If you’re reading this, your family in Walton County may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your lives. Your child went off to college, perhaps to one of Georgia’s esteemed institutions or a university across the nation, with dreams of friendship, learning, and new experiences. Instead, they were subjected to brutal hazing rituals, suffering injuries or even death. We understand what you’re going through – the fear, the anger, the confusion, and the overwhelming desire for justice. We’re here to help families in Walton County fight back against the fraternities, sororities, and universities that enable this senseless violence.

At Attorney911, we are at the forefront of hazing litigation in America. We aren’t just strategizing behind the scenes; we are in the trenches, actively fighting for victims and their families right now. Our firm is currently litigating a landmark $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and the University of Houston for horrific hazing that hospitalized our client, Leonel Bermudez. This case, and others like it, represents everything we stand for: aggressive representation, data-driven litigation, and a relentless pursuit of accountability for every entity responsible for hazing injuries and deaths.

We know this may feel overwhelming, especially with the emotional toll hazing takes on your family. But you are not alone. We are here to guide families in Walton County through every step of this journey, ensuring that the institutions and individuals responsible for harming your child are held fully accountable.

The Hazing Crisis: When Brotherhood Becomes Brutality in Walton County and Beyond

The romanticized notion of college Greek life often masks a darker reality: a culture of brutal hazing that persists despite decades of warnings, institutional policies, and tragic deaths. Many parents in Walton County send their children off to universities across Georgia, like the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, or even out-of-state schools, believing they will find a supportive community. Instead, some find themselves trapped in a cycle of abuse, where the desire to belong is exploited through systematic degradation, physical torment, and psychological manipulation.

This isn’t about “boys being boys” or harmless pranks. Modern hazing involves acts that are criminal, dangerous, and often lethal. Our current flagship case involving Leonel Bermudez sadly illustrates the horrific reality of hazing today. Leonel, a “ghost rush” who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet, was planning to transfer for the upcoming semester. He was subjected to weeks of systematic torture by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity chapter. This included being waterboarded with a garden hose, hog-tied, force-fed until he vomited, and pushed to extreme physical exertion until his muscles broke down and his kidneys failed. He spent four agonizing days in the hospital battling rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.

For families in Walton County, this case is a stark warning. Pi Kappa Phi, like many other national fraternities, has chapters across America, including at institutions near Walton County. The same “traditions” that hospitalized Leonel Bermudez in Houston can and do happen at campuses across Georgia. The same negligence patterns we see at the University of Houston are prevalent at universities throughout the nation that fail to adequately oversee Greek life.

The statistics paint a grim picture:

• 55% of students involved in Greek organizations experience hazing.
• 40% of student athletes report being hazed.
• Since the year 2000, there has been at least one hazing-related death every year in the United States.
• Shockingly, 95% of students who are hazed do NOT report it, often due to fear, shame, or loyalty to the group.

Hazing is not limited to fraternities and sororities; it permeates sports teams, marching bands, ROTC programs, and various other student organizations. The problem is institutional. Universities and national organizations are often aware that hazing happens. They have the power, the resources, and the responsibility to stop it. Yet, all too often, they choose not to act until a student is severely injured, permanently traumatized, or tragically dies. Only then do they scramble to issue statements, suspend chapters, and claim to be “shocked” by the very behaviors they enabled.

For parents in Walton County, understanding the true nature of hazing is the first step toward protecting your children and seeking justice if they become victims. We are here to tell you that these acts are not acceptable, they are illegal, and those responsible can and will be held accountable.

The Landmark Fight: Our $10 Million Battle Against Hazing for Leonel Bermudez

At Attorney911, we don’t just talk about the problem of hazing; we actively combat it in the courtroom. The case of Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al. is the centerpiece of our commitment to hazing victims, and it represents what we will do for families in Walton County facing similar nightmares. This isn’t theoretical; this is a live, ongoing $10 million lawsuit filed in Harris County Civil District Court on November 21, 2025.

Our firm, led by attorneys Ralph P. Manginello and Lupe Eleno Peña, is aggressively pursuing every entity responsible for the brutal hazing of Leonel Bermudez. The defendants in this monumental lawsuit include:

• Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity (specifically their Beta Nu Chapter at the University of Houston)
• Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters
• Pi Kappa Phi Housing Corporation
• The University of Houston
• The University of Houston Board of Regents
• The local fraternity’s President, Pledgemaster, and numerous other current and former individual members
• Even a former member and his spouse, at whose private residence some of the hazing took place, have been named.

The Story of Leonel Bermudez: A Warning for Walton County Families

Leonel Bermudez was a young man with a bright future, planning to transfer to the University of Houston in Spring 2026. He accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi on September 16, 2025. What followed was an egregious campaign of hazing that lasted for weeks, pushing “tradition” far beyond any acceptable limit and into the realm of torture.

