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Taliaferro County Fraternity Hazing Attorneys | $24M Pike Settlements | Attorney911 — The Firm That Shut Down Pi Kappa Phi | Federal Court | Former Insurance Defense | 1-888-ATTY-911

Earth, Georgia, North America, Taliaferro County, United States

If you’re reading this, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child was supposed to make friends at college. Instead, they were tortured. We’re here to help families in Taliaferro County, Georgia fight back. We hear your fear, your anger, and your desperate search for justice. Our firm, Attorney911, stands with you, offering aggressive representation for hazing victims and their families in Taliaferro County and across the nation. We know what you are going through, and we are actively fighting these battles right now.

The Haunting Reality: Hazing in Taliaferro County, Georgia and Across America

The promise of college — a new chapter, new friends, exciting experiences – is tragically shattered for thousands of students each year by the pervasive and dangerous practice of hazing. In Taliaferro County, parents send their children off to institutions of higher learning, expecting them to be safe, to grow, and to learn. They certainly don’t expect their sons and daughters to be subjected to abuse, humiliation, psychological torture, or life-threatening physical demands. Yet, hazing incidents, often cloaked in the guise of “tradition,” continue to devastate families in communities like Taliaferro County. It’s a silent crisis that has become increasingly violent and deadly, impacting students at major universities and smaller regional colleges across Georgia and beyond.

These aren’t harmless pranks from a bygone era; they are often acts of criminal assault, battery, and reckless endangerment that leave deep physical and emotional scars. Hazing has evolved into practices that resemble torture, far removed from any notion of character building or cultivating “brotherhood” or “sisterhood.” The secrecy surrounding these rituals, fueled by fear of retaliation and misguided loyalty, allows this cycle of abuse to continue unchecked, year after year.

We understand that parents in Taliaferro County are particularly sensitive to these issues. Our community values respect, safety, and proper conduct, and the idea that a child could be brutalized in an academic setting is deeply unsettling. Whether your child attends a college directly within Georgia, like the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Emory, or Kennesaw State, or ventures out of state, the threat of hazing from national fraternities and sororities remains a constant. These organizations, with chapters nationwide, often carry the same dangerous cultures and “traditions” from one campus to the next, regardless of location.

Statistics paint a grim picture:

  • Over half of students (55%) in Greek organizations experience hazing.
  • 95% of students who are hazed do NOT report it, often due to fear, shame, or loyalty to the group.
  • Since 2000, there has been at least one hazing death every year in the United States, a horrifying testament to the escalating danger.

This crisis transcends individual chapters and reaches the highest levels of national organizations and university administrations. They often pay lip service to anti-hazing policies but fail to implement meaningful oversight or take decisive action until a student is severely injured or dies. It is this systemic failure that Attorney911 is committed to exposing and confronting, on behalf of families in Taliaferro County and everywhere else these injustices occur. We believe that turning a blind eye to hazing makes institutions complicit, and we dedicate ourselves to holding every responsible party accountable.

BREAKING: Our Attorneys Are Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW — The Same Fight We’ll Bring to Taliaferro County

Taliaferro County Families: This Is What Hazing Looks Like. This Is What We Do About It.

This case happened in Houston. But the same hazing happens at universities near Taliaferro County. The same fraternities operate near Taliaferro County. The same negligence exists at institutions in Taliaferro County. And we will fight for Taliaferro County families with the same aggression we’re bringing to this case.

News Coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Case

We are not theoretical. We are not hypothetical. Our firm is actively involved in a pivotal $10 million lawsuit, Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al., filed in Harris County Civil District Court in November 2025. This case is currently making headlines, and it stands as a testament to our aggressive, thorough, and relentless pursuit of justice for hazing victims.

Here’s how major news outlets are covering our fight:

We also have the defendant’s own statement from the Pi Kappa Phi National website, published on November 21, 2025, titled “Pi Kappa Phi Closes Beta Nu Chapter at the University of Houston” available at: https://pikapp.org/pi-kappa-phi-closes-beta-nu-chapter-at-the-university-of-houston/ This statement is an admission, in their own words, that “violations” occurred—a critical piece of evidence.

The Case That Shows Taliaferro County Families Why We Fight

Our client, Leonel Bermudez, accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Houston on September 16, 2025. What followed were weeks of systematic abuse, torture, and hazing that led to him being hospitalized for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.

What makes this especially shocking is that Leonel wasn’t even a University of Houston student yet; he was a “ghost rush” planning to transfer for the upcoming semester. They did this to someone who wasn’t even officially enrolled.

Why this matters to Taliaferro County families:

  • Pi Kappa Phi has over 150 chapters across America, including at various universities in Georgia that students from Taliaferro County often attend, such as the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia Tech in Atlanta, or Georgia Southern in Statesboro.
  • The same barbaric “traditions” that hospitalized our client happen at fraternities operating near Taliaferro County.
  • Universities near Taliaferro County share the same liability failures as the University of Houston.
  • If your child is being hazed in Taliaferro County, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting in Houston.

As Ralph Manginello told ABC13, “When he finally made it home, he crawled up the stairs and went to bed. The next day, he was really sore and couldn’t really move. The next day was worse, and the next day, his mom rushed him to the hospital, and he had some kidney failure.” This visceral account brings home the reality of hazing injuries.

Lupe Pena emphasized the purpose of this fight to ABC13: “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” This is the core of our mission: to protect future victims by holding wrongdoers accountable.

