If you’re reading this in Laurens County, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child was supposed to make friends at college, pursue an education, and build a future. Instead, they were tortured, humiliated, or worse—all in the name of “tradition.” We’re here to help families in Laurens County fight back against the insidious culture of hazing that continues to plague our colleges and universities.

We understand what you’re going through. The shock, the anger, the fear, the confusion. It’s an emotional nightmare that no parent in Laurens County should ever have to experience. While our firm, Attorney911, is headquartered in Houston, we represent hazing victims and their families across the nation, including those right here in Laurens County. We are currently in the thick of a $10 million lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university, and we are ready to bring that level of aggressive, data-driven advocacy to your family’s case.

Our mission is simple: to aggressively represent hazing victims, to employ data-driven litigation strategies that expose systemic failures, and to secure accountability from every entity responsible for these devastating injuries and deaths. When you or your child becomes a victim of hazing in Laurens County, we know exactly who to sue and how to win.

The Horrific Reality: Laurens County Families Need to Know What Hazing Looks Like Today

In Laurens County, as in communities across our nation, parents send their children off to college with hopes and dreams, trusting that these institutions will keep them safe. But behind the closed doors of fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and other student organizations, a dangerous and often brutal subculture thrives. What many dismiss as harmless “pranks” or “boys being boys” has evolved into systematic abuse that psychologically scars, physically maims, and far too often, kills.

This isn’t about silly rituals or lighthearted initiations. Modern hazing involves physical torture, forced consumption of dangerous substances, extreme sleep deprivation, and intense psychological manipulation. It mimics tactics used in military interrogations, designed to break down individuals, not build character. And it’s happening at institutions where Laurens County students are enrolled, or plan to enroll.

We need Laurens County families to understand that this is not a problem that happens “somewhere else.” The national fraternities and universities that have been rocked by hazing scandals are the same ones with chapters and reach in or near your community. Unless this culture is aggressively challenged, more students from Laurens County will become victims.

The Landmark Case: Attorney911 in the Fight Right Now – A Warning to Laurens County

We don’t just talk about hazing; we’re actively fighting it right now in a Harris County Civil District Court. Our firm, Attorney911, has filed a $10 million lawsuit, Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al., against a national fraternity, a major university, and 13 individual fraternity members. This case is not just a lawsuit; it’s a testament to our relentless pursuit of justice and a stark warning for every parent in Laurens County whose child might consider Greek life.

Laurens County Families: This Is What Hazing Looks Like. This Is What We Do About It.

This case happened in Houston, a city many Laurens County families are familiar with, a hub for education, and a place where their children may attend college. But the same hazing tactics, the same national fraternities, and the same institutional negligence exist at universities throughout Georgia and beyond, potentially affecting students from Laurens County. We are prepared to fight for Laurens County families with the same aggression and meticulous strategy we’re bringing to this case.

Media Coverage of Our Ongoing Fight

The media has extensively covered our case, shining a light on the brutal realities of modern hazing:

• ABC13 Houston: Published their report on November 21-22, 2025, detailing “waterboarding, forced eating, physical punishment” allegations. (Link: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/)
• KHOU 11: Reported on November 21, 2025, the “$10 million lawsuit filed against UH, fraternity over hazing allegations” and notably identified our client. (Link: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/university-of-houston-hazing-lawsuit-uh-pi-kappa-phi/285-8d6916f4-23b9-456a-a484-77c916ceac71)
• Houston Chronicle: Provided coverage on November 22, 2025, confirming the filing of the “UH fraternity hazing lawsuit.” (Link: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/uh-fraternity-hazing-lawsuit-21201616.php)
• Houston Public Media: Revealed on November 24, 2025, that the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi face a “$10 million lawsuit over alleged hazing,” providing further details. (Link: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/2025/11/24/536961/uh-lawsuit-hazing-allegations-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/)

Even the defendant, Pi Kappa Phi National, issued a statement on November 21, 2025, announcing the closure of their Beta Nu Chapter, unwittingly confirming their knowledge of violations. (Link: https://pikapp.org/pi-kappa-phi-closes-beta-nu-chapter-at-the-university-of-houston/)

The Fight in Harris County: Our $10 Million Lawsuit

Our lawsuit, filed in Harris County Civil District Court on November 21, 2025, seeks $10 million in damages. We’ve named an extensive list of defendants to ensure full accountability:

• Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity (University of Houston Beta Nu Chapter)
• Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters
• Pi Kappa Phi Housing Corporation
• University of Houston
• UH Board of Regents
• The fraternity’s President
• The Pledgemaster
• 13 individual fraternity members, including current and former members
• A former member AND his spouse, as hazing occurred at their residence

This comprehensive list demonstrates our strategy: no one who contributed to the hazing or enabled it will escape scrutiny.

The Tragic Story of Leonel Bermudez: A Warning to Laurens County Parents

Our client, Leonel Bermudez, was a “ghost rush”—a prospective member who wasn’t even a University of Houston student yet. He planned to transfer to UH for the upcoming semester. He accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi on September 16, 2025. What followed was horrifying.

For weeks, Leonel was subjected to systematic abuse and torture. On November 3, 2025, after a particularly brutal session, he collapsed, unable to stand. His condition worsened over the next two days, and by November 6, his mother rushed him to the hospital. He was passing brown urine, a tell-tale sign of severe muscle breakdown. He was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring three nights and four days of hospitalization. He now faces the risk of permanent kidney damage.

