If you are reading this, your family in Jefferson County may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child was supposed to make friends at college, to explore new ideas, and build a future. Instead, they were tortured. They were abused. They were hazed. We are here to help families in Jefferson County fight back against the fraternities, sororities, and universities that betrayed your trust.
We understand what you’re going through. The fear, the anger, the confusion – it’s overwhelming. You might be searching for answers at 2 AM, wondering how this could have happened and what you can possibly do. We want you to know that you are not alone. Our firm, Attorney911, is actively fighting this battle right now, taking on national fraternities and major universities. We bring that same aggressive, data-driven, and relentless pursuit of justice to families right here in Jefferson County.
Our commitment is to ensure that what happened to your child doesn’t happen to another family. We believe in holding every single entity responsible for these heinous acts accountable, from the individual perpetrators to the national organizations and the universities that allow hazing to fester on their campuses. If your child has been subjected to hazing, whether it’s at a local institution in Jefferson County or at a university your family from Jefferson County sends their children to elsewhere, we are ready to stand with you.
The Haunting Echoes of Betrayal: Leonel Bermudez’s Story
Just recently, in November 2025, our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit that serves as a stark warning to fraternities, universities, and parents across the country, including those in Jefferson County. This isn’t a hypothetical example; it’s a live, ongoing case that epitomizes the fight we bring to hazing. The case centers on Leonel Bermudez, a young man who was brutally hazed by the University of Houston’s Pi Kappa Phi fraternity chapter. His story is a chilling reminder of what “hazing” has become and why aggressive legal action is so desperately needed.
Leonel wasn’t even an enrolled student at the University of Houston yet; he was a “ghost rush,” a prospective transfer student planning to join in the spring semester. This detail alone exposes the sheer recklessness of the fraternity, hazing someone who wasn’t even officially part of their university community. On September 16, 2025, Leonel accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi, believing it would be an enriching experience. What followed was weeks of systematic abuse, physical torture, and psychological torment that ultimately landed him in the hospital for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
Imagine your child, aspiring to make friends and build connections, instead being subjected to what amounted to waterboarding with a garden hose. He was hog-tied, forced to eat until he vomited, stripped to his underwear in cold weather, and subjected to extreme physical exertion like 100-plus push-ups and 500 squats. This wasn’t “tradition”; this was assault, battery, and torture.
Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, recounted the horrific aftermath 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.” Leonel was passing brown urine, a horrifying sign of muscle breakdown that can lead to permanent organ damage.
As Lupe Pena, our associate attorney, passionately stated 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.” This is why we fight so aggressively. This is why cases like Leonel’s are central to our mission: to create accountability and prevent future tragedies for families in Jefferson County and beyond.
This incident is not isolated. Pi Kappa Phi, the national organization involved in Leonel’s case, has over 150 chapters across America, including those affiliated with universities where students from Jefferson County might attend. We believe the same “traditions” that hospitalized Leonel are replicated in chapters nationwide. Furthermore, the University of Houston’s own history includes a prior hazing incident in 2017 where another student was hospitalized. Both the national fraternity and the university were aware of these dangers, yet their failures continued.
Within days of Leonel’s hazing being reported, the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at the University of Houston was suspended. Members voted to surrender their charter, and the chapter was permanently closed. Criminal referrals were initiated. Our firm, Attorney911, moved swiftly to file the $10 million lawsuit against the university, the national fraternity, its housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity members, including the president, pledgemaster, and those who hosted hazing at their residences. This case, rapidly unfolding in Harris County Civil District Court, demonstrates our immediate, decisive action.
For families in Jefferson County, Leonel’s story is a critical warning. What happened to him is what modern hazing looks like, at institutions their children may attend. It is a testament to the fact that Attorney911 is not theoretical; we are actively fighting for victims, and we are ready to fight for your child in Jefferson County, too.
What Hazing Truly Looks Like: Beyond Fraternity Row Stereotypes
When we talk about hazing, many people in Jefferson County might picture harmless pranks or mild inconveniences from movies or urban legends. The reality, however, is far grimmer, and Leonel Bermudez’s case tragically illustrates this. These are not “boys being boys” or “character-building activities.” Hazing today is often systematic abuse, psychological torture, and physical endangerment, designed to break down a person’s will and instill absolute obedience.