What Happened: The Horrific Hazing Timeline

Date Event
Sept 16, 2025 Leonel Bermudez accepts bid to Pi Kappa Phi.
Sept 16 – Nov 3 Weeks of systematic hazing, involving physical abuse, forced consumption, psychological torture, and extreme physical exertion.
Oct 13, 2025 Another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.
Oct 15, 2025 A pledge lost consciousness and collapsed during a forced workout; other pledges had to elevate his legs until he recovered. This incident did not stop the hazing.
Nov 3, 2025 THE INCIDENT: Leonel was forced to do over 100 pushups, 500 squats, and other exercises while reciting the fraternity creed, under threat of immediate expulsion. He became so exhausted he could not stand without help.
Nov 4-5, 2025 Leonel could not move; his condition worsened.
Nov 6, 2025 Leonel’s mother rushes him to the hospital after he was passing brown urine—a classic sign of muscle breakdown.
Nov 6-10, 2025 Leonel spent three nights and four days hospitalized, diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
Nov 14, 2025 Pi Kappa Phi National officially closed the Beta Nu Chapter (per their own website statement), after Leonel’s hospitalization and just days before our lawsuit was filed.
Nov 21, 2025 Our $10 MILLION LAWSUIT was filed by Attorney911 in Harris County. News media including ABC13 and KHOU 11 covered it on the same day.
Nov 22, 2025 Houston Chronicle and Hoodline published their coverage of the lawsuit.
Nov 24, 2025 Houston Public Media confirmed the $10 million demand and additional hazing details.

The Hazing Activities Exposed in Our Lawsuit

The details of Leonel’s torment read like something out of a horror story, not a college experience. These are not isolated incidents but patterns of abuse that are often repeated across fraternity chapters nationwide, potentially even at institutions near Taliaferro County.

  • Waterboarding / Simulated Drowning: Leonel was subjected to “simulated waterboarding with a garden hose” (KHOU reporting), where he was sprayed in the face with a hose while doing calisthenics. He was repeatedly forced to run under the threat of being waterboarded. We believe this is torture, akin to what is considered a war crime when done to enemy combatants. Yet, it was inflicted upon a college student.
  • Forced Eating Until Vomiting: He was forced to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited. Even after vomiting, he was made to “continue running sprints while clearly in physical distress” and was forced to lie in the vomit-soaked grass.
  • Extreme Physical Punishment: This included over 100 pushups, 500 squats, high-volume “suicides” (sprint drills), bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warmups, and repeated 100-yard crawls. He was forced to recite the fraternity creed during these exercises and threatened with expulsion if he stopped. He was struck with wooden paddles. Another pledge even lost consciousness during these grueling workouts.
  • Psychological Torture & Humiliation: Leonel was stripped to his underwear in cold weather and made to carry a fanny pack containing 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. Threats of physical punishment and expulsion created an atmosphere of constant fear.
  • Sleep Deprivation & Exhaustion: He was also forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, which significantly contributed to his exhaustion and affected his daily life and capacity to withstand these abuses.

The Medical Consequences: Rhabdomyolysis

Leonel’s body bore the brutal brunt of this “hazing.” He was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a severe medical condition where damaged muscle tissue releases proteins into the blood, overwhelming the kidneys. This led to acute kidney failure, a life-threatening complication.

His symptoms were alarming:

  • He reported passing brown urine, a classic sign of myoglobin (from muscle breakdown) in the urine.
  • Blood tests showed very high creatine kinase levels, confirming extensive muscle damage.
  • He experienced severe muscle pain and difficulty walking, ultimately leading to four days of hospitalization.

This is the exact medical condition Attorney911 has successfully litigated before. Ralph Manginello has specific expertise in rhabdomyolysis hazing cases, understanding the long-term implications and the pathways to proving causation and damages.

Institutional Responses – On the Record

The responses from the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi National provide crucial insights into their awareness and attempts to manage the fallout.

The University of Houston Spokesperson told Houston Public Media on November 24, 2025:

“The events investigated are deeply disturbing and represent a clear violation of our community standards. The University is conducting its own investigation in coordination with law enforcement and with the cooperation of the fraternity and its national leadership. Pending the outcome of these investigations, any individual found responsible for hazing will face disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion and potential criminal charges.”
This statement, in effect, is an admission of guilt. The University found the events “deeply disturbing” and a “clear violation” of their own standards, indicating they knew this was unacceptable conduct on their grounds. Their mention of “potential criminal charges” underscores the severe nature of the hazing.

Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters, on their own website on November 21, 2025, stated:

“Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity closed its Beta Nu Chapter effective November 14, 2025, following violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policy and membership conduct standards. Pi Kappa Phi takes all allegations of hazing seriously… We thank the University of Houston for its collaboration and leadership. Pi Kappa Phi has a proud history… and we look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time…”
Critically, Pi Kappa Phi closed the chapter before our lawsuit was filed – a clear attempt to control the narrative and distance themselves from liability before legal action could cement their responsibility. Their statement admits to “violations” of their own policies, yet their desire to “return to campus” reveals a brazen lack of genuine remorse for the student they hospitalized. They’re planning their comeback while Leonel is still recovering.

Why This Case Matters to Taliaferro County Families

  1. Proof That “Tradition” is Torture: These aren’t just isolated incidents; they are systematic abuses that happen at universities near Taliaferro County too. What happened to Leonel is a stark warning.
  2. Universities Are Complicit: The University of Houston owned the fraternity house where much of this hazing occurred. Universities near Taliaferro County, such as the University of Georgia or Georgia College & State University, have the same power and responsibility to stop hazing—and the same liability when they fail to do so.
  3. National Organizations Know: Pi Kappa Phi’s national leadership immediately suspended and dissolved the chapter, confirming they understand the severity of violations. The same national fraternities operate chapters near Taliaferro County, and they too have knowledge of hazardous hazing.
  4. Victims Are Afraid: Our client fears retribution for speaking out, a common and paralyzing fear among hazing victims everywhere, including those in Taliaferro County. We protect our clients and their privacy.
  5. One Brave Victim Can Protect Taliaferro County Students: As Lupe Pena stated, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do.” Your case could be the one that saves another student from enduring humiliation, abuse, and injury in Taliaferro County.
  6. $10 Million Sends a Message: This is the price for torturing our kids. Taliaferro County families have the power to send the same message when they choose to fight back aggressively.

