🚨 Houston County Hazing Victims: Your Legal Rights & How to Get Justice
Attorney 911 — Now Serving Houston County Families Affected by Hazing
🏛️ The Hazing Crisis in Houston County
Houston County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities and Greek organizations to provide mentorship, friendship, and personal growth. But for too many students at universities near Houston County, that trust is betrayed through hazing — a dangerous culture of abuse disguised as “tradition.”
At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this crisis right now in a landmark $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. Our client, Leonel Bermudez, was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure — all as part of fraternity “initiation.” The same fraternities operate at universities near Houston County. The same negligence exists at Houston County institutions. And we will fight for Houston County families with the same fury we’re bringing to this case.
If your child has been hazed in Houston County, you are not alone. You have legal rights. And we can help.
⚠️ What Is Hazing? — Houston County Families Need to Know
Hazing is not “boys being boys.” It’s not “building character.” It’s not “harmless fun.”
Hazing is abuse. It’s assault. It’s torture. And it’s illegal in Tennessee.
Under Tennessee law (Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-7-123), hazing includes any activity that:
- Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student
- Is used for initiation into, affiliation with, or maintenance of membership in any organization
- Involves physical brutality, forced consumption, sleep deprivation, or humiliation
Examples of hazing that happen at universities near Houston County:
- Waterboarding or simulated drowning (yes, this happens — we’re litigating a case right now)
- Forced alcohol consumption leading to alcohol poisoning
- Extreme physical exercise (500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls) causing rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure
- Beating with wooden paddles or other objects
- Forced eating until vomiting
- Sleep deprivation causing exhaustion and accidents
- Psychological abuse — humiliation, threats, isolation
- Sexual assault or forced nudity
This is not tradition. This is torture.
💔 The Medical Consequences of Hazing — What Houston County Families Face
Hazing doesn’t just leave emotional scars. It causes real, life-threatening physical harm:
| Injury | Description | Houston County Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Rhabdomyolysis | Muscle breakdown from extreme exercise; can cause kidney failure and death | Our client was hospitalized for 4 days with this condition |
| Acute Kidney Failure | Kidneys unable to filter waste; can be fatal without treatment | Requires emergency hospitalization |
| Alcohol Poisoning | Potentially fatal overdose from forced drinking | Common in hazing deaths |
| Traumatic Brain Injury | From beatings or falls | Can cause permanent cognitive impairment |
| Hypothermia/Hyperthermia | From exposure to elements | Can cause organ failure |
| Cardiac Arrest | From extreme physical exertion | Sudden death |
| PTSD, Anxiety, Depression | Long-term psychological trauma | Therapy, medication, lifelong impact |
| Death | Families left devastated |
These aren’t theoretical risks. They’re happening at universities near Houston County right now.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Houston County Hazing Victim
1. You Can Sue for Money Damages
Hazing victims in Houston County can pursue compensation for:
- Medical bills (past, present, and future)
- Lost wages (if you missed work due to injuries)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
- Punitive damages (to punish the wrongdoers and prevent future hazing)
Precedent: Hazing cases routinely result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts, including:
- $10.1 million — Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State)
- $6.1 million jury verdict — Maxwell Gruver (LSU)
- $110+ million — Timothy Piazza (Penn State)
Our $10 million case in Houston shows that these results are possible for Houston County victims too.
2. Consent Is Not a Defense
Tennessee law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the organization can still be held liable.
Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-7-123:
“It is not a defense to a violation of this section that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”
What this means for Houston County families:
- The fraternity/sorority cannot argue “he agreed to it”
- Your child’s participation does not absolve them of liability
- The law protects students from being coerced into dangerous activities
3. Multiple Parties Can Be Held Liable
In hazing cases, everyone involved can be sued, including:
- The local chapter (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi at Austin Peay State University)
- The national organization (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi National)
- The university (e.g., Austin Peay State University)
- Individual members (president, pledgemaster, participants)
- Alumni or others who facilitated the hazing
In our current case, we’re suing:
- Pi Kappa Phi National
- The local UH chapter
- The university (UH owns the fraternity house)
- Individual members
- A former member and his spouse (hazing occurred at their home)
Houston County families: The same liability applies to Houston County cases.
