🚨 Hazing Victims in Yell County, Arkansas: You Are Not Alone

If your child was hazed at a Yell County college or university, you have legal rights — and we are fighting this battle right now.

At Attorney 911, we are currently representing Leonel Bermudez, a young man who was hospitalized with kidney failure after being waterboarded, forced to do 500 squats, and struck with wooden paddles during hazing at a University of Houston fraternity. This isn’t just hazing — it’s torture. And now, we’re suing for $10 million to hold the fraternity, its national organization, and the university accountable.

The same hazing happens in Yell County, Arkansas. The same national fraternities operate at universities near Yell County. The same negligence exists at Yell County institutions. And we will fight for Yell County families with the same aggression we’re bringing to this case.

🔥 What Happened to Our Client — And What Could Happen to Your Child in Yell County

On November 3, 2025, Leonel Bermudez was punished for missing a fraternity event. What followed was eight hours of extreme physical abuse:

• Waterboarded with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a form of torture
• Forced to do 500 squats and 100+ pushups until he couldn’t stand
• Struck with wooden paddles — physical assault with weapons
• Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting — then forced to keep running
• Forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass
• Hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth (another pledge, October 13)
• Lost consciousness during a workout (another pledge, October 15) — fraternity members did nothing

After collapsing, Bermudez crawled up the stairs to his bed. The next day, he couldn’t move. His mother rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He spent four days in the hospital fighting for his life.

This didn’t just happen in Houston. It happens in Yell County, Arkansas too.

⚠️ Hazing in Yell County: The Reality

Yell County is home to strong family values, hardworking communities, and students with big dreams. But those dreams can turn into nightmares when students join organizations that prioritize “tradition” over safety.

The same fraternities that hazed our client operate near Yell County:

• Pi Kappa Phi — the fraternity that waterboarded Bermudez — has chapters across Arkansas
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, and others have been involved in hazing deaths nationwide
• These organizations have paid millions in settlements — but they haven’t stopped hazing

Universities near Yell County face the same liability failures:

• They know hazing happens
• They have the power to stop it
• They choose not to — until someone gets hurt or dies

If your child attends or plans to attend:

• University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Little Rock, Monticello, Pine Bluff)
• Arkansas Tech University (Russellville)
• Henderson State University (Arkadelphia)
• Ouachita Baptist University (Arkadelphia)
• University of Central Arkansas (Conway)
• Arkansas State University (Jonesboro)
• Lyon College (Batesville)
• Harding University (Searcy)
• John Brown University (Siloam Springs)
• Southern Arkansas University (Magnolia)

They are at risk.

📜 Your Legal Rights as a Yell County Hazing Victim

1. Criminal Charges Are Possible

Hazing is illegal in Arkansas. Under Arkansas Code § 6-5-201, hazing is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by:

• Up to 1 year in jail
• Up to $2,500 in fines

If hazing causes serious physical injury or death, it can be charged as a felony.

Our client’s case has been referred for criminal investigation — and Yell County cases can be too.

2. Civil Lawsuits Can Recover Millions

You can sue for:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages (if your child couldn’t work or attend school)
• Pain and suffering (physical and emotional trauma)
• Punitive damages (to punish the defendants and prevent future hazing)

Precedent cases show juries award MILLIONS for hazing:

• $10.1 million — Stone Foltz (Ohio, 2021)
• $6.1 million — Maxwell Gruver (Louisiana, 2017)
• $110+ million — Timothy Piazza (Pennsylvania, 2017)

Our firm is currently seeking $10 million for Leonel Bermudez — and we will pursue the same for Yell County victims.

3. Consent Is NOT a Defense

Fraternities will argue: “He agreed to participate. He knew the risks.”

Arkansas law says: CONSENT DOES NOT MATTER.

Under Arkansas Code § 6-5-201(d), it is not a defense that the victim consented to hazing.

4. Universities Can Be Held Liable

If the university:

• Owns or controls the property where hazing occurred
• Knew or should have known about hazing
• Failed to implement effective safeguards

They can be sued for negligence.

In our case, University of Houston owns the fraternity house where the hazing occurred. They collected rent while students were being tortured.

Yell County universities have the same liability.

🏛️ Who We Sue for Yell County Hazing Victims

When we take on a hazing case, we sue everyone responsible:

We don’t just sue broke college students. We go after the deep pockets — the national organizations, the universities, and their insurance carriers.

💔 What Hazing Really Does to Victims

Hazing isn’t “boys being boys.” It’s not “building character.” It’s abuse — and it leaves lasting scars.

Physical Injuries:

• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) — can cause kidney failure and death
• Alcohol poisoning — can be fatal
• Traumatic brain injury — from beatings or falls
• Broken bones — from physical abuse
• Hypothermia/hyperthermia — from exposure
• Sexual assault injuries — from forced nudity or worse

Psychological Trauma:

• PTSD — flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety
• Depression — feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness
• Anxiety — fear of social situations, panic attacks
• Trust issues — difficulty forming relationships
• Academic decline — inability to focus, dropping out
• Substance abuse — self-medicating to cope

Our client is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution.” This fear is real — and it’s part of the damage hazing causes.

