, respect, and protecting our own. But our children leave Edwards County to attend universities where Greek life thrives, and where the same national fraternities and sororities that have paid millions in hazing settlements maintain active chapters.

Universities Near Edwards County with Greek Life:

While Edwards County itself is a small, rural community, many students from Edwards County attend universities within driving distance where Greek life is prominent. These institutions include:

• Sul Ross State University (Alpine, TX) — Approximately 120 miles from Edwards County

  • Active Greek organizations
  • Potential for hazing in fraternities and sororities

• Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX) — Approximately 250 miles from Edwards County

  • Large Greek system with over 50 fraternities and sororities
  • History of hazing incidents and investigations

• University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX) — Approximately 280 miles from Edwards County

  • Major Greek life presence
  • Previous hazing incidents and disciplinary actions

• Texas A&M University (College Station, TX) — Approximately 300 miles from Edwards County

  • One of the largest Greek systems in the country
  • Known hazing incidents, including Sigma Alpha Epsilon chemical burns case (2021)

• University of Houston (Houston, TX) — Approximately 350 miles from Edwards County

  • Site of our current $10 million hazing lawsuit
  • Pi Kappa Phi chapter recently closed after hazing hospitalized our client

These universities serve students from Edwards County. The same fraternities that waterboarded our client operate chapters at these schools. The same negligence that failed our client exists at institutions near Edwards County.

💔 What Hazing Really Looks Like: The Truth Edwards County Families Need to Know

Hazing isn’t “boys being boys.” It’s not “tradition.” It’s not “building brotherhood.”

Hazing is abuse. It’s torture. And it’s happening to Edwards County students.

From Our Current Case: What Happened at UH

Our client, Leonel Bermudez, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston in September 2025. He wasn’t even a UH student yet — he was a “ghost rush,” expected to transfer for the spring semester.

What followed was seven weeks of systematic abuse that sent him to the hospital with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure, requiring four days of inpatient care.

Here’s what the fraternity did to him:

🔫 Waterboarding — Simulated Drowning with a Garden Hose

• Sprayed in the face with a garden hose while doing calisthenics
• Forced to run repeatedly under threat of being waterboarded
• This is torture. The U.S. considers waterboarding a war crime when done to enemy combatants. They did it to a college student.

🍖 Forced Eating Until Vomiting

• Forced to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns
• Continued eating until vomiting
• Then forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass
• Then forced to continue running sprints while clearly in physical distress

🏋️ Extreme Physical Punishment

• 500+ squats
• 100+ pushups
• High-volume “suicides” (running drills)
• Bear crawls and wheelbarrows (partner exercises)
• Two-mile warmups
• Repeated 100-yard crawls
• Struck with wooden paddles

On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was punished for missing an event. He was forced to perform extreme exercises while reciting the fraternity creed. He was threatened with immediate expulsion if he stopped.

He became so exhausted he could not stand without help. When he got home, he crawled up the stairs. The next day, he couldn’t move. His condition worsened. On November 6, his mother rushed him to the hospital.

He was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis — his muscles were breaking down — and acute kidney failure. He spent three nights and four days in the hospital.

🚑 The Medical Reality: What Hazing Does to the Body

Hazing doesn’t just cause bruises. It causes life-threatening medical emergencies. Here’s what can happen to Edwards County students:

Rhabdomyolysis — The Silent Killer in Hazing:

• Caused by extreme muscle breakdown
• Releases myoglobin into bloodstream, which clogs kidneys
• Can lead to acute kidney failure
• Requires hospitalization and intensive treatment
• Can be fatal if untreated

This is what happened to our client. This is what could happen to your Edwards County child.

🏛️ Who Is Liable? The Institutions That Failed Edwards County Students

When hazing happens, everyone involved is responsible. In our current case, we’re suing:

1. The Local Fraternity Chapter

• Directly organized and conducted hazing
• Individual members participated in abuse
• Chapter officers directed activities

2. The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization

• Failed to supervise local chapter
• Knew about hazing culture (our case is the second serious incident for Pi Kappa Phi in 8 years)
• Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies
• Have millions in assets and insurance

3. The University

• Owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred (in our case)
• Failed to prevent hazing despite prior incidents (in our case, UH had a hazing hospitalization in 2017)
• Failed to supervise Greek life
• Have substantial endowments and insurance

4. Individual Members and Officers

• Participated in hazing
• Failed to stop hazing
• Directed hazing activities
• Can be held personally liable (in the Stone Foltz case, a chapter president was ordered to pay $6.5 million personally)

5. Housing Corporations

• Own or control fraternity/sorority property
• Failed to prevent hazing on premises

6. Alumni and Former Members

• Allowed hazing at their homes
• Premises liability for hosting hazing

Edwards County families: If your child was hazed, we will pursue every liable party — no matter how powerful.

⚖️ Texas Hazing Laws: What Edwards County Families Need to Know

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

Definition of Hazing:

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)
• Sleep deprivation
• Exposure to the elements
• Forced exercise creating unreasonable risk
• Forced consumption of food, alcohol, or other substances
• Any activity that violates the Penal Code

Criminal Penalties for Hazing in Texas:

🚨 CONSENT IS NOT A DEFENSE IN TEXAS (§ 37.154):

“It is not a defense to prosecution that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”

This means: Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says consent doesn’t matter. The fraternity is still liable.

💰 Can Edwards County Families Sue for Hazing? Yes — And Win Big.

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

📜 Recent Hazing Settlements and Verdicts:

Our current case: We’re seeking $10 million for our client who was hospitalized with kidney failure.

Edwards County families: These same results are possible for your child.

🏆 What Can Edwards County Families Recover?

If your child was hazed, you can pursue compensation for:

💵 Economic Damages:

• Medical bills (hospitalization, treatment, rehabilitation)
• Future medical expenses (ongoing care, potential dialysis/transplant)
• Lost wages (time missed from work during recovery)
• Lost earning capacity (if injuries affect future career)
• Educational expenses (tuition for disrupted semester, lost scholarships)

😢 Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical pain and suffering (the agony of rhabdomyolysis, forced exercise, waterboarding)
• Mental anguish (trauma from abuse, fear of retribution)
• Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
• Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in normal activities)
• Disfigurement (scars from burns, branding, or injuries)

💥 Punitive Damages:

• Awarded when conduct is egregious, reckless, or intentional
• Meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct
• In Texas, capped at the greater of:
  • $200,000, OR
  • 2× economic damages + non-economic damages up to $750,000

In our case: Waterboarding, 500 squats, wooden paddles — this conduct is outrageous and justifies punitive damages.

🚨 What Should Edwards County Families Do If Their Child Is Hazed?

📋 Immediate Action Steps:

1. 🏥 Seek Medical Attention Immediately

   • Even if injuries seem minor, get checked
   • Rhabdomyolysis and other conditions may have delayed symptoms
   • Medical records are critical evidence

2. 📸 Document Everything

   • Take photos of injuries at all stages of healing
   • Save all text messages, social media posts, GroupMe chats
   • Record names and contact information of witnesses
   • Preserve any physical evidence (clothing, objects used in hazing)

3. 🚫 Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Without Legal Counsel

   • They will try to control the narrative
   • They will attempt to minimize liability
   • Anything you say can be used against you

4. 🚫 Do NOT Post on Social Media

   • Insurance companies and defendants will use your posts against you
   • Even innocent posts can be twisted to claim you weren’t really hurt
   • Stay off social media until your case is resolved

5. 📞 Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

   • Call 1-888-ATTY-911
   • Email ralph@atty911.com
   • We offer free, confidential consultations
   • We work on contingency — you pay nothing upfront

🕒 Why Time Is Critical for Edwards County Families:

• Evidence disappears — fraternities delete texts, destroy records, intimidate witnesses
• Witnesses forget — memories fade over time
• Statute of limitations — Texas law gives you only 2 years to file a lawsuit
• Institutions cover up — universities and nationals will destroy evidence if they sense a lawsuit coming

Our client acted immediately — hospitalized November 6, lawsuit filed November 21. This is how you protect your rights.

🎯 Why Edwards County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now

• We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston
• We know the defendants, their tactics, and their weaknesses
• Edwards County families get the same aggressive representation

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena both worked for insurance companies before switching sides
• We know exactly how they think, strategize, and try to deny claims
• We’ve seen their playbook — now we use it against them

3. Nationwide Reach — We Serve Edwards County

• Headquartered in Houston, with offices in Austin and Beaumont
• Federal court authority — can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction
• Dual-state bar licenses — Texas AND New York
• Willing to travel to Edwards County for depositions, trials, and client meetings
• Video consultations available for Edwards County families

4. Proven Results in High-Stakes Litigation

• BP Texas City Explosion — multi-billion dollar mass tort litigation
• $10+ million hazing lawsuit — currently pending
• Multi-million dollar personal injury settlements
• Hundreds of cases won against insurance companies

5. We Speak Spanish — Se Habla Español

• Bilingual staff serving Spanish-speaking clients
• Edwards County Hispanic families welcome
• Eliminate language barriers to justice

6. We Work on Contingency — No Upfront Cost for Edwards County Families

• You pay nothing unless we win
• No hourly fees, no retainers
• We take the risk so you can seek justice

📞 Edwards County Families: Contact Us Now

If your child was hazed, you have legal rights. We can help.

📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 for hazing emergencies)
📧 Email ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit attorney911.com

Free, confidential consultation for Edwards County families.

🔥 A Message to Fraternities Near Edwards 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 Edwards County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America.

We track your house corporations. We track your national organizations. We track your documented history of hazing deaths and injuries.

The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? Shut down after our lawsuit. Your chapter could be next.

🏛️ A Message to Universities Serving Edwards County:

The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.

You own the fraternity houses. You have the power to regulate. You have the duty to protect.

When you fail, we hold you accountable.

Act now — or face the same accountability.

💔 A Final Message to Edwards County Families:

Your child trusted these people. They trusted the fraternity. They trusted the university. They trusted that they would be safe.

That trust was betrayed.

We understand the pain. We understand the rage. We understand the feeling of powerlessness against powerful institutions.

But you are not powerless.

You have the law on your side. You have juries who will listen. You have attorneys who will fight.

We are Attorney 911. And we will fight for your Edwards County family.

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

Serving Edwards County, Texas and Nationwide