Hazing Victims in Jackson County, TN: Legal Rights and How Attorney 911 Can Help
The Hazing Crisis Hits Close to Home in Jackson County
Jackson County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust that universities and Greek organizations will protect their students from harm. But tragically, this trust is too often betrayed by a dangerous culture of hazing that exists at colleges and universities across Tennessee, including those near Jackson County.
What happened at the University of Houston with Pi Kappa Phi fraternity could just as easily happen at a university near Jackson County. The same national fraternities operate here. The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client exist in Tennessee. And the same institutional failures that allowed hazing to continue are present at Jackson County-area schools.
If your child has been the victim of hazing at a college or university near Jackson County, TN, you are not alone. Attorney 911 is currently litigating a $10 million hazing case in Texas, and we are ready to bring that same aggressive representation to Jackson County families.
What Is Hazing? A Jackson County Parent’s Guide
Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, or maintaining membership in an organization. In Tennessee, hazing is a crime, and it can lead to serious civil liability for those involved.
Common Hazing Activities in Tennessee Colleges
While every hazing incident is different, these are some of the dangerous activities that have occurred at universities near Jackson County and across the country:
- Physical abuse: Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion (like the 500 squats our client was forced to perform)
- Forced consumption: Alcohol, food, or non-food substances (our client was forced to drink milk and eat until vomiting)
- Psychological torture: Humiliation, degradation, threats (our client was waterboarded with a garden hose)
- Sleep deprivation: Late-night activities, forced driving of members
- Extreme exposure: Forced to strip in cold weather, sprayed with hoses
- Sexual humiliation: Forced to carry sexual objects, sexual assault
These aren’t “pranks” or “traditions.” They are dangerous, illegal activities that can cause serious physical and psychological harm.
The Medical Consequences of Hazing: What Jackson County Families Need to Know
Hazing doesn’t just cause temporary discomfort—it can lead to life-threatening injuries and long-term health consequences. Our client at the University of Houston suffered:
- Rhabdomyolysis: Breakdown of muscle tissue that releases damaging proteins into the bloodstream
- Acute kidney failure: His kidneys couldn’t filter waste due to muscle damage
- Four days in the hospital: Fighting for his life because of what the fraternity did to him
Other hazing victims have suffered:
- Alcohol poisoning (some have died from this)
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Hypothermia or heat stroke
- Cardiac arrest
- PTSD, anxiety, and depression
- In the worst cases, wrongful death
These injuries can have lifelong consequences, affecting a student’s ability to complete their education, pursue their career, and enjoy life.
Who Is Liable for Hazing in Jackson County, TN?
When hazing occurs, multiple parties can be held legally responsible. In our current case, we are pursuing:
- The local chapter – The fraternity or sorority that directly organized and conducted the hazing
- The national organization – They set policies and have the power to stop hazing but often fail to do so
- The university – They have a duty to protect students and often own the properties where hazing occurs
- Individual members – Those who participated in or facilitated the hazing
- Alumni and housing corporations – Those who allowed hazing to occur on their property
In Tennessee, these same parties can be held liable for hazing that occurs at Jackson County-area colleges.
Tennessee Hazing Laws: Your Legal Rights
Tennessee has strong laws against hazing. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-7-123:
- Hazing is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and fines up to $2,500
- If hazing results in serious bodily injury, it can be a Class E felony, punishable by 1-6 years in prison
- Consent is not a defense – even if a student “agreed” to participate, the hazing is still illegal
- Organizations can be held criminally liable for hazing
In addition to criminal penalties, hazing victims in Tennessee can pursue civil claims for:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Punitive damages (to punish especially egregious conduct)
Our Current Hazing Case: The Fight We’re Bringing to Jackson County
Attorney 911 is currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston. This case demonstrates the serious nature of hazing and the significant damages that can result.