This is not a uniquely Texas problem; it’s a national crisis. Whether your child attends a local institution or one of the many state universities like the University of Georgia or Georgia Tech that students from Jefferson County often attend, they can be vulnerable. The same national fraternities and sororities that operate on campuses across states like Georgia are often implicated in these tragic incidents.
Here’s a closer look at the types of hazing activities outlined in our lawsuit and commonly reported across the country:
- Waterboarding / Simulated Drowning: Leonel was subjected to “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose,” where he was sprayed in the face with water during calisthenics. This isn’t a prank; it’s a recognized form of torture, causing immense fear and a sensation of drowning.
- Forced Eating Until Vomiting: Pledges, including Leonel, were forced to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and even peppercorns until they vomited. Then, in a horrific display of dehumanization, they were often forced to lie in their own vomit and continue physical activities. This can lead to choking, aspiration, and serious gastrointestinal distress.
- Extreme Physical Punishment: Our lawsuit details how Leonel was made to perform over 100 push-ups and 500 squats. Other activities included high-volume “suicides,” bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warm-ups, and repeated 100-yard crawls. These weren’t just difficult exercises; they were designed to push students past their physical limits, leading to severe injuries like the rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure Leonel suffered. The Houston Chronicle also reported instances of pledges being “struck with wooden paddles.”
- Psychological Torture & Humiliation: Hazing often includes acts meant to degrade and humiliate. Leonel was forced to strip to his underwear in cold weather and carry a fanny pack with objects of a sexual nature. Another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. Threats of physical punishment or expulsion for non-compliance are common, creating an environment of fear and coercion.
- Sleep Deprivation & Exhaustion: Pledges are often deprived of sleep, forced to attend late-night events, or made to perform tasks like driving fraternity members during early morning hours. This acute exhaustion can impair judgment, increase physical vulnerability, and lead to accidents.
- Sexual Hazing: While specific details vary, hazing frequently includes forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, and in some horrific cases, sexual assault. This category of hazing inflicts profound and lasting trauma.
The Medical Reality: The consequences of such severe hazing are not trivial. Leonel Bermudez’s case highlights rhabdomyolysis, a critical condition where severe muscle breakdown releases harmful proteins into the bloodstream, directly damaging the kidneys. This can be fatal if untreated, and may lead to permanent kidney damage or the need for dialysis. Beyond immediate physical injury, hazing victims often suffer from long-term psychological and emotional trauma, including PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, and suicidal ideation.
These are not isolated incidents that can be brushed off as youthful indiscretions. These are acts of violence and abuse within organizations that have a duty to keep students safe. And when institutions fail in that duty, they must be held accountable.
Holding Everyone Accountable: Who Is Responsible for Hazing Injuries in Jefferson County?
When hazing occurs, it’s natural to immediately blame the individuals directly involved. While they are certainly liable, our strategy at Attorney911 focuses on identifying and holding accountable every single entity that played a role, directly or indirectly, in allowing the abuse to happen. This comprehensive approach is crucial for Jefferson County families seeking justice, as it ensures that the financial burden of recovery is placed on those with the resources to bear it, and that those with the power to prevent future incidents are forced to change.
Our $10 million lawsuit in Leonel Bermudez’s case is a prime example of this multi-pronged attack on accountability. We are pursuing claims against:
- The Local Fraternity Chapter: This is the most direct culprit. The Beta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston directly organized, facilitated, and participated in the hazing activities that injured Leonel. Their officers, like the Chapter President and Pledgemaster, are particularly culpable for directing and overseeing the abuse. Every individual member who participated or stood by and did nothing can also be held responsible.
- The National Fraternity Organization: Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc. (the national body) is a major defendant. They are liable for failing to supervise their local chapter, for inadequate anti-hazing policies, and for failing to enforce those policies despite a documented history of severe hazing incidents, including the death of Andrew Coffey in 2017. Their own admission of knowing about a “hazing crisis” further strengthens claims of their negligence and deliberate indifference. These national organizations wield immense power and financial resources, and they have a duty to ensure the safety of students in their chapters, including those in Jefferson County.
