Hazing Lawyers for Union County, Illinois Families – Attorney 911

Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines – Neither Do We

Union County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities and Greek organizations to provide mentorship, leadership, and community—not torture, abuse, and life-threatening injuries.

But hazing happens in Southern Illinois and beyond—and when it does, the consequences can be devastating. At Attorney 911, we are actively fighting one of the most egregious hazing cases in America right now—a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston for waterboarding, forced exercise until kidney failure, and systematic abuse that hospitalized a young man.

This isn’t just happening in Texas. The same fraternities operate near Union County. The same hazing “traditions” exist at Southern Illinois universities. And the same negligence allows it to continue.

If your child has been hazed at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), Shawnee Community College, or any other school in or near Union County, you need a legal team that knows how to fight back—and win.

🚨 This Is What Hazing Looks Like in Union County (And How We Fight It)

The Case That Shows What’s Happening to Union County Students

Our attorneys are currently representing Leonel Bermudez, a young man who accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Houston in Fall 2025. What followed was weeks of systematic abuse that left him hospitalized for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure—a life-threatening condition caused by extreme physical exertion.

What They Did to Him (And What They’re Doing to Union County Students):

✅ Waterboarding with a garden hose – Simulated drowning, a form of torture
✅ Forced to do 500+ squats and 100+ pushups – Until he collapsed and couldn’t stand
✅ Struck with wooden paddles – Physical assault with weapons
✅ Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting – Then made to keep running
✅ Another pledge lost consciousness – Fraternity members did nothing; just kept going
✅ Slept in vomit-soaked grass – Humiliation and degradation
✅ Stripped to underwear in cold weather – Exposure and psychological abuse
✅ Carried a fanny pack with sexual objects at all times – Sexual humiliation
✅ Forced to drive fraternity members at all hours – Sleep deprivation and exhaustion

Result: He crawled up the stairs when he got home. The next day, he couldn’t move. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with kidney failure from rhabdomyolysis—a condition where muscle breakdown poisons the blood.

The fraternity’s response? They closed the chapter 7 days before the lawsuit was filed—proving they knew what was coming. Their official statement said they “look forward to returning to campus”—as if this was just a minor setback, not a young man fighting for his life.

💀 This Isn’t Just Hazing – It’s Torture. And It’s Happening Near Union County.

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys.” It’s not “tradition.” It’s not “building brotherhood.”

It is:
❌ Assault – Physical abuse, forced consumption, sleep deprivation
❌ Battery – Being struck, paddled, or physically restrained
❌ Torture – Waterboarding, simulated drowning, extreme physical punishment
❌ Reckless endangerment – Forcing activities that cause organ failure
❌ Sometimes manslaughter or murder – When hazing kills (and it does, every year)

The Same Fraternities Are in Union County – And They’re Doing the Same Things

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma—these are the same national fraternities that have chapters at or near Union County institutions.

They have the same “traditions.” The same culture of secrecy. The same refusal to stop until someone gets hurt—or worse.

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Union County, they are at risk.

🏛️ Who Is Liable When Union County Students Are Hazed?

When hazing happens, everyone involved is responsible—and we sue them all.

1. The Local Chapter (The Perpetrators)

• The fraternity or sorority chapter that organized and conducted the hazing
• Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster, risk manager)
• Individual members who participated
• Example: In our case, we’re suing the UH Beta Nu chapter, its officers, and members for directly organizing the abuse.

2. The National Organization (The Enablers)

• The national fraternity/sorority that failed to supervise the chapter
• Knew about hazing risks but did nothing to stop it
• Example: Pi Kappa Phi National knew about Andrew Coffey’s death in 2017—yet did nothing to prevent Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization in 2025.

3. The University (The Institution That Failed to Protect Students)

• Owns the fraternity/sorority houses (premises liability)
• Has power to regulate, inspect, and shut down dangerous chapters
• Knew or should have known about hazing risks
• Example: University of Houston owned the Pi Kappa Phi house where waterboarding occurred.

4. The Housing Corporation (The Property Owners)

• Owns or controls the fraternity/sorority house
• Responsible for safety on the property
• Example: The Beta Nu Housing Corporation is named in our lawsuit.

5. Individual Perpetrators (The People Who Did It)

• Every member who participated in or witnessed the hazing
• Every officer who allowed or encouraged it
• Example: In the Stone Foltz case, the chapter president was personally ordered to pay $6.5 million.

6. Insurance Companies (The Deep Pockets)

• National organizations have multi-million-dollar liability policies
• Universities have institutional insurance
• Homeowners’ insurance may cover off-campus hazing

We don’t just sue broke college students. We go after the institutions with money—and we make them pay.

💰 How Much Is a Union County Hazing Case Worth?

Hazing cases result in multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts—because the conduct is so egregious, and the institutions have so much to lose.

Recent Hazing Settlements & Verdicts (Proof That Union County Families Can Win Big)

What Union County Families Can Recover:

✅ Medical bills (past and future) – Hospital stays, surgery, therapy, dialysis
✅ Lost wages – Time missed from work or internships
✅ Pain and suffering – Physical and emotional trauma from abuse
✅ Punitive damages – To punish the fraternity/university and prevent future hazing
✅ Wrongful death – If hazing results in death (unfortunately, this happens every year)

Our $10 million demand in the Bermudez case is not an accident—it’s based on precedent. The same compensation is available for Union County families.

⚖️ Illinois Hazing Laws – What Union County Families Need to Know

Illinois has strong anti-hazing laws, and hazing is a crime—not just a university policy violation.