Throughout his ordeal, Leonel was subjected to:

• Simulated Waterboarding: He was sprayed in the face with a garden hose while performing calisthenics, generating a terrifying sensation of drowning.
• Extreme Physical Punishment: This included being forced to perform over 100 push-ups and 500 squats, participate in “high-volume suicides,” bear crawls, wheelbarrows, “save-you-brother” drills, two-mile warm-ups, and repeated 100-yard crawls. He was forced to recite fraternity creeds during these grueling exercises, under the threat of immediate expulsion if he stopped. He was pushed until he literally could not stand without help.
• Forced Consumption: Leonel and other pledges were made to consume large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and even peppercorns until they vomited, and then forced to continue running sprints while in physical distress, lying in their own vomit.
• Physical Assault: Shockingly, he was struck with wooden paddles.
• Psychological Torture and Humiliation: This involved being forced to strip to his underwear in cold weather, carrying a fanny pack containing objects of a sexual nature at all times, and witnessing another pledge hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.
• Sleep Deprivation: He was compelled to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, leading to severe exhaustion.

This relentless abuse culminated on November 3, 2025, when, after a particularly brutal session, Leonel collapsed. He crawled home, his body screaming in protest. Over the next two days, his condition worsened dramatically. On November 6, his mother rushed him to the hospital, where doctors immediately noticed he was passing brown urine—a classic sign of severe muscle breakdown. He was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. Leonel spent three nights and four days hospitalized, receiving intensive medical care. The long-term implications for his kidney health remain uncertain.

Why This Case Reverberates for Walton County

The details of Leonel’s suffering are deeply disturbing, but they are crucial for families in Walton County to understand. Hazing like this is not confined to one campus or one frat house.

• Pi Kappa Phi has over 150 chapters nationally, with many operating at universities your children might attend. The “traditions” that nearly killed Leonel could be replicated anywhere.
• The University of Houston, like many institutions across Georgia and the US, has a documented history of hazing incidents. They owned the very fraternity house where some of these acts took place, yet failed to prevent them.
• Attorney911 is using this case to send an undeniable message: No matter how powerful the national organization or how respected the university, we will relentlessly pursue justice for victims. We will bring the same aggression, expertise, and dedication to any hazing case originating from Walton County.

Media outlets across Houston quickly picked up on the story. Click2Houston (KPRC 2) reported on November 21, 2025, detailing “severe hazing at University of Houston’s Pi Kappa Phi chapter.” ABC13 (KTRK) provided extensive coverage on November 21-22, 2025, highlighting the “waterboarding, forced eating, [and] physical punishment.” Hoodline followed on November 22, 2025, summarizing the $10 million lawsuit. These reports validate the seriousness and documented nature of our ongoing fight.

Within days of the hazing being reported, the Pi Kappa Phi chapter was suspended. Within weeks, the members voted to surrender their charter, and the chapter was permanently closed. Criminal referrals were initiated. This swift action, however, came after Leonel was hospitalized, and crucially, before our $10 million lawsuit was filed. This suggests an acknowledgement of culpability by the national organization, and a desperate effort to mitigate fallout—an effort we are determined to see fail.

This is what hazing looks like today. This is what we are fighting. And this is why Attorney911 is the firm Walton County families need when their child becomes a victim.

Understanding the Nightmare: What Hazing Really Looks Like Today

For many parents in Walton County, hazing might evoke images of goofy rituals or mild discomfort, a rite of passage that builds character. This outdated perception is dangerous and allows severe abuse to continue. What happened to Leonel Bermudez, and what happens to countless other students across America, is not that. It is systematic, calculated, and often criminal. It is designed to degrade, control, and inflict pain—psychological, emotional, and physical.

Let’s be clear: this is not about pranks. This is not about “building brotherhood.” When we talk about hazing in the context of current cases, we’re talking about:

1. Physical Abuse and Torture:

• Forced Exercise to Extreme Exhaustion: Demanding hundreds of push-ups, squats, sprints, bear crawls, and other calisthenics until a student collapses, loses consciousness, or suffers severe muscle damage. This is precisely what led to Leonel Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.
• Waterboarding or Simulated Drowning: As Leonel experienced, being sprayed in the face with a high-pressure hose to simulate drowning is a terrifying and traumatic experience, akin to military torture techniques.
• Paddling and Beatings: The use of wooden paddles, belts, or other objects to strike students, inflicting direct physical harm.
• Branding or Burning: Using hot objects, chemicals, or open flames to permanently mark or injure pledges.
• Exposure: Forcing students to endure extreme cold, heat, or uncomfortable environments (like tiny cramped spaces) for extended periods while inadequately clothed.

