🚨 Hazing Victims in Kankakee County: You Are Not Alone. We Are Fighting For You. 🚨
Kankakee County families, students, and victims of hazing: What happened to Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston could happen right here in Kankakee County. The same fraternities operate at universities near you. The same negligence exists. The same culture of abuse persists.
But you don’t have to suffer in silence. You don’t have to accept this as “tradition.” And you don’t have to fight alone.
At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for what they did to Leonel Bermudez. We know how to build these cases. We know how to hold institutions accountable. And we know how to win.
We will bring the same fight to Kankakee County.
🔥 The Hazing Crisis in Kankakee County: What You Need to Know
Hazing Is Happening Right Here in Kankakee County
The same national fraternities that waterboarded Leonel Bermudez have active chapters at universities near Kankakee County. The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client exist right here in our community.
Universities near Kankakee County include:
- Kankakee Community College
- Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais)
- Governors State University (University Park)
- University of St. Francis (Joliet)
- Lewis University (Romeoville)
- Joliet Junior College
- Nearby major universities like University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University, and Purdue University
These institutions have Greek organizations with the same national affiliations as the fraternities involved in hazing deaths and injuries nationwide.
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Kankakee County, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.
What Is Hazing? The Kankakee County Reality
Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys.” It’s not “building brotherhood.” It’s not “tradition.”
Hazing is:
✅ Assault — physical attacks, beatings, paddling
✅ Battery — harmful or offensive contact
✅ Torture — waterboarding, sleep deprivation, exposure
✅ Reckless endangerment — forcing extreme exercise, alcohol consumption
✅ Humiliation — degradation, sexual objectification, psychological abuse
✅ Sometimes manslaughter or murder
In our current case, Leonel Bermudez was:
- Waterboarded with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
- Forced to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups until his muscles broke down
- Struck with wooden paddles — physical assault with a weapon
- Forced to eat until he vomited — then made to lie in his own vomit
- Deprived of sleep — forced to drive fraternity members at all hours
- Humiliated — made to carry sexual objects, strip in cold weather
He ended up in the hospital with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure — a life-threatening condition caused by muscle breakdown.
This is not “tradition.” This is abuse. And it’s happening in Kankakee County.
The Kankakee County Institutions That Are Failing Our Students
Universities and colleges near Kankakee County have the same failures as University of Houston:
- They own or control fraternity and sorority houses where hazing occurs
- They have prior hazing incidents that they failed to address
- They have oversight responsibility that they ignore
- They collect fees and rent while students are being abused
- They prioritize reputation over safety
National fraternities and sororities have the same failures:
- They know about hazing deaths and injuries at their chapters
- They dissolve chapters only after someone is hurt or killed
- They plan to return as soon as the publicity dies down
- They prioritize expansion over safety
These institutions are failing Kankakee County students — and they must be held accountable.
Kankakee County Families: You Have Legal Rights
If your child has been hazed in Kankakee County, you have legal rights under Illinois law and federal civil rights laws.
Illinois has strong anti-hazing laws:
Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 120/5 — Hazing
“A person commits hazing who knowingly requires the performance of any act by a student or other person in a school, college, university, or other educational institution of this State, for the purpose of induction or admission into any group, organization, or society associated or connected with that institution if:
(1) the act is not sanctioned or authorized by that educational institution; and
(2) the act results in bodily harm to any person.”
Penalties:
- Class A Misdemeanor — up to 1 year in jail, $2,500 fine
- Class 4 Felony if the hazing results in death or great bodily harm — 1-3 years in prison
Consent is NOT a defense under Illinois law.
This means:
- If your child was hazed, the perpetrators can be criminally charged
- If your child was injured, you can sue for damages
- The university and national organization can be held liable for failing to prevent hazing
💰 Kankakee County Hazing Cases Can Win Millions
Hazing lawsuits across America have resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Kankakee County families can win the same justice.
Recent Hazing Verdicts and Settlements:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | Settlement | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | Jury Verdict | $6.1 million |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | Settlement | $110 million+ (estimated) |
| Adam Oakes | Virginia Commonwealth | Delta Chi | Settlement | $4 million+ |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Settlement | Confidential (major) |
| Leonel Bermudez | University of Houston | Pi Kappa Phi | $10 million lawsuit pending | OUR CASE |
These cases prove that juries and courts will award MILLIONS for hazing injuries and deaths. The same results are possible for Kankakee County victims.
🏛️ Who Can Be Held Liable for Kankakee County Hazing?
