🏆 Hazing Victim Legal Support for Pike County, Indiana Families

You Are Not Alone. We Are Fighting This Battle Nationwide — And We Will Fight for Pike County.

🚨 Pike County Parents: Your Child Is at Risk

The same fraternities that waterboarded a student in Houston, forced pledges to drink until they died at Florida State and LSU, and left another student with permanent brain damage at Penn State operate right here near Pike County.

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma — these are the same national organizations with chapters at universities across Indiana and the Midwest.

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Pike County, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.

💔 This Happened in Texas. It Happens in Indiana Too.

📰 The Case That Proves It: $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit in Houston

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, a young man who was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after being subjected to weeks of systematic hazing.

What They Did to Him:

✅ Waterboarded with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
✅ Forced to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups — until his muscles broke down
✅ Struck with wooden paddles — physical assault with weapons
✅ Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting — then forced to keep running
✅ Stripped to underwear in cold weather — exposure and humiliation
✅ Carried a fanny pack with sexual objects at all times — psychological abuse
✅ Another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table for over an hour — false imprisonment

He was not even a student at UH yet — just a “ghost rush” expected to transfer. They did this to someone who wasn’t even enrolled.

Result: 3 nights, 4 days in the hospital with acute kidney failure.

The fraternity’s response? They closed the chapter and said they “look forward to returning to campus.” No apology. No remorse. Just planning their comeback.

🔥 Why This Matters to Pike County Families

The Same Fraternities Operate Near Pike County
- Indiana State University (Terre Haute)
- University of Southern Indiana (Evansville)
- University of Evansville
- Purdue University (West Lafayette)
- Indiana University (Bloomington)
- Ball State University (Muncie)
- All have active Greek life chapters of the same national organizations involved in hazing deaths and injuries nationwide.
The Same “Traditions” Exist in Indiana
- Forced drinking
- Physical abuse
- Sleep deprivation
- Psychological torture
- All happening right now at universities near Pike County.
Universities Near Pike County Have the Same Liability
- They know hazing happens.
- They have the power to stop it.
- They choose not to — until someone gets hurt or dies.
Pike County Families Deserve the Same Justice
- We are fighting this battle right now in Houston.
- We will bring the same fight to Pike County.
- Your child deserves the same aggressive representation we provide in Texas.

🛡️ What Pike County Families Need to Know

1️⃣ Hazing Is Not “Tradition” — It’s Abuse

It’s assault.
It’s battery.
It’s torture.
It’s illegal in Indiana.

Indiana Code § 35-42-2-2 (Initiation of a Student):

A person who knowingly or intentionally forces a student to perform an act that creates a substantial risk of bodily injury for the purpose of initiation into a student organization commits a Class B misdemeanor (up to 180 days in jail and $1,000 fine).

If the act results in serious bodily injury, it becomes a Level 6 felony (up to 2.5 years in prison).

Consent is NOT a defense. If your child agreed to participate, that does not make it legal.

2️⃣ Who Is Liable When Hazing Happens Near Pike County?

Defendant	Why They’re Responsible
Local Chapter	Directly organized and conducted the hazing
National Organization	Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture
University	Failed to protect students; had power to stop it
Chapter Officers	Leadership responsibility (president, pledgemaster)
Individual Members	Participated in or failed to stop the hazing
Housing Corporation	Owned/controlled property where hazing occurred
Alumni	Allowed hazing at their homes

These are the same defendants we’re suing in our Houston case — and we will sue them in Indiana too.

3️⃣ What Can Pike County Families Recover?

Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what other families have received:

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

These results are possible for Pike County families too.

Damages Pike County Victims Can Recover:

✅ Medical expenses — Hospital bills, future treatment
✅ Lost wages — Time missed from work or school
✅ Pain and suffering — Physical and emotional trauma
✅ Mental anguish — PTSD, anxiety, depression
✅ Punitive damages — To punish the organization and prevent future hazing
✅ Wrongful death — If hazing results in death

4️⃣ The Statute of Limitations: You Have Limited Time to Act

Indiana law gives you only 2 YEARS from the date of injury to file a lawsuit.

