The East Texas Guide to Stopping Hazing: Legal Help for Shelby County Families

A Message to Shelby County Parents About the Unthinkable

Imagine moving your child into a dorm at Lamar University, Stephen F. Austin State University, or sending them hours away to the University of Houston or Texas A&M. They’re excited about finding their place, making lifelong friends, and maybe joining a fraternity, sorority, or campus organization. Now imagine a late-night phone call weeks later. Your child’s voice is shaky. They’re whispering, “Mom, Dad, something happened… I don’t feel right.” Or worse—the call comes from a hospital in College Station, Austin, or Houston. Your child is in the ER with brown urine, unable to stand, diagnosed with a life-threatening condition called rhabdomyolysis. The doctor says it’s from extreme physical overexertion. You learn your child was forced through hundreds of squats and push-ups, sprayed in the face with a hose like waterboarding, made to eat until vomiting, all while older fraternity members watched and laughed.

This is not a hypothetical nightmare. This is exactly what happened to Leonel Bermudez, a student at the University of Houston, during his fall 2025 pledge period with the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. His story, detailed in a $10 million lawsuit our firm filed on his behalf, represents a disturbing reality for Texas families: hazing that causes permanent physical and psychological harm is happening right now on our state’s campuses. For parents in Shelby County—in communities like Center, Timpson, and Tenaha—this threat isn’t abstract. Your children attend or may attend universities where these patterns exist. They may join organizations connected to the same national fraternities that have been involved in fatal hazing incidents across the country.

This comprehensive guide exists for you. We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, operating as Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™. We represent hazing victims and their families in Texas and nationwide. Right now, we are leading the litigation in the Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi case. This guide will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, break down Texas and federal law, connect national tragedies to local risks at Texas campuses like Lamar University and Stephen F. Austin, and outline the legal pathways to accountability. Our goal is to empower Shelby County families with knowledge and to offer our firm’s proven, data-driven approach to holding powerful institutions responsible.

Immediate Help for a Hazing Emergency

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide urgent legal guidance 24/7.

In the First 48 Hours – Critical Steps:

1. Medical Care: Get immediate medical attention, even if your child insists they are “fine.” Symptoms of conditions like rhabdomyolysis or alcohol poisoning can be delayed.
2. Evidence Preservation: This is the single most important non-medical step.
   • Screenshot EVERYTHING: Group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text messages, DMs, social media posts, and emails. Capture full conversations with timestamps and sender names visible.
   • Photograph Injuries: Take clear, dated photos of any bruises, burns, or other injuries from multiple angles.
   • Save Physical Items: Do not wash clothing with stains; preserve any objects used (if safe to do so).
3. Document: Write down everything your child tells you—dates, times, locations, names of involved individuals—while their memory is fresh.
4. Consult an Attorney: Contact a hazing litigation specialist before engaging with the university or fraternity. Evidence disappears quickly.
   • Call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential case evaluation.

What NOT to Do:

• Do NOT confront the fraternity, sorority, or its members directly.
• Do NOT allow your child to delete any digital messages or “clean up” their phone.
• Do NOT sign any documents from the university or any insurance company without legal counsel.
• Do NOT discuss the incident on public social media.

Hazing in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is not just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” It is a calculated pattern of coercion, humiliation, and abuse designed to create power imbalances. Modern hazing has evolved with technology and become more sophisticated in evading detection, but its core remains the endangerment of young people.

The Legal Definition in Texas

Under Texas Education Code Chapter 37, hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in an organization that:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of the student.

Crucially, the law states that the victim’s “consent” is not a defense. This recognizes the powerful peer pressure and fear of exclusion that define these situations.

The Modern Taxonomy of Abuse

Hazing today falls into three escalating tiers:

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing (Often Dismissed as “Tradition”)

• Mandatory, all-hours chauffeur duties for older members.
• “Pledge fanny packs” containing humiliating items (as in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case).
• Enforced dress codes, required calling hours, social isolation from non-members.
• Digital Control: 24/7 monitoring via group chats, required instant responses, location-sharing demands.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing (Causing Clear Discomfort & Harm)

• Sleep deprivation through late-night “meetings” or early-morning wake-ups.
• Verbal abuse, screaming, and degradation.
• Forced consumption of unpleasant foods or substances (milk, hot sauce, excessive water).
• “Smokings” or extreme calisthenics framed as “conditioning.”
• Digital Humiliation: Being forced to post embarrassing content on social media.

Tier 3: Violent Hazing (High Risk of Severe Injury or Death)

• Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: The leading cause of hazing deaths. This includes “Big/Little” nights, “family tree” drinking games, lineups, and forced chugging.
• Physical Beatings: Paddling, punching, kicking.
• Dangerous Physical Tests: “Glass ceiling” blindfolded tackles, extreme workouts leading to rhabdomyolysis (as Leonel Bermudez suffered), exposure to extreme elements.
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexual assault.
• Kidnapping & Restraint: Being taken to remote locations, tied up, or confined.

The Leonel Bermudez case at UH involved all three tiers: the humiliating “pledge fanny pack” (Tier 1), sleep deprivation and verbal threats (Tier 2), and the violent, forced workouts that caused kidney failure (Tier 3).

The Texas Legal Framework: Criminal Penalties & Civil Liability

For Shelby County families, understanding the legal landscape is the first step toward accountability. Hazing triggers both criminal prosecution by the state and civil lawsuits for damages brought by victims.

Texas Criminal Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37)

• Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing offense (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
• Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes bodily injury.
• State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Individual Liability: Members or officers who knowingly fail to report hazing can also be charged.
• Good-Faith Immunity: Those who report hazing or seek medical help in an emergency are generally protected from prosecution related to that reporting.

Civil Liability: The Path to Compensation & Accountability

A civil lawsuit is separate from any criminal case. Its purpose is to make the victim whole and hold all responsible parties accountable. Potential defendants in a hazing lawsuit include:

1. The Individuals Who Participated: The members who planned, executed, or facilitated the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As an organized entity, it can be sued for creating a dangerous environment and failing to control its members.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: They can be liable for negligent supervision, failure to enforce their own policies, and having prior knowledge of dangerous patterns within their organization. In the Bermudez case, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters is a named defendant.
4. The University: Public universities like UH, Texas A&M, and UT have a duty to protect students. They can be sued for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, and Title IX violations if the hazing is sex-based. The University of Houston and its Board of Regents are defendants in our ongoing lawsuit.
5. Housing Corporations & Property Owners: Entities that own or control the houses where hazing occurs.
6. Third Parties: Bars that overserve minors, security companies that fail to act.

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

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based discrimination, universities have a legal obligation to investigate and address it.
• The Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults.
• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to publish more transparent hazing data and strengthen prