🚨 Jasper County Hazing Lawyer — Protecting Students from Fraternity & Sorority Abuse

Attorney 911: Jasper County’s Trusted Hazing Victim Advocates — Fighting for Justice, Compensation, and Change

🏛️ Jasper County’s Greek Life Crisis: What Families Need to Know

Jasper County is home to hardworking families who send their children to college expecting them to be safe, to learn, and to grow. But behind the Greek letters and the promises of brotherhood and sisterhood, a dangerous culture of hazing persists at universities across America — including those near Jasper County.

The same fraternities that waterboarded a University of Houston student until he suffered kidney failure have active chapters near Jasper County. The same organizations that forced pledges to drink until they died operate on campuses where Jasper County students attend. And the same universities that failed to stop hazing — even after prior incidents — continue to collect tuition and fees while students are being abused.

If your child has been hazed at a fraternity or sorority near Jasper County, you have legal rights. You have the right to hold these institutions accountable. And you have the right to compensation for the physical and emotional damage they’ve caused.

At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston — the same fraternity that operates near Jasper County. We know how to build these cases. We know how to win. And we know how to fight for Jasper County families.

Call us now at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

📍 Hazing in Jasper County: The Local Reality

Universities Near Jasper County with Greek Life

While Jasper County itself may not host a major university, many Jasper County families send their children to colleges and universities in the region where Greek life thrives. These institutions include:

• Iowa State University (Ames, IA) — Located approximately 60 miles northeast of Jasper County, Iowa State has a large and active Greek community with multiple fraternities and sororities.
• University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA) — About 120 miles east of Jasper County, the University of Iowa hosts numerous Greek organizations.
• Drake University (Des Moines, IA) — Approximately 50 miles west of Jasper County, Drake has a strong Greek presence.
• Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA) — A smaller private college about 30 miles east of Jasper County with Greek organizations.
• Central College (Pella, IA) — Located roughly 40 miles northeast of Jasper County, Central College has active fraternities and sororities.

The same national fraternities involved in deadly hazing incidents nationwide — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — have active chapters at these Iowa institutions.

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority at any of these schools, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.

💔 The Hazing Crisis: What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Jasper County

The Case That Shows Jasper County Families Why They Need Us

On November 21, 2025, our law firm filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a young man who was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after being subjected to extreme hazing.

This wasn’t just hazing. This was torture.

Here’s what happened to Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston — and what could happen to your child at a fraternity near Jasper County:

🔥 The Hazing Activities That Hospitalized Our Client

🏥 The Medical Consequences: Rhabdomyolysis and Kidney Failure

After weeks of this abuse, Leonel Bermudez collapsed on November 3, 2025. He couldn’t stand without help. He crawled up the stairs when he got home.

Over the next few days, his condition worsened:

• November 4: “Really sore and couldn’t really move”
• November 5: “The next day was worse”
• November 6: His mother rushed him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure

He was hospitalized for 4 days and 3 nights with:

• Extreme muscle pain
• Difficulty walking
• Brown urine (classic sign of muscle breakdown)
• Very high creatine kinase levels (confirms muscle damage)

Rhabdomyolysis can be fatal. It occurs when muscle tissue breaks down and releases proteins into the blood that can destroy the kidneys. It requires immediate medical treatment.

🏛️ The Institutional Failures That Enabled This

This didn’t happen in a vacuum. Institutions failed to protect Leonel Bermudez — and they’re failing to protect Jasper County students too.

Pi Kappa Phi National’s Failure:

• Andrew Coffey died at a Pi Kappa Phi event in 2017 — forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon
• 8 years later, Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized at another Pi Kappa Phi chapter
• They knew about “a hazing crisis” (per lawsuit allegations) and did nothing
• They closed the UH chapter 7 days before the lawsuit was filed — they knew litigation was coming

University of Houston’s Failure:

• A student was hospitalized from hazing at UH in 2017 (Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity)
• 8 years later, another student was hospitalized at a different fraternity (Pi Kappa Phi)
• UH owns the fraternity house where the hazing occurred — they collected rent while students were tortured
• They had the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down — they chose not to

⚖️ Jasper County Families’ Legal Rights: What You Can Do

You Have More Power Than You Think

If your child has been hazed at a fraternity or sorority near Jasper County, you have legal rights — and you have options.

