If you’re reading this, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child was supposed to find community at college, make new friends, and embark on a brighter future. Instead, they were subjected to abuse, humiliation, and potentially life-threatening hazing. We understand what you’re going through, the fear, the anger, the overwhelming sense of betrayal. Knowing your child, whether in Floyd County or away at college, has been victimized by hazing is a parent’s worst nightmare. We’re here to help families in Floyd County fight back against the fraternities, sororities, and universities that have betrayed their trust and endangered their children.

Hazing is not a harmless prank; it is a systematic program of abuse, and it is happening every single day at institutions across America, including those that students from Floyd County attend. While our firm, Attorney911, is headquartered in Houston, we represent hazing victims and their families nationwide. We are currently embroiled in a 10-million-dollar lawsuit right here in Texas against a national fraternity and a major university for the severe hazing of a young man, Leonel Bermudez. This case, fresh and ongoing, embodies our aggressive, data-driven approach to holding every responsible entity accountable. We bring this same relentless pursuit of justice to families in Floyd County, fighting to ensure that what happened to your child doesn’t happen to anyone else.

The Haunting Echoes of Betrayal: Leonel Bermudez’s Story – A Warning for Floyd County Families

Every parent in Floyd County sends their child off to college with hopes and dreams, not fears of their son or daughter being tortured. Leonel Bermudez’s story is a chilling reminder that these nightmares are real, and they are happening in our own backyard. His case, Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al., filed in Harris County Civil District Court in November 2025, is not just a lawsuit; it’s a testament to the aggressive representation Attorney911 provides and a stark warning to fraternities, universities, and parents across the country, including those in Floyd County.

Leonel Bermudez was what’s known as a “ghost rush.” He wasn’t even an enrolled student at the University of Houston yet, merely a prospective transfer student planning to join the university in the spring of 2026. He accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi fraternity on September 16, 2025, hoping to find a place to belong. What followed was a weeks-long ordeal of systematic abuse, torture, and hazing that culminated in his hospitalization for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.

Why Leonel’s story resonates so deeply for families in Floyd County: Pi Kappa Phi is a national fraternity with over 150 chapters across America, including at universities that students from Floyd County might attend. The same “traditions” that led to Leonel’s horrific injuries are often replicated across these chapters. Furthermore, the institutional negligence that allowed this to happen at the University of Houston is a pattern seen at universities nationwide, including those operating near Floyd County. We want every parent in Floyd County to understand that if their child is being hazed, we will fight for them with the same unwavering aggression we are bringing to Leonel’s case in Houston.

As our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, recounted to ABC13: “When he finally made it home, he crawled up the stairs and went to bed. The next day, he was really sore and couldn’t really move. The next day was worse, and the next day, his mom rushed him to the hospital, and he had some kidney failure.” This vivid account paints a picture of a young man brought to his physical breaking point, not by an accident, but by a deliberate campaign of abuse.

Our associate attorney, Lupe Pena, echoed the firm’s mission, stating to ABC13: “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” This sentiment guides our firm’s commitment: to shine a bright light on the dark corners of hazing and demand accountability, for Leonel, for other victims, and for the families in Floyd County who deserve peace of mind when their children go to college.

The Unfolding Nightmare: A Hazing Timeline

Leonel Bermudez’s path to the hospital was not a sudden event but the culmination of weeks of calculated abuse. Here’s a chilling timeline of what he endured, as detailed in the lawsuit and media reports:

• September 16, 2025: Leonel accepts a bid to Pi Kappa Phi, Beta Nu Chapter. This marks the beginning of weeks of systematic hazing, abuse, and torture.
• October 13, 2025: During this period of hazing, another pledge is subjected to a particularly egregious act: hog-tied face-down on a table with an object forced into his mouth for over an hour. This incident alone reveals the depravity of the “brotherhood.”
• October 15, 2025: A clear warning sign, tragically ignored. Another pledge loses consciousness and collapses during a forced workout. Other pledges had to elevate his legs until he revived. Instead of stopping, the hazing continued.
• November 3, 2025: The day Leonel’s body gave out. After being singled out for punishment, he was forced to endure an unimaginable regimen of physical torture. This included over 100 push-ups, more than 500 squats, high-volume “suicides” (running drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warmups, and repeated 100-yard crawls. While performing these grueling exercises, he was also made to recite the fraternity creed, under constant threat of immediate expulsion if he dared to stop. He became so exhausted that he could not stand without assistance.
• November 4-5, 2025: Leonel’s condition rapidly deteriorates. “Really sore and couldn’t really move,” followed by “The next day was worse,” as Ralph Manginello described. His body was failing.
• November 6, 2025: His mother, recognizing the severity, rushes him to the hospital. There, doctors confirm the devastating toll: severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. A tell-tale sign of his muscle breakdown was the brown urine he was passing.
• November 6-10, 2025: Leonel spends 3 nights and 4 days hospitalized, undergoing intensive medical treatment to save his kidneys and prevent further complications.
• November 14, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters, acting decisively but belatedly, officially closes the Beta Nu Chapter. This action, significantly, occurs seven days before our lawsuit is filed, indicating their awareness of severe wrongdoing.
• November 21, 2025: Attorney911 files the $10 MILLION LAWSUIT in Harris County Civil District Court, making national headlines across ABC13, KHOU 11, the Houston Chronicle, and Houston Public Media.