What Happened to Leonel Could Happen to Your Child

Listen to Attorney Ralph Manginello’s account from 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.“

And Lupe Pena, on the gravity of this fight:

“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 this case matters deeply to Laurens County families:

• Pi Kappa Phi has over 150 chapters across America, including those near Laurens County.
• The same “traditions” that hospitalized Leonel are replicated at fraternities wherever Laurens County students attend college.
• Universities near Laurens County face the same liability issues as the University of Houston when they fail to protect students.
• If your child is being hazed, whether in Laurens County or while attending college elsewhere, we will fight for you with the same ferocity we are fighting for Leonel.

The Horrifying Hazing Timeline and Activities

The hazing of Leonel Bermudez was not an isolated incident but a systematic campaign of abuse spanning seven weeks:

• September 16, 2025: Leonel accepts a bid to Pi Kappa Phi.
• September 16 – November 3, 2025: Weeks of continuous hazing.
• October 13, 2025: Another pledge was hog-tied, face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.
• October 15, 2025: A pledge lost consciousness and collapsed during forced workouts, requiring others to elevate his legs.
• November 3, 2025 (The Incident): Leonel was forced to perform over 100 pushups, 500 squats, and other exercises while reciting the fraternity creed, under threat of expulsion. He became so exhausted he couldn’t stand.
• November 6-10, 2025: Hospitalized for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, passing brown urine.
• November 14, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi National officially closes Beta Nu Chapter.
• November 21, 2025: Our $10 million lawsuit is filed.

The Specific Acts of Torture Exposed:

• Waterboarding / Simulated Drowning: KHOU reported “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose,” where pledges were sprayed in the face. This is internationally recognized torture, applied to college students.
• Forced Eating Until Vomiting: Leonel was forced to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited, then made to continue sprints while in distress, lying in “vomit-soaked grass.”
• Extreme Physical Punishment: This included over 100 pushups, 500 squats, “high-volume suicides,” bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother drills,” and “repeated 100-yard crawls.” He was also “struck with wooden paddles.”
• Psychological Torture & Humiliation: Leonel was forced to carry a fanny pack with “objects of a sexual nature,” stripped to his underwear in cold weather, and witnessed another pledge being hog-tied.
• Sleep Deprivation & Exhaustion: Forced early-morning driving and late-night activities led to severe fatigue.

The Medical Consequences: Rhabdomyolysis

Rhabdomyolysis is a critical breakdown of muscle tissue, releasing myoglobin into the bloodstream, which can cause acute kidney failure and death. Leonel’s symptoms—brown urine, high creatine kinase levels, and acute kidney failure—are all hallmarks of this severe condition. He spent four days in the hospital, and his long-term kidney health remains a concern. Our firm has specific expertise in litigating rhabdomyolysis hazing cases.

Institutional Responses: Admissions of Failure

University of Houston Spokesperson (Houston Public Media, Nov 24, 2025):

“The events investigated are deeply disturbing and represent a clear violation of our community standards. The University is conducting its own investigation in coordination with law enforcement…Any individual found responsible…will face disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion and potential criminal charges.“
This acknowledges severe wrongdoing and potential criminal conduct.

Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters (pikapp.org, Nov 21, 2025):
They announced the closure of the Beta Nu Chapter due to “violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards.” They even “thanked the University of Houston for its collaboration.”
This statement, analyzing it closely, is an admission against interest, showing they knew hazing occurred and violated their own rules. Their plan to “return to campus” reveals a shocking lack of remorse. KHOU reported that the national organization “failed to enforce anti-hazing rules and policies despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.'”

Why the Bermudez Case Matters to Laurens County Families:

1. “Tradition” is Torture: These aren’t harmless rites of passage; they are criminal acts. This same brutality can happen at institutions where Laurens County students attend.
2. Universities Are Complicit: The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the hazing took place. Universities near Laurens County have the power to stop hazing but often fail, leading to their liability.
3. National Organizations Know: Pi Kappa Phi’s swift chapter closure demonstrates they knew what was happening. The same national organizations operate chapters that Laurens County students join, and they are fully aware of hazing risks.
4. Victims Are Afraid: Leonel fears retribution. Laurens County victims face similar pressures. We provide protection and a safe path to justice.
5. One Victim Can Protect Others: As Lupe Pena stated, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do.” Your Laurens County case can save lives.
6. $10 Million Sends a Message: This substantial demand is what it takes to get these institutions’ attention and force change. Laurens County families have the right to demand the same message.

The Reality of Hazing: What Laurens County Parents Need to Understand

• It is not “boys being boys” or “character building.” It is assault, battery, torture, reckless endangerment, and sometimes manslaughter or murder.
• The statistics are chilling: 55% of students in Greek organizations and 40% of student athletes report hazing. Despite this, 95% of students who are hazed do NOT report it, fearing retaliation or not recognizing the severity.
• Institutional Failure: Universities and national organizations know hazing happens. They have policies, but often choose not to enforce them until tragedy strikes. Then, they “suspend” chapters and claim ignorance, shifting blame.

Types of Hazing Incidents We See (Rooted in Leonel’s Experience):

• Physical Abuse: Paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion (leading to rhabdomyolysis), branding, beatings.
• Forced Consumption: Binge drinking, eating until vomiting, consumption of non-food substances.
• Psychological Torture: Humiliation (like carrying sexual objects), degradation, verbal abuse, isolation, threats.
• Simulated Drowning: Waterboarding, as seen in Leonel’s case.
• Sleep Deprivation: Forced late nights and early mornings.