2. Forced Consumption:

• Binge Drinking and Alcohol Poisoning: Requiring students to consume dangerous quantities of alcohol in short periods, often directly resulting in alcohol poisoning, brain damage, or death. Tragedies like Maxwell Gruver and Andrew Coffey are direct results of this.
• Forced Eating of Non-Food or Excessive Food: Making students eat disgusting substances or large amounts of food until they vomit, as happened to Leonel with milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns. This can lead to choking, aspiration, or severe gastrointestinal distress.
• Ingestion of Toxic Substances: Forcing students to consume non-food items, hazardous chemicals, or excessive amounts of unprescribed drugs.

3. Psychological Torture and Degradation:

• Humiliation and Demeaning Acts: Forcing students into embarrassing situations, requiring them to carry degrading items (like Leonel’s fanny pack with sexual objects), or engaging in public shaming.
• Verbal Abuse and Intimidation: Constant shouting, insults, threats, and fear-mongering designed to break down a student’s self-esteem and independence.
• Sleep Deprivation: Systematically denying students adequate sleep through late-night activities, early morning calls, or constant interruptions, leading to physical and mental exhaustion.
• Isolation or Kidnapping: Removing pledges from their normal environments, depriving them of communication, or holding them against their will.

4. Sexual Abuse or Exploitation:

• Forced Nudity: Requiring students to be nude or partially nude in front of others.
• Sexual Acts: Pressuring or forcing students to engage in sexual activity.
• Simulated Sex Acts: Forcing students to participate in or observe simulated sexual acts.

The medical consequences of these acts are severe. Beyond the emotional and psychological scars that can lead to PTSD, anxiety, depression, and even suicide, the physical injuries are often life-threatening:

• Rhabdomyolysis and Kidney Failure: Muscle breakdown that poisons the kidneys, as seen with Leonel Bermudez.
• Alcohol Poisoning: Leading to brain damage, coma, or death.
• Traumatic Brain Injury: From falls, beatings, or lack of oxygen.
• Hypothermia or Heatstroke: From exposure to extreme temperatures.
• Cardiac Arrest: Due to extreme exertion or electrolyte imbalance.
• Sexual Trauma and STIs: From forced sexual acts.

When we talk to families in Walton County about hazing, we want them to understand that this is not a game. It is a serious, dangerous, and often criminal pattern of behavior that can irreversibly alter a student’s life or prematurely end it. It is entirely preventable, and when it happens, those who allowed it to occur must be held accountable.

Holding Them Accountable: Who Is Responsible When Hazing Strikes Your Walton County Child?

When hazing severely injures or kills a student, it’s never just the actions of a few individuals. The comprehensive nature of our $10 million lawsuit in the Bermudez case demonstrates our strategy: we pursue every single entity that bears responsibility, from the individual perpetrators to the highest levels of the university administration and national fraternity leadership. We will bring this same data-driven, aggressive approach for families in Walton County.

Here’s who can be held responsible:

1. The Individual Perpetrators:
These are the students who actively participated in, directed, or enabled the hazing. In Leonel’s case, this includes the chapter president, the pledgemaster, and numerous other current and former fraternity members.

• Why they’re liable: They directly engaged in assault, battery, and reckless endangerment. Their actions are often criminal under state anti-hazing laws.
• Significance: While seemingly “just college kids,” they can be held personally liable for damages. As the $6.5 million judgment against Daylen Dunson in the Stone Foltz case shows, individual officers cannot hide behind the organization.

2. The Local Chapter of the Fraternity or Sorority:
The specific chapter directly involved in the hazing has clear liability. In Leonel’s case, this was the Beta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi.

• Why they’re liable: The chapter directly organized and sanctioned the hazing activities. They are responsible for the conduct of their members.
• Significance: Even if the chapter is dissolved, its assets (if any) and its collective identity can be pursued through litigation.

3. The National Fraternity or Sorority Organization:
These are the large, nationwide organizations that charter and oversee local chapters. Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters is a primary defendant in our case.

• Why they’re liable: National organizations have a duty to supervise their chapters, enforce anti-hazing policies, and provide adequate training and resources. Their failure to do so, despite knowing the risks (like the Andrew Coffey death for Pi Kappa Phi), constitutes negligence and often deliberate indifference. They often have “risk management” policies they fail to implement.
• Significance: National organizations typically have large insurance policies and substantial assets, making them “deep pockets” capable of paying significant settlements and verdicts.

4. The University or College:
The institutions where these organizations operate bear significant responsibility. The University of Houston and its Board of Regents are defendants in the Bermudez lawsuit.

• Why they’re liable: Universities have a non-delegable duty to protect their students from foreseeable harm, especially on campus or in university-owned properties. Their liability can stem from negligent supervision of Greek life, failure to enforce their own anti-hazing policies, providing housing to dangerous organizations (premises liability), or having prior knowledge of hazing incidents that they failed to address effectively. The fact that UH owned the fraternity house where some of Leonel’s hazing occurred is a critical factor in premises liability.
• Significance: Universities have vast resources, large endowments, and comprehensive insurance policies. They often prioritize their reputation, making them susceptible to pressure from public litigation.

