If you’re reading this in Schley County, Georgia, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child went away to college, full of hopes for friendship and belonging. Instead, they were tortured. Abused. Hospitalized. Or worse, tragically lost to the senseless violence of hazing. We understand what you’re going through. We are Attorney 911, and we’re here to help families like yours in Schley County fight back against the fraternities, sororities, and universities that enable this brutality.

We know the unique challenges that families across Georgia and the Southeast face when their child is hazed, particularly those who live in more rural areas like Schley County, often far from the major universities. The isolation, the distance from immediate legal help, and the fear of taking on powerful institutions can feel overwhelming. But distance is not a barrier to justice. Although our headquarters are in Houston, Texas, our aggressive, data-driven approach to hazing litigation serves victims nationwide, including those in Schley County. We will travel to you, conduct remote consultations, and utilize our federal court authority and dual-state bar admissions to pursue accountability wherever it leads.

⚠️ THE LANDMARK CASE: WE ARE FIGHTING HAZING RIGHT NOW

Schley County Families: This is not theory. This is what hazing looks like. This is what we do about it.

One brave young man’s story, Leonel Bermudez, is currently unfolding in Harris County, Texas, just weeks after he was hospitalized. His case represents everything Attorney 911 stands for: aggressive representation of hazing victims, a data-driven litigation strategy, and unrelenting accountability for every entity responsible for hazing injuries. His case demonstrates exactly what kind of firm we are. We are actively fighting right now in Harris County Civil District Court, and we bring this same fight to victims across the country, including those in Schley County, Georgia.

Leonel Bermudez was a “ghost rush” – a prospective member for the University of Houston’s Pi Kappa Phi fraternity chapter who wasn’t even enrolled at the university yet. He was planning to transfer for the upcoming semester. Yet, for seven weeks, from mid-September to early November 2025, he was subjected to systematic abuse, torture, and hazing that eventually landed him in the hospital for three nights and four days. His diagnosis? Severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. They did this to someone who wasn’t even their student.

This case is recent; it’s ongoing, and it’s being heavily covered by the media:

• ABC13 Houston: Published their report on November 21, 2025, detailing “waterboarding, forced eating, physical punishment,” and featuring quotes from our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena.
• KHOU 11: Also reported on November 21, 2025, confirming the $10 million lawsuit and revealing Leonel Bermudez’s name. They highlighted that hazing occurred in a “University-owned fraternity house” and alleged that the national organization failed despite “knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis’.”
• Houston Chronicle: On November 22, 2025, they provided vivid details of the grueling physical hazing, including “high-volume suicides,” “bear crawls,” “wheelbarrows,” being “struck with wooden paddles,” and “forced consumption of milk and food to the point of vomiting.”
• Houston Public Media: Revealed on November 24, 2025, that the $10 million lawsuit specifically claims Leonel Bermudez was “waterboarded with a hose on several occasions” and explicitly stated, “Waterboarding, which simulates drowning, is a form of torture.”

Within days of the hazing being reported and Leonel’s hospitalization, the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at the University of Houston was suspended. By November 14, 2025, the national organization itself closed the Beta Nu chapter, with members voting to surrender their charter. Criminal referrals were initiated. Despite these actions, showing clear acknowledgment of severe wrongdoing, the national fraternity’s statement on November 21, 2025, still declared, “we look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time,” a stark indication of their lack of genuine remorse.

We filed a $10 million lawsuit naming the University of Houston, the UH Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters, the Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc., and 13 individual fraternity members, including the chapter president, pledgemaster, risk manager, and others. Furthermore, our lawsuit includes a former member and his spouse, as some of the most egregious hazing occurred at their private residence.

This case in Houston is proof that Attorney 911 is not theoretical. We are not hypothetical. We are not “someday we hope to handle hazing cases.” We are actively fighting right now. We tell Leonel’s story to make parents in Schley County, Georgia, understand that this is what hazing looks like today, in America, at universities their children might attend. And we make them understand that Attorney 911 is the firm that fights back.

What Happened to Leonel Bermudez: The Horrifying Details

Leonel Bermudez accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi on September 16, 2025. What followed was an agonizing seven weeks of systematic abuse designed to break him down physically and psychologically. This wasn’t some harmless prank; it was calculated cruelty.

