The Complete Guide to Hazing for McLennan County Families: Protecting Your Child at Baylor & Across Texas

Imagine this: Your son, a bright Baylor freshman from Waco, texts you that he’s “really tired” after a “late-night study group” with his new fraternity brothers. He’s been distant lately, always on his phone, jumping at notifications. A week later, he comes home for a weekend visit. You notice strange bruises on his back he dismisses as “gym accidents.” His eyes are hollow from lack of sleep. When you gently press him, he shuts down—”It’s just pledging, Mom. Everyone does it.” You’re a parent in McLennan County, watching your child change before your eyes, feeling a knot of dread in your stomach that something is terribly wrong.

You are not imagining things. You are not overreacting. What you are sensing may be the warning signs of hazing—a dangerous, illegal, and often hidden form of abuse that happens right here in Central Texas, at Baylor University, and on campuses across the state where McLennan County families send their children.

Right now, our firm is actively fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who was hazed by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. The details are harrowing: forced consumption of food until vomiting, extreme physical workouts, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and carrying a humiliating “pledge fanny pack.” This abuse led to rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, landing him in the hospital for four days. His urine was brown. This is not a story from decades past; this lawsuit was filed in late 2025. The chapter has been shut down, but the physical and psychological harm to Leonel is ongoing. This case is proof that severe, life-altering hazing is a present and active danger in Texas.

This guide is written specifically for you—parents, grandparents, and families in McLennan County, Hewitt, Woodway, Lorena, and across Central Texas. Our goal is to cut through the secrecy and confusion. We will explain what modern hazing really looks like, outline the Texas laws designed to protect your child, expose the national patterns behind local fraternity and sorority chapters, and provide you with a clear, actionable path forward if you suspect abuse. At The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911), we are Texas hazing litigation specialists. We serve families across the state from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, and we understand the unique concerns of Central Texas parents whose children attend Baylor, Texas A&M, UT Austin, and other universities.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call us immediately: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for a reason.

In the First 48 Hours:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek a professional evaluation. Internal injuries, kidney stress from rhabdomyolysis, or psychological trauma are not always visible.
2. Preserve Evidence BEFORE It Disappears:
   • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), texts, and social media DMs.
   • Photograph any injuries from multiple angles. Place a coin or ruler in the shot for scale.
   • Save physical items: torn clothing, paddles, receipts for forced purchases.
   • Write down everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, specific acts—while their memory is fresh.
3. What NOT to Do:
   • Do NOT confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
   • Do NOT sign any documents from the university or an insurance company.
   • Do NOT post details on public social media.
   • Do NOT let your child delete messages or “clean up” their phone.

Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney: Evidence vanishes quickly. Universities and national organizations move fast to control the narrative. We can help you navigate this crisis from the very first call. Contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential, and immediate consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

Hazing is not just “boys will be boys” or harmless tradition. It is a calculated pattern of abuse designed to create power dynamics through humiliation, fear, and physical risk. For McLennan County parents, understanding its modern forms is the first step in recognizing if your child is in danger.

A Clear, Modern Definition

In plain terms, hazing is any forced, coerced, or intensely pressured activity required to join, maintain membership in, or gain status within a group, where that activity endangers physical or mental health, is humiliating, or is exploitative. The critical legal point, especially under Texas law, is that “consent” is not a defense. A student “agreeing” to participate under intense social pressure, fear of exclusion, or desire for belonging does not make the activity legal or safe.

The Main Categories of Hazing Today

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing (The Most Common & Deadly)
This remains the leading cause of hazing deaths nationwide. It includes:

• Forced/Coerced Consumption: “Lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights where a pledge is given a handle of liquor, trivia games where wrong answers mean taking a shot.
• Consumption of Unknown Substances: Being forced to drink concoctions of hot sauce, milk, raw eggs, or even non-food items.