What Hazing Really Looks Like: Beyond the Myths and Stereotypes

For many parents in Taliaferro County, talk of hazing conjures images of silly pranks or benign rituals. But the reality is far more sinister, as starkly illustrated by Leonel Bermudez’s case. These aren’t “boys being boys” or harmless “traditions.” This is not “building brotherhood.” It is outright abuse, often criminal in nature, meticulously designed to break down a person’s physical and psychological will. It leaves victims with lifelong trauma, and in far too many cases, it leads to death.

It IS:

  • Assault – Intentionally causing physical harm.
  • Battery – Physical contact that is harmful or offensive.
  • Torture – The infliction of severe physical or mental pain to punish or coerce.
  • Reckless Endangerment – Willfully engaging in conduct that places another person at risk of serious injury or death.
  • Sometimes Manslaughter or Murder – When hazing rituals result in a fatality.

The statistics don’t lie. Hazing is rampant and severe:

  • 55% of students involved in fraternities and sororities will experience hazing, often pushing them to dangerous limits.
  • Even in supposedly less intense settings, 40% of student-athletes report enduring hazing.
  • Alarmingly, 95% of students who are hazed do not report it, largely due to fear of social ostracization, retribution, or expulsion from the group they desperately wanted to join.
  • Hazing is not confined to Greek life; it infiltrates sports teams, marching bands, ROTC programs, clubs, and various other student organizations at colleges and universities across the nation, including those attended by students from Taliaferro County.

The institutional failure is often just as egregious as the hazing itself. Universities and national organizations, despite their glossy brochures and publicly stated anti-hazing policies, frequently turn a blind eye. They have the power to stop it, yet they often choose not to, waiting until a student is hospitalized or dies before reluctantly suspending or dissolving a chapter. Then they issue carefully worded press releases claiming shock and dismay. We know better, and Taliaferro County families deserve better.

Types of Hazing Incidents

Drawing from the details of the Pi Kappa Phi case and other documented hazing tragedies, we see a disturbing array of abusive practices:

  • Physical Abuse: This is where individuals are directly subjected to bodily harm. Examples from cases nationwide, including Leonel’s, include beatings (like being struck with wooden paddles), branding, burning, forced exposure to extreme elements (such as cold weather while minimally clothed), and forced calisthenics or exercise to the point of collapse and severe injury.
  • Forced Consumption: This often involves life-threatening amounts of alcohol, leading to binge drinking, chugging, and fatal alcohol poisoning. It can also include forced eating until vomiting, consuming non-food substances, or even mixing various concoctions to induce illness.
  • Sleep Deprivation: Pledges are often intentionally deprived of sleep through forced late-night or early-morning activities, affecting their health, academic performance, and ability to resist further hazing. Such activities included Leonel being forced to drive fraternity members at all hours of the night.
  • Psychological Torture: This insidious form of hazing can be just as damaging as physical abuse, leading to long-term trauma. It involves humiliation, degradation (like carrying sexually explicit items), verbal abuse, isolation, and constant threats of physical punishment or social exclusion.
  • Waterboarding/Simulated Drowning: As terrifyingly demonstrated in Leonel’s case, this involves simulating drowning, holding individuals underwater, or, as with Leonel, spraying water directly into their face with a hose. This is a recognized torture technique, not a college prank.
  • Exposure: This includes prolonged exposure to harsh environmental conditions, such as extreme cold or heat, or confinement in small, dark spaces, leading to hypothermia, hyperthermia, or severe psychological distress.
  • Servitude & Demeaning Tasks: Pledges are often forced to act as servants, performing endless errands, cleaning duties, or driving tasks for active members, further eroding their self-worth.

Medical Consequences—The Devastating Impact

The consequences of such brutal hazing activities are severe, often leading to permanent injuries and even death. Leonel’s diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure is a critical example.

Other harrowing medical consequences include:

  • Alcohol poisoning: A common and often fatal outcome of forced drinking hazing.
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Resulting from falls, beatings, or concussions.
  • Hypothermia/Hyperthermia: From forced exposure to extreme temperatures.
  • Cardiac arrest: Induced by extreme physical exertion, especially in individuals with underlying health conditions.
  • PTSD, anxiety, and depression: These are common long-term psychological impacts that can disrupt lives for years, requiring extensive therapy. Our client, Leonel, fears retribution for speaking out, demonstrating the profound psychological toll.
  • DEATH: The ultimate, tragic outcome that far too many families have faced.

Institutional Failure: A Pattern of Complicity

The pattern is clear: universities and national Greek organizations repeatedly fail to provide adequate oversight, often prioritizing their public image and “tradition” over student safety. They have the resources, the policies, and the supposed commitment to prevent hazing, yet it persists. Until someone gets hospitalized or dies, they rarely act decisively, often issuing carefully worded statements and enacting superficial changes only after a crisis. This deliberate indifference makes them culpable, and it is precisely this systemic failure that Attorney911 targets in our aggressive litigation.

