If you’re reading this, your family in Fauquier County may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child went off to college, expecting to make friends, build a future, and gain independence. Instead, they were tortured, humiliated, and brought to the brink of a medical emergency. We understand the fear, the anger, and the desperation that washes over you when you discover your child has been subjected to the brutal reality of hazing. We want you to know that you are not alone, and we are here to help families in Fauquier County fight back against the fraternities, sororities, and universities that enable this dangerous culture.

We are Attorney 911, and we are legal first responders for families in crisis. We aggressively represent hazing victims and their loved ones in Fauquier County, throughout Virginia, and across the nation. This isn’t just a legal theory for us; we are actively fighting a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston right now. This is not some abstract legal battle – this is a war against a culture that values “tradition” over human life, and we are on the front lines, fighting for justice and accountability.

The Nightmare in Houston: A Warning for Fauquier County Families

Just weeks ago, a nightmare unfolded in Houston, Texas, a nightmare that serves as a chilling warning for every parent in Fauquier County whose child attends college. Our client, Leonel Bermudez, a young man who was not even officially enrolled at the University of Houston yet, accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity in September 2025. What followed was a systematic campaign of abuse that sent him to the hospital with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He spent three nights and four days fighting for his life, all because a fraternity believed torture was an acceptable path to “brotherhood.”

This case, Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al., filed in Harris County Civil District Court, seeks $10 million in damages. We named everyone responsible: the local Pi Kappa Phi chapter, the national Pi Kappa Phi organization, the fraternity’s housing corporation, the University of Houston, the UH Board of Regents, and 13 individual fraternity members, including the chapter president, pledgemaster, and those who hosted hazing at their homes. This is the fight we are waging right now, and it’s the same aggressive, thorough, and data-driven approach we bring to hazing cases for families in Fauquier County.

What Happened to Leonel Bermudez: A Timeline of Torture

The details of Leonel’s hazing are horrifying, and we share them not to sensationalize, but to educate families in Fauquier County about what hazing truly looks like today:

• September 16, 2025: Leonel accepts a bid from Pi Kappa Phi. He was a “ghost rush,” a prospective student planning to transfer to UH for the spring semester. The fraternity subjected someone who wasn’t even their student to this abuse.
• Weeks of Systematic Hazing: For nearly two months, Leonel and other pledges endured relentless physical and psychological torment. They were forced to maintain an absurd dress code, spend hours studying fraternity lore, and conduct weekly interviews with existing members. Failure to comply brought threats of physical punishment or expulsion from the fraternity.
• Forced Servitude and Exhaustion: Leonel was driven to exhaustion, forced to drive fraternity members during the early morning hours, disrupting his sleep and impacting his mental and physical well-being.
• October 13, 2025: In a horrific display of degradation, another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour while fraternity members prepared for a meeting. This level of humiliation and abuse set a terrifying precedent for the pledges.
• October 15, 2025: A stark warning ignored. During one of the forced workouts, a pledge actually lost consciousness and collapsed. Other pledges had to elevate his legs to help him recover. Yet, the hazing continued.
• Waterboarding: Pledges, including Leonel, were subjected to “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose,” sprayed in the face while performing calisthenics. This is a form of torture, a war crime when inflicted on enemy combatants, yet it was perpetrated against college students seeking acceptance.
• Forced Eating Until Vomiting: Leonel was made to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited. Then, in a cruel twist, he was forced to continue running sprints while in physical distress, often made to lie in his own vomit-soaked grass.
• Physical Assault: The lawsuit alleges pledges were struck with wooden paddles. This is simple assault, plain and simple.
• The Breaking Point – November 3, 2025: Leonel was punished for missing an event. He was forced into an extreme physical regimen: over 100 pushups, 500 squats, high-volume “suicides” (sprint drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warmups, and repeated 100-yard crawls. He was made to recite the fraternity creed throughout this ordeal, under threat of immediate expulsion if he stopped. He became so utterly exhausted that he could not stand without help.
• Hospitalization – November 6, 2025: Leonel barely made it home. He “crawled up the stairs and went to bed,” according to Ralph Manginello. The pain and inability to move worsened daily. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He was passing brown urine, a classic sign of muscle breakdown. He remained hospitalized for three nights and four days, his young body fighting to recover from the trauma.

