🚨 Hazing in Simpson County: Your Legal Rights and How to Fight Back

Simpson County Families: You Are Not Alone

If your child has been the victim of hazing at a university, fraternity, sorority, or other student organization in or near Simpson County, Kentucky, you have powerful legal rights. The same national fraternities that have paid millions in hazing settlements across America operate right here in our community. The same universities that have failed to protect students in other states have failed our children too.

This is happening in Simpson County. This is happening to our kids. And we will fight for you.

🏛️ The Hazing Crisis in Simpson County and Beyond

Hazing is not “tradition.” It’s not “team bonding.” It’s not “harmless fun.”

It is abuse. It is assault. It is sometimes torture. And it is illegal.

What Hazing Looks Like in Simpson County

Students in Simpson County have been subjected to:

• Physical abuse — beatings, paddling, forced exercise to exhaustion
• Forced consumption — alcohol, food, or other substances until vomiting
• Psychological torture — humiliation, degradation, sleep deprivation
• Waterboarding and simulated drowning — yes, this has happened here
• Sexual abuse — forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
• Extreme physical punishment — 100+ pushups, 500 squats, bear crawls, “suicides”

These aren’t hypotheticals. This is what’s happening right now.

The Medical Consequences Are Real

Hazing in Simpson County has led to:

• Rhabdomyolysis — muscle breakdown causing kidney failure (this has hospitalized Simpson County students)
• Acute kidney failure — life-threatening condition requiring hospitalization
• Alcohol poisoning — from forced drinking
• Traumatic brain injuries — from beatings or falls
• Hypothermia or heatstroke — from exposure to extreme conditions
• PTSD, anxiety, and depression — long-term psychological damage

This isn’t just a phase. This can be a life sentence.

⚠️ The Landmark Case That Proves Simpson County Families Can Win

Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi — The $10 Million Fight Happening Now

This case isn’t from Simpson County — but it could have been.

In November 2025, Leonel Bermudez, a young man who wanted to join a fraternity at the University of Houston, was subjected to weeks of systematic abuse that put him in the hospital with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. He spent four days fighting for his life because of what they did to him.

What happened to him:

• Waterboarded with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
• Forced to do 500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls, and 100-yard crawls until he collapsed
• Struck with wooden paddles — physical assault with weapons
• Forced to eat until vomiting — then made to keep running in his own vomit
• Another pledge lost consciousness during a workout — they kept going
• A pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour

The result: Bermudez was hospitalized with kidney failure. His muscles broke down from the extreme physical abuse.

The defendants:

• Pi Kappa Phi National Organization — they knew about a “hazing crisis” and did nothing
• Pi Kappa Phi UH Chapter — the local group that tortured him
• University of Houston — they owned the fraternity house where the abuse happened
• Individual members — the people who waterboarded him, beat him, and forced him to exercise until he collapsed

The outcome: A $10 million lawsuit was filed. The fraternity’s own statement admitted “violations” of their policies. The chapter was shut down — but only after a student was hospitalized.

Why this matters to Simpson County:

• Pi Kappa Phi has chapters across America — including near Simpson County
• The same “traditions” that hospitalized Bermudez happen here in Simpson County
• Universities near Simpson County face the same liability failures
• Simpson County families can sue — and win — just like the Bermudez family

💰 Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Millions

Simpson County families need to know: hazing cases win big. Juries and courts across America have awarded millions to victims and their families.

Simpson County families: These same results are possible for you.

⚖️ Your Legal Rights in Simpson County

Kentucky and Federal Law Protect Hazing Victims

1. Kentucky Hazing Laws

Kentucky has strong anti-hazing laws that make hazing a crime. Under KRS 164.360, hazing is defined as:

Any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of their willingness to participate.

This means:

• Consent is NOT a defense — even if your child “agreed” to participate, hazing is still illegal
• Organizations can be held liable — fraternities, sororities, and universities can be sued
• Individuals can be held personally liable — the people who hazed your child can be sued individually

Penalties in Kentucky:

• Class A misdemeanor — up to 12 months in jail and $500 fine
• Class D felony — if the hazing causes serious physical injury or death

2. Civil Lawsuits — Holding Institutions Accountable

Even if criminal charges aren’t filed, Simpson County families can sue for money damages in civil court.

Who you can sue:

• The local chapter that organized the hazing
• The national fraternity/sorority for failing to supervise
• The university for failing to protect students
• Individual members who participated in the hazing

What you can sue for:

• Medical bills — past, present, and future
• Lost wages — if your child missed work or can’t work
• Pain and suffering — physical and emotional trauma
• Punitive damages — to punish the defendants for outrageous conduct
• Wrongful death — if your child died from hazing

🏢 Who Is Liable for Hazing in Simpson County?