Who Is Responsible: Every Entity in the Hazing Chain Must Be Held Accountable

When a child is brutally hazed, the instinct is often to blame the individual perpetrators. While those individuals are certainly liable, the reality is that hazing is a systemic problem, fostered and enabled by layers of institutional neglect. Our legal strategy, exemplified by the Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit, is to cast a wide net, holding every responsible party accountable. For families in Taliaferro County, this means pursuing justice against not just the students directly involved, but also the organizations, the national fraternities, and even the universities that permit such savagery to continue.

From our Pi Kappa Phi case, we are pursuing:

  • Local Chapter: The Beta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi directly organized and conducted the hazing. The collective actions of its members and leadership directly inflicted harm upon Leonel.
  • Chapter Officers: Individuals like the Fraternity President and the Pledgemaster are explicitly named as defendants. They hold positions of power and bear direct responsibility for directing, condoning, and allowing the hazing activities to occur under their watch.
  • Individual Members: Other current members who participated in or failed to intervene during the hazing are also being held accountable. Every person who actively engages in or facilitates hazing is personally liable for the harm caused.
  • Former Members and Their Spouses: In Leonel’s case, some major hazing sessions occurred at the private residence of a former member and his spouse. This expands liability to individuals who provide the venue and implicitly—or explicitly—condone the abuse on their property. This highlights that responsibility can extend beyond current students.
  • National Organization: Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., the national headquarters, is a key defendant. National organizations often claim ignorance, but their immediate suspension and dissolution of the UH chapter after Leonel’s hospitalization proves they knew the conduct was wrong. They failed to adequately supervise their local chapter and enforce anti-hazing policies, even with a documented history of hazing deaths nationwide (like Andrew Coffey in 2017). These national organizations hold millions in assets and insurance, making them “deep pockets” for recovery.
  • University: The University of Houston is also a defendant. Crucially, the University owned and directly controlled the fraternity house where some of the hazing took place. Universities have a duty to protect their students and the power to regulate, suspend, or remove organizations on their campus. Their failure to act, despite prior hazing incidents on campus (like the 2017 Pi Kappa Alpha hazing resulting in a lacerated spleen), demonstrates negligence.
  • Insurance Carriers: While not direct perpetrators, the insurance carriers for the national organization, the university, and even individual members (homeowner’s policies) are crucial targets. These policies are the primary source of financial recovery for victims. As former insurance defense attorneys, both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena know exactly how to pursue these policies and maximize recovery for our clients.

The Deep Pockets:
It is important for Taliaferro County families to understand that suing for hazing is not just about holding college students accountable. It’s about challenging well-funded institutions:

  • National fraternity/sorority organizations possess millions in assets, endowments, and liability insurance.
  • Universities have substantial budgets, endowments, and institutional liability insurance.

These are the entities with the resources to effect change and compensate victims. Holding them accountable through aggressive litigation sends a powerful message that hazing will no longer be tolerated, and that the financial repercussions will be severe. We are relentless in pursuing justice from every single entity that played a role, however direct or indirect, in the suffering of hazing victims in Taliaferro County and beyond.

What These Cases Win: Multi-Million Dollar Proof That Justice Is Possible

For families in Taliaferro County grappling with the trauma of hazing, understanding the financial and legal precedent set by similar cases is crucial. These are not small claims; they are often multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements that send a clear message: hazing costs dearly. We leverage these landmark cases to inform our strategy, proving to defendants that we are prepared to secure significant compensation for our clients, just as we are doing in the Bermudez case.

The Message to Taliaferro County Fraternities, Universities, and National Organizations:

Hazing costs MILLIONS. We have the receipts. These same results are possible for Taliaferro County victims.

Landmark Verdicts & Settlements

Here are just a few examples of how communities and courts have responded to hazing tragedies:

  • STONE FOLTZ — Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021) 💰 TOTAL: $10.1 MILLION+

    • What Happened: In March 2021, Stone Foltz, a pledge, was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol at a “Big/Little” initiation event. He was found unresponsive the next morning and died from alcohol poisoning.
    • Payout: The university settled for $2.9 million, and Pi Kappa Alpha national plus involved individuals settled for $7.2 million. This amounted to over $10.1 million, making it the largest public university hazing payout in Ohio history. Critically, in December 2024, Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president, was ordered to pay $6.5 million in personal liability, demonstrating that individuals, not just institutions, face massive financial consequences.
    • Relevance to Our Case: This $10 million precedent directly supports our current demand in the Bermudez case. It confirms that both universities and national fraternities are on the hook for substantial amounts, even before individual liability is factored in.

  • 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, was forced to drink excessive alcohol during a “Bible Study” pledge event. He died from acute alcohol poisoning with a BAC of 0.495.
    • Payout: A jury awarded the Gruver family an astounding $6.1 million. Several fraternity members faced criminal charges, with one being convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to prison.
    • Relevance to Our Case: This verdict proves that juries are willing to award millions for hazing deaths, sending a powerful message that parents in Taliaferro County should understand. It also led to the “Max Gruver Act,” making hazing a felony in Louisiana.

  • TIMOTHY PIAZZA — Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017) 💰 TOTAL: $110+ MILLION (Multiple Settlements)

    • What Happened: In February 2017, Timothy Piazza, a pledge, was forced to consume 18 drinks in 82 minutes. He then fell down a flight of basement stairs repeatedly, suffering a traumatic brain injury. Fraternity brothers waited 12 hours to call 911. He died from his injuries. The entire incident was captured on security cameras.
    • Payout: While confidential, settlements reached an estimated $110+ million. Numerous fraternity members faced criminal charges, with multiple convictions for involuntary manslaughter and hazing.
    • Relevance to Our Case: This case underscores that when evidence is strong and accountability is pursued aggressively, settlements can reach extraordinary figures. The widespread media attention and the “Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law” in Pennsylvania highlight the potential for national impact.