4. You Have a Limited Time to Act — Don’t Wait
Tennessee has a 1-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including hazing. This means you have one year from the date of the hazing incident to file a lawsuit.
Why this matters for Houston County families:
- Evidence disappears quickly
- Witnesses forget details
- Organizations destroy records
- Your legal rights expire
Our advice: Contact an attorney immediately — even if you’re not sure you want to sue. We offer free consultations and can preserve your rights while you decide.
🏢 Who Is Liable for Houston County Hazing?
1. Universities Near Houston County
Universities have a legal duty to protect students. When they fail, they can be held liable for:
- Negligent supervision — failing to monitor Greek organizations
- Premises liability — if hazing occurs on university-owned property
- Failure to act — knowing about hazing and not stopping it
Universities near Houston County with Greek life:
- Austin Peay State University (Clarksville, TN — 30 miles from Houston County)
- Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN — 75 miles)
- Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, TN — 90 miles)
- Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN — 75 miles)
- Belmont University (Nashville, TN — 75 miles)
- Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN — 75 miles)
- Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville, TN — 100 miles)
If hazing happens at any of these institutions, the university can be held liable.
2. National Fraternity/Sorority Organizations
National organizations have deep pockets and can be held liable for:
- Failing to supervise local chapters
- Failing to enforce anti-hazing policies
- Ignoring prior incidents at other chapters
- Allowing a culture of abuse to continue
Fraternities with chapters near Houston County that have hazing histories:
- Pi Kappa Phi — Currently being sued in our $10M case
- Pi Kappa Alpha — Prior hazing incident at UH (2017)
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon — Multiple hazing deaths nationally
- Phi Delta Theta — Maxwell Gruver death ($6.1M verdict)
- Beta Theta Pi — Timothy Piazza death ($110M+ settlement)
- Sigma Chi — Recent lawsuit at University of Texas
These nationals operate near Houston County. If they’re hazing at UH, they’re hazing near Houston County.
3. Individual Members and Officers
The students who organized and participated in hazing can be held personally liable, including:
- Chapter president
- Pledgemaster
- Risk manager
- Any member who participated
- Any member who witnessed and failed to stop it
Precedent: In the Stone Foltz case, the chapter president was ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.
Houston County families: These students have names. They have futures. They should be held accountable.
4. Alumni and Other Facilitators
If hazing occurred at an off-campus location, the property owners can be held liable, including:
- Alumni who host events
- Parents who allow hazing at their homes
- Landlords who rent to fraternities
In our case, we’re suing a former member and his spouse because hazing occurred at their residence.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Houston County
IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS:
| Step | Action | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Get medical attention | Document injuries; protect health |
| 2 | Preserve all evidence | Photos, videos, text messages, social media |
| 3 | Do NOT talk to the organization | They will try to control the narrative |
| 4 | Do NOT post on social media | Anything you post can be used against you |
| 5 | Contact an attorney | Free consultation; preserve your rights |
| 6 | Consider reporting to police | Hazing is a crime in Tennessee |
EVIDENCE TO PRESERVE:
| Type | What to Save |
|---|---|
| Medical | Hospital records, doctor notes, therapy records |
| Photos/Videos | Injuries, hazing activities, locations |
| Communications | Texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, emails |
| Witnesses | Names and contact info of other victims and bystanders |
| Documents | Pledge manuals, schedules, rules given to you |
| Financial | Medical bills, lost wages, tuition/fees paid |
Do NOT delete anything. Even if it’s embarrassing, it may be critical evidence.
💰 What Compensation Can Houston County Families Recover?