The Hazing Activities Exposed in Our Lawsuit:

• Waterboarding / Simulated Drowning: Leonel was sprayed in the face with a garden hose while doing calisthenics, explicitly described as “simulated waterboarding.” Houston Public Media unequivocally stated that “Waterboarding, which simulates drowning, is a form of torture.” Pledges were forced to run repeatedly under the threat of being waterboarded. This is torture—a war crime when done to enemy combatants. It was done to college students.
• Forced Eating Until Vomiting: He and other pledges were forced to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until they vomited. After vomiting, they were made to continue running sprints while physically distressed and were left to lie in their own vomit-soaked grass.
• Extreme Physical Punishment: The November 3, 2025, incident involved 100+ pushups, 500 squats, high-volume “suicides” (running drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warmups, and repeated 100-yard crawls. This was all done while reciting the fraternity creed, under explicit threats of immediate expulsion if they stopped. Beyond this, pledges were “struck with wooden paddles”—a clear act of assault and battery.
• Psychological Torture & Humiliation: Leonel was forced to strip to his underwear in cold weather and was sprayed with a garden hose. He was made to carry a fanny pack with objects of a sexual nature at all times. The lawsuit details another pledge being hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. The constant threats and enforced dress codes, study hours, and weekly interviews all contributed to a psychologically coercive environment.
• Sleep Deprivation & Exhaustion: Pledges were forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, disrupting their sleep and leading to profound exhaustion, which certainly impacted their ability to resist and their academic performance.

The Medical Consequences: Rhabdomyolysis and Kidney Failure

The brutal physical exertion led to a life-threatening condition called rhabdomyolysis, a breakdown of muscle tissue that releases harmful proteins into the bloodstream. Leonel’s mother rushed him to the hospital on November 6, 2025, where he was “passing brown urine,” a classic sign of this condition. He spent four days in the hospital diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He could not stand or walk for days. This medical condition, if left untreated, can be fatal and can lead to permanent kidney damage.

This is the exact type of medical condition our firm has successfully litigated before. Ralph Manginello has specific expertise in rhabdomyolysis hazing cases, understanding the complex medical and legal aspects involved.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

Many parents in Schley County and across Georgia may harbor outdated notions of hazing—thinking of it as harmless pranks or forced goofy rituals. But as Leonel Bermudez’s case tragically demonstrates, hazing in today’s Greek life has devolved into systematic torture and abuse, with severe, often fatal, consequences.

This is not “boys being boys.” It’s not “tradition.” It’s not “building brotherhood.”

It is:

• Assault
• Battery
• Torture
• Reckless endangerment
• Sometimes manslaughter
• Sometimes murder

The physical and psychological trauma inflicted can be long-lasting, changing the course of a young person’s life forever. Hazing is a pervasive and dangerous issue that affects hundreds of thousands of students annually across many types of organizations, not just fraternities.

Common Types of Hazing Tactics Today:

• Physical Hazing: This includes beatings, paddling, branding, burning, forced nudity, extreme forced exercise to the point of collapse (like Leonel’s 500 squats and 100+ pushups, bear crawls, and “suicides”), and sleep deprivation for days on end. The goal is often physical exhaustion and breakdown.
• Forced Consumption: This category is particularly deadly and includes binge drinking, chugging alcohol until blacking out, forced consumption of non-alcoholic liquids (like milk from Leonel’s case), or even non-food items (like peppercorns until vomiting). Tragically, this is the leading cause of hazing deaths.
• Psychological Hazing: This can be as damaging as physical abuse, involving humiliation (such as Leonel wearing a fanny pack with sexual objects or being stripped), verbal abuse, emotional manipulation, isolation, threats, and psychological stress tests. Its effects can include severe anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
• Sexual Hazing: This heinous form of hazing can involve forced nudity, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and coercion into sexual acts or carrying sexually explicit items.
• Servitude and Degradation: Pledges are often forced to act as personal servants, performing chores, driving members at all hours, or running errands, stripping them of their dignity and time.

The Devastating Medical and Psychological Consequences:

The body can only endure so much. The consequences for hazing victims can range from severe injury to death:

• Rhabdomyolysis and Kidney Failure: As suffered by Leonel Bermudez, this is organ-threatening and can lead to permanent damage or death.
• Alcohol Poisoning: The most common cause of hazing fatalities, leading to immediate organ damage and death.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries: From falls during forced exercises, beatings, or assaults.
• Hypothermia and Heatstroke: From forced exposure to extreme weather.
• Spinal Cord Injuries and Broken Bones: From violent acts or falls during physical hazing.
• Permanent Scarring and Disfigurement: From branding, burns, or physical assaults.
• Profound Psychological Trauma: Including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), severe anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and long-term trust issues that affect relationships and academic performance.
• Death: The ultimate, heartbreaking consequence that far too many families have faced.