  • ANDREW COFFEY — Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017)

    • What Happened: In November 2017, Andrew Coffey, a pledge, was forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during “Big Brother Night.” He died from alcohol poisoning.
    • Payout/Outcome: While the civil settlement amount was confidential, 9 fraternity members were charged, and the chapter was permanently closed.
    • Relevance to Our Case: ⚠️ THIS IS THE SAME FRATERNITY AS OUR UH CASE. This proves Pi Kappa Phi had a documented history of hazing deaths before Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized. This establishes a clear pattern of negligence by the national organization. They knew, and they failed to act.

These multi-million dollar outcomes are not isolated incidents. They represent a growing trend where courts and communities are no longer tolerating dangerous hazing practices. The same legal strategies that won these cases are what Attorney911 brings to the table for Taliaferro County families.

Laws Created Because of Hazing Deaths

The tragic deaths of these students have not been in vain. Their families have turned unimaginable loss into lasting change, spearheading legislation that enhances anti-hazing laws across the country. Our objective is to continue this legacy, whether through new legislation or through aggressive civil litigation that forces institutions to change.

  • Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law (Pennsylvania, 2018): Introduced felony charges for hazing causing death and provided immunity for those who report hazing.
  • Max Gruver Act (Louisiana, 2018): Made hazing a felony and significantly increased penalties.
  • Collin’s Law (Ohio, 2021): Named after Collin Wiant, this law also introduced felony hazing charges and expanded definitions of hazing.
  • Stop Campus Hazing Act (Federal, Pending): This proposed federal legislation aims to require colleges to publicly report hazing incidents, increasing transparency and accountability nationwide.

Why These Precedents Matter For Our Case in Taliaferro County

  1. Our $10 Million Demand Is Supported by Strong Precedent: The Stone Foltz family received over $10.1 million in settlements. Given Leonel Bermudez’s severe injuries, including kidney failure and rhabdomyolysis—life-altering conditions with significant medical costs, pain, suffering, and the need for punitive damages—our demand is well-founded and justifiable.
  2. Pi Kappa Phi Has a Deadly History: The death of Andrew Coffey at a Pi Kappa Phi event in 2017, eight years prior to Leonel’s hospitalization, proves that the national organization knew about the deadly potential of its chapters. This establishes a clear pattern of negligence.
  3. The University of Houston Knew: UH had a documented hazing incident in 2017 where a student was hospitalized with a lacerated spleen. They knew hazing was a problem on their campus and failed to implement adequate protections for students like Leonel.
  4. Juries Hate Hazing: The $6.1 million verdict in the Gruver case demonstrates a jury’s willingness to hold fraternities liable for egregious conduct. The barbaric acts inflicted upon Leonel—waterboarding, forced eating, 500 squats, wooden paddles—are likely to outrage any jury.
  5. Criminal Charges May Follow: Under Georgia law, like Texas, hazing can be a criminal offense (up to a felony in cases causing death or serious injury). The University of Houston spokesperson has already mentioned “potential criminal charges” in Leonel’s case, highlighting the severity of the conduct.

Taliaferro County families, these precedents are not just statistics; they are proof that justice can be won. They demonstrate that individuals, local chapters, national organizations, and universities can and will be held accountable, often for millions of dollars, when hazing is aggressively challenged. We are prepared to bring this same level of determination and strategic leverage to your hazing case.

Legal Framework: Protecting Taliaferro County Hazing Victims’ Rights

For families in Taliaferro County facing the aftermath of hazing, understanding the legal landscape is the first step toward seeking justice. While our firm is based in Texas, where we are actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit, the foundational legal principles—and indeed many state hazing laws—are similar across the country. What applies in Texas often mirrors the protections in Georgia, the location of Taliaferro County. Furthermore, our federal court authority allows us to pursue your case regardless of the state in which the hazing occurred.

Understanding Hazing Laws — Georgia and Beyond

Georgia, like many states, has comprehensive anti-hazing laws designed to protect students. These laws are often the basis for both criminal charges against perpetrators and civil lawsuits against institutions and individuals.

Georgia Anti-Hazing Law (Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 16-5-61):

Definition of Hazing:

A student commits the offense of hazing when he or she intentionally or recklessly commits any act or causes any situation to occur which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of any student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with or as a condition for continued membership in any organization operating under the sanction of a school, college, or university. The term “hazing” includes, but is not limited to, any of the following activities:
(1) Any activity which could result in or involve the consumption of any food, liquid, or controlled substance, including alcohol, which subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of physical harm;
(2) Any physical brutality, including whipping, beating, paddling, slapping, hitting, or branding of a student;
(3) Any physical activity which subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm, including sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, or confinement in an unreasonably small area;
(4) Any activity which places the student in a compromising or undignified situation where the student is generally made the object of ridicule or is otherwise subjected to mental harassment, shame, or humiliation.

Taliaferro County Application: As you can see, the Georgia definition mirrors the Texas definition we use in our current cases like Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi, covering both mental and physical endangerment. The hazing Leonel endured—waterboarding, extreme exercise, forced eating, wooden paddles—would clearly fall under multiple provisions of Georgia’s anti-hazing law. This means that your child’s hazing experience in Taliaferro County likely violates Georgia state criminal law AND gives rise to civil liability.

Criminal Penalties:

Offense Level Conduct Punishment
Misdemeanor Engaging in hazing Up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
Felony Hazing that results in serious bodily injury or death Imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, and a fine not to exceed $5,000.