The Grinding Brutality: Hazing Activities Exposed

The details of Leonel’s hazing are not merely anecdotal; they are evidence of a calculated system of abuse designed to break pledges down physically and psychologically. These are the shocking activities meticulously documented in our lawsuit:

• Waterboarding / Simulated Drowning: Leonel was subjected to “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose.” Pledges were sprayed directly in the face while performing calisthenics, a practice Houston Public Media unequivocally labeled as “torture.” They were also forced to run repeatedly under the threat of further waterboarding.
• Forced Eating Until Vomiting: Pledges were compelled to consume “large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.” Adding insult to injury, they were then forced to continue running sprints while visibly distressed, and even lie in their own vomit-soaked grass.
• Extreme Physical Punishment: Beyond the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats, pledges were forced into grueling “high-volume suicides,” bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warmups, and repeated 100-yard crawls. These activities, performed under duress, led directly to Leonel’s physical collapse and severe medical conditions. Disturbingly, the lawsuit also documents instances of pledges being struck with wooden paddles.
• Psychological Torture & Humiliation: The abuse was not just physical. Leonel was forced to carry a fanny pack containing objects “of sexual nature” at all times. Another pledge was horrifically hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. Pledges were stripped to their underwear in cold weather, and subjected to constant verbal abuse and threats. The enforced dress codes, study hours, and weekly interviews were all part of a larger plan of constant control and psychological manipulation.
• Sleep Deprivation & Exhaustion: Pledges were forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, disrupting their sleep and inducing exhaustion that impacted their daily college life and safety.

This is not “character building.” This is not “tradition.” This is outright abuse and torture, designed to strip individuals of their dignity and autonomy.

The Medical Fallout: Rhabdomyolysis

Leonel Bermudez’s diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure is a direct and severe consequence of the extreme physical hazing he endured. Rhabdomyolysis is the rapid breakdown of muscle tissue, releasing harmful proteins (myoglobin) into the bloodstream. This can overwhelm the kidneys, leading to their failure. Left untreated, it can be fatal.

Leonel’s symptoms were classic indicators:

• Brown urine: A clear sign of myoglobin in the urine, indicating severe muscle damage.
• Very high creatine kinase levels: Lab tests confirmed the extensive breakdown of muscle fibers.
• Acute kidney failure: A life-threatening condition that resulted from his body shutting down under the strain.
• Hospitalization: His condition was so critical he required three nights and four days of inpatient care.
• Post-hazing debilitation: For days after the incident, he struggled with severe muscle pain and was unable to stand or walk normally.

This is the same medical condition that Attorney911 has successfully litigated in previous hazing cases. Ralph Manginello brings specific expertise in cases involving rhabdomyolysis induced by hazing, understanding the complex medical and legal aspects to secure justice for victims.

Institutional Responses: A Coordinated Cover-Up?

University of Houston’s Statement: Admission of Guilt Without Accountability

In an interview with Houston Public Media, a University of Houston spokesperson acknowledged: “The events investigated are deeply disturbing and represent a clear violation of our community standards. The University is conducting its own investigation in coordination with law enforcement and with the cooperation of the fraternity and its national leadership. Pending the outcome of these investigations, any individual found responsible for hazing will face disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion and potential criminal charges.”

While seemingly contrite, this statement, for our attorneys, is an admission. They admit the events are “deeply disturbing” and a “clear violation.” They are coordinating with law enforcement, implying criminal conduct is suspected. However, it also highlights the university’s pattern: only taking action after a crisis erupts and only promising disciplinary action once individuals are “found responsible,” rather than proactively preventing such atrocities. The phrase “cooperation of the fraternity and its national leadership” suggests a coordinated effort between the defendants to manage the narrative.

Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters: Focused on Return, Not Remorse

Pi Kappa Phi’s own website released a statement on November 21, 2025, which, upon closer inspection, reveals a shocking lack of real introspection: “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. Pi Kappa Phi takes all allegations of hazing seriously. This action reflects our commitment to upholding the Fraternity’s values and expectations while prioritizing the well-being of our members.”

Then, the final, chilling sentence: “We thank the University of Houston for its collaboration and leadership. Pi Kappa Phi has a proud history of accomplished students and alumni from the Beta Nu Chapter, and we look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time and continuing our partnership with the University of Houston in the years ahead.”

Their own words incriminate them:

• They admit to “violations” of policy and conduct standards.
• They claim to prioritize “well-being” while a member is in the hospital.
• Crucially, the chapter was closed seven days before our lawsuit was filed, indicative of anticipating legal action and attempting to distance themselves.
• Most egregiously, they express no remorse for Leonel’s suffering, instead focusing on “returning to campus.” This demonstrates a chilling disregard for the victim and an unwavering commitment to business as usual, a mentality that we are determined to challenge.

KHOU 11 reported that the national organization and housing corporation “failed to enforce anti-hazing rules and policies despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.’” The lawsuit further alleges “a pattern of similar hazing and policy violations by the fraternity, locally and nationally.” With over 150 chapters nationally, the question looms large for parents in Floyd County: how many other chapters are engaging in these same dangerous practices?

