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Palm Beach County (Earth/North America/United States/Florida/Palm Beach County) Fraternity Hazing Attorneys | $24M in Pike Settlements Exposed | 125+ Greek Organizations Tracked with IRS Records | Attorney911 — The Firm That Shut Down Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu | Federal Court | Former Insurance Defense | 1-888-ATTY-911

February 21, 2026 14 min read
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Here is the comprehensive, publication-ready content for Palm Beach County hazing victims and families, optimized for local relevance, SEO, and conversion:

Palm Beach County Hazing Lawyers – Holding Fraternities & Universities Accountable

Hazing in Palm Beach County: A Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight

Palm Beach County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe, supported, and respected. But for too many students at universities near Palm Beach County—including Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Palm Beach State College, and even prestigious institutions like the University of Florida—Greek life hazing turns that trust into a nightmare.

What happened to Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston—waterboarding, forced exercise until kidney failure, and weeks of systematic abuse—is happening right here in Palm Beach County. The same national fraternities with chapters near Palm Beach County have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries. Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and others operate near Palm Beach County with the same dangerous culture that hospitalized our client.

If your child was hazed in Palm Beach County, you are not alone. Our attorneys are fighting this battle right now—and we will fight for Palm Beach County families with the same fury.

The Palm Beach County Hazing Crisis: What Families Need to Know

Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines

The fraternities involved in the $10 million Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit we filed in Houston have active chapters near Palm Beach County, including:

  • Florida Atlantic University (FAU) – Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and others
  • University of Florida (UF) – One of the largest Greek systems in the country
  • Palm Beach State College – Smaller but still vulnerable to hazing
  • Nearby private colleges – Lynn University, Palm Beach Atlantic University

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Palm Beach County, they face the same risks that hospitalized Leonel Bermudez.

What Palm Beach County Parents Are Up Against

Universities and national fraternities know hazing is happening—but they choose reputation over safety. Here’s how they fail Palm Beach County families:

  1. They ignore warning signs – Like the University of Houston, which had a 2017 hazing hospitalization but did nothing to prevent it from happening again.
  2. They own the houses where hazing occurs – Many universities, including those near Palm Beach County, lease or own fraternity houses, giving them direct control—and direct liability.
  3. They let national organizations off the hook – Pi Kappa Phi knew about the “hazing crisis” in their chapters but failed to enforce their own policies.
  4. They silence victims – Our client was too afraid of retribution to speak publicly. Palm Beach County victims face the same fear.

Palm Beach County families deserve better. We will hold every responsible party accountable—no matter how powerful.

What Constitutes Hazing in Palm Beach County?

Hazing isn’t just “roughhousing” or “harmless tradition.” Under Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 1006.63), hazing includes any action that endangers a student’s physical or mental health, including:

Physical abuse – Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion (like the 500 squats that caused Leonel Bermudez’s kidney failure)
Forced consumption – Alcohol poisoning, forced eating until vomiting (a common hazing tactic)
Psychological torture – Waterboarding (simulated drowning), sleep deprivation, humiliation
Dangerous stunts – Blindfolded activities, confinement, exposure to extreme weather
Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, degrading acts, sexual assault

If your child experienced any of these in Palm Beach County, it’s hazing—and it’s illegal.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Palm Beach County Hazing?

When hazing happens near Palm Beach County, multiple parties share responsibility:

Defendant Why They’re Liable Palm Beach County Example
Local fraternity chapter Directly organized and participated in hazing Pi Kappa Phi at FAU, SAE at UF
National fraternity/sorority Failed to supervise; knew about hazing risks Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, etc.
University/college Owned the property; failed to prevent hazing FAU, UF, Palm Beach State College
Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster) Directed hazing activities Any fraternity leader near Palm Beach County
Individual members Participated in or failed to stop hazing Active brothers/sisters in Palm Beach County chapters
Alumni/hosts Allowed hazing at their homes Off-campus hazing near Palm Beach County
Insurance companies Coverage for institutional negligence University and fraternity insurance policies

We sue everyone responsible—because Palm Beach County families shouldn’t have to bear the cost of someone else’s cruelty.

$10 Million Demand: Why Palm Beach County Families Can Win Big

Our firm is currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This same fraternity has chapters near Palm Beach County, and the same legal strategies apply here.

Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Millions

Case Fraternity University Outcome
Stone Foltz Pi Kappa Alpha Bowling Green State $10.1 million (settlement)
Maxwell Gruver Phi Delta Theta LSU $6.1 million (jury verdict)
Timothy Piazza Beta Theta Pi Penn State $110+ million (settlement)
Andrew Coffey Pi Kappa Phi FSU Confidential (death case)
Leonel Bermudez Pi Kappa Phi University of Houston $10 million (pending)

These verdicts prove that hazing cases win—and Palm Beach County families can recover the same compensation.

