If you’re reading this, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child was supposed to make friends at college, to embrace new experiences, and to grow. Instead, they were tortured. They were abused. They were hazed. We’re here to help families in McDuffie County, Georgia fight back against the insidious culture of hazing that continues to plague our universities and Greek organizations nationwide.

We understand what you’re going through. The fear, the anger, the confusion, the feeling of helplessness – it’s overwhelming. You might be searching for answers, looking for someone who understands, someone who can turn this nightmare into a fight for justice and accountability. That’s precisely what we do at Attorney911. We are a team of legal emergency lawyers committed to aggressively representing hazing victims and their families, and we’re ready to bring that fight to McDuffie County, Georgia.

Our firm is founded on the principle that no student should ever endure the physical and psychological torment of hazing, and no institution should profit from or enable such abuse. We don’t just talk about hazing; we actively fight it. Our legal team, led by Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena, is currently battling in Harris County Civil District Court, representing a brave young man in a $10 million lawsuit against a national fraternity and a major university for the horrific hazing he endured. This is real, ongoing litigation, and it demonstrates exactly what kind of firm we are: aggressive, thorough, data-driven, and relentless in pursuing accountability for every responsible entity.

When your child leaves McDuffie County to attend college, whether it’s at a local institution or a major university across the country, you expect them to be safe. You trust that the university, the fraternity, and their peers will protect them. All too often, that trust is betrayed, and the consequences can be devastating, resulting in life-altering injuries or even death. We exist to hold those institutions and individuals accountable when they fail that sacred trust.

The Landmark Case: Attorney911 vs. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston (2025)

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

This nightmare unfolded recently in Houston, just last month. But the same barbaric hazing rituals, the same systemic failures by universities and national organizations, and the same cover-ups happen at institutions across the country, including those that draw students from McDuffie County. The fraternities and sororities that operate near McDuffie County, Georgia, belong to the same national organizations that are currently being sued for their negligence and their role in perpetuating this dangerous culture.

Our mission is to bring the same aggressive, data-driven legal strategy we are employing in this groundbreaking Houston case to McDuffie County families. We are dedicated to ensuring that the pain and suffering your child has endured are not in vain, and that every responsible party is held accountable.

Background: The Horrifying Details Emerge

In November 2025, Attorney911 filed a $10 million lawsuit in Harris County Civil District Court on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, the University of Houston, and 13 individual fraternity members. This case isn’t just a legal filing; it’s a testament to the brutal reality of modern hazing and our unwavering commitment to fighting it.

Leonel Bermudez was a “ghost rush” – a prospective member who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet, planning to transfer for the upcoming semester. They did this to someone who wasn’t even their student.

He accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi chapter on September 16, 2025. What followed was an agonizing ordeal of weeks of systematic abuse, psychological torture, and extreme physical punishment that ultimately landed him in the hospital for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.

What Happened to Leonel: The Hazing Timeline

From September 16 to November 3, 2025, Leonel Bermudez was subjected to a litany of horrific hazing acts:

• September 16, 2025: Leonel accepts a bid to Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter.
• Weeks of Systematic Hazing: He was forced to carry a fanny pack with objects of a sexual nature at all times, facing threats of physical punishment or expulsion if he failed. He was made to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, leading to severe exhaustion.
• October 13, 2025: In a separate incident highlighted in our lawsuit, another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. This shows the routine nature of the abuse.
• October 15, 2025: Another shocking event, where a pledge lost consciousness and collapsed during a forced workout. Other pledges had to elevate his legs until he recovered, yet the hazing continued.
• Simulated Waterboarding: Leonel was repeatedly sprayed in the face with a garden hose while doing calisthenics, a practice described by media as “simulated waterboarding, which simulates drowning, is a form of torture.”
• Forced Consumption & Humiliation: He was compelled to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited. Even after vomiting, he was forced to continue running sprints while in physical distress, often lying in his own vomit-soaked grass. He was also made to strip to his underwear in cold weather and hosed down.
• Extreme Physical Punishment: This included being struck with wooden paddles, performing over 100 pushups, 500 squats, high-volume “suicides” (running drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warmups, and repeated 100-yard crawls. He was forced to recite the fraternity creed while enduring this.
• November 3, 2025: The Breaking Point: After missing an event, Leonel was punished with intense physical exertion including the 500 squats and 100+ pushups. He became so exhausted he could not stand without help, crawling into bed when he returned home.
• November 6, 2025: Hospitalization: Disturbed by his worsening condition and the alarming symptom of passing brown urine (a critical sign of muscle breakdown), his mother rushed him to the hospital. He was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring intensive medical care during his three-night, four-day hospital stay.
• November 14, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi National officially closes the Beta Nu Chapter. This occurred seven days before our lawsuit was filed, demonstrating their awareness of the severe wrongdoing and an attempt to mitigate liability.
• November 21, 2025: Attorney911 files the $10 million lawsuit in Harris County. News outlets like ABC13, KHOU 11, and the Houston Chronicle immediately cover the story, bringing this atrocity into the public eye.
• November 24, 2025: Houston Public Media confirms the $10 million figure and reveals more details, including the “ghost rush” status.

