Hazing Victims in Van Buren County, Tennessee: You Are Not Alone

If your child has been hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or any student organization in Van Buren County—or anywhere in Tennessee—Attorney 911 is here to fight for justice.

We are currently representing a young man who was hospitalized with kidney failure after being waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and beaten with wooden paddles during a fraternity hazing ritual at the University of Houston. The same fraternities that tortured our client operate at universities near Van Buren County, and the same negligence that allowed this to happen in Texas exists right here in Tennessee.

Van Buren County families deserve the same aggressive legal representation we provide in Texas. We will travel to Van Buren County for depositions, trials, and client meetings. We will hold every institution accountable—no matter where they are.

🚨 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Van Buren County

Our client, Leonel Bermudez, was a “ghost rush”—a prospective fraternity member who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet. Despite this, Pi Kappa Phi subjected him to weeks of systematic abuse, including:

• Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
• Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to continue running
• Struck with wooden paddles
• Forced to perform 500 squats, 100 pushups, and bear crawls until he collapsed
• Another pledge lost consciousness during these workouts, yet the hazing continued
• He crawled up the stairs when he got home, unable to move the next day
• His mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure
• He spent 4 days in the hospital fighting for his life

This wasn’t “tradition.” This wasn’t “brotherhood.” This was torture.

And it’s happening at universities near Van Buren County, Tennessee.

📍 Hazing in Tennessee: The Same Fraternities, The Same Risks

The same national fraternities involved in the University of Houston case—Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, and others—have active chapters at Tennessee universities, including:

• Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville, TN) – Just 30 minutes from Van Buren County
• Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, TN) – 1.5 hours away
• University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) – 2 hours away
• Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) – 2.5 hours away
• University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK) – 3 hours away

These organizations have paid MILLIONS in hazing settlements nationwide. Yet, they continue to operate with the same dangerous culture.

If your child attends or plans to attend any of these schools, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client.

⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Van Buren County Hazing Victim

Tennessee has strong anti-hazing laws, and victims have the right to seek justice. Under Tennessee Code § 49-7-123, hazing is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and a $2,500 fine. But criminal charges are just one part of the equation.

You can also sue for civil damages, including:

✅ Medical bills (past and future)
✅ Lost wages (if the victim missed work or internships)
✅ Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
✅ Punitive damages (to punish the organization for reckless conduct)
✅ Wrongful death (if hazing resulted in a fatality)

In Tennessee, there is NO CAP on pain and suffering damages in personal injury cases. This means a jury can award millions if the conduct was especially egregious.

💰 Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Millions

Hazing cases result in multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts when victims come forward. Some of the largest hazing payouts in U.S. history include:

These results are possible for Van Buren County families, too. The same legal strategies that won these cases apply in Tennessee.

🏛️ Who Can Be Held Liable in a Van Buren County Hazing Case?

When hazing occurs, multiple parties can be sued, including:

1. The Local Chapter – The fraternity or sorority that directly organized the hazing.
2. The National Organization – The parent fraternity (e.g., Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Kappa Sigma) that failed to supervise its chapters.
3. The University – If they knew or should have known about hazing but failed to stop it.
4. Individual Members – The students who participated in or facilitated the abuse.
5. Alumni & Advisors – If they encouraged or allowed hazing to continue.
6. Property Owners – If hazing occurred at a private residence or fraternity house.

In our current case, we are suing:

• Pi Kappa Phi National
• The UH Beta Nu Chapter
• The University of Houston (for owning the fraternity house where hazing occurred)
• Individual fraternity members
• A former member and his spouse (for allowing hazing at their home)

The same liability applies to Van Buren County hazing cases.

🔍 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Van Buren County

If your child has been hazed, time is critical. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and statutes of limitations can expire. Here’s what you should do immediately:

1️⃣ Seek Medical Attention

• Even if injuries seem minor, get a medical evaluation.
• Some conditions (like rhabdomyolysis) may not show symptoms immediately.
• Medical records are crucial evidence in your case.

2️⃣ Preserve All Evidence

• Take photos/videos of injuries, hazing locations, and any physical evidence.
• Save all communications (texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, emails).
• Write down everything your child remembers (dates, times, who was involved).
• Get witness contact information (other pledges, bystanders).

3️⃣ Do NOT Talk to the Organization Without Legal Counsel

• The fraternity, sorority, or university will try to control the narrative.
• They may ask your child to sign documents or give statements—do not do this without an attorney.
• Anything your child says can be used against them in court.

4️⃣ Report the Hazing (But Be Strategic)

• You can file a police report (hazing is a crime in Tennessee).
• You can report to the university’s Title IX office.
• Consult an attorney first—we can guide you on the best way to report while protecting your legal rights.

5️⃣ Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

• We offer free, confidential consultations for hazing victims.
• We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win your case.
• We will travel to Van Buren County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.

📞 Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit: attorney911.com/hazing

🎯 Why Van Buren County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We Are Currently Fighting a $10 Million Hazing Lawsuit

• We are actively litigating against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston.
• We know how to build these cases from the ground up.
• We have proven strategies to hold institutions accountable.

2. We Are Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• We know how insurance companies and fraternities try to minimize claims.
• We used to work for them—now we use that knowledge to fight for victims.

3. We Have Federal Court Authority

• We can pursue cases in federal court, which is crucial when suing national organizations.
• We are licensed in Texas and New York, giving us strategic advantages in multi-state cases.

4. We Will Travel to Van Buren County

• Distance is not a barrier to justice.
• We will come to Van Buren County for depositions, trials, and client meetings.
• We offer video consultations for families who can’t travel.

5. We Work on Contingency—You Pay Nothing Upfront

• No hourly fees. No retainers.
• We only get paid if we win your case.
• This means no financial risk for Van Buren County families.

6. We Speak Spanish (Se Habla Español)

• Hazing affects students of all backgrounds.
• We provide bilingual legal services to ensure no family is left behind.

📢 A Message to Van Buren County Fraternities & Universities

To the fraternities operating near Van Buren County, Tennessee:

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—if your chapter operates near Van Buren County, know that Attorney 911 represents hazing victims across America.

To the universities near Van Buren County:
The same institutional negligence that made the University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. Act now—or face the same accountability.

The Beta Nu chapter at UH? Shut down. Charter surrendered. Criminal referrals initiated.
Your chapter could be next.

💔 To Van Buren County Hazing Victims & Families: You Deserve Justice

What happened to you was not your fault. You trusted these organizations. You wanted to belong. They betrayed that trust.

You may feel shame, fear, or loyalty to the group that hurt you. You may worry about retaliation or social consequences. But you are not alone.

We have seen what fraternities do to kids. We are fighting it in court right now. We see your child as a person—not a paycheck. And we will fight hard for Van Buren County families, because we truly care.

If you or your child has been hazed, call us today. The consultation is free. The case evaluation is confidential. And the fight for justice starts now.

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

Van Buren County families: You don’t have to suffer in silence. We’re here to help.