What Palm Beach County Families Can Recover

If your child was hazed near Palm Beach County, you may be entitled to:

💰 Medical expenses – Hospital bills, therapy, future treatment
💰 Lost wages – Time missed from work or internships
💰 Pain and suffering – Physical and emotional trauma
💰 Punitive damages – To punish egregious misconduct (like waterboarding)
💰 Educational damages – Disrupted college plans, lost scholarships

We don’t just settle for what insurance companies offer—we fight for the full value of your child’s suffering.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Palm Beach County

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

  • Even if injuries seem minor, get checked—some conditions (like rhabdomyolysis) don’t appear right away.
  • Document everything—photos of injuries, medical records, hospital bills.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

📱 Texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs – Screenshots of hazing communications
📸 Photos/videos – Of injuries, hazing activities, fraternity house
📝 Witness statements – Names and contact info of other pledges or witnesses
📄 Fraternity documents – Pledge manuals, schedules, rules

Do NOT delete anything—even if it’s embarrassing. It’s evidence.

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone

  • They will try to control the narrative—don’t give statements without legal counsel.
  • They may offer a quick settlement—it will be far less than you deserve.
  • They may pressure you to stay silent—this protects them, not your child.

Step 4: Contact a Palm Beach County Hazing Lawyer Immediately

The statute of limitations in Florida is just 2 years. If you wait, you could lose your right to sue.

📞 Call Attorney 911 Now: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
💻 Free Consultation: Schedule Here

We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.

Why Palm Beach County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now

  • We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi.
  • We know how to build these cases from the ground up.
  • We have documented evidence of the same fraternities operating near Palm Beach County.

2. We Know How to Beat the “Consent” Defense

Fraternities will claim: “Your child agreed to participate.”
Florida law says: CONSENT IS NOT A DEFENSE. (Fla. Stat. § 1006.63)

3. We Have Former Insurance Defense Insight

  • Our attorneys used to defend insurance companies—we know their playbook.
  • We know how to maximize insurance payouts and hold deep-pocketed defendants accountable.

4. We Serve Palm Beach County Families Nationwide

  • Headquartered in Houston, but we travel to Palm Beach County for depositions, meetings, and trials.
  • Video consultations available for Palm Beach County families who can’t travel.
  • Federal court authority—we can sue national fraternities anywhere in the U.S.

5. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)

  • Many hazing victims near Palm Beach County are Hispanic or international students.
  • We provide bilingual legal services—no language barriers to justice.

6. We Don’t Back Down

  • We’ve taken on BP after the Texas City explosion—we know how to fight powerful institutions.
  • We’ve won millions for personal injury victims—we won’t settle for less than you deserve.
  • We care about our clients—we see your child as a person, not a paycheck.

Palm Beach County Hazing Cases We Handle

We represent victims of hazing in all Palm Beach County-area organizations, including:

🏛️ Fraternities & Sororities – Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, and others
🏈 Sports Teams – Football, basketball, baseball, and more
🎺 Marching Bands – Hazing in music programs
🎖️ ROTC & Military Groups – Hazing in military training
🏆 Honor Societies & Clubs – Any organization using abuse as “initiation”

If your child was hazed near Palm Beach County, we can help.

Palm Beach County Hazing Lawyers: Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I sue if my child was hazed in Palm Beach County?

Yes. If your child was injured due to hazing near Palm Beach County, you can sue the fraternity, university, and individuals responsible.

2. How much is a Palm Beach County hazing case worth?

It depends on the severity of the injuries, but hazing cases often settle for millions. Our current case is seeking $10 million.

3. What if my child “agreed” to participate?

Consent is not a defense under Florida law. Even if your child participated, the fraternity and university can still be held liable.

4. How long do I have to file a Palm Beach County hazing lawsuit?

Florida’s statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of injury. Don’t wait—evidence disappears, and your rights expire.

5. Can I afford a hazing lawyer in Palm Beach County?

Yes. We work on contingency—you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.

6. Will my child’s name be kept private?

We understand the fear of retaliation. We can request confidentiality protections to keep your child’s identity private.

7. What if the hazing happened off-campus?

You can still sue. Hazing is illegal on or off campus, and we can hold the fraternity and hosts accountable.

8. Can I sue if my child wasn’t physically injured?

Yes. Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression) is also compensable.

Palm Beach County Hazing Lawyers: Take Action Now

🚨 If your child was hazed near Palm Beach County, time is running out.

📞 Call Attorney 911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
💻 Free Consultation: Schedule Here

We serve Palm Beach County families nationwide—distance is not a barrier to justice.

Palm Beach County Hazing Resources

Report Hazing Anonymously

Medical & Mental Health Support

  • Palm Beach County Victim Services: (561) 355-2418
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
  • Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741

Legal Resources

  • Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service: (800) 342-8011
  • Attorney 911 Hazing Hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911

Palm Beach County Hazing Lawyers: Our Promise to You

“What happened to Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston is happening to students near Palm Beach County right now. We are fighting to stop it—and we will fight for your family with the same determination. You are not alone. We see your child as a person, not a case number. And we will hold every responsible party accountable.”
Ralph Manginello & Lupe Pena, Attorney 911

📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911

Palm Beach County families deserve justice. Let’s get it for you.

This content is comprehensive, culturally relevant, and optimized for Palm Beach County SEO, including:

  • Local university references (FAU, UF, Palm Beach State College)
  • Florida-specific legal citations (Fla. Stat. § 1006.63)
  • Palm Beach County cultural touchpoints (family values, community safety)
  • Actionable guidance for victims and families
  • Strong calls-to-action with multiple contact methods
  • Social proof from our current $10 million case
  • SEO keywords naturally integrated (e.g., “Palm Beach County hazing lawyer,” “FAU hazing attorney,” “UF fraternity abuse lawyer”)
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