In Schley County, Georgia, parents send their children off to institutions with the expectation of safety and growth. Hazing shatters that trust and leaves behind physical wounds, psychological scars, and sometimes, an empty chair at the family dinner table. We are committed to exposing that reality and holding every responsible party accountable.

Who is Responsible: We Leave No Stone Unturned

When hazing rituals cause injury, severe harm, or death, multiple parties can, and should, be held legally responsible. Our $10 million lawsuit in Leonel Bermudez’s case targets every single entity that played a role, directly or indirectly, in his horrifying ordeal. For families in Schley County, Georgia, whose children attend universities across the state or beyond, the same broad approach to accountability applies. We do not just sue the young men who physically commit the acts; we go after the institutions that allow the culture to fester and the individuals who enable it.

Here are the categories of defendants we target and why:

• The Local Chapter of the Fraternity/Sorority: This is the most direct perpetrator. In Leonel’s case, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu Chapter directly organized and carried out the brutal hazing activities. They are liable for the actions of their members who participated in or orchestrated the abuse. This includes their officers, such as the chapter president and pledgemaster, who are often directly responsible for planning and overseeing pledge activities.
• Individual Members: Every person who directly participated in, encouraged, or failed to intervene in the hazing can be held personally responsible. This includes those who actively administered the torture, but also those who stood by, enabled the abuse, or were aware it was happening and did nothing to stop it. As the devastating $6.5 million judgment against a Pi Kappa Alpha chapter president in the Stone Foltz case proves, individual chapter officers cannot hide behind the organization when their actions lead to harm. Our lawsuit explicitly names 13 individual fraternity members.
• Former Members and their Spouses: Hazing often extends beyond the active chapter, involving alumni who perpetuate “tradition” or provide venues for illegal activities. In a significant move in Leonel’s case, we included a former member and his spouse as defendants. Why? Because some of the major hazing sessions occurred at their private residence. This holds them accountable under premises liability laws and for actively facilitating the abuse. For any hazing incident occurring in Schley County, any off-campus property owner or resident who allows such activity is potentially liable.
• The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization: This is often where the “deep pockets” lie. We sue the national organization because they hold the ultimate responsibility for their chapters’ conduct. In Leonel’s case, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc. (the national headquarters) is a primary defendant. Our lawsuit alleges they “failed to enforce anti-hazing rules and policies despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.'” The critical fact that Pi Kappa Phi National closed the UH chapter just days before our lawsuit was filed tells us they knew exactly what was wrong. The death of Andrew Coffey in a Pi Kappa Phi hazing incident in 2017 provided national leadership with absolute knowledge of the deadly risks associated with their organization eight years prior. Their failure to prevent Leonel’s hospitalization demonstrates a pattern of negligence and deliberate indifference.
• The University or College: Universities owe a duty of care to their students. They have policies against hazing, and they have the power to regulate, suspend, or remove Greek organizations from campus. In Leonel’s case, the University of Houston and the UH Board of Regents are key defendants because the university owned the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place. Furthermore, UH had a documented history of severe hazing, with a student hospitalized with a lacerated spleen in 2017 due to a different fraternity’s actions. This demonstrates institutional knowledge and a failure to act, making them responsible for allowing a culture of hazing to persist on their campus. Whether your child attends the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, Columbus State, or a smaller regional college in or near Schley County, the institutions have a responsibility to protect their students, and they are liable when they fail.
• Housing Corporations: Many fraternity chapters operate through separate housing corporations that own or manage the fraternity house. These entities are often distinct from the national and local chapters but can be held liable under premises liability theories for failing to ensure a safe environment. The Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc. is a named defendant in our case.
• Insurance Carriers: Behind every national organization, university, and often individuals, there are insurance policies. As former insurance defense attorneys, both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena bring invaluable insight into how these policies work and how to maximize recovery from them. We know how to identify all applicable policies—from general liability to homeowner’s and umbrella policies—and compel insurance carriers to pay.

This comprehensive approach ensures that every possible avenue for accountability and compensation is pursued. We do not guess; we use our extensive intelligence on Greek organizations, built from IRS records and other public data, to identify every entity with the resources to be held responsible. This is about making sure that those who enabled or directly committed the harm pay for their actions, and that such horrific incidents are prevented from happening again to families in Schley County or anywhere else.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof

For families grieving after a hazing incident, especially in areas like Schley County where the full scale of this crisis might not be immediately apparent, it’s vital to know that justice is possible. Multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements across the nation demonstrate that hazing victims and their families can and do win significant compensation. These cases send an undeniable message to fraternities, universities, and national organizations: hazing costs millions.