What Happened to Our Client
Our client, Leonel Bermudez, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi fraternity in September 2025. What followed was weeks of systematic abuse that hospitalized him for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
The hazing activities included:
- Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
- Forced to perform 500 squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
- Struck with wooden paddles
- Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to continue exercising
- Forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass
- Stripped to underwear in cold weather and sprayed with a hose
- Carry a fanny pack with sexual objects at all times
- Another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
On November 3, 2025, after being forced to perform extreme exercises, Bermudez became so exhausted he couldn’t stand without help. He crawled up the stairs when he got home. The next day, he couldn’t move. His mother rushed him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with kidney failure from rhabdomyolysis.
Why This Case Matters to Jackson County Families
- The same fraternities operate near Jackson County – Pi Kappa Phi has chapters at universities across the country, including in Tennessee.
- The same “traditions” exist at Jackson County-area schools – What happened to our client happens at universities near Jackson County.
- Universities near Jackson County face the same liability – The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the hazing occurred. Many Tennessee universities have similar arrangements.
- National organizations know about the problem – Pi Kappa Phi had a hazing death in 2017 and still didn’t prevent this from happening again.
- $10 million is possible for Jackson County victims – Our case shows that significant compensation is available for hazing victims.
What to Do If Your Child Has Been Hazed in Jackson County
If your child has been the victim of hazing at a college or university near Jackson County, TN, follow these steps:
- Seek medical attention immediately – Even if injuries seem minor, get them checked out. Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) may not show symptoms right away.
- Preserve all evidence – Save all text messages, social media posts, photos, videos, and other communications related to the hazing.
- Document everything – Write down what happened, when it happened, and who was involved.
- Do not confront the organization alone – They will try to control the narrative and may intimidate witnesses.
- Do not sign anything – The organization may try to get you to sign a waiver or release.
- Contact Attorney 911 immediately – The sooner we get involved, the better we can protect your rights and preserve evidence.
Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Jackson County Hazing Case
When you’re fighting powerful institutions like universities and national fraternities, you need experienced, aggressive legal representation. Here’s why Jackson County families choose Attorney 911:
1. We’re Currently Fighting This Battle
We are actively litigating a $10 million hazing case right now. We know the strategies, the defenses, and how to win. Jackson County families get the same aggressive representation we’re providing in Texas.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching to represent victims. We know how they think, how they value claims, and how to dismantle their defenses.
3. Federal Court Authority
We’re admitted to practice in U.S. District Court, giving us the ability to pursue hazing cases in federal court when appropriate.
4. Dual-State Licensed
We’re licensed in both Texas and New York, giving us strategic advantages when pursuing national organizations headquartered in different states.
5. We Travel to Jackson County
While we’re based in Texas, we will travel to Jackson County for depositions, client meetings, and trials. Distance is not a barrier to justice.
6. Contingency Fee Representation
Jackson County families pay $0 upfront. We only get paid if we win your case. This allows you to fight for justice without financial risk.
7. Bilingual Services
We offer comprehensive services in Spanish, ensuring that language barriers don’t prevent Jackson County families from seeking justice.
8. Proven Results
We’ve recovered millions for personal injury victims, including in complex cases against large institutions.
The Attorney 911 Approach to Jackson County Hazing Cases
When we take on a hazing case for a Jackson County family, we:
- Move immediately – We preserve evidence before it disappears
- Build the case with experts – Medical experts, hazing culture experts, institutional negligence experts
- Negotiate from strength – We’re currently litigating a $10 million case, so we know the value of these claims
- Pursue all liable parties – Universities, national organizations, local chapters, individual members
- Protect our clients – We shield victims from intimidation and retaliation
- Fight for maximum compensation – Medical bills, pain and suffering, punitive damages
Common Defenses in Hazing Cases – And How We Defeat Them
When we represent hazing victims from Jackson County, organizations will try to avoid liability by making these arguments:
1. “The victim consented to participate”
Our response: Tennessee law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the hazing is still illegal.