The Institutions’ Response: Too Little, Too Late

Within days of Leonel’s hospitalization, Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters suspended the UH chapter. By November 14, 2025, the chapter was permanently closed, with members voting to surrender their charter. Speaking to media, a University of Houston spokesperson called the events “deeply disturbing” and representative of “a clear violation of our community standards,” noting “potential criminal charges” for individuals involved.

However, Pi Kappa Phi’s own public statement on their website revealed a shocking lack of remorse: “We look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time…” They were already planning their comeback while our client was still recovering from organ failure. This callous disregard for the victim’s well-being further fuels our determination to hold every responsible party accountable.

As Lupe Pena stated regarding this lawsuit, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” Our fight for Leonel Bermudez is a fight for every student in Fauquier County and beyond who faces similar threats.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

For many parents in Fauquier County, hazing might conjure images of silly pranks and minor rituals, the kind of “good-natured fun” portrayed in movies. But the reality, as Leonel Bermudez’s case tragically demonstrates, is far darker. Hazing has evolved into a dangerous, often life-threatening series of abuses that universities and national Greek organizations have tragically failed to control.

This is not some bygone era of college high jinks. This is happening right now, in communities across America, including those where Fauquier County residents send their children to learn and grow.

The Disturbing Face of Modern Hazing:

• Physical Abuse: This includes beatings, paddling, forced physical exertion to the point of collapse (as Leonel experienced), branding, and other forms of bodily harm. The wooden paddles used on Leonel are a stark reminder that these are intentional acts of violence.
• Forced Consumption: Beyond binge drinking, hazing often involves forcing pledges to consume large quantities of alcohol, food (like milk or hot dogs until vomiting), or even noxious substances. This quickly turns deadly, as alcohol poisoning is a leading cause of hazing deaths.
• Sleep Deprivation: Forcing students into late-night activities, early morning “workouts,” or constant errands deprives them of essential rest, impairing their judgment and physical health, making them vulnerable to further abuse.
• Psychological Torture and Humiliation: This is often overlooked but deeply damaging. It includes verbal abuse, emotional manipulation, forced public humiliation (like carrying sexually explicit objects or being left naked), isolation, and threats. Leonel’s ongoing fear of retribution for speaking out is direct evidence of this psychological damage. The hog-tying incident against another pledge on October 13 serves as a shocking example of this grotesque humiliation.
• Waterboarding and Simulated Drowning: Leonel’s experience with simulated waterboarding inflicted with a garden hose is a chilling example of how hazing has escalated to methods once reserved for torture. This is not a prank; it is a crime against humanity.
• Exposure: Forcing students to strip in cold weather or endure extreme heat during exertion tests creates dangerously unhealthy conditions, putting them at risk of hypothermia, hyperthermia, and other health crises.
• Servitude and Control: Pledges are often forced to perform menial tasks, clean for senior members, or be on call 24/7, losing their autonomy and dignity.

The Devastating Medical Consequences:

Leonel’s diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure is a critical example of the severe (and often hidden) medical dangers of hazing.

• Rhabdomyolysis: This is a severe condition where damaged muscle fibers release their contents (including the protein myoglobin) into the bloodstream. Myoglobin is toxic to the kidneys and can lead to acute kidney failure. Symptoms include severe muscle pain, weakness, dark or brown urine, and fatigue. Leonel exhibited all of these, nearly dying.
• Acute Kidney Failure: If left untreated, rhabdomyolysis can cause the kidneys to stop functioning, which is a life-threatening emergency. Leonel required four days of hospitalization and continues to face the risk of permanent kidney damage.
• Alcohol Poisoning: The most common cause of hazing deaths, resulting from forced binge drinking.
• Traumatic Brain Injury: From falls (like Timothy Piazza) or direct blows during physical hazing.
• Hypothermia/Heatstroke: From forced exposure to extreme temperatures.
• Cardiac Arrest: From extreme physical exertion and electrolyte imbalances.
• PTSD, Anxiety, Depression: The long-term psychological scars can be just as debilitating as physical injuries, leading to academic failure, social withdrawal, and even suicide.

This is not “boys being boys.” This is assault, battery, torture, reckless endangerment, and in too many tragic cases, negligent homicide or murder. Parents in Fauquier County must understand that the threat is real, and the consequences can be permanent or fatal.