What Hazing Truly Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

Many parents in Floyd County might imagine hazing as innocent pranks or mild inconveniences, rites of passage that build character. Leonel Bermudez’s story, and countless others, shatters this dangerous illusion. Hazing today is not boys being boys; it is systematic abuse, emotional manipulation, and often, life-threatening torture.

It is NOT tradition. It IS:

• Assault and Battery: Direct physical violence, including beatings, paddling, forced physical exertion to the point of collapse, and any intentional, unwanted physical contact that causes harm or offense. Leonel’s paddling and constant physical abuse qualify as assault and battery.
• Torture: Practices like waterboarding, which simulate drowning, are fundamentally acts of torture, recognized internationally as such. Forcing students to eat until they vomit, then making them continue physical activity in their own sickness, is torture.
• Reckless Endangerment: Placing individuals in situations where there is a high probability of serious bodily harm, such as encouraging excessive drinking, sleep deprivation, or extreme physical trials that lead to organ failure.
• Kidnapping/False Imprisonment: Forcing pledges into confined spaces, restraining them, or denying them the ability to leave. The hog-tying incident against another pledge clearly illustrates false imprisonment.
• Psychological Manipulation: Humiliation, degradation, isolation, verbal abuse, and threats that inflict severe emotional and mental distress. Forcing Leonel to carry a “fanny pack of sexual objects” is a prime example of such degradation.
• Sometimes Manslaughter. Sometimes Murder: Tragically, many hazing incidents end in death, often from alcohol poisoning or untreated injuries, turning a civil case into a criminal one, with potentially severe penalties for those responsible.

The Disturbing Statistics: A Crisis in Plain Sight

The reality of hazing in America is unsettling. These are not isolated incidents but part of a widespread, systemic problem:

• Over half of students (55%) involved in Greek organizations admit to experiencing hazing.
• 40% of student athletes report being hazed, highlighting that the problem extends far beyond fraternities and sororities.
• Since the year 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every single year in the United States. These are preventable tragedies.
• A staggering 95% of students who are hazed do NOT report it, often due to shame, fear of retaliation, or misguided loyalty. This silence allows the cycle of abuse to continue.
• Hazing is not confined to fraternities and sororities; it permeates sports teams, marching bands, ROTC programs, academic clubs, and other student organizations across campuses, including those where Floyd County students enroll.

The Cycle of Institutional Failure

Universities and national organizations are undeniably aware of hazing. They have policies, anti-hazing week campaigns, and risk management teams. Yet, time and again, they fail to act meaningfully until a student is hospitalized or dies. Only then do they “suspend” or “dissolve” chapters, feigning shock while issuing carefully crafted public relations statements. This proactive inaction is precisely what Attorney911 targets. They knew. They had the power to stop it. They chose not to. And now, for families in Floyd County and beyond, it’s time for them to pay.

Who Is Responsible? Holding Every Entity Accountable

When hazing severely injures or kills a student from Floyd County, many entities often bear legal responsibility. Attorney911’s strategy in the Leonel Bermudez case demonstrates our commitment to identifying and pursuing every single party that contributed to the harm. We go beyond the individual perpetrators to hold the larger, often well-funded, institutions accountable.

From our in-depth analysis of the Pi Kappa Phi case, we are pursuing a comprehensive list of defendants, a strategy we will replicate for families in Floyd County:

1. The Local Chapter: The Direct Perpetrators

The Beta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston is front and center. They directly organized and carried out the hazing activities.

• Liability: Local chapters bear direct responsibility for the actions of their members, often through principles of vicarious liability and collective negligence. They are responsible for creating and maintaining the dangerous environment.

2. Chapter Officers & Individual Members: The Faces of Abuse

The lawsuit names the Chapter President, the Pledgemaster, and several current and former fraternity members as individual defendants.

• Liability: These individuals are directly responsible for their participation in, or orchestration of, the hazing. They can be held personally liable for assault, battery, and negligence. The Pledgemaster, in particular, holds significant responsibility for directing the abusive activities.
• Floyd County Relevance: The Stone Foltz case, where a chapter president was personally liable for $6.5 million, sets a powerful precedent for holding individual officers accountable.

3. Former Members and Their Spouses: Expanding the Net of Responsibility

Crucially, the Bermudez lawsuit also names former members and the spouse of one former member because some “major hazing sessions occurred at their residence.”

• Liability: This expands the net of premises liability. Anyone who knowingly allows illegal or dangerous hazing activities to occur on their property can be held responsible. This includes property owners and those who host such events.
• Floyd County Relevance: Hazing extends beyond campus walls. Off-campus housing, private residences, or even rented facilities in Floyd County can become hazardous environments, and those who control them may be liable.

4. The National Organization: The “Deep Pockets” with a Systemic Problem

Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., the national governing body, is a primary target. They claim to oversee over 150 chapters, including those that may exist near Floyd County.

