Hazing Justice for Union Parish Families: How Attorney 911 Fights for Your Child

🚨 Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines — And Neither Do We

Union Parish families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities and Greek organizations to protect their students. But when that trust is betrayed through hazing — a dangerous, often illegal initiation ritual — the consequences can be devastating.

At Attorney 911, we are currently fighting a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston after a student was hospitalized with kidney failure from extreme physical abuse. This isn’t just happening in Houston — the same fraternities, the same negligence, and the same life-threatening “traditions” exist at universities near Union Parish, Louisiana.

If your child has been hazed in Union Parish, at a nearby university, or anywhere in America, we will fight for you with the same aggression we’re bringing to this landmark case. You are not alone. Justice is possible.

🔥 What Is Hazing? The Reality Union Parish Families Need to Know

Hazing isn’t harmless fun. It’s not “boys being boys” or “building brotherhood.” It’s abuse disguised as tradition — and it’s happening right now at colleges near Union Parish.

What Hazing Really Looks Like:

✅ Physical Abuse: Beating, paddling, branding, forced exercise to exhaustion
✅ Forced Consumption: Alcohol poisoning, forced eating until vomiting, consumption of non-food substances
✅ Sleep Deprivation: All-night activities, forced driving, exhaustion that affects daily life
✅ Psychological Torture: Humiliation, degradation, verbal abuse, threats of expulsion
✅ Sexual Abuse: Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
✅ Waterboarding & Simulated Drowning: A form of torture used on enemy combatants — now used on college students
✅ Extreme Exposure: Forced to endure cold, heat, or confined spaces

Medical Consequences of Hazing:

🚑 Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) — can lead to kidney failure (like our client in Houston)
🚑 Acute Alcohol Poisoning — can be fatal
🚑 Traumatic Brain Injury — from beatings or falls
🚑 Hypothermia or Heat Stroke — from exposure
🚑 Cardiac Arrest — from extreme physical exertion
🚑 PTSD, Anxiety, Depression — long-term psychological damage
🚑 Death

Hazing isn’t just dangerous — it’s often criminal.

💔 Our Current Case: What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Union Parish

The Victim: Leonel Bermudez

• A young man who wanted to join a fraternity at the University of Houston
• Not even a student yet — he was a “ghost rush,” expected to transfer for Spring 2026
• Accepted a bid to Pi Kappa Phi on September 16, 2025

The Hazing: 7 Weeks of Systematic Abuse

Over the next 7 weeks, Bermudez was subjected to:
🔥 Waterboarding 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
🔥 Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting — then forced to keep running
🔥 Forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass
🔥 Another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
🔥 A pledge lost consciousness during a workout — they kept going
🔥 Threatened with expulsion if he didn’t comply

The Result: Kidney Failure & Hospitalization

On November 3, 2025, after being forced to exercise to the point of exhaustion, Bermudez:

• Could not stand without help
• Crawled up the stairs when he got home
• The next day, he couldn’t move
• His condition worsened over 3 days
• His mother rushed him to the hospital
• Diagnosis: Severe rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure
• Hospitalized for 3 nights, 4 days

The Aftermath: They Closed the Chapter — But They’re Already Planning to Return

• Pi Kappa Phi closed the UH chapter on November 14, 2025 — 7 days before the lawsuit was filed
• Their statement: “We look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time.”
• No apology. No remorse. Just damage control.

The Lawsuit: $10 Million Demand

On November 21, 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against:
🔹 Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity (national organization)
🔹 Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu Chapter (UH)
🔹 Pi Kappa Phi Housing Corporation
🔹 University of Houston (they owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred)
🔹 UH Board of Regents
🔹 Fraternity president, pledgemaster, and individual members
🔹 A former member and his spouse (hazing occurred at their home)

Why This Case Matters to Union Parish Families

🚩 Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America — including near Union Parish.
🚩 The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client happen at Union Parish-area fraternities.
🚩 Universities near Union Parish face the same liability failures as UH.
🚩 If your child is being hazed, we will fight for you just like we’re fighting in Houston.

🏛️ Who Is Liable? Everyone Who Allowed This to Happen

When hazing occurs, multiple parties share responsibility — and we hold all of them accountable.