- The University or College: The University of Houston is a key defendant in Leonel’s case. The university owned and controlled the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place. Universities have a fundamental duty to protect their students, especially when hazing occurs on their property or within organizations they recognize and oversee. Our lawsuit against UH highlights their failure to supervise Greek life, their knowledge of previous hazing incidents (like the 2017 case where a student was hospitalized), and their failure to act decisively. This applies directly to institutions in or near Jefferson County, such as Augusta University or Georgia Southern University, which also have active Greek life systems.
- The Governing Body of the University: In Leonel’s case, the University of Houston System Board of Regents is also named. This extends liability to the highest levels of university administration, emphasizing that accountability extends beyond campus-level officials to those responsible for overall institutional oversight.
- The Fraternity’s Housing Corporation: Many fraternities operate through separate housing corporations that own their chapter houses. In Leonel’s case, the Pi Kappa Phi Housing Corporation is named because they own or control the property where hazing occurred. They have a responsibility to ensure premises are safe and free from illegal activities.
- Individual Perpetrators (Current and Former Members): The lawsuit names 13 individual fraternity members, including the chapter president, pledgemaster, risk manager, and others who directly participated in, directed, or enabled the hazing. This includes former members who hosted hazing activities at their private residences. These individuals can face personal liability for assault, battery, and negligence.
- Spouses of Former Members: Even a spouse of a former member can be held liable if they allowed, facilitated, or provided a venue for hazing to occur on their property, as alleged in Leonel’s lawsuit. This broadens the net of responsibility, preventing individuals from escaping accountability by claiming hazing happened on private property.
The “Deep Pockets” Principle: It’s important for Jefferson County families to understand that while a college student might not have significant assets, the national fraternities and universities often have multi-million dollar endowments, vast property holdings, and, crucially, comprehensive liability insurance policies. Our lawyers, with their background in insurance defense, know exactly how to navigate these complex insurance structures to maximize financial recovery for victims. Holding these “deep pockets” accountable is essential not only for compensating victims but also for forcing institutional change.
When hazing leaves your child injured, traumatized, or tragically, gone forever, we leave no stone unturned in finding every party responsible. Our goal is not just to compensate victims in Jefferson County, but to send an unequivocal message that this behavior will not be tolerated.
Justice Has a Price: Multi-Million Dollar Precedents for Hazing Victims
For families in Jefferson County grappling with the aftermath of hazing, one of the most pressing questions is often, “Is it possible to win a case like this?” The answer is a resounding yes. Our $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez is not an outlier; it builds upon a foundation of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in hazing cases across the country. These cases prove that aggressive representation can force institutions to pay a heavy price for their negligence.
Here are some landmark cases that set the stage for the justice we seek for Leonel and for families in Jefferson County:
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Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Total over $10.1 Million
- Stone Foltz died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a Pi Kappa Alpha initiation event.
- His family received $2.9 million from Bowling Green State University and $7.2 million from the national Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and some of its members.
- In December 2024, a criminal court also ordered Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president, to pay $6.5 million in personal liability.
- Significance for Jefferson County: This case directly supports our $10 million demand, demonstrating that both universities and fraternities are held accountable for multi-million dollar payouts, even in cases involving a living victim like Leonel.
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Maxwell Gruver – Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017): $6.1 Million Verdict
- Max Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman, died from acute alcohol poisoning (with a BAC of 0.495, six times the legal limit) after being forced to participate in a hazing ritual called “Bible Study.” He was made to drink if he answered questions incorrectly.
- A jury awarded his family a $6.1 million verdict, sending a powerful message that juries are outraged by hazing.
- Significance for Jefferson County: This verdict shows that when a case goes to trial, juries are willing to award substantial sums to victims of hazing, particularly when the conduct is egregious.
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Timothy Piazza – Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017): Over $110 Million Estimated Settlement
- Timothy Piazza died after falling repeatedly down stairs during a Beta Theta Pi hazing event where he was forced to consume 18 drinks in 82 minutes (reaching a BAC of 0.36). Fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling 911.
- While the exact settlement amount is confidential, it’s estimated to be over $110 million, marking one of the largest hazing payouts in history.
- Significance for Jefferson County: This case, captured by security cameras, demonstrates that strong evidence of egregious conduct and institutional cover-up can lead to astronomical recoveries. It also shows that criminal charges and convictions can run parallel to civil litigation.
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Andrew Coffey – Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Confidential Settlement
- Andrew Coffey, a pledge of Pi Kappa Phi (the same national fraternity involved in Leonel Bermudez’s case), died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during “Big Brother Night.”
