🚨 Pennsylvania Hazing Lawyer: Fraternity & Sorority Abuse Attorney
Hazing doesn’t stop at state lines. Neither do we.
If your child was hazed at a Pennsylvania university, you need a law firm that understands the crisis, knows how to fight for justice, and has the experience to win. Attorney 911 is currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—proving we have the expertise to handle even the most complex hazing cases. Pennsylvania families deserve the same aggressive representation.
⚠️ The Hazing Crisis in Pennsylvania—It’s Happening Here
Pennsylvania is home to some of the nation’s most prestigious universities, including Penn State, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, Drexel University, Villanova, and many more. These institutions have active Greek life communities where the same national fraternities and sororities operate as those involved in our current lawsuit.
The same hazing that hospitalized our client in Texas is happening at Pennsylvania universities.
- Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, and other national organizations have chapters across Pennsylvania.
- These organizations have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries across the country.
- Pennsylvania universities have failed to protect students from dangerous hazing traditions that lead to hospitalizations, permanent injuries, and deaths.
Pennsylvania Hazing Statistics You Need to Know
While Pennsylvania does not release statewide hazing statistics, we know from national data that:
- 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
Pennsylvania has seen its share of hazing tragedies:
- Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017) — Died from traumatic brain injury after hazing; led to Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law
- Others — While not all hazing incidents make headlines, Pennsylvania students are being hospitalized, traumatized, and permanently injured by fraternity and sorority hazing every year
🏢 Who We Are: Pennsylvania’s Hazing Litigation Experts
Attorney 911 Legal Emergency Lawyers™ is a Texas-based law firm with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. While we are headquartered in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including Pennsylvania, through our federal court authority and commitment to traveling wherever justice demands.
Why Pennsylvania Families Choose Attorney 911
| Advantage | Details | Pennsylvania Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 25+ Years of Courtroom Experience | Battle-tested trial attorneys | Proven expertise serving Pennsylvania families |
| Former Insurance Defense Insight | Higher claim leverage — we know their playbook | We know how Pennsylvania defendants will fight back |
| Federal Court Admissions | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas | Can pursue Pennsylvania cases in federal court |
| Dual-State Bar Admission | Texas AND New York licensed | Strategic advantage for Pennsylvania cases against national fraternities |
| Se Habla Español | Bilingual staff serving Spanish-speaking clients | Pennsylvania Spanish-speaking families welcome |
| Nationwide Hazing Expertise | Currently litigating $10M UH hazing case | Same strategies available for Pennsylvania victims |
| Will Travel to Pennsylvania | For depositions, trials, and client meetings | We come to you when you need us |
Our Approach to Pennsylvania Hazing Cases
When a legal emergency hits—whether it’s on a Pennsylvania campus or anywhere in America—we move FIRST, FAST, and DECISIVELY.
For Pennsylvania hazing victims, our team:
- Builds cases with expert witnesses (medical, Greek life culture, institutional negligence)
- Preserves evidence immediately — texts, photos, medical records, witness statements
- Negotiates from strength — we’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing case
- Travels to Pennsylvania — for depositions, meetings, and trials when needed
- Provides remote consultations — Pennsylvania families can video chat with our attorneys
If a university, fraternity, or insurance company tries to silence Pennsylvania hazing victims, we take it to court.
🚨 The Landmark Case That Shows Pennsylvania Families What’s Possible
Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston — $10 Million Lawsuit (2025)
This case happened in Houston. But the same hazing is happening at Pennsylvania universities. The same fraternities operate in Pennsylvania. And we will fight for Pennsylvania families with the same aggression.