Illinois Anti-Hazing Statute (720 ILCS 5/12C-50)

Definition of Hazing:

Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization, that causes or is intended to cause bodily harm, physical or mental harm, or degradation.

Criminal Penalties:

• Class A Misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail, $2,500 fine) for hazing
• Class 4 Felony (1-3 years in prison) if hazing causes great bodily harm or death

Consent is NOT a Defense:

Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it doesn’t matter. Illinois law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing.

Organizational Liability:

• Fraternities, sororities, and universities can be fined up to $10,000
• Can be banned from operating in Illinois

Civil Liability for Hazing in Illinois

If your child is hazed, you can sue for:
✅ Negligence – The fraternity/university failed to protect your child
✅ Premises liability – The university owns the property where hazing occurred
✅ Assault & battery – Individual members who physically abused your child
✅ Intentional infliction of emotional distress – Extreme psychological abuse
✅ Wrongful death – If hazing results in death

Illinois has no cap on pain and suffering damages, meaning juries can award millions for severe hazing injuries.

🚨 What to Do If Your Child Is Hazed in Union County

Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately

• Go to the ER – Even if injuries seem minor, some conditions (like rhabdomyolysis) take time to develop.
• Document everything – Medical records are critical evidence in hazing cases.
• Tell the doctor it was hazing – This creates an official record.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

✅ Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence.
✅ Save all communications – Texts, GroupMe messages, Snapchats, Instagram DMs.
✅ Get witness names – Other pledges, bystanders, anyone who saw what happened.
✅ Keep all documents – Pledge manuals, schedules, rules given to your child.

DO NOT:
❌ Delete any messages or posts
❌ Talk to fraternity/sorority leadership without a lawyer
❌ Sign anything from the organization
❌ Post about the incident on social media

Step 3: Report the Hazing (But Do It the Right Way)

✅ File a police report – Hazing is a crime in Illinois.
✅ Report to the university – But do not give a statement without a lawyer.
✅ Report to the national fraternity/sorority – But expect them to protect themselves, not you.

WARNING: Universities and fraternities will try to minimize, cover up, or blame the victim. Do not speak to them without legal representation.

Step 4: Contact a Hazing Lawyer IMMEDIATELY

• Evidence disappears fast – Texts get deleted, witnesses forget, fraternities destroy records.
• Statute of limitations – Illinois gives you only 2 years to file a lawsuit.
• Insurance companies will lowball you – They’ll offer a quick settlement to make the case go away.

At Attorney 911, we handle everything for you:
✔ We preserve evidence before it disappears
✔ We deal with the fraternity, university, and insurance companies so you don’t have to
✔ We build a strong case with medical experts, investigators, and hazing specialists
✔ We fight for maximum compensation—not a quick, lowball settlement

We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.

🏆 Why Union County Families Choose Attorney 911 for Hazing Cases

1. We’re Actively Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Case Right Now

• We don’t just talk about hazing—we’re in the courtroom fighting it.
• Our Pi Kappa Phi case is setting precedent for hazing victims nationwide.
• Union County families get the same aggressive representation.

2. We’re Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook

• Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena used to work for insurance companies.
• We know exactly how they try to deny or minimize claims.
• We use that knowledge to dismantle their defenses and maximize your recovery.

3. We Have Federal Court Authority – We Can Sue Anywhere in America

• We’re admitted to U.S. District Court (Southern District of Texas).
• We can pursue hazing cases nationwide, including in Illinois.
• Distance is not a barrier—we travel to Union County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.

4. We’re Dual-Licensed (Texas & New York) – Strategic Advantage Against National Fraternities

• Many national fraternities are headquartered in New York.
• Our New York bar admission gives us strategic leverage in suing them.

5. We Speak Spanish – Se Habla Español

• Hazing affects all students, including Spanish-speaking families.
• We provide bilingual legal representation—no language barriers.

6. We Have a Proven Track Record of Multi-Million-Dollar Wins

• $10+ million in hazing litigation (current case)
• Millions recovered in personal injury cases (car accidents, trucking accidents, wrongful death)
• Former BP Texas City explosion litigation – Mass tort experience against major corporations

7. We Travel to Union County – You Don’t Have to Come to Us

• We offer video consultations for Union County families.
• We come to Union County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
• We’re not just a big-city law firm—we’re your local legal team when you need us.

📞 Union County Families: Call Now for a Free Consultation

Hazing is a legal emergency. We respond 24/7.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.

Serving Union County and all of Southern Illinois, including:

• Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC)
• Shawnee Community College
• Nearby universities with Greek life:
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Illinois State University
  • Murray State University (Kentucky, near SIUC)
  • Southeast Missouri State University

🔥 To Fraternities Near Union County: We Are Watching

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma—

If your chapter is operating near Union County, know this:

✅ We are tracking your corporate structure (EINs, legal names, insurance policies).
✅ We know your national organization’s hazing death record.
✅ We have proven that hazing cases can win millions.
✅ We will sue every liable entity—your chapter, your nationals, your university, and your individual members.

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

💔 To Union County Families Who’ve Lost a Child to Hazing

We know no amount of money can bring your child back. But we also know that holding the people responsible accountable is the only way to prevent the next tragedy.

We will fight for you. We will honor your child. And we will make sure this never happens to another Union County family.

📢 Enough Is Enough. It’s Time to End Hazing in Union County.

If your child has been hazed, call us now. The clock is ticking.

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

Attorney 911 – Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Union County, Illinois and Nationwide