- Nine fraternity members were criminally charged with hazing, and the chapter was permanently closed. A civil settlement was reached with his family.
- Significance for Jefferson County: This is our most powerful precedent. It proves that Pi Kappa Phi National knew about deadly hazing within its chapters years ago. Despite this, Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized under similar circumstances. This establishes a clear pattern of negligence and deliberate indifference, strengthening our claim for punitive damages.
These multi-million dollar outcomes should reassure families in Jefferson County that legal action for hazing is not only possible but can lead to significant compensation and, crucially, lasting change. These cases often inspire new legislation, like the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana or the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law in Pennsylvania, which introduce harsher penalties and reporting requirements. Your child’s case in Jefferson County could be the one that makes a similar impact.
Strong Protections Under the Law: Your Rights as a Hazing Victim in Jefferson County
For families in Jefferson County, understanding the legal landscape after a hazing incident can feel daunting. While our firm is based in Texas, we want to assure you that robust laws protect hazing victims across the nation. In fact, many states, including Georgia, have anti-hazing statutes. Crucially, federal civil rights and negligence claims apply regardless of your specific location in Jefferson County, and our federal court authority means we can pursue justice for you no matter where the hazing occurred.
Let’s look at the foundational principles that empower victims and their families:
Consent is NOT a Defense: Your Child Cannot Agree to Be Abused
This is perhaps the single most important legal protection for hazing victims. Fraternities, universities, and individual perpetrators often try to deflect blame by claiming “he consented,” “he agreed to participate,” or “he could have left at any time.” This is a legally invalid and morally reprehensible argument.
In Texas, where our firm is based and where Leonel Bermudez’s case is being litigated, the law is unequivocally clear: Texas Education Code § 37.154 states, “It is not a defense to prosecution… that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”
This principle extends nationwide. You cannot legally consent to be assaulted, tortured, or subjected to criminal acts. The coercive environments, extreme peer pressure, threats of social exclusion, and power dynamics inherent in hazing negate any true “consent.” Your child wanted to belong, not to be broken. Any attempt by defendants in Jefferson County to use consent as a defense will be met head-on with this fundamental legal truth.
What Constitutes Hazing Under the Law?
Georgia’s own anti-hazing law is found in Georgia Code § 16-5-61, which, like most state statutes, defines hazing broadly to cover dangerous acts. It typically includes “any activity which subjects a student to an unreasonable risk of harm or which adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of a student” for the purpose of joining an organization. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Physical brutality: Whipping, beating, striking, branding, forced calisthenics, placing harmful substances on the body.
- Forced consumption: Alcohol, drugs, food, or other substances that pose an unreasonable risk of harm.
- Sleep deprivation: Activities that prevent a student from getting adequate rest.
- Confinement or exposure: Being locked in a small space or exposed to extreme weather.
- Acts that violate criminal law: Any activity that constitutes a crime, such as assault, battery, or sexual abuse.
The hazing Leonel Bermudez endured – waterboarding, extensive forced exercise, forced eating, and humiliation – clearly falls under these definitions in any state. If your child in Jefferson County has experienced similar acts, there is a strong legal basis for a claim.
Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Charges
While hazing can lead to criminal charges (which the University of Houston spokesperson acknowledged as “potential criminal charges” in Leonel’s case), civil lawsuits offer a crucial path for victims and their families in Jefferson County to obtain compensation and hold institutions accountable. These civil claims include:
- Negligence: This is the most common claim. We argue that the individuals, fraternity, national organization, and university had a duty to keep students safe, breached that duty through their actions or inactions (like failing to supervise or enforce policies), and that this breach directly caused your child’s injuries and damages.
- Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by the university (as it did for Leonel, whose hazing occurred in a “University-owned fraternity house”) or an individual, the property owner has a duty to ensure safety. Their failure to address dangerous conditions or illegal activities can make them liable.
- Assault and Battery: Individual perpetrators who physically harm your child can be sued directly for intentional torts like assault (placing a person in fear of harmful contact) and battery (actual harmful contact, like paddling or forced physical abuse).
- Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED): Hazing regularly involves “extreme and outrageous” conduct intended to cause severe emotional distress, such as psychological torture and humiliation. This can be a powerful claim for the lasting trauma victims endure.