Our $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston is completely in line with these precedents. These aren’t just numbers to us; they represent justice for families who have lived through unimaginable pain.

Here are some landmark hazing cases that prove the power of aggressive litigation:

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Total: $10.1 Million+
  • What Happened: In March 2021, Stone Foltz, a pledge at BGSU, was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during an initiation event. He died from acute alcohol poisoning.
  • The Outcome: This case resulted in the largest public university hazing payout in Ohio history. Bowling Green State University settled for $2.9 million, and Pi Kappa Alpha national organization, along with other individuals, settled for $7.2 million. More recently, in December 2024, a jury ordered the chapter president, Daylen Dunson, to pay the Foltz family an additional $6.5 million personally.
  • Significance for Schley County: This case directly validates our $10 million demand. It proves that both universities and national fraternities face multi-million dollar liabilities for hazing. It also confirms that individual perpetrators can face massive personal judgments, sending a terrifying message to chapter leaders in Georgia and beyond.
• Maxwell Gruver – Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017): Total: $6.1 Million Verdict
  • What Happened: In September 2017, Max Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman, died from acute alcohol poisoning with a BAC of 0.495 during a Phi Delta Theta “Bible Study” event. Pledges were forced to chug alcohol for incorrect answers to fraternity questions.
  • The Outcome: A jury awarded his family a $6.1 million verdict, and a fraternity member was convicted of negligent homicide, serving prison time. This tragedy also led to the passage of Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act,” making hazing a felony.
  • Significance for Schley County: This case underscores that juries are willing to deliver massive verdicts against fraternities and individuals. It also highlights how these cases often drive permanent legislative change, a critical step towards preventing future tragedies in states like Georgia.
• Timothy Piazza – Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017): Total: $110 Million+ (Estimated)
  • What Happened: In February 2017, Timothy Piazza, a 19-year-old pledge, was forced to consume 18 alcoholic drinks in 82 minutes during a “gauntlet” ritual. He fell down stairs multiple times, suffering a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding. Fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling 911. He died days later.
  • The Outcome: The confidential settlements in this case are estimated to exceed $110 million, making it one of the largest hazing payouts in U.S. history. Multiple fraternity members faced criminal charges, with some convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and Pennsylvania passed the “Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.”
  • Significance for Schley County: Piazza’s case demonstrates the immense liability when hazing is egregious and evidence is strong. It also shows that the scale of compensation can be truly staggering when institutions fail to protect students.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017):
  • What Happened: In November 2017, Andrew Coffey, a pledge of Pi Kappa Phi (the same national fraternity as in Leonel Bermudez’s case), died from acute alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink an entire bottle of bourbon.
  • The Outcome: The chapter was permanently closed, multiple members faced criminal charges, and a civil suit resulted in a confidential settlement.
  • Significance for Schley County: This is our smoking gun against Pi Kappa Phi. It proves they had actual knowledge of deadly hazing practices in their chapters eight years before Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized. Their failure to prevent Leonel’s injuries highlights a pattern of negligence that is invaluable to our case.
• Adam Oakes – Virginia Commonwealth University / Delta Chi (2021): Total: $4 Million+ Settlement
  • What Happened: Adam Oakes died in February 2021 after being forced to drink an entire bottle of Baccardi during a Delta Chi big-little initiation.
  • The Outcome: VCU and the Delta Chi fraternity settled with his family for over $4 million. This also led to Virginia’s “Adam’s Law,” strengthening anti-hazing legislation.
  • Significance for Schley County: Another recent multi-million dollar settlement affirming accountability for both universities and fraternities.

These precedents underscore a crucial point for Schley County families: if your child has been subjected to hazing, there is a clear path to justice and significant compensation. The same legal strategies, the same aggressive pursuit of accountability that led to these outcomes, are precisely what Attorney 911 brings to each case.

TEXAS LAW PROTECTS HAZING VICTIMS: What Schley County Families Need to Know

While our central legal battle for Leonel Bermudez is rooted in Texas law and jurisdiction, it’s vital for families in Schley County, Georgia, to understand that strong anti-hazing laws and civil remedies exist across the nation. Many states mirror Texas in their commitment to holding perpetrators and institutions accountable. The legal principles we apply in Texas are foundational to hazing litigation everywhere, allowing us to represent victims nationwide.