Consent is NOT a Defense:
Crucially, Georgia law specifies that the consent of the victim is not a defense to prosecution for hazing. This is a vital protection, directly addressing the common defense tactic by fraternities that “the pledge agreed to it.” Just like in Texas, Georgia law recognizes that consent under duress or within a coercive environment is not true consent.

Civil Liability for Hazing — What Taliaferro County Victims Can Sue For

Beyond criminal charges, civil lawsuits offer the pathway for Taliaferro County victims and their families to seek financial compensation for the extensive damages caused by hazing. These civil claims operate on various legal theories, allowing us to target all responsible parties:

  1. Negligence Claims: This is a fundamental legal theory applicable in Georgia and every other state. It argues that a party (such as a university, national fraternity, or individual) had a duty of care to ensure the safety of students, breached that duty through their actions or inactions (i.e., by allowing hazing), and that this breach directly caused the injuries and damages suffered by the victim.
  2. Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on property owned or controlled by a university (as in our UH case) or a fraternity housing corporation, that entity can be held liable. Property owners have a legal obligation to maintain a safe environment, and allowing dangerous hazing to occur constitutes a failure to uphold that duty. This is particularly relevant if hazing happened on campus or in a fraternity-owned house near Taliaferro County.
  3. Negligent Supervision: This theory holds that entities that are supposed to oversee student organizations (like national fraternities over local chapters, or universities over their Greek life systems) failed in their duty to adequately supervise, control, or monitor behavior, leading to foreseeable harm. The fact that Pi Kappa Phi National knew about a “hazing crisis” and still allowed severe hazing to happen highlights this negligence.
  4. Assault and Battery: Individual perpetrators who inflict physical harm through acts like striking with paddles, forced physical exertion, or waterboarding can be sued directly for assault (the threat of harm) and battery (the actual harmful or offensive contact).
  5. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED): Hazing practices, particularly psychological torture, humiliation, and terror, often meet the legal standard for IIED. This claim requires demonstrating extreme and outrageous conduct that intentionally or recklessly causes severe emotional distress, conditions frequently met in hazing cases.
  6. Wrongful Death: In the most tragic hazing cases, where a student dies, their family can pursue a wrongful death claim to recover damages for their profound loss, including grief, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and economic losses.
  7. Vicarious Liability: This doctrine holds one party responsible for the actions of another. For example, a national fraternity may be vicariously liable for the actions of its local chapter if the chapter is considered an agent of the national organization. Similarly, a university might be liable for its student organizations under certain circumstances.

Taliaferro County Families: These civil claims exist across the country. Your hazing case, whether it occurred in Georgia or elsewhere, can proceed regardless of whether criminal charges are brought or not. Our firm, with its federal court authority and dual-state bar licenses, is equipped to pursue these claims wherever justice is needed.

Multi-Million Dollar Proof That Taliaferro County Victims CAN and DO Win Big

The multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in hazing cases are not just legal victories; they are a beacon of hope for families in Taliaferro County who feel powerless against powerful institutions. These cases demonstrate that accountability is possible, and the financial ramifications for hazing can be immense.

Precedent Support for a $10 Million Demand:

  • $10 Million Is In Line With Precedent: The $10.1 million settlement in the Stone Foltz case in Ohio demonstrates that our $10 million demand for Leonel Bermudez, who suffered severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure, is directly supported by judicial outcomes for similar—though in Foltz’s case, fatal—injuries. Our case involves extensive medical bills, future complications, immense pain and suffering, and the need for punitive damages.
  • University Liability is Established: Bowling Green State University paid $2.9 million in the Foltz case. This underscores that universities like those near Taliaferro County, which have oversight and sometimes direct control over Greek organizations, face substantial exposure.
  • National Organization Accountability: Pi Kappa Alpha National and individuals paid $7.2 million in the Foltz case. As Pi Kappa Phi is the same national organization involved in Leonel’s case, and previously in Andrew Coffey’s death, they face similar, if not greater, liability.
  • Non-Death Serious Injury Cases Are Also Highly Valued: While Leonel survived, his life-altering injuries—kidney failure and rhabdomyolysis—are severe and warrant multi-million dollar compensation, as they would for any victim in Taliaferro County who suffers catastrophic harm from hazing.
  • Egregious Conduct Drives Higher Awards: The barbaric acts in Leonel’s case, including waterboarding, forced consuming up to 500 squats, and wooden paddles, are likely to inflame any jury, supporting higher punitive damages.
  • Pattern Evidence Strengthens the Claim: The tragic death of Andrew Coffey in 2017 at a Pi Kappa Phi event, coupled with Leonel’s hospitalization in 2025, establishes a damning pattern of continued gross negligence by the national fraternity, justifying significant punitive damages against them.

Why Attorney911 Is the Choice for Taliaferro County Hazing Victims

When your family in Taliaferro County faces the nightmare of hazing, you need more than just a lawyer; you need a relentless advocate who understands the unique complexities of these cases. You need a team with proven expertise, an aggressive strategy, and a deep commitment to justice. Attorney911 offers precisely that, setting us apart as the definitive choice for hazing victims in Taliaferro County and nationwide.