The Medical Consequences: Rhabdomyolysis and Kidney Failure

Leonel Bermudez suffered from rhabdomyolysis, a dangerous condition where damaged muscle tissue releases proteins that can severely harm the kidneys. His “brown urine” was a classic indicator that his muscles were breaking down, and medical tests confirmed very high creatine kinase levels, affirming significant muscle damage. This led to acute kidney failure, a life-threatening complication that put him in the hospital for four days, facing potential long-term kidney damage. Ralph Manginello has specific expertise in rhabdomyolysis hazing cases, making him uniquely qualified to handle cases of this medical complexity.

Institutional Responses: Damning Admissions

The statements from both the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters, made public after the hazing was exposed, are telling:

• University of Houston Spokesperson (Houston Public Media): “The events investigated are deeply disturbing and represent a clear violation of our community standards… Any individual found responsible for hazing will face disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion and potential criminal charges.” This statement confirms the severity of the conduct and the university’s belief in its criminality. It also acknowledges coordination with law enforcement.
• Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters (their own website): “Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity closed its Beta Nu Chapter effective November 14, 2025, following violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards… We look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time and continuing our partnership with the University of Houston in the years ahead.” This statement is a critical admission of “violations” and a blatant display of their focus on returning to campus rather than genuine remorse for the harm caused. The fact they closed the chapter before our lawsuit was filed highlights their consciousness of guilt.

KHOU 11 further reported that the national organization “failed to enforce anti-hazing rules and policies despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.'” This is a critical piece of information proving long-standing negligence and awareness of widespread problems.

Why This Case Matters to McDuffie County Families

What happened to Leonel Bermudez is not an isolated incident; it’s a stark warning. McDuffie County families need to understand:

• The Same Fraternities Operate Near You: Pi Kappa Phi has over 150 chapters nationwide. The “traditions” that hospitalized Leonel are likely replicated in chapters near McDuffie County.
• Universities are Complicit: The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place. Universities near McDuffie County also have the power to stop hazing, and they bear liability when they fail to do so.
• National Organizations Know: Pi Kappa Phi’s decision to dissolve the chapter immediately after the incident was exposed proves they knew exactly what was wrong. These national organizations, with chapters near McDuffie County, cannot claim ignorance.
• Victims are Afraid: Leonel Bermudez is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution.” This fear is a common and understandable response, which we shield our clients from.
• One Brave Victim Can Protect Others: Our lawsuit aims to create accountability that will protect other students. A successful outcome here can set a powerful precedent for hazing victims in McDuffie County and beyond.
• $10 Million Sends a Message: This substantial lawsuit aims to make institutions truly feel the cost of their negligence. McDuffie County families can use the same legal strategies to hold perpetrators accountable.

The reality of hazing today is not innocent pranks; it is systematic abuse, torture, psychological torment, and often criminal acts. It occurs in fraternities, sororities, sports teams, clubs, and other student organizations. Universities and national organizations are aware of this, yet they frequently prioritize reputation and “tradition” over student safety, only scrambling to respond when tragedy strikes. We are committed to changing that equation.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

For families in McDuffie County, the word “hazing” might conjure images of silly pranks or harmless initiation rites. However, the truth, as illuminated by cases like Leonel Bermudez’s and countless others across the country, is far more sinister. Hazing today, whether at a large university or a smaller college that students from McDuffie County might attend, is often indistinguishable from torture. It is a systematic pattern of abuse designed to break down individuals, instill fear, and enforce blind obedience.

These are not “boys being boys” or innocent “traditions.” These are deliberate acts of physical assault, battery, psychological torment, reckless endangerment, and in too many tragic instances, manslaughter or murder. We want McDuffie County parents to understand the stark difference between a rite of passage and criminal abuse.

Horrific Hazing Activities Exposed in Lawsuits:

Based on our lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston, and drawing parallels from other documented cases, hazing can take many forms:

• Physical Abuse: Pledges are subjected to extreme physical exertion for prolonged periods, often beyond their physical limits. This includes hundreds of pushups, hundreds of squats, forced running drills like “suicides,” bear crawls, and wheelbarrows. In some cases, students are struck with paddles or other objects, branded, or burned. Leonel Bermudez endured being struck with wooden paddles and forced calisthenics that caused his muscles to literally break down.
• Forced Consumption: This is a tragically common hazing tactic that often leads to severe injury or death. Students are forced to consume massive quantities of alcohol, food (sometimes until they vomit), or even non-food substances. Leonel Bermudez was forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited, then ordered to continue physical activities in his own vomit. This is not only disgusting but incredibly dangerous, risking aspiration and further physical distress.
• Simulated Waterboarding: This is a form of torture that mimics drowning. Leonel Bermudez was repeatedly sprayed in the face with a garden hose while doing calisthenics, illustrating a shocking level of cruelty that the media itself has called out as torture. This isn’t a game; it’s an act of violence designed to induce terror and helplessness.
• Psychological Torture & Humiliation: Hazing aims to strip individuals of their dignity and self-worth. This can involve forced nudity, public humiliation, verbal abuse, degradation, and isolation. Leonel was forced to carry a fanny pack containing objects of a sexual nature and was subjected to situations like lying in his own vomit. Another pledge in his chapter was found hog-tied with an object in his mouth. These acts are designed to break a person mentally.
• Sleep Deprivation: Pledges are often kept awake for extended periods, forced to perform tasks late into the night or early in the morning, leading to severe exhaustion. Leonel was compelled to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, contributing to his perilous physical state. Sleep deprivation severely impairs judgment and physical function, exacerbating the risks of other hazing activities.
• Exposure: Students may be forced to strip down in cold weather or endure other forms of environmental exposure, risking hypothermia or other health crises. Leonel was sprayed with a hose while minimally clothed in cold weather.
• Sexual Harassment and Abuse: Tragically, hazing can also involve forced nudity, sexually suggestive acts, or even outright sexual assault. The presence of objects of a sexual nature in Leonel’s fanny pack points to this disturbing element of psychological abuse.
• Servitude and Coercion: Pledges are often forced to act as servants to older members, running errands, cleaning, or performing other demeaning tasks. This reinforces a power imbalance and makes it harder for victims to resist. Threats of physical punishment or expulsion from the fraternity are used to enforce compliance, as Leonel experienced.

The Devastating Medical and Psychological Consequences:

The consequences of such brutal hazing rituals extend far beyond physical pain. For McDuffie County students, they can include:

• Physical Injuries: Rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure (as Leonel experienced), alcohol poisoning, traumatic brain injuries (from falls or beatings), broken bones, burns, lacerations, internal organ damage, and even death.
• Long-Term Health Issues: Chronic kidney disease, permanent brain damage, and lifelong physical disabilities can result from severe hazing.
• Psychological Trauma: Many victims suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), severe anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, panic attacks, and pervasive trust issues. The trauma can lead to academic decline, social withdrawal, and substance abuse as victims try to cope.
• Wrongful Death: Too many times, hazing ends in tragedy, leaving families in McDuffie County and across the nation heartbroken and irrevocably changed.

This is not a game. This is not harmless fun. This is abuse, pure and simple. We want McDuffie County families to recognize these signs and understand the severe risks their children face. We are here to bring accountability to those who inflict and enable such suffering.

Who Is Responsible: Holding Everyone Accountable

When a McDuffie County student is harmed by hazing, it’s natural to point fingers at the immediate perpetrators. However, our aggressive, data-driven legal strategy at Attorney911 ensures that every entity, from the individual students who commit the acts to the national organizations and universities that enable them, is held accountable.

As we’ve laid bare in the Leonel Bermudez case, there are multiple layers of responsibility, and we pursue every single one.

The Defendants We Target:

1. The Local Chapter (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu Chapter): This is the most direct level of responsibility. The local chapter directly organizes, facilitates, and encourages the hazing activities. Their officers, like the President and Pledgemaster, are typically at the helm, directing the abuse.

   • Basis for Liability: Direct participation, negligent supervision of their members, and often, maintaining the premises where hazing occurs (if they control a house).

2. Individual Perpetrators (e.g., Chapter President, Pledgemaster, Current & Former Members): Every individual who actively participates in, directs, or enables hazing can be held personally liable. This includes those who coerce pledges, inflict physical or psychological harm, or even witness the abuse and fail to intervene or report it. In the Bermudez case, we sued the chapter president, pledgemaster, and 13 individual members, including former members and their spouse who allowed hazing at their residence.

   • Basis for Liability: Assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, false imprisonment, and conspiracy. The Stone Foltz case precedent, where a chapter president was personally held liable for $6.5 million, proves that individuals cannot hide behind the fraternity’s shield.

3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc.): These powerful national bodies, with their vast networks of chapters, assets, and insurance policies, bear significant responsibility. They create the framework for Greek life, set policies, and have the ultimate authority to oversee their chapters.

   • Basis for Liability: Negligent supervision, failure to enforce anti-hazing policies, vicarious liability for the actions of their local chapters, and perpetuating a culture where hazing is allowed to thrive. In Leonel’s case, national Pi Kappa Phi acknowledged “violations” in their own risk management policy and had prior knowledge of a “hazing crisis,” yet failed to prevent further harm. The fact that Andrew Coffey died in a Pi Kappa Phi hazing incident in 2017 underscores their pattern of negligence and places them on explicit notice. Our firm has specific expertise in leveraging this pattern evidence.

4. The Housing Corporation (e.g., Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc.): Many fraternities operate through separate housing corporations that own or manage the properties where hazing often occurs. These entities have a duty to maintain a safe environment.

   • Basis for Liability: Premises liability (for unsafe conditions on their property), negligent entrustment (if they provided dangerous facilities), and negligent supervision. We meticulously track these entities using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Database, which includes EINs and legal names like Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc in Frisco, Texas, showing their corporate structure.

5. The University or College (e.g., University of Houston & UH Board of Regents): The educational institution itself plays a critical role. Universities have a duty to protect their students, enforce anti-hazing policies, and provide adequate supervision over student organizations. When they own the property where hazing happens, as was the case with the University of Houston, their liability is even clearer.