The Medical and Psychological Toll:

• Physical injuries like rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure, as Leonel suffered.
• Alcohol poisoning, traumatic brain injury, hypothermia, cardiac arrest.
• Long-term psychological damage: PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation.

Everyone Who Participated or Allowed Hazing Is Responsible

Our lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi targets every responsible party. This comprehensive approach is how we hold powerful institutions accountable:

• Local Chapters and Officers: Those who directly organized and conducted hazing.
• Individual Members: Participants or those who failed to intervene.
• National Organizations: For their failure to supervise, enforce policies, and address known hazing problems. They have millions in assets and insurance.
• Universities: For their failure to protect students, especially when they own or control the property where hazing occurs, and have a history of prior hazing incidents. These institutions hold substantial endowments and insurance.
• Insurance Carriers: The “deep pockets” that provide the financial backing for settlements.

This isn’t about suing college kids; it’s about holding sophisticated corporations and institutions accountable for their negligence and complicity.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

For Laurens County parents, the image of hazing might be outdated, perhaps a few push-ups or some playful teasing. But the reality is far more sinister. Hazing has evolved into brutal, dangerous, and often criminal acts that leave lasting physical and psychological scars. It’s time to dispel the myths and face the chilling truth.

This is not a rite of passage; it is abuse. This is not about camaraderie; it is about dominance and control.

The Grim Catalog of Modern Hazing:

Based on shocking incidents like Leonel Bermudez’s experience and other documented cases, hazing today includes:

Physical Torture:

• Extreme Forced Exercise: Pledges are often made to perform hundreds, even thousands, of push-ups, squats, sit-ups, and running drills (“suicides”) to the point of collapse. Leonel Bermudez was forced to do over 100 pushups and 500 squats. This can lead to severe muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) and organ failure, like the kidney damage Leonel suffered.
• Paddling and Beatings: Being struck with wooden paddles, belts, or other objects is a common and brutal hazing tactic. Leonel was “struck with wooden paddles.” This constitutes physical assault and battery.
• Branding and Burns: Pledges can be branded with hot irons or subjected to burns with cigarettes or lighters, leaving permanent scars.
• Exposure: Forced exposure to extreme cold (like stripping in cold weather and being sprayed with a hose, as done to Leonel) or heat, dangerous chemicals, or confinement in small, dark spaces.
• Blindfolding and Disorientation: Being blindfolded for extended periods, spun around, or driven to unknown locations, creating fear and dependency.

Forced Consumption:

• Binge Drinking: This is the deadliest form of hazing. Pledges are forced to consume massive amounts of alcohol rapidly, often until they pass out or die. Max Gruver (LSU) and Stone Foltz (BGSU) both died from alcohol poisoning during hazing. Leonel’s chapter forced milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns to the point of vomiting, followed by continued physical exertion.
• Non-Alcoholic Substances: This can include consuming foul-smelling liquids, hot sauces, raw foods, or even non-food items, designed to induce vomiting or humiliation. Leonel was forced to eat until he vomited and then made to lie in his “vomit-soaked grass.”
• Dehydration/Overhydration: Deliberately withholding or forcing excessive water consumption, both of which can be life-threatening.

Psychological Warfare:

• Humiliation and Degradation: Being forced to wear degrading outfits, perform embarrassing public acts, or carry humiliating items (like Leonel’s fanny pack with sexual objects). Verbal abuse, name-calling, and constant ridicule slowly chip away at a student’s self-worth.
• Sleep Deprivation: Forcing pledges to stay awake for days, or waking them up at all hours for endless tasks, leading to extreme exhaustion, disorientation, and impaired judgment. Leonel was made to drive members during early morning hours, leading to exhaustion.
• Isolation and Seclusion: Being cut off from outside contact, including family and non-fraternity friends, and confined to a specific location for extended periods.
• Threats and Intimidation: Constant threats of physical violence, exclusion, or social ostracism create an environment of fear where pledges feel they cannot refuse orders. Leonel was threatened with “physical punishment and/or expulsion” for non-compliance.
• Mock Executions/Abductions: Falsely staging abductions, kidnappings, or simulations of death, inflicting extreme psychological trauma.

Simulated Drowning:

• Waterboarding: As Leonel Bermudez experienced, “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose” is a form of torture. It recreates the sensation of drowning and can cause extreme panic, respiratory distress, and long-term psychological trauma. Houston Public Media explicitly called it “a form of torture.”

What Laurens County Parents Need to Know:

• It’s NOT Consent: Hazing relies on coercion, manipulation, and the immense pressure to belong. Texas law is clear: consent is NOT a defense to hazing.
• It Happens Everywhere: While the Bermudez case is in Houston, the same national fraternities (like Pi Kappa Phi) and similar organizational structures exist at colleges and universities where sons and daughters from Laurens County attend.
• It’s Hidden: Hazing activities are conducted in secrecy, often away from official campus oversight, making them difficult to track and stop.
• The Consequences Are Real: Beyond physical injury, hazing can lead to severe mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, depression, and even suicide.

We want Laurens County families to understand that if their child has been subjected to any of these acts, they are victims of abuse, not simply participants in a tradition. This understanding is the first step toward seeking justice and holding those responsible fully accountable.

