# **Hazing Lawyer in Marion County, TX – Holding Fraternities & Universities Accountable**
**If your child was hazed in Marion County, Texas, you are not alone. And you have legal rights.**
At **Attorney 911**, we are **actively fighting** a **$10 million hazing lawsuit** against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston after a student was **waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure**. This isn’t just happening in Houston—**it’s happening in Marion County too**.
Fraternities and universities in **Marion County, Texas** have the same dangerous cultures. The same national organizations operate near Marion County. The same negligence exists. **We will fight for Marion County families with the same aggression we’re bringing to this case.**
## **🚨 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Marion County**
### **The Case That Proves Hazing Is Out of Control**
In **November 2025**, our client **Leonel Bermudez**—a “ghost rush” who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet—was subjected to **weeks of torture** by Pi Kappa Phi fraternity members:
✅ **Waterboarded with a garden hose** (simulated drowning)
✅ **Forced to do 500+ squats, 100+ pushups, bear crawls, and 100-yard crawls** until he collapsed
✅ **Struck with wooden paddles**
✅ **Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting**—then made to keep running
✅ **Forced to strip to underwear in cold weather** and lie in vomit-soaked grass
✅ **Another pledge lost consciousness** during hazing—yet they kept going
On **November 3, 2025**, Bermudez was punished for missing an event. He was forced to do **extreme physical exercises until he couldn’t stand**. He **crawled up the stairs when he got home**, and by **November 6, his mother rushed him to the hospital** with **severe rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and kidney failure**. He spent **4 days in the hospital** fighting for his life.
**This happened in Houston. It’s happening in Marion County too.**
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## **🏛️ Who Is Liable for Hazing in Marion County?**
If your child was hazed in Marion County, **multiple parties can be held accountable**:
### **1. The Local Fraternity Chapter**
– **Directly organized and conducted the hazing**
– **Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster, etc.)** can be **personally liable**
– **Individual members** who participated can be sued
### **2. The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization**
– **Failed to supervise their Marion County chapter**
– **Knew about hazing risks but did nothing** (Pi Kappa Phi had a **prior hazing death in 2017**)
– **Have deep pockets**—millions in assets and insurance
### **3. The University or College Near Marion County**
– **Failed to monitor Greek life** despite prior hazing incidents
– **Own or control fraternity/sorority houses** where hazing occurs
– **Have institutional insurance** to cover damages
### **4. Individual Members & Alumni**
– **Active participants** in hazing can be sued personally
– **Alumni who hosted hazing** at their homes can be liable
– **Spouses of members** who allowed hazing on their property can be sued
**In our Houston case, we’re suing:**
✔ **Pi Kappa Phi National**
✔ **The local UH chapter**
✔ **The housing corporation**
✔ **The University of Houston**
✔ **The UH Board of Regents**
✔ **Individual fraternity members (including a former member and his spouse)**
**We will do the same for Marion County victims.**
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## **💰 How Much Is a Hazing Case Worth in Marion County?**
Hazing cases **routinely settle for millions of dollars**. In fact, **our $10 million demand is in line with recent precedent**:
| **Case** | **Fraternity** | **University** | **Outcome** |
|———-|—————|—————-|————-|
| **Stone Foltz (2021)** | Pi Kappa Alpha | Bowling Green State | **$10.1 million settlement** |
| **Maxwell Gruver (2017)** | Phi Delta Theta | LSU | **$6.1 million jury verdict** |
| **Timothy Piazza (2017)** | Beta Theta Pi | Penn State | **$110+ million settlement** |
| **Andrew Coffey (2017)** | Pi Kappa Phi | Florida State | **Confidential settlement** |
| **Leonel Bermudez (2025)** | Pi Kappa Phi | University of Houston | **$10 million lawsuit pending** |
**Marion County families can recover compensation for:**
✅ **Medical bills** (hospitalization, therapy, future treatment)
✅ **Pain and suffering** (physical and emotional trauma)
✅ **Lost wages** (if hazing disrupted education/career)
✅ **Punitive damages** (to punish the organization for gross negligence)
**We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win.**
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## **⚖️ Texas Hazing Laws – What Marion County Families Need to Know**
### **1. Hazing Is a Crime in Texas**
Under **Texas Education Code § 37.152**, hazing that causes **serious bodily injury** (like rhabdomyolysis or kidney failure) is a **Class A misdemeanor**, punishable by:
– **Up to 1 year in jail**
– **Up to $4,000 in fines**
If hazing causes **death**, it’s a **State Jail Felony**, punishable by:
– **180 days to 2 years in jail**
– **Up to $10,000 in fines**
### **2. “Consent” Is NOT a Defense**
Fraternities often argue: *”He agreed to participate.”* **Texas law says consent does NOT matter.**
**Texas Education Code § 37.154:**
> *”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.”*
### **3. Universities & Fraternities Can Be Sued**
– **Universities** can be held liable for **negligent supervision** if they knew about hazing and did nothing.