5. Housing Corporations or Alumni Boards:
These entities often own and manage the fraternity houses. The Beta Nu Housing Corporation is a defendant in Leonel’s case.

• Why they’re liable: They are responsible for ensuring the safety of the premises they own or control. If hazing occurs on their property, they can be held liable under premises liability laws. They also often provide financial and advisory support to chapters, making them complicit in the culture.
• Significance: These corporations can hold significant real estate assets and often have their own insurance.

6. Landlords or Property Owners (including individuals):
In some cases, hazing occurs at off-campus residences not directly affiliated with the university or a housing corporation. In Leonel’s lawsuit, a former member and his spouse are named because hazing sessions took place at their private home.

• Why they’re liable: Property owners who knowingly allow dangerous or illegal activities like hazing to occur on their premises can be held liable for injuries that result.
• Significance: Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies can provide a source of compensation for victims.

7. Insurance Carriers:
While not direct perpetrators of hazing, insurance companies play a crucial role as the ultimate source of compensation.

• Why they’re involved: Most organizations and institutions carry various forms of liability insurance designed to cover such incidents.
• Significance: As former insurance defense attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena bring invaluable “insider knowledge” of how insurance companies operate. They know their valuation methods, delay tactics, and denial strategies, and they use this intelligence to maximize recovery for our clients.

For families in Walton County, this means we leave no stone unturned. We leverage every legal avenue to ensure that everyone who contributed to your child’s trauma—whether directly or through negligence—is brought to justice.

Proof That Justice Can Be Won: Multi-Million Dollar Precedents for Walton County Victims

The question many families in Walton County ask is, “Can we really win against such powerful institutions?” The answer is a resounding yes. Hazing litigation has resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements across the country, fundamentally changing laws and holding once-untouchable organizations accountable. These precedent-setting cases demonstrate that a determined legal team can secure substantial compensation and deliver justice for victims. Our $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez is not an anomaly; it stands on the shoulders of these previous fights.

Here are some of the landmark cases that pave the way for Walton County hazing victims:

1. Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Total Recovery: $10.1 Million+

• What happened: In March 2021, Stone Foltz, a pledge at BGSU, was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a Pi Kappa Alpha event and died from alcohol poisoning.
• The outcome: His family reached settlements of $2.9 million with Bowling Green State University and $7.2 million with the national Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and some of its members, totaling over $10.1 million. Furthermore, in December 2024, a jury issued a $6.5 million judgment against Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president, personally. This case led to the passage of “Collin’s Law” in Ohio.
• Relevance for Walton County: This case provides a direct comparable for our $10 million demand in the Bermudez case. It explicitly shows that both universities and national fraternities pay multi-million dollar amounts, with individuals facing personal liability.

2. Maxwell Gruver – Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017): Total Recovery: $6.1 Million Jury Verdict

• What happened: In September 2017, Max Gruver, an 18-year-old freshman at LSU, died from acute alcohol poisoning after being forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol during a Phi Delta Theta “Bible Study” hazing event. His BAC was 0.495.
• The outcome: A jury awarded the Gruver family $6.1 million. This case also led to criminal convictions, including a negligent homicide conviction for one fraternity member, and inspired the “Max Gruver Act,” making hazing a felony in Louisiana.
• Relevance for Walton County: This verdict proves that juries are willing to award substantial sums for hazing deaths. The criminal aspect also highlights the dual nature of accountability.

3. Timothy Piazza – Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017): Total Recovery: $110 Million+ (Estimated)

• What happened: In February 2017, Timothy Piazza, a 19-year-old pledge at Penn State, was forced to consume 18 drinks in 82 minutes during a Beta Theta Pi hazing ritual. He sustained a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding after falling down stairs repeatedly. Fraternity members waited 12 hours before calling 911, and he tragically died. Surveillance cameras in the house captured the horrifying events.
• The outcome: The Piazza family reached multiple confidential settlements, reportedly totaling over $110 million. Numerous fraternity members faced criminal charges, with several receiving convictions and jail time. Pennsylvania passed the “Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.”
• Relevance for Walton County: This case demonstrates the immense value of strong evidence, such as video footage. It also sets a precedent for massive recoveries against universities and national organizations in cases of extreme negligence leading to death.

