🚨 Hazing Lawyers in Hart County, Kentucky — Attorney 911 Fights for Victims
Hart County Families: Your Child Was Hazed. You Have Rights. We Can Help.
If your child was hazed in Hart County or at any college near Hart County, Kentucky — you are not alone. We are fighting this battle right now in Texas, and we will fight for Hart County families with the same fury.
At Attorney 911, we are currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston. Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure. This isn’t “tradition.” It’s torture. And it happens at colleges near Hart County too.
We are hazing lawyers. We are fighting this fight. And we will fight for Hart County families.
🏫 Hazing Happens at Colleges Near Hart County — We Know the Fraternities Involved
Hart County is home to strong community values and hardworking families. But the same national fraternities that waterboarded our client operate at universities near Hart County, including:
- Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, ~50 miles from Hart County)
- University of Kentucky (Lexington, ~100 miles from Hart County)
- University of Louisville (Louisville, ~80 miles from Hart County)
- Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond, ~120 miles from Hart County)
- Murray State University (Murray, ~150 miles from Hart County)
These same organizations have paid millions in hazing settlements nationwide. They will pay for what they do in Kentucky too.
💔 What Hazing Does to Hart County Families
Hazing doesn’t just hurt the victim. It destroys families. We’ve seen what it does:
- Physical injuries — broken bones, burns, rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure
- Psychological trauma — PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts
- Academic disruption — failing classes, dropping out, lost scholarships
- Financial ruin — medical bills, therapy costs, lost income
- Broken trust — your child trusted these people, and they betrayed that trust
Your Hart County child deserves justice. Your family deserves compensation. And the people who did this deserve to be held accountable.
⚖️ Kentucky Hazing Laws — What Hart County Families Need to Know
Kentucky has strong anti-hazing laws, and victims have powerful legal rights:
Kentucky Revised Statutes § 164.375 — Hazing Defined and Prohibited
Hazing means:
Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a student against another student for the purpose of being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization.
This includes:
- Physical brutality (beatings, paddling, forced exercise)
- Forced consumption (alcohol, food, non-food substances)
- Sleep deprivation
- Psychological abuse (humiliation, degradation, threats)
- Any activity that endangers mental or physical health
Kentucky law is clear: Consent is NOT a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says that doesn’t matter. Hazing is illegal, period.
Criminal Penalties in Kentucky
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Hazing (Class B Misdemeanor) | Up to 90 days in jail, $250 fine |
| Hazing causing serious physical injury (Class A Misdemeanor) | Up to 12 months in jail, $500 fine |
| Hazing causing death (Class D Felony) | 1-5 years in prison |
But criminal charges aren’t enough. Criminal cases punish the individuals, but they don’t compensate the victim. That’s where we come in.
Civil Lawsuits — How Hart County Families Can Get Justice
A civil lawsuit allows Hart County families to:
- Hold the fraternity, university, and individuals accountable
- Recover compensation for medical bills, therapy, lost wages, and pain and suffering
- Demand punitive damages to punish egregious conduct
- Force institutional change so this doesn’t happen to another Hart County family
In Kentucky, you can sue:
- The local fraternity chapter
- The national fraternity organization
- The university (if they knew or should have known about hazing)
- Individual members who participated or facilitated
- Alumni or advisors who enabled the culture
💰 Multi-Million Dollar Hazing Settlements — This Is What Hart County Families Can Win
Hazing cases win big. Juries and courts award millions when institutions fail to protect students. Here’s what other families have received:
| Case | Fraternity | University | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Pi Kappa Alpha | Bowling Green State | Settlement | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver | Phi Delta Theta | Louisiana State | Jury Verdict | $6.1 million |
| Timothy Piazza | Beta Theta Pi | Penn State | Settlement | $110 million+ |
| Andrew Coffey | Pi Kappa Phi | Florida State | Settlement | Confidential (multi-million) |
| Adam Oakes | Delta Chi | Virginia Commonwealth | Settlement | $4+ million |
These same results are possible for Hart County families. The same legal strategies apply. The same fraternities are involved. The same justice is available.
🔥 Our $10 Million Fight — Why Hart County Families Should Trust Us
We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This is not theoretical for us. This is what we do.
What Happened to Our Client (And What Happens Near Hart County Too)
Our client, Leonel Bermudez, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston. What followed was weeks of systematic abuse:
- Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
- Forced to do 500 squats, 100+ pushups, bear crawls, and 100-yard crawls — until he couldn’t stand
- Struck with wooden paddles
- Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting — then forced to keep running
- Hog-tied another pledge face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
- Another pledge lost consciousness and collapsed during a workout — they kept going
- Forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours — causing exhaustion
On November 3, 2025, after being punished with extreme exercise, Bermudez collapsed at home. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He spent 3 nights and 4 days in the hospital.
This is not “tradition.” This is torture. And it happens at fraternities near Hart County.
Why This Case Matters for Hart County Families
- Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America — including near Hart County
- The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client exist at Kentucky schools
- Universities near Hart County face the same liability failures as UH
- If your child is being hazed near Hart County, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting in Houston
From Ralph Manginello 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.”