– **National fraternities** can be sued for **failing to enforce anti-hazing policies**.
– **Individual members** can be **personally liable** for assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
### **4. You Have 2 Years to File a Lawsuit**
Texas has a **2-year statute of limitations** for personal injury claims. **If you wait too long, you lose your right to sue.**
—
## **🚨 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Marion County**
### **Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately**
– **Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)** can be life-threatening.
– **Alcohol poisoning** from forced drinking can be fatal.
– **Psychological trauma** (PTSD, anxiety, depression) requires professional help.
### **Step 2: Preserve All Evidence**
✅ **Take photos/videos** of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence.
✅ **Save all communications** (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, emails, social media posts).
✅ **Get witness names and contact info**—other pledges may have been hazed too.
✅ **Keep medical records** (hospital bills, doctor’s notes, therapy records).
### **Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone**
– **They will try to control the narrative.**
– **They will pressure you to stay quiet.**
– **They will destroy evidence if you give them time.**
### **Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately**
**We offer free consultations for Marion County hazing victims.**
📞 **1-888-ATTY-911**
📧 **ralph@atty911.com**
**We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.**
—
## **🔥 Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Marion County Hazing Case?**
### **1. We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW**
– We’re **actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit** against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
– We know **exactly how to build these cases**—evidence, witnesses, expert testimony.
– **Marion County families get the same aggressive representation we provide in Houston.**
### **2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook**
– **Ralph Manginello** and **Lupe Peña** are **former insurance defense lawyers**.
– We know **how fraternities and universities try to minimize claims**.
– We **use that knowledge to maximize your recovery**.
### **3. Federal Court Authority – We Can Sue Anywhere in the U.S.**
– We’re admitted to **U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas**.
– We can **pursue Marion County hazing cases in federal court** if needed.
– We can **sue national fraternities headquartered outside Texas**.
### **4. Dual-State Bar Admission – Texas & New York**
– We’re licensed in **Texas AND New York**.
– Many national fraternities are headquartered in New York—**we can pursue them directly**.
### **5. We Travel to Marion County for Your Case**
– We **come to Marion County** for depositions, meetings, and trials.
– We offer **video consultations** for Marion County families who can’t travel.
### **6. Bilingual Representation – Se Habla Español**
– Many hazing victims in Marion County are **Spanish-speaking students**.
– We provide **full legal services in Spanish**—no language barriers.
### **7. Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Results**
– We’ve **won millions** for personal injury victims.
– We’ve **handled complex cases** against large institutions (BP Texas City explosion, wrongful death claims).
– We know **how to make fraternities and universities pay**.
