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Rockdale County (Earth/North America/United States/Georgia/Rockdale County) Fraternity Hazing Attorneys | $50M+ in National Settlements Exposed | Attorney911 β€” The Firm That Shut Down Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu | Pike: $24M | Federal Court | Former Insurance Defense | 1-888-ATTY-911

February 21, 2026 12 min read
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🚨 Hazing Legal Emergency: Rockdale County Families Deserve Justice

If your child was hazed at a college or university near Rockdale County, you are not alone. We are fighting this battle right now β€” and we will fight for Rockdale County families with the same fury.

At Attorney 911, we are currently representing Leonel Bermudez, a young man hospitalized with kidney failure after being waterboarded, forced to perform 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles during Pi Kappa Phi hazing at the University of Houston. We filed a $10 million lawsuit against the fraternity, the national organization, and the university β€” because hazing is not tradition. It’s torture. And it must stop.

Rockdale County families: The same fraternities that operate at universities near you have paid millions in settlements for hazing deaths and injuries. The same negligence that hospitalized our client exists at institutions near Rockdale County. Your child could be next.

πŸ“ž Rockdale County Hazing Victims: Call Now for Immediate Help

1-888-ATTY-911
Available 24/7 for Rockdale County families

We serve Rockdale County hazing victims nationwide. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

πŸ”₯ This Happened in Houston. It Happens Near Rockdale County Too.

The Hazing That Hospitalized Our Client

Leonel Bermudez accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston. What followed was weeks of systematic abuse that sent him to the hospital for four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.

The Hazing Activities:

  • Waterboarding with a garden hose β€” simulated drowning, a form of torture
  • Forced to do 500+ squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
  • Struck with wooden paddles β€” physical assault with weapons
  • Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting β€” then forced to continue exercising
  • Sleep deprivation β€” forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours
  • Psychological torture β€” carrying sexual objects, threats of expulsion, humiliation
  • Another pledge lost consciousness during a forced workout β€” they kept going

The Result:

  • November 3, 2025 β€” Bermudez punished for missing an event; forced to exercise until he could not stand without help
  • November 6, 2025 β€” Mother rushes him to hospital; brown urine (sign of muscle breakdown)
  • Diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure
  • Hospitalized for 3 nights, 4 days β€” fighting for his life

Rockdale County families: This is what hazing looks like. This is what happens when institutions fail to protect students. This could happen to your child at a university near Rockdale County.

βš–οΈ Who Is Liable for Rockdale County Hazing?

In our lawsuit, we are pursuing every entity that allowed this to happen:

Defendant Why They’re Liable for Rockdale County Hazing
Local Chapter Directly organized and conducted hazing near Rockdale County
National Organization Knew about hazing crisis; failed to enforce policies despite prior deaths
University Owns or controls the property where hazing occurs near Rockdale County
Individual Members Participated in or facilitated hazing; can be held personally liable
Housing Corporations Own the buildings where hazing occurs; premises liability
Alumni Hosted hazing events at their homes; premises liability

Rockdale County families: If your child was hazed near Rockdale County, we will identify and pursue every liable party β€” just like we’re doing in the Bermudez case.

πŸ’° Hazing Costs Millions β€” We Have the Receipts

Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. These same results are possible for Rockdale County victims:

Case Fraternity Outcome Amount
Stone Foltz Pi Kappa Alpha Death; Settlement $10.1 million
Maxwell Gruver Phi Delta Theta Death; Jury Verdict $6.1 million
Timothy Piazza Beta Theta Pi Death; Settlement $110+ million
Leonel Bermudez Pi Kappa Phi Rhabdomyolysis; $10M Lawsuit Pending

Rockdale County families: These cases prove that hazing victims win. The same legal strategies apply to Rockdale County cases. Your child deserves the same justice.

πŸ“‹ What Rockdale County Families Should Do Right Now

If your child has been hazed near Rockdale County, time is critical. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Your legal rights expire.

