If you’re reading this in Hall County, Georgia, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child went off to college, hoping to make friends, build a community, and find a sense of belonging. Instead, they were tortured, abused, and perhaps even severely injured by the very people and institutions they trusted. We are here to help families in Hall County fight back.

Hazing is not a harmless rite of passage. It is not “boys being boys” or some innocuous tradition. As attorneys who are actively fighting this battle in court right now, we can tell you unequivocally: hazing today is often systematic abuse that can lead to severe physical injury, lifelong psychological trauma, and even death. It happens in fraternities, soror sports teams, and other student organizations at colleges and universities across Georgia and the entire nation.

When your child is hazed at a university in or around Hall County, or anywhere their college journey takes them, you deserve aggressive, data-driven representation. You need legal experts who understand not only the complex legal landscape but also the cultural nuances of Greek life, the institutional failures of universities, and the corporate structures of national fraternities.

That is precisely what Attorney911 offers. We are currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and the University of Houston for horrific hazing that hospitalized our client. This is not theoretical; this is real, ongoing, and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding every responsible party accountable. We bring this same level of dedication, expertise, and a no-holds-barred approach to every hazing case we undertake, including those for families in Hall County.

The Case That Shows Hall County Families Why We Fight: Leonel Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston

What happened in Houston to Leonel Bermudez is a stark, recent example of the brutal reality of hazing. This case, filed in November 2025, represents everything Attorney911 stands for: aggressive representation of hazing victims, a data-driven litigation strategy, and relentless pursuit of accountability for every entity responsible for hazing injuries. It is a story that every parent in Hall County needs to hear, a warning about the hidden dangers their children may face.

Leonel Bermudez was a “ghost rush”—a promising young man who had accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Houston, even though he wasn’t officially enrolled yet. He was planning to transfer there for the upcoming semester. What followed his acceptance on September 16, 2025, was weeks of systematic abuse, torture, and hazing that landed him in the hospital for three nights and four days. He was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, life-threatening conditions caused by extreme physical exertion.

The Hazing Activities Exposed:
The dehumanizing acts Leonel endured are a chilling look at modern hazing:

• Waterboarding / Simulated Drowning: Leonel was subjected to “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose.” Pledges were sprayed in the face with a hose while forced to do calisthenics, repeatedly running under threat of being waterboarded. This isn’t a college prank; waterboarding is a form of torture.
• Forced Eating Until Vomiting: He was forced to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and even peppercorns until he vomited. Then, chillingly, he was “forced to continue running sprints while clearly in physical distress” and made to “lie in vomit-soaked grass.”
• Extreme Physical Punishment: He was forced to perform over 100 pushups, 500 squats, high-volume “suicides” (running drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, and “save-you-brother” drills. He was made to do “repeated 100-yard crawls” and recite the fraternity creed while exercising until he could not stand without help. He was even “struck with wooden paddles.”
• Psychological Torture & Humiliation: Leonel was forced to strip to his underwear in cold weather and carry a fanny pack with objects of a sexual nature at all times. In another incident, a different pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. Threats of physical punishment or expulsion were constant.
• Sleep Deprivation: He was forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, leading to exhaustion.

As Attorney Ralph Manginello told 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.” The severity of his condition, including brown urine (a classic sign of muscle breakdown), very high creatine kinase levels, and acute kidney failure, highlights the life-altering consequences of such abuse.

The Institutional Response—Or Lack Thereof:
Within weeks of the hazing being reported, the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at the University of Houston was suspended, then permanently closed. Members voted to surrender their charter. Criminal referrals were initiated. The University of Houston spokesperson called the events “deeply disturbing” and a “clear violation of our community standards,” noting that individuals could face “expulsion and potential criminal charges.”

Yet, on their own website, Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters issued a statement effective November 14, 2025, nearly a week before our lawsuit was filed, closing the chapter. They brazenly stated, “We look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time and continuing our partnership with the University of Houston in the years ahead.” This statement, issued while our client was recovering from kidney failure caused by their chapter, demonstrates a chilling lack of remorse and a focus on self-preservation, not accountability. It implies they believe this controversy will simply “blow over.”