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## **📍 Marion County, TX – Universities & Fraternities We’re Watching**
Marion County is home to **dedicated students and hardworking families**, but **hazing happens at universities near Marion County too**. Some of the **major institutions and Greek organizations** we’re monitoring include:
### **🏫 Universities Near Marion County with Greek Life**
While Marion County itself may not have a major university, students from Marion County attend schools across Texas where hazing is a serious risk. Some of the **universities with active Greek life** include:
– **Stephen F. Austin State University** (Nacogdoches, ~1.5 hours from Marion County)
– **Fraternities present:** Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, and others
– **Sororities present:** Kappa Delta, Delta Delta Delta, Chi Omega, and others
– **Sam Houston State University** (Huntsville, ~2 hours from Marion County)
– **Fraternities present:** Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, and others
– **Sororities present:** Alpha Delta Pi, Zeta Tau Alpha, and others
– **Texas A&M University** (College Station, ~3 hours from Marion County)
– **One of the largest Greek systems in the U.S.**
– **Fraternities present:** Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, and others
– **Sororities present:** Kappa Delta, Delta Delta Delta, Chi Omega, and others
– **University of Houston** (Houston, ~3.5 hours from Marion County)
– **Fraternities present:** Pi Kappa Phi (currently under investigation), Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, and others
– **Sororities present:** Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, and others
– **Baylor University** (Waco, ~4 hours from Marion County)
– **Fraternities present:** Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), Kappa Sigma, and others
– **Sororities present:** Kappa Kappa Gamma, Chi Omega, and others
### **🏛️ National Fraternities Operating Near Marion County**
The same national fraternities involved in **deadly hazing cases across the U.S.** have **chapters near Marion County**:
| **Fraternity** | **Hazing Deaths & Lawsuits** | **Chapters Near Marion County** |
|—————|—————————–|———————————-|
| **Pi Kappa Phi** | **2017 (Andrew Coffey, FSU) – Death from forced drinking**
**2025 (Leonel Bermudez, UH) – Rhabdomyolysis & kidney failure (our case)** | **Stephen F. Austin State University** |
| **Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)** | **2011 (Harrison Kowiak, Lenoir-Rhyne) – Death from hazing**
**2013 (Tucker Hipps, Clemson) – Death from hazing** | **Texas A&M University, Sam Houston State University** |
| **Kappa Sigma** | **2014 (Carson Starkey, Cal Poly) – Death from alcohol poisoning** | **Stephen F. Austin State University, Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University** |
| **Sigma Chi** | **2023 (UT Austin) – Traumatic brain injury lawsuit** | **Texas A&M University, Sam Houston State University** |
| **Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)** | **2021 (Stone Foltz, BGSU) – Death from forced drinking ($10.1M settlement)** | **Sam Houston State University, University of Houston** |
**These are the same Greek letters on Marion County students’ campuses. The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client in Houston exist in fraternities near Marion County.**
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## **🚨 Warning to Fraternities Near Marion County**
**To the fraternities operating near Marion County:**
We are watching. We are tracking your chapters. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your history of hazing deaths and lawsuits.
**Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, Pi Kappa Alpha—if your chapter is hazing students near Marion County, know this:**
– **The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.**
– **We will sue your national organization, your housing corporation, your alumni, and every individual member responsible.**
– **We will expose your culture of abuse in court.**
– **We will make you pay.**
**The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? SHUT DOWN after our lawsuit. Your chapter could be next.**
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## **📞 Marion County Hazing Victims – Call Now for a Free Consultation**
**If your child was hazed in or near Marion County, Texas, we can help.**
📞 **1-888-ATTY-911**
📧 **ralph@atty911.com**
**We offer:**
✅ **Free, confidential consultations**
✅ **Video meetings for Marion County families** (no need to travel)
✅ **Contingency fee representation** ($0 upfront—we only get paid if we win)
✅ **Aggressive legal representation** against fraternities, universities, and individuals
**You are not alone. We are fighting this battle right now. Let’s fight for your family too.**
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## **🔥 Enough Is Enough – Marion County Deserves Justice**
Hazing isn’t “tradition.” It isn’t “brotherhood.” It’s **abuse**. It’s **torture**. It’s **illegal**.
**Marion County families deserve better.** Our kids deserve to go to college without fear of being waterboarded, beaten, or forced to drink until they collapse.
**If your child was hazed, call us now. We will hold the responsible parties accountable—no matter where they are.**
**📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com**
**Serving Marion County, Texas – and hazing victims nationwide.**