4. Andrew Coffey – Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Settlement (Confidential)

• What happened: In November 2017, Andrew Coffey died from alcohol poisoning after being forced to consume an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during a Pi Kappa Phi “Big Brother Night” event at FSU.
• The outcome: Nine fraternity members were charged with hazing. The chapter was permanently closed. The Coffey family reached a settlement, though the amount remains confidential.
• Relevance for Walton County: This case is particularly damning for the Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity—the same national organization involved in Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization. Andrew Coffey’s death gave Pi Kappa Phi undeniable notice of deadly hazing within its chapters. Our legal strategy explicitly leverages this tragic history: Pi Kappa Phi had nearly eight years to reform its culture after Andrew Coffey died, yet Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized under similar circumstances. This proves a pattern of negligence and deliberate indifference by the national organization.

5. Adam Oakes – Virginia Commonwealth University / Delta Chi (2021): Total Recovery: $4 Million+ (Estimated Settlement)

• What happened: In February 2021, Adam Oakes, a freshman at VCU, died from alcohol poisoning after a Delta Chi hazing ritual.
• The outcome: The Oakes family reached a settlement exceeding $4 million with the fraternity and university. Six fraternity members pleaded guilty or no contest to hazing charges. Virginia passed “Adam’s Law” in response.
• Relevance for Walton County: Another recent example of a multi-million dollar recovery and successful legislative change driven by a hazing tragedy.

These cases are not isolated incidents; they represent a nationwide pattern of institutional failure and severe abuse. For families in Walton County considering legal action, these precedents offer powerful reassurance: justice can be won, and the financial consequences for those who enable hazing are severe. We are leveraging the lessons from these cases, combined with our strategic intelligence and aggressive litigation tactics, to fight for your child.

Protecting Your Child: Texas Law and Why It Applies to Walton County Victims

Hazing is not just morally reprehensible; it is illegal. Whether the hazing occurred in Georgia, Texas, or any other state, there are robust legal frameworks designed to protect students and hold perpetrators and institutions accountable. While our firm is based in Texas, our expertise in hazing law, combined with our federal court admissions and dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York), allow us to pursue justice for hazing victims anywhere nationwide, including families in Walton County.

Let’s examine how the legal framework in a state like Texas, where our firm operates, provides powerful tools for victims, and how similar principles apply across the country.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code § 37.151-37.157):

The Texas Education Code explicitly defines and penalizes hazing, providing both criminal and civil avenues for accountability.

• Definition of Hazing (§ 37.151): Texas law broadly defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of affiliation or membership in an organization, if the act:
  • Involves physical brutality (whipping, beating, striking, branding). Our client, Leonel Bermudez, was struck with wooden paddles.
  • Involves sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement, or calisthenics that subject a student to unreasonable risk of harm or adversely affect mental or physical health. Leonel suffered severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure from forced calisthenics, was waterboarded (exposure), and sleep-deprived.
  • Involves forced consumption of food, liquid, alcohol, or other substances that pose an unreasonable risk of harm. Leonel was forced to eat until he vomited.
  • Involves any activity that induces a violation of the Penal Code.
• Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152): Individuals who engage in or fail to report hazing can face criminal charges. These can range from a Class B Misdemeanor (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine) for simply engaging in hazing, to a Class A Misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail, $4,000 fine) if hazing causes serious bodily injury (which applies directly to Leonel Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure). If hazing causes death, it becomes a State Jail Felony (180 days to 2 years in state jail, up to $10,000 fine).
• Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): Fraternities, sororities, or other organizations can be held criminally liable if they condone or encourage hazing. Penalties can include fines up to $10,000 and even denial of the right to operate on campus.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154): This is a critical legal hammer. Texas law explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution for an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” This utterly shatters the common defense used by fraternities that “he knew what he was signing up for” or “he could have left.” The law makes it clear: you cannot consent to being a victim of hazing. This powerful statute applies directly to our case and can be leveraged in civil litigation. While each state has its own specific anti-hazing laws, the principle that consent cannot justify criminal acts of hazing is gaining traction nationwide.

Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Prosecution

Beyond criminal charges, hazing victims and their families in Walton County can pursue civil lawsuits to recover damages. These civil claims operate on principles that are broadly consistent across most U.S. states:

• Negligence Claims: This is the most common civil claim. We argue that the university, national fraternity, or individual members owed a “duty of care” to the student (a duty to keep them safe), that they “breached” this duty by allowing or causing hazing, and that this breach “caused” the student’s injuries, resulting in “damages.”
• Premises Liability: If hazing occurred on property owned or controlled by the university or a housing corporation, these entities can be held liable for creating or allowing a dangerous condition on their premises. The fact that the University of Houston owned the fraternity house where much of Leonel’s hazing happened is a powerful element of our case.
• Negligent Supervision: This applies when an entity (like a national fraternity or a university Greek life office) had a duty to supervise activities but failed to do so, leading to harm.
• Assault and Battery: Individual perpetrators can be sued directly for intentionally causing harmful or offensive physical contact. Waterboarding, paddling, and forced exercise often fall under these categories.
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED): When the hazing is so extreme and outrageous that it causes severe emotional distress (such as PTSD or severe anxiety), this claim can be pursued. Acts like simulated waterboarding often meet the high bar for IIED.
• Wrongful Death Claims: If a hazing incident results in death, families can sue for a range of damages, including loss of companionship, financial support, and funeral expenses, often seeking punitive damages.