⏳ Time Is Running Out — Act Now

Statute of Limitations:

• Personal Injury: 3 years from the date of injury (Arkansas)
• Wrongful Death: 3 years from the date of death

Every day you wait:

• Evidence disappears
• Witnesses forget
• Defendants destroy records
• Your legal rights expire

Our client’s family acted immediately — and now we’re in court. Yell County families must do the same.

🛡️ Why Yell County Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We Are Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW

While other firms talk about hazing, we’re actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit. We know the defendants’ playbook because we’re in the courtroom with them.

2. We Know How to Win Against Powerful Institutions

We’ve taken on:

• BP (Texas City explosion litigation)
• Universities (hazing negligence)
• National fraternities (pattern of abuse)
• Insurance companies (bad faith denials)

We don’t back down. We don’t settle for less than you deserve.

3. We Are Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña worked for insurance companies before switching sides. We know how they think. We know how they try to deny claims. And we know how to beat them at their own game.

4. We Travel to Yell County

We have offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, but we serve clients nationwide. We will:

• Come to Yell County for depositions and meetings
• Offer video consultations for convenience
• Handle all communications with defendants

Distance is not a barrier to justice.

5. We Speak Spanish — Se Habla Español

Many hazing victims and their families are Spanish-speaking. We provide bilingual legal services to ensure no language barriers stand in the way of justice.

6. We Work on Contingency — $0 Upfront

We understand that cost can be a concern. That’s why we take hazing cases on contingency:

• $0 upfront
• $0 unless we win
• We only get paid if you get paid

If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing.

📞 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Yell County

Step 1: Get Medical Attention

• Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
• Document everything — medical records are critical evidence

Step 2: Preserve All Evidence

• Text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchat, Instagram DMs — screenshot everything
• Photos/videos — of injuries, hazing locations, any physical evidence
• Witness information — names and contact info of other pledges, bystanders
• Documents — pledge manuals, schedules, any written rules

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

• They will try to control the narrative
• They will try to get you to sign documents
• They will try to minimize the incident

Anything you say can be used against you.

Step 4: Call Attorney 911 Immediately

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Available 24/7 for Yell County hazing emergencies.

We will:

• Guide you through evidence preservation
• Handle all communications with defendants
• File a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires
• Fight for the maximum compensation you deserve

❓ Frequently Asked Questions for Yell County Families

Q: Can we sue even if our child “consented” to hazing?

A: YES. Arkansas law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. The fraternity cannot claim your child “agreed” to be abused.

Q: Can we sue the university?

A: YES — if the university knew or should have known about hazing. In our case, University of Houston owns the fraternity house where the hazing occurred. Yell County universities have the same liability.

Q: What if the hazing happened off-campus?

A: You can still sue. Hazing is illegal on or off campus. If it happened at a private home, the homeowners can be held liable.

Q: What if my child is afraid of retaliation?

A: We protect our clients. Many hazing victims fear retribution — our client is afraid to do media interviews. We ensure your safety and privacy throughout the legal process.

Q: How much is our case worth?

A: Every case is different, but precedent cases show:

• $10.1 million — Stone Foltz (Ohio, 2021)
• $6.1 million — Maxwell Gruver (Louisiana, 2017)
• $110+ million — Timothy Piazza (Pennsylvania, 2017)

We are currently seeking $10 million for Leonel Bermudez — and we will pursue the same for Yell County victims.

Q: How long will the case take?

A: Most hazing cases settle within 1-3 years. Some go to trial, which can take longer. We work to resolve cases as quickly as possible while maximizing your compensation.

Q: Do we have to pay anything upfront?

A: NO. We work on contingency — you pay $0 upfront, and we only get paid if we win your case.

🎯 Our Message to Yell County Fraternities and Universities

To the fraternities operating near Yell County:

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

To the universities in Arkansas:

The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. You have the power to stop hazing. You have the responsibility to protect students. Act now — or face the same accountability.

To the national fraternity organizations:

You have paid millions in settlements. You have closed chapters after hazing deaths. You have admitted knowing about hazing crises. And yet, it continues. Enough is enough.

📢 Yell County Families: This Is Your Moment

You sent your child to college to learn, to grow, to build a future.

Instead, they were tortured, humiliated, and hospitalized.

This stops now.

If your child was hazed in Yell County, Arkansas, call us today.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Email: ralph@atty911.com
Website: attorney911.com

Free consultation. $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless you do.

🏆 Together, We Can End Hazing in Yell County

Leonel Bermudez’s case is not just about one victim. It’s about every student who might be next.

Our mission:

• Hold abusers accountable
• Change fraternity culture
• Protect Yell County students
• Ensure no family has to go through this again

Yell County families: You are not alone. We are fighting for you.

Call now. The clock is ticking.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911

Attorney 911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Yell County, Arkansas and Nationwide
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