🛡️🚨 Hazing Victims in Madison County, Alabama: Your Legal Rights and Path to Justice
Attorney 911 – Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Madison County Hazing Victims Nationwide from Houston, Austin & Beaumont
Madison County Families: You Are Not Alone
Hazing isn’t just “tradition” or “boys being boys.” It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s sometimes torture. And in Madison County, Alabama, it’s happening right now to students at local universities, fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and student organizations.
We know this because we’re fighting this battle right now in Texas.
On November 21, 2025, our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for the hazing of Leonel Bermudez. He was waterboarded. Forced to do 500 squats. Struck with wooden paddles. Forced to eat until he vomited. And hospitalized for four days with kidney failure from rhabdomyolysis.
This isn’t just happening in Houston. It’s happening in Madison County.
The same fraternities operate near Madison County. The same “traditions” exist. The same negligence occurs at local institutions. And we will fight for Madison County families with the same aggression we’re bringing to this case.
📍 Hazing in Madison County: What You Need to Know
Universities Near Madison County with Greek Life & Hazing Risks
Madison County is home to vibrant college communities where Greek life thrives. The same national fraternities and sororities involved in hazing deaths and injuries nationwide have active chapters at universities near Madison County:
| University | Location | Greek Life Presence | Hazing Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) | Huntsville, AL (within Madison County) | Active fraternities & sororities | High |
| Alabama A&M University | Huntsville, AL (within Madison County) | Active Greek organizations | High |
| University of North Alabama (UNA) | Florence, AL (~1.5 hours from Madison County) | Strong Greek system | High |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL (~4 hours from Madison County) | Massive Greek life presence | Very High |
| University of Alabama (UA) | Tuscaloosa, AL (~3.5 hours from Madison County) | Largest Greek system in the U.S. | Very High |
These institutions face the same liability risks as University of Houston:
- They own or control fraternity/sorority housing
- They have the power to regulate Greek life
- They know hazing happens but often fail to stop it
- When they don’t act, they become legally responsible
🚨 What Counts as Hazing in Alabama?
Alabama law defines hazing as any activity that:
- Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student
- Is required for membership in an organization
- Includes physical brutality, forced consumption, sleep deprivation, or humiliation
Examples of Hazing That Could Happen in Madison County:
✅ Physical Abuse: Beatings, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion
✅ Forced Consumption: Alcohol (binge drinking), food (eating until vomiting), non-food substances
✅ Sleep Deprivation: Forced late nights, early mornings, “hell week” sleep deprivation
✅ Psychological Torture: Humiliation, degradation, verbal abuse, threats
✅ Sexual Abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
✅ Waterboarding/Drowning: Simulated drowning (like in our UH case)
✅ Exposure: Cold weather exposure, heat exposure, confined spaces
✅ Servitude: Forced cleaning, driving, errands for members
Alabama Law: Hazing is a Class C misdemeanor in Alabama, punishable by up to 3 months in jail and a $500 fine. If the hazing causes serious injury or death, it can be elevated to a felony.
💔 The Medical Consequences of Hazing
Hazing doesn’t just leave emotional scars. It can cause permanent physical damage—sometimes fatal.
Common Hazing Injuries in Madison County:
| Injury | Cause | Consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Rhabdomyolysis | Extreme physical exertion (500 squats, bear crawls, etc.) | Kidney failure, hospitalization, permanent damage |
| Acute Alcohol Poisoning | Forced binge drinking | Coma, death, brain damage |
| Traumatic Brain Injury | Beatings, falls, paddling | Permanent cognitive impairment |
| Hypothermia/Hyperthermia | Exposure to cold/heat | Organ failure, death |
| Internal Bleeding | Blunt force trauma | Life-threatening emergency |
| PTSD/Anxiety/Depression | Psychological abuse | Long-term therapy, medication |
| Death | Any of the above | Wrongful death lawsuits, criminal charges |
Our client Leonel Bermudez suffered:
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)
- Acute kidney failure (life-threatening)
- 4 days in the hospital
- Ongoing medical monitoring
- Severe emotional trauma
This could happen to your child in Madison County if hazing isn’t stopped.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Madison County Hazing Victim
If you or your child has been hazed in Madison County, you have legal rights—and we can help you enforce them.
1. You Can Sue for Damages
Hazing victims in Madison County can pursue compensation for:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost wages (if unable to work)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
- Punitive damages (to punish the wrongdoers)
- Wrongful death (if hazing caused a fatality)
Precedent: Hazing lawsuits have resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements nationwide, including:
- $10.1 million (Stone Foltz, Pi Kappa Alpha)
- $6.1 million (Max Gruver, Phi Delta Theta)
- $110+ million (Timothy Piazza, Beta Theta Pi)
Madison County families deserve the same justice.
