🚨 Hazing Victims in Gallatin County: Your Rights, Your Justice
Attorney 911 – Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Gallatin County Families from Houston, Austin & Beaumont
📢 Gallatin County Parents & Students: You Are Not Alone
Hazing isn’t “tradition.” It isn’t “brotherhood.” It isn’t “just a prank.”
It is assault. It is battery. It is torture. And it is happening at universities near Gallatin County.
We know this because we’re fighting this battle right now—in court, in the media, and in the halls of power. Our client, Leonel Bermudez, was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and struck with wooden paddles by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Houston. He ended up in the hospital with kidney failure.
This didn’t happen in some distant state. This happened in Texas. This could happen in Gallatin County.
If your child has been hazed at a university near Gallatin County—whether in a fraternity, sorority, sports team, marching band, or any other organization—you have legal rights. And we will fight for you.
🔍 What Is Hazing? (Gallatin County Families Need to Know)
Hazing isn’t just about drinking games or silly rituals. Under Illinois law (and the laws of most states), hazing includes:
✅ Physical brutality – Beatings, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion
✅ Forced consumption – Alcohol, food, or other substances until vomiting or passing out
✅ Psychological torture – Waterboarding, sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats
✅ Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
✅ Dangerous exposure – Cold weather, heat, confined spaces
✅ Servitude – Forced cleaning, driving members, running errands
In Illinois, consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says: hazing is illegal, period.
🏛️ Who Can Be Held Accountable in Gallatin County?
When hazing happens, everyone involved shares responsibility—and we will pursue them all:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Gallatin County Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Organized and conducted the hazing | Same fraternities/sororities operate near Gallatin County |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise, ignored prior incidents | Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Sigma Chi, and others have chapters near Gallatin County |
| University | Failed to protect students, ignored warnings | Universities near Gallatin County have the same duty to students |
| Chapter Officers | Directed and participated in hazing | Individual students can be sued personally |
| Individual Members | Participated in or allowed hazing | Each member shares responsibility |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their property | Hazing often happens at off-campus homes |
| Insurance Companies | Coverage for institutional liability | Deep pockets that actually pay settlements |
We don’t just sue broke college students. We go after the institutions with money—the universities, the national fraternities, and their insurance companies.
💰 What Is Your Gallatin County Hazing Case Worth?
Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what other families have recovered:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome | Why It Matters for Gallatin County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | $10.1 Million | Same fraternity as our current case; shows $10M is reasonable |
| Maxwell Gruver | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | $6.1 Million Jury Verdict | Juries award millions for hazing deaths |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | $110 Million+ Settlement | Strong evidence = massive payouts |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Confidential Settlement | Same fraternity as our current case; pattern of negligence |
| Leonel Bermudez | University of Houston | Pi Kappa Phi | $10 Million Lawsuit Pending | We’re fighting this fight right now for Gallatin County families |
What Damages Can Gallatin County Families Recover?
| Category | What It Covers | Gallatin County Example |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, therapy, future treatment | Kidney failure, rhabdomyolysis, PTSD |
| Lost Wages | Missed work, lost career opportunities | Student forced to drop out, delayed graduation |
| Pain & Suffering | Physical pain from injuries | Broken bones, burns, muscle breakdown |
| Mental Anguish | PTSD, anxiety, depression | Fear of retribution, nightmares, therapy |
| Punitive Damages | Punishment for egregious conduct | Waterboarding, forced consumption, cover-ups |
In Illinois, there is NO CAP on pain and suffering damages in personal injury cases. The more severe the hazing, the higher the compensation.
📋 What Should Gallatin County Families Do RIGHT NOW?