Holding the Right People Accountable: Who Is Responsible for Hazing in Laurens County?

When a Laurens County student is injured or dies due to hazing, it’s natural to wonder who can be held responsible. The answer is rarely simple, but our firm uses a data-driven, multi-defendant strategy to ensure every liable party is brought to justice. We don’t just sue the individuals directly involved; we pursue the entire network of individuals and institutions that allowed the hazing to happen.

We Identify Every Liable Party for Laurens County Victims:

1. The Individual Perpetrators:

   • Chapter Officers: The President, Pledgemaster, and other leaders in the fraternity or organization directly plan, direct, and oversee hazing activities. They bear significant responsibility. In the Bermudez case, the President and Pledgemaster are named defendants.
   • Active Members: Any individual who participates in, encourages, or fails to intervene in hazing can be held personally liable. This includes those who administer physical blows, force consumption, or psychologically torment pledges. Our lawsuit names 13 individual fraternity members.
   • Former Members and Bystanders: Even individuals who are no longer active members, but host or facilitate hazing events (as in the Bermudez case, where hazing occurred at a former member’s residence), can be held accountable. Their spouses, if they enable the environment, can also face liability.

2. The Local Chapter:

   • The chapter itself, as an entity, can be sued for its organizational conduct. It may have property, bank accounts, and insurance policies that can be pursued. The Beta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi is a defendant in our lawsuit.

3. The National Fraternity or Sorority Organization:

   • This is often a key “deep pocket” defendant. National organizations (like Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters in our pending case) are responsible for overseeing their local chapters. They claim anti-hazing policies, but often fail to properly enforce them, educate members, or investigate complaints.
   • They can be held liable for:
     • Negligent Supervision: Failing to adequately monitor or control their local chapter’s activities.
     • Negligent Retention: Allowing chapters with a history of hazing to continue operating.
     • Foreseeability: Knowing that hazing occurs within their system (as Pi Kappa Phi knew after Andrew Coffey’s death) and failing to act.
   • National organizations have vast assets, endowments, and comprehensive insurance policies that can be tapped to compensate victims.

4. The University or College:

   • Universities bear a heavy burden of responsibility. They provide facilities, recognize Greek organizations, and have a duty to protect their students. The University of Houston and its Board of Regents are defendants in our case.
   • They can be held liable for:
     • Negligent Supervision: Failing to oversee Greek life activities, especially when hazing is known to be prevalent.
     • Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on university-owned or controlled property (like the Pi Kappa Phi house owned by UH), the university has a legal duty to maintain safe premises.
     • Failure to Act: Ignoring prior complaints, incidents, or a general culture of hazing within their Greek system.
     • Breach of Contract: Failing to uphold promises made to students about safety and educational standards.
   • Like national fraternities, universities have substantial financial resources and insurance coverage.

5. Housing Corporations:

   • Many fraternities operate through separate housing corporations that own or manage the fraternity house. These entities (like the Beta Nu Housing Corporation in our case) can be held liable for premises-related negligence if hazing occurs on their property.

6. Insurance Carriers:

   • Ultimately, a significant portion of compensation comes from various insurance policies:
     • Commercial general liability (CGL) policies of national fraternities.
     • University liability insurance.
     • Homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policies of individual members or those hosting events.
     • Umbrella and excess liability policies.
   • As former insurance defense attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena bring invaluable insider knowledge of how insurance companies operate. They’ve seen the playbook from the other side, allowing them to anticipate defense strategies and aggressively pursue maximum compensation for Laurens County victims.

Laurens County Parents: Our Data-Driven Approach Traces Every Link

We believe in a meticulous, data-driven approach to hazing litigation. We don’t just guess who might be responsible. We know. Our comprehensive directories of Greek organizations in Texas, complete with EINs, legal names, addresses, house corporations, and alumni chapters, allow us to identify every entity behind the Greek letters. When hazing injures a Laurens County student, we know exactly who to sue.

This multi-defendant strategy ensures that no responsible party can evade accountability. We pursue all avenues, from the individual students who perpetuate the abuse to the powerful national organizations and universities that enable it. Our goal for Laurens County families is not just justice, but also to dismantle a culture that puts profit and tradition above human safety.

What These Cases Win: Laurel County Families Can (and Do) Maximize Their Recovery

For Laurens County families considering legal action after a hazing incident, understanding the potential financial recovery is critical. These aren’t small claims; hazing lawsuits, particularly those involving severe injury or death, consistently result in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. These precedents are not just numbers; they represent powerful statements of accountability that resonate far beyond the courtroom, and they show what is possible for Laurens County victims.

Landmark Settlements and Verdicts: A Warning to Fraternities and Universities

Here are some of the significant cases that demonstrate the financial consequences of hazing, establishing a clear pattern that supports our $10 million demand in the Bermudez case:

Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021)

• Total: Over $10.1 Million
• What Happened: Stone Foltz was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” initiation, dying from alcohol poisoning.
• Settlement Breakdown: $2.9 million from Bowling Green State University and over $7.2 million from Pi Kappa Alpha and its members.
• Recent Update: In December 2024, Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president, was ordered to pay the Foltz family an additional $6.5 million in a personal liability judgment.
• Significance: This case supports our $10 million demand, shows universities and fraternities (national and local) are both liable, and proves individuals can face massive personal judgments. It also led to Ohio’s Collin’s Law, strengthening anti-hazing statutes.

