Hazing Lawyers for Macoupin County Families – Holding Fraternities & Universities Accountable

Attorney 911 – Nationwide Hazing Litigation Experts Serving Macoupin County, Illinois

🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Macoupin County & Beyond

If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or student organization near Macoupin County, Illinois—whether at Blackburn College, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), or any other institution—you are not alone. Hazing is not “tradition.” It is abuse, assault, and sometimes manslaughter. And it happens right here in Macoupin County and across Illinois.

📍 Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines – It Happens Here Too

National fraternities like Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike), Beta Theta Pi, and others operate chapters at universities near Macoupin County. The same dangerous “traditions” that hospitalized our client in Houston—waterboarding, forced exercise to the point of kidney failure, and physical abuse—happen at Illinois colleges too.

Macoupin County families deserve justice. If your child was hazed, we will fight for you—no matter where it happened.

💔 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Macoupin County

📰 The Case That Proves Hazing is Systemic: $10 Million Lawsuit Against Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston

In November 2025, our attorneys Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a student who was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being subjected to weeks of brutal hazing.

🔥 What They Did to Him:

✅ Waterboarded with a garden hose – Simulated drowning, a form of torture
✅ Forced to do 500+ squats, 100+ pushups, and other extreme exercises – Until he collapsed and couldn’t stand
✅ Struck with wooden paddles – Physical assault with weapons
✅ Forced to eat until vomiting – Then made to lie in vomit-soaked grass
✅ Sleep deprivation & psychological torture – Forced to drive fraternity members at all hours
✅ Another pledge lost consciousness – But they kept hazing anyway

🏥 The Medical Consequences:

• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown that damages kidneys)
• Acute kidney failure (required 4 days in the hospital)
• Severe physical and psychological trauma

💰 Why This Case Matters for Macoupin County Families:

• Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide – including near Macoupin County
• The same fraternity that killed Andrew Coffey in 2017 did this to Leonel Bermudez in 2025
• Universities near Macoupin County have the same liability – If they own fraternity houses or fail to stop hazing, they can be sued
• $10 million is not just compensation – it’s a message to every fraternity in America

This is not an isolated incident. This is a pattern. And it’s happening near Macoupin County too.

⚖️ Illinois Hazing Laws – What Macoupin County Families Need to Know

Illinois has strong anti-hazing laws, and victims have legal rights to hold fraternities, sororities, and universities accountable.

📜 Illinois Anti-Hazing Statute (720 ILCS 5/12C-50)

Hazing is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois, punishable by:

• Up to 1 year in jail
• Fines up to $2,500

If hazing results in great bodily harm or death, it becomes a Class 4 felony, punishable by:

• 1-3 years in prison
• Fines up to $25,000

🏛️ Civil Liability – Who Can Be Sued?

Macoupin County families can sue:
✔ The local fraternity/sorority chapter – Directly responsible for hazing
✔ The national organization – Failed to supervise and enforce anti-hazing policies
✔ The university – If they knew or should have known about hazing (premises liability, negligent supervision)
✔ Individual members – Those who participated in or organized hazing
✔ Alumni or property owners – If hazing occurred at their homes

💰 What Compensation Can Macoupin County Families Recover?

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
• Lost wages & future earning capacity (if hazing affected academics or career)
• Punitive damages (to punish egregious conduct)
• Wrongful death damages (if hazing resulted in death)

Precedent shows Macoupin County families can win millions.

• $10.1 million (Stone Foltz, Ohio)
• $6.1 million (Max Gruver, Louisiana)
• $110+ million (Tim Piazza, Penn State)

🏫 Universities & Fraternities Near Macoupin County – The Same Risks Exist Here

Macoupin County is home to Blackburn College, and nearby institutions like Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), University of Illinois Springfield (UIS), and others have active Greek life.

📍 Fraternities & Sororities Near Macoupin County with Hazing Histories:

These are the same organizations operating near Macoupin County. They have the same hazing culture. And they will pay if they harm your child.

🛡️ What Macoupin County Families Should Do If Their Child Was Hazed

🚨 Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately

• Rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, and other hazing injuries can be life-threatening
• Even if your child “feels fine,” get checked – Some injuries (like kidney damage) take time to appear

📸 Step 2: Preserve ALL Evidence

• Photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, or activities
• Text messages, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs – Screenshot everything
• Medical records – Hospital bills, doctor’s notes, therapy records
• Witness names & contact info – Other pledges or students who saw what happened

🚫 Step 3: DO NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Without a Lawyer

• They will try to silence you – Fraternities and universities often pressure victims to “keep quiet”
• They will twist your words – Insurance companies and lawyers will use anything you say against you
• They will destroy evidence – Security footage, messages, and documents mysteriously disappear

📞 Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately – 1-888-ATTY-911

• Free consultation – We’ll evaluate your case at no cost
• No upfront fees – We work on contingency (you pay nothing unless we win)
• We travel to Macoupin County – For depositions, meetings, and court appearances
• Video consultations available – If you can’t meet in person

🏆 Why Macoupin County Families Choose Attorney 911

✅ Nationwide Hazing Litigation Experience

• Currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston
• Proven track record in fraternity/sorority abuse cases
• Experience with rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, and wrongful death claims

✅ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook

• Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena both worked for insurance companies before switching sides
• We know how they try to deny claims – and we know how to beat them
• We’ve won millions for victims by exposing insurance company tactics

✅ Dual-State Licensed (Texas & New York) – We Can Sue Anywhere

• Federal court authority – Can pursue cases nationwide
• Experience suing national fraternities – Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Pike, and others
• Willing to travel to Macoupin County – For depositions, trials, and client meetings

✅ Se Habla Español – Bilingual Representation for Macoupin County Families

• Fluent Spanish-speaking staff – No language barriers
• Cultural understanding – We serve all Macoupin County families with respect

✅ No Upfront Costs – You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

• Contingency fee basis – We only get paid if you get paid
• No risk to you – If we don’t win, you owe us nothing

📞 Macoupin County Families: Call Now for a Free Consultation

If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or student organization near Macoupin County, you have legal rights. We will fight for you.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

Available 24/7 for Macoupin County hazing emergencies.

🔥 To Fraternities Near Macoupin County: We Are Watching

Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Pike, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta – if your chapter is operating near Macoupin County, know this:

✔ We track your house corporations, alumni chapters, and insurance policies
✔ We know your hazing history – Andrew Coffey, Stone Foltz, Timothy Piazza, and now Leonel Bermudez
✔ We will sue you, your national organization, and your university if you harm students
✔ We already shut down the UH Pi Kappa Phi chapter – yours could be next

If you haze students in Macoupin County, we will find you. And we will make you pay.

🏛️ To Universities Near Macoupin County: You Are Liable

Blackburn College, SIUE, UIS – if you own fraternity houses or allow Greek life on campus, you have a duty to protect students.

✔ You knew hazing was happening – UH had a prior hazing case in 2017 and still failed to stop it
✔ You own the property – If hazing happens in your fraternity houses, you are responsible
✔ You collect the rent – While students are being tortured in your buildings
✔ You will pay – Just like UH is facing a $10 million lawsuit

If you fail to protect Macoupin County students, we will hold you accountable.

📢 Enough Is Enough – Macoupin County Deserves Justice

Hazing is not tradition. It is not bonding. It is not harmless fun.

It is assault. It is torture. It is sometimes murder.

Macoupin County families deserve better. Your child deserves better.

If your child was hazed, call us now. We will fight for you.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

Justice for Macoupin County hazing victims starts here.