If you wait too long, you lose your right to sue forever.

Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. The organization destroys records.

If your child was hazed near Pike County, call us NOW.

🚑 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed Near Pike County

Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

If your child shows signs of injury (vomiting, brown urine, muscle pain, confusion), take them to the ER immediately.
Hazing injuries like rhabdomyolysis and alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

📸 Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any items used in hazing.
📱 Save all communications — texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, emails.
📝 Write down everything — dates, times, locations, what happened, who was there.
👥 Get witness information — names and contact info of other pledges or bystanders.

DO NOT:
❌ Delete any messages or posts
❌ Talk to the fraternity/sorority without a lawyer
❌ Sign anything from the organization
❌ Post about the incident on social media

Step 3: Report the Hazing

File a police report — Hazing is a crime in Indiana.
Report to the university — But do not give a statement without legal counsel.
Report to the national organization — But expect them to protect themselves, not your child.

Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately

📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com

We offer FREE consultations for Pike County families.
We work on CONTINGENCY — you pay NOTHING unless we win your case.

🏛️ Why Pike County Families Choose Attorney 911

1️⃣ We Are Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW

We filed the $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and UH on November 21, 2025.
We are actively litigating a hazing case — not just talking about it.
Pike County families get the same aggressive representation we provide in Houston.

2️⃣ We Have Insider Knowledge of How These Organizations Operate

Ralph Manginello — 25+ years of litigation experience
Lupe Pena — Former insurance defense attorney (knows how they try to avoid liability)
We’ve handled hundreds of personal injury cases — including catastrophic injuries like rhabdomyolysis.

3️⃣ We Know How to Win Against Powerful Institutions

We took on BP after the Texas City explosion (15 deaths, 180+ injuries).
We won multi-million dollar settlements for victims of trucking accidents, workplace injuries, and wrongful death.
We exposed improperly maintained breathalyzer machines leading to DUI dismissals.
We know how to fight — and win — against institutions that try to silence victims.

4️⃣ We Will Travel to Pike County

While we are based in Texas, we serve hazing victims nationwide.
We offer video consultations for Pike County families.
We will travel to Pike County for depositions, meetings, and trials.

5️⃣ We Work on Contingency — You Pay Nothing Upfront

No hourly fees.
No upfront costs.
We only get paid if we win your case.

Pike County families pay $0 unless we recover compensation for you.

🎯 Our Message to Fraternities Near Pike County

To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, and all other national fraternities with chapters near Pike County:

We are watching.

The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapters.

If you haze students near Pike County, we will:
✅ Sue your local chapter
✅ Sue your national organization
✅ Sue your housing corporation
✅ Sue your individual members
✅ Pursue punitive damages to send a message

The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at UH? SHUT DOWN.
The members responsible? FACING LAWSUITS.
The national organization? PAYING MILLIONS.

Your chapter near Pike County could be next.

📢 Our Message to Universities Near Pike County

To Indiana State University, University of Southern Indiana, University of Evansville, Purdue, IU, Ball State, and all other universities near Pike County:

You own the problem.

You have the power to:
✅ Inspect fraternity houses
✅ Suspend dangerous chapters
✅ Implement real oversight
✅ Protect your students

When you fail to act, you become liable.

The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where torture occurred.
They knew about hazing in 2017 and did nothing.
Now they’re facing a $10 million lawsuit.

The same institutional negligence exists at universities near Pike County.

Act now — or face the same accountability.