Maxwell Gruver (Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta, 2017)

• Total: $6.1 Million Jury Verdict
• What Happened: Max Gruver died from extreme alcohol poisoning after a “Bible Study” hazing event where he was forced to drink if he answered questions incorrectly.
• Significance: This substantial jury verdict shows that when hazing cases go to trial, juries are willing to award millions to victims. It also resulted in the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony in Louisiana.

Timothy Piazza (Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi, 2017)

• Total: Estimated over $110 Million (Multiple Settlements)
• What Happened: Timothy Piazza was forced to consume 18 drinks in 82 minutes, fell down stairs, suffered a traumatic brain injury, and fraternity brothers delayed calling 911 for 12 hours. He died from his injuries. Security cameras captured the entire horrific event.
• Significance: This is one of the largest hazing settlements ever, demonstrating the immense value placed on life and the severe penalties for institutional negligence and cover-ups, especially with compelling evidence. It also spurred the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law in Pennsylvania.

Andrew Coffey (Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi, 2017)

• Total: Confidential Settlement
• What Happened: Andrew Coffey died from acute alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during a “Big Brother Night” event.
• Significance: This is particularly relevant to our Bermudez case because it involves the SAME national fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi. His death, eight years before Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization, proves Pi Kappa Phi National had actual knowledge of deadly hazing within its chapters and failed to prevent future incidents.

Adam Oakes (Virginia Commonwealth University / Delta Chi, 2021)

• Total: Over $4 Million Settlement
• What Happened: Adam Oakes died from alcohol poisoning after forced drinking during a Delta Chi bid acceptance ceremony.
• Significance: Another recent multi-million dollar settlement emphasizing the ongoing severe consequences of hazing. Like other cases, it contributed to Adam’s Law in Virginia.

The Message to Laurens County: “Same Letters, Same Danger”

These cases prove that hazing costs millions. The fraternities and universities perpetrating and enabling hazing today are facing a legal landscape where victims consistently secure substantial financial recovery. This means that if a Laurens County student is hazed:

1. Our $10 Million Demand Is Justified: Our demand in the Bermudez case is well within the range of prior hazing settlements and verdicts, even with Leonel surviving. The egregious nature of the hazing he endured (waterboarding, extreme physical abuse) and his severe injuries (kidney failure) demand significant compensation.
2. Juries Hate Hazing: Jurors, just like parents in Laurens County, are outraged by the brutality and senselessness of hazing. They are often eager to send a strong message of accountability through large awards.
3. Hazing Cases Drive Legal and Cultural Change: These lawsuits not only compensate victims but also force institutions to re-evaluate their policies, leading to stronger anti-hazing laws nationwide.

For Laurens County families, these precedents should instill confidence. You are not alone, and success against powerful institutions is not only possible but well-documented. We apply the lessons learned from these landmark cases to every hazing case we take, ensuring Laurens County victims receive the justice they deserve.

Texas Law Protects You: Laurens County Victims Have Powerful Legal Recourse

For Laurens County families facing the aftermath of a hazing incident, understanding the robust legal protections available is crucial. While hazing remains a pervasive problem, both federal and state laws provide powerful avenues for accountability. Our firm specializes in navigating these complex frameworks to ensure justice for victims. Although Laurens County is in Georgia, many of the principles of Texas law, where our firm is based, mirror those found across states, and our federal court authority means we can pursue your case regardless of the state lines.

Texas Hazing Laws: A Model for Accountability

Texas has some of the strongest anti-hazing laws in the nation, codified in the Texas Education Code (§ 37.151-37.157). This legislation provides both criminal penalties and a clear definition of what constitutes hazing.

The Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151):

Texas law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in an organization, if the act:

• Involves physical brutality: Such as whipping, beating, striking (like Leonel being struck with wooden paddles).
• Endangers mental or physical health: Including sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements (like Leonel stripped in cold and sprayed with a hose), confinement, or calisthenics (like Leonel’s 500 squats) that subject the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or adversely affect health.
• Involves forced consumption: Of food, alcohol, drugs, or other substances that subject a student to unreasonable risk (like Leonel forced to eat until vomiting).

Leonel Bermudez’s case satisfied multiple elements of this definition, including physical brutality, calisthenics causing unreasonable risk (rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure), forced consumption, and exposure to the elements. This comprehensive definition ensures that even seemingly “minor” acts, when combined or intensified, fall under the scope of illegal hazing.

Criminal Penalties for Hazing (§ 37.152):

Texas law imposes serious criminal penalties, demonstrating society’s condemnation of hazing:

• Class B Misdemeanor: For simply engaging in hazing, aiding it, or failing to report it.
• Class A Misdemeanor: If hazing causes “serious bodily injury,” which certainly applies to Leonel’s severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. This carries up to a year in jail.
• State Jail Felony: If hazing causes death, carrying 180 days to 2 years in state jail.

The fact that the University of Houston spokesperson mentioned “potential criminal charges” in Leonel’s case underscores the criminal implications of such severe hazing.

Organizational Liability (§ 37.153):

Organizations can also face severe penalties, including fines up to $10,000, denial of operating rights, and forfeiture of property. This means both the local chapter and the national organization can be held legally responsible as distinct entities.