What Happened to Leonel Bermudez
Leonel Bermudez accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Houston on September 16, 2025. 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 activities included:
✅ Waterboarding — “Simulated waterboarding with a garden hose” while doing calisthenics
✅ Forced Eating Until Vomiting — Large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns consumed until vomiting, then forced to continue running sprints while in physical distress
✅ Extreme Physical Punishment — 100+ pushups, 500 squats, “suicides” (running drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warmups, repeated 100-yard crawls
✅ Psychological Torture — Forced to carry a fanny pack with objects of a sexual nature at all times; another pledge hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
✅ Sleep Deprivation — Forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, leading to exhaustion
✅ Being Struck with Wooden Paddles — Physical beating with paddles
The November 3, 2025 Incident:
Bermudez was punished for missing an event. He was forced to perform:
- Two-mile warmup
- 100+ pushups
- 500+ squats
- High-volume “suicides”
- Bear crawls
- Wheelbarrows
- “Save-you-brother” drills
- Repeated 100-yard crawls
- Reciting the fraternity creed while exercising
Threats: He was threatened with immediate expulsion if he stopped.
Result: He became so exhausted he could not stand without help. He crawled up the stairs when he got home. The next day, he was “really sore and couldn’t really move.” The day after that was worse. On November 6, his mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He spent three nights and four days hospitalized.
The Defendants in Our Lawsuit:
- University of Houston (owns the fraternity house)
- UH System Board of Regents
- Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters
- Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation
- 13 individual fraternity members (president, pledgemaster, risk manager, others)
The Result So Far:
- Chapter suspended within days of hazing reports
- Members voted to surrender their charter
- Chapter permanently closed
- University called conduct “deeply disturbing”
- Criminal referrals initiated
Why This Case Matters to Pennsylvania Families
- Pi Kappa Phi operates at Pennsylvania universities — The same national organization that oversaw the UH chapter has chapters at universities across Pennsylvania.
- The same hazing culture exists in Pennsylvania — Waterboarding, forced drinking, physical abuse, and psychological torture are not limited to Texas.
- Pennsylvania universities have the same liability — If a Pennsylvania university owns or controls a fraternity house where hazing occurs, they are liable.
- National fraternities have paid millions for hazing — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and others have paid multi-million dollar settlements for hazing deaths and injuries.
- Pennsylvania families can win big — Our $10 million demand is in line with precedent cases where hazing victims have won millions.
⚖️ Pennsylvania Hazing Laws: Your Legal Rights
Pennsylvania has strong laws against hazing, and victims have multiple legal options.
Pennsylvania Anti-Hazing Law (Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law)
24 P.S. § 5353 — Hazing
Definition of Hazing:
Any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a student organization.
Criminal Penalties:
- Summary offense — Up to 90 days in jail and/or $300 fine
- Misdemeanor of the third degree — Up to 1 year in jail and/or $2,500 fine (if hazing creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury)
- Felony of the third degree — Up to 7 years in prison and/or $15,000 fine (if hazing results in serious bodily injury or death)
Organizational Penalties:
- Fines up to $15,000
- Loss of recognition by the institution
- Loss of institutional privileges
Consent is NOT a Defense:
“It is not a defense to prosecution for hazing that the consent of the victim had been obtained.”
Civil Liability for Pennsylvania Hazing Victims
In addition to criminal charges, Pennsylvania hazing victims can sue for civil damages, including:
- Negligence — Universities and fraternities have a duty to protect students from foreseeable harm
- Premises Liability — If hazing occurs on university-owned property, the institution is liable
- Negligent Supervision — National fraternities and universities can be liable for failing to supervise chapters
- Assault and Battery — Individual perpetrators can be sued for intentional harm
- Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress — Extreme and outrageous conduct causing severe emotional distress
- Wrongful Death — If hazing results in death, families can sue for damages
💰 What Pennsylvania Hazing Victims Can Recover
Pennsylvania hazing victims are entitled to compensation for:
Economic Damages
- Medical expenses — Hospital bills, rehabilitation, future medical care
- Lost wages — Time missed from work during recovery
- Lost earning capacity — If injuries affect future career prospects
- Educational damages — Tuition for lost semesters, scholarship losses
Non-Economic Damages
- Physical pain and suffering — The agony of hazing injuries
- Mental anguish — Trauma from abuse, PTSD, anxiety, depression
- Emotional distress — Humiliation, shame, loss of trust
- Loss of enjoyment of life — Inability to participate in normal activities
- Disfigurement — Scars, permanent injuries
Punitive Damages
- Awarded when conduct is grossly negligent, reckless, or intentional
- Meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct
- Pennsylvania has no cap on punitive damages in most cases
Precedent Cases Show Pennsylvania Families Can Win Millions:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | $110+ million (estimated settlement) |
| Maxwell Gruver | LSU | Phi Delta Theta | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | $10.1 million settlement |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Confidential settlement |
🏛️ Who Is Liable for Pennsylvania Hazing?