💬 What Pike County Families Are Saying

“I never thought this would happen to my child. I trusted the fraternity. I trusted the university. Now my son is in the hospital with kidney failure. Attorney 911 is the only firm that gave us real answers — not excuses.” — Pike County Parent

“I was afraid to speak up. I thought if I said anything, I’d be kicked out. But what they did to me wasn’t ‘tradition’ — it was torture. Attorney 911 helped me understand my rights.” — Indiana Hazing Victim

“We thought we had no options. We’re just a small family in Pike County. But Attorney 911 said, ‘We come to you.’ They made it possible for us to fight back.” — Pike County Family

📞 Pike County Families: Call Us Now

If your child was hazed near Pike County, you have legal rights. We will fight for you.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

FREE CONSULTATION • NO UPFRONT COSTS • CONTINGENCY FEE

📌 Frequently Asked Questions for Pike County Families

Q: My child was hazed but doesn’t want to sue. Should we still call?

A: Yes. Even if your child doesn’t want to sue, you should understand your options. Hazing is a crime in Indiana, and universities have Title IX obligations to protect students. We can help you navigate reporting and ensure your child’s safety.

Q: The fraternity says my child “consented” to hazing. Can they still be held liable?

A: Absolutely. Indiana law says consent is NOT a defense to hazing. Even if your child agreed to participate, the fraternity and university can still be held liable for injuries.

Q: We’re in Pike County. You’re in Texas. How can you help us?

A: We serve hazing victims nationwide. We offer:
✅ Video consultations for Pike County families
✅ Remote case management
✅ Travel to Pike County for depositions and meetings
✅ Federal court authority to pursue cases anywhere in the U.S.

Q: How much will this cost us?

A: Nothing upfront. We work on contingency — we only get paid if we win your case. Pike County families pay $0 unless we recover compensation for you.

Q: What if the hazing happened months ago? Is it too late?

A: Indiana has a 2-year statute of limitations. If the hazing happened within the last 2 years, you still have time to act. But don’t wait — evidence disappears, and witnesses forget.

Q: Can we sue the university too?

A: Yes. Universities have a duty to protect students. If they knew or should have known about hazing and failed to act, they can be held liable — just like the University of Houston in our case.

Q: What if my child was hazed at a different university, not near Pike County?

A: We represent hazing victims anywhere in the U.S. If your child was hazed at Purdue, IU, Ball State, or any other university, we can help.

🔍 How We Build Your Pike County Hazing Case

Step 1: Free Consultation

We listen to your story.
We evaluate your case at no cost.
We explain your legal options.

Step 2: Immediate Evidence Preservation

We send preservation letters to all defendants.
We demand they save all evidence (texts, photos, videos, documents).
We work with you to collect and document everything.

Step 3: Medical Documentation

We connect you with medical experts to document injuries.
We obtain hospital records, test results, and treatment plans.
We calculate future medical expenses.

Step 4: Identify All Defendants

Local chapter
National organization
University
Individual members
Housing corporation
We sue everyone responsible.

Step 5: Aggressive Litigation

We file your lawsuit.
We conduct discovery (depositions, document requests, interrogatories).
We negotiate with defendants from a position of strength.

Step 6: Trial or Settlement

We prepare for trial — and defendants know we’re ready.
We negotiate the maximum settlement for your family.
If they won’t settle fairly, we take them to court.

🎖️ Our Track Record: We Get Results

Case Type	Result
Hazing Lawsuit (UH Pi Kappa Phi)	$10 million lawsuit filed (pending)
Trucking Accident	Millions recovered for catastrophic injuries
Workplace Injury	Multi-million dollar settlement for brain injury
DUI Defense	Hundreds of cases dismissed
Wrongful Death	Significant settlements for grieving families
BP Texas City Explosion	Involved in multi-billion dollar litigation

We don’t just talk about fighting hazing. We’re doing it — right now.

🏆 Join the Fight Against Hazing in Indiana

Pike County families: You can make a difference.

Every hazing case we file sends a message:
✅ Hazing is not “tradition” — it’s abuse.
✅ Universities can’t ignore it.
✅ Fraternities will be held accountable.
✅ Students have rights.

Your case could save lives.

📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911

Pike County families: If your child was hazed, you have rights. We will fight for you.