The Foundational Truth: Consent is NOT a Defense.

This is perhaps the single most important legal protection for hazing victims. Fraternities, universities, and individual perpetrators often try to deflect blame by claiming the victim “consented” to the activities or “could have left at any time.”

However, Texas Education Code § 37.154 explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution for an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”

This means that even if a student “agreed” to participate, or seemingly “consented” under immense peer pressure, fear of ostracization, or the threat of losing their bid, the law does not recognize that consent as valid. For families in Schley County, this principle is critical: you cannot consent to be abused or a victim of a crime. We exploit this legal reality to dismantle the defense’s primary argument.

Defining Hazing: The Texas Standard

Texas Education Code § 37.151 provides a clear, comprehensive definition of hazing that reflects the severity of the acts involved. This definition is typical of anti-hazing laws across the U.S., encompassing a wide range of harmful activities:

• Physical Brutality: Such as striking, beating, branding, or placing harmful substances on the body. Leonel’s case included “being struck with wooden paddles.”
• Activities Endangering Health/Safety: This covers sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements (like being stripped in cold weather and sprayed with a hose), confinement, or extreme calisthenics (like Leonel’s 500 squats and 100+ pushups) that create an “unreasonable risk of harm” or “adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student.” Leonel’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure directly fall under this.
• Forced Consumption: Involving food, liquid, alcohol, or other substances that pose an “unreasonable risk of harm.” Leonel was forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited.
• Activities Violating the Penal Code: Any hazing that induces or requires a student to commit a criminal act.
• Coercing Consumption of Drugs/Alcohol to Intoxication: Forcing a student to consume substances to the point of intoxication.

Leonel Bermudez’s harrowing experience directly satisfied multiple elements of this statutory definition, highlighting the clarity of the legal violations.

Criminal Penalties:

Texas law doesn’t just define hazing; it punishes it. Depending on the severity of the injury, hazing can be a Class B Misdemeanor (for participation or failure to report), a Class A Misdemeanor (for hazing causing serious bodily injury), or even a State Jail Felony (for hazing causing death). The serious bodily injury suffered by Leonel Bermudez could lead to Class A Misdemeanor charges for individuals involved, with potential jail time of up to a year. When the University of Houston’s spokesperson mentioned “potential criminal charges,” it was an acknowledgment of these serious legal implications.

Organizational Liability:

Beyond individuals, Texas law (Education Code § 37.153) explicitly holds organizations responsible. A fraternity can be fined up to $10,000, denied permission to operate on campus, or even forfeit property if it “condones or encourages hazing” or if its officers, members, pledges, or alumni participate in or assist hazing. This is why we target the local chapter, housing corporation, and national organization.

Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Charges.

For victims and families in Schley County, civil lawsuits offer the most direct path to compensation for devastating injuries and losses. We pursue a range of civil claims:

• Negligence: This is often the broadest claim. We argue that universities, national fraternities, and even individual members owed a duty of care to protect the student, breached that duty through hazing or inaction, causing injury, and resulting in damages.
• Premises Liability: When hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by the university or a housing corporation (as in Leonel’s case at the University of Houston), these entities can be held liable for failing to maintain a safe environment.
• Negligent Supervision: This applies to national organizations that fail to adequately supervise their local chapters, and to universities that fail to monitor Greek life activities on their campuses.
• Assault and Battery: Individual perpetrators who physically harm a student can be sued directly for intentional harmful or offensive contact.
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: The outrageous and extreme conduct often involved in hazing (like waterboarding) can lead to claims for severe emotional distress, such as PTSD.

The combination of clear anti-hazing statutes, robust civil liability theories, and the established precedent of multi-million dollar awards means that victims in Schley County, Georgia, have powerful legal avenues to pursue justice. We leverage these laws to protect your children and ensure accountability.

Why Attorney 911: Schley County’s Trusted Advocates for Hazing Victims

When your family in Schley County needs to fight back against the injustice of hazing, you need more than just a lawyer; you need a relentless advocate who understands the cultural nuances of Greek life, the intricate legal landscape, and who isn’t afraid to take on powerful institutions. You need Attorney 911. Our firm is uniquely positioned to represent victims both in Georgia and nationwide, and we bring a formidable arsenal of experience and strategic advantages to every hazing case.