For families in Walton County, understanding these legal avenues is crucial. Our firm provides a free consultation to review your specific situation and explain how these laws apply to your child’s case, regardless of where the hazing occurred. We have the expertise to navigate complex multi-state litigation, ensuring your rights are protected.

Why Attorney911 Is the Only Choice for Walton County Hazing Victims

When your child has been subjected to the trauma of hazing, you need more than just a lawyer; you need a relentless advocate who understands the nuances of this specific type of litigation and knows how to win. Attorney911, Legal Emergency Lawyers™, stands apart as the premier choice for families in Walton County seeking justice for hazing. While our primary offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, our reach and capabilities extend nationwide, directly benefiting victims in Walton County.

Here’s why families grappling with the horror of hazing choose us:

1. We Are Actively Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW: The Bermudez $10 Million Lawsuit
We are not merely theorizing about hazing litigation. We are currently in the thick of a high-stakes $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This landmark case, involving the horrific waterboarding and hospitalization of Leonel Bermudez, is concrete proof of our aggressive, no-holds-barred approach. For Walton County hazing victims, this means you get a legal team that is battle-tested, informed by real-time litigation, and entirely committed to this cause. We are applying the same strategies, the same deep-dive intelligence, and the same absolute dedication to Leonel’s case that we will bring to your family’s fight.

2. Unequaled Experience: Ralph P. Manginello’s 25+ Years of Front-Line Litigation
Ralph Manginello, our managing partner, brings over 25 years of courtroom experience. He is not just an attorney; he is a seasoned litigator who cuts through institutional defenses.

• Multi-Billion Dollar Case Experience: Ralph was involved in the BP Texas City Explosion litigation, a mass tort case against a massive corporate defendant. This experience is directly applicable to hazing cases involving powerful universities and national fraternities.
• Journalism Background: His training equips him to investigate, uncover facts, and tell compelling stories to juries—essential for exposing hidden hazing cultures.
• Hazing-Specific Expertise: Ralph has direct experience with fraternity litigation, including cases involving rhabdomyolysis—the very injury Leonel Bermudez suffered. He understands the medical and legal complexities unique to hazing.
• Federal Court Authority: Admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and with appellate experience in the U.S. Second Circuit, Ralph can pursue complex hazing cases in federal jurisdiction, often advantageous against national organizations.
• Dual-State Bar License: Licensed in both Texas and New York, Ralph holds a strategic advantage for cases against national fraternities headquartered or heavily active outside of Texas.

3. Insider Knowledge of How the “Other Side” Thinks: Lupe Eleno Peña, Former National Insurance Defense Attorney
Lupe Peña, a male attorney with over 12 years of experience, is a critical asset. Before joining Attorney911, he worked for Litchfield Cavo LLP, a nationwide insurance defense firm. This means:

• He knows their playbook: Lupe learned firsthand how large insurance companies and corporate defendants value claims, strategize defenses, and attempt to minimize or deny payouts.
• Strategic Advantage: Every tactic they taught him to use against victims, he now uses to dismantle their defenses and maximize recovery for our clients. For Walton County families going up against well-funded university and fraternity legal teams, this insider knowledge is an unfair advantage.
• Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Expertise: His background in these areas is directly relevant to severe hazing cases, allowing him to fight for maximum damages.
• Finance Background: Lupe’s pre-law career in finance strengthens our ability to analyze economic losses and pursue comprehensive damage claims.
• Bilingual (Fluent Spanish): For Hispanic families in Walton County, Lupe’s fluency in Spanish removes language barriers, ensuring clear communication and culturally sensitive representation.

4. Our “Insurance Counter-Intelligence System”: Two Former Insurance Defense Attorneys Are Better Than One
The unique advantage of Attorney911 is that both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña are former insurance defense attorneys. This strategic team brings a combined 37+ years of deep insider knowledge, knowing exactly how insurance companies and their defense lawyers think, operate, and build their cases. This means we predict their moves, dismantle their strategies, and elevate our clients’ claims from day one.

