🛡️ Hazing Victims in El Paso County: Your Rights, Your Recovery, Your Justice
El Paso County families: If your child has been hazed at a college, university, fraternity, or sorority near El Paso County, you are not alone. What happened to Leonel Bermudez—a young man waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his kidneys failed, and hospitalized for four days—can happen to any student in El Paso County. The same fraternities operate at universities across Colorado. The same negligence exists at El Paso County institutions. And we will fight for El Paso County families with the same aggression we’re bringing to the national stage.
At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how these cases work. We know how to build them. We know how to win them. And El Paso County families get the same relentless representation.
🚨 The Hazing Crisis in El Paso County and Beyond
Hazing is not “tradition.” It’s not “brotherhood.” It’s not “team building.”
It is abuse. It is assault. It is torture. And it is illegal in Colorado.
Across America, hazing has caused:
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure)
- Alcohol poisoning (leading to death)
- Traumatic brain injuries (from beatings or falls)
- Sexual assault
- Psychological trauma (PTSD, depression, suicide)
El Paso County parents: The same national fraternities that waterboarded our client have chapters at universities near El Paso County. The same “traditions” that hospitalized Leonel Bermudez happen in Colorado. And the same institutional failures that allowed this to happen in Texas exist at El Paso County schools.
⚠️ What Happened in Houston Could Happen in El Paso County
The Case That Should Alarm Every El Paso County Family
Plaintiff: Leonel Bermudez
University: University of Houston
Fraternity: Pi Kappa Phi
Status: “Ghost rush” — not even enrolled at UH yet
Injuries: Severe rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, 4-day hospitalization
Damages Sought: $10 million
What They Did to Him:
- Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
- Forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls, 100-yard crawls until he collapsed
- Struck with wooden paddles
- Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to lie in vomit-soaked grass
- Forced to carry objects of a sexual nature at all times
- Another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
The Result:
- November 3, 2025: Collapsed after extreme hazing
- November 4: “Really sore and couldn’t really move”
- November 5: “The next day was worse”
- November 6: Mother rushes him to hospital with brown urine (sign of muscle breakdown)
- November 6-10: Hospitalized for 3 nights, 4 days with kidney failure
The Defendants’ Response?
- Pi Kappa Phi closed the chapter — but only after the hospitalization
- They admitted “violations” of their own policies
- They thanked the university for “collaboration” — damage control
- They said they “look forward to returning to campus” — no remorse, already planning comeback
El Paso County families: This is what hazing looks like. This is what institutions do when they fail our children. And this is what we fight against.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights as an El Paso County Hazing Victim
Colorado Hazing Laws Protect You
In Colorado, hazing is illegal under C.R.S. § 18-9-124. The law defines hazing as:
Any activity by which a person recklessly endangers the health or safety of or causes a risk of bodily injury to an individual for the purpose of initiation or admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a student organization.
This includes:
- Physical brutality (beatings, paddling, forced exercise)
- Forced consumption (alcohol, food, non-food substances)
- Psychological abuse (humiliation, threats, sleep deprivation)
- Sexual abuse or harassment
- Any activity that creates a risk of injury
Key Legal Principles for El Paso County Families:
- Consent is NOT a defense — Even if your child “agreed” to participate, Colorado law says this doesn’t matter.
- Organizations are liable — Fraternities, sororities, universities, and national organizations can all be sued.
- Individuals are liable — Every person who participated or allowed the hazing can be held personally responsible.
- Institutions are liable — Universities have a duty to protect students. When they fail, they pay.
💰 What El Paso County Families Can Recover
If your child has been hazed, you may be entitled to compensation for:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, ER visits, medications, future treatment, therapy |
| Pain and Suffering | Physical pain from injuries, emotional trauma from abuse |
| Mental Anguish | PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear of retribution |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work during recovery |
| Educational Impact | Disruption to college plans, delayed graduation, lost scholarships |
| Punitive Damages | Additional money to punish egregious conduct (e.g., waterboarding, forced consumption) |
| Wrongful Death | If hazing results in death, families can sue for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and more |
Precedent Settlements and Verdicts:
- $10.1 million — Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha)
- $6.1 million — Maxwell Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta)
- $110+ million — Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi)
- $4+ million — Adam Oakes (VCU, Delta Chi)
El Paso County families: These results are possible for Colorado victims too. The same legal strategies apply.