Why This Case Matters to Hall County Families:

• It’s a Glimpse into Modern Hazing: This isn’t archaic behavior from movies. This happened just weeks ago in Houston and is indicative of what occurs at universities across America, including those near Hall County. Hazing involves systematic psychological manipulation and physical torture, not harmless pranks.
• Universities Are Complicit: The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where much of this hazing occurred. Universities and colleges near Hall County have the same power to regulate their Greek life and prevent such abuses – and they bear the same liability when they fail to do so.
• National Organizations Know: Pi Kappa Phi National suspended and dissolved the chapter almost immediately after the incident became known, demonstrating they knew the conduct was wrong. Yet, this is the same national organization whose Florida State chapter saw the hazing death of Andrew Coffey in 2017 – meaning they had eight years to fix their culture and failed. Those same national fraternities operate at colleges and universities throughout Georgia.
• One Brave Victim Can Protect Others: As Attorney Lupe Pena stated, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” Leonel’s courage to come forward provides a roadmap for other victims and families in Hall County to seek justice and prevent future tragedies.
• $10 Million Sends a Message: The $10 million sought in our lawsuit is not just about compensating our client; it’s about sending an undeniable message to fraternities, universities, and their national organizations: hazing costs millions. This is the price of torturing our kids. Families in Hall County can send the same powerful message.

This case is the proof that Attorney911 isn’t theoretical. We are actively fighting right now in Harris County Civil District Court, demonstrating that we will aggressively pursue accountability for hazing victims. We will bring this same fierce advocacy and our deep understanding of the tactics and structures of these organizations to your family’s case in Hall County.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes and into the Shadows

Many parents in Hall County might still carry an image of hazing from old movies or stories—some embarrassing prank or mild discomfort. The reality, as demonstrated by the Bermudez case and countless others across the country, is far more sinister. Hazing is calculated, dangerous, and often involves criminal acts designed to break a student’s spirit and body. It’s not about building character; it’s about control, dominance, and a warped sense of loyalty through abuse.

The Harsh Truth of Modern Hazing in Georgia:

• Physical Torture: This can include forced, excessive physical exertion leading to injuries like rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown and kidney failure, as Leonel Bermudez suffered), heatstroke, heart damage from overexertion, and falls. It also extends to beatings, paddling, branding, burning, and forced exposure to extreme temperatures.
• Forced Consumption: Binge drinking, often with deadly amounts of hard liquor, is shockingly common. Students are forced to consume non-food items, or massive quantities of food and drink until they vomit. This leads to alcohol poisoning, choking, and internal injuries.
• Psychological War Games: Humiliation, degradation, verbal abuse, sleep deprivation, fake kidnappings, forced public nudity, and isolation are all designed to strip pledges of their self-worth. These tactics leave deep psychological scars, leading to PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, and even suicide.
• Sexual Abuse: Forced nudity, coerced sexual acts, and sexual assault are abhorrent but documented elements of hazing rituals. The use of sexually suggestive objects, as seen in the Bermudez case, is part of this degrading abuse.
• Simulated Drowning: Waterboarding, a technique widely recognized as torture, is unfortunately now a documented form of hazing. The terror and physical distress it causes can be profound and lasting.
• Medical Neglect: A recurring and tragic element in many hazing cases is the delay in seeking medical help for an injured or unconscious pledge. Fraternity members often fear legal consequences more than they fear for a fellow student’s life, leading to preventable deaths.

These are not isolated incidents. The statistics are horrifying:

• Over 55% of students involved in Greek organizations experience hazing.
• 95% of students who are hazed do not report it, often due to shame, fear of retaliation, or a misguided sense of loyalty to their peers or organization.
• Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every single year in the United States, usually involving alcohol and extreme physical abuse. Tragically, these numbers include students who attend universities that students from Hall County frequently attend, both within Georgia and out of state.

The core issue is often institutional failure. Universities in the Hall County area, and nationally, know hazing is a problem. National Greek organizations know. They have policies against it, but often, these policies are not enforced. They choose not to act until a child is severely injured or dies. Only then do they scramble to “suspend” or “dissolve” chapters, claiming surprise while actively trying to limit their own liability. This cyclical failure of oversight and accountability is what we fight against every day.