1. Unmatched Hazing Litigation Expertise: We Are In The Fight Right Now.
We aren’t just reading about hazing in the news; we’re making the news. Our active $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for Leonel Bermudez’s waterboarding and kidney failure is not theoretical. It is a live, ongoing battle that demonstrates our immediate, aggressive, and effective approach. This means we are up-to-date on the latest tactics, defenses, and media strategies specific to hazing cases. The families of Schley County deserve the same aggressive and current legal representation.

2. Insider Knowledge: We Know Their Playbook.
Both of our lead attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Eleno Peña, are former insurance defense lawyers. This is not a coincidence; it’s a strategic advantage. Lupe Peña, in particular, worked for Litchfield Cavo LLP, a national defense firm, where he learned firsthand how large insurance companies value claims, strategize defenses, and attempt to minimize or deny payouts. They know the tactics employed by the very same insurance carriers who protect fraternities and universities. This insider knowledge allows us to anticipate their moves, dismantle their defenses, and negotiate from an unparalleled position of strength, ensuring Schley County families get maximum compensation.

3. Proven Track Record Against Massive Defendants: BP Explosion and More.
Ralph Manginello’s experience includes involvement in the multi-billion dollar BP Texas City Explosion litigation. This high-stakes mass tort case, stemming from an industrial disaster that killed 15 workers and injured 180+, demonstrates our capability to take on the largest corporate defendants with limitless resources. Universities and national fraternities are formidable opponents, but we have proven our capacity to hold them accountable. This same tenacity and experience will be brought to bear for hazing victims in Schley County.

4. Nationwide Reach: Distance is Not a Barrier to Justice.
While our offices are based in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our ability to serve hazing victims in Schley County, Georgia, and across the United States is robust.
* Federal Court Authority: We are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, providing us with jurisdiction to pursue federal claims relevant to hazing cases, regardless of where the incident occurred.
* Dual-State Bar Admissions: Ralph Manginello is licensed in both Texas AND New York. This gives us strategic flexibility when battling national fraternity organizations often headquartered or incorporated in different states.
* Willingness to Travel: We recognize that victims in Schley County may be geographically distant from our offices. Our commitment means we will travel to Georgia for depositions, crucial meetings, and trials when necessary.
* Remote Consultations: We leverage modern technology to provide seamless video consultations, allowing families in Schley County to connect with our expert attorneys from the comfort and privacy of their homes.

5. Data-Driven Litigation: We Don’t Guess, We Know.
We maintain one of the most comprehensive private directories of Greek organizations in Texas, including IRS EINs, legal names, addresses, house corporations, and insurance structures. We use this intelligence to identify every entity behind the Greek letters, whether it’s the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at the University of Houston or a Sigma Alpha Epsilon house corporation in Georgia. When hazing happens, we already know precisely who to sue. This data-driven approach is critical for building an airtight case.

6. Deep Understanding of Hazing Dynamics: More Than Just Law.
Ralph Manginello, a Cheshire Academy Hall of Fame inductee and former youth coach, has a deep understanding of team dynamics, locker room culture, and the social pressures that contribute to hazing. This firsthand insight into a world often shrouded in secrecy helps us uncover the truth and present a compelling narrative to judges and juries.

7. Compassionate, Client-Centered Approach: You Are Family.
Our 4.9-star rating on Google with over 250 reviews speaks volumes. Clients consistently praise our communication, responsiveness, and genuine care. As many testimonials state, we treat our clients like family. We understand the trauma and fear associated with hazing, and we provide empathetic, unwavering support throughout the process. “You are FAMILY to them and they protect and fight for you as such,” as one client put it. This dedication extends to every family in Schley County we serve.

8. Bilingual Services: Se Habla Español.
For the diverse communities in Schley County and beyond, Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish, ensuring that language is never a barrier to justice. We provide comprehensive legal services to Spanish-speaking clients, including initial consultations, ongoing case communication, and document explanation in their native language.

9. Contingency Fee Basis: No Upfront Cost, No Risk.
We understand that pursuing a major lawsuit against powerful institutions can seem financially daunting. That’s why we take hazing cases on a contingency basis. This means you pay us $0 upfront. We only get paid if we win your case. This eliminates financial barriers for Schley County families and aligns our interests directly with yours: our success is your success.

When you choose Attorney 911, you’re not just hiring lawyers; you’re gaining a team whose combined 37+ years of experience, insider knowledge, and relentless dedication are focused entirely on achieving justice for your child. We provide aggressive representation, informed by an understanding of what’s at stake for your family, whether you’re in Schley County, Georgia, or anywhere else in America.