Economic Damages:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, ER visits, therapy, medications, future treatment |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work due to injuries |
| Educational Impact | Tuition for dropped classes, lost scholarships, delayed graduation |
| Future Earning Capacity | If injuries cause permanent limitations |
Non-Economic Damages:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Physical Pain & Suffering | Pain from injuries, medical treatments, recovery |
| Mental Anguish | PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear of retribution |
| Emotional Distress | Humiliation, shame, loss of trust |
| Loss of Enjoyment of Life | Inability to participate in normal activities |
| Disfigurement | Scars, permanent injuries |
Punitive Damages:
Punitive damages are awarded to punish the wrongdoers and prevent future hazing. They are appropriate when conduct is:
- Grossly negligent
- Reckless
- Intentional
- Designed to harm
In our case, punitive damages are justified by:
- Waterboarding (simulated drowning)
- Forcing 500 squats until muscle breakdown
- Striking with wooden paddles
- Continuing hazing after another pledge collapsed
⏳ Time Is Running Out — Houston County Families Must Act Now
Tennessee law gives you only 1 year from the date of the hazing incident to file a lawsuit.
Why you can’t wait:
- Evidence disappears (texts deleted, photos lost)
- Witnesses forget details
- Organizations destroy records
- Your legal rights expire
Our client in Houston acted immediately — hospitalized November 6, lawsuit filed within weeks. This is how you protect your rights.
🎯 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Houston County Hazing Case
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. We know how to build these cases. We know how to win. Houston County families get the same aggressive representation.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook
Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies and defense firms before switching to represent victims. We know exactly how they think, strategize, and try to deny claims. We use that knowledge to dismantle their defenses and maximize recovery for Houston County families.
3. Nationwide Reach — We Serve Houston County from Houston
While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including Houston County. How we serve Houston County families:
- Federal court authority — U.S. District Court admission
- Dual-state bar licenses — Texas AND New York
- Video consultations — Meet with us remotely
- Travel commitment — We come to Houston County for depositions and trials
Distance is not a barrier to justice.
4. Contingency Fee Representation — $0 Upfront for Houston County Families
We understand that cost can be a prohibitive factor in hiring a lawyer. We take hazing cases on contingency — you don’t pay us unless and until you get paid.
CONTINGENCY FEE: $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless we win your case.
5. Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Results
We have recovered millions of dollars for clients across personal injury cases, including:
- BP Texas City explosion litigation — Mass tort experience
- Wrongful death cases — Families who lost loved ones
- Catastrophic injury cases — Life-altering injuries
- Federal court cases — U.S. District Court experience
This experience directly applies to Houston County hazing cases.
6. We Speak Spanish — Se Habla Español
Hazing affects students from all backgrounds. We provide bilingual legal services to Houston County Spanish-speaking families.
7. We Understand the Culture — And How to Change It
Ralph Manginello is a former athlete and youth coach. He understands team culture, locker room dynamics, and the pressures that lead to hazing. We don’t just sue — we change the culture that allows this abuse to continue.
📞 Houston County Families: Contact Us Now
If your child has been hazed at a university near Houston County, you need to act immediately.
FREE CONSULTATION — 24/7
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We offer:
- Free case evaluation
- Video consultations for Houston County families
- Immediate evidence preservation
- Aggressive representation with $0 upfront
Houston County families: The same fraternities that hazed our client in Houston are operating near you. The same universities that failed to protect our client are near you. We will fight for you with the same fury.
🔥 A Message to Houston County Fraternities
To the fraternities operating near Houston County:
We are watching. We are litigating against Pi Kappa Phi right now. The same legal strategies we’re using in Houston apply to your chapter.
If you haze students in Houston County, we will find you. We will sue you. And we will win.
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — if your chapter is near Houston County, clean up your act now. Because we’re coming.
🏆 Our Promise to Houston County Families
We promise to:
- Listen — We hear you. We believe you.
- Fight — We will pursue every liable party with relentless aggression.
- Protect — We will shield you from retaliation and intimidation.
- Win — We will recover the compensation you deserve.
- Change — We will work to prevent this from happening to another Houston County family.
You are not alone. Justice is possible. And we will fight for you.
Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
📍 Serving Houston County from Houston, Austin & Beaumont
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | 📧 ralph@atty911.com | 🌐 attorney911.com
Houston County hazing victims: Your emergency is our mission.