Crucially: Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154):

This is perhaps one of the most powerful provisions for Laurens County victims:

“It is not a defense to prosecution for an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.“

This law directly dismantles the common defense argument that “he agreed to participate” or “he knew what he was signing up for.” The Texas Legislature recognized that true consent cannot exist in a coercive hazing environment. This principle is vital for hazing victims in Laurens County and beyond.

Civil Liability: Pursuing Justice Beyond Criminal Charges

Even if criminal charges are not filed or do not lead to conviction, Laurens County hazing victims can still pursue civil lawsuits to recover comprehensive damages. Our firm builds these cases on several key civil liability theories:

1. Negligence:

   • This is the most common claim. We argue that the defendants (individuals, fraternities, universities) had a “duty of care” to protect students, that they “breached” that duty (by hazing or allowing it), that this breach “caused” injuries, and that the victim suffered “damages” as a result.

2. Premises Liability:

   • If hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by an institution (like the fraternity house owned by the University of Houston in our case), that institution has a responsibility to maintain a safe environment.

3. Negligent Supervision:

   • National organizations have a duty to supervise their local chapters, and universities have a duty to supervise their Greek life programs. Failure to do so can lead to liability. This is particularly strong when there’s a history of prior hazing incidents.

4. Assault and Battery:

   • These are intentional torts directly applicable to physical hazing acts, allowing individual perpetrators to be held personally liable for their actions (e.g., paddling, striking, forced physical abuse).

5. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED):

   • For extreme, outrageous conduct that causes severe emotional distress, victims can claim IIED. Waterboarding, hog-tying, and other forms of psychological torture clearly fall into this category.

6. Wrongful Death:

   • If hazing leads to a student’s death, families can file wrongful death lawsuits to recover damages for their profound loss, including future earnings, companionship, and funeral expenses.

Why This Matters for Laurens County Victims:

• Comprehensive Recovery: Civil lawsuits allow victims to recover not just economic damages (medical bills, lost tuition) but also non-economic damages (pain, suffering, psychological trauma) and often punitive damages.
• Broader Scope: Civil law can hold more parties accountable than criminal law, ensuring that institutions with “deep pockets” contribute to justice.
• No “Consent” Loophole: The Texas law on consent is a powerful weapon against a common defense, simplifying the path to proving liability.
• Federal Authority: Our admission to federal courts (like the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas) and dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) give us the reach to pursue national organizations and multi-state cases, regardless of where the hazing incident affecting a Laurens County student occurred.

The legal framework is in place to protect Laurens County students. Our job is to aggressively apply it, leveraging every statute and legal theory to maximum effect for hazing victims.

Why Attorney911 Is the Obvious Choice for Laurens County Hazing Victims

When your family in Laurens County is reeling from the trauma of hazing, you need legal representation that is aggressive, deeply knowledgeable, and genuinely compassionate. Attorney911 is built for this fight. We don’t just handle cases; we become your fiercest advocates, leveraging unique strengths to dismantle the powerful institutions that enabled your child’s suffering.

What Sets Us Apart for Laurens County Families:

1. Direct, Aggressive Hazing Litigation Experience: We’re Fighting Right Now.

   • This isn’t theoretical for us. We are currently embroiled in the Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi case, a $10 million lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university. This active, ongoing battle means we are immersed in the latest hazing legal strategies, evidence collection, and defendant tactics.
   • Laurens County Benefit: You get a legal team that has their finger on the pulse of hazing litigation, applying cutting-edge strategies developed in a live, high-stakes case to your family’s situation.

2. Insider Knowledge: Former Insurance Defense Attorneys.

   • Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena honed their skills working for insurance companies and large corporate defendants. They’ve seen the playbook from the other side, learning precisely how insurers value claims, strategize defenses, and attempt to minimize or deny payouts.
   • Laurens County Benefit: This insider perspective is an unfair advantage for our clients. We anticipate defense tactics, expose loopholes, and know how to dismantle their arguments for maximum recovery. Mr. Peña’s background at Litchfield Cavo LLP, a nationwide insurance defense firm, gives us unparalleled insight into the strategies employed by national organizations.

3. Federal Court Authority and Dual-State Licenses.

   • Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, which allows us to pursue cases in federal jurisdiction. Ralph also has experience in the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Furthermore, Ralph is licensed in both Texas AND New York.
   • Laurens County Benefit: Hazing involves national fraternities and universities. Our federal and dual-state authority means we are uniquely positioned to litigate against these large, multi-state entities, no matter where they are headquartered or where the hazing affecting a Laurens County student occurred. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

4. Battle-Tested Against Massive Corporations.

   • Ralph Manginello’s involvement in the multi-billion dollar BP Texas City Explosion Litigation demonstrated his capacity to take on enormous corporate defendants with limitless resources. This experience applies directly to the complex, high-stakes battles against national fraternities and major universities.
   • Laurens County Benefit: You gain a legal team proven to handle complex cases against powerful adversaries, ensuring your Laurens County family is never outmatched.

5. Data-Driven Litigation: We Know Who to Sue.

   • We maintain comprehensive internal databases of Greek organizations, including EINs, legal names, addresses, house corporations, and alumni chapters across Texas. This intelligence allows us to quickly identify every potential defendant and uncover their corporate structures and insurance policies.
   • Laurens County Benefit: We eliminate the guesswork. When hazing hits a Laurens County family, we don’t just see Greek letters; we see the corporate entities, the individuals, and the insurance policies responsible.