• Liability: The national organization is often held liable for:
  • Failure to Supervise: Not adequately monitoring local chapters, including those in Floyd County, despite knowing of hazing risks.
  • Failure to Enforce Policies: Having anti-hazing policies but failing to enforce them, as alleged in Leonel’s lawsuit, stating they disregarded “a hazing crisis.”
  • Pattern of Negligence: Their documented hazing history, such as the death of Andrew Coffey in a Pi Kappa Phi chapter in 2017, clearly establishes a pattern of negligence and foreseeability. They had eight years to address this systemic issue before Leonel’s hospitalization.
• Floyd County Relevance: National fraternities are well-funded entities with significant insurance coverage. They exist at universities throughout the country, and their “deep pockets” are essential for ensuring substantial compensation and systemic change.

5. The University: The Institution that Failed to Protect

The University of Houston and its Board of Regents are key defendants.

• Liability: Universities can be held liable for:
  • Premises Liability: Crucially, KHOU 11 reported that the hazing occurred in a “University-owned fraternity house.” This makes the University directly responsible for the conditions on its property.
  • Negligent Supervision and Oversight: Failing to adequately supervise Greek life, enforce anti-hazing rules, or intervene despite red flags. The fact that another UH student was hospitalized due to hazing in 2017 (in a different fraternity) clearly establishes that the University had actual notice of the problem and failed to prevent recurrence.
  • Failure to Protect Students: Universities have a fundamental duty to provide a safe educational environment.
• Floyd County Relevance: Students from Floyd County attend colleges all over. These institutions have a duty of care, and when they fail to protect students from known dangers like hazing, they must be held accountable.

6. Insurance Carriers: The Ultimate Source of Compensation

Behind every national organization, university, and often even individual member, are insurance policies.

• Liability: These carriers provide the financial resources for settlements and verdicts. As former insurance defense attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena bring invaluable insider knowledge, understanding precisely how insurance companies value claims, build defenses, and attempt to minimize payouts. This allows us to dismantle their strategies and maximize recovery for our clients.
• Floyd County Relevance: Leveraging the various insurance policies is critical to securing comprehensive compensation for hazing victims and their families in Floyd County.

Making Them Pay: Multi-Million Dollar Precedents that Pave the Way for Floyd County Victims

For families in Floyd County who are reeling from a hazing tragedy, the thought of taking on powerful fraternities and universities can seem daunting. But we want you to know: these cases are winnable, and the payouts can be substantial enough to truly change lives and force institutional reform. The legal landscape is increasingly favorable to hazing victims, and Attorney911 is at the forefront of this fight. These landmark verdicts and settlements demonstrate that accountability is not just a dream, but a reality we consistently pursue.

The message to hazing organizations, universities, and their insurance carriers is clear: Hazing costs millions. These same results are possible for Floyd County victims.

The Families Who Fought Back – And Won:

• STONE FOLTZ – Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)

  • Total Recovery: $10.1 Million+
  • What Happened: In March 2021, Stone Foltz, a pledge at Pi Kappa Alpha, was tragically forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” initiation event. He was found unresponsive the next morning and died from acute alcohol poisoning.
  • Outcomes: Bowling Green State University settled for $2.9 million, and Pi Kappa Alpha and various individuals paid $7.2 million. The chapter was permanently expelled, and multiple members faced criminal convictions. In a truly significant development, in December 2024, a criminal court ordered the former chapter president, Daylen Dunson, to pay $6.5 million in personal liability.
  • Floyd County Relevance: This is a direct parallel to our $10 million demand in the Bermudez case. It explicitly shows that both universities and fraternities (national and individual members) are held financially accountable, and multi-million dollar payouts are achieved even in non-wrongful death cases against individuals.

• MAXWELL GRUVER – Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017)

  • Total Recovery: $6.1 Million Verdict
  • What Happened: In September 2017, 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver died from acute alcohol poisoning at an LSU Phi Delta Theta pledge event called “Bible Study.” Pledges who answered questions incorrectly were forced to drink heavily. His blood alcohol content was a staggering 0.495—over six times the legal limit.
  • Outcomes: A jury awarded his family a $6.1 million verdict. Matthew Naquin, a fraternity member, was criminally convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to prison. This case also spurred the creation of the “Max Gruver Act,” making hazing a felony in Louisiana.
  • Floyd County Relevance: This verdict proves that juries are willing to award significant damages for hazing deaths, underscoring the potential for equally substantial compensation in cases of severe injury or death for families in Floyd County.

• TIMOTHY PIAZZA – Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017)

  • Total Recovery: $110 Million+ (Estimated)
  • What Happened: In February 2017, Timothy Piazza, a pledge at Beta Theta Pi, was forced to consume 18 drinks in 82 minutes as part of a “gauntlet” drinking ritual. Severely intoxicated, he fell down a flight of stairs multiple times, sustaining a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding. Fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling 911, and the entire horrific ordeal was captured on security cameras. He died days later.
  • Outcomes: The ensuing civil settlement was confidential but widely estimated to be over $110 million, positioning it as one of the largest hazing payouts in history. Many fraternity members faced criminal charges, with several convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Pennsylvania enacted the “Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.”
  • Floyd County Relevance: This case highlights that when evidence is strong and egregious conduct is proven, settlements can reach astronomical figures. It also demonstrates how hazing cases can drive significant legislative change.