   • Basis for Liability: Negligent supervision, premises liability, institutional negligence, and breach of contract (if they fail to provide a safe educational environment). The University of Houston had a prior hazing hospitalization in 2017 with a different fraternity, proving they had actual knowledge of hazing risks on campus yet failed to prevent Leonel Bermudez’s injuries. When the university owns the house where the hazing occurred, they cannot claim ignorance.

6. Insurance Carriers: These are often the “deep pockets” from which significant compensation is recovered. National fraternities, universities, and individuals typically carry liability insurance policies that can cover substantial settlements and verdicts.

   • Our Advantage: With Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña as former insurance defense attorneys, we understand the intricate strategies insurance companies use to minimize payouts. We leverage this insider knowledge to dismantle their defenses and maximize recovery for our clients.

The Deep Pockets:

It’s crucial for McDuffie County families to understand that suing for hazing isn’t about targeting individual college students who may have limited assets. Our strategy focuses on the institutions with multi-million dollar endowments, vast insurance policies, and significant assets. These are the national organizations and universities that have the financial capacity to compensate victims fairly and, more importantly, to implement the systemic changes needed to prevent future harm.

We don’t just guess who might be responsible; we know. Our comprehensive database of Greek organizations and our deep understanding of institutional structures allow us to identify and pursue every liable party, ensuring that justice is served and that a powerful message is sent: hazing will not be tolerated, and those who enable it will pay.

What Hazing Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof

For families in McDuffie County grappling with the trauma of hazing, understanding the potential for significant financial recovery offers not just relief, but a powerful path to justice and systemic change. When we file a $10 million lawsuit, as we have in the Leonel Bermudez case, it is not an arbitrary figure. It is a demand rooted in a strong legal framework and a history of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in hazing cases across the nation.

These landmark cases send an unequivocal message: hazing has a steep, measurable cost that universities and national organizations are unwillingly paying. The same legal strategies, the same patterns of institutional negligence, and the same arguments for accountability that won these cases apply directly to incidents affecting students from McDuffie County.

Landmark Verdicts & Settlements: They Will Pay

Here are just a few examples that demonstrate the financial consequences of hazing, and why our $10 million demand for Leonel Bermudez is not only justified but necessary:

1. Stone Foltz: Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)

Total Recovery: $10.1 Million+

• Case Details: In 2021, Stone Foltz, a pledge at Bowling Green State University, died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a Pi Kappa Alpha hazing ritual.
• The Outcome: The university settled for $2.9 million, and Pi Kappa Alpha national, along with individual members, contributed to a $7.2 million settlement. In a very recent development in December 2024, the former chapter president, Daylen Dunson, was ordered to pay $6.5 million in personal liability. This is the most recent major hazing judgment in America, filed just last month, demonstrating that individual chapter officers can be held personally liable for millions.
• Significance for McDuffie County: This case directly supports our $10 million demand. It shows that both universities and fraternities are held accountable for millions, and individual orchestrators can face monumental personal financial consequences. If your child attends a university with a Pi Kappa Alpha chapter, know they have paid millions.

2. Maxwell Gruver: Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017)

Jury Verdict: $6.1 Million

• Case Details: In 2017, Max Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman pledge at LSU’s Phi Delta Theta chapter, died of acute alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink repeatedly during a hazing ritual called “Bible Study.” His BAC was an astounding 0.495.
• The Outcome: A jury awarded his family a $6.1 million verdict. One fraternity member was also criminally convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to prison. The tragedy spurred the creation of the Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony in Louisiana.
• Significance for McDuffie County: This proves that juries are willing to deliver multi-million dollar verdicts, especially in cases involving egregious forced alcohol consumption and death. It highlights that civil and criminal consequences can and do occur simultaneously.

3. Timothy Piazza: Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017)

Estimated Total Settlements: $110 Million+

• Case Details: Tim Piazza, a 19-year-old pledge at Penn State’s Beta Theta Pi chapter, died in 2017 after being forced to consume 18 alcoholic drinks in 82 minutes during a hazing ritual. He fell down a flight of stairs multiple times, suffering a catastrophic brain injury and internal bleeding. Fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling for help.
• The Outcome: This case resulted in confidential settlements estimated to exceed $110 million from the university and the national fraternity. Multiple fraternity members faced criminal charges, with several convictions including involuntary manslaughter. The tragedy also led to Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.
• Significance for McDuffie County: While a death case, it demonstrates the enormous scale of compensation possible when evidence is strong (security cameras captured all the events) and institutional negligence is clear. Our case, with its detailed hazing allegations, medical evidence, and pattern of institutional failures, has that potential.

4. Andrew Coffey: Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017)

The Same Fraternity. A Hazing Death.

• Case Details: In 2017, Andrew Coffey, a pledge at Florida State’s Pi Kappa Phi chapter (the same national fraternity as in our Bermudez lawsuit), died from acute alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon.
• The Outcome: Nine fraternity members were criminally charged, and the chapter was permanently closed. The family also reached a confidential civil settlement.
• Significance for McDuffie County: This is a crucial precedent for our Bermudez case. It explicitly shows that Pi Kappa Phi National KNEW their chapters engaged in deadly hazing for eight years before Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized. This pattern of negligence strengthens our argument for punitive damages.

