🚨 Hazing Victims in Moore County: Your Child Could Be Next — We’re Fighting Back

Moore County families: If your child is in college — or planning to attend — they could be at risk of hazing. The same fraternities that waterboarded a student at University of Houston have chapters at universities near Moore County. The same culture of abuse exists. And the same negligence that sent our client to the hospital with kidney failure is happening right here in North Carolina.

We are Attorney 911 — the law firm currently suing Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for $10 million after a student was hospitalized from extreme hazing. We know how to build these cases. We know how to win. And we will fight for Moore County victims with the same aggression.

⚠️ This Happened in Houston. It’s Happening Near Moore County.

On November 21, 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston on behalf of Leonel Bermudez. What happened to him should alarm every parent in Moore County:

• Waterboarded with a garden hose — simulated drowning
• Forced to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups until he couldn’t stand
• Struck with wooden paddles — physical assault with weapons
• Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to lie in his own vomit
• Another pledge collapsed and lost consciousness — they kept going
• Ended up in the hospital for 4 days with kidney failure from rhabdomyolysis

This wasn’t “tradition.” This wasn’t “brotherhood.” This was torture.

And here’s the worst part: This wasn’t the first time. In 2017, a student at the same university was hospitalized from hazing at a different fraternity. In 2017, a student at Florida State died from forced drinking at the same national fraternity. They had 8 years to fix their culture. They did nothing. Now another student is in the hospital.

The same fraternities operate near Moore County. The same culture exists. Your child could be next.

🏛️ Universities Near Moore County Have the Same Problem

Moore County is home to Sandhills Community College, and nearby universities include Fayetteville State University, UNC Pembroke, Methodist University, and Campbell University — all with active Greek life programs.

Here’s what you need to know:

• National fraternities like Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and others have chapters at universities near Moore County
• These same organizations have paid millions in hazing settlements nationwide
• The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client exist at Moore County-area fraternities
• Universities near Moore County have the same duty to protect students — and the same liability when they fail

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Moore County, they face the same risks that sent Leonel Bermudez to the hospital.

💔 This Could Happen to Your Child — The Warning Signs

Hazing doesn’t always look like what you expect. It’s not just about alcohol. It can include:

✅ Physical abuse: Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
✅ Waterboarding or simulated drowning — yes, this happens
✅ Forced consumption: Alcohol, food, or other substances until vomiting
✅ Sleep deprivation: Forced late nights, early mornings, driving members at all hours
✅ Psychological torture: Humiliation, degradation, carrying sexual objects, being hog-tied
✅ Extreme exposure: Forced to strip in cold weather, sprayed with hoses
✅ Servitude: Cleaning, driving, running errands for members

If your child comes home and:

• Seems unusually tired or withdrawn
• Has unexplained bruises or injuries
• Talks about “traditions” or “pledge activities” that sound extreme
• Is suddenly secretive about their Greek life involvement
• Shows signs of anxiety or depression

These could be signs of hazing. Don’t ignore them.

⚖️ Moore County Families Have Legal Rights — And We Know How to Enforce Them

You might think: “This is just college culture. It’s harmless. Boys will be boys.”

The law says: This is assault. This is battery. This is reckless endangerment. And in North Carolina, consent is not a defense to hazing.

North Carolina General Statute § 14-35: Hazing is a Class 2 misdemeanor. If it causes serious injury, it’s a Class 1 misdemeanor. If it causes death, it’s a Class H felony.

But criminal charges aren’t enough. Victims and families deserve compensation for:

• Medical bills
• Therapy costs
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Punitive damages to punish the organization

And universities can be held liable too. If they own the fraternity house, if they have oversight responsibility, or if they knew about hazing and did nothing — they share responsibility.

🔥 We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now — And We’ll Fight for Moore County Victims Too

This isn’t theoretical. We’re in the fight RIGHT NOW.

Our $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and University of Houston is active and ongoing. We know the defendants. We know their tactics. We know how to win.

Here’s what we’re doing in that case — and what we’ll do for Moore County victims:

✅ Building the case with expert witnesses — medical, Greek life culture, institutional negligence
✅ Preserving evidence immediately — texts, photos, medical records, witness statements
✅ Negotiating from strength — we’re not afraid to take these cases to trial
✅ Pursuing every liable party — the chapter, the national organization, the university, individual members
✅ Traveling to Moore County — for depositions, trials, and client meetings when needed
✅ Providing remote consultations — Moore County families can video chat with our attorneys

We don’t just talk about hazing. We’re fighting it in court right now. And we will bring that same fight to Moore County.

🏆 We Have a Proven Track Record of Holding Institutions Accountable

Our attorneys aren’t just personal injury lawyers. We’re former insurance defense attorneys who know how the other side thinks.

Ralph Manginello:

• 25+ years of litigation experience
• Former insurance defense attorney — knows their playbook
• Handled multi-billion dollar cases (BP Texas City explosion)
• Currently litigating $10 million hazing case
• Dual-state bar admission (Texas and New York) — strategic advantage for national fraternity cases

Lupe Pena:

• 12+ years of litigation experience
• Former national insurance defense attorney (Litchfield Cavo LLP)
• Worked on products liability, personal injury defense, workers’ comp
• Fluent in Spanish — serves Spanish-speaking clients
• Knows how insurance companies try to minimize claims

Together, we represent 37+ years of legal experience — and we’ve seen the insurance company playbook from the inside. Now we use that knowledge against them.

