🚨 Hazing Lawyers for Yavapai County Families: Justice for Victims of Fraternity Abuse

Yavapai County Parents: Is Your Child Being Hazed?

Hazing isn’t harmless “tradition” – it’s abuse, torture, and sometimes murder. If your child attends college near Yavapai County, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client at the University of Houston. The same fraternities that waterboarded a student in Texas operate at Arizona universities. The same negligence that allowed a student to develop kidney failure exists right here in our community.

We are Attorney 911 – the hazing litigation experts. We’re currently fighting a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for what they did to our client. We will fight just as hard for Yavapai County families.

⚠️ Warning Signs Your Child May Be Hazed:

• Unexplained bruises, injuries, or exhaustion
• Sudden secrecy about Greek life activities
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Sudden academic decline
• Fear of talking about fraternity/sorority
• Mention of “pledge activities” or “traditions”
• Signs of alcohol poisoning or drug use
• Physical symptoms like dark urine (sign of rhabdomyolysis)

“When he finally made it home, he crawled up the stairs and went to bed. The next day, he was really sore and couldn’t really move. The next day was worse, and the next day, his mom rushed him to the hospital, and he had some kidney failure.”
— Ralph Manginello, describing our client’s condition after Pi Kappa Phi hazing

🏛️ Hazing Happens at Arizona Universities Near Yavapai County

Yavapai County families send their children to colleges across Arizona, where Greek life thrives. The same national fraternities involved in hazing deaths nationwide – Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta – have active chapters at Arizona universities.

Universities Near Yavapai County with Greek Life:

• Northern Arizona University (NAU) – Flagstaff, AZ
• Arizona State University (ASU) – Tempe, Phoenix, and multiple campuses
• University of Arizona (UArizona) – Tucson, AZ
• Grand Canyon University – Phoenix, AZ
• Prescott College – Prescott, AZ
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott, AZ

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority at any of these schools, they face the same risks that hospitalized our client.

💔 What Happened to Our Client – And What Could Happen to Your Child

Our client, Leonel Bermudez, accepted a bid to join Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Houston. What followed was weeks of systematic abuse that nearly killed him:

• Waterboarded with a garden hose (simulated drowning)
• Forced to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
• Struck with wooden paddles
• Forced to eat until vomiting, then made to lie in vomit-soaked grass
• Another pledge lost consciousness during forced workouts
• Hog-tied with an object in his mouth for over an hour
• Forced to drive fraternity members at all hours, leading to exhaustion
• Threatened with expulsion if he didn’t comply

Result: Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), acute kidney failure, 4 days hospitalized. He could have died.

“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

This Isn’t Just a Houston Problem – It’s a Yavapai County Problem Too

• Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide – including at Arizona universities
• The same “traditions” exist in Yavapai County chapters
• Universities near Yavapai County face the same liability failures
• National fraternities have the same culture of abuse

Your child could be next.

⚖️ Yavapai County Families Have Legal Rights

You don’t have to accept “boys will be boys” as an excuse. Hazing is illegal, dangerous, and actionable. Arizona has strong anti-hazing laws, and victims can sue for:

Who Can Be Held Liable in Yavapai County Hazing Cases:

• The local fraternity/sorority chapter – Directly organized the hazing
• National fraternity/sorority organization – Failed to supervise, knew of “hazing crisis”
• University/college – Failed to protect students, knew of prior incidents
• Individual members – Participated in or facilitated hazing
• Chapter officers – Leadership responsibility (president, pledgemaster)
• Alumni – Allowed hazing at their homes
• Housing corporations – Owned/controlled property where hazing occurred

What You Can Recover for Your Yavapai County Child:

• Medical expenses – Hospital bills, ongoing treatment, rehabilitation
• Future medical costs – If injuries cause long-term health issues
• Pain and suffering – Physical pain from injuries
• Emotional distress – PTSD, anxiety, depression from abuse
• Lost wages – Time missed from work during recovery
• Educational disruption – Impact on academic performance and opportunities
• Punitive damages – To punish egregious conduct and prevent future hazing

Our $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and UH proves these cases win big. The same results are possible for Yavapai County families.