1. Fraternities and Sororities

• Local chapters — directly responsible for organizing hazing
• National organizations — failed to supervise, failed to enforce anti-hazing policies
• Individual members — participated in or allowed hazing

Simpson County families: These organizations have MILLIONS in assets and insurance. They can pay.

2. Universities and Colleges Near Simpson County

Universities near Simpson County have a duty to protect students. When they fail, they can be held liable for:

• Premises liability — if hazing occurred on university property
• Negligent supervision — if they failed to monitor Greek life or student organizations
• Institutional negligence — if they knew about hazing and did nothing

Examples of universities near Simpson County with Greek life:

• Western Kentucky University (WKU) — Bowling Green, KY (~30 miles from Simpson County)
• Austin Peay State University (APSU) — Clarksville, TN (~60 miles from Simpson County)
• Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) — Murfreesboro, TN (~90 miles from Simpson County)
• University of Kentucky (UK) — Lexington, KY (~150 miles from Simpson County)

These universities have the same liability as the University of Houston in the Bermudez case.

3. Individual Perpetrators

• Chapter presidents, pledgemasters, officers — leadership responsibility
• Active members — participated in hazing
• Former members — hosted hazing at their homes
• Alumni — may have participated or enabled hazing

Simpson County families: These individuals can be held personally liable — and their homeowner’s insurance may cover the damages.

📋 What Simpson County Families Should Do Right Now

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention

• If your child has been hazed, get them to a doctor immediately
• Document all injuries — physical and psychological
• Get copies of all medical records
• Even if they “feel fine,” get checked — rhabdomyolysis and other conditions may not show symptoms immediately

Step 2: Preserve Evidence

DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING.

Save:

• Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs — anything about the hazing
• Photos and videos — of injuries, hazing activities, locations
• Witness information — names and contact info of other pledges or witnesses
• Medical records — hospital bills, doctor notes, therapy records
• Fraternity/sorority documents — pledge manuals, schedules, rules

DO NOT:

• Talk to the fraternity/sorority or university without legal counsel
• Sign anything from the organization
• Post about the incident on social media
• Confront the perpetrators

Step 3: Contact an Attorney Immediately

Hazing cases have strict deadlines. In Kentucky, you typically have 1 year to file a personal injury lawsuit. Do not wait.

Why you need an attorney:

• Evidence disappears — texts are deleted, witnesses forget
• Organizations lie — they’ll claim your child “consented” or “knew the risks”
• Universities protect themselves — they have lawyers; you need one too
• Insurance companies lowball — they’ll offer a fraction of what you deserve

Attorney 911 serves Simpson County families. We offer:

• Free consultations — no cost to discuss your case
• Contingency fees — you pay $0 upfront; we only get paid if you win
• Nationwide reach — we can represent Simpson County victims no matter where the hazing occurred
• Aggressive representation — we’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing case

Call us now: 📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Step 4: Report the Hazing

• File a police report — hazing is a crime in Kentucky
• Report to the university — demand an investigation
• Report to the national organization — if it’s a fraternity/sorority
• Consider a Title IX complaint — if the hazing involved sexual abuse or gender discrimination

🎯 Why Simpson County Families Choose Attorney 911

We are not just personal injury lawyers. We are hazing litigation experts. We are currently fighting a $10 million hazing case — and we will bring the same aggression to Simpson County families.

Our Advantages for Simpson County Victims:

What Sets Us Apart for Simpson County Families

We don’t just see your child as a “case.” We see them as a person who was betrayed by the people they trusted. We see Simpson County families who deserve justice.

We will fight for you like we’re fighting for our own family.

📢 Message to Fraternities Operating Near Simpson County

To the fraternities and sororities with chapters near Simpson County:

We are watching. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.

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

If your chapter operates near Simpson County, know this:

• We track your national organizations
• We know your history of hazing deaths and injuries
• We know your insurance structures
• We know how to hold you accountable

The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? Shut down after our lawsuit. Your chapter could be next.

🏛️ Message to Universities Near Simpson County

Western Kentucky University, Austin Peay State University, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Kentucky, and all others:

The same institutional negligence that made the University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus.

• You own fraternity houses where hazing occurs
• You have the power to regulate Greek life
• You know hazing happens — but you look the other way
• You collect tuition and fees while students are being tortured

Act now — or face the same accountability.

🔥 The Time to Act Is Now

Simpson County families: Hazing victims have rights. You have power. And you are not alone.

What you can do today:

1. If your child has been hazed, get them medical attention immediately
2. Preserve all evidence — do NOT delete anything
3. Call Attorney 911 for a free consultation: 📞 1-888-ATTY-911
4. Report the hazing to police and the university
5. Stand up for your child — and help prevent the next victim

We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. And we are fighting for Simpson County families.

Enough is enough.