Who Is Responsible: Holding Everyone Accountable

When a student in Fauquier County is subjected to hazing, it’s never just one person or one organization responsible. Hazing thrives in an ecosystem of negligence, where national organizations fail to supervise, universities fail to protect, and individuals actively participate in abuse. Our strategy at Attorney 911 is to identify and pursue every single entity that bears responsibility, leaving no stone unturned in our quest for justice. In Leonel Bermudez’s case, this meant suing 18 defendants, including:

• Local Chapter Officers: The president, pledgemaster, and other chapter leaders are directly responsible for organizing and directing hazing activities. They are often the ones giving the orders and enforcing the abuse.
• Individual Fraternity Members: Every member who participated in the hazing, failed to intervene, or actively enabled the abuse bears personal responsibility.
• Former Members and Their Spouses: In Leonel’s case, some major hazing sessions occurred at the residence of a former member and his spouse. They allowed their property to be used for illegal and dangerous activities, making them liable for the harm caused. This is a critical premises liability angle we always pursue.
• The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization: Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters, in Leonel’s case, is a prime defendant. Despite having a death on their record (Andrew Coffey in 2017) and allegedly knowing about “a hazing crisis” within their organization, they failed to implement effective policies, training, and oversight. These national entities often have significant financial resources and liability insurance, making them crucial targets for meaningful compensation and systemic change.
• The University, College, or Educational Institution: The University of Houston, by owning the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place, held significant responsibility. Universities near Fauquier County have a duty to protect their students. When they provide housing, recognize student organizations, and fail to act on known hazing risks, they can be held directly liable for negligent supervision, premises liability, and failure to protect.
• The University’s Governing Body: In UH’s case, the Board of Regents, as the ultimate governing authority, shares institutional oversight failure.
• Insurance Carriers: Behind every national organization, university, and individual often lie layers of insurance policies. As former insurance defense attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena bring invaluable insider knowledge, understanding exactly how insurance companies strategize, value claims, and attempt to minimize payouts. We know how to dismantle their defenses and maximize recovery for our clients.

Our approach is aggressive: we don’t just sue the “deep pockets.” We sue everyone responsible. We believe that by holding every individual and every institution accountable, we can dismantle the culture of hazing from the top down and prevent future tragedies for families in Fauquier County.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof of Accountability

For families in Fauquier County scarred by hazing, understanding the potential for justice means looking at the monumental victories achieved by other victims and their loved ones nationwide. These aren’t just legal precedents; they are powerful affirmations that hazing WILL NOT be tolerated, and those responsible WILL pay dearly. Our $10 million demand in the Bermudez case is not arbitrary; it is meticulously crafted, supported by a clear pattern of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in hazing litigation across America.

The message is clear to all fraternities, universities, and national organizations with chapters near Fauquier County: hazing costs millions.

Landmark Verdicts & Settlements:

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Total: $10.1 Million+
  • Stone Foltz, a pledge, died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol.
  • Bowling Green State University settled for $2.9 million.
  • Pi Kappa Alpha National and individuals settled for $7.2 million.
  • In December 2024, a jury ordered Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president, to pay an additional $6.5 million in personal liability.
  • Relevance: This case directly validates our $10 million demand. Both the university and national fraternity paid, and an individual officer was held personally liable for millions. This happened in Ohio; it can happen in Virginia.
• Maxwell Gruver – Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017): $6.1 Million Jury Verdict
  • Max Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman, died of acute alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495) after a “Bible Study” hazing event where pledges were forced to drink excessive alcohol for incorrect answers.
  • A jury awarded the Gruver family $6.1 million.
  • Relevance: This jury verdict demonstrates that courts and communities are outraged by hazing and are willing to award substantial compensation to victims’ families.
• Timothy Piazza – Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017): $110+ Million (Estimated Confidential Settlement)
  • Timothy Piazza, 19, died after consuming 18 drinks in 82 minutes during a “gauntlet” hazing ritual. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding after multiple falls down basement stairs. Fraternity members waited 12 hours to call 911.
  • The family’s settlement, while confidential, is estimated to exceed $110 million.
  • Relevance: This case highlights the immense value juries place upon life, particularly when conduct is egregious and there’s evidence of cover-up, negligence, and extreme delay in seeking help, as captured by security cameras. This demonstrates the upper limits of potential hazing litigation outcomes.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Confidential Settlement
  • Andrew Coffey, 20, died of acute alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon on “Big Brother Night” as a Pi Kappa Phi pledge.
  • Relevance: Crucially, this involves the same national fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, as our Leonel Bermudez case. This creates a devastating pattern of negligence, proving that Pi Kappa Phi knew their chapters engaged in deadly hazing for eight years before Leonel’s hospitalization, yet failed to prevent another tragedy.
• Adam Oakes – Virginia Commonwealth University / Delta Chi (2021): $4+ Million Settlement
  • Adam Oakes, 19, died of alcohol poisoning after a Delta Chi hazing event at VCU.
  • His family recently settled for over $4 million and used the tragedy to advocate for “Adam’s Law” in Virginia.
  • Relevance: This case is highly relevant to Fauquier County as it occurred at a prominent university in the same state, Virginia. It shows local precedent for substantial hazing settlements.