2. “This was just tradition, not hazing”
Our response: Waterboarding, forced exercise until collapse, and physical beatings are not “tradition”—they are crimes. We document the severity of the conduct to defeat this defense.
3. “The university didn’t know”
Our response: Universities near Jackson County have a duty to protect students. When they own fraternity houses or have oversight responsibility, they can’t claim ignorance.
4. “The national organization wasn’t involved”
Our response: National organizations set policies and have the power to stop hazing. When they fail to act despite knowledge of problems, they share liability.
5. “It was just a few bad apples”
Our response: When hazing is systematic and occurs over weeks or months, it’s not just a few individuals—it’s an organizational failure.
Jackson County Universities and the Hazing Risk
While we can’t comment on specific incidents at Jackson County-area schools without investigation, we can say that hazing occurs at universities across Tennessee. Some of the schools near Jackson County with Greek organizations include:
- Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville, TN)
- Austin Peay State University (Clarksville, TN)
- Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, TN)
- University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN)
- Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
These schools have active Greek systems with chapters of national fraternities and sororities that have been involved in hazing incidents nationwide, including:
- Pi Kappa Phi
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- Pi Kappa Alpha
- Phi Delta Theta
- Sigma Chi
- Kappa Sigma
- And many others
The same national organizations that have paid millions in hazing settlements operate at universities near Jackson County. If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Tennessee, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.
What Jackson County Families Can Recover in a Hazing Lawsuit
If your child has been hazed at a college or university near Jackson County, TN, you may be entitled to compensation for:
Economic Damages
- Medical expenses – Hospital bills, doctor visits, therapy, future medical care
- Lost wages – If your child had to miss work due to injuries
- Educational expenses – Tuition, fees, and other costs if hazing disrupted their education
- Future earning capacity – If injuries affect your child’s career prospects
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering – Physical pain from injuries
- Emotional distress – Psychological trauma from the hazing
- PTSD, anxiety, depression – Mental health treatment costs
- Loss of enjoyment of life – Inability to participate in normal activities
- Disfigurement – Permanent scars or injuries
Punitive Damages
In cases of especially egregious conduct (like waterboarding or forcing exercise until collapse), Tennessee courts may award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoers and deter future misconduct.
The Statute of Limitations: Don’t Wait to Act
In Tennessee, you generally have one year from the date of the hazing incident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, there are exceptions:
- If the victim was a minor, the clock may not start until they turn 18
- In some cases, the clock may start when the injury is discovered (for example, if PTSD symptoms develop later)
Important: Evidence disappears quickly. Witnesses forget details. Organizations destroy records. The sooner you contact us, the better we can preserve evidence and protect your rights.
How Jackson County Families Can Reach Attorney 911
If your child has been the victim of hazing at a college or university near Jackson County, TN, don’t wait to seek legal help. Contact Attorney 911 today:
📞 Call our 24/7 legal emergency hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com
We offer:
- Free initial consultations for Jackson County families
- Video consultations so you don’t have to travel
- Contingency fee representation – $0 upfront, we only get paid if we win
- Aggressive representation against powerful institutions
Our Promise to Jackson County Families
When you trust us with your hazing case, we promise:
- We will listen – We understand the trauma you’ve experienced
- We will investigate – We’ll gather all the evidence to build your case
- We will fight – We won’t back down from powerful institutions
- We will protect you – From intimidation, retaliation, and further harm
- We will seek justice – For your child and to prevent this from happening to others
The same national fraternities that hazed our client in Houston have chapters at universities near Jackson County. The same institutional failures that allowed this to happen exist in Tennessee. And the same $10 million results we’re pursuing in Texas are possible for Jackson County families.
Jackson County parents: Your child trusted these organizations. They didn’t protect them. Now it’s our turn to hold them accountable.
Call Attorney 911 today at 1-888-ATTY-911. The consultation is free, and we’re ready to fight for your family.
