🛡️ Attorney 911 — Perry County, Mississippi Hazing Victims Legal Guide

Perry County Families: If your child has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or any student organization, you are not alone. We are currently litigating a $10 MILLION hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston — and we will bring the same aggressive representation to Perry County victims.

🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Perry County, Mississippi

Hazing is not just a problem at big universities in Texas or Florida. It happens right here in Mississippi — including in Perry County. The same national fraternities and sororities that operate at major universities have chapters near Perry County. The same dangerous “traditions” that hospitalized our client in Houston exist at institutions across Mississippi.

Perry County parents: If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority, they face the same risks. Waterboarding. Forced drinking. Extreme physical punishment. Humiliation. These aren’t “pranks” or “team-building exercises” — they’re assault, battery, and sometimes torture.

📍 Hazing in Mississippi — The Facts

While Mississippi doesn’t have the same volume of reported hazing incidents as some larger states, the danger is just as real. Mississippi universities and colleges have active Greek life programs where hazing occurs, often unreported.

Universities near Perry County with Greek life include:

• University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg) — Approximately 25 fraternities and sororities
• William Carey University (Hattiesburg) — Multiple Greek organizations
• Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Perkinston) — Some Greek presence
• Pearl River Community College (Poplarville) — Greek organizations present

These institutions serve students from Perry County and surrounding areas. The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths and injuries nationwide — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, and others — operate chapters at Mississippi universities.

The culture is the same. The risks are the same. The consequences can be just as severe.

⚠️ The Landmark Case — What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Perry County

💰 Our Fight: $10 Million Lawsuit Against Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston

This case is happening RIGHT NOW. We filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a young man who was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being hazed at the University of Houston’s Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

What they did to him:

• Waterboarded him with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
• Forced him to do 500 squats, 100+ pushups, bear crawls, and other extreme exercises until he collapsed
• Struck him with wooden paddles
• Forced him to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited — then forced him to continue running
• Deprived him of sleep — forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours
• Humiliated him — forced to carry a fanny pack with sexual objects, stripped to underwear in cold weather

The result:

• November 3, 2025: Bermudez punished with extreme exercise, collapsed, couldn’t stand without help
• November 4: “Really sore and couldn’t really move”
• November 5: “The next day was worse”
• November 6: Mother rushes him to hospital with brown urine (sign of muscle breakdown)
• Diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure
• Hospitalized for 3 nights and 4 days

Why this matters to Perry County families:

• Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America — including near Perry County
• The same national organization that waterboarded our client operates in Mississippi
• Universities near Perry County have the same oversight failures as UH
• If your child is being hazed, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting for Leonel

🔍 Recognizing Hazing in Perry County

Hazing can take many forms, and it’s often disguised as “tradition” or “team bonding.” If your child is experiencing any of the following, it may be hazing:

Physical Hazing

• Forced exercise to exhaustion (e.g., 500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls)
• Being struck with objects (paddles, belts, etc.)
• Waterboarding or other simulated drowning
• Sleep deprivation
• Exposure to extreme temperatures (forced to stay outside in cold weather)
• Being sprayed with hoses or other liquids
• Forced consumption of alcohol, food, or non-food substances
• Physical restraint (hog-tying, tying to objects)

Psychological Hazing

• Forced to carry embarrassing objects
• Forced to wear humiliating clothing
• Verbal abuse and degradation
• Isolation from friends and family
• Threats of physical harm or expulsion
• Being called derogatory names

Sexual Hazing

• Forced nudity
• Sexual simulation
• Sexual assault
• Being forced to carry or wear sexual objects

Medical Warning Signs

• Severe muscle pain
• Difficulty walking or moving
• Dark or brown urine (sign of rhabdomyolysis)
• Confusion or disorientation
• Vomiting
• Loss of consciousness

If your child shows any of these symptoms after pledging, seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY.

⚖️ Mississippi Hazing Laws — Your Legal Rights

Mississippi has specific laws against hazing, and they apply to all educational institutions in the state — including universities and colleges near Perry County.

Mississippi Code § 97-3-105 — Hazing Prohibited

Definition of Hazing:

“Hazing” means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a student, or a former student, of an educational institution, whether individually or in concert with others, against another student, that:

(a) Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that other student; and

(b) Is done for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, participating in, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are or include students at an educational institution.

Criminal Penalties:

Important Note: Consent is NOT a defense to hazing in Mississippi.

Civil Liability — You Can Sue for Damages

In addition to criminal charges, hazing victims and their families can file civil lawsuits to recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Lost wages
• Future medical care
• Punitive damages

Who can be sued:

• The local chapter of the fraternity/sorority
• The national organization
• The university or college
• Individual members who participated
• Alumni who facilitated hazing
• Housing corporations that own fraternity/sorority houses

💰 Precedent Cases — Hazing Victims Can and Do Win Big

Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. These same outcomes are possible for Perry County victims.