5. Data-Driven Litigation Strategy: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine
We don’t guess. We know. Attorney911 maintains one of the most comprehensive private directories of Greek organizations in Texas. This intelligence engine includes:

• Over 125 IRS B83 Texas Organizations: We track specific legal names, EINs, and addresses of house corporations, alumni chapters, and honor societies. When hazing happens, we know exactly who to sue. For example, our database includes “Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc” with EIN 462267515 in Frisco, Texas—the very entity behind the UH chapter we sued. For families in Walton County, this means we can quickly cut through the confusion of who to name in a lawsuit.
• 96 Texas Universities: We know the landscape of Greek life across major Texas campuses, understanding the environments where Walton County students might be hazed. We can rapidly identify Greek organizations operating at the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, and countless other institutions your children attend.
• 1,423 Greek-Related Organizations Across 25 Metro Areas: Our Cause IQ Metro Organizations data helps us understand the vast scale of Greek life entities. Whether your child is in a major metropolitan area like Atlanta or a smaller college town, we know the networked web of organizations.
• Brand Overlap Analysis: We track national brands across undergraduate chapters, alumni groups, and other affiliates, providing a clear map of corporate structures.

6. Unwavering Client Focus & Communication:
We know what Walton County families are going through. Our testimonials consistently praise our communication, compassion, and dedication. We treat you like family, not just a case number. We offer:

• Contingency Fees: You pay absolutely $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless we win your case. This removes financial barriers, allowing Walton County families to fight powerful institutions regardless of their economic situation.
• 24/7 Availability: Legal emergencies don’t keep office hours. Our 1-888-ATTY-911 hotline is always open for Walton County families.
• Remote Consultations & Travel: Distance is not a barrier. We offer video consultations for Walton County clients and our attorneys travel for depositions, trials, and client meetings as needed.
• Personalized Attention: We keep you informed at every step, ensuring you understand the process and feel supported.

7. Proven Results & Ethical Advocacy:
Our 4.9-star rating from over 250 Google reviews speaks volumes. Clients praise our ability to secure maximum settlements, fight against dismissals, and provide empathetic, aggressive representation. We believe in what we do, and we pour our hearts into every case.

When your child has been hazed, the stakes are incredibly high. You deserve the very best legal representation. Attorney911 combines unmatched experience, insider knowledge, data-driven strategy, and a compassionate commitment to justice. We are ready to fight for your Walton County family.

What to Do Right Now: Immediate Steps for Walton County Hazing Victims and Families

If your child in Walton County has been a victim of hazing, the moments immediately following the incident are crucial. Emotions will be running high—fear, anger, confusion, and a profound sense of betrayal. However, taking swift and informed action can significantly impact the success of any future legal action. We are here 24/7 to help guide you, but here are critical steps you should take right now:

STEP 1: PRIORITIZE SAFETY AND MEDICAL CARE

• Remove Your Child from the Situation: Ensure your child is physically safe and away from the hazing environment. This might mean talking to university officials, but proceed with caution (see Step 3).
• Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Even if injuries seem minor, get your child to an emergency room or doctor as soon as possible. Some hazing injuries, like rhabdomyolysis or internal organ damage, may not be immediately apparent but can be life-threatening.
  • Document Everything: Ensure all injuries, symptoms, and the cause (explicitly state “hazing incident”) are thoroughly documented in medical records. This is critical evidence. Request copies of all medical records, test results, and discharge papers.
  • Photograph Injuries: Take clear, close-up photos of all visible injuries—bruises, cuts, burns, swelling—at multiple stages of healing. Our client’s rhabdomyolysis showed up as brown urine and intense muscle pain; these symptoms are just as important to document.

STEP 2: PRESERVE ALL EVIDENCE—EVERYTHING!
Hazing perpetrators and institutions will attempt to destroy or hide evidence. Your proactive preservation is paramount.

• Digital Communications: These are often the lifeblood of hazing cases. Do NOT delete anything!
  • Texts and Messaging Apps: Save all text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchat messages (take screenshots before they disappear), Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger chats, and any other digital conversations related to the hazing. These often contain direct evidence of instructions, threats, derogatory comments, or other students complaining about the hazing.
  • Emails: Preserve all emails related to the fraternity/sorority, university communications, or hazing activities.
  • Social Media: Take screenshots of any relevant social media posts, stories, or profiles related to the individuals or organizations involved.
• Photos and Videos: Beyond injury photos, if your child has any photos or videos of hazing activities, the environment, or other members involved, save them securely. Even seemingly innocuous photos hinting at events can be valuable.
• Documents:
  • Pledge Manuals or Handbooks: Any documents given to pledges outlining rules, schedules, or expectations.
  • Schedules: Calendars or schedules detailing “pledge activities” or mandatory events.
  • Correspondence: Any letters, flyers, or university advisories.
• Witness Information: Collect the names and contact information of any other pledges, current members, former members, or bystanders who witnessed the hazing or might have relevant information. Their testimony can be invaluable.
• Physical Evidence: Preserve any clothing worn during hazing, damaged personal items, or even items used in the hazing (if safe and legal to do so, document with photos).
• Financial Records: Keep track of all medical bills, therapy costs, expenses for transportation to appointments, and any lost wages or income.