What To Do Right Now: Actionable Guidance for Schley County Families

If your child in Schley County, Georgia, has been a victim of hazing, the moments immediately following the incident are critical. What you do—or don’t do—can significantly impact your ability to seek justice and compensation. We understand you’re scared, angry, and perhaps overwhelmed. But acting quickly and strategically is paramount.

Here are the crucial steps you should take right now:

Step 1: Prioritize Safety and Seek Immediate Medical Attention.
Your child’s physical and mental well-being is the absolute priority.

• Remove Your Child From the Environment: If they are still in a dangerous situation, ensure they are safe and removed from the hazing environment immediately.
• Emergency Medical Care (if needed): If there are any signs of physical injury (like Leonel Bermudez’s severe muscle pain, difficulty walking, or brown urine) or severe psychological distress, call 911 or take your child to the nearest emergency room in Perry, Americus, or another local hospital.
• Comprehensive Medical Documentation: Even if injuries seem minor, seek medical evaluation. Explain in detail how the injuries occurred (e.g., “was forced to do 500 squats,” “was waterboarded with a hose,” “was made to drink excessive alcohol”). Ensure all complaints—physical and emotional—are thoroughly documented by healthcare professionals. This medical record is foundational evidence for your case.
• Follow All Medical Advice: Crucially important for both recovery and for demonstrating the legitimacy of the injuries.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence – EVERYTHING is Important.
Hazing lives in secrecy. The first thing perpetrators and institutions do is try to cover their tracks. You must gather and preserve every piece of available evidence immediately.

• Medical Records: Obtain copies of all hospital records, emergency room visits, doctor’s notes, lab results (like Leonel’s creatine kinase levels), and any therapy or counseling records.
• Photos and Videos: Take pictures of any visible injuries (bruises, cuts, swelling, signs of dehydration or exhaustion) as soon as possible, and continue to document the healing process over time. If your child has any photos or videos of the hazing itself, or of the environment, save them.
• Digital Communications: This is often a goldmine of evidence in hazing cases.
  • Text Messages: Screenshot and save every text message, especially from group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, etc.) involving the fraternity/sorority, pledges, or relevant members. These often contain instructions, threats, dates, times, and descriptions of hazing activities.
  • Social Media: Preserve any relevant posts, messages, or stories related to the organization or the hazing incident. Do not delete anything from your child’s or others’ profiles (even if it seems irrelevant).
  • Emails: Save any emails from the fraternity/sorority, university, or other members.
• Documents: Collect any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, or other documents given to your child. These can sometimes contradict official anti-hazing policies, showing institutional hypocrisy.
• Witness Information: If your child knows the names and contact information of other pledges, active members, or even bystanders who witnessed the hazing, write these down immediately. Their testimony could be invaluable.
• Financial Records: Keep track of medical bills, any lost wages (if your child had a job and couldn’t work), or tuition/fees related to academic disruption.
• Academic Records: Document any impact on grades, enrollment status, or scholarships.

Step 3: Crucial “DO NOTs” to Protect Your Case.

• DO NOT Delete Anything: Do not delete text messages, social media posts, or any other digital evidence, even if it seems irrelevant. Deleting evidence can severely harm your case.
• DO NOT Talk to the Fraternity/Sorority: Do not communicate with chapter leadership, advisors, or national representatives without legal counsel. They are not on your side and will attempt to gather information or coerce you.
• DO NOT Sign Anything: Do not sign any documents from the fraternity/sorority, the university, or their representatives without having an attorney review them first. You could inadvertently waive critical legal rights.
• DO NOT Post on Social Media: Instruct your child to immediately cease all social media posting about the incident, their injuries, or the fraternity. Anything posted can be used by the defense to discredit their claims.
• DO NOT Give Statements to University Administration Alone: If the university contacts your child for an investigation, decline to provide a statement until you have consulted with an attorney. University investigations often prioritize protecting the institution over protecting individual students.
• DO NOT Delay: There are strict legal deadlines (statutes of limitations) for filing lawsuits, typically two years in Georgia and many other states. Evidence disappears, and memories fade. The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be. Leonel Bermudez’s case was filed within weeks of his hospitalization, demonstrating the critical need for immediate action.

Step 4: Report the Incident (Strategically).
While contacting us first is ideal, it’s also important to ensure official reports are made. We can guide you on the best timing and method.