📋 What El Paso County Families Should Do RIGHT NOW
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
- Rhabdomyolysis, concussions, and psychological trauma may not appear immediately
- Medical records create documentation for your case
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs — screenshot everything
- Photos/videos — injuries, hazing activities, locations
- Witness information — names and contact info of other pledges or witnesses
- Medical records — hospital bills, doctor notes, therapy records
- Academic records — impact on grades, enrollment, scholarships
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization or University Without a Lawyer
- They will try to control the narrative
- They will try to get you to sign documents waiving your rights
- They will try to intimidate you into silence
- Anything you say can be used against you
Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
- Free consultation — we evaluate your case at no cost
- No upfront fees — we work on contingency; you pay nothing unless we win
- 24/7 availability — call us anytime at 1-888-ATTY-911
- Video consultations — El Paso County families can meet with us remotely
- We travel to El Paso County — for depositions, meetings, and trials
🎯 Why El Paso 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
- We know how to build these cases
- We know how to win them
- El Paso County families get the same aggressive representation
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook
- Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides
- We know how they value claims
- We know how they try to deny liability
- We know how to dismantle their defenses
3. Federal Court Authority — We Can Pursue Cases Nationwide
- Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- Can pursue cases in federal court anywhere in America
- El Paso County families are not limited by geography
4. Dual-State Bar Licenses — Strategic Advantage
- Licensed in Texas AND New York
- Can pursue national fraternity organizations headquartered in any state
5. We Speak Spanish — Se Habla Español
- Bilingual staff serving Spanish-speaking families
- Eliminate language barriers to justice
6. We Will Travel to El Paso County for Your Case
- For depositions, client meetings, and trials
- Distance is not a barrier to justice
7. Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Results
- $10 million — Current hazing lawsuit
- Millions recovered in wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and personal injury cases
- BP Texas City explosion litigation — mass tort experience directly applicable to hazing cases
🏛️ Who We Sue for El Paso County Hazing Victims
1. The Local Chapter
- Directly organized and conducted hazing
- Officers (president, pledgemaster) are personally liable
- Members who participated can be sued individually
2. The National Organization
- Knew or should have known about hazing culture
- Failed to supervise local chapters
- Have deep pockets and insurance coverage
3. The University or College
- Failed to protect students
- Owned or controlled property where hazing occurred
- Had power to regulate Greek life but failed to do so
4. Individual Members
- Every person who participated in hazing
- Every person who witnessed and failed to stop it
- Personal assets and homeowner’s insurance may provide coverage
5. Housing Corporations
- Owned or controlled fraternity/sorority property
- Failed to prevent hazing on premises
⏳ Time Is Critical — Colorado Statute of Limitations
In Colorado, you typically have 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to sue forever.
Do not wait.
- Evidence disappears
- Witnesses forget
- Organizations destroy records
- Your rights expire
Call Attorney 911 today at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation.
📢 A Message to El Paso County Fraternities and Sororities
To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, and every Greek organization operating near El Paso County:
We are watching. We are coming. The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapters.
If you haze students in El Paso County, we will find every liable entity. We will pursue every insurance policy. We will hold every individual accountable.
The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston is now SHUT DOWN. That’s what happens when you haze in Texas. Your chapter could be next.
📞 El Paso County Families: Contact Us Now
If your child has been hazed at a college or university near El Paso County, call Attorney 911 immediately.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Free consultation. No upfront fees. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
We fight for El Paso County families. We fight for justice. We fight for change.
🔥 Enough Is Enough. It’s Time for Accountability.
El Paso County families: You have the power to stop hazing. Your child has the right to safety. Together, we can hold these institutions accountable and protect the next generation of students.
Call us today. 1-888-ATTY-911.