Who Is Responsible? Holding Every Entity Accountable in Hall County

When a student in Hall County is subjected to hazing, the immediate thought might be to blame the individual students who participated. While those individuals are certainly responsible, our experience, most recently with the Bermudez case, shows that accountability extends much further. We believe that everyone who participated in, facilitated, condoned, or negligently allowed hazing to occur must be held liable. This comprehensive approach is essential to achieving true justice and driving institutional change.

Based on our precedent-setting cases and the aggressive strategy in the Bermudez lawsuit, we typically pursue claims against multiple defendants, including:

• The Local Chapter: This includes the specific fraternity or sorority chapter involved in the hazing. The chapter is directly responsible for organizing and conducting the hazing activities. Often, the chapter itself holds assets or may be insured.
• Chapter Officers and Leaders: Individuals holding positions like President, Pledgemaster, or Risk Manager have a heightened responsibility. They are typically instrumental in directing or allowing hazardous activities. As seen in the $6.5 million judgment against a former chapter president in the Stone Foltz case, individual officers can be held personally liable.
• Individual Members: Every member who participated in, coerced, threatened, or failed to intervene in hazing acts can be held accountable. Even alumni who host hazing events at their homes, as occurred in the Bermudez case, can face significant liability, potentially involving their homeowner’s insurance.
• The National Organization: This is a key deep-pocket defendant. National fraternities and sororities, like Pi Kappa Phi, directly control their local chapters through charters, policies, and a perceived duty to supervise. When they fail to enforce anti-hazing policies, or they know of a “hazing crisis” (as alleged against Pi Kappa Phi National) and allow it to persist, they bear significant responsibility. These national organizations often have substantial assets, endowments, and crucial liability insurance policies.
• The University or College: The institution where the hazing occurs has an undeniable duty to protect its students. This liability is amplified when:
  • The university owns or controls the property where hazing takes place, as the University of Houston owned the Pi Kappa Phi house. This implicates premises liability.
  • The university has a history of prior hazing incidents on its campus (like UH did in 2017), establishing institutional knowledge and a failure to implement effective safeguards.
  • The university’s administration or Greek life office fails to adequately supervise, monitor, or respond to reports of hazing.
  • The university has the power to regulate, suspend, or remove organizations but chooses not to act until a tragedy occurs.
• Insurance Carriers: While not direct perpetrators of hazing, insurance companies play a crucial role. National organizations, universities, local chapters, and even individual homes often carry liability insurance policies. Our firm, with attorneys like Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena having extensive backgrounds in insurance defense, possesses an insider’s understanding of how these companies value, strategize, and attempt to minimize or deny claims. We know exactly how to pursue these policies to maximize recovery for victims.

This comprehensive strategy ensures that we identify and target every potential deep pocket and every liable party. Hazing is a complex problem that requires a multifaceted legal solution. We won’t settle for simply blaming a few students; we will pursue every institution that failed to uphold its duty of care to your child in Hall County.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof for Hall County Families

The legal fight against hazing is often rigorous, pitting families against powerful institutions with vast resources. But the good news for Hall County families is that, with aggressive and experienced legal representation, these cases are being won—and they are winning big. Multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements nationwide are sending a clear message: hazing costs dearly. These landmark cases serve as powerful precedents, demonstrating what is possible when victims and their families decide to fight back.

Here are some of the precedent-setting cases that pave the way for victims in Hall County:

• Stone Foltz — Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021):

  • Total Recovery: Over $10.1 Million. This case involved the tragic death of Stone Foltz, a 20-year-old pledge who died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event. The family received $2.9 million from Bowling Green State University and $7.2 million from Pi Kappa Alpha National and several individual members. Most recently, in December 2024, a former chapter president, Daylen Dunson, was ordered to pay the Foltz family an additional $6.5 million in personal liability.
  • Relevance to Hall County: This case directly supports our $10 million demand in the Bermudez lawsuit. It shows that universities and national fraternities are willing to pay millions, and that individual chapter leaders can be held personally responsible for staggering amounts. The same national fraternities operate around Hall County and across Georgia.

• Maxwell Gruver — Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017):

  • Total Recovery: $6.1 Million Jury Verdict. Max Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman, died from acute alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495) after a Phi Delta Theta “Bible Study” event where pledges were forced to drink heavily for incorrect answers to fraternity questions.
  • Relevance to Hall County: This jury verdict demonstrates that when cases go to trial, juries are willing to award millions for hazing deaths. It also led to the passage of the “Max Gruver Act,” making hazing a felony in Louisiana, showing the power of these cases to drive legislative change nationwide.

