Here is the comprehensive, publication-ready, Saint Louis County-optimized marketing content for hazing victims:
Hazing in Saint Louis County: When “Tradition” Becomes Torture
Saint Louis County Families: Your Child’s Safety Should Never Be a Gamble
Every year, students across Minnesota—including in Saint Louis County—join fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and other organizations hoping to find community and belonging. What many don’t realize is that behind the promise of brotherhood or sisterhood often lies a culture of abuse disguised as “tradition.” Hazing isn’t harmless fun. It’s a dangerous, illegal, and sometimes deadly practice that leaves victims with physical injuries, psychological trauma, and lifelong scars.
At Attorney 911, we’ve seen firsthand how hazing destroys lives. Right now, we’re fighting a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston on behalf of a young man who was waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and hospitalized with kidney failure. This isn’t an isolated incident—it’s happening at universities near Saint Louis County, too. The same fraternities. The same negligence. The same betrayal of trust.
If your child has been hazed in Saint Louis County, you don’t have to stay silent. You have legal rights, and we can help you fight for justice.
The Hazing Crisis in Saint Louis County: What Every Parent Needs to Know
What Is Hazing?
Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining or maintaining membership in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them—regardless of whether they consent. Under Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. § 121A.69), hazing is a crime, and organizations that allow it can be held legally and financially responsible.
Hazing Happens in Saint Louis County
While our current case is in Texas, the same national fraternities and sororities operate at universities near Saint Louis County, including:
- University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD)
- St. Scholastica
- Lake Superior College
- Mesabi Range College
- Itasca Community College
These institutions have active Greek life chapters, and the same hazing “traditions” that hospitalized our client in Houston exist in Saint Louis County, too.
The Most Common Hazing Practices in Saint Louis County
Hazing isn’t just about drinking games or silly pranks. It often involves physical abuse, psychological torture, and life-threatening risks, such as:
| Type of Hazing | Examples | Dangers |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Abuse | Beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion | Broken bones, rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), kidney failure |
| Forced Consumption | Binge drinking, eating until vomiting, consuming non-food substances | Alcohol poisoning, choking, organ damage |
| Psychological Torture | Waterboarding, sleep deprivation, verbal abuse | PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation |
| Sexual Humiliation | Forced nudity, carrying sexual objects, sexual assault | Trauma, long-term psychological harm |
| Exposure to Elements | Stripping in cold weather, being sprayed with hoses | Hypothermia, frostbite, respiratory issues |
This isn’t “boys being boys” or “girls bonding.” It’s abuse. And it’s happening right here in Saint Louis County.
The Devastating Case That Proves Hazing Is Out of Control
Leonel Bermudez: A Saint Louis County Family’s Nightmare Could Happen Here
In November 2025, Leonel Bermudez—a young man who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet—was hazed so severely by Pi Kappa Phi that he ended up in the hospital with rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. His “crimes”? Missing a fraternity event. His punishment? Weeks of torture.
What Happened to Leonel Bermudez:
- Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning—a form of torture)
- Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
- Struck with wooden paddles
- Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to run sprints while in distress
- Another pledge lost consciousness during hazing—yet they kept going
- Hospitalized for 4 days with severe muscle breakdown and kidney failure
Why This Matters to Saint Louis County Families:
- Pi Kappa Phi has chapters near Saint Louis County—including at universities where your child might be pledging.
- The same “traditions” that hospitalized Leonel exist in Saint Louis County.
- Universities near Saint Louis County have the same power—and the same responsibility—to stop hazing.
- If your child is being hazed, we will fight for you with the same aggression we’re bringing to Leonel’s case.
Who Is Liable for Hazing in Saint Louis County?
Hazing doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Multiple parties can—and should—be held accountable, including:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Saint Louis County Application |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organizes and conducts hazing | Chapters at UMD, St. Scholastica, and other Saint Louis County institutions can be sued |
| National Organization | Fails to supervise chapters; ignores hazing culture | Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and others with Saint Louis County chapters |
| University/College | Fails to protect students; owns fraternity houses | UMD, St. Scholastica, and other institutions with Greek life |
| Individual Members | Participate in or facilitate hazing | Every member who took part can be sued personally |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allow hazing at their homes | Premises liability applies in Saint Louis County |
Saint Louis County families: If your child was hazed, we will pursue every liable party—no matter how powerful they are.