Our Unmatched Expertise and Strategic Advantages

  1. 25+ Years of Battle-Tested Courtroom Experience: Ralph P. Manginello brings over two decades of intense litigation experience into every hazing case. This isn’t theoretical knowledge; it’s a history of courtroom battles across Texas and federal courts, proving our capability to take on powerful defendants. For Taliaferro County families, this means having seasoned legal minds who know how to navigate complex legal procedures and fight effectively.
  2. FORMER INSURANCE DEFENSE INSIGHT: Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Eleno Peña worked on the defense side for insurance companies before dedicating their careers to representing victims. This insider knowledge is an “unfair advantage” for our clients. We know the insurance companies’ playbooks, their tactics to deny or minimize claims, and their valuation strategies. We use this intelligence to dismantle their defenses and maximize recovery for hazing victims in Taliaferro County.
  3. Multi-Billion Dollar Case Experience: Ralph’s involvement in the BP Texas City Explosion litigation—a mass tort case against a massive corporate defendant—demonstrates our capability to handle highly complex, high-stakes cases against seemingly insurmountable adversaries. These same skills are directly applicable to hazing cases involving large universities and national fraternities.
  4. Federal Court Authority: Our admission to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and experience in federal appellate courts, means we can pursue cases in federal jurisdiction. This is a strategic advantage for hazing cases that often involve national organizations or multi-state implications.
  5. Dual-State Bar Admission (Texas AND New York): This unique advantage is crucial for hazing litigation, as many national fraternities and sororities are headquartered outside Texas. Our ability to practice in both states provides strategic leverage against these national organizations.
  6. Hazing-Specific Expertise: We are not just general personal injury lawyers. Our team has direct experience with fraternity litigation, specific expertise in rhabdomyolysis cases (like Leonel Bermudez’s), and a deep understanding of university accountability failures. We are currently embroiled in a high-stakes $10 million hazing lawsuit right now.
  7. Fluency in Spanish – Se Habla Español: Lupe Eleno Peña is fluent in Spanish, allowing us to provide comprehensive legal services to Hispanic families in Taliaferro County and across the nation who are affected by hazing without language barriers. We ensure that every client understands their rights and the legal process.

The Attorney911 Approach: Moving First, Fast, and Decisively

When a legal emergency strikes—especially one as devastating as hazing—we move with unparalleled speed and determination:

  • Immediate Action: We preserve evidence the moment we take a case, understanding that digital tracks disappear, and memories fade. We instruct clients across Taliaferro County on how to safeguard crucial evidence like text messages, photos, and social media posts.
  • Expert Witness Network: We build cases with a robust network of experts, including medical professionals (neurologists, nephrologists), Greek life culture experts, and specialists in institutional negligence.
  • Aggressive Negotiation & Litigation: We negotiate from a position of strength, always prepared to take a case to trial if defendants refuse a fair settlement. Our current $10 million lawsuit is proof of our aggressive stance.
  • Nationwide Reach, Local Commitment: While headquartered in Houston, we are committed to serving hazing victims in Taliaferro County. We offer remote consultations via video and are prepared to travel to Taliaferro County for depositions, client meetings, and trials when needed. Distance will never be a barrier to justice.

Why Taliaferro County Families Choose Us

  • Real Emotional Investment: We truly care about hazing victims. We’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact of these abuses, and we are personally invested in fighting for every family. We see your child as a person, not a paycheck.
  • Contingency Fee Basis: We understand that legal costs are a concern, especially during a time of crisis. That’s why we take hazing cases on contingency. You pay absolutely $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless and until you get paid. This ensures that every family in Taliaferro County, regardless of their financial situation, can access top-tier legal representation.
  • Unwavering Client Support: Our staff is bilingual, friendly, and dedicated to keeping you informed at every step. As our testimonials attest, we treat our clients like family, providing consistent communication and compassionate guidance through the entire process.

If a university, fraternity, or insurance company attempts to silence hazing victims and their families in Taliaferro County, we are the firm that will take them to court. We are Legal Emergency Lawyers™ and we are ready to fight for you.

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

If your child in Taliaferro County has been a victim of hazing, the moments immediately following the incident are critical. While it’s a time of immense emotional distress, taking the right steps can significantly impact the strength of your legal case. Remember, every action you take (or don’t take) can be used to protect or harm your child’s rights.

Immediate Steps for Taliaferro County Hazing Victims and Families:

  1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention: This is the absolute priority. If your child is injured, physically or psychologically, get them to a doctor, emergency room, or mental health professional immediately. Even if injuries seem minor, medical documentation creates a critical record. Tell the medical staff explicitly that the injuries are hazing-related. For situations where a family in Taliaferro County needs immediate medical attention, our video “Why Seeing a Doctor Right After an Accident Is Critical” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= (Channel Video) emphasizes this urgency.
  2. Preserve All Evidence — Document Everything: Hazing cases are often battles over what can be proven.
    • Medical Records: Keep every hospital record, ER report, doctor’s note, physical therapy record, and mental health counseling record.
    • Photos/Videos: Take pictures of all injuries as they appear and as they heal. If there are any photos or videos of the hazing activities themselves, or the locations where they occurred, save them. Our video “Can You Use Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs) provides crucial advice on this. Ralph Manginello stresses, “Take pictures. Take pictures. Take pictures. Take more pictures than you think you need to.”
    • Communications: This is paramount. Save every text message, GroupMe chat, Snapchat, Instagram DM, email, or any other digital communication related to the fraternity/sorority, pledgeship, or hazing. Do not delete anything.
    • Witness Information: Collect names and contact details of any other pledges, witnesses, or active members who may have seen or been involved in the hazing.
    • Fraternity/Sorority Documents: Preserve any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, or communications received from the organization.
    • Financial Records: Keep track of medical bills, any lost wages if your child missed work, and details of tuition or fees paid for which academic progress was impacted.
    • Academic Records: Document any impact on grades, enrollment status, or scholarship eligibility.
  3. DO NOT Communicate with the Organization or University Without Counsel:
    • Do NOT talk to fraternity/sorority leadership, the national organization, or university administrators without first consulting with us. They are not on your side; they are protecting their institutions.
    • Do NOT give any recorded statements to anyone from the fraternity, university, or their insurance companies. These statements can be twisted and used against your child. Our video “Never Talk to the Insurance Company After an Accident” helps explain why.
    • Do NOT sign anything from the organization or university. You may inadvertently waive your child’s legal rights.
  4. DO NOT Post on Social Media: Anything your child posts online can be used by the defense to undermine their claims of injury or distress. This includes seemingly innocuous posts or even deleting old posts (which can be seen as destruction of evidence). Our video “Don’t Post on Social Media After an Accident” cautions against this.
  5. Contact an Experienced Hazing Lawyer IMMEDIATELY: The clock is ticking. In Georgia, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims (which includes hazing) is two years from the date of injury. For wrongful death claims, it’s also two years from the date of death. Evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories fade, and an organization’s records can be “lost.” We cannot stress enough the importance of acting quickly. Our video “Is There a Statute of Limitations on My Case?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c) offers more details.