2. Physical Hazing

• Paddling, Beatings, and “Smokings”: Organized physical punishment, often with wooden paddles, or exhaustive calisthenics (hundreds of push-ups, wall-sits to collapse).
• Sleep and Deprivation: Mandatory all-night “study sessions,” 3 AM wake-up calls for chores, being denied food or water.
• Dangerous Exposure: Locked in cold rooms, left outside in extreme weather, forced into unsanitary conditions.

3. Psychological, Sexualized, and Humiliating Hazing

• Verbal Abuse and Intimidation: Yelling, screaming, public humiliation, threats of expulsion from the group.
• Sexualized Acts: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walks”), degrading costumes or positions.
• Digital Humiliation: Being forced to post embarrassing content on social media, participate in TikTok dares, or have compromising photos shared in group chats.

4. “Subtle” or Servitude Hazing
Often dismissed as “tradition,” this sets the stage for escalation:

• Forced Servitude: Acting as a 24/7 designated driver, cleaning members’ apartments, doing their laundry.
• Social Control: Being forbidden from speaking to certain people, required to ask permission for daily activities, carrying a humiliating item (like the “pledge fanny pack” in the UH case).
• Digital Monitoring: Required to have location-sharing apps active at all times, to respond instantly to group chat messages at any hour.

Where Hazing Happens

While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing is a systemic problem in:

• Fraternities & Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural councils)
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading)
• Military-Style Groups (like the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M)
• Spirit & Tradition Organizations (e.g., Texas Cowboys, Baylor’s spirit squads)
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups
• Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Clubs

The common threads are a hierarchy of power, a culture of secrecy, and the twisted justification of “tradition.”

Law & Liability: The Texas & Federal Framework

Understanding the legal landscape is crucial. Texas has specific laws against hazing, and federal statutes add another layer of potential accountability. This framework exists to protect students like yours.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code, Chapter 37)

Texas law defines hazing broadly and treats it seriously. Key provisions every McLennan County parent should know:

• Definition: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in a group that endangers the student’s mental or physical health or safety. This includes forced drinking, physical brutality, and extreme sleep deprivation.
• Criminal Penalties:
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (Texas Education Code § 37.155): This is vital. It doesn’t matter if your child “went along with it.” The law recognizes that true consent is impossible in a coercive environment of peer pressure.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporters: Students who call for help in an emergency are generally protected from prosecution for minor related offenses (like underage drinking). This “Good Samaritan” principle is meant to save lives by removing the fear of getting in trouble.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA or county attorney). Goal is punishment—jail time, fines, probation. Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, assault, or even manslaughter.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by the victim and their family. Goal is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. This is where we help families recover financial resources for medical care, therapy, and ongoing needs, while forcing organizations to change.

These cases can proceed simultaneously. A lack of criminal charges does not prevent a civil lawsuit.

Federal Overlays: Title IX, Clery, and the Stop Campus Hazing Act

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, the university has specific duties to investigate and address it.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): A new federal law requiring colleges to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs. This will lead to more public data by 2026.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Case?

A thorough investigation seeks accountability from every responsible party:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, carried out, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As a legal entity, if it exists.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to supervise, enforce policies, or act on known patterns of abuse. Our work on the UH Pi Kappa Phi case involves suing the national organization.
4. The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations. In the Bermudez case, the University of Houston and its Board of Regents are named defendants.
5. Third Parties: Landlords of unsafe off-campus houses, property owners where hazing occurred, or alcohol providers.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts of Tragedy

The hazing that threatens Texas students is not unique. It follows well-worn, deadly scripts played out at universities across the country. Understanding these national patterns is critical because they establish foreseeability—proof that national organizations and universities should have known the risks.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): A bid-acceptance night with extreme drinking led to fatal falls. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case resulted in massive criminal charges and Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.”
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. His death spurred Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act,” making hazing a felony.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event. He died from alcohol poisoning. His family secured a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pike national, ~$3M from BGSU).
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died of alcohol poisoning at a “Big Brother” night, leading to a temporary suspension of all Greek life at FSU.

The Lesson for Texas Parents: The “Big/Little” night, the drinking game, the handle of liquor—these are not spontaneous parties. They are repeated traditions with predictable, catastrophic outcomes. National fraternities have been on notice for decades.