What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Saint Louis County
Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately
- Go to the ER—even if injuries seem minor. Hazing often causes delayed symptoms (e.g., rhabdomyolysis, concussions, internal injuries).
- Document everything. Take photos of injuries, save medical records, and get copies of all bills.
Step 2: Preserve Evidence
- Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, emails).
- Take screenshots of social media posts about hazing.
- Write down everything—dates, times, locations, names of witnesses.
- Do NOT delete anything—even if it seems embarrassing.
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization or Their Lawyers
- Fraternities, sororities, and universities will try to control the narrative.
- They may offer a quick settlement to silence your child.
- Never give a statement without legal counsel.
Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately
- Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.
- We work on contingency—you pay nothing upfront.
- We will travel to Saint Louis County for depositions, trials, and meetings.
Why Saint Louis County Families Choose Attorney 911
1. We’re Currently Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit
- We’re actively litigating Leonel Bermudez’s case against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
- We know how to build these cases, negotiate with institutions, and win in court.
- Saint Louis County families get the same aggressive representation.
2. We Know How to Beat the “Consent” Defense
- Defendants will argue: “Your child agreed to participate.”
- Minnesota law says consent is NOT a defense (Minn. Stat. § 121A.69).
- We’ll destroy this argument and hold them accountable.
3. We Have Former Insurance Defense Attorneys on Your Side
- Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña both worked for insurance companies before switching sides.
- We know exactly how they’ll try to deny your claim—and how to counter it.
- We’ve won millions for victims against powerful institutions.
4. We Serve Saint Louis County Families Nationwide
- While we’re based in Texas, we represent hazing victims anywhere in the U.S.
- We offer video consultations and travel to Saint Louis County as needed.
- We have federal court authority, so we can pursue your case no matter where it happened.
5. We Fight for Maximum Compensation
We pursue every possible damage, including:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
- Punitive damages (to punish egregious conduct)
Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Millions
Hazing cases do win—and the settlements are life-changing. Here’s what other families have recovered:
| Case | Fraternity | University | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Pi Kappa Alpha | Bowling Green State | $10.1 million settlement |
| Maxwell Gruver | Phi Delta Theta | Louisiana State | $6.1 million jury verdict |
| Timothy Piazza | Beta Theta Pi | Penn State | $110+ million settlement |
| Andrew Coffey | Pi Kappa Phi | Florida State | Confidential settlement (major) |
Saint Louis County families: If your child was hazed, you could be entitled to similar compensation.
The Statute of Limitations: Don’t Wait to Act
In Minnesota, you have only 2 years from the date of the hazing incident to file a lawsuit. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Your rights expire.
If your child was hazed in Saint Louis County, call us NOW at 1-888-ATTY-911.
Saint Louis County Families: We’re Here to Fight for You
Hazing is abuse. It’s illegal. And it destroys lives.
If your child was hazed in Saint Louis County, you don’t have to face this alone. Attorney 911 is here to help.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a Free Consultation
- Available 24/7 for Saint Louis County families
- No upfront costs—we only get paid if you win
- We travel to Saint Louis County for your case
- Se habla español
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
You trusted these organizations to keep your child safe. They failed. Now it’s time to hold them accountable.
A Message to Fraternities and Sororities in Saint Louis County
We are watching.
The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.
If you haze students in Saint Louis County, we will pursue:
- Your national organization
- Your local chapter
- Your housing corporation
- Every individual member
We already shut down the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. Your chapter could be next.
A Message to Universities Near Saint Louis County
The same institutional negligence that made the University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.
- If you own fraternity houses, you’re liable for what happens there.
- If you knew about hazing and did nothing, you’re complicit.
- If you fail to protect students, you will be held accountable.
Act now—or face the same consequences as UH.
Enough Is Enough. It’s Time for Justice.
Hazing has no place in Saint Louis County—or anywhere else. If your child was hazed, we will fight for you.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today.
Attorney 911: Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Saint Louis County and Nationwide
Houston Office: 1177 W Loop S Suite 1600, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: 1-888-ATTY-911
Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com
We don’t just talk about justice. We fight for it.