Our Client Intake Protocol for Taliaferro County Families

When you contact Attorney911, we have a clear process to evaluate your hazing case, starting with key qualifying questions:

  • Clear Hazing Conduct: Does the incident meet Georgia’s legal definition of hazing, involving intentional or reckless acts that endanger mental or physical health?
  • Documented Injuries: Are there medical records of physical injuries, hospitalizations, or psychological harm (PTSD, anxiety, depression)?
  • Identifiable Defendants: Can we identify the individuals, local chapter, national organization, and university involved?
  • Evidence Available: Is there evidence like texts, photos, witness contacts, or documents that can strengthen the case?
  • Pattern of Abuse: Was this a one-time event, or does it hint at systematic hazing? Evidence of prior incidents at the chapter or university is highly valuable.
  • Institutional Knowledge: Did the university or national organization know, or should they have known, about hazing risks but failed to act?

If your case aligns with these factors, distance is not a barrier. We serve Taliaferro County and victims nationwide. Leonel Bermudez’s family acted immediately; his hospitalization on November 6 led to our lawsuit filing just weeks later. This rapid response is how you protect your child’s rights and build a strong foundation for justice.

🚨 Taliaferro 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 TALIAFERRO 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. Taliaferro County families get the same aggressive representation. Your journey towards justice starts with one call.

Taliaferro County Families — Call Now — Free Consultation

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com

Available 24/7 for Taliaferro County hazing emergencies

We understand that you’re facing financial burdens now, which is why we work on CONTINGENCY. This means we require $0 upfront from Taliaferro County families. We don’t get paid unless and until YOU get paid. This ensures that every family can access the legal representation they deserve. You can learn more about how contingency fees work here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

What Taliaferro County Hazing Victims Should Do Right Now:

  1. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION if you haven’t already. Document everything, including telling medical personnel the injuries are hazing-related.
  2. PRESERVE ALL EVIDENCE. This includes texts, photos, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs, and any names of witnesses. Our video “Using Your Phone to Document Evidence” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs provides essential guidance.
  3. DO NOT talk to the fraternity/sorority members, university officials, or their lawyers without legal counsel. Anything you say can be used against your case.
  4. DO NOT post on social media about the incident or your injuries. Stay off all platforms, as anything posted can be used by the defense.
  5. CALL US IMMEDIATELY. The statute of limitations in Georgia, like Texas, is typically two years. Evidence disappears fast, and your rights can expire. Don’t make the common mistakes that can ruin your injury case, as explained in our video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
  6. Taliaferro County Families: Distance is not a barrier. We offer video consultations for remote clients and are fully prepared to travel to Taliaferro County for depositions, client meetings, and trials as needed to secure justice for your child.

We Serve Taliaferro County Hazing Victims — And Hazing Victims Nationwide

While Attorney911 is proudly based in Texas with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we recognize that hazing is a pervasive and nationwide problem. Students from Taliaferro County attend colleges across Georgia and other states. Our commitment extends to hazing victims and their families in Taliaferro County and all corners of America.

Our ability to represent you regardless of geographic location stems from:

  • Federal Court Authority: Our attorneys are admitted to the U.S. District Court, granting us jurisdiction to pursue cases in federal courts, which often handle national organizations.
  • Dual-State Bar Licenses: With licenses in Texas AND New York, we possess strategic advantages in litigating against national fraternity and sorority organizations, many of which are headquartered outside of any single state.
  • Video Consultations: We leverage technology to offer secure and confidential video consultations, making it easy for Taliaferro County families to meet with our experienced attorneys remotely from the comfort of their homes.
  • Travel Commitment: We understand that justice sometimes requires our physical presence. Our team is committed to traveling to Taliaferro County or any other necessary location for depositions, client meetings, and trials, ensuring comprehensive representation.

Hazing is not limited to Greek life in Taliaferro County. We represent victims of hazing in a wide array of contexts:

  • Fraternities and sororities at institutions near Taliaferro County, such as the University of Georgia, Kennesaw State University, or Georgia Southern University.
  • Sports teams at high schools, colleges, and university programs in Taliaferro County.
  • Marching bands, ROTC programs, and clubs at academic institutions in Taliaferro County.
  • Military academies and other organizations that use abuse as “initiation.”

To Other Victims of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing: We Know There Are More of You.

Our client, Leonel Bermudez, was not the only one subjected to these horrific acts. The ongoing lawsuit details that another pledge collapsed and lost consciousness on October 15, and others were subjected to the same waterboarding, forced eating, extreme physical punishment, and psychological abuse.

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.” Your voice, combined with ours, can ensure that these abuses stop.

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

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