5. Adam Oakes: Virginia Commonwealth University / Delta Chi (2021)

Total Settlement: $4 Million+

• Case Details: Adam Oakes died in 2021 from alcohol poisoning during a Delta Chi hazing event at VCU. His family sued for $28 million.
• The Outcome: In October 2024, the case settled for over $4 million, including a $2.5 million cash settlement for the parents and a $425,000 donation to the family’s “Love Like Adam” Foundation.
• Significance for McDuffie County: This demonstrates substantial settlements for death cases, even when the initial demand is high. It also shows the power of families to not only secure justice but also drive legislative change to prevent future tragedies.

The Message is Clear: Hazing Cases Win Big

These cases prove that families of hazing victims, even those facing powerful universities and national fraternities with seemingly endless resources, can and do achieve massive victories. The legal strategies that secured these multi-million dollar payouts are precisely what we employ at Attorney911. We build comprehensive cases focusing on:

• Egregious Conduct: Emphasizing the brutal, torturous nature of the hazing. (e.g., waterboarding, forced consumption, severe physical abuse).
• Institutional Knowledge: Proving that the university and national organizations knew or should have known about the hazing culture and failed to act.
• Pattern of Negligence: Demonstrating that the incident was not isolated but part of a systemic problem.
• Foreseeable Harm: Arguing that the injuries (or death) were predictable given prior incidents and knowledge of hazing risks.
• Severe Damages: Documenting the full extent of physical, psychological, educational, and financial harm.
• Punitive Damages: Seeking to punish the defendants for their conscious indifference and egregious behavior, sending a message to deter future hazing.

If your child in McDuffie County has been a victim of hazing, these precedents show that justice, and significant compensation, are within reach. We are ready to use this proven playbook to fight for your family.

Texas Law Protects You: Understanding Your Rights in McDuffie County

For families in McDuffie County, navigating the legal complexities after a hazing incident can feel daunting. However, it’s crucial to understand that Texas law, similar to anti-hazing statutes in many states, provides powerful protections and a clear path to accountability. Our firm, deeply rooted in Texas courts and legal expertise, leverages these laws to aggressively pursue justice for hazing victims. While our home base is Texas, our federal court authority and understanding of nationwide hazing trends enable us to represent victims across state lines, applying similar principles to cases affecting McDuffie County.

Texas Hazing Laws: A Shield for Students

The Texas Education Code, specifically Sections 37.151 to 37.157, unequivocally defines hazing and outlines severe penalties for those who engage in it. This legal framework is vital for families in McDuffie County because it establishes the illegality of the acts and provides the basis for both criminal and civil liability.

Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151):

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

• Includes physical brutality: Such as whipping, beating, striking (like the wooden paddles Leonel experienced), branding, or placing harmful substances on the body.
• Involves harm to health or safety: This covers sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements (like stripping in cold weather or hosing), confinement, calisthenics (like Leonel’s 500 squats and 100 pushups leading to rhabdomyolysis), or any activity posing an unreasonable risk of harm to mental or physical health.
• Involves forced consumption: Forcing students to consume food, liquid, or alcohol that subjects them to an unreasonable risk of harm (like Leonel’s forced eating until vomiting).
• Requires violation of the Penal Code: Any activity that forces a student to commit a crime.
• Involves coerced consumption of drugs or intoxicating amounts of alcohol: Specifically targets binge drinking in initiation rites.

Application to McDuffie County Families: The hazing that injures a student from McDuffie County will almost certainly fall under this broad legal definition, forming the foundation of a strong civil case. The acts Leonel Bermudez suffered—waterboarding, forced eating, extreme calisthenics, being struck—clearly violate multiple sections of this statute.

Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152):

Texas law doesn’t just decry hazing; it criminalizes it:

• Class B Misdemeanor: For engaging in hazing, aiding hazing, or failing to report it (up to 180 days in jail, $2,000 fine).
• Class A Misdemeanor: If hazing causes serious bodily injury (up to 1 year in jail, $4,000 fine). This is directly applicable to Leonel Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
• State Jail Felony: If hazing causes death (180 days to 2 years in state jail, $10,000 fine).

Why This Matters to McDuffie County: The mention of “potential criminal charges” by the University of Houston spokesperson demonstrates that the acts Leonel endured are not merely rule violations, but potentially crimes. This dual legal consequence (civil and criminal) creates immense pressure on defendants.

Organizational Liability (§ 37.153):

Organizations that condone, encourage, or have officers/members who commit hazing can face fines up to $10,000 and be denied permission to operate on campus.
Application: This means not just individuals, but the fraternity chapter itself, and potentially the national organization for its failures, can be held criminally and civilly liable.

CONSENT IS NOT A DEFENSE (§ 37.154):

This is perhaps the most critical legal point in hazing litigation, and one that McDuffie County families need to emblazon in their minds. Texas law explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution…that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”

The “He Agreed to It” Lie: Hazing perpetrators and their institutions often hide behind the excuse that “he consented,” “he could have left,” or “everyone goes through it.” Texas law unequivocally rejects this argument. The legal system recognizes that in hazing environments, true, free consent is impossible due to power imbalances, coercion, and the desire to belong. This statutory provision is a powerful tool in dismantling the defense’s strategy.