• Timothy Piazza — Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017):

  • Total Recovery: Estimated $110+ Million (Multiple Settlements). Timothy Piazza died after consuming 18 alcoholic drinks in 82 minutes during a Beta Theta Pi event. He fell down a flight of stairs, suffering a traumatic brain injury. Fraternity members delayed calling 911 for 12 hours.
  • Relevance to Hall County: This is one of the largest hazing outcomes in history, proving that when evidence is strong (like the security camera footage in this case, or the detailed torture documented in Bermudez), the financial consequences for institutions are immense. It also led to Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.”

• Andrew Coffey — Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017):

  • Total Recovery: Confidential Settlement. Andrew Coffey, a 20-year-old pledge, died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon during a Pi Kappa Phi “Big Brother Night.” Pi Kappa Phi is the same national fraternity involved in our Bermudez lawsuit.
  • Relevance to Hall County: This is critical pattern evidence. Pi Kappa Phi National knew in 2017 that their chapters engaged in deadly hazing. They had eight years to fix it, yet Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized in 2025. This proves a systemic failure and conscious indifference that will justify punitive damages from fraternities operating in Hall County.

The Power of Precedent for Your Case in Hall County:
These cases send a clear message:

• Hazing doesn’t pay. The cost of protecting a dangerous “tradition” is far greater than reforming it.
• Universities and fraternities are on notice. They cannot claim ignorance. They have a duty to act.
• Juries hate hazing. The egregious nature of hazing often elicits strong sympathetic responses from jurors, leading to substantial punitive damages designed to punish and deter.
• Justice drives change. These tragic incidents and the subsequent lawsuits have spurred stronger anti-hazing laws and improved oversight.

Your Hall County family’s case, whether it involves injury or wrongful death, is not just about personal recovery. It’s about joining a national movement to end hazing. With our firm, you gain the benefit of these precedents and the aggressive litigation strategies that achieved them, applied directly to your situation in Georgia.

Texas Law Protects You: A Framework for Hall County Justice

While our firm is based in Texas, and we extensively use Texas law in our Houston-based cases, the underlying legal principles, particularly regarding negligence and civil liability, apply nationwide. Furthermore, most states, including Georgia, have their own anti-hazing laws designed to protect students. Understanding these legal frameworks is crucial for any Hall County family seeking justice.

Texas Hazing Laws: A Model for Accountability
Texas, like many states, has robust anti-hazing legislation. The Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157 explicitly defines hazing and outlines severe penalties.

• The Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151): Hazing is broadly defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off-campus, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in an organization. This includes physical brutality, sleep deprivation, exposure to elements, excessive calisthenics (like the 500 squats that caused Leonel’s rhabdomyolysis), forced consumption of food or alcohol, and activities violating the Penal Code. Our client’s hazing definitively met multiple aspects of this definition.
• Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152): Hazing can lead to criminal charges ranging from Class B misdemeanors to State Jail Felonies, particularly if it causes serious bodily injury or death. In Leonel’s case, the severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure he suffered could lead to Class A misdemeanor charges against individual perpetrators, carrying up to a year in jail.
• Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): Crucially, organizations themselves can be penalized, including denial of the right to operate and fines up to $10,000, if they condone hazing or if their members participate. This directly targets local chapters and national organizations.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154): This is one of the most powerful provisions. As the statute explicitly states, “It is not a defense to prosecution… that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” This shatters the common defense used by hazers (“he agreed to it”) and acknowledges that coercion fundamentally undermines true consent.

Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Charges for Hall County Victims
Even if criminal charges are not pursued or result in a conviction, Hall County victims and their families can still pursue substantial civil claims for damages. These legal theories form the backbone of multi-million dollar recoveries like those we’ve seen:

• Negligence: This is the most common claim. It argues that the university, national organization, and local chapter owed a “duty of care” to the student, breached that duty by allowing or participating in hazing, and that this breach directly caused the student’s injuries and damages.
• Premises Liability: When hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by the university (like the UH fraternity house in our case) or a host, that entity can be held responsible for maintaining an unsafe condition.
• Negligent Supervision: This applies when national organizations fail to adequately oversee their chapters, or universities fail to monitor Greek life activities, allowing hazing to flourish.
• Assault and Battery: Individual perpetrators can be sued for intentional harmful or offensive contact, including physical beatings, forced consumption, or waterboarding.
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: The outrageous and extreme nature of hazing often leads to severe emotional distress, supporting claims for this tort.
• Fraud or Misrepresentation: In some cases, organizations may actively mislead students and parents about the safety or nature of their activities.