- Wrongful Death: Tragically, many hazing incidents are fatal. In such cases, families in Jefferson County can file wrongful death claims, seeking compensation for the loss of companionship, future earnings, funeral expenses, and punitive damages against all responsible parties. Our firm has extensive experience in wrongful death cases, including those involving significant institutional negligence.
These civil claims exist to ensure that victims in Jefferson County and across America can recover financially for medical bills, lost academic opportunities, pain and suffering, and ongoing psychological care. They also provide a powerful mechanism to compel universities and Greek organizations to finally take hazing seriously.
Why Attorney911 is the Clear Choice for Jefferson County Hazing Victims
When your family in Jefferson County is facing the nightmare of hazing, you need legal representation that is aggressive, deeply knowledgeable, and genuinely committed to your fight. At Attorney911, we believe we offer a unique and compelling advantage for hazing victims and their families, rooted in our experience, our legal philosophy, and our proven track record.
Here’s why Jefferson County families consistently choose us:
- We Are Actively Fighting Hazing Right Now: This is not theoretical for us. We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston on behalf of Leonel Bermudez. This means we are in the trenches, understanding the latest tactics, arguments, and strategies. You won’t get a firm “hoping” to handle hazing cases; you get a firm actively winning them.
- Decades of Courtroom Experience: Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, brings over 25 years of battle-tested courtroom experience. He’s handled high-stakes, complex litigation against massive corporate defendants, including involvement in the multi-billion dollar BP Texas City Explosion litigation that claimed 15 lives. This experience is directly transferable to taking on powerful national fraternities and major universities that hide behind their legal teams.
- Insider Knowledge from Former Insurance Defense: Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena are former insurance defense attorneys. This is a critical advantage. They have spent years working for the insurance companies, learning their playbooks, their strategies for minimizing claims, and their tactics for denying payouts. Now, they use that insider knowledge to deconstruct the defense’s arguments and maximize recovery for our clients. For Jefferson County families, this means we anticipate the other side’s moves before they make them.
- Nationwide Reach with Federal Court Authority: While our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, hazing is a national problem, and we serve victims across America, including those in Jefferson County. Our admission to the U.S. District Court means we can pursue cases in federal courts, which often handle interstate litigation involving national organizations. Ralph Manginello’s dual-state bar licenses (Texas AND New York) provide strategic advantages when litigating against national fraternities headquartered in other states. We are committed to traveling to Jefferson County for depositions, client meetings, and trials when needed, and we offer convenient remote consultations via video. Distance is not a barrier to justice.
- Specialized Hazing Expertise: We’ve handled cases involving rhabdomyolysis injuries (like Leonel Bermudez’s), Kappa Sigma fraternity litigation, and understand the intricate connections between Greek life culture, university oversight, and national organizational liability. We know the medical, psychological, and institutional aspects unique to hazing claims.
- Data-Driven Litigation Strategy: We don’t guess who is responsible; we know. We maintain a comprehensive database of IRS-registered Greek organizations in Texas and across the country, including their EINs, legal names, housing corporations, and alumni associations. This intelligence allows us to quickly identify every liable entity, ensuring we sue everyone responsible.
- Empathetic and Bilingual Support: We understand the profound emotional toll hazing takes on victims and their families. Our staff is friendly, compassionate, and truly passionate about helping. We offer services in Spanish (Se Habla Español), ensuring that Hispanic families in Jefferson County and across Georgia feel heard and fully understand every step of the legal process.
- Contingency Fee Representation: No Upfront Cost to You: We believe every family deserves access to justice, regardless of their financial situation. We take hazing cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay absolutely nothing upfront. We only get paid if and when we win your case. This eliminates the financial barrier to taking on powerful institutions.
- Proven Track Record: Our firm consistently secures favorable outcomes for clients in personal injury and complex litigation. Our 4.9-star rating on Google from over 250 reviews, with testimonials highlighting our communication, aggressive representation, and commitment to clients, speaks volumes. Clients often describe us as making them feel like “family.”
- Parent-Centered Approach: Ralph Manginello is a father of three and understands the profound fear and anger a parent feels when their child is harmed. We approach every hazing case with fierce dedication, seeing your child as a person, not just a case file. As Ralph articulated, “I started Attorney911 to make sure people suffering from a legal emergency received immediate, aggressive, and professional help from someone they could trust.”
