🚨 Hazing Victims in Owen County, Indiana: You Are Not Alone
Owen County parents and students: If your child has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or any student organization near Owen County, you have legal rights. What happened at the University of Houston with Leonel Bermudez — waterboarding, forced exercise until kidney failure, wooden paddles — happens right here in Indiana too. The same national fraternities operate at Indiana University, Purdue, and universities across the state. The same negligence exists. And we will fight for Owen County families with the same aggression.
At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. We know how to build these cases. We know how to hold institutions accountable. And we know how to win. Owen County families get the same aggressive representation we provide in Texas.
📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
🔥 The Hazing Crisis in Owen County and Beyond
Hazing is not “tradition.” It’s not “boys being boys.” It’s not “building character.”
It is:
- Assault
- Battery
- Torture
- Reckless endangerment
- Sometimes manslaughter
- Sometimes murder
The statistics are horrifying:
- 55% of students in Greek organizations experience hazing
- 40% of student athletes report hazing
- Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every year in the United States
- 95% of students who are hazed do not report it
- Hazing occurs in fraternities, sororities, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC, clubs, and other student organizations
This isn’t happening “somewhere else.” It’s happening near Owen County.
⚠️ The University of Houston Case: A Warning for Owen County Families
What Happened in Houston Could Happen Here
On November 21, 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a young man who accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Houston. What followed was weeks of systematic abuse, torture, and hazing that hospitalized him for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
The hazing included:
- Waterboarding with a garden hose — simulated drowning
- Forced to perform 500 squats and 100+ pushups — until he collapsed
- Struck with wooden paddles
- Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting — then forced to continue running
- Forced to strip to underwear in cold weather
- Another pledge hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
- A pledge lost consciousness and collapsed during a workout — and they kept going
On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was punished for missing an event. He was forced to perform extreme exercises until he could not stand without help. He crawled up the stairs when he got home. The next day, he couldn’t move. The day after that, his mother rushed him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with kidney failure from rhabdomyolysis.
Why This Matters to Owen County Families
- Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America — including at universities near Owen County
- The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client happen at Indiana fraternities
- Universities near Owen County face the same liability failures as UH
- If your child is being hazed in Owen County, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting in Houston
This didn’t just happen in Texas. It happens in Indiana. It happens near Owen County. And it could happen to your child.
💰 The Legal Rights of Owen County Hazing Victims
You Can Sue for Hazing in Indiana
Indiana has strong anti-hazing laws, and victims can pursue civil lawsuits for compensation. You can sue:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| National Fraternity/Sorority | Failed to supervise; knew or should have known about hazing |
| University/College | Failed to protect students; premises liability if hazing occurred on campus |
| Individual Members | Participated in or facilitated hazing |
| House Corporations | Owned/controlled property where hazing occurred |
Damages Owen County Families Can Recover
| Damage Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, therapy, future treatment |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work or internships |
| Pain and Suffering | Physical pain from injuries |
| Mental Anguish | PTSD, anxiety, depression from abuse |
| Educational Disruption | Impact on grades, scholarships, academic plans |
| Punitive Damages | To punish defendants for egregious conduct |
In our University of Houston case, we are seeking $10 million. Similar damages are available for Owen County victims.
🏛️ Indiana Hazing Laws: What You Need to Know
Indiana Anti-Hazing Statute (IC 35-42-2-2)
Definition of Hazing in Indiana:
A person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally recklessly or knowingly endangers the physical health or safety of another person as a condition of association with a group commits hazing.
