Hazing Victims in Richland County Deserve Justice
If your child was hazed at a fraternity or sorority near Richland County, you don’t have to stay silent. Attorney 911 is fighting this battle right now — and we’ll fight for Richland County families too.
At Attorney 911, we’re currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. Our client was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until he collapsed, and hospitalized with kidney failure — all because he wanted to join a brotherhood.
This isn’t just happening in Houston. It’s happening at universities near Richland County too.
The same fraternities that hazed our client operate chapters at colleges throughout South Carolina. The same negligence that allowed this to happen at UH exists at institutions near Richland County. And the same legal strategies that are winning our case can work for Richland County families.
Why Richland County Families Choose Attorney 911
We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now
While other firms talk about hazing, we’re actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit. We know how to build these cases. We know how to hold institutions accountable. And we know how to win.
Nationwide Reach — We Serve Richland County
Based in Texas, we represent hazing victims across America, including in Richland County. Through our federal court authority, dual-state bar licenses, and commitment to traveling wherever justice demands, we can pursue your Richland County case no matter where the hazing occurred.
Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook
Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before switching sides to represent victims. We know exactly how they’ll try to deny or minimize your claim. We’ve seen their tactics from the inside — and now we use that knowledge to dismantle their defenses.
Proven Results in Complex Litigation
Our attorneys have:
- Won multi-million dollar settlements in personal injury cases
- Handled mass tort litigation like the BP Texas City explosion
- Secured criminal case dismissals through aggressive defense
- Represented clients in federal court and appellate proceedings
We Fight for Justice — Not Just Money
We see hazing victims as people, not paychecks. We understand the trauma you’re going through. Our goal isn’t just compensation — it’s preventing this from happening to another Richland County family.
As Lupe Pena told ABC13 about our current case:
“If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”
What Happened to Our Client — And What’s Happening Near Richland County
Our client, Leonel Bermudez, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston in September 2025. What followed was weeks of systematic abuse that sent him to the hospital for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
The Hazing Activities That Hospitalized Our Client
These aren’t just “pranks” or “traditions.” These are torture tactics that have no place on any campus — including those near Richland County.
| Activity | Description | Medical Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Waterboarding | Simulated drowning with a garden hose while doing calisthenics | Asphyxiation, psychological trauma |
| Forced Eating | Large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting | Choking, aspiration, gastrointestinal damage |
| Extreme Exercise | 500+ squats, 100+ pushups, bear crawls, 100-yard crawls | Rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, cardiac arrest |
| Wooden Paddles | Struck with wooden paddles | Bruising, internal bleeding, fractures |
| Sleep Deprivation | Forced to drive members during early morning hours | Exhaustion, impaired judgment, accidents |
| Psychological Abuse | Carried sexual objects, hog-tied on table, stripped in cold | PTSD, anxiety, depression |
| Threats | Threatened with physical punishment and expulsion | Coercion, duress, psychological harm |
The Medical Consequences
After being forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups on November 3, 2025, Bermudez:
- Could not stand without help
- Crawled up the stairs when he got home
- Was “really sore and couldn’t really move” the next day
- Got progressively worse each day
- Was rushed to the hospital on November 6 with brown urine — a classic sign of muscle breakdown
- Was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure
- Spent three nights and four days in the hospital
Rhabdomyolysis can be fatal. It occurs when muscle tissue breaks down and releases proteins that damage the kidneys. Our client is lucky to be alive — but he now faces potential long-term kidney damage.
This Could Happen to Your Child Near Richland County
Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America, including at universities near Richland County. The same national organization that failed to prevent our client’s hospitalization oversees chapters where your child might be pledging.
And Pi Kappa Phi isn’t the only fraternity with this problem. Hazing happens across Greek organizations — and it happens at colleges throughout South Carolina.
Universities Near Richland County With Greek Life
While we don’t know of specific hazing incidents at these institutions, we do know that the same national fraternities and sororities with documented hazing histories operate chapters at universities near Richland County, including:
- University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) — Major Greek system with numerous fraternities and sororities
- Clemson University (Clemson, SC) — Large Greek presence; Tucker Hipps died in 2014 from Sigma Phi Epsilon hazing
- College of Charleston (Charleston, SC) — Greek life hub; Pi Kappa Phi was founded here in 1904
- South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, SC) — Active Greek organizations
- Coastal Carolina University (Conway, SC) — Growing Greek system
- Winthrop University (Rock Hill, SC) — Greek life presence
- Francis Marion University (Florence, SC) — Smaller but active Greek organizations
The same fraternities with hazing deaths nationwide have chapters at these schools:
- Pi Kappa Phi (our current case)
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (multiple hazing deaths)
- Pi Kappa Alpha (Stone Foltz, $10.1M settlement)
- Phi Delta Theta (Max Gruver, $6.1M verdict)
- Beta Theta Pi (Timothy Piazza, $110M+ settlement)
- Sigma Phi Epsilon (Tucker Hipps, $500K+ settlement)
If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Richland County, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client.
Who Is Liable for Hazing Near Richland County
When hazing happens, multiple parties share responsibility — and we pursue them all.