When hazing occurs, multiple parties can be held legally responsible:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Pennsylvania Application |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Pennsylvania fraternity/sorority chapters |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility; directed activities | Pennsylvania chapter presidents, pledgemasters, risk managers |
| Individual Members | Participated in hazing; failed to stop it | Pennsylvania fraternity/sorority members |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture | Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, etc. — all operate in Pennsylvania |
| University | Owned/controlled property; failed to prevent hazing | Penn State, Pitt, Temple, Drexel, Villanova, etc. |
| Insurance Companies | Provide coverage for liability | Fraternity, university, and individual policies |
The Deep Pockets:
National fraternities and sororities have millions in assets and insurance coverage. Universities have substantial endowments and liability insurance. This is not about suing broke college students—it’s about holding institutions accountable.
📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Pennsylvania
If your child was hazed at a Pennsylvania university, act immediately to protect their rights:
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
- Document all injuries and symptoms
- Request copies of all medical records
Step 2: Preserve Evidence
- Do NOT delete any messages — texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram, emails
- Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, items used in hazing
- Save all communications about the hazing
- Get witness information — names and contact info of other pledges, witnesses
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization
- Do NOT speak to fraternity/sorority leadership without legal counsel
- Do NOT sign anything from the organization
- Do NOT post about the incident on social media
- Do NOT give statements to university administrators without an attorney
Step 4: Report to Authorities
- Consider filing a police report
- File a Title IX report with the university
- Report to the national fraternity/sorority organization
Step 5: Contact an Attorney
- Call Attorney 911 immediately — 1-888-ATTY-911
- We offer free consultations for Pennsylvania hazing victims
- We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win
🎯 Why Pennsylvania Families Need a Specialized Hazing Attorney
Hazing cases are not like other personal injury cases. They require:
✅ Expertise in Greek life culture — Understanding fraternity/sorority dynamics
✅ Experience with institutional defendants — Universities and national organizations have powerful legal teams
✅ Knowledge of hazing laws — Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law and other statutes
✅ Pattern evidence strategy — Proving this isn’t an isolated incident
✅ Multi-defendant litigation — Suing chapters, nationals, universities, and individuals
✅ Media and public pressure — Holding institutions accountable in the court of public opinion
Attorney 911 has all of this expertise. We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing case and have the experience to handle even the most complex Pennsylvania hazing cases.