1. The Local Fraternity Chapter

• Directly organized and conducted hazing
• Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster) directed activities
• Individual members participated

2. The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization

• Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies
• Ignored prior incidents (like Andrew Coffey’s death in 2017 at FSU Pi Kappa Phi)
• Had “knowledge of a hazing crisis” but did nothing
• Deep pockets — millions in assets and insurance

3. The University

• Owned the fraternity house where hazing occurred (UH owned the Pi Kappa Phi house)
• Failed to supervise Greek life despite prior hazing incidents
• Had power to suspend or remove organizations but didn’t
• Institutional negligence — knew hazing was happening and did nothing

4. Individual Perpetrators

• Fraternity officers, members, and alumni who participated
• Each person who took part in hazing can be sued individually
• Personal assets and homeowner’s insurance may provide coverage

5. The Housing Corporation

• Owned or controlled the property where hazing occurred
• Failed to prevent hazing on their premises

💰 How Much Is a Hazing Case Worth? Multi-Million Dollar Precedents

Hazing cases routinely result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. The same compensation is available for Union Parish families.

Recent Hazing Settlements & Verdicts

Why These Cases Won Millions

✅ Juries hate hazing — they award punitive damages for egregious conduct
✅ Universities and national fraternities have deep pockets — they can pay
✅ Pattern evidence matters — prior hazing incidents increase case value
✅ Institutional knowledge = negligence — if they knew and did nothing, they’re liable

Our $10 Million Demand Is Backed by Precedent

• Stone Foltz family received $10.1 million — same amount we’re seeking
• Max Gruver’s family won a $6.1 million jury verdict — our case has more egregious facts
• Timothy Piazza’s family settled for $110+ million — strong evidence = big outcomes

Union Parish families: These same results are possible for you.

⚖️ Your Legal Rights: What Union Parish Families Can Sue For

If your child has been hazed, you may be entitled to compensation for:

1. Economic Damages (Financial Losses)

✔ Medical bills — hospital stays, ER visits, therapy, future treatment
✔ Lost wages — time missed from work during recovery
✔ Educational losses — tuition for missed semesters, lost scholarships
✔ Future earning capacity — if injuries affect career prospects

2. Non-Economic Damages (Pain & Suffering)

✔ Physical pain — from injuries, medical treatments, recovery
✔ Mental anguish — PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear of retribution
✔ Emotional distress — humiliation, shame, loss of trust
✔ Loss of enjoyment of life — inability to participate in normal activities

3. Punitive Damages (Punishing the Wrongdoers)

✔ Awarded when conduct is especially egregious (like waterboarding, 500 squats, paddling)
✔ Meant to punish and deter future hazing
✔ Can be millions of dollars — juries award punitive damages to send a message

4. Wrongful Death (If Hazing Kills Your Child)

✔ Loss of companionship — the relationship you’ve lost
✔ Funeral expenses — burial and memorial costs
✔ Future earnings — the income your child would have provided
✔ Punitive damages — to punish those responsible

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

Step 1: Get Medical Attention Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
• Rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, and internal injuries can be life-threatening
• Medical records are critical evidence

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

📱 Save all communications:

• Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs
• Emails from the fraternity, sorority, or university
• Social media posts about hazing

📸 Take photos and videos:

• Injuries (bruises, cuts, burns)
• Hazing locations (fraternity house, field, etc.)
• Items used in hazing (paddles, alcohol bottles, etc.)

📝 Document everything:

• Dates, times, and descriptions of hazing activities
• Names of people involved
• Witnesses who saw or heard about the hazing

Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity, Sorority, or University Alone

• They will try to control the narrative
• They may destroy evidence
• They may pressure you to stay quiet
• Anything you say can be used against you

Step 4: Do NOT Post on Social Media

• Insurance companies and defendants will use your posts against you
• Even innocent posts (“I’m fine”) can be twisted to undermine your case
• Stay quiet until your case is resolved

Step 5: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 Email ralph@atty911.com
💻 Video consultation available for Union Parish families

We work on contingency — you pay $0 upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.

🕒 The Clock Is Ticking: Statute of Limitations in Louisiana

Louisiana law limits how long you have to file a lawsuit after hazing.

⏳ Personal Injury: 1 year from the date of injury (Louisiana Civil Code Art. 3492)
⏳ Wrongful Death: 1 year from the date of death (Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2315.2)

DO NOT WAIT. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Your rights expire.