These civil claims allow for comprehensive recovery of damages—economic losses like medical bills and lost tuition, and non-economic losses like pain, suffering, and emotional trauma. They are crucial for addressing the full scope of harm caused by hazing. While Georgia’s specific laws may have nuances, the general principles of liability are universal, and our firm is equipped to navigate them while representing your Hall County family.

Why Attorney911: Your Unfair Advantage Against Hazing in Hall County

When your child in Hall County has been subjected to the horrors of hazing, you need more than just a lawyer; you need a relentless advocate with an unfair advantage. Attorney911, led by Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, offers precisely that. We’re not just practicing law; we’re in the trenches of hazing litigation right now, building our flagship $10 million case with every piece of data and every aggressive legal strategy at our disposal.

Here’s why Hall County families choose us and how our unique approach translates into tangible benefits for hazing victims:

1. 25+ Years of Battle-Tested Courtroom Experience

Ralph P. Manginello brings over two decades of intense litigation to your side. He’s not just a lawyer; he’s a seasoned trial attorney who knows how to fight and win in court. This experience isn’t confined to a single type of case; it encompasses high-stakes battles against massive corporate defendants, like his involvement in the multi-billion dollar BP Texas City Explosion litigation. This demonstrates his capacity to take on and win against the largest national fraternities and university systems that may be responsible for hazing in Hall County. His track record of hundreds of DUI/DWI defense cases, often by dissecting evidence and challenging the opposition, directly translates to exposing institutional cover-ups in hazing cases.

2. Insider Knowledge: Former Insurance Defense Attorneys Fighting for You

This is perhaps our most significant advantage. Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Eleno Peña are former insurance defense attorneys. They’ve spent years on the other side, learning the precise tactics, strategies, and internal playbooks that insurance companies and corporate defendants use to deny, delay, and devalue claims.

• Lupe Peña, with his background at Litchfield Cavo LLP, a nationwide insurance defense firm, has defended cases across products liability, personal injury, and construction law for major corporations. He knows how they assess risk, how they build their defenses, and how they pressure victims into lowball settlements. Now, he uses that “battlefield intelligence” to dismantle their defenses and maximize recovery for our clients.
• For Hall County families, this means we anticipate their every move. We know how universities will try to distance themselves, how national fraternities will invoke their charters, and how insurance adjusters will attempt to mitigate damages. We’ve seen their playbook from the inside, and we use it to your advantage.

3. Federal Court Admissions & Dual-State Bar Licenses

Hazing cases often involve national entities. Our firm’s admission to U.S. District Courts and dual-state bar admissions (Texas and New York) provide a strategic advantage:

• Federal Court Authority: We can pursue hazing cases against national fraternities and universities in federal court, wherever these organizations have a presence. This broadens our reach beyond state lines and empowers us to take on any defendant responsible for hazing in Hall County.
• New York State Bar: This dual licensure provides a significant strategic edge when taking on national fraternities and sororities, many of whom have their national headquarters in states like New York, or are incorporated there. We are ready to fight them on their home turf.

4. Hazing-Specific Expertise: Actively Litigating the Bermudez Case

We’re not just talking about hazing; we’re actively fighting it. Our $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston is proof. This includes specialized knowledge in:

• Rhabdomyolysis Litigation: Ralph Manginello has specific expertise in cases involving this severe muscle breakdown condition, which our client Leonel Bermudez suffered.
• Institutional Negligence: We understand the nuances of holding universities and national organizations accountable for their systemic failures.
• Wrongful Death: Our experience, including Lupe Peña’s work on wrongful death cases, means we are prepared to handle the most tragic hazing outcomes.