In Kankakee County hazing cases, we pursue EVERY responsible party:
| 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 | Knew or should have known about hazing culture; failed to supervise |
| University/College | Owned/controlled property where hazing occurred; failed to protect students |
| Housing Corporation | Owned/controlled fraternity/sorority house; premises liability |
| Alumni | Allowed hazing at their homes; premises liability |
| Insurance Companies | Coverage for institutional and individual liability |
We don’t just sue broke college students. We go after the institutions with deep pockets — universities, national organizations, and insurance companies.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Kankakee County
Immediate Action Steps for Kankakee County Families:
-
Get Medical Attention
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
- Document everything — hospital records are critical evidence
-
Preserve All Evidence
- Photos/Videos: Injuries, hazing locations, items used in hazing
- Communications: Text messages, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram, emails about hazing
- Witnesses: Names and contact info of other pledges, bystanders
- Documents: Pledge manuals, schedules, rules given to your child
- Financial Records: Medical bills, lost wages, tuition/fees paid
-
Do NOT Talk to the Organization
- Do NOT confront fraternity/sorority leadership
- Do NOT sign anything from the organization
- Do NOT give statements to university administrators alone
-
Do NOT Post on Social Media
- Anything you post can be used against you
- Do NOT post about the incident
- Do NOT post about being “fine” or “doing okay”
- Do NOT engage with Greek life members online
-
Report to Authorities
- Consider filing a police report
- Consider filing a Title IX report with the university
- Report to the Illinois Attorney General’s office
-
Contact an Attorney Immediately
- Call Attorney 911: 1-888-ATTY-911
- We offer free consultations for Kankakee County hazing victims
- We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win
- We will protect your rights and fight for maximum compensation
⏳ Kankakee County Families: Time Is Running Out
Illinois has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases.
This means:
- You have 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit
- If you miss the deadline, you lose your right to sue forever
- Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and your case gets weaker
Don’t wait. Contact us today.
🎯 Why Kankakee County Families Choose Attorney 911
We Are Currently Fighting This Battle — And We’ll Fight For Kankakee County
Right now, we are litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for what they did to Leonel Bermudez.
We know how to build these cases. We know how to win. And we will bring the same fight to Kankakee County.
Our Advantages for Kankakee County Families:
✅ Hazing-Specific Expertise — We are currently litigating a major hazing case; we know the legal strategies that work
✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena know how insurance companies think and how to maximize your recovery
✅ Federal Court Authority — We can pursue your case in federal court if needed
✅ Nationwide Reach — We serve hazing victims across America, including Kankakee County
✅ Contingency Fee Representation — You pay $0 upfront; we only get paid if we win your case
✅ Bilingual Services — Se habla español; we serve Spanish-speaking Kankakee County families
✅ Aggressive Litigation — We don’t back down from powerful institutions; we take cases to trial when needed
✅ Compassionate Representation — We understand the trauma of hazing; we treat Kankakee County families with respect and care
Our Record of Success:
- 25+ years of litigation experience
- Millions recovered for personal injury victims
- Former insurance defense attorneys — we know their playbook
- Federal court admission — we can pursue federal claims
- Dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) — strategic advantage for national organizations
- BP Texas City explosion litigation — mass tort experience applicable to hazing cases
- Hundreds of cases won by exposing flawed evidence — same approach for hazing cases
📞 Kankakee County Families: Contact Us Today
If your child has been hazed in Kankakee County, you need legal representation NOW.
We offer:
- Free, confidential consultations
- Immediate case evaluation
- Aggressive legal representation
- Contingency fee representation — you pay nothing unless we win
- Video consultations available for Kankakee County families
- Willingness to travel to Kankakee County for depositions and meetings
Call Us 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
🔥 A Message to Kankakee County Fraternities and Sororities
To the fraternities and sororities operating near Kankakee County:
We are watching.
The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — if your chapter operates near Kankakee County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America.
Every national fraternity with chapters near Kankakee County should review their hazing policies immediately. We have proven these cases can be won.
The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? SHUT DOWN after our lawsuit. Your chapter could be next.
🏫 A Message to Kankakee County Universities and Colleges
To the universities and colleges near Kankakee County:
The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.
You own the fraternity houses. You collect the rent. You have the power to inspect and regulate. You have the duty to protect your students.
Act now — or face the same accountability.
💔 A Message to Kankakee County Hazing Victims
To the students who have been hazed in Kankakee County:
You didn’t deserve this.
What happened to you was not “tradition.” It was not “bonding.” It was not “building character.”
It was abuse. It was assault. It was wrong.
You have the right to seek justice. You have the right to compensation. You have the right to hold your abusers accountable.
You are not alone. We believe you. And we will fight for you.
📢 Enough Is Enough, Kankakee County
Kankakee County families deserve better. Our students deserve better. Our community deserves better.
Hazing must end. Accountability must begin. And justice must be served.
If you or your child has been hazed in Kankakee County, contact Attorney 911 today. Let’s end this together.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com
We don’t just talk about hazing. We’re fighting it right now. And we’ll fight for Kankakee County.