6. Compassionate, Client-Centered Approach: Laurens County Families Are Family.

   • We understand the deep emotional toll hazing takes. Our opening paragraph is designed to speak directly to the scared parent searching for help at 2 AM. Our testimonials repeatedly highlight our firm’s warmth and dedication, often saying, “They treat you like family.”
   • Laurens County Benefit: You’ll be treated with empathy, respect, and clear communication every step of the way. We listen, we care, and we fight as if your child were our own.

7. No Upfront Cost: Contingency Fee Basis.

   • We know Laurens County families are already facing immense physical and emotional burdens. The cost of legal representation should not be another worry. We take hazing cases on a contingency fee basis.
   • Laurens County Benefit: You pay absolutely $0 upfront. We only get paid if and when we win your case. This levels the playing field, ensuring aggressive, expert representation is accessible to every Laurens County family, regardless of their financial situation.

8. Bilingual Services: Se Habla Español.

   • Lupe Pena is fluent in Spanish, and our staff is bilingual, ensuring that Hispanic families in Laurens County receive comprehensive legal guidance without language barriers.
   • Laurens County Benefit: We can effectively serve a diverse community, ensuring all Laurens County families can access justice and understand every aspect of their case.

9. Willingness to Travel and Remote Consultations.

   • While we are based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we regularly travel to Laurens County and other locations for depositions, client meetings, and trials when necessary. We also offer secure remote video consultations.
   • Laurens County Benefit: Distance is not an obstacle. You receive top-tier legal representation conveniently, whether through virtual meetings or in-person as your case demands.

When your child is harmed by hazing, you need a firm that knows how to fight—and how to win. Attorney911 offers Laurens County families unparalleled expertise, aggressive advocacy, and genuine compassion, all geared towards achieving maximum accountability and compensation.

What to Do Right Now if Your Laurens County Child Was Hazed: Urgent Actions to Protect Their Rights

If you’re a parent in Laurens County learning that your child has been subjected to hazing, the immediate aftermath can be chaotic and overwhelming. Yet, the actions you take in the first hours and days are critically important to protecting your child’s health and preserving their legal rights. Hazing victims often feel shame, fear, or a misguided sense of loyalty that prevents them from speaking out. As a parent, you are their first line of defense.

We know you’re scared and angry. Here’s what you need to do, step-by-step, starting now.

First and Foremost: Prioritize Your Child’s Health and Safety

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention:
   • If your child suffered physical injuries (like Leonel Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure, or injuries from forced consumption, beatings, or exposure), get them to an emergency room or doctor immediately. Document everything.
   • Why it’s critical: Medical records are objective evidence of physical harm. Delays in seeking treatment will be used by defense attorneys to argue that injuries weren’t severe or weren’t caused by hazing.
   • Document Everything: Ensure all medical personnel know the injuries are hazing-related.
2. Address Psychological Trauma:
   • Hazing is deeply traumatizing. If your child exhibits signs of PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, or other emotional distress, seek help from a qualified mental health professional.
   • Why it’s critical: Psychological harm is a major component of hazing damages. Early intervention is crucial for recovery and for establishing a documented link between hazing and mental health impacts.

Preserve Every Piece of Evidence: The Clock is Ticking

Hazing incidents often happen in secret, and perpetrators will try to cover their tracks. You must act quickly to preserve evidence before it disappears.

What to Save (or Help Your Child Save):

1. Communications:

   • Text Messages & Group Chats: Take screenshots of ALL relevant conversations (GroupMe, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, regular SMS) related to pledge activities, instructions, threats, or discussions about the hazing. Note sender, recipient, date, and time.
   • Emails: Preserve any emails from fraternity/sorority leaders, university officials, or members.
   • Social Media: Take screenshots of any relevant posts, photos, or videos from members’ public profiles or private groups.
     • CRITICAL WARNING: DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING. Even if your child feels ashamed, deleting messages is considered destruction of evidence and can severely harm a case. If your child deleted messages, inform your attorney immediately.

2. Photos and Videos:

   • Injuries: Take clear, well-lit photos of any physical injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, swelling) as soon as they are discovered, and continue to document them as they heal. If medical staff took photos, ensure you get copies.
   • Hazing Environment: If possible and safe, take photos or videos of the locations where hazing occurred (fraternity house, specific rooms, fields, off-campus residences).
   • Physical Evidence: Any items used in the hazing (like the fanny pack with sexual objects Leonel was forced to carry), alcohol containers, or degrading items.

3. Witness Information:

   • Collect names and contact information (phone numbers, social media handles) of any other pledges, active members who witnessed the hazing, or even bystanders. They may be scared, but their testimony can be invaluable.

4. Documents:

   • Any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, or codes of conduct given to your child.
   • University Greek life policies or codes of conduct.
   • Medical bills and records.
   • Academic records if grades or attendance were impacted.
   • Financial records related to payments made to the organization.