The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from traumatic brain injury during a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a remote retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. His family has settled with over 20 defendants, highlighting the lifelong care costs of non-fatal hazing.

The Athletic & Program Hazing Pattern

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements, proving hazing is not confined to Greek life.

What These Cases Mean for McLennan County Families

These national tragedies created legal precedents, stronger laws, and massive settlements that benefit families everywhere. They prove that:

• Universities and national fraternities can be held financially responsible.
• “Consent” arguments fail.
• Juries award significant damages for both fatal and catastrophic injury cases.
• The same dangerous patterns present at Baylor, Texas A&M, or UT are the same patterns that have caused death and ruin elsewhere.

Texas University Focus: A Guide for McLennan County Families

McLennan County families have deep ties to universities across Texas. Your child might be a Baylor Bear right here in Waco, an Aggie in College Station, a Longhorn in Austin, or attend any number of other schools. Each campus has its own culture, policies, and history with hazing. Here’s what you need to know.

Baylor University: In Our Own Backyard

For families in Waco, Hewitt, and Woodway, Baylor is often the local campus of choice. Its Christian identity and tight-knit community can create a false sense of security, but hazing is a documented issue.

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Baylor hosts an active Greek life system with Interfraternity Council (IFC) fraternities, Panhellenic sororities, and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations. The university also has numerous spirit groups, athletic teams, and student organizations where hazing can occur.

Official Policy & Reporting:
Baylor prohibits hazing in all forms, defining it consistently with Texas law. Reports can be made to the Office of Student Conduct, the Dean of Students, or Baylor Police. The university states it investigates all reports.

Documented Incidents & Response:

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players were suspended following a hazing investigation, with staggered suspensions affecting the team’s early season.
• Fraternity Discipline: Like most universities, Baylor has disciplined fraternities for conduct violations that include hazing elements, though specific details are often kept private.

How a Baylor Hazing Case Might Proceed:

• Jurisdiction: A case could involve Baylor Police, the Waco Police Department, or the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, depending on where the incident occurred.
• Legal Venue: Civil lawsuits could be filed in McLennan County courts or federal court.
• Potential Defendants: Individual students, the local chapter, the national fraternity/sorority, Baylor University, and possibly property owners.

What Baylor Students & Parents Should Do:

1. Familiarize yourself with Baylor’s specific hazing policy and reporting channels.
2. Document everything before reporting internally, as organizations often circle the wagons.
3. Understand that Baylor, as a private university, has different legal exposures than public schools, but can still be held accountable for negligence.
4. Seek independent legal counsel early to ensure your child’s rights are protected during any university disciplinary process.

Texas A&M University: Tradition and Risk

Many Central Texas students become Aggies. A&M’s powerful traditions, including the Corps of Cadets and a massive Greek system, carry specific hazing risks.

Notable Cases & Culture:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged they were forced to do strenuous activity and then had substances including industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The pledges sued for $1 million, and the chapter was suspended.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth. He sought over $1 million in damages.

For Aggie Families: Understand that the “Texas A&M way” does not immunize against abuse. The university’s response to Corps and Greek hazing incidents is a critical area for scrutiny in any case.

University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin is a destination for top students across Texas, including McLennan County. It also maintains one of the most transparent hazing disclosure systems in the state.

Public Hazing Violations Log:
UT publishes a searchable online log of hazing violations. A review shows recurrent issues:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members were directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: probation and mandatory hazing prevention education.
• Various spirit groups and other fraternities have been sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol hazing, and punishment-based activities.

The UT Advantage for Families: This transparency can be a powerful tool. A history of prior violations against an organization can be used to prove the university or national headquarters knew of a dangerous pattern.

University of Houston & Southern Methodist University

While farther from McLennan County, these schools are where many Texas students land. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH is the current flagship example of severe, litigated hazing in Texas. At SMU, a private school with a affluent student body, cases often involve significant insurance resources and require equally sophisticated litigation to overcome.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories Matter

When your child is hazed by “XYZ Fraternity” at Baylor, you are not just dealing with a group of college students. You are facing a national organization with a history, a playbook, and an insurance policy. This is why our investigation always looks upstream.