Criminal Penalties in Indiana:
- Class B Misdemeanor — Up to 180 days in jail and $1,000 fine
- Class A Misdemeanor — If bodily injury occurs (up to 1 year in jail, $5,000 fine)
- Level 6 Felony — If serious bodily injury or death occurs (6 months to 2.5 years in prison)
Civil Liability:
- Victims can sue for compensatory and punitive damages
- Consent is NOT a defense — Even if the victim “agreed” to participate, it doesn’t matter
University Reporting Requirements:
- Indiana universities must report hazing incidents to law enforcement
- Failure to report is a violation
📋 What Owen County Families Should Do If Hazing Occurs
Step-by-Step Action Guide
| Step | Action | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Get Medical Attention | Document injuries immediately — even if they seem minor |
| 2 | Preserve Evidence | Save all texts, social media, photos, videos, witness names |
| 3 | Do NOT Talk to the Organization | They will try to control the narrative and destroy evidence |
| 4 | Do NOT Post on Social Media | Anything you post can be used against you |
| 5 | Report to Authorities | File a police report and report to university Title IX office |
| 6 | Contact an Attorney | Know your rights before talking to anyone |
Evidence to Preserve
| Evidence Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Medical Records | Hospital bills, doctor notes, therapy records |
| Photos/Videos | Injuries, hazing activities, locations |
| Communications | Texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, emails |
| Witness Information | Names and contact info of other victims or bystanders |
| Documents | Pledge manuals, schedules, rules given to you |
| Financial Records | Medical bills, lost wages, tuition/fees paid |
🎓 Universities Near Owen County: They Have the Power to Stop Hazing
Universities near Owen County — including Indiana University, Purdue University, Ball State, and others — have the power to stop hazing. They:
- Recognize and regulate Greek organizations
- Own or control fraternity and sorority houses
- Receive tuition dollars from students they have a duty to protect
- Have police and security that can intervene
- Have disciplinary systems to punish hazing
Yet they often fail to act until it’s too late.
Why Universities Fail to Stop Hazing
- They prioritize reputation over safety
- They don’t want to anger alumni donors
- They rely on self-reporting from Greek organizations
- They don’t conduct real oversight
- They only act after someone is hospitalized or dies
This must change. Owen County families can demand accountability.
💼 Why Owen County Families Choose Attorney 911
We Are the Hazing Litigation Experts
| Advantage | Why It Matters for Owen County Families |
|---|---|
| 25+ Years of Litigation Experience | Proven expertise fighting for victims |
| Former Insurance Defense Attorneys | We know how defendants will fight back — and how to counter |
| Federal Court Authority | Can pursue Owen County cases in federal court |
| Dual-State Bar Admission | Texas AND New York — strategic advantage for national fraternities |
| Nationwide Hazing Expertise | Currently litigating $10M UH hazing case — same strategies available for Owen County |
| Se Habla Español | Bilingual staff serving Spanish-speaking Owen County families |
| Contingency Fee Basis | $0 upfront — we don’t get paid unless you win |
| Willingness to Travel | We come to Owen County for depositions, trials, and client meetings |
We Know How to Win Against Powerful Institutions
We are currently fighting a $10 million lawsuit against:
- Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity
- Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu Chapter
- Pi Kappa Phi Housing Corporation
- University of Houston
- UH Board of Regents
- Fraternity President
- Pledgemaster
- Current and Former Members
We know how to sue universities. We know how to sue national fraternities. And we know how to win. Owen County families get the same aggressive representation.
📞 Owen County Families: Call Now for a Free Consultation
If your child has been hazed in Owen County or anywhere in Indiana, you have legal rights. You have the right to compensation. You have the right to hold the perpetrators and institutions accountable.
Call Attorney 911 Today: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
- Free, confidential consultation
- No obligation
- $0 upfront cost — we work on contingency
- Available 24/7
- We come to Owen County
Don’t wait. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Statutes of limitations expire. Call us now.
🔥 A Message to Fraternities and Sororities Near Owen County
To the chapters of Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, Beta Theta Pi, and every other Greek organization operating near Owen County:
We are watching.
The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts and settlements nationwide apply to your chapter. We track your house corporations. We track your national organizations. We track your documented history of hazing deaths and injuries.
If your chapter hazes students near Owen County, we will pursue every liable entity. We will depose your members. We will uncover your communications. We will hold you accountable.
The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? SHUT DOWN after our lawsuit. Your chapter could be next.
🏛️ A Message to Universities Near Owen County
To Indiana University, Purdue University, Ball State University, and every other institution near Owen County:
You have the power to stop hazing. You have the duty to protect your students. When you fail, you will be held accountable.
The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where waterboarding occurred. They collected rent while students were tortured. They knew about prior hazing incidents and did nothing. They are now a defendant in our $10 million lawsuit.
If hazing occurs on your campus near Owen County, you face the same liability. Act now — or face accountability in court.
🌟 Owen County Families: You Deserve Justice
Hazing is not a rite of passage. It’s not tradition. It’s not character-building.
It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s torture. And it must stop.
At Attorney 911, we are fighting this battle right now. We are standing up for victims. We are holding institutions accountable. And we are winning.
Owen County families: You are not alone. We will fight for you.
Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911
Justice for Owen County hazing victims starts today.