Immediate Action Steps for Rockdale County Hazing Victims:

  1. Seek Medical Attention

    • Even if injuries seem minor, get checked. Rhabdomyolysis, concussions, and psychological trauma may not appear immediately.
    • Medical records are critical evidence.
  2. Preserve All Evidence

    • Save ALL communications: Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs, emails
    • Take photos of injuries at all stages of healing β€” bruises, cuts, burns
    • Document everything: Write down dates, times, locations, what happened, who was involved
    • Save physical evidence: Clothing worn during hazing, items used in hazing
  3. Do NOT Talk to the Organization

    • Do NOT speak to fraternity/sorority leadership, university administrators, or their lawyers without legal counsel
    • Do NOT sign anything from the organization
    • Do NOT post on social media about the incident
  4. Contact an Attorney Immediately

    • Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation
    • We offer video consultations for Rockdale County families
    • We travel to Rockdale County for depositions, meetings, and trials
  5. Report to Authorities (Optional)

    • Consider filing a police report
    • Consider filing a Title IX report with the university
    • We can guide you through this process

🚫 Mistakes That Destroy Rockdale County Hazing Cases

Mistake Why It Hurts Your Case
Deleting text messages or social media Destroys evidence; may be considered spoliation
Talking to the organization without a lawyer They will use your words against you
Posting on social media Defense will use posts to claim you weren’t really hurt
Waiting too long to act Evidence disappears; statutes of limitations expire
Not seeking medical attention Defense will claim you weren’t really injured
Accepting a low settlement offer Insurance companies will lowball you; consult an attorney first

Rockdale County families: We see these mistakes in every case. Don’t let the organization control the narrative. Protect your rights.

πŸŽ“ Rockdale County Students: You Are Not Alone

Hazing victims often feel:

  • Shame β€” “I should have known better”
  • Fear β€” “They’ll retaliate if I speak up”
  • Loyalty β€” “I don’t want to get the fraternity in trouble”
  • Hopelessness β€” “No one will believe me”

We understand. We believe you. And we will fight for you.

Our client in the Pi Kappa Phi case is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution.” This fear is real. We will protect you.

πŸ›οΈ Universities Near Rockdale County: You Have a Duty to Protect Students

Universities near Rockdale County have a legal duty to protect students from hazing. When they fail, they are liable.

In our case:

  • University of Houston owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred
  • UH had a prior hazing incident in 2017 (Pi Kappa Alpha) β€” they knew the risks
  • UH failed to implement effective oversight despite knowing hazing was happening

Rockdale County institutions:

  • Do you own fraternity/sorority houses near Rockdale County?
  • Have you had prior hazing incidents?
  • Are you monitoring Greek life effectively?
  • If hazing happens on your campus, you will be held accountable.

🌐 The Same Fraternities Operate Near Rockdale County

Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America β€” including near Rockdale County. The same national organization that:

  • Allowed Andrew Coffey to die in 2017
  • Hospitalized Leonel Bermudez in 2025
  • Knew about “a hazing crisis” and did nothing

operates chapters at universities near Rockdale County.

Rockdale County families: If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Rockdale County, they face the same risks our client did.

πŸ“’ To Fraternities and Sororities Near Rockdale County: We Are Watching

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, and all others:

We are tracking your chapters. We know your corporate structures. We know your insurance policies. We know your history of hazing deaths and injuries.

If you haze students near Rockdale County, we will find every liable entity. We will pursue every insurance policy. We will hold every individual accountable.

The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? Shut down. Charter surrendered. $10 million lawsuit pending.

Your chapter near Rockdale County could be next.

πŸ† Why Rockdale County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now

  • Currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and UH
  • Same strategies available for Rockdale County victims
  • We know how to win these cases

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

  • We know how insurance companies think, strategize, and try to deny claims
  • We’ve seen their playbook β€” now we use it against them for Rockdale County victims

3. Federal Court Authority

  • Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • Can pursue Rockdale County cases in federal jurisdiction
  • Distance is not a barrier β€” we serve clients nationwide

4. Dual-State Bar Licenses

  • Licensed in Texas AND New York
  • Strategic advantage for cases against national fraternities headquartered anywhere

5. Se Habla EspaΓ±ol

  • Bilingual staff serving Spanish-speaking clients
  • Rockdale County Spanish-speaking families welcome

6. No Upfront Cost for Rockdale County Families

  • We work on contingency β€” you pay $0 upfront
  • We don’t get paid unless you get paid
  • No financial barrier to justice

7. We Travel to Rockdale County

  • For depositions, client meetings, and trials
  • Rockdale County families: We come to you

πŸ“ž Rockdale County Hazing Victims: Your Legal Emergency Starts Here

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now for immediate help

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

We serve Rockdale County hazing victims nationwide. Your location does not limit your right to justice.

πŸ”₯ Enough Is Enough. Rockdale County Families Deserve Justice.

This is what happened in Houston. This happens across America. This could happen to your child at a university near Rockdale County.

We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. And we are coming for every institution, every national organization, and every individual who thinks they can torture our kids and walk away.

Rockdale County families: Call us. We will fight for you.

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