• ANDREW COFFEY – Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017)

  • Total Recovery: Confidential Settlement
  • What Happened: On November 3, 2017, Andrew Coffey, a pledge at the Florida State University chapter of Pi Kappa Phi – the exact same national fraternity in our Bermudez case – died from acute alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during a “Big Brother Night” ritual.
  • Outcomes: Nine fraternity members faced criminal charges, and the FSU chapter was permanently closed. A civil suit led to a confidential settlement.
  • Floyd County Relevance: This is a smoking gun for the Bermudez case and a stark warning to Floyd County: Pi Kappa Phi has a documented history of deadly hazing. They had eight years since Andrew’s death to rectify their culture, yet Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized under disturbingly similar circumstances. This pattern of negligence strengthens the claim for punitive damages against the national organization.

The Broader Impact: A Call for Change

These cases, representing millions in compensation, have not only offered some measure of justice to grieving families but have also spurred legislative action. Laws like Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, Ohio’s Collin’s Law, and even existing Texas hazing laws are direct results of these tragedies. These laws increase penalties for hazing, provide immunity for those who report it, and aim to prevent future harm.

For families in Floyd County, this means:

• Your case has powerful legal precedents. The strategies employed in these multi-million dollar wins are applicable to your child’s hazing case, validating the path to justice.
• Universities and fraternities are on notice. They cannot claim ignorance; the financial and legal consequences of hazing are well-established.
• Your fight contributes to a larger movement. By pursuing justice, you not only secure compensation for your family but also help create a safer environment for all students, including those in Floyd County.

Texas: The Law Protects Our Children from Hazing – Consent is NOT a Defense

When a child from Floyd County is hazed, whether at a local college or an out-of-state university, they are protected by powerful laws designed to hold perpetrators and institutions accountable. While Attorney911 is based in Texas, the principles of many state hazing laws, coupled with federal statutes and the ability to litigate in federal court, mean that families in Floyd County can pursue justice no matter where the hazing occurred.

Our home state of Texas has some of the most robust anti-hazing legislation, explicitly defining hazing, outlining criminal penalties, and crucially, eliminating the defense of consent.

Understanding the Texas Anti-Hazing Law: Texas Education Code Sections 37.151-37.157

This comprehensive statute provides a strong legal framework for prosecuting hazing as both a criminal offense and a basis for civil liability.

Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151): Deliberate Acts of Harm

The Texas law meticulously defines hazing 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.”

The law further specifies these acts to include:

• Physical Brutality: Such as whipping, beating, striking (like the wooden paddles Leonel endured), branding, electronic shocking, or placing harmful substances on the body.
• Endangerment to Health or Safety: Including sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements (like stripping in cold weather), confinement in small spaces, calisthenics (like Leonel’s 500 squats and extreme workouts leading to rhabdomyolysis), or other similar activities posing an unreasonable risk of harm.
• Forced Consumption: Requiring the consumption of food, liquid, alcohol, or other substances that pose an unreasonable risk or adversely affect health (such as Leonel’s forced eating until vomiting).
• Criminal Acts: Any activity that involves compelling a student to commit a Penal Code violation.
• Coerced Consumption: Forcing a student to consume drugs or alcohol to the point of intoxication.

Floyd County families should understand: The detailed hazing activities Leonel Bermudez suffered—waterboarding, forced eating, extreme calisthenics, physical assault—fall squarely within multiple categories of this legal definition. This means most hazing incidents, especially those causing injury, are violations of Texas law.

Criminal Penalties for Hazing: From Misdemeanor to Felony

The Texas law imposes serious criminal consequences for hazing:

• Class B Misdemeanor: For engaging in hazing, soliciting, encouraging, aiding hazing, or even for having firsthand knowledge of hazing and failing to report it. This carries a penalty of up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.
• Class A Misdemeanor: If the hazing causes serious bodily injury. This carries up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Leonel Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure absolutely qualify as “serious bodily injury,” meaning those involved in his hazing face Class A Misdemeanor charges.
• State Jail Felony: If the hazing causes death. This carries 180 days to two years in state jail and a $10,000 fine.

The University of Houston spokesperson explicitly mentioned “potential criminal charges” in their statement. This confirms that those who engaged in this barbaric behavior can, and should, face criminal prosecution in addition to civil lawsuits.

Organizational Responsibility (§ 37.153): Holding Fraternities Accountable

The law also targets the organizations themselves:

“An organizationcommits an offense if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer or any combination of members, pledges, or alumni of the organization commits or assists in the commission of hazing.”

Penalties for organizations include fines of up to $10,000, denial of permission to operate on campus, and forfeiture of property. This applies directly to the Beta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi and, more broadly, to the national organization for its failure to prevent the hazing despite its alleged knowledge of “a hazing crisis.”

Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154): Dispelling a Common Myth

Perhaps the most crucial aspect of Texas hazing law, particularly for civil litigation, is its unequivocal stance on consent:

“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.”

This shatters the common, insidious argument often made by fraternities and universities: that victims “consented” to the hazing or “knew what they were signing up for.” The Texas Legislature explicitly removed this legal loophole, recognizing that true consent cannot exist in coercive, abusive environments. For any student in Floyd County who feels pressured to participate in harmful rituals, this law is a powerful shield.