What NOT to Do: Avoid Common Mistakes That Ruin Cases

We often tell clients, echoing Ralph Manginello’s advice in our “Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case” video (Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY), that certain actions can severely damage their legal standing:

1. Do NOT Talk to the Organization or University Alone:
   • Fraternities, sororities, national organizations, and universities have risk management teams and lawyers whose primary goal is to protect the institution, not your child.
   • Do NOT give statements, sign documents, or accept any “solutions” without legal counsel. Anything your child says can and will be used against them. Even if you contact the Greek Life office or university administration, keep communication minimal and factual, avoiding speculation or excessive detail.
2. Do NOT Post on Social Media:
   • This is a critical mistake. Anything posted online, even privately, can be discovered and used by defense attorneys to undermine your child’s credibility or claim of injury. Postings of your child at parties, appearing “fine,” or discussing non-hazing activities can severely damage their case.
   • Ralph highlights this in our video, “Don’t Post on Social Media After an Accident.”
3. Do NOT Attempt to Confront Perpetrators:
   • While anger is natural, direct confrontation can escalate the situation, destroy evidence, and potentially put your child at further risk.
4. Do NOT Destroy Evidence: (Already mentioned, but worth repeating due to its critical importance).

Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney Immediately: Time is Running Out

The single most important step you can take after ensuring your child’s immediate safety and preserving evidence is to contact an experienced hazing attorney.

• Statute of Limitations: In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is generally two years from the date of injury, and for wrongful death cases, two years from the date of death. Other states, including Georgia, have similar or stricter deadlines. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to sue forever. As our video “Is There a Statute of Limitations on My Case?” makes clear (Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c), delaying can be fatal to your case.
• Evidence Disappears Fast: Texts are deleted, camera footage is overwritten, and memories fade. The sooner our team gets involved, the more evidence we can secure.
• Complex Cases: Hazing litigation involves multiple defendants, intricate legal theories, and aggressive defense tactics. You need dedicated experts to navigate this.

Laurens County Families: Distance Is Not an Obstacle to Justice

Even though our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we proudly serve hazing victims in Laurens County and across the nation.

• Remote Consultations: We offer free, confidential video consultations so Laurens County families can speak with us from the comfort of their homes.
• Travel for Your Case: For depositions, critical meetings, or trials, our attorneys will travel to Laurens County or wherever justice demands.
• Federal Court Authority: Our admission to federal courts allows us to pursue national organizations regardless of geography.

If your Laurens County child has been hazed, call us. We know what to do. We are ready to fight.

Laurens County Families: You Have Legal Rights. We Are Fighting This Fight Right Now – And We’ll Fight for You Too.

The pain, anger, and helplessness that Laurens County families feel when their child is a victim of hazing are profound. But you are not helpless, and you are not alone. Our attorneys at Attorney911 are currently representing a hazing victim against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston in a $10 MILLION lawsuit. This isn’t just a case; for us, it’s a crusade. We know how to build these cases from the ground up, how to hold powerful institutions accountable, and how to win. Laurens County families deserve nothing less than this same aggressive and expert representation.

Laurens County Families – Call Now for a FREE, Confidential Consultation

Your legal emergency is our call to action. We are available 24/7 because your child’s safety and well-being cannot wait.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com

You have absolutely nothing to lose by calling. We offer free consultations to all hazing victims and their families. We work on a CONTINGENCY FEE BASIS, meaning you pay us absolutely $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless and until you get paid. This ensures that expert legal representation is accessible to every Laurens County family, regardless of their financial situation.

What Laurens County Hazing Victims Should Do Right Now:

1. Get Medical Attention: If your child has been physically injured or is experiencing psychological distress, seek medical and mental health care immediately. Document everything.
2. Preserve All Evidence: Take screenshots of all relevant text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs, emails, and social media posts. Photograph injuries at all stages of healing. Collect names and contact information of witnesses. DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING.
3. Do NOT Speak to the Institution or Perpetrators: Do not interact with fraternity/sorority leadership, university officials, or their attorneys without legal counsel. They are not on your side.
4. Do NOT Post on Social Media: Anything posted online can be used against your child. Maintain a complete social media blackout regarding the incident.
5. Call Us Immediately: The statute of limitations (typically two years in states like Georgia) is a strict deadline. Evidence disappears, and memories fade. The sooner we intervene, the stronger your case will be.

We Serve Hazing Victims in Laurens County – And Hazing Victims Nationwide

While our physical offices are located in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, hazing is a national scourge. We represent victims of hazing at colleges and universities across America, including those near Laurens County, Georgia. Your geographic location does not limit our ability to fight for you.

• Federal Court Authority: Our admission to U.S. District Courts allows us to pursue cases against national organizations in federal jurisdiction, which spans across state lines.
• Dual-State Bar Licenses: Ralph Manginello is licensed in both Texas and New York, providing a strategic advantage when litigating against national fraternities headquartered anywhere in the country.
• Video Consultations: Laurens County families can meet with our attorneys remotely and confidentially, discussing their case without the need for immediate travel.
• Travel Commitment: For crucial depositions, client meetings, or trials, our team is prepared to travel to Laurens County or any location where justice is needed.

Hazing is not confined to Greek life alone. We represent victims of abuse in:

• Fraternities and sororities that Laurens County students join
• Sports teams at colleges and high schools
• Marching bands and other student organizations
• ROTC programs and military academies
• Any group that uses abuse, humiliation, or forced consumption as “initiation”

To Other Victims of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing: We Know You Are Out There.

Leonel Bermudez was not the only one subjected to this cruel hazing. Our lawsuit details how another pledge collapsed unconscious on October 15, and others endured the same waterboarding, forced eating, and physical abuse.

You have rights too. We can represent you.

As Lupe Pena said, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.“

Have the courage to step forward. Your bravery can help prevent others from suffering. Call us. Let’s bring them all to justice.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com