Call Attorney 911 today — before it’s too late.

🎯 Why Union Parish Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now

• We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and UH
• We know how to build these cases
• We know how to win

2. Nationwide Representation — Even from Union Parish

• Federal court authority — we can file lawsuits in federal court
• Dual-state bar licenses — Texas and New York
• We travel to Union Parish for depositions, trials, and client meetings
• Video consultations available — no need to come to Houston

3. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook

• Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena worked for insurance companies before representing victims
• We know how they try to deny claims
• We know how to dismantle their defenses

4. Proven Results in High-Stakes Cases

• BP Texas City explosion litigation — mass tort experience
• Multi-million dollar personal injury settlements
• Hundreds of cases won by exposing flawed evidence

5. Hazing-Specific Expertise

• Rhabdomyolysis injury litigation — like our current case
• Kappa Sigma fraternity cases — prior hazing experience
• Texas A&M University hazing cases — institutional liability knowledge

6. We Speak Spanish — Se Habla Español

• Many hazing victims and families are Spanish-speaking
• We provide full bilingual support — no language barriers

7. We Work on Contingency — $0 Upfront for Union Parish Families

• No hourly fees
• No retainer
• We only get paid if we win your case
• If we lose, you owe us nothing

8. We Care About Your Child — Not Just the Case

• We’ve seen what hazing does to kids
• We treat Union Parish families like family
• We fight hard because we truly care

📢 Our Message to Fraternities Near Union Parish

To the fraternities operating near Union Parish:

We are watching.

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

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — if your chapter operates near Union Parish, know this:

🔹 We track your house corporations, your alumni chapters, and your insurance structures.
🔹 We know your documented history of hazing deaths and hospitalizations.
🔹 We know how much you’ve paid in settlements.
🔹 If your chapter harms students, we will pursue every liable entity.

We already shut down the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at UH. Your chapter could be next.

🏆 Justice for Union Parish: How We Win Your Case

Step 1: Free Case Evaluation

• We review your case at no cost
• We explain your legal rights and options
• We tell you if we can help

Step 2: Immediate Evidence Preservation

• Send preservation letters to defendants
• Demand they save all evidence (texts, photos, videos, documents)
• Prevent destruction of critical proof

Step 3: Build a Strong Case

• Gather medical records, witness statements, and expert testimony
• Document the full extent of injuries (physical and psychological)
• Identify all liable parties (chapter, nationals, university, individuals)

Step 4: Aggressive Negotiation

• Demand maximum compensation from insurance companies
• Push for policy limits — we know how much they can pay
• Refuse lowball offers — we won’t settle for less than you deserve

Step 5: Trial — If Necessary

• If defendants won’t settle fairly, we take them to court
• We present your case to a jury
• We fight for every dollar you deserve

Step 6: Justice & Accountability

• Hold the fraternity, university, and individuals accountable
• Secure compensation for your child’s injuries
• Send a message that hazing won’t be tolerated

🎓 Hazing Happens at These Schools Near Union Parish

Union Parish families send their children to colleges across Louisiana and nearby states — many with active Greek life. These are the universities where hazing occurs near Union Parish:

Louisiana Universities with Greek Life

🔹 Louisiana State University (LSU) – Baton Rouge, LA
🔹 University of Louisiana at Lafayette – Lafayette, LA
🔹 Louisiana Tech University – Ruston, LA
🔹 University of Louisiana at Monroe – Monroe, LA
🔹 Grambling State University – Grambling, LA
🔹 Southern University – Baton Rouge, LA
🔹 Tulane University – New Orleans, LA
🔹 Loyola University New Orleans – New Orleans, LA
🔹 Xavier University of Louisiana – New Orleans, LA

Nearby Universities in Other States

🔹 University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, AR
🔹 University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) – Oxford, MS
🔹 Mississippi State University – Starkville, MS
🔹 University of Texas at Austin – Austin, TX
🔹 Texas A&M University – College Station, TX

The Same Fraternities Operate Near Union Parish

The fraternities involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — have active chapters at universities near Union Parish.

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Union Parish, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client in Houston.

🚫 Common Defenses — And How We Defeat Them

Fraternities and universities will try to avoid responsibility. **Here’s how they’ll fight your case — and how