For Jefferson County families, choosing Attorney911 means choosing a firm that genuinely cares, possesses an unfair advantage against the opposition, and has proven its willingness and ability to fight—and win— against the very institutions that allowed your child to be harmed.
Critical Steps for Jefferson County Families: What To Do Right Now
The moment you discover your child has been hazed is terrifying and overwhelming. But acting quickly and decisively is paramount to protecting their legal rights and building a strong case. For families in Jefferson County, every minute counts. Here’s what you need to do immediately:
1. Prioritize Medical Attention and Document Everything
Your child’s health and safety are the absolute top priority.
- Seek immediate medical care: Even if the injuries seem minor or your child is hesitant, get them to a doctor, urgent care, or emergency room right away. Some injuries, like internal damage or rhabdomyolysis, may not be immediately apparent but can be life-threatening. Tell medical personnel that these injuries are a result of hazing.
- Document everything: Ensure every symptom, injury, and complaint is documented in medical records. Keep copies of all hospital records, doctor’s notes, medical bills, and any prescriptions.
- Mental health support: Hazing inflicts severe psychological trauma. Seek counseling or therapy for your child with a mental health professional experienced in trauma. Keep records of all sessions and diagnoses.
2. Preserve All Evidence – It Disappears Fast
The digital age means much of hazing activity leaves a digital trail. This evidence is crucial but can be deleted quickly by perpetrators.
- Text messages and social media: Screenshot everything. This includes text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchat conversations, Instagram DMs, posts, and any other social media activity related to the hazing. Pay attention to conversations about “pledge activities,” warnings, or discussions among members before or after the incident. Save profiles of involved individuals. Do NOT delete anything from your child’s phone.
- Photos and videos: Save any photos or videos taken by your child, other pledges, or witnesses during hazing events. Also, take photos of your child’s injuries at various stages of healing (bruises, cuts, swelling).
- Physical evidence: Keep any physical items associated with the hazing, such as specific clothing, “pledge books,” or other paraphernalia.
- Witness information: Collect the names and contact details of anyone who witnessed the hazing or has knowledge of it, including other pledges, current members, or bystanders. Their testimony can be invaluable.
- Documents: Preserve any documents your child received from the fraternity/sorority or university, such as pledge manuals, schedules, rules, or codes of conduct.
- Financial and academic records: Keep records of any lost wages if your child missed work, tuition fees, and academic records to show any impact on their studies or scholarships.
3. Do NOT Communicate with the Perpetrators or Institutions
This is perhaps the most critical advice.
- Do NOT talk to fraternity/sorority leadership or members: They will try to get your child to minimize the incident, apologize, or cover it up. They are not on your side.
- Do NOT give statements to university administrators or lawyers: Universities have their own legal teams and risk management departments. Their priority is to protect the institution, not your child. Any statement your child gives without legal counsel can be used against them.
- Do NOT sign anything: Never sign any documents from the fraternity, university, or their insurance companies without first consulting with an attorney. You could unwittingly waive your child’s rights.
- Do NOT post on social media: Anything your child or family posts publicly about the incident (or even about their general well-being) can and will be used by the defense to undermine your case.
4. Contact an Experienced Hazing Litigation Attorney Immediately
The statute of limitations (the legal deadline to file a lawsuit) for personal injury cases in Georgia is generally two years from the date of injury. For wrongful death claims, it is also typically two years from the date of death. This might sound like a long time, but as you’ve seen, evidence disappears incredibly fast.
- Call us 24/7: Our Legal Emergency Hotline is 1-888-ATTY-911. We offer free consultations for Jefferson County families. The sooner we get involved, the sooner we can send preservation letters to stop defendants from destroying evidence.
- Remote consultations: We understand that you may be in Jefferson County while we are headquartered in Houston. We offer convenient video consultations to discuss your case without requiring you to travel.
- We travel to you: For critical depositions, client meetings, or trial, our attorneys are committed to traveling to Jefferson County or wherever justice demands.
Taking these immediate steps can significantly strengthen your child’s case and ensure that they receive the justice and compensation they deserve.
Call Attorney911 Now: Your Legal Emergency Hotline in Jefferson County
If your family in Jefferson County has been devastated by hazing, you are facing a legal emergency. The emotional toll is immense, the physical injuries can be life-altering, and the need for accountability is urgent. Our firm, Attorney911, is here to provide the immediate, aggressive, and expert legal help you need. We are not just lawyers; we are advocates committed to fighting for justice for hazing victims like Leonel Bermudez and your child in Jefferson County.