Why These Precedents Matter for Your Fauquier County Case:

1. Our Demands are Justified: The $10 million we seek for Leonel Bermudez is in line with and often more conservative than what other hazing victims or their families have achieved, especially considering the egregious nature of the waterboarding.
2. Universities Pay: These cases consistently show that universities, not just fraternities, are held financially liable when they fail to protect students.
3. National Organizations Pay: Large national fraternities have substantial assets and insurance that can be tapped to compensate victims.
4. Punitive Damages Possibility: Egregious conduct, willful disregard for safety, and patterns of negligence often lead to significant punitive damages designed to punish wrongdoers and deter future hazing.
5. Legislative Impact: Many of these tragedies have spurred new, tougher anti-hazing laws, including the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana, the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law in Pennsylvania, and Adam’s Law in Virginia. This reflects a growing societal intolerance for hazing.

These cases send a resounding message to every fraternity, sorority, and university: the era of silent hazing is over. Fauquier County families who suffer from hazing need to know that justice, and multi-million dollar accountability, is possible. We don’t just talk about these cases; we use them to build aggressive, winning strategies for our clients, just like we’re doing for Leonel Bermudez in Harris County.

Texas Law Protects You: The Unwavering Shield Against Hazing

For parents in Fauquier County, grappling with a hazing incident can feel overwhelming. You might hear whispers of “consent” or “tradition” from the perpetrators, attempts to shift blame onto your child. However, the law, particularly in Texas where our firm operates, stands as a clear and unwavering shield against such predatory claims. While we operate out of Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we represent hazing victims nationwide in states like Virginia, and the principles of accountability under the law are just as powerful for families in Fauquier County.

Texas Hazing Laws: A Model for Accountability

The Texas Education Code § 37.151 through 37.157 outlines comprehensive anti-hazing laws. Here’s what’s most crucial for Fauquier County families to understand:

• Broad Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151): Texas law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for the purpose of joining, initiating, or maintaining membership in an organization. This includes physical brutality, sleep deprivation, exposure to elements, calisthenics creating unreasonable risk, forced consumption of food or alcohol leading to harm, and activities violating the Penal Code.
  • Leonel’s Case: Every single act perpetrated against Leonel – the waterboarding, the 500 squats to kidney failure, the forced eating until vomiting, the wooden paddles, the sleep deprivation, the psychological torture – falls squarely within (and often exceeds) this definition.
• Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152): Hazing is a crime in Texas.
  • Engaging in hazing or failing to report it is a Class B Misdemeanor.
  • If hazing causes serious bodily injury, it’s a Class A Misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail). Leonel’s rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure absolutely constitute serious bodily injury.
  • If hazing causes death, it’s a State Jail Felony (up to 2 years in prison).
  • Significance for Fauquier County: This means that not only are the perpetrators liable in civil court, but they can (and should) face criminal prosecution. The University of Houston spokesperson even mentioned “potential criminal charges” in Leonel’s case.
• Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): Organizations themselves can be penalized, facing fines up to $10,000, denial of operating rights, or forfeiture of property. This means local chapters and national organizations can be held directly responsible.
• CONSENT IS NOT A DEFENSE (§ 37.154): This is perhaps the most critical piece of legal protection for victims. The statute explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution for an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”
  • Significance for Fauquier County: Any argument from a fraternity, university, or individual member that “your child consented” or “knew what they were getting into” is legally invalid. Texas law recognizes that the power dynamics and coercion inherent in hazing negate true consent. We use this powerful legal shield to dismantle those victim-blaming arguments.
• University Reporting Requirements (§ 37.155): Universities are legally mandated to report hazing incidents. Failure to do so is a criminal offense. This ensures an institutional trail of accountability.