🏆 Our Track Record: Why Pennsylvania Families Trust Us
Case Results That Show What’s Possible
$10 Million Hazing Lawsuit (Ongoing)
- Case: Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston
- Injury: Severe rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, 4-day hospitalization
- Hazing: Waterboarding, 500 squats, forced eating, wooden paddles
- Status: Lawsuit filed November 2025; chapter permanently closed
Multi-Million Dollar Personal Injury Settlements
- Recovered millions for victims of car accidents, trucking accidents, workplace injuries, and more
- Former insurance defense attorneys who know how to maximize claims
Criminal Defense Successes
- Hundreds of cases dismissed or reduced
- Experience navigating parallel criminal and civil proceedings
Client Testimonials
“Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer regarding my case.” — Dame Haskett
“One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello and they said that they would take it. And in the next few months, I got a call to pick up this handsome check.” — Donald Wilcox
“If you’re ever in a car accident, I highly recommend you give them a call 10/10. The staff provides great customer service and show they are a firm that cares about their clients!” — Devin Hebert
“They fought with the other party insurance and got me more of the settlement that I was expecting.” — Vivian Ruiz
“You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client that’s caught in the middle of many other cases. You are FAMILY to them and they protect and fight for you as such.” — Chad Harris
📞 Pennsylvania Hazing Victims: Contact Us Now
Legal Emergency Hotline for Pennsylvania Hazing Victims:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
We offer:
- Free consultations for Pennsylvania hazing victims
- Contingency fee representation — you pay nothing unless we win
- Video consultations — meet with us remotely
- Travel to Pennsylvania — for depositions, trials, and client meetings
Pennsylvania universities we serve:
- Penn State University
- University of Pittsburgh
- Temple University
- Drexel University
- Villanova University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Lehigh University
- Lafayette College
- Bucknell University
- West Chester University
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- And many more
Pennsylvania fraternities and sororities we can pursue:
- Pi Kappa Phi
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- Pi Kappa Alpha
- Beta Theta Pi
- Phi Delta Theta
- Sigma Chi
- Kappa Sigma
- Sigma Phi Epsilon
- Delta Chi
- Alpha Phi Alpha
- Delta Sigma Theta
- And all others
❓ Frequently Asked Questions for Pennsylvania Families
Q: My child was hazed at a Pennsylvania university. Can you help even though you’re based in Texas?
A: Absolutely. While we are based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide, including Pennsylvania. We have federal court authority and are admitted to practice in multiple jurisdictions. We offer video consultations and will travel to Pennsylvania for your case.
Q: What if my child consented to participate in hazing activities?
A: Consent is not a defense to hazing in Pennsylvania. The Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law explicitly states that consent does not matter. Even if your child agreed to participate, the organization is still liable for the harm caused.
Q: What if the fraternity says the hazing was just “tradition”?
A: “Tradition” is not an excuse for abuse. Waterboarding, forced drinking, physical beatings, and psychological torture are not traditions—they are crimes. Pennsylvania law does not allow organizations to hide behind “tradition” to justify hazing.
Q: How much is my child’s hazing case worth?
A: Every case is different, but Pennsylvania hazing victims can recover:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages
Precedent cases have resulted in millions of dollars in compensation for hazing victims. We will evaluate your child’s case and pursue the maximum compensation possible.
Q: What if my child is afraid of retaliation?
A: We understand that hazing victims often fear retaliation. We will protect your child’s identity and pursue legal action to prevent any form of retribution. Our client in the UH case was also afraid of retaliation—we know how to handle these sensitive situations.
Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: Pennsylvania has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. This means you have 2 years from the date of the hazing incident to file a lawsuit. However, evidence disappears quickly, so it’s critical to act immediately.
Q: Do we have to pay anything upfront?
A: No. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case. This allows Pennsylvania families to pursue justice without financial barriers.
Q: What if the university says they didn’t know about the hazing?
A: Universities have a duty to protect students. If they own or control the property where hazing occurs, they are responsible for what happens there. Many universities have been held liable for hazing even when they claim ignorance. We will investigate what the university knew and when they knew it.
🔥 To Pennsylvania Fraternities and Sororities: We Are Watching
To the fraternities and sororities operating in Pennsylvania:
We are currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi for hazing that resulted in kidney failure. The same national organizations that have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths are operating chapters in Pennsylvania.
If your chapter hazes students in Pennsylvania, know this:
- We will sue your chapter
- We will sue your national organization
- We will sue your university
- We will sue your individual members
- We will pursue every liable entity
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma—if your chapter operates in Pennsylvania, your turn could be next.
The message is clear: Hazing will not be tolerated. The era of secrecy and abuse is over. We will hold you accountable.
🏆 Pennsylvania Families: You Deserve Justice
If your child was hazed at a Pennsylvania university, you are not alone. The institutions that failed to protect your child must be held accountable. The individuals who abused your child must face consequences. The culture that allows hazing to continue must be changed.
Attorney 911 is ready to fight for you. We have the experience, the expertise, and the determination to win. We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing case, and we will bring the same aggression to Pennsylvania families.
Call us now for a free consultation:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
Pennsylvania hazing victims: The time for justice is now.
