Hazing Lawyers Serving White County, TN – Attorney 911

Justice for Hazing Victims in White County and Beyond

White County families: If your child has been a victim of fraternity hazing, sorority hazing, or any form of Greek life abuse at Tennessee Tech, nearby colleges, or any institution in White County, you are not alone. Attorney 911 is currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—proving that hazing is not “tradition,” it’s torture, abuse, and institutional failure.

The same fraternities that operate in Houston have chapters near White County. The same negligence that hospitalized our client exists at Tennessee universities. We will fight for White County families with the same aggression we’re bringing to this case.

📞 Call Now for a Free, Confidential Consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com

The Hazing Crisis in White County, TN: What Families Need to Know

Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines – It Happens in White County Too

White County is home to Tennessee Technological University (Tennessee Tech) in Cookeville, just a short drive from Sparta. With over 10,000 students, Tennessee Tech has an active Greek life community, including fraternities and sororities affiliated with national organizations like:

• Pi Kappa Phi
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)
• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)
• Kappa Sigma
• Sigma Chi
• Phi Delta Theta
• Delta Sigma Phi
• And many more

These are the same fraternities involved in multi-million-dollar hazing lawsuits nationwide—including our current $10 million case in Texas.

The Reality of Hazing in White County

Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” It’s assault, battery, and sometimes manslaughter. In White County and across Tennessee, hazing can include:

✅ Physical abuse – Beatings, paddling, branding, extreme exercise to exhaustion
✅ Forced consumption – Alcohol poisoning, forced eating until vomiting, non-food substances
✅ Psychological torture – Humiliation, degradation, threats, sleep deprivation
✅ Sexual abuse – Forced nudity, sexual acts, carrying sexual objects
✅ Waterboarding & drowning simulations – As seen in our current case
✅ Servitude & control – Forced errands, cleaning, driving members at all hours

This isn’t just happening in Texas—it’s happening in Tennessee, at universities near White County, and it could be happening to your child right now.

Our Landmark Hazing Case: The $10 Million Fight That Proves White County Families Can Win

Leonel Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston – The Case That Exposes Hazing Culture

📰 Media Coverage (Multiple Outlets):

• ABC13 Houston
• KHOU 11
• Houston Chronicle
• Houston Public Media

What Happened to Leonel Bermudez – And Why It Could Happen in White County

Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student not yet enrolled at UH, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi in September 2025. Over seven weeks, he was subjected to systematic abuse, including:

🔥 Waterboarding with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
🔥 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 continue running
🔥 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 (October 15, 2025)—yet hazing continued

On November 3, 2025, Bermudez was punished for missing an event. He was forced to perform extreme exercises until he couldn’t stand. He crawled up the stairs when he got home, and by November 6, his mother rushed him to the hospital with rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. He spent three nights and four days in the hospital.

Why This Case Matters for White County Families

1. Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters across America—including near White County.

   • The same “traditions” that hospitalized Bermudez exist at fraternities near White County.
   • If it happened in Houston, it can and does happen in Tennessee.

2. Universities near White County face the same liability failures as UH.

   • Tennessee Tech and other institutions have a duty to protect students from hazing.
   • If they fail to act, they can be held legally and financially responsible.

3. The same national organizations operate in White County.

   • Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Pike, and other fraternities have documented histories of hazing deaths and lawsuits.
   • They have paid millions in settlements—and they will pay again for White County victims.

4. White County families deserve the same aggressive representation we provide in Houston.

   • We are currently litigating this $10 million case—not just talking about it.
   • We will fight for White County victims with the same determination.

Who Is Liable for Hazing in White County?

When hazing occurs, multiple parties can be held accountable, including:

1. The Local Fraternity Chapter

• Directly organized and conducted hazing
• Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster) can be personally liable
• Members who participated can be sued individually

2. The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization

• Failed to supervise local chapters
• Knew about hazing risks (Pi Kappa Phi had a prior hazing death in 2017)
• Failed to enforce anti-hazing policies despite knowing about a “hazing crisis”

3. The University (Tennessee Tech or Others)

• Failed to protect students from known hazing risks
• Owns or controls fraternity houses (premises liability)
• Had prior hazing incidents but did not implement effective safeguards
• Allowed Greek life to operate without proper oversight

4. Individual Perpetrators

• Chapter officers (president, pledgemaster)
• Active members who participated in hazing
• Former members who hosted hazing at their homes
• Spouses of members who allowed hazing on their property

5. Insurance Companies

• National fraternities have millions in liability insurance
• Universities have institutional insurance policies
• Homeowner’s insurance may cover individual perpetrators

White County families: If your child was hazed, we will pursue every liable party to maximize compensation.

What Can White County Families Recover?