From Lupe Pena 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.”
🎯 Who We Sue for Hart County Hazing Victims
When your child is hazed, we sue everyone responsible:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Fraternity Chapter | Directly organized and conducted the hazing |
| National Fraternity | Failed to supervise; knew about “hazing crisis”; had prior incidents |
| University | Failed to protect students; knew or should have known about hazing |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility; directed hazing activities |
| Individual Members | Participated in hazing; failed to stop it |
| Alumni/Advisors | Enabled hazing culture; hosted hazing events |
| Insurance Companies | Provide coverage for institutional liability |
We don’t just sue broke college students. We go after the deep pockets: the national organizations, the universities, and their insurance carriers.
📋 What Hart County Families Should Do Right Now
If your child has been hazed in Hart County or at a college near Hart County, time is critical. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Statutes of limitations expire.
IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS:
- Get medical attention — Even if injuries seem minor, document everything
- Preserve all evidence — Texts, photos, videos, social media, witness names
- Do NOT talk to the fraternity or university — They will try to control the narrative
- Do NOT post on social media — Anything you post can be used against you
- Call us immediately — 1-888-ATTY-911 — We offer free, confidential consultations
🛡️ Why Hart County Families Choose Attorney 911
We Are Hazing Lawyers — This Is Our Fight
| Why Choose Us | How It Helps Hart County Families |
|---|---|
| $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit Pending | We’re actively fighting this battle right now |
| Former Insurance Defense Attorneys | We know how the other side thinks and fights |
| Federal Court Authority | Can pursue cases in federal court nationwide |
| Dual-State Bar Licenses | Texas AND New York — strategic for national cases |
| 25+ Years of Litigation Experience | Battle-tested in courtrooms across America |
| Se Habla Español | Bilingual staff serving Spanish-speaking families |
| Contingency Fee — $0 Upfront | You pay nothing unless we win your case |
We Understand Hart County Values
We know Hart County families work hard, value education, and trust institutions to protect their children. When that trust is betrayed, we fight to restore it.
We don’t just see a case. We see a Hart County family that deserves justice.
📞 Hart County Families — Call Now for Free Consultation
If your child has been hazed in Hart County or at a college near Hart County, call us immediately.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We offer:
- Free, confidential case evaluation
- Video consultations for Hart County families
- Aggressive, compassionate representation
- $0 upfront — we don’t get paid unless you do
We will travel to Hart County for your case. Distance is not a barrier to justice.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Hart County Hazing Victims
Q: My child was hazed at Western Kentucky University. Can you help?
A: YES. We represent hazing victims nationwide, including at Western Kentucky University and all Kentucky schools. We offer video consultations and travel to Hart County for your case.
Q: The fraternity says my child “consented” to hazing. Is that a defense?
A: NO. Kentucky law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says that doesn’t matter. Hazing is illegal, period.
Q: How much can we recover for a hazing lawsuit in Kentucky?
A: Hazing cases often result in multi-million dollar settlements or verdicts. We are currently seeking $10 million in our Texas case. Kentucky families can recover compensation for medical bills, therapy, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
Q: My child is afraid of retaliation. How do you protect them?
A: We take retaliation very seriously. Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution.” We protect our clients’ identities, handle all communications with the fraternity/university, and take legal action if retaliation occurs.
Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: Kentucky has a 1-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. However, do not wait. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your rights expire. Call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911.
Q: We can’t afford a lawyer. How much does this cost?
A: You pay nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis — we only get paid if we win your case. If we don’t recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing.
Q: The university says they didn’t know about the hazing. Can we still sue?
A: YES. Universities have a duty to protect students. If they knew or should have known about hazing risks in Greek life, they can be held liable. In our case, the University of Houston owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred — they cannot claim ignorance.
🏆 Our Track Record — We Win for Victims
Google My Business Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 Stars | 250+ Reviews
What Our Clients Say:
“Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer regarding my case.” — Dame Haskett
“One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello and they said that they would take it. And in the next few months, I got a call to pick up this handsome check.” — Donald Wilcox
“You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client that’s caught in the middle of many other cases. You are FAMILY to them and they protect and fight for you as such.” — Chad Harris
“The Manginello Law Firm treated me with honesty and respect from the very beginning. I was able to trust the firm to advocate for me. They worked on my case for about three years.” — Debra Cambric-Chisolm
🔥 The Message to Fraternities Near Hart County
To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and every other fraternity with chapters near Hart County:
We are watching. We are coming. We will hold you accountable.
The same legal strategies that secured $10 million settlements nationwide apply to your Kentucky chapters. If you haze students near Hart County, we will pursue every liable entity — your chapter, your nationals, and your insurance carriers.
We already shut down the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. Your chapter could be next.
🏆 Enough Is Enough — Hart County Families Deserve Justice
Hazing doesn’t build character. It destroys lives.
It doesn’t create brotherhood. It betrays trust.
It isn’t tradition. It’s torture.
Hart County families: your child deserves better. Your family deserves justice. And the people who did this deserve to pay.
Call us now. We are ready to fight for you.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
Serving Hart County, Kentucky and nationwide. We come to you.