Stone Foltz — $10.1 Million Settlement (2021)

• Victim: Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State University (Ohio)
• Fraternity: Pi Kappa Alpha
• What happened: Forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol; died from alcohol poisoning
• Outcome: $10.1 million total settlement from university and fraternity
• Relevance: Our $10 million demand for Leonel Bermudez is directly in line with this precedent

Maxwell Gruver — $6.1 Million Jury Verdict (2017)

• Victim: Maxwell Gruver, Louisiana State University
• Fraternity: Phi Delta Theta
• What happened: Forced drinking game (“Bible Study”); died from alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495)
• Outcome: $6.1 million jury verdict; fraternity member convicted of negligent homicide
• Relevance: Juries award MILLIONS in hazing cases; criminal + civil liability

Timothy Piazza — $110+ Million Settlement (2017)

• Victim: Timothy Piazza, Penn State University
• Fraternity: Beta Theta Pi
• What happened: Forced to drink 18 drinks in 82 minutes; fell down stairs; fraternity members waited 12 hours to call 911; died from traumatic brain injury
• Outcome: Estimated $110 million settlement; multiple criminal convictions
• Relevance: Strong evidence leads to massive outcomes; our case has detailed documentation

Perry County families: These cases prove that hazing victims can and do win. The same legal strategies apply to Mississippi cases.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Perry County

Step 1: Ensure Safety

• Remove your child from the dangerous situation immediately
• If they are in immediate physical danger, call 911

Step 2: Seek Medical Attention

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
• Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) may not show symptoms immediately
• Medical records are critical evidence

Step 3: Preserve Evidence

• Take photos of any injuries, the location where hazing occurred, and any objects used
• Save all communications — text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs, emails
• Document everything — write down dates, times, what happened, who was involved
• Get witness information — names and contact info of other victims or bystanders

Step 4: Report the Incident

• Report to the university — file a complaint with the university’s Greek life office or student conduct office
• Report to law enforcement — file a police report; hazing is a crime in Mississippi
• Report to the national organization — if a fraternity/sorority, report to the national headquarters

Step 5: Do NOT Talk to the Organization Without Legal Counsel

• The fraternity/sorority, university, or their representatives may try to contact you
• Do not give statements or sign anything without consulting an attorney
• They will try to minimize their liability; protect your rights

Step 6: Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney

• Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation
• We offer video consultations for Perry County families
• We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win
• We will travel to Perry County for depositions and client meetings

🏢 Who We Are — Perry County’s Hazing Litigation Experts

About Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™

Attorney 911 is a Texas-based personal injury and criminal defense law firm with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. While we are headquartered in Texas, we proudly serve hazing victims nationwide, including Perry County, Mississippi.

We are currently litigating a $10 MILLION hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This isn’t theoretical — we’re in the fight RIGHT NOW. Perry County families get the same aggressive representation.

Why Perry County Families Choose Attorney 911

Our Approach to Perry County Hazing Cases

When a legal emergency hits — whether it’s on a Mississippi campus or a fraternity house anywhere in America — we move FIRST, FAST, and DECISIVELY.

For Perry County 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 Perry County — for depositions, meetings, and trials when needed
• Provides remote consultations — Perry County families can video chat with our attorneys

If a university, fraternity, or insurance company tries to silence Perry County hazing victims, we take it to court.

👨⚖️ Our Attorneys — Fighting for Perry County Victims

Ralph P. Manginello — Managing Partner

Perry County families can reach Ralph directly:

• Email: ralph@atty911.com
• Direct Line: 1-888-ATTY-911
• Video Consultations: Available for Perry County families

Why Perry County families choose Ralph for hazing cases:

1. 25+ Years of Litigation Experience — Battle-tested in courtrooms across Texas and federal courts
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorney — Knows exactly how insurance companies think and try to deny claims
3. Multi-Billion Dollar Case Experience — BP Texas City explosion litigation (15 deaths, 180+ injuries) proves capacity for taking on massive institutional defendants
4. Dual-State Bar Admission — Texas AND New York licensed; strategic advantage for Perry County cases involving out-of-state nationals
5. Federal Court Authority — Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; can pursue Perry County cases in federal jurisdiction
6. Civil Rights Litigation Experience — Knows how to fight when institutions try to silence or retaliate against victims
7. Hazing-Specific Expertise — Direct experience with fraternity litigation, rhabdomyolysis cases, and university accountability
8. Hall of Fame Athlete & Youth Coach — Understands team culture and the pressures that lead to hazing
9. High-Profile Case Experience — Ryan Smith case (ABC13 coverage) demonstrates ability to handle emotionally charged, media-intensive cases
10. Father of Three — Knows what’s at stake when a Perry County family’s child is harmed