⚠️ If Your Child Has Been Hazed: ACT FAST
Hazing victims often delay reporting due to:
- Shame and embarrassment
- Fear of retaliation
- Loyalty to the organization
- Not recognizing it as hazing
But time is against you:
- Illinois has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases
- Evidence disappears (texts deleted, witnesses forget)
- Organizations destroy records
- Your legal rights expire
🚨 Immediate Steps for Gallatin County Hazing Victims:
- Get Medical Attention – Even if injuries seem minor, document everything
- Preserve Evidence – Save all texts, photos, videos, social media posts
- Do NOT Talk to the Organization – They will try to control the narrative
- Do NOT Post on Social Media – Anything you post can be used against you
- Contact an Attorney – Free consultations available; know your rights
Call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911. We offer video consultations for Gallatin County families.
🎯 Why Gallatin County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting This Fight RIGHT NOW
We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This isn’t hypothetical—we’re in the courtroom, in the media, and on the front lines.
2. We Know How to Win Against Powerful Institutions
We’ve taken on:
- BP in the Texas City explosion litigation
- Universities in hazing cases
- National fraternities with deep pockets
- Insurance companies that try to deny claims
We know their playbook. We know how to beat them.
3. We’re Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides. We know how they think, how they deny claims, and how to dismantle their defenses.
4. We Serve Gallatin County Families Nationwide
While based in Texas, we represent hazing victims across America, including Gallatin County. We offer:
- Video consultations for Gallatin County families
- Travel to Gallatin County for depositions and trials
- Federal court authority to pursue cases anywhere
5. We Work on Contingency – $0 Upfront
We understand Gallatin County families can’t afford expensive legal fees. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
- No upfront costs
- No hourly billing
- We take the risk
- You only pay if we win
6. We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español
Many hazing victims are from Hispanic families. We provide comprehensive legal services in Spanish—no language barriers to justice.
7. We Have a Proven Track Record
- 4.9 Stars on Google (250+ reviews)
- Millions recovered for personal injury victims
- Hundreds of cases won
- Aggressive, compassionate representation
📞 Gallatin County Hazing Victims: Call Now
Every day you wait is a day closer to losing your rights.
Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
We come to Gallatin County. We fight for Gallatin County families. We win for Gallatin County victims.
🚨 A Warning to Gallatin County Fraternities and Universities
To the fraternities operating near Gallatin County:
We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi—if your chapter operates near Gallatin County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America.
To the universities near Gallatin County:
The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. Act now, or face the same accountability.
To all Greek life leadership at Gallatin County institutions:
The Bermudez case is a warning. Clean up your chapters before we clean them out in court.
🏆 The Gallatin County Hazing Justice Campaign
We’re not just representing one victim. We’re launching a nationwide campaign to end hazing culture. This includes:
1. Legal Action
- Aggressive litigation against fraternities, universities, and individuals
- Multi-million dollar demands for Gallatin County victims
- Criminal referrals for egregious cases
2. Legislative Reform
- Working with Illinois legislators to strengthen anti-hazing laws
- Supporting federal legislation like the Stop Campus Hazing Act
- Pushing for mandatory reporting and transparency
3. Public Awareness
- Media campaigns exposing hazing culture
- Documentary and news coverage
- Educational outreach to Gallatin County families
4. Institutional Pressure
- Demanding university oversight reforms
- Pressuring national fraternities to implement real safeguards
- Holding alumni and donors accountable
💬 What Gallatin County Families Are Saying About Us
“After my son was hazed, I didn’t know where to turn. Attorney 911 took our case and fought for us like family. They got us the justice we deserved.” – Grieving Parent
“I was afraid to speak up. Attorney 911 protected me and made sure my voice was heard. They changed my life.” – Hazing Survivor
“The fraternity tried to silence us. Attorney 911 made them pay.” – Family of Hazing Victim
📅 Free Consultation for Gallatin County Families
If your child has been hazed at a university near Gallatin County, call us now for a free, confidential consultation.
✅ No obligation
✅ No upfront cost
✅ Compassionate, experienced attorneys
✅ Available 24/7
1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com
🔥 Enough Is Enough, Gallatin County
Hazing has taken too many lives. It has ruined too many futures. It has betrayed the trust of too many families.
But together, we can stop it.
If you’re a Gallatin County parent, student, or victim—you have power. You have rights. And you have us.
Call now. The fight starts today.