5. Data-Driven Litigation: We Know Who We’re Suing

We don’t guess. We know. Attorney911 maintains one of the most comprehensive private directories of Greek organizations. This Texas Hazing Intelligence Database tracks:

• Over 125 IRS-registered Greek organizations in Texas, including their exact legal names, EINs, and addresses.
• 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metropolitan areas.
  This database allows us to identify every entity behind the Greek letters—house corporations, alumni chapters, national headquarters—so we know precisely who to sue. For example, our database includes Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc with EIN 462267515 in Frisco, Texas, which is the very housing corporation involved in our Bermudez case. When hazing happens, we already have their corporate structure and financial data before we even file. This means we are highly formidable opponents to the national organizations and universities that operate in Hall County.

6. Compassionate, Client-Centered Approach: We Come to You

Despite our aggressive legal stance, we are empathetic and understand the trauma your Hall County family is experiencing. Our initial consultation is always free, and we take hazing cases on contingency—you pay absolutely nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we win your case.

• Remote Consultations: Hall County families can consult with us remotely via video conference, making our expertise accessible regardless of distance.
• Travel Commitment: We will travel to Hall County for depositions, important client meetings, and trial when necessary, ensuring you have local support throughout the process.
• Bilingual Services: Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish, ensuring that Hispanic families in Hall County affected by hazing receive comprehensive legal services without language barriers.

Choosing Attorney911 means choosing a firm that is actively fighting the battle against hazing, armed with insider knowledge, extensive experience, and a deep-seated commitment to justice. We are ready to bring this fight to Hall County for your family.

What to Do Right Now: Actionable Steps for Hall County Hazing Victims and Families

If your child in Hall County has experienced hazing, the immediate aftermath can be a whirlwind of shock, fear, anger, and confusion. It’s crucial to act quickly and strategically to protect their rights and build a strong legal case. Every step you take, or fail to take, can impact the outcome. We understand this immensely difficult time, and we’re here to guide you through it.

Here are the essential steps you should take immediately to safeguard your child’s well-being and your family’s legal options:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention, Even if Injuries Seem Minor:

• Prioritize Health: Your child’s physical and mental health is paramount. If they are experiencing pain, disorientation, nausea, extreme fatigue, or any unusual symptoms, take them to an emergency room or doctor immediately.
• Document Everything: Explain to medical staff that the injuries are a result of hazing. This ensures proper documentation in their medical records, which will be vital evidence. Keep copies of all medical bills, reports, and prescriptions.
• Mental Health Support: Hazing inflicts severe psychological trauma. Seek counseling or therapy from a licensed professional. Their records of your child’s emotional and mental state will also be crucial evidence.

2. Preserve All Evidence – Literally Everything:
Hazing perpetrators and institutions will try to destroy or hide evidence. You must capture and preserve it:

• Photos and Videos: Take pictures of any physical injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, rashes) at all stages of healing. Photograph the hazing locations if safe to do so. If any hazing activity was captured on video (which happens more often than you think), secure copies.
• Digital Communications: This is often the “smoking gun.” Screenshot every text message, GroupMe chat, Snapchat message, Instagram DM, email, or social media post related to the hazing. Pay attention to dates, times, and participants. Do not delete anything from your child’s phone, computer, or cloud accounts.
• Documents: Collect any “pledge manuals,” schedules, rules, or written instructions given to your child related to their initiation or membership.
• Witness Information: Gather names, phone numbers, and contact details of any other pledges, active members, or bystanders who witnessed the hazing. Their testimony can be invaluable.
• Financial Records: Keep track of all medical bills, lost wages (if your child missed work or internships), and tuition/fees related to the semester when hazing occurred.
• Academic Records: Document any impact on your child’s grades, registration, or scholarship status.

3. Do NOT Communicate with the Fraternity / Sorority or University Alone:

• No Spontaneous Statements: Do not allow your child to speak with fraternity leadership, alumni, or university administrators (including Title IX officers or Greek life advisors) without legal counsel present. They are primarily concerned with protecting their organization’s reputation and limiting liability, not your child’s best interests.
• Sign Nothing: Do not sign any documents, waivers, or confidentiality agreements presented by the organization or university.

4. Limit Social Media Activity:

• Stay Offline: Advise your child to immediately cease posting anything related to the hazing incident, their well-being, or their social activities on any social media platform. Defense attorneys will scour these accounts for anything that can be twisted to undermine their claims—e.g., photos showing them out with friends, implying they are “fine.”
• Do Not Delete (Yet): Instruct your child not to delete any past social media posts or messages. Deleting potential evidence can harm a legal case.

