🛡️ Hazing Victims in Jefferson County, Kentucky — You Have Rights. You Have Power. You Have Us.
🚨 What Happened to Leonel Bermudez Could Happen to Your Child in Jefferson County
On November 21, 2025, our law firm filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston for the torture and abuse that hospitalized a young man with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
Leonel Bermudez was:
- Waterboarded with a garden hose
- Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
- Struck with wooden paddles
- Made to eat until he vomited, then forced to keep running
- Hog-tied (another pledge was tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour)
He spent four days in the hospital fighting for his life.
This didn’t happen in some distant state. This happened in the South. This could happen in Jefferson County.
Pi Kappa Phi operates chapters at universities across Kentucky and the nation. The same national organization that allowed this torture in Texas has chapters near Jefferson County. The same culture of abuse, the same “traditions,” the same reckless disregard for student safety.
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Jefferson County, they face the same risks.
🏛️ The Same Fraternities Operate in Jefferson County — With the Same Hazing Culture
Jefferson County is home to multiple universities and colleges where Greek life thrives. The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths and hospitalizations nationwide — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — have active chapters at institutions near Jefferson County.
These organizations have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths. Yet the abuse continues.
Why?
Because universities look the other way.
Because national organizations prioritize reputation over safety.
Because no one holds them accountable — until now.
💔 Jefferson County Parents: Your Child’s Safety Should Not Be a Gamble
You send your children to college expecting them to be safe. You trust that universities and Greek organizations will protect them.
That trust is being betrayed.
In Jefferson County, as across America, hazing is not just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” It is assault. It is battery. It is torture. It is sometimes murder.
And it is preventable.
Universities near Jefferson County have the power to stop hazing. They choose not to. National fraternities have the power to enforce safety. They choose not to.
We are changing that.
⚖️ You Have Legal Rights in Jefferson County — And We Know How to Enforce Them
Hazing is illegal in Kentucky. It is a crime. It is a civil wrong. And you can sue for it.
Under Kentucky law:
- Hazing that causes injury is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 12 months in jail and $500 fine)
- Consent is not a defense — even if your child “agreed” to participate
- Universities can be held liable for failing to protect students
- National fraternities can be held liable for failing to supervise chapters
In civil court, Jefferson County families can recover:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Punitive damages (to punish the wrongdoers)
And if hazing results in death, we can pursue wrongful death claims.
🔥 What We’re Doing Right Now — And How Jefferson County Families Benefit
Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, are currently litigating the $10 million Pi Kappa Phi hazing case in Texas. We are in the fight right now — and we’re bringing that same aggression to Jefferson County families.
What Our Pi Kappa Phi Case Proves:
✅ Fraternities torture students — waterboarding is not “tradition,” it’s torture
✅ Universities are complicit — UH owned the house where hazing occurred
✅ National organizations know — they admitted to “a hazing crisis” and did nothing
✅ They will pay millions — precedent cases show $6M to $110M settlements and verdicts
✅ Individuals are liable — chapter officers can be sued personally
✅ Consent doesn’t matter — Kentucky law says so
How This Helps Jefferson County Families:
🔹 We know the playbook — we’re already fighting these defendants
🔹 We know their defenses — and how to destroy them
🔹 We know their insurance — and how to access it
🔹 We know their weak points — and how to pressure them
🔹 We know the law — Kentucky hazing statutes, civil liability, university accountability
🔹 We travel to Jefferson County — for depositions, meetings, and trials
📋 What Jefferson County Families Should Do If Hazing Happens
🚨 IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS:
- Get medical attention immediately — even if injuries seem minor
- Preserve all evidence — take photos, save texts, record names of witnesses
- Do NOT talk to the fraternity/sorority or university alone — they will try to control the narrative
- Do NOT sign anything from the organization
- Do NOT post on social media about the incident
- Contact us immediately — 1-888-ATTY-911
📞 Why Call Us First?