University Reporting Requirements (§ 37.155): Accountability for Institutions

Universities are mandated to report hazing incidents to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board within 30 days of becoming aware of them. Failure to do so is a Class B Misdemeanor. This provision forces universities, including those in Texas that students from Floyd County might attend, to acknowledge and report hazing, creating a paper trail that can be vital for civil lawsuits.

Beyond Criminal: Civil Liability for Floyd County Hazing Victims

While criminal charges punish the perpetrators, civil lawsuits empower victims and their families in Floyd County to recover compensation for their immense suffering and losses. Our firm can pursue various civil claims:

• Negligence Claims: This is the bedrock of many personal injury cases. We argue that the university, national fraternity, and individual members had a “duty of care” to protect students, they “breached” that duty through their actions or inactions, this breach “caused” the injuries, and the injuries resulted in “damages” (medical bills, pain, suffering).
• Premises Liability: As highlighted in the Bermudez case, where hazing occurred in a “University-owned fraternity house,” property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe. When they allow dangerous hazing to occur, especially with knowledge, they are liable.
• Negligent Supervision: National organizations and universities have a duty to supervise their chapters and Greek life. Failure to do so, particularly with a history of hazing, constitutes negligent supervision.
• Assault and Battery: These are intentional torts, meaning directly causing harmful or offensive contact. Each act of physical hazing or forced conduct can be an act of assault or battery.
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED): Hazing practices are often so severe and outrageous that they create immense emotional and psychological trauma, qualifying for IIED claims. Leonel’s waterboarding and prolonged humiliation certainly meet this standard.
• Wrongful Death: In the tragic event of a hazing death, families can file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for their profound loss, including grief, loss of companionship, and financial support.

Floyd County families, understand this: These civil claims are not mutually exclusive from criminal investigations; they run in parallel. A civil lawsuit for hazing provides compensation and answers even if criminal charges are not pursued or result in acquittal.

Why Attorney911 Is the Force Floyd County Needs Against Hazing

When your family in Floyd County faces the trauma of hazing, you need more than just a lawyer. You need a legal emergency team, battle-tested and relentless, with the experience to take on powerful fraternities, their national organizations, and negligent universities. Attorney911 is that force. Our firm, led by Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, brings a unique blend of aggressive advocacy, insider knowledge, and deep compassion to every hazing case, a combination unmatched by many firms.

We are not simply personal injury lawyers dabbling in hazing cases; 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 RIGHT NOW, and we bring this same level of dedication and expertise to every family in Floyd County.

The Attorney911 Difference: Unmatched Advantages for Floyd County Victims

1. 25+ Years of Courtroom Experience & Battle-Tested Leadership: Ralph P. Manginello, our managing partner, brings over two decades of aggressive courtroom experience. His history includes involvement in the complex, multi-billion dollar mass tort litigation against BP following the catastrophic Texas City explosion. This demonstrates his capacity to successfully take on massive corporate and institutional defendants – exactly the adversaries your Floyd County family will face in a hazing lawsuit.

   • Floyd County Benefit: This level of experience means your case, no matter how complex or how powerful the defendants, is in the hands of a proven litigator. Ralph understands how to dismantle the defenses of large organizations.

2. Insider Knowledge: Former Insurance Defense Attorneys: Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena previously worked on the “other side,” defending insurance companies. Lupe, in particular, was an associate attorney at Litchfield Cavo LLP, a nationwide insurance defense firm.

   • Floyd County Benefit: This is an unparalleled advantage. They intimately understand how insurance companies think, strategize, and attempt to undervalue or outright deny claims. They know the playbook, the tactics, and the pressure points. They use this insider knowledge to dismantle the defense’s arguments and maximize recovery for our clients in Floyd County.

3. Nationwide Reach with Federal Court Authority: While based in Texas, our firm is equipped to represent hazing victims in Floyd County and across America.

   • Floyd County Benefit: We are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, granting us federal litigation authority. Ralph also holds dual-state bar admissions in Texas and New York, providing a strategic advantage when facing national fraternities often headquartered or incorporated in other states. Distance is not a barrier; we offer remote consultations for Floyd County families and will travel for depositions, meetings, and trials when necessary.

4. Hazing-Specific Expertise: From Rhabdomyolysis to Wrongful Death: We are not learning on your case; we are leading the charge. Our current $10 million lawsuit for rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure stemming from hazing is proof of our specialized focus. Ralph has specific expertise in these medically complex hazing cases.

   • Floyd County Benefit: We understand the nuances of hazing culture, its psychological impact, the specific medical injuries, and the legal strategies required to prove institutional negligence. We know what evidence to look for, what experts to call, and what arguments win.

5. Bilingual Legal Services: Se Habla Español: Lupe Pena is fluent in Spanish and deeply connected to Texas’s rich Hispanic heritage.

   • Floyd County Benefit: This ensures that Spanish-speaking families in Floyd County affected by hazing receive comprehensive legal services without language barriers, from initial consultation to final resolution.

6. Unwavering Client Focus: “We Come to You”: We understand the immense stress and logistical challenges involved when dealing with a hazing incident.