University Reporting Requirements (§ 37.155):

Universities are legally obligated to report hazing incidents. Failure to do so is a Class B Misdemeanor. This creates an additional layer of accountability and provides a mechanism for tracking incidents.

Beyond the Statutes: Civil Liability for McDuffie County Victims

While anti-hazing laws provide criminal penalties, civil lawsuits are how private citizens, like McDuffie County families, recover monetary damages for the immense suffering caused. We pursue several civil liability theories:

• Negligence (Applies Everywhere): We prove that the defendants (university, national fraternity, individuals) had a duty to protect students, that they breached that duty through their actions or inaction (like allowing waterboarding), that this breach caused your child’s injuries, and that your child suffered damages. This forms the backbone of most hazing lawsuits.
• Premises Liability: If the hazing occurred on property owned or controlled by the university (as in Leonel’s case where UH owned the fraternity house) or a fraternity housing corporation, those entities can be held liable for failing to maintain a safe environment.
• Negligent Supervision: This applies when national fraternities fail to adequately supervise their chapters, or when universities fail to oversee Greek life programs effectively, particularly when they were aware of prior hazing incidents.
• Assault and Battery: Individual perpetrators can be sued for intentional harmful or offensive contact, including physical beatings, forced consumption, or unlawful restraint.
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: The extreme and outrageous nature of hazing often causes severe emotional distress, PTSD, and mental anguish, for which victims can seek compensation.
• Wrongful Death: If hazing leads to a student’s death, families can pursue a wrongful death claim for economic losses, loss of companionship, and punitive damages.

McDuffie County Families: The specific laws may vary by state, but the underlying legal principles of negligence, premises liability, and accountability for severe harm are universal. Our firm, with its federal court admissions and multi-state bar licenses, is equipped to bring these civil claims wherever your child experienced hazing, ensuring that the full force of the law is brought to bear against those responsible. The McDuffie County student body deserves protection, and we ensure their rights are upheld.

Why Attorney911: Your Champion in McDuffie County’s Fight Against Hazing

Choosing the right legal team after a hazing incident can feel overwhelming, especially for families in McDuffie County who are already dealing with immense emotional and financial strain. You need not just a lawyer, but a true advocate, a champion who understands the nuances of hazing litigation and possesses the tenacity to take on powerful institutions. Attorney911 is that champion.

We bring a unique blend of qualifications, experience, and a deeply personal commitment to every hazing case, setting us apart from other firms. We are intensely proud of our ability to secure justice for victims, and we are ready to extend that same aggressive, compassionate representation to McDuffie County.

Our Unmatched Qualifications & Strategic Advantages:

1. Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit: We are not theoretical. We are in the fight right now against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This active litigation means we are up-to-date on the latest tactics, defenses, and legal strategies in hazing cases. When you hire us for your McDuffie County case, you’re hiring a firm with live, relevant battlefield experience.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook: Both our lead attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña, started their careers defending insurance companies and large corporations.
   • Ralph Manginello, with over 25 years of experience, worked on the defense side, gaining critical insight into how insurers strategize, value claims, and attempt to minimize payouts.
   • Lupe Peña honed his skills at Litchfield Cavo LLP, a national insurance defense firm, defending companies against products liability, personal injury, and construction claims. He knows their internal processes, negotiation tactics, and weaknesses intimately.
     This insider knowledge is an unfair advantage for our clients. We anticipate their moves, dismantle their arguments, and maximize your recovery because we’ve seen their playbook from the inside.
3. Federal Court Authority & Dual-State Bar Admissions: Hazing cases often involve national fraternities or students crossing state lines. Our admission to the U.S. District Court and Ralph’s dual Texas and New York bar licenses give us the legal authority and strategic flexibility to pursue cases in federal courts nationwide, including for McDuffie County families, an essential capability when dealing with multi-state defendants.
4. Decades of High-Stakes Litigation Experience: Ralph Manginello’s involvement in the multi-billion dollar BP Texas City Explosion litigation demonstrates his capacity to handle complex, mass tort cases against massive corporate defendants. This experience is directly transferable to hazing cases, which often involve multiple powerful institutional defendants.
5. Rhabdomyolysis & Specialty Injury Expertise: Ralph has specific expertise in rhabdomyolysis cases, the very condition Leonel Bermudez suffered. This deep understanding of the medical complexities involved ensures that every aspect of your child’s injury, from diagnosis to long-term prognosis, is fully understood and powerfully presented.
6. Data-Driven Litigation Strategy: We maintain an extensive “Texas Hazing Intelligence Database,” featuring IRS-registered Greek organizations, their EINs, legal names, and property holdings. We track over 125 IRS-registered Greek organizations in Texas, along with 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 metropolitan areas, including Houston with 188 organizations, Dallas-Fort Worth with 510, and Austin with 154. This means when hazing happens to a student from McDuffie County, we know who to sue – not just the local chapter, but the national organization, the housing corporation, and every responsible corporate entity. We expose their corporate structures, making it impossible for them to hide behind Greek letters.
   • For example, we know that Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc has EIN 462267515 and is located in Frisco, Texas. Kappa Sigma Mu Gamma Chapter Inc has EIN 133048786 in College Station. Sigma Alpha Epsilon Texas Sigma Incorporated has EIN 882755427 in San Marcos. This isn’t guesswork; it’s deep research used to identify every entity with the deepest pockets.
7. “Se Habla Español” – Bilingual Support: Our team is fluent in Spanish, ensuring that Hispanic families in McDuffie County affected by hazing receive comprehensive, culturally sensitive legal guidance without language barriers.