📋 What Qualifies as Hazing in Iowa?

Iowa law defines hazing as:

Any intentional or reckless act, on or off campus, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student for the purpose of initiation or admission into, or affiliation with, any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution.

This includes:

• Physical brutality (beating, paddling, branding)
• Forced consumption of food, alcohol, or drugs
• Sleep deprivation
• Exposure to extreme weather
• Calisthenics or other physical activities that create unreasonable risk
• Any activity that violates Iowa law

Important: Consent is not a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says that doesn’t matter.

💰 What Compensation Is Available for Jasper County Hazing Victims?

Our current hazing case seeks $10 million — and that number is supported by precedent.

🏆 Precedent Cases: Jasper County Families Can Win Big

These Settlements and Verdicts Prove It

Jasper County families: These cases show that hazing victims can — and do — win multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts.

Key Takeaways for Jasper County Families:

• $10 million settlements are real — Stone Foltz family received $10.1 million
• Juries award millions — Maxwell Gruver case resulted in $6.1 million verdict
• Universities pay — Bowling Green State paid $2.9 million
• Fraternities pay — Pi Kappa Alpha paid $7.2 million
• Individuals pay — Stone Foltz chapter president ordered to pay $6.5 million personally
• These results are possible for Jasper County victims too

🔍 Who Is Liable? Jasper County Families Can Sue Everyone Responsible

Don’t Let Them Hide Behind the “Fraternity Made Me Do It” Excuse

When hazing happens, multiple parties share responsibility. Jasper County families can — and should — sue everyone involved.

Jasper County families: Don’t let them tell you “it was just a few bad apples.” The entire system is responsible — and the entire system should pay.

📞 What Jasper County Families Should Do Immediately

Time Is Critical — Evidence Disappears Fast

If your child has been hazed, act immediately. Every day you wait is a day closer to losing evidence, losing witnesses, and losing your legal rights.

🚨 Immediate Action Steps for Jasper County Families:

1. Get Medical Attention

   • Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
   • Document everything — medical records are critical evidence
   • Rhabdomyolysis and other injuries may not appear immediately

2. Preserve All Evidence

   • Save all text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs, WhatsApp messages
   • Take photos of injuries at all stages of healing
   • Take photos of hazing locations (fraternity house, basement, field, etc.)
   • Save any physical evidence (clothing, paddles, alcohol containers, etc.)
   • Get names and contact information of witnesses (other pledges, bystanders)

3. Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Without Legal Counsel

   • They will try to get you to sign documents
   • They will try to get recorded statements
   • They will try to control the narrative
   • Anything you say can be used against you

4. Do NOT Post on Social Media

   • Do not post about the incident
   • Do not post about being “fine” or “okay”
   • Do not engage with Greek life members online
   • Social media posts can destroy your case

5. Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

   • Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation
   • We offer video consultations for Jasper County families
   • We will travel to Jasper County for meetings, depositions, and trials
   • We work on contingency — $0 upfront cost

🛡️ Why Jasper County Families Choose Attorney 911

We’re Not Just Lawyers — We’re Your Legal Emergency First Responders

When your child is hazed, it’s not just an injury — it’s a legal emergency. You need attorneys who will respond immediately, aggressively, and with the expertise to win.

🏆 Our Hazing Litigation Advantages for Jasper County Families

💬 What Our Clients Say About Us

“Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer regarding my case.” — Dame Haskett

“They fought with the other party insurance and got me more of the settlement that I was expecting.” — Vivian Ruiz

“If you’ve been injured, Attorney 911 is the firm to call. They truly care about their clients and will fight for you.” — Multiple reviewers

📞 Jasper County Families: Your Next Steps

Don’t Wait — Evidence Disappears and Deadlines Approach

Jasper County hazing victims: You have legal rights. You have options. And you have powerful allies in Attorney 911.