📞 Moore County Families: If This Happened to Your Child, Call Us Immediately

Legal Emergency Hotline for Moore County Hazing Victims:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

Available 24/7 for Moore County families

We work on CONTINGENCY — $0 upfront for Moore County victims. We don’t get paid unless YOU get paid.

🚨 What Moore County Victims Should Do RIGHT NOW:

1️⃣ Get medical attention — Even if injuries seem minor, document everything
2️⃣ Preserve all evidence — Texts, photos, social media, witness names
3️⃣ DO NOT talk to the fraternity, sorority, or university without legal counsel
4️⃣ DO NOT post on social media about the incident
5️⃣ DO NOT sign anything from the organization
6️⃣ Call us immediately — 1-888-ATTY-911

Time is critical. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Statutes of limitations expire. Moore County families: Don’t wait.

💰 The Same Results Are Possible for Moore County Victims

Hazing cases win big. Here’s what juries and courts have awarded:

Our $10 million demand is in line with these precedents. The same results are possible for Moore County victims.

🎯 Our Message to Fraternities Near Moore County

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and every other fraternity with chapters near Moore County:

We are watching. We are documenting. We are building cases.

The same legal strategies that are securing $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapters.

If you haze students near Moore County, we will find every liable entity. We will sue the chapter. We will sue the national organization. We will sue the university. We will sue individual members.

And we will win.

The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? SHUT DOWN. Charter surrendered. Criminal referrals initiated. Our client’s $10 million lawsuit is ongoing.

That’s what happens when you haze in North Carolina.

🏛️ Our Message to Universities Near Moore County

To Fayetteville State University, UNC Pembroke, Methodist University, Campbell University, and every institution near Moore County:

You have a duty to protect your students. When you own fraternity houses, when you have oversight responsibility, when you know hazing is happening — you share liability.

The University of Houston owned the house where our client was waterboarded. They collected rent while students were being tortured. They had a prior hazing incident in 2017 and did nothing to prevent it from happening again.

They are paying the price. You could be next.

🌎 We Serve Moore County Victims Nationwide

While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims across America — including Moore County.

How we serve Moore County families:

• Federal court authority — can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction
• Dual-state bar admission — Texas and New York
• Video consultations — Moore County families can meet with us remotely
• Travel commitment — we come to Moore County for depositions and trials
• Nationwide reach — we can pursue national fraternity organizations anywhere

Distance is not a barrier to justice. If your child was hazed near Moore County, we can help.

📚 What Moore County Parents Need to Know About Hazing

1. It’s Not Just Fraternities

Hazing happens in:

• Sororities
• Sports teams
• Marching bands
• ROTC programs
• Honor societies
• Clubs
• Any organization with a “pledge” or “initiation” process

2. It’s Not Just Alcohol

While forced drinking is common, hazing also includes:

• Physical abuse
• Psychological torture
• Sexual humiliation
• Extreme physical exertion
• Sleep deprivation
• Servitude

3. Consent Doesn’t Matter

North Carolina law says consent is not a defense to hazing. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the organization can still be held liable.

4. Universities Can Be Liable

If the university:

• Owns the property where hazing occurred
• Has oversight responsibility
• Knew or should have known about hazing
• Failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it

They share liability.

5. National Organizations Can Be Liable

National fraternities and sororities have:

• Millions in assets
• Liability insurance
• Oversight responsibility
• They can — and should — be held accountable

6. Individual Members Can Be Liable

Every person who:

• Participated in hazing
• Directed hazing
• Failed to stop hazing
• Failed to report hazing

Can be sued individually.

7. Time Limits Apply

North Carolina has a 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. But don’t wait — evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and organizations destroy records.

🛡️ How to Protect Your Child from Hazing Near Moore County

For Parents of Current College Students:

1. Talk to your child — Ask about their Greek life experience. Listen for red flags.
2. Know the signs — Unexplained injuries, exhaustion, anxiety, withdrawal.
3. Research the organization — Look for past hazing incidents at their chapter.
4. Encourage reporting — If they see hazing, they should report it — anonymously if needed.
5. Document everything — Save all communications, take photos of injuries.
6. Know who to call — Save our number: 1-888-ATTY-911

For Parents of High School Students:

1. Research universities’ Greek life — Some schools have better oversight than others.
2. Talk about hazing — Make sure your child knows what it looks like and that it’s not acceptable.
3. Encourage alternatives — Many schools have non-Greek social organizations.
4. Set boundaries — If your child wants to join Greek life, set clear expectations about safety.
5. Know your rights — If something happens, you have legal options.

📞 Moore County Families: Your Legal Emergency Hotline

If your child has been hazed near Moore County — or if you suspect they have — call us immediately.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

Available 24/7 for Moore County families

We work on CONTINGENCY — $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless YOU get paid.

We will travel to Moore County. We will fight for your family. We will hold them accountable.

🎯 Enough Is Enough — Moore County

To the fraternities near Moore County: We see you. We’re watching. We’re coming for you.

To the universities near Moore County: You have a duty to protect. When you fail, you will pay.

To the national organizations: Your chapters are out of control. It stops now.

To Moore County families: You are not alone. We are fighting this battle. And we will win.

The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston learned this the hard way. Your chapter could be next.

Enough is enough.

#JusticeForLeonel #EndHazing #MooreCountyDeservesJustice

Attorney 911
Legal Emergency Lawyers™

Serving Moore County from Houston, Austin, and Beaumont
Nationwide representation for hazing victims

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