🏆 Precedent Cases: Hazing Victims Win Millions

$10.1 Million – Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State / Pi Kappa Alpha)

• Forced to drink entire bottle of alcohol
• Died from alcohol poisoning
• University and fraternity both paid

$6.1 Million Jury Verdict – Maxwell Gruver (LSU / Phi Delta Theta)

• “Bible Study” pledge event – wrong answers = forced drinking
• Died from alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495 – 6x legal limit)
• Led to Max Gruver Act – hazing now a FELONY in Louisiana

$110+ Million – Timothy Piazza (Penn State / Beta Theta Pi)

• Forced to drink 18 drinks in 82 minutes
• Fell down stairs multiple times
• Fraternity members waited 12 hours to call 911
• Security cameras captured everything

$6.5 Million Personal Judgment – Daylen Dunson (BGSU / Pi Kappa Alpha)

• Chapter president held personally liable
• Individuals can’t hide behind the fraternity

These verdicts and settlements prove that hazing cases WIN. The same legal strategies apply to Yavapai County cases.

📋 What to Do If Your Yavapai County Child Is Hazed

Immediate Steps:

1. Seek medical attention – Even if injuries seem minor, document everything
2. Preserve all evidence – Texts, social media, photos, videos, witness names
3. Do NOT confront the fraternity alone – They will destroy evidence and intimidate witnesses
4. Do NOT sign anything from the organization or university
5. Do NOT post on social media about the incident
6. Contact Attorney 911 immediately – 1-888-ATTY-911

We Handle Everything Else:

• Evidence preservation – Secure texts, photos, videos, witness statements
• Medical documentation – Obtain all hospital and treatment records
• Legal strategy – Build strongest possible case against all liable parties
• Negotiation – Fight for maximum compensation
• Litigation – Take it to trial if needed
• Protection – Shield your child from retaliation

🛡️ Why Yavapai County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW

• Currently litigating $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and University of Houston
• Same strategies available for Yavapai County families
• We know how to win these cases

2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

• We know how insurance companies think
• We’ve seen their playbook – now we use it against them
• We know how to maximize your recovery

3. Nationwide Reach – We Serve Yavapai County

• Based in Texas but represent hazing victims nationwide
• Federal court authority – can pursue cases anywhere
• Dual-state bar licenses (Texas AND New York)
• We travel to Yavapai County for depositions, meetings, and trials
• Video consultations available for Yavapai County families

4. $0 Upfront – No Risk for Yavapai County Families

• Contingency fee – You pay nothing unless we win
• We advance all case costs
• No financial barrier to justice

5. We Understand the Culture

• Ralph Manginello is a former college athlete and coach
• We understand team dynamics, locker room culture, and the pressures young people face
• We know how to dismantle the “tradition” defense

6. Bilingual Services – Se Habla Español

• Fluent Spanish-speaking staff
• Can serve Yavapai County Hispanic families without language barriers

7. Proven Track Record

• Millions recovered for personal injury victims
• Hundreds of cases won
• Former BP Texas City explosion litigation – experience with complex, high-stakes cases

🎯 Our Strategy for Yavapai County Hazing Cases

1. Expose the Pattern

• Pi Kappa Phi had 8 years between Andrew Coffey’s death (2017) and Leonel Bermudez’s hospitalization (2025)
• They did nothing to fix their culture
• Same pattern exists at Arizona chapters

2. Prove Institutional Knowledge

• Universities know hazing happens but fail to act
• National organizations know but fail to supervise
• This is deliberate indifference – not an accident

3. Document the Torture

• Waterboarding = torture (even the media calls it that)
• 500 squats = rhabdomyolysis
• Wooden paddles = assault
• This isn’t hazing – it’s abuse

4. Hold Individuals Accountable

• Chapter presidents
• Pledgemasters
• Active members
• No one gets to hide behind the organization

5. Send a Message

• $10 million isn’t just compensation – it’s a deterrent
• Universities and fraternities must change their culture
• Otherwise, it will keep happening

📞 Yavapai County Families: Call Now for a Free Consultation

If your child has been hazed at any Arizona university, you have legal rights. We can help.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 for Yavapai County hazing emergencies)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com

We offer:

• Free, confidential case evaluation
• Video consultations for Yavapai County families
• Willingness to travel to Yavapai County
• $0 upfront – you pay nothing unless we win

“Enough is enough. If we can prevent harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do.” — Lupe Pena

Your child’s safety and future are at stake. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Call Attorney 911 today.