STEP 3: DO NOT COMMUNICATE OR SIGN ANYTHING WITHOUT LEGAL COUNSEL

• Avoid Contact with Perpetrators/Leadership: Do not confront or discuss the incident with fraternity/sorority members, alumni, or university staff without consulting an attorney first. They may try to coerce your child into silence or obtain statements that could damage your case.
• No Statements to the University or Organization: Do not give recorded statements, write incident reports, or sign any documents provided by the fraternity/sorority, its national organization, or the university administration. They are not on your side; their priority is protecting the institution, not your child. Let your attorney handle all communications.
• Stay Off Social Media: This is critical. Do NOT post anything about the hazing incident on social media. Anything your child posts, or that friends post and tag your child in, can be twisted and used against them by defense attorneys. Similarly, do not delete old posts.

STEP 4: CONTACT ATTORNEY911 IMMEDIATELY—DO NOT DELAY!

• Call 1-888-ATTY-911: We are available 24/7 for a free, confidential consultation. The sooner you call, the sooner we can work to protect evidence, gather crucial information, and build a strong case.
• Understand Statutes of Limitations: In many states, including Texas, there is a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death cases. This means you have a limited window to file a lawsuit. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and your legal rights can expire if you wait too long.
• Distance is NOT a Barrier: Even though our offices are in Texas, we represent hazing victims nationwide, including families in Walton County. We routinely conduct video consultations and are fully prepared to travel for depositions, trials, and client meetings in Walton County or wherever justice requires.
• No Upfront Cost: We work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case. This removes financial pressure, allowing you to access top-tier legal representation regardless of your current financial situation.

The trauma of hazing is profound, but you have the power to fight back. By following these steps and contacting Attorney911, you take a critical stand for your child, holding those responsible accountable, and potentially preventing future tragedies for other families in Walton County and beyond.

Contact Attorney911: Your Legal Emergency Hotline for Walton County Hazing Victims

If you or your child in Walton County has been harmed by hazing, you are facing a legal emergency, and we are your first responders. The pain, anger, and betrayal caused by hazing can feel suffocating, but you do not have to carry this burden alone. Attorney911 is here to fight for you, with the same aggression, expertise, and dedication we bring to every case, including our current $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez.

Walton County families, you have legal rights. We are fighting this fight right now, and we will fight for you.

CALL NOW FOR A FREE, CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION:

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email Us 24/7: ralph@atty911.com
Visit Our Website: attorney911.com

Why Contacting Attorney911 Immediately is Critical:

• Act Within the Statute of Limitations: Most states have strict deadlines (often two years) for filing hazing lawsuits. Don’t let your right to justice expire.
• Preserve Crucial Evidence: Key evidence—text messages, social media posts, witness memories—disappears quickly. The sooner we get involved, the better we can safeguard these vital components of your case.
• Stop the Cover-Up: Institutions and perpetrators will often immediately start to cover their tracks. We can send out preservation letters to prevent destruction of evidence and protect your child from further intimidation.
• Expert Guidance: Navigating a hazing lawsuit against a powerful university or national fraternity is complex. You need experienced lawyers who understand the legal landscape, the medical implications, and the tactics of the opposition.
• No Upfront Cost: Remember, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means families in Walton County pay $0 upfront for our legal services. We only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for your family.

We Serve Walton County and Hazing Victims Nationwide:
While our firm is headquartered in Houston, Texas, our reach extends far beyond state lines. Hazing is a national crisis, and we are equipped to represent victims in Walton County and throughout the United United States through:

• Federal Court Authority: Our attorneys are admitted to practice in U.S. District Courts, enabling us to pursue cases in federal jurisdiction nationwide.
• Dual-State Bar Licenses: With licenses in both Texas and New York, we possess a strategic advantage in litigating against national fraternities and sororities that operate across state lines.
• Remote & Travel Flexibility: We offer convenient video consultations for families in Walton County to discuss your case from the comfort of your home. When in-person meetings, depositions, or trials are necessary, our attorneys will travel to Walton County to ensure you have the representation you deserve.

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

• Fraternities and sororities at universities near Walton County, Georgia, and across the nation.
• Walton County high school and college sports teams.
• Marching bands and other performance groups.
• ROTC programs and military academies.
• Clubs and other student organizations.

To Other Victims of the University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi Hazing:
We know Leonel Bermudez was not alone. The lawsuit alleges that another pledge lost consciousness during a forced workout, and others endured the same unspeakable abuse. If you were a victim, or know someone who was, you have rights. Please, reach out to us. As Lupe Pena stated, “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 can be critical in holding these perpetrators accountable.

Let us be your legal emergency. Let us fight for the justice your child deserves, turn your pain into a powerful stand against hazing, and send a message that resonates far beyond Walton County. The time to act is now.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911.
Email: ralph@atty911.com.
Visit: attorney911.com.

We protect victims like you throughout Walton County, and nationwide. Your fight is our fight.