📅 What Happens When You Call Us:

1. Free, Confidential Consultation

   • We listen to your story
   • We explain your rights
   • We evaluate your case at no cost

2. Immediate Evidence Preservation

   • We send preservation letters to all defendants
   • We secure text messages, photos, videos
   • We prevent evidence destruction

3. Comprehensive Case Building

   • We gather medical records
   • We interview witnesses
   • We work with medical and hazing experts

4. Aggressive Negotiation

   • We demand fair compensation
   • We fight lowball offers
   • We prepare for trial if needed

5. Justice and Accountability

   • We hold all responsible parties accountable
   • We seek maximum compensation
   • We help prevent future hazing

📞 Call Now — Jasper County’s Hazing Emergency Hotline

1-888-ATTY-911

Available 24/7 for Jasper County hazing victims and families

Email: ralph@atty911.com

Website: attorney911.com

We work on contingency — $0 upfront cost for Jasper County families

❓ Frequently Asked Questions from Jasper County Families

Q: My child was hazed at a fraternity near Jasper County — can we sue even though you’re based in Texas?

A: Absolutely. While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including Jasper County. We have:

• Federal court authority to pursue cases anywhere in America
• Willingness to travel to Jasper County for depositions, trials, and client meetings
• Video consultation technology for remote meetings
• Experience with multi-state litigation against national fraternities

Jasper County families: Distance is not a barrier to justice.

Q: The fraternity says my child “consented” to the hazing — does that mean we can’t sue?

A: No — consent is not a defense in Iowa.

Iowa 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.

Why consent doesn’t apply:

• Hazing involves coercion and peer pressure — true consent is impossible
• Victims often don’t know what they’re consenting to — hazing is hidden until it happens
• The power dynamics make true consent impossible — fear of social exclusion, retaliation, or losing membership
• Iowa law eliminates the consent defense — the legislature specifically anticipated this argument and rejected it

Jasper County families: Don’t let them use the “consent” excuse to avoid accountability.

Q: The university says they didn’t know about the hazing — can we still sue them?

A: Yes — and they’re likely lying.

Universities have a duty to protect students. They can’t claim ignorance when:

• They own or control fraternity houses where hazing occurs
• They have prior hazing incidents on their campus (like UH did)
• They have Greek life oversight offices that should be monitoring
• They collect tuition and fees from students they’re supposed to protect

In our current case:

• University of Houston owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred
• They had a prior hazing hospitalization in 2017 at a different fraternity
• They had full power to inspect, regulate, and shut down — they chose not to

Jasper County families: Universities know hazing happens. They choose to look the other way until someone gets hurt — or killed.

Q: My child is afraid of retaliation if we sue — what can we do?

A: We understand the fear — and we protect our clients.

Many hazing victims are afraid to come forward because of:

• Fear of social retaliation from Greek life
• Fear of academic retaliation from the university
• Fear of being ostracized by their peers
• Fear of not being believed

How we protect Jasper County clients:

• Confidentiality — we keep your identity private as long as possible
• Legal protections — retaliation is illegal; we can sue for it
• Media strategy — we control the narrative to protect you
• Witness protection — we work with other victims to build collective strength
• Criminal coordination — we work with prosecutors to build criminal cases that protect victims

In our current case:

“Our client is fearful of doing an interview due to retribution.” — ABC13

We know the fear is real. And we know how to fight back.

Q: How much does it cost to hire Attorney 911 for a Jasper County hazing case?

A: $0 upfront. We work on contingency.

We understand that Jasper County families may be concerned about the cost of fighting powerful institutions like universities and national fraternities. That’s why we take hazing cases on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win.

How contingency fees work for Jasper County families:

• No upfront cost — you don’t pay us to start your case
• No hourly billing — we don’t charge by the hour
• We take the risk — if we don’t win, you owe us nothing
• We get paid from your settlement — our fee is a percentage of what we recover for you

Jasper County families: You can afford to fight back. The institutions can’t afford for you to win.

Q: What’s the deadline to file a hazing lawsuit in Iowa?