Empowering Jefferson County Victims: You Deserve Justice
To the hazing victim in Jefferson County: What happened to you was not “tradition.” It was not “bonding.” It was not “building character.” It was abuse. It was assault. It may have been a criminal act. You have the right to seek justice. You have the right to compensation for your injuries. You have the right to hold the people and institutions who hurt you accountable.
You are not alone. Our attorneys are fighting this battle RIGHT NOW with a client just like you—a student hospitalized because a fraternity thought torture was acceptable. We bring that same fury and dedication to every case, including yours in Jefferson County. Lupe Pena said it best: “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” Be brave. Step forward. Jefferson County victims: Enough is enough.
For Jefferson County Parents: We Will Fight For Your Child
To the parents in Jefferson County: Your child trusted these people. They trusted the fraternity. They trusted the university. They trusted that these institutions would keep them safe. That trust was betrayed. Your child was tormented, abused, hospitalized, or tragically—taken from you forever. We understand the pain and the rage you are feeling in Jefferson County. We are here to transform that pain and rage into accountability. When Leonel Bermudez’s mother rushed him to the hospital with kidney failure, she became a witness to institutional failure. When families in Jefferson County lose children to hazing, they deserve unfettered answers and unwavering justice. We will fight for your Jefferson County family. We will honor your loved one by ensuring this never happens to another family.
Putting Jefferson County Defendants on Notice: They Will Pay
They knew. The fraternity knew hazing was happening. They organized it. They participated. They threatened expulsion if pledges didn’t comply. The national organization knew hazing was a risk. They dissolved the University of Houston chapter INSTANTLY when it was exposed—proving they knew exactly what was wrong. The universities and colleges near Jefferson County know hazing is endemic to Greek life. They all chose reputation over safety. They chose tradition over humanity. They chose their institution over your child in Jefferson County.
Now they will pay. When you waterboard a student in Jefferson County, you pay. When you force someone to exercise until their kidneys fail, you pay. When you hog-tie a pledge with an object in his mouth, you pay. When you lie in vomit-soaked grass and call it brotherhood, somebody pays. We are Attorney911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. And we are coming for every institution near Jefferson County, every national organization, and every individual who thinks they can torture our kids and walk away.
Jefferson County Families — Call Now for a Free Consultation:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
IMMEDIATE ACTION FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY FAMILIES:
- Dial 1-888-ATTY-911 now. Our legal emergency hotline is available 24/7 for hazing emergencies in Jefferson County. The consultation is free.
- Preserve everything. Save all text messages, photos, videos, and documents. Do not delete anything.
- Do NOT talk to anyone. Do not communicate with the fraternity, university, or their representatives without speaking to us first.
- Remember the clock is ticking. The statute of limitations (typically two years in Georgia) means evidence disappears, memories fade, and your rights can expire. Act now.
We Serve Jefferson County Hazing Victims — And Hazing Victims Nationwide:
While our headquarters are in Houston, Texas, with additional offices in Austin and Beaumont, we proudly and effectively serve hazing victims and their families in Jefferson County and across America. Our commitment to justice for hazing victims knows no geographical bounds, offering:
- Federal court authority: Our attorneys are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, providing us the jurisdiction to pursue national cases wherever needed.
- Dual-state bar licenses: With licenses in Texas and New York, our legal reach extends strategically for claims against national fraternities headquartered in various states.
- Video consultations: We offer remote consultations for families in Jefferson County, allowing you to connect with our expert legal team from the comfort and privacy of your home.
- Travel commitment: Be assured, we will travel to Jefferson County for depositions, client meetings, and trials when the specifics of your case require our physical presence. Distance will not be a barrier to achieving justice.
Hazing is not limited to Greek life. We represent victims of hazing in fraternities and sororities, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC programs, clubs, and other student organizations across the nation, including those your children from Jefferson County might join.
If another student was harmed or witnessed the hazing your child endured, especially those involved in the recent University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi incident, we urge them to come forward. We know Leonel was not the only one. You have rights too. Let us help you bring them all to justice.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today. Let us fight for your family in Jefferson County.