Hazing victims and their families may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages, including:

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses)

✔ Medical bills (hospitalization, rehabilitation, future treatment)
✔ Lost wages (time missed from work or internships)
✔ Educational disruption (tuition, scholarships, academic setbacks)
✔ Future medical expenses (dialysis, kidney transplant, therapy)

Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)

✔ Physical pain and suffering (from injuries like rhabdomyolysis, broken bones, burns)
✔ Mental anguish (PTSD, anxiety, depression from hazing trauma)
✔ Emotional distress (humiliation, shame, loss of trust)
✔ Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in normal activities)
✔ Disfigurement (scars from branding, burns, or other injuries)

Punitive Damages (Punishing Egregious Conduct)

In cases of gross negligence or intentional harm, courts may award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoers and deter future misconduct. Our current case involves:

• Waterboarding (simulated drowning) – considered torture
• Forcing exercise until collapse – reckless disregard for safety
• Continuing hazing after a pledge lost consciousness – gross negligence

Juries have awarded millions in punitive damages for hazing—White County families deserve the same justice.

Precedent Cases: Multi-Million Dollar Proof That Hazing Cases Win

Hazing lawsuits have resulted in massive settlements and verdicts nationwide. These cases prove that White County families can win big:

These cases led to new hazing laws in multiple states—and they can do the same for Tennessee.

Tennessee Hazing Laws: Your Legal Rights in White County

Tennessee Code § 49-7-123 – Anti-Hazing Law

Tennessee law defines hazing as:

“Any intentional or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, or affiliation with any organization.”

Hazing is a Class A misdemeanor in Tennessee, punishable by:

• Up to 11 months, 29 days in jail
• Fines up to $2,500

If hazing results in serious bodily injury or death, it can be elevated to a felony.

Civil Liability for Hazing in Tennessee

In addition to criminal charges, hazing victims can sue for damages, including:

• Negligence (failure to protect students)
• Assault & battery (physical abuse)
• Intentional infliction of emotional distress (psychological torture)
• Premises liability (if hazing occurred on university-owned property)

Tennessee has no cap on pain and suffering damages—meaning juries can award millions for hazing victims.

What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in White County

If your child has been a victim of hazing, time is critical. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and statutes of limitations expire. Act now:

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

• Even if injuries seem minor, get medical documentation.
• Rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, and internal injuries may not be immediately apparent.

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

✅ Photos/videos of injuries, hazing activities, or locations
✅ Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, emails about hazing
✅ Witness contact information (other pledges, bystanders)
✅ Medical records (hospitalization, therapy, prescriptions)
✅ Fraternity documents (pledge manuals, schedules, rules)

❌ DO NOT:

• Delete any messages or posts
• Talk to fraternity/sorority leadership without legal counsel
• Sign anything from the organization
• Post about the incident on social media

Step 3: Report the Hazing

• File a police report (hazing is a crime in Tennessee)
• Report to the university (Tennessee Tech or other institution)
• Report to the national fraternity/sorority organization

Step 4: Contact Attorney 911 Immediately

✔ Free, confidential consultation – No obligation
✔ Contingency fee basis – You pay $0 upfront; we only get paid if you win
✔ Aggressive representation – We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing case
✔ Nationwide reach – We serve White County and all of Tennessee

📞 Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your White County Hazing Case?

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

• We don’t just talk about hazing—we are actively litigating a landmark case.
• White County families get the same aggressive representation we provide in Houston.

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys – We Know Their Playbook

• Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena both worked for insurance companies before switching sides.
• We know exactly how they try to deny or minimize claims—and we use that knowledge against them.

3. Federal Court Authority – We Can Pursue Cases Nationwide

• Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
• Licensed in Texas and New York (strategic for national fraternity cases)
• We will travel to White County for depositions, trials, and client meetings

4. Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Results

• BP Texas City explosion litigation (mass tort experience)
• Hundreds of personal injury cases won
• Former insurance defense insight – We dismantle their strategies

5. Compassionate, Bilingual Representation

• Se habla español – We serve Spanish-speaking families without language barriers
• We treat White County families like family – Not just another case

6. No Upfront Costs – You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

• Contingency fee basis – $0 upfront
• We don’t get paid unless you get paid
• No financial risk for White County families

White County Hazing Victims: You Are Not Alone

Hazing victims often stay silent due to:
🔹 Fear of retaliation (our client is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution”)
🔹 Shame and embarrassment (being humiliated, degraded)
🔹 Loyalty to the organization (“I don’t want to get my brothers in trouble”)
🔹 Not recognizing it as hazing (“It’s just tradition”)

But silence protects the abusers—not the victims.

White County families: If your child was hazed, you have the power to stop it from happening to someone else. Our client’s case is about more than compensation—it’s about preventing harm to the next student.

“If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” — Lupe Pena, Attorney 911

White County Hazing Lawyers – Free Consultation

If your child has been hazed in White County, Tennessee Tech, or any university near White County, call us now.

📞 24/7 Legal Emergency Hotline: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com

We serve White County, Cookeville, Sparta, and all of Tennessee. Distance is not a barrier—we will fight for you.

White County Families: The Time to Act Is Now

⏳ Statute of limitations – You have limited time to file a claim
📱 Evidence disappears – Texts, photos, and witnesses fade quickly
🏛️ Universities and fraternities will try to silence you – Don’t let them

Call Attorney 911 today. We are ready to fight for White County. 🚨