A: Typically 2 years from the date of injury — but don’t wait.

Iowa has a statute of limitations that limits how long you have to file a lawsuit. For personal injury cases like hazing, the deadline is generally 2 years from the date of the injury.

However:

• If the victim is a minor, the deadline may be extended
• If the injury wasn’t discovered immediately (like psychological trauma), the deadline may start later
• If the defendant is a government entity (like a public university), different deadlines may apply

Jasper County families: Don’t wait until the deadline approaches. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your case gets harder to prove. Call us now so we can protect your rights.

Q: Can we sue if my child wasn’t physically injured, but was psychologically traumatized?

A: Yes — psychological trauma is a serious injury.

Hazing doesn’t just cause physical injuries. It causes:

• PTSD — from waterboarding, physical abuse, or witnessing abuse
• Anxiety and depression — from the constant fear and humiliation
• Fear of retribution — documented in our current case
• Loss of trust — in institutions, in peers, in the college experience
• Academic decline — from the stress and trauma

These are real injuries — and they deserve real compensation.

In our current case:

• Waterboarding is torture — it causes severe psychological harm
• Forced physical abuse creates long-term trauma
• The fear of retribution is itself evidence of the harm caused

Jasper County families: Psychological trauma is just as valid as physical injury in the eyes of the law.

Q: The fraternity already suspended the chapter — why do we need to sue?

A: Because suspension isn’t justice — it’s damage control.

When fraternities get caught hazing, their response is predictable:

1. Suspend the chapter (to limit liability)
2. Blame “a few bad apples” (to avoid systemic accountability)
3. Promise to “do better” (while planning their comeback)

In our current case:

• Pi Kappa Phi closed the UH chapter 7 days before the lawsuit was filed
• They admitted “violations” on their own website
• They thanked the university for “collaboration” — working together to minimize damage
• They said they “look forward to returning to campus” — no remorse, just planning their comeback

Jasper County families: They’re not sorry. They’re just sorry they got caught.

Suspension isn’t enough. We need:

• Accountability — for the individuals who did this
• Compensation — for the victims who suffered
• Systemic change — to prevent it from happening again
• A message — that hazing will cost them millions

🎯 The Message to Jasper County Fraternities and Universities

To the Fraternities Operating Near Jasper County:

We are watching.

The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter. The same national organizations that paid millions for hazing deaths are overseeing your activities.

If you haze students near Jasper County, we will find:

• Your housing corporation
• Your national headquarters
• Your alumni donors
• Your insurance carriers
• Every individual who participated

And we will sue them all.

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — if your chapter operates near Jasper County, know that Attorney 911 represents victims across America.

The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? Shut down. Charter surrendered. Criminal referrals initiated. Our client’s $10 million lawsuit is ongoing.

That’s what happens when you haze near Jasper County.

To the Universities Near Jasper County:

You own the problem.

You own the fraternity houses. You collect the rent. You have the power to inspect, regulate, and shut down.

When you fail to protect students from hazing, you share liability. When you have prior incidents and do nothing, you’re negligent. When you collect tuition from families who trust you to keep their children safe, and you fail — you must be held accountable.

University of Houston owned the house where a student was waterboarded. They’re a defendant in our $10 million lawsuit.

The same liability exists at universities near Jasper County.

To the Students and Families of Jasper County:

You are not alone.

What happened to Leonel Bermudez in Houston is happening to students near Jasper County right now. The same fraternities. The same universities. The same culture of abuse disguised as tradition.

But you have power. You have rights. And you have Attorney 911.

If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. — Lupe Pena

Enough is enough.

📞 Jasper County Families: Your Time Is Now

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 — Jasper County’s Hazing Emergency Hotline

We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. And we are fighting for Jasper County families.

Call now for your free, confidential consultation.

1-888-ATTY-911

Available 24/7 for Jasper County hazing victims and families

Email: ralph@atty911.com

Website: attorney911.com

$0 upfront cost — we don’t get paid unless you win

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™

Houston | Austin | Beaumont | Serving Jasper County and Nationwide

We protect the injured. We defend the accused. We fight for justice.