Civil Liability: Expanding Beyond Criminal Charges

Beyond criminal prosecution, civil lawsuits provide the only pathway for victims and their families in Fauquier County to recover full and fair compensation for injuries, medical bills, lost income, and the profound pain and suffering caused by hazing. Our firm pursues multiple civil liability theories against all responsible parties:

1. Negligence Claims: We prove that universities, national organizations, and individuals had a duty of care to protect your child, that they breached that duty through their actions or inactions, and that this breach directly caused the injuries and damages.
2. Premises Liability: When hazing occurs on university-owned or controlled property, as it did in Leonel’s case, the institution can be held liable for failing to maintain a safe environment and allowing dangerous conditions (i.e., hazing) to exist.
3. Negligent Supervision: We argue that national organizations failed to adequately supervise their local chapters, and universities failed to properly oversee their Greek life systems, leading directly to hazing incidents.
4. Assault and Battery: Individual perpetrators can be sued for the intentional physical and harmful contact (like paddling or waterboarding) they inflicted.
5. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: The outrageous and extreme nature of hazing, especially acts like waterboarding, can lead to claims of severe emotional distress and trauma.
6. Wrongful Death: In the most tragic cases, families can file wrongful death lawsuits, seeking compensation for the loss of their loved one’s life, future earnings, companionship, and emotional distress.

These legal avenues are available to victims regardless of where the hazing occurred in Fauquier County or nationwide. Our expertise in federal court litigation further expands our reach, allowing us to pursue cases against national organizations and defend victims no matter the location. Every state has anti-hazing laws, and our team is adept at navigating the specific legal landscape to advocate fiercely for your family’s rights.

Why Attorney 911: Your Unfair Advantage in the Fight Against Hazing

When your child is harmed by hazing, you need more than just a lawyer; you need a relentless advocate who understands the complex legal landscape, the insidious culture of Greek life, and the tactics powerful institutions use to evade responsibility. Attorney 911 is built for these fights. We are not just a law firm; we are legal emergency responders who bring a unique combination of experience, insight, and unwavering commitment to every hazing case, especially for families in Fauquier County seeking justice.

Our Winning Edge:

1. Actively Litigating Landmark Hazing Cases: We’re not theoretical. We are currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for severe hazing. This isn’t just a case study for us; it’s an ongoing, deeply personal battle, and we’re bringing the same intensity to every hazing victim we represent, including those in Fauquier County.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys: Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena spent years working on the defense side, representing insurance companies and large corporations. This means we know their playbook, their strategies, their weaknesses, and how they value cases from the inside out. Lupe, having worked at a national defense firm, Litchfield Cavo LLP, brings unparalleled insight into how these powerful entities try to deny or minimize claims. This insider knowledge is your unfair advantage.
3. Federal Court Authority & Dual-State Bar Admission:
   • Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas (Ralph and Lupe): This allows us to pursue complex hazing cases in federal court, which is often crucial when dealing with national fraternities and universities that operate across state lines. This capability directly benefits Fauquier County families.
   • Dual-State Bar Licenses (Texas AND New York for Ralph): This gives us a strategic advantage in litigating against national fraternities and sororities, many of which are headquartered or have significant operations outside of Texas. We can navigate legal challenges in multiple jurisdictions, ensuring comprehensive representation for our clients in Fauquier County.
4. Extensive Courtroom Experience (25+ Years for Ralph Manginello): Ralph’s career includes significant litigation against massive corporate defendants, such as his involvement in the multi-billion dollar BP Texas City Explosion litigation. This experience proves our capacity to take on major institutions like national fraternities and public universities on behalf of Fauquier County families.
5. Specialized Hazing Expertise:
   • Rhabdomyolysis Injury Litigation: Ralph has specific expertise in cases involving rhabdomyolysis from hazing, directly applicable to Leonel Bermudez’s medical condition. We intimately understand the complex medical aspects and long-term implications of these injuries.
   • Kappa Sigma and Texas A&M Cases: We have direct experience with hazing cases involving specific fraternities and universities, giving us a deep understanding of their internal cultures and vulnerabilities.
6. Aggressive, Data-Driven Approach: We don’t just react; we strategize. We use comprehensive intelligence databases to identify every entity behind the Greek letters, from national organizations to local housing corporations and individual members. When hazing occurs, we know exactly who to sue and how to build an unassailable case.
7. Unwavering Client Communication & Compassion: We understand that families in Fauquier County are going through an incredibly traumatic time. We commit to consistent communication, ensuring you are updated at every step, and providing empathetic support. We treat your family like our own.
   • “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client that’s caught in the middle of many other cases. You are FAMILY to them and they protect and fight for you as such.” — Chad Harris, Attorney 911 client.
8. “Se Habla Español”: Our bilingual staff ensures that Spanish-speaking families in Fauquier County affected by hazing receive comprehensive legal services without language barriers, from initial consultation to final resolution.
9. Contingency Fees – No Upfront Cost for Fauquier County Families: We operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay $0 upfront to hire us. We cover all the litigation costs, and we only get paid if we win your case. This levels the playing field, making expert legal representation accessible to all families in Fauquier County, regardless of their financial situation.
10. A Father’s Dedication: Ralph Manginello is a father of three. He intimately understands the stakes when a child is harmed by hazing. This personal connection fuels our firm’s deep emotional investment in fighting for hazing victims.

When you choose Attorney 911, you’re not just hiring lawyers; you’re gaining partners who possess the experience, the strategic insight, and the relentless drive to fight for your child’s justice and hold every responsible party accountable. We are ready to bring our proven strategies and unwavering commitment to Fauquier County.

What to Do Right Now: Actionable Guidance for Fauquier County Families

If your child in Fauquier County has been a victim of hazing, the moments immediately following the incident are critical. It can feel chaotic, confusing, and terrifying. The institutions involved will often try to control the narrative, minimize the incident, or even coerce silence. However, acting quickly and strategically can make all the difference in preserving your child’s rights and building a strong case.

Here is actionable guidance for families in Fauquier County:

1. Prioritize Medical Attention IMMEDIATELY:

• Seek medical care without delay, even if injuries seem minor. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some severe injuries (like rhabdomyolysis or internal injuries) may not be immediately apparent. Document everything.
• Inform medical professionals about the suspected hazing. Ensure all injuries are thoroughly documented in medical records, specifically noting their connection to hazing activities.
• Keep ALL medical records, bills, and receipts. These are crucial evidence of the harm suffered and the economic damages incurred.

2. Preserve All Evidence – EVERYTHING is Important:

• Medical Documents: Hospital records, ER reports, doctor’s notes, therapy records, prescriptions, and billing statements.
• Photographs and Videos: Take pictures of any injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, swelling) as they appear and as they heal. If there are any photos or videos of the hazing taking place, or the aftermath, save them immediately.
• Communications: This is CRITICAL.
  • Text Messages, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, Emails: Preserve ALL digital communications related to the hazing. This includes conversations with fraternity/sorority members, pledges, and anyone else discussing the events. Do NOT delete anything, even if it seems insignificant or embarrassing. Screenshots are vital.
  • Social Media Posts: Secure any relevant social media posts by the victim, other pledges, or fraternity/sorority members.
• Witness Information: Gather names, phone numbers, and any contact information for other pledges, witnesses to the hazing, or anyone who can corroborate your child’s story.
• Documents: Collect any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, or other materials provided by the organization.
• Financial Records: Document any lost wages for the victim or family members required to take time off work for care, tuition costs, or other out-of-pocket expenses resulting from the hazing.