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Richland County Application |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Same chapter structure near Richland County |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about “hazing crisis” | Same nationals operate near Richland County |
| University | Failed to protect students; may own property | Same institutional failures near Richland County |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility; directed hazing | Same officer structure near Richland County |
| Individual Members | Participated in hazing | Same member participation near Richland County |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their property | Same alumni involvement near Richland County |
| Insurance Companies | Provide coverage for liability | Same insurance structures near Richland County |
In our current case, we’re suing:
- Pi Kappa Phi National
- The UH Beta Nu Chapter
- The chapter housing corporation
- The University of Houston (they owned the fraternity house)
- The UH Board of Regents
- The fraternity president
- The pledgemaster
- Multiple current and former members
- A former member and his spouse (hazing occurred at their home)
We’ll pursue the same comprehensive liability strategy for Richland County families.
What Richland County Families Can Recover
Hazing victims are entitled to full and fair compensation for all damages caused by the abuse.
Economic Damages
- Medical bills — Hospital stays, ER visits, specialists, medications, future treatment
- Lost wages — Time missed from work during recovery
- Educational costs — Tuition, fees, and scholarships lost due to hazing disruption
- Future medical expenses — Ongoing kidney monitoring, potential dialysis or transplant
Non-Economic Damages
- Physical pain and suffering — The agony of rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, and recovery
- Mental anguish — Trauma from waterboarding, forced exercise, and humiliation
- Emotional distress — PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear of retribution
- Loss of enjoyment of life — Inability to participate in normal college activities
- Disfigurement — Scars from physical abuse
Punitive Damages
When conduct is especially egregious, juries can award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoers and deter future hazing.
In our current case, punitive damages are appropriate because:
- The hazing included waterboarding — a form of torture
- The fraternity knew about a “hazing crisis” and did nothing
- They had 8 years to fix their culture after Andrew Coffey died in 2017 — and they failed
- The university knew about a prior hazing hospitalization in 2017 and did nothing
- The conduct shows conscious indifference to student safety
Precedent Cases Show Richland County Families Can Win Big
Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Here’s what other families have recovered:
| Case | Fraternity | University | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Pi Kappa Alpha | Bowling Green State | Death; Settlement | $10.1M+ |
| Max Gruver | Phi Delta Theta | Louisiana State | Death; Jury Verdict | $6.1M |
| Timothy Piazza | Beta Theta Pi | Penn State | Death; Settlement | $110M+ |
| Andrew Coffey | Pi Kappa Phi | Florida State | Death; Settlement | Confidential |
| Tucker Hipps | Sigma Phi Epsilon | Clemson | Death; Settlement | $500K+ |
Our $10 million demand for our client is directly in line with these precedents.
Richland County families can recover the same compensation for their children.
What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed Near Richland County
Step 1: Get Medical Attention
Even if injuries seem minor, get checked immediately. Some conditions like rhabdomyolysis may not show symptoms right away. Medical records are crucial evidence.
Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Photos/Videos: Take pictures of injuries at all stages of healing. Document any hazing locations or items used.
- Communications: Save all text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs, emails about hazing.
- Social Media: Take screenshots of any posts about hazing activities. Do NOT post about the incident yourself.
- Witnesses: Get names and contact information of other pledges or witnesses.
- Documents: Save any pledge manuals, schedules, or rules given to your child.
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization
- Do NOT confront fraternity/sorority leadership
- Do NOT give statements to university administrators
- Do NOT sign anything from the organization or their lawyers
- Do NOT post on social media about the incident
Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
Time is critical. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and statutes of limitations expire.
Call us 24/7 at:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
Or email: ralph@atty911.com
We offer free consultations for hazing victims and their families. We work on contingency — you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we win your case.
What Happens When You Call
- Free Case Evaluation: We’ll listen to your story and evaluate your legal options.
- Evidence Preservation: We’ll send preservation letters to all defendants demanding they keep all evidence.
- Medical Documentation: We’ll help you gather medical records and expert opinions.
- Investigation: We’ll interview witnesses, subpoena documents, and build your case.
- Negotiation: We’ll demand full compensation from all responsible parties.
- Litigation: If necessary, we’ll take your case to trial to get the justice you deserve.
We Come to Richland County
While we’re based in Texas, we travel to Richland County for:
- Client meetings
- Depositions
- Court appearances
- Trials
Distance is not a barrier to justice.
Don’t Let Them Intimidate You
Hazing victims often stay silent because of:
- Fear of retaliation — Our client is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution”
- Shame and embarrassment — You didn’t do anything wrong
- Loyalty to the organization — They betrayed your trust
- Not recognizing it as hazing — If it caused harm, it’s hazing
- Pressure to “move on” — Justice matters more than reputation
You are not alone. We’ve seen what fraternities do to kids. We’re fighting it in court right now. And we will fight for Richland County families with the same determination.
The Time to Act Is Now
In South Carolina, you generally have 3 years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. However:
- Evidence disappears quickly
- Witnesses forget details
- Organizations destroy records
- The longer you wait, the harder it is to prove your case
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact Attorney 911 today.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com
We’re fighting this battle right now — and we’ll fight for Richland County families too.
Enough is enough.