2. Consent Is NOT a Defense
Some fraternities will argue: “They agreed to participate. They knew the risks.”
Alabama law says: CONSENT DOES NOT MATTER.
Even if your child “agreed” to hazing, they cannot consent to illegal activity. Hazing is against the law, and fraternities cannot use consent as an excuse.
3. Who Can Be Held Liable?
In hazing cases, multiple parties can be sued, including:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized hazing |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing risks |
| University | Owns fraternity housing; failed to stop hazing |
| Individual Members | Participated in or allowed hazing |
| Alumni | Hosted hazing at their homes |
| Housing Corporations | Owned property where hazing occurred |
In our UH case, we’re suing:
- Pi Kappa Phi National
- The local chapter
- The university
- Individual members
- A former member and his spouse
We will pursue the same strategy for Madison County families.
4. You Have a Limited Time to Act
Alabama Statute of Limitations:
- Personal Injury: 2 years from the date of injury
- Wrongful Death: 2 years from the date of death
Do not wait. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Your rights expire.
Call us immediately if your child has been hazed in Madison County.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Madison County
If you suspect your child has been hazed, follow these steps immediately:
Step 1: Get Medical Attention
- If your child is injured, take them to the emergency room immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get them checked—some conditions (like rhabdomyolysis) don’t show symptoms right away
- Document everything—medical records are critical evidence
Step 2: Preserve Evidence
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs)
- Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, any physical evidence
- Write down everything your child remembers (dates, times, what happened)
- Get witness names (other pledges, bystanders)
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity/University Alone
- Do not confront the fraternity or sorority leadership
- Do not give statements to university administrators without legal counsel
- Do not sign anything from the organization
- Do not post about the incident on social media
Why? Anything you say can be used against you. Organizations will try to control the narrative and minimize liability.
Step 4: Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney Immediately
Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911
We offer:
✅ Free, confidential consultations for Madison County families
✅ Contingency fee representation ($0 upfront—we only get paid if you win)
✅ Nationwide reach—we travel to Madison County for depositions and trials
✅ Video consultations for Madison County families who can’t travel
✅ Former insurance defense attorneys—we know how they’ll fight back
🔥 Why Madison County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now
- We filed a $10 million hazing lawsuit in November 2025
- We’re going up against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston
- We know how to build these cases and win
2. We Have Proven Results
- 25+ years of litigation experience (Ralph Manginello)
- Former insurance defense attorneys—we know their playbook
- Multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts in personal injury cases
- Federal court admission—we can pursue cases nationwide
3. We Understand Hazing Culture
- We’ve handled Kappa Sigma, Texas A&M, and rhabdomyolysis cases
- We know how fraternities operate
- We know how universities fail to act
- We know how to expose the truth
4. We Serve Madison County Families
- Headquartered in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont—but we serve hazing victims nationwide
- We travel to Madison County for depositions, trials, and client meetings
- Video consultations available for Madison County families
- Se habla español—bilingual staff for Spanish-speaking families
5. We Work on Contingency—$0 Upfront
We understand that Madison County families may be concerned about legal costs. We take hazing cases on contingency:
- You pay $0 upfront
- We only get paid if we win your case
- No hidden fees
📞 Madison County Hazing Victims: Call Us Now
If your child has been hazed in Madison County, Alabama, call Attorney 911 immediately.
24/7 Legal Emergency Hotline for Madison County Families:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
Email:
Video Consultation:
💻 Schedule a free consultation here
We will fight for you. We will hold them accountable. And we will make sure this never happens to another Madison County family.
🚨 Fraternities and Universities Near Madison County: We Are Watching
To the fraternities operating near Madison County:
- Pi Kappa Phi
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- Pi Kappa Alpha
- Phi Delta Theta
- Beta Theta Pi
- Sigma Chi
- Kappa Sigma
- And all others
We are watching.
The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapters. If you haze students in Madison County, we will find every liable entity. We will sue your national organization. We will sue your local chapter. We will sue your housing corporation. And we will sue your individual members.
The Beta Nu chapter at UH learned this the hard way. Your chapter could be next.
🏛️ Universities Near Madison County: The Same Liability Applies to You
To the universities near Madison County:
- University of Alabama in Huntsville
- Alabama A&M University
- University of North Alabama
- Auburn University
- University of Alabama
The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campuses.
You own the fraternity houses. You have the power to regulate Greek life. You know hazing happens. When you fail to act, you become legally responsible.
Act now or face the same accountability.
📢 To All Madison County Families: This Ends Now
Hazing has destroyed too many lives in Madison County and across America. It’s time to stop it.
If you or your child has been hazed:
- You are not to blame
- You have legal rights
- You deserve justice
- You are not alone
Call Attorney 911 today. Let’s end this together.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | 📧 ralph@atty911.com | 🌐 attorney911.com
Madison County families: We’re here to fight for you.