   • Floyd County Benefit: We prioritize immediate response and accessibility. We offer free consultations 24/7, via phone or video. If your case requires it, we will travel to Floyd County for critical meetings, depositions, or trial, ensuring that justice is pursued directly where it happened. As our client testimonials attest, we treat our clients like family.

7. Contingency Fee Basis: No Upfront Costs, No Risk: We believe financial hardship should never prevent a family in Floyd County from seeking justice.

   • Floyd County Benefit: We take hazing cases on contingency. This means you pay us absolutely nothing upfront. Our payment is entirely dependent on us winning your case. If you don’t get paid, we don’t get paid. This levels the playing field against well-funded institutions.

Our Track Record Speaks for Itself: Social Proof and Deep Roots

With a Google My Business rating of 4.9 Stars from over 250 reviews, our clients consistently praise our communication, dedication, and ability to secure favorable outcomes. Testimonials often highlight how we treat clients “like family” and fight relentlessly for maximum settlements. Ralph’s roots run deep in Texas, having grown up in Houston, and Lupe is a third-generation Texan from Sugar Land with ties to historical Texas heritage. This connection to the community, coupled with our legal prowess, makes us powerful advocates for Floyd County families.

We are not just litigators; we are advocates committed to making a tangible difference. As Lupe Pena articulated, “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 Floyd County, this means aggressive, professional representation that not only seeks compensation for your loved one but also works to dismantle the destructive hazing culture that continues to plague our colleges and universities.

What to Do Right Now: Actionable Steps for Floyd County Families After Hazing

The moment you discover your child has been subjected to hazing, the clock starts ticking. Panic, anger, and confusion are natural reactions, but critical steps must be taken immediately to protect your child’s health, preserve crucial evidence, and secure their legal rights. For families in Floyd County, this guidance is paramount.

Here are the essential steps you must take, starting now:

Step 1: Prioritize Safety and Medical Attention

Your child’s physical and mental well-being is the absolute priority.

• Remove Your Child from the Situation: If they are still in a dangerous environment, get them out immediately.
• Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Even if injuries seem minor or your child insists they are “fine,” get them to a doctor or emergency room. Adrenaline can mask pain. For Leonel Bermudez, his severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure manifested days after the critical hazing incident.
  • Why it’s critical: Medical records are paramount. They provide objective, contemporaneous documentation of injuries, diagnoses, and treatments, directly linking them to the hazing. Any delay in medical care will be used by defense attorneys to argue that your child wasn’t really hurt.
• Document Everything (Medical): Keep copies of all hospital records, emergency room reports, doctor’s notes, lab results (like Leonel’s creatine kinase levels), prescriptions, and bills. This medical paper trail forms the bedrock of your personal injury claim.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence Immediately

Hazing organizations and universities are notorious for destroying or hiding evidence once an incident comes to light. You must act fast. As Ralph Manginello advises, “Take pictures. Take pictures. Take pictures. Take more pictures than you think you need to. Pictures are going to tell the story. Help your lawyer tell your story.”

• Text Messages & Digital Communications: This is often the most damning evidence. DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING. Save every text message, GroupMe chat, Snapchat, Instagram DM, Facebook Messenger conversation, or email related to the hazing. Screenshot everything with timestamps. These communications reveal instructions, threats, coercion, and discussions among perpetrators.
• Photos & Videos: Any photos or videos your child or their friends took of hazing activities, injuries, or the locations where hazing occurred are invaluable. Secure these immediately. If your child has bruising, cuts, burns, or other visible injuries, photograph them from multiple angles, with good lighting, and on different days to show their progression.
• Witness Information: Collect the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of anyone who witnessed the hazing, participated in it, or has knowledge of it. This includes other pledges, fraternity/sorority members, and even bystanders. Their testimony can be crucial.
• Pledge Manuals/Schedules: If your child received any written materials, schedules, or “rules” for the pledge process, preserve them. These can expose the systematic nature of the hazing.
• Clothing & Physical Items: If any clothing was torn or damaged during hazing, or if there are any physical items associated with the hazing (e.g., specific objects mentioned in rituals), preserve them as evidence.
• Academic & Financial Records: Keep records of tuition payments, scholarships, and any academic performance issues that arose as a direct result of the hazing trauma. Document any lost wages if your child missed work due to injury or psychological distress.

Step 3: Crucial “DO NOTs” to Protect Your Case

The defense will be looking for any missteps you make to minimize their liability.

• DO NOT Delete ANYTHING: Deleting messages or social media posts can be considered destruction of evidence and severely harm your case.
• DO NOT Talk to the Fraternity/Sorority, University, or Their Lawyers Alone: They are not on your side. Their goal is to protect their institution and minimize their financial exposure. Any statement you give them, even seemingly innocent, can be twisted and used against you.
• DO NOT Sign Anything: Never sign any documents presented by the fraternity, sorority, or university without legal counsel reviewing them first. These documents may waive your rights to future legal action.
• DO NOT Post About the Incident on Social Media: The defense will use anything you or your child posts on social media (e.g., photos of your child at a party looking “fine,” posts about the incident) to argue that injuries are exaggerated or inconsistencies exist. Our firm explicitly warns clients: stay off social media regarding the incident.
• DO NOT Exaggerate or Speculate: Stick to the facts. Be truthful and precise in any statements. Avoid guessing or making assumptions.