5. Understand the Statute of Limitations – Time is Critical:

• In most states, including Georgia (where a two-year limit is common for personal injury), there is a strict deadline (known as the “statute of limitations”) to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you forfeit your right to seek compensation forever.
• Do NOT Wait: Evidence disappears, memories fade, and organizations can destroy records over time. Contacting an attorney immediately allows us to promptly secure critical evidence, send preservation letters to all potential defendants, and begin building a strong case before crucial information is lost. Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case was hospitalized on November 6; our $10 million lawsuit was filed within weeks. That is the kind of swift, aggressive action that protects your rights.

6. Call Attorney911 Immediately – Your Free, Confidential Consultation Awaits:

• Emergency Hotline: Our legal emergency hotline, 1-888-ATTY-911, is available 24/7 for Hall County families.
• Free Consultation: We offer a completely free, no-obligation consultation to evaluate your case. We can meet remotely via video conference, or our team will travel to Hall County for depositions and trials if needed.
• Contingency Fee: We take hazing cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay absolutely nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case. This removes financial barriers and allows any Hall County family to access top-tier legal representation against powerful institutions.

Your child didn’t deserve this. Your family deserves justice. By taking these immediate, decisive steps, you can begin the journey toward accountability and help ensure no other Hall County student endures such trauma.

Contact Us: Your Hall County Hazing Litigation Experts Are Ready to Fight

If you’re reading this, your nightmare has become real. You’ve learned about the horrors of modern hazing, the devastating impact it has on students, and the insidious way institutions protect themselves rather than the children in their care. You’ve seen the multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements that prove justice is possible.

Now, it’s time to act.

Your family in Hall County, Georgia deserves the same aggressive, data-driven, and relentlessly committed legal representation that we are bringing to our $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We don’t just talk about accountability; we demand it, in court, right now.

Hall County, Georgia families: Your child trusted these people. That trust was betrayed. We are here to turn that pain and rage into concrete accountability.

We understand the fear, trauma, and uncertainty that comes with realizing your child has been subjected to hazing. We know you might feel overwhelmed, unsure where to turn, or afraid to take on powerful institutions. But you are not alone. And you do not have to fight this battle by yourself.

Why Attorney911 is the Obvious Choice for Hall County Hazing Victims:

• Active Fighters: We aren’t theoretical; we are actively litigating a major hazing case as an anchor for our national practice. We know the current landscape, the latest tactics, and the most effective legal strategies.
• Insider Advantage: Our team of former insurance defense attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, understands exactly how universities, national fraternities, and their insurance carriers operate. We’ve seen their playbook, and we use that knowledge to your advantage.
• Nationwide Reach with Local Focus: While headquartered in Houston, our federal court authority, dual-state bar admissions (Texas and New York), and commitment to travel mean we can represent Hall County victims wherever the hazing occurred. We offer remote consultations and will come to Hall County for key depositions and trials.
• No Upfront Cost: Worrying about legal fees should be the last thing on your mind. We take hazing cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay $0 upfront. We only get paid if and when we win your case.
• Bilingual Support: Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish, ensuring that Hispanic families in Hall County receive comprehensive, compassionate legal support without language barriers.

Have You or Your Child Been Hazed in Hall County, Georgia?

Do not wait. The time to act is now. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and legal deadlines (statutes of limitations) are strict. Every moment counts in building a strong case for your child.

HALL COUNTY FAMILIES: CALL OUR LEGAL EMERGENCY HOTLINE FOR A FREE, CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Available 24/7 for Hall County individuals and families facing hazing emergencies.

You can also reach us via email at ralph@atty911.com or visit our website at attorney911.com.

Let us bring the same aggressive representation, the same data-driven strategies, and the same relentless pursuit of justice to your family in Hall County that we bring to every victim we represent. Together, we can hold those responsible accountable and ensure that no other student suffers at the hands of hazing.

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

The Beta Nu chapter learned the hard way. The national organization is on notice. The University of Houston is in court. Your voice, your story, your lawsuit from Hall County can be the next powerful step in stopping this crisis. Contact us today. We are ready to listen, ready to fight, and ready to win.