Hazing Victims in Lee County, Georgia: Your Legal Rights and How to Seek Justice
Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines — And Neither Does Justice
If your child has been the victim of fraternity, sorority, or other organizational hazing in Lee County, Georgia, you may feel isolated, confused, and unsure where to turn. But you are not alone. Hazing is a national crisis, and Attorney 911 is fighting it right now — with a landmark $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. The same legal strategies we’re using in Texas apply to victims in Lee County, Georgia, and across the country.
We serve hazing victims nationwide, including in Lee County, Georgia, through our federal court authority, dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York), and commitment to traveling wherever justice demands.
What Is Hazing? The Reality in Lee County, Georgia
Hazing is not “tradition.” It is not “team bonding.” It is not “building character.”
It is abuse. It is assault. It is sometimes torture. And in Georgia, it is illegal.
Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61), hazing is defined as:
“Any intentional or reckless act that endangers the physical health of a student, for the purpose of initiation or admission into, or affiliation with, any organization.”
This includes:
- Physical brutality (beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion)
- Forced consumption (alcohol, food, non-food substances)
- Psychological torture (humiliation, sleep deprivation, threats)
- Sexual abuse (forced nudity, sexual acts, sexualized objects)
- Dangerous activities (extreme weather exposure, confined spaces)
In Lee County, Georgia, universities and colleges such as Albany State University, Albany Technical College, and nearby institutions have active Greek organizations. The same national fraternities and sororities that have killed and injured students nationwide — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta, and others — operate chapters near Lee County.
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority in Southwest Georgia, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.
The Hazing Crisis: It’s Happening Near Lee County, Georgia
This Isn’t Just a Texas Problem — It’s a National Epidemic
Right now, Attorney 911 is litigating a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for hazing that hospitalized our client, Leonel Bermudez, with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
What happened to him in Houston could happen to your child in Lee County.
The Hazing That Sent Our Client to the Hospital
Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston in September 2025. Over the next seven weeks, he was subjected to:
- Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning — a form of torture)
- Forced to perform 500+ squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
- Struck with wooden paddles
- Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then forced to keep running
- Another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
- A pledge lost consciousness during a forced workout on October 15, 2025
On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was punished for missing an event. He was forced to perform extreme exercises until he could not stand without help. He crawled up the stairs when he got home. The next day, he couldn’t move. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He spent three nights and four days in the hospital.
This is not “hazing.” This is torture.
Why This Case Matters to Lee County, Georgia Families
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Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America — including near Lee County.
- The same national organization that waterboarded Bermudez operates chapters at universities near Lee County, Georgia.
- If they did this in Houston, how many other chapters are engaging in the same abuse?
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Universities near Lee County face the same liability failures as UH.
- Colleges and universities have a legal duty to protect students.
- When they own or control fraternity houses (as UH did), they share responsibility for what happens there.
- If your child is hazed at a university near Lee County, Georgia, the institution may be liable.
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The same fraternities with deadly hazing records operate near Lee County.
- Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Stone Foltz died in 2021 (Bowling Green State); $10.1 million settlement
- Phi Delta Theta: Maxwell Gruver died in 2017 (LSU); $6.1 million jury verdict
- Beta Theta Pi: Timothy Piazza died in 2017 (Penn State); $110+ million settlement
- Pi Kappa Phi: Andrew Coffey died in 2017 (FSU); now Bermudez hospitalized in 2025
These are not isolated incidents. These are patterns.
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Georgia has strong anti-hazing laws — but victims need aggressive legal representation.
- Under Georgia’s Anti-Hazing Law (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61), hazing is a misdemeanor or felony, depending on severity.
- Consent is not a defense — even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law still holds perpetrators accountable.
- Organizations can be held liable — fraternities, sororities, and universities can be sued for negligence.
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Lee County, Georgia families deserve the same aggressive representation we provide in Houston.
- We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing case in Texas.
- We have 25+ years of litigation experience, including former insurance defense attorneys who know how to dismantle the other side’s defenses.
- We are admitted to federal court, meaning we can pursue your case in federal jurisdiction if needed.
- We travel to Lee County, Georgia for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
Who Is Liable for Hazing in Lee County, Georgia?
When hazing occurs, multiple parties can be held legally and financially responsible. In our Pi Kappa Phi case, we are suing:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise chapter; knew about “hazing crisis” |
| University | Owned/controlled property; failed to protect students |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility; directed hazing |
| Individual Members | Participated in or failed to stop hazing |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their residence |
| Insurance Companies | Liability policies covering fraternities/university |
In Lee County, Georgia, the same defendants may be liable if your child is hazed.
What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Lee County, Georgia
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), alcohol poisoning, and other hazing injuries can be life-threatening.
- Even if your child seems “fine,” symptoms may appear days later.
- Document everything — hospital records, doctor’s notes, test results.
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
Hazing cases are won or lost based on evidence. Do not delete anything.
| Evidence Type | What to Save |
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