Our Approach to McDuffie County Hazing Cases:

• Immediate Action: When hazing strikes a student from McDuffie County, time is of the essence. We move quickly to preserve evidence, interview witnesses, and file necessary legal actions to protect your rights.
• Empathetic & Client-Centered: We understand the profound emotional toll hazing takes. Our opening paragraph sets the tone: “If you’re reading this, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life… We’re here to help families in your area fight back.” You are not just a case number; you are a family in crisis, and we treat you with the compassion and dedication you deserve.
• Contingency Fee Basis – No Upfront Cost for McDuffie County Families: We take hazing cases on contingency. This means you pay absolutely nothing upfront. We cover all litigation costs, and we only get paid if we win your case. This removes financial barriers, allowing every family in McDuffie County to access top-tier legal representation, regardless of their current financial situation.
• Willingness to Travel & Remote Consultations: While our primary offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, distance is not a barrier to justice. We offer video consultations for McDuffie County families and are fully prepared to travel to McDuffie County, Georgia, for depositions, client meetings, and trials when necessary.
• Relentless Advocacy: We are bulldogs in the courtroom, leveraging our experience to outwork, outsmart, and outfight the opposition. Our goal is not just compensation, but systemic change. As Lupe Peña states: “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

When your child leaves McDuffie County for higher education, anticipating growth and opportunity, but instead encounters the brutality of hazing, you need unwavering legal support. Attorney911 stands ready to be your ally, to fight on your behalf, and to ensure that no other McDuffie County family has to endure this nightmare.

What to Do Right Now: Actionable Guidance for McDuffie County Families

Discovering that your child from McDuffie County has been a victim of hazing is a moment of profound shock and fear. In this critical time, your immediate actions can significantly impact the strength and success of any future legal claim. We understand that you are scared, angry, and likely searching for help in the middle of the night. Here is clear, actionable guidance that every McDuffie County family should follow if their child has been hazed.

Step 1: Prioritize Safety and Medical Attention

Your child’s physical and mental well-being is paramount.

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention: If your child has sustained any physical injuries, no matter how minor they seem, get them to a doctor or emergency room immediately. Like Leonel Bermudez, some injuries (such as rhabdomyolysis or internal damage) may not be immediately apparent but can be life-threatening. Medical documentation is the cornerstone of any injury claim. Explain to medical professionals that the injuries were sustained during hazing.
2. Address Mental Health: Hazing causes severe psychological trauma. Seek counseling or therapy for your child promptly. Documentation of PTSD, anxiety, depression, or other emotional distress is crucial for establishing non-economic damages.
3. Ensure Physical Separation: Remove your child from the hazing environment immediately. If they are living in a fraternity house or campus housing where hazing is occurring, find them a safe alternative place to stay.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence – “Document Everything!”

This is perhaps the most critical step you can take after ensuring your child’s safety. Evidence disappears quickly. We cannot stress this enough: PRESERVE EVERYTHING!

1. Medical Records: Obtain copies of all medical records, including emergency room reports, doctor’s notes, lab results (like Leonel’s creatine kinase levels), hospital discharge summaries, physical therapy records, and mental health counseling notes.
2. Photos and Videos:
   • Injuries: Take clear photos of all physical injuries (bruises, marks, burns, swelling) at all stages of healing. If your child was hospitalized, photos in the hospital bed can be incredibly powerful.
   • Hazing Environment: If safe to do so, document the locations where hazing occurred (fraternity house, off-campus residence, specific rooms).
   • Evidence of Abuse: If any objects used in the hazing (like paddles, unusual food items, fanny packs) are accessible, photograph them.
3. Digital Communications – Do NOT Delete Anything!
   • Text Messages/Group Chats: Screenshots of all text messages, GroupMe chats, WhatsApp messages, Snapchat stories, Instagram DMs, or any other digital communication between your child, fraternity members, or pledges. These often contain explicit instructions, threats, details of activities, photos, or admissions of hazing.
   • Social Media: Take screenshots or download any relevant posts from fraternity/sorority social media accounts (even “private” ones) that hint at hazing activities or reflect the organizational culture.
4. Documents: Collect any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, or codes of conduct provided to your child during the pledging process.
5. Witness Information: Gather names and contact information for any other pledges, fraternity members who did not participate, or bystanders who witnessed the hazing. Their testimony can be invaluable.
6. Financial Records: Keep track of medical bills, lost wages (if your child missed work), tuition or fees for any academic period disrupted by the hazing, and any other out-of-pocket expenses incurred.
7. Academic Records: Document any impact on your child’s grades, enrollment status, or scholarship eligibility.