Why National Histories Are Crucial in Court

National fraternities and sororities have risk management manuals and anti-hazing policies precisely because they have faced death and injury at chapters for decades. When a chapter at Baylor or Texas A&M repeats the same dangerous “tradition” that killed a pledge at a school in Ohio or Louisiana, it demonstrates foreseeability. We can argue the national organization knew or should have known this could happen, yet failed to take adequate steps to prevent it.

A Sample of National Patterns

• Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): National pattern of “Big/Little” alcohol hazing (Stone Foltz death at BGSU).
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): Multiple chapters involved in alcohol deaths (Carson Starkey at Cal Poly), chemical burns (Texas A&M), and traumatic brain injury lawsuits.
• Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): Max Gruver’s death at LSU from a drinking game.
• Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): Andrew Coffey’s death at FSU; and now, the severe injury to Leonel Bermudez at UH.
• Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ): Documented history of paddling and physical hazing incidents, including at SMU.

Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Mapping the Liability

To build the strongest case, we don’t just look at the chapter name. We investigate the entire ecosystem using a proprietary database built from public records. For example, our data identifies Texas-registered entities related to Greek life. This means we can locate the housing corporation, the alumni chapter, and other legal entities that may hold insurance or assets. For a family in McLennan County, this deep, data-driven investigation is what uncovers all sources of potential recovery.

Sample of Texas Greek Organization Data from Public Records:

• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, 1101 Melrose Dr, Waco, TX 76710 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Nu Iota Chapter Baylor University, PO Box 2033, Waco, TX 76703 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Texas Rho Chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, 3217 S 3rd St, Waco, TX 76706 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc., 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 Filing – connected to the national org sued in the UH case)

This is just a tiny sample. We maintain intelligence on over 1,400 Greek-related organizations across Texas to ensure no liable party is overlooked in your case.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

If you suspect hazing, taking the right steps immediately can make the difference between a covered-up incident and a successful case for accountability. Here is how we approach building a hazing case for Texas families.

Phase 1: Evidence Preservation & Investigation

Digital evidence is often the most critical and the most fragile. We guide families to preserve:

• Group Chats: Screenshots of GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord conversations showing planning, boasting, or threats.
• Social Media: Photos/videos of injuries or events posted on Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok.
• Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, or emails from officers.
• Medical Records: Full documentation from ER visits, hospitalizations, and follow-up care that explicitly links injuries to hazing.
• Witnesses: Identifying other pledges, former members, roommates, or RAs who may have information.

Our network includes digital forensics experts who can often recover deleted messages and data.

Phase 2: Identifying Damages

The goal of a civil lawsuit is to make the victim whole and deter future conduct. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost tuition from withdrawing from school, and lost future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression), humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship and guidance for the family.

In catastrophic injury cases like rhabdomyolysis or traumatic brain injury, we work with life-care planners and economists to project millions of dollars in lifelong needs.

Phase 3: Navigating Insurance & Institutional Defenses

This is where insider knowledge is key. Fraternities and universities have insurers who will immediately look for ways to deny coverage. Common defenses we defeat include:

• “The Pledge Consented”: Neutralized by Texas law (§ 37.155).
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We subpoena national records to show prior knowledge and pattern.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: Liability is based on control and foreseeability, not just property lines.
• “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”: We argue negligent supervision by the national or university is a covered claim.

Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney. He knows the tactics and strategies insurers use to minimize payouts, and we use that knowledge to our clients’ advantage.

Practical Guides & FAQs for McLennan County Families

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, limping).
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation.
• Sudden secrecy about group activities.
• Personality changes: anxious, depressed, withdrawn.
• Constant, anxious phone use for group chats.
• Requests for unusual amounts of money.