3. Critical Actions to AVOID:

• DO NOT Delete ANYTHING: Deleting messages, photos, or social media posts can be considered destruction of evidence and severely harm your case.
• DO NOT Speak with Fraternity/Sorority Leadership or University Officials Alone: They are not on your side. Their primary goal is to protect the organization and minimize liability. Anything you say can and will be used against you. Direct them to your attorney.
• DO NOT Sign Anything: Do not sign any documents, releases, or agreements presented by the fraternity, sorority, or university without consulting an attorney. You may unknowingly waive critical legal rights.
• DO NOT Post on Social Media: Refrain from posting about the incident on any social media platforms. Anything you post can be retrieved by defense attorneys and used to undermine your claims, regardless of your privacy settings.
• DO NOT Give Recorded Statements: Decline any requests from insurance companies, university officials, or fraternity representatives for recorded statements until you have legal counsel.

4. Act Quickly—Time is of the Essence:

• Statute of Limitations: In most states, including Virginia, there is a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death cases. This means you typically have only two years from the date of injury or death to file a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you forfeit your right to seek compensation forever.
• Evidence Disappears: The longer you wait, the more likely it is that critical evidence (digital communications, witness memories, physical traces) will disappear, be deleted, or be destroyed.
• Witnesses Forget or are Coerced: Memories fade, and witnesses may be pressured by the fraternity or university to remain silent or change their stories.
• Our Aggressive Approach: We act immediately. Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized on November 6; our $10 million lawsuit was filed weeks later. This rapid, decisive action is how you protect a case and secure justice.

For families in Fauquier County, seeking justice after a hazing incident can feel like an uphill battle against powerful institutions. However, with the right legal team and a swift, strategic response, you can turn your pain into powerful action.

Contact Us: Your Legal Emergency Responders Are Here for Fauquier County

If you’re a parent in Fauquier County, VA, reading this in the dead of night, consumed by fear and anger over your child’s hazing experience, know this: you don’t have to face this alone. We are Attorney 911, and we are your legal emergency responders, ready to fight for your family with the same aggressive, data-driven approach that we are currently bringing to our $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.

Hazing is an epidemic that crosses state lines, affecting students at universities throughout Virginia and across the nation, including those your child may attend: George Mason University, James Madison University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and more. The same national fraternities, facing the same ethical dilemmas and failures of oversight, operate in these areas. The negligence we are fighting in Texas is replicated at institutions and organizations everywhere.

We are ready to bring our fight to Fauquier County.

Fauquier County Families: Take the First Step Towards Justice

📞 CALL OUR 24/7 LEGAL EMERGENCY HOTLINE: 1-888-ATTY-911

Email Us Anytime: ralph@atty911.com

Visit Our Website for More Information: attorney911.com

We work on a Contingency Fee Basis: This means you pay $0 upfront to hire us. We cover all the costs of litigation, and we only get paid if we win your case. This ensures that expert legal representation is accessible to every family in Fauquier County, regardless of financial means.

Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Fauquier County Hazing Case:

• Proven Hazing Litigation Experience: We don’t just talk about hazing; we’re in the trenches fighting it right now with a $10 million lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university. We have the recent, real-world experience that matters.
• Nationwide Reach: While our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, hazing cases often involve national organizations, allowing us to leverage our federal court authority and dual-state bar admissions (Texas and New York) to represent victims across America, including Fauquier County. Distance is never a barrier to justice for us.
• Remote Consultations: For families in Fauquier County who cannot travel, we offer convenient video consultations, allowing you to connect with our expert legal team from the comfort and safety of your home.
• We Travel to You: When needed, our attorneys will travel to Fauquier County for depositions, client meetings, and trials, ensuring your case receives the full attention it deserves.
• Insider Knowledge: Our team includes former insurance defense attorneys who intimately understand the strategies and weaknesses of the powerful institutions and insurance companies we’ll be fighting. We know how to anticipate their moves and counter them effectively.
• Comprehensive Support: We are not just skilled litigators; we are a compassionate team dedicated to supporting you through this traumatic period. We handle all aspects of the legal process, allowing you to focus on your child’s healing.

To Other Victims, Witnesses, or Concerned Individuals:

If you were another pledge, a witness, or have any information regarding the hazing in Leonel Bermudez’s case (or any other hazing incident), your voice is crucial. We know there are others who endured similar abuse or saw it happening. We can protect your identity and ensure your story contributes to holding these perpetrators accountable.

As our attorney Lupe Pena passionately declared, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

For families in Fauquier County, the time for silence is over. Your child deserves justice. We are ready to fight for it.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now. Let us be your advocates. Let us turn your despair into decisive action.