CRITICAL WARNINGS – What NOT to Do:

• DO NOT Delete ANYTHING: Deleting messages or social media posts can be considered destruction of evidence and severely harm your case.
• DO NOT Speak to the Organization Alone: Do not talk to fraternity/sorority leadership, university officials, or their attorneys without legal counsel. They are not on your side and are trained to elicit information that can hurt your case.
• DO NOT Sign Anything: Do not sign any documents, waivers, or releases from the fraternity/sorority or university without consulting an attorney. You could inadvertently waive your legal rights.
• DO NOT Post on Social Media: Refrain from posting about the incident on social media. Anything your child or family posts can be twisted and used against them by the defense.
• DO NOT Confront Perpetrators Personally: This can escalate the situation and potentially damage your legal strategy.

Step 3: Call Attorney911 Immediately – Time is Critical!

Hazing cases face critical time limitations, known as the “statute of limitations.” In Texas, this is generally two years from the date of injury or death. Similar deadlines exist in other states where students from McDuffie County might attend college.

1. Call 1-888-ATTY-911: This hotline is available 24/7. Our free consultation is confidential, and we will immediately assess your child’s situation.
2. Remote & Accessible: Distance is not a barrier. We offer video consultations for McDuffie County families, making it easy to connect with our legal team from your home.
3. We Come to You: For critical depositions, client meetings, or trials, our team is prepared to travel to McDuffie County, Georgia, ensuring you have face-to-face support when it matters most.

The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can:

• Send Preservation Letters: Legally compel all responsible parties to retain evidence.
• Begin Investigation: Collect evidence, identify all liable parties, and prevent crucial information from disappearing.
• Protect Your Rights: Shield your child and family from manipulative tactics by the university or fraternity.

McDuffie County Parents: Your child entered a brotherhood but found torture. We are here to help you turn their pain into accountability. Do not wait. Make the call.

Contact Us: Your Legal Emergency Hotline in McDuffie County’s Fight Against Hazing

If your child from McDuffie County has been a victim of hazing, the path forward might seem dark and uncertain. But you are not alone. Attorney911 stands as a beacon of hope and a relentless force for justice. We are fighting the hazing battle right now, and we are ready to bring that fight to McDuffie County, Georgia.

McDuffie County Families: Call Us Now for a Free Consultation

The first step toward justice is often the hardest, but we make it easy and risk-free. Your initial consultation with our experienced hazing litigation team is absolutely free. There’s no obligation, just a conversation where we listen to your story, understand what happened to your child, and explain your legal options.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

This is your direct line to aggressive legal representation. Our hotline is available 24/7, because legal emergencies don’t keep business hours. Whether it’s 2 AM or 2 PM, we are here for McDuffie County families.

Email Us: ralph@atty911.com – You can also reach out via email, and our team will respond promptly to schedule your consultation.

Visit Our Website: attorney911.com – Learn more about our firm, our philosophy, and our commitment to justice for hazing victims nationwide.

Our Commitment to McDuffie County Families:

• No Upfront Costs: We operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely nothing upfront, not a single dollar, for our legal services. We cover all litigation costs, and we only get paid if we win your case. This ensures that every McDuffie County family has access to top-tier legal representation, regardless of their financial situation.
• Remote Accessibility: For your convenience and comfort, we offer video consultations. You can connect with our attorneys from your home in McDuffie County, allowing us to immediately begin discussing your case without the need for travel.
• We Travel for Justice: While our main offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we are committed to justice wherever it leads. For critical depositions, client meetings, or trials, our attorneys are prepared to travel to McDuffie County, Georgia, to provide you with in-person support. Distance will not be a barrier to holding those responsible accountable.
• Bilingual Support: We are proud to offer “Se habla español” services. Our bilingual staff ensures that Spanish-speaking families in McDuffie County can communicate effectively and confidently about their case.

We Represent Hazing Victims Nationwide, Including McDuffie County

Hazing is a pervasive problem, affecting students from McDuffie County who attend colleges and universities across Georgia, the Southeast, and throughout America. Our federal court authority and dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York) allow us to pursue cases in multiple jurisdictions, ensuring that geography doesn’t limit your access to justice.

We represent victims of hazing in all types of organizations, not just fraternities:

• Fraternities and sororities at universities and colleges that McDuffie County students attend.
• Sports teams, including high school and collegiate athletic programs.
• Marching bands, clubs, and other student organizations.
• ROTC programs and military academies.
• Any group that misuses power and inflicts abuse under the guise of “initiation” or “tradition.”

To Other Victims of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing:

We know Leonel Bermudez was not alone. The lawsuit alleges that another pledge lost consciousness during a forced workout, and a different pledge was hog-tied with an object in his mouth. If you or someone you know was part of the Pi Kappa Phi hazing at the University of Houston, or any other chapter, you have rights.

As Lupe Peña courageously stated, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” Your courage to come forward can prevent others from suffering.

Call us. Let’s bring them all to justice. Your child’s future, and the safety of countless other students, depends on it.

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