Lupe Eleno Peña — Associate Attorney

Perry County families can reach Mr. Peña directly:

• Email: lupe@atty911.com
• Direct Line: 1-888-ATTY-911
• Video Consultations: Available for Perry County families

Why Perry County families choose Lupe for hazing cases:

1. Former National Defense Firm Attorney — Worked at Litchfield Cavo LLP, a nationwide insurance defense firm; knows how defendants strategize
2. 12+ Years of Litigation Experience — Battle-tested in Texas state and federal courts
3. Federal Court Authority — Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; can pursue Perry County cases in federal jurisdiction
4. Wrongful Death Expertise — Direct experience representing families who have lost loved ones
5. Dram Shop Experience — Knows how to hold establishments accountable for alcohol-related injuries; applicable to forced drinking hazing
6. Bilingual (Fluent Spanish) — Can serve Perry County Hispanic families without language barriers
7. Aggressive Philosophy — “Outwork, outsmart, outfight” — exactly the mentality needed to take on Perry County fraternities and universities
8. Proven Results — Recovered millions for clients across wrongful death, dram shop, and catastrophic injury cases
9. Third-Generation Texan — Deep roots and values that resonate with Perry County families
10. Business Background — Pre-law finance career provides understanding of economic damages and corporate structures

🤝 Why We’re the Right Choice for Perry County Families

The Attorney 911 “Insurance Counter-Intelligence System”

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña are former insurance defense attorneys. This means:

• We know exactly how insurance companies think
• We know their valuation methods
• We know their delay tactics
• We know their denial strategies
• We know their playbook — and now we use it against them

When a hazing victim or their family hires Attorney 911, they’re not just getting lawyers — they’re getting former insiders who know how to dismantle the other side’s defenses.

We Know Perry County Institutions Can’t Hide

Universities and national fraternities have:

• In-house legal departments
• Insurance company lawyers
• Risk management professionals
• Crisis PR teams

You need your own experienced legal team to level the playing field.

We See Your Child as a Person — Not a Paycheck

We’ve seen what fraternities do to kids. We’re fighting it in court right now. We see your child as a person — not a paycheck. And we will fight hard for Perry County families, because we truly care.

📞 Perry County Families — Contact Us Today

Hazing is a legal emergency. If your child has been hazed in Perry County or at any institution in Mississippi, act now.

How Perry County Families Can Reach Us:

📞 Legal Emergency Hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com

Free Consultation for Perry County Victims

• We offer video consultations for Perry County families who cannot travel
• We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win
• We will travel to Perry County for depositions, trials, and client meetings

Distance is not a barrier to justice. We serve hazing victims nationwide, including Perry County, Mississippi.

🔥 A Message to Perry County Fraternities and Universities

To the fraternities operating near Perry County:
We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, and all others:
If your chapter operates near Perry County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your playbook.

To the University of Southern Mississippi, William Carey University, and all Mississippi institutions:
The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campuses. Act now or face the same accountability.

The message is clear:

• Waterboarding is torture — not tradition
• 500 squats causing kidney failure is not “team bonding”
• Forced drinking until vomiting is not “brotherhood”
• Hog-tying a pledge is not “initiation”

When you haze students in Perry County, you will be held accountable. We are coming for every institution, every national organization, and every individual who thinks they can torture our kids and walk away.

📚 Additional Resources for Perry County Families

Mississippi Hazing Reporting

• Mississippi State University Hazing Hotline: (662) 325-3328
• University of Southern Mississippi Hazing Reporting: https://www.usm.edu/student-affairs/hazing.php
• William Carey University Student Conduct: https://www.wmcarey.edu/student-life/student-conduct
• Mississippi Attorney General’s Office: https://www.ago.state.ms.us/

National Hazing Resources

• HazingPrevention.Org: https://hazingprevention.org/
• StopHazing Research Lab: https://stophazing.org/
• Clery Center (Campus Safety): https://clerycenter.org/

Medical Information

• Rhabdomyolysis Information (Mayo Clinic): https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rhabdomyolysis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354703
• Alcohol Poisoning Information (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-poisoning.htm

📅 Perry County Families — Act Now

Mississippi’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is 3 years. While this might seem like a long time, evidence disappears quickly:

• Text messages get deleted
• Photos get lost
• Witnesses forget
• Organizations destroy records
• Your legal rights expire

The time to act is NOW.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today for a free, confidential consultation. We are ready to fight for Perry County hazing victims.

© 2025 Attorney 911. All rights reserved.
Serving Perry County, Mississippi and nationwide.

This is not legal advice. Every case is unique. Contact an attorney for specific legal guidance.