Step 4: Contact an Experienced Hazing Litigation Attorney IMMEDIATELY

This is perhaps the most important step. Delay is your enemy.

• Call Us Now: The statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death cases in most states, including Texas, is TWO YEARS from the date of injury or death. While this may seem like ample time, evidence disappears rapidly, witnesses’ memories fade, and organizations destroy records. Our ability to gather crucial evidence and legally compel defendants to preserve it depends on quick action.
• Attorney911 Legal Emergency Hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911 is available 24/7 for families in Floyd County and across the nation.
• Free Consultation: We offer a completely free, confidential consultation to evaluate your child’s hazing case. There is no obligation, and it allows us to immediately assess the strength of your claim and guide your next steps.
• We Work on Contingency: Financial concerns should never be a barrier to justice. You pay us $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless we win your case. This allows families in Floyd County to take on powerful institutions without bearing the financial risk.
• Bilingual Services: If you are a Spanish-speaking family in Floyd County, our fluent Spanish-speaking team can assist you without any language barriers, ensuring you understand every step of the legal process.

Step 5: Consider a Police Report and Title IX if Applicable

Depending on the nature of the hazing:

• Police Report: If the hazing involved assault, battery, serious injury, or sexual assault, filing a police report is crucial. Criminal charges may be pursued in parallel with your civil lawsuit. The University of Houston spokesperson even mentioned “potential criminal charges” in Leonel’s case.
• Title IX Report: If the hazing involved sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination based on gender, a Title IX report to the university’s Title IX office may also be appropriate. This can trigger an internal investigation.

Floyd County families, remember: You are not alone in this fight. The story of Leonel Bermudez proves that we are actively fighting hazing right now. We handle everything from the initial investigation to aggressive litigation, allowing your family to focus on healing while we relentlessly pursue justice and accountability.

Floyd County Families: Have You or Your Child Been Hazed? Call Attorney911 Now.

The terrifying reality of hazing can shatter a family’s peace and irrevocably alter a young person’s life. If your child in Floyd County, or attending college elsewhere, has been a victim of hazing, you are likely feeling isolated, angry, and overwhelmed. We want you to know: You have undeniable legal rights, and you have a fierce advocate in Attorney911.

We are not simply another law firm. We are legal emergency responders, currently engaged in a $10 MILLION lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university for severe hazing. This isn’t theoretical; this is our present reality, and we are bringing the same aggressive, data-driven, and compassionate approach to every family in Floyd County whose child has been harmed by this destructive culture.

Floyd County Families — Call Us Now for a Free, Confidential Consultation

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Available 24/7 for Floyd County hazing emergencies.
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

Here’s why you should call us immediately:

1. NO UPFRONT COST: We operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless YOU get paid. This ensures that every family in Floyd County, regardless of financial situation, can access aggressive legal representation against well-funded institutions.
2. IMMEDIATE ACTION, IMMEDIATE PROTECTION: The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to gather evidence and build a strong case. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and organizations work to cover their tracks. Our team will move swiftly to preserve critical evidence and protect your legal rights.
3. BATTLE-TESTED EXPERTISE: Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, bring decades of combined courtroom experience, including invaluable insider knowledge from their time defending insurance companies. They know the tactics the other side will use and how to dismantle them effectively for Floyd County families.
4. HAZING-SPECIFIC FOCUS: We are actively litigating hazing cases, such as Leonel Bermudez’s $10 million lawsuit involving rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. We understand the medical, psychological, and institutional complexities unique to hazing, including those faced by students from Floyd County.
5. NATIONWIDE REACH: While we are proud to be based in Texas (Houston, Austin, and Beaumont), hazing is a national crisis. We represent victims from Floyd County and across America. Our federal court authority, dual-state bar admissions (Texas and New York), and commitment to travel ensure that justice is accessible, no matter where the hazing occurred. We offer video consultations for your convenience and will travel to Floyd County for depositions, meetings, and trials when needed.
6. WE FIGHT FOR YOU, NOT JUST A SETTLEMENT: Our mission extends beyond securing compensation; we are dedicated to holding perpetrators and institutions accountable to prevent future tragedies. As Lupe Pena often says, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

We Serve Floyd County Hazing Victims — And Hazing Victims Nationwide

Hazing knows no geographical boundaries. Whether your child attends a university in Georgia or elsewhere, the same national fraternities, sororities, and organizations operate everywhere. We represent victims of hazing in:

• Fraternities and sororities at institutions near Floyd County, as well as those across the country.
• Floyd County sports teams, clubs, and athletic programs.
• Marching bands, ROTC, and other student organizations
• Military academies and other groups that use abuse as “initiation.”

To Other Victims of the University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi Hazing:

We know Leonel Bermudez was not the only one. Our lawsuit details how another pledge lost consciousness on October 15, and a third was hog-tied. If you or someone you know experienced hazing with the University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi chapter, you have rights too. Your testimony and your story are crucial, and we can represent you in securing the justice you deserve.

Call us. Let’s send a resounding message to every fraternity, sorority, and university: Hazing will not be tolerated. Victims will be heard. Justice will be served. For Floyd County, for Texas, for America.

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