If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’m worried about you. Is anything happening that feels wrong or unsafe?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If there is immediate danger or serious injury, call 911.
3. Preserve Evidence: Follow the 48-hour checklist at the top of this guide.
4. Seek Legal Counsel BEFORE Reporting to the University: An attorney can help you navigate the process without jeopardizing your position.
5. Document University Communications: Keep a log of all calls and emails with administrators.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

• You have the right to be safe. No “tradition” is worth your health, your education, or your life.
• You can leave. You have the legal right to quit any group at any time.
• If you are hurt, call 911 first. Good-faith reporter protections exist.
• Save everything. Do not delete texts, even embarrassing ones. They are evidence.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

1. Deleting Evidence: It looks like a cover-up and destroys your case.
2. Confronting the Fraternity Directly: This triggers their defense lawyers and leads to evidence destruction.
3. Signing University Settlement Papers: Never sign anything from a university or insurer without an attorney’s review.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense teams scour social media for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, memories fade. Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury, but the clock starts ticking the day of the injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can we sue Baylor (or another Texas university) for hazing?”
Yes, under theories of negligent supervision, deliberate indifference, or Title IX violations. Public universities have some immunity hurdles, but exceptions exist. Every case is fact-specific.

“What if it happened at an off-campus house or Airbnb?”
Location does not absolve liability. If the organization sponsored, knew about, or should have foreseen the event, they can still be held responsible.

“How long will this take?”
A serious injury case can take 1-3 years to resolve, either through settlement or trial. We move quickly to preserve evidence and begin the investigation.

“Can we afford a lawyer?”
We work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront fees or costs. We only get paid if we successfully recover money for you. This makes justice accessible to every family.

Why Choose The Manginello Law Firm (Attorney911) for Your Hazing Case

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need more than a generic personal injury firm. You need advocates who understand the complex interplay of university politics, national fraternity insurance schemes, and the profound emotional toll on your child. Here is why we are uniquely qualified to help families in McLennan County and across Texas.

1. We Are Currently Fighting a Major Texas Hazing Case.
We are not theorizing about hazing law; we are actively litigating it. Our representation of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters is a current, high-stakes battle. We know the strategies these institutions use because we are facing them right now in court.

2. Insider Insurance Knowledge.
Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), is a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He spent years on the other side, learning exactly how insurance companies value claims, deny coverage, and drag out cases. We use this insider knowledge to anticipate and counter the tactics fraternity and university insurers will use against your family.

3. Experience Against Billion-Dollar Institutions.
Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced corporations with unlimited legal budgets and deep-pocketed insurers. We are not intimidated by national fraternities or major universities. We know how to conduct the deep discovery necessary to win.

4. A Data-Driven investigative Approach.
We don’t start from scratch. We utilize our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database of Greek organizations, their legal entities, and their histories—to map liability from day one. For a family in Waco, this means we already understand the network behind the fraternity name on your child’s campus.

5. Comprehensive Damage Recovery Focus.
We have secured multi-million dollar settlements in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. We work with economists, life-care planners, and medical experts to ensure every future need—from medical care to therapy to lost earning potential—is fully accounted for in our settlement demands or trial presentations.

6. Compassionate, Client-Centered Advocacy.
We know this is about more than money. It’s about your child’s recovery and preventing this from happening to another family. We listen, we explain every step, and we fight with the empathy and determination your family deserves.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you are a parent in McLennan County reading this because you fear for your child’s safety, please, do not wait. Trust your instincts. The secrecy and shame surrounding hazing are tools used to protect the powerful, not your child.

We invite you to contact us for a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation. In this meeting, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your family’s legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Outline the potential paths forward, including the pros and cons of each.
• Answer all your questions about the process, timelines, and what to expect.
• There is absolutely no pressure to hire us. Our goal is to provide you with the information and clarity you need to make the best decision for your family.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) Today:

• Call our 24/7 line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Office: (713) 528-9070
• Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Website: https://attorney911.com

Se habla Español. Mr. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

We serve families throughout Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Whether your child was hazed at Baylor University here in Waco, at Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any campus across the state, we have the expertise, resources, and determination to help you seek justice and accountability.

Legal Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC. Hazing laws and university policies can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts, evidence, and applicable law. If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney for advice on your specific situation.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Website: https://attorney911.com