- We handle ALL communication with the fraternity, university, and insurance companies
- We preserve evidence before it disappears
- We protect your rights from day one
- We guide you through the process — no surprises
- We fight for maximum compensation
💰 What Jefferson County Hazing Victims Can Recover
Economic Damages:
- Medical bills (hospitalization, treatment, therapy)
- Future medical expenses (if injuries have long-term effects)
- Lost wages (if victim missed work or lost job opportunities)
- Educational expenses (if victim had to drop classes or transfer schools)
Non-Economic Damages:
- Pain and suffering (physical pain from hazing)
- Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
- Humiliation and shame (from degrading hazing activities)
- Loss of enjoyment of life (impact on college experience)
Punitive Damages:
- To punish the defendants for egregious conduct
- To send a message that this behavior will not be tolerated
- To deter future hazing at Jefferson County institutions
🏆 Recent Hazing Verdicts & Settlements — Jefferson County Families Can Win Too
| Case | Fraternity | University | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Pi Kappa Alpha | Bowling Green State | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver | Phi Delta Theta | Louisiana State | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza | Beta Theta Pi | Penn State | $110+ million |
| Andrew Coffey | Pi Kappa Phi | Florida State | Confidential settlement |
| Leonel Bermudez | Pi Kappa Phi | University of Houston | $10 million lawsuit pending |
These results are possible for Jefferson County families too.
🎯 Who Is Liable for Hazing in Jefferson County?
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility; directed activities |
| Individual Members | Participated in hazing; failed to stop it |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about “hazing crisis” |
| University | Failed to protect students; premises liability |
| House Corporation | Owned property where hazing occurred |
| Alumni | Allowed hazing at their homes; premises liability |
We sue them all.
🔍 How We Build Your Jefferson County Hazing Case
- Free Consultation — We listen to your story and evaluate your case
- Evidence Collection — We gather medical records, texts, photos, witness statements
- Expert Analysis — Medical experts, hazing culture experts, economic experts
- Demand Letter — We present your case to the defendants
- Negotiation — We fight for maximum settlement
- Litigation — If they won’t settle fairly, we take them to court
- Trial — We present your case to a jury and demand justice
❓ Common Questions from Jefferson County Families
Q: My child consented to participate. Does that mean we can’t sue?
A: NO. Kentucky law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the organization is still liable.
Q: The fraternity says this was just “tradition.” Is that an excuse?
A: NO. “Tradition” does not justify assault, battery, or torture. Waterboarding, forced drinking, and physical abuse are not traditions — they’re crimes.
Q: We’re worried about retaliation. Will the fraternity come after us?
A: We protect our clients. We handle all communication with the fraternity. We ensure your safety and privacy. And we hold anyone who retaliates accountable.
Q: Can we afford a lawyer?
A: YES. We work on contingency — you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case. Jefferson County families pay $0 out of pocket.
Q: How long will this take?
A: Every case is different. Some settle within months. Others take years. We fight for the best outcome, not the fastest.
Q: Can you help us even if the hazing didn’t happen in Jefferson County?
A: YES. We represent hazing victims nationwide. If your child was hazed at any university, we can help.
🗣️ What Jefferson County Families Are Saying About Us
“They treated me like family. I never felt like just another case.” — Dame Haskett
“One company said they wouldn’t take my case. Then I got a call from Manginello, and in the next few months, I got a call to pick up this handsome check.” — Donald Wilcox
“They fought with the other party’s insurance and got me more of the settlement than I was expecting.” — Vivian Ruiz
“You are NOT a pest to them. You are FAMILY to them, and they protect and fight for you as such.” — Chad Harris
📞 Jefferson County Families: Call Now for a Free Consultation
If your child has been hazed in Jefferson County or anywhere in Kentucky, call us immediately.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We offer:
✅ Free, confidential consultation
✅ $0 upfront cost — we work on contingency
✅ 24/7 availability — we’re here when you need us
✅ Video consultations — no need to travel
✅ Travel to Jefferson County — for depositions, meetings, and trials
🔥 To Jefferson County Fraternities and Universities: We Are Watching
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi —
If your chapter operates near Jefferson County, know this:
We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing case. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your playbook.
If you haze students in Jefferson County, we will find every liable entity. We will pursue every dollar. We will hold you accountable.
The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston learned this the hard way. Your chapter could be next.
🏆 Our Promise to Jefferson County Families
We see your child as a person, not a paycheck.
We fight with compassion and fury — compassion for your family, fury at the institutions that failed you.
We will honor your child’s pain by demanding justice.
Jefferson County families: You are not alone. We are here. Call us.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | 📧 ralph@atty911.com | 🌐 attorney911.com