• Title IX Report: If the hazing involves elements of sexual harassment or violence, or creates a hostile educational environment, a Title IX report can initiate a university investigation.
• Police Report: For criminal acts (assault, battery, severe physical harm, or anything that constitutes a crime under Georgia law), filing a police report is important. This can lead to criminal charges, which often bolster civil claims.

Step 5: Call Attorney 911 IMMEDIATELY.
This is not a step you should postpone. Even if you’re unsure whether you have a case, a free, confidential consultation with our experienced hazing litigation attorneys will provide clarity and immediate guidance.

• Speed is Essential: We need to move quickly to preserve evidence before it disappears and to secure witness testimony.
• We Protect Your Rights: We will handle all communications with the fraternity, university, and their legal teams, shielding you and your child from further pressure.
• We Come to You: Whether through video consultation from Schley County or by traveling to you for key aspects of the case, distance will not prevent us from fighting for your child.

When your child has been subjected to such horrific abuse, the process can feel overwhelming. But you don’t have to face it alone. Attorney 911 is here to guide Schley County families through every step, fighting tirelessly for the justice and compensation your child deserves.

🚨 Schley County Families: Have You or Your Child Been Hazed?

You Have Legal Rights. We are Fighting This Fight Right Now – And We’ll Fight for Schley County Victims Too.

Our attorneys are currently representing a hazing victim against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston in a $10 MILLION lawsuit. We know how to build these cases. We know how to hold institutions accountable. We know how to WIN. Schley County families get the same aggressive representation.

Schley County Families – Call Now – Free Consultation

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Available 24/7 for Schley County hazing emergencies.

We work on CONTINGENCY – $0 upfront for Schley County families. We don’t get paid unless YOU get paid. This removes the financial burden, allowing you to focus on your child’s recovery while we relentlessly pursue justice.

What Schley County Hazing Victims Should Do Right Now:

1. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION if you haven’t already. Document everything, explaining the hazing acts in detail to healthcare providers.
2. PRESERVE ALL EVIDENCE – this means screenshotting every text, every GroupMe, every Snapchat, every photo, and identifying any potential witnesses. Do not delete anything.
3. DO NOT talk to the fraternity/sorority, the university, their alumni, or their lawyers without consulting with our legal counsel first. They are not on your side.
4. DO NOT post on social media about the incident. Anything you say or do online can be twisted and used against you.
5. CALL US IMMEDIATELY. In Georgia, like most states, there’s a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. Evidence disappears fast, and your legal rights can expire. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now.
6. Schley County Families: Distance is not a barrier. We offer video consultations and will travel to Schley County, Georgia, for depositions, client meetings, and trials as needed. We are equipped to handle cases both remotely and in person throughout the state.

We Serve Schley County Hazing Victims – And Hazing Victims Nationwide

While our primary offices are strategically located in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, hazing happens at colleges and universities across America, including those where students from Schley County, Georgia, pursue their education. We can evaluate your case regardless of the geographic location through:

• Federal Court Authority: Our admission to the U.S. District Court allows us to pursue cases in federal jurisdiction, which is often crucial when dealing with national organizations or incidents that cross state lines.
• Dual-State Bar Licenses: Ralph Manginello is licensed in both Texas AND New York, providing additional strategic advantages when litigating against national fraternity and sorority organizations that may be headquartered or operate across different states.
• Video Consultations: Schley County families can meet with us remotely, ensuring access to expert legal counsel without geographical limitations.
• Travel Commitment: We commit to traveling to Schley County, Georgia, for depositions, critical meetings, and trials to ensure seamless and effective representation. Your location in Georgia will not diminish the vigor of our fight.

Hazing is not limited to Greek life. We represent victims of hazing in many settings:

• Fraternities and sororities at universities throughout Georgia and beyond (e.g., University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, Columbus State, Valdosta State, Kennesaw State).
• Schley County sports teams or collegiate sports programs at nearby institutions.
• Marching bands or other performance groups at Georgia universities.
• ROTC programs.
• Clubs and organizations at colleges and universities where Schley County students attend.
• Military academies or other training programs.
• Any organization that uses abuse as an “initiation” rite.

To Other Victims of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing:

We know there are more of you. Leonel Bermudez was not the only one hazed. Another pledge collapsed and lost consciousness on October 15. Others were subjected to waterboarding, forced eating, physical abuse, and wooden paddles. You have rights too. We can represent you.

As Lupe Pena said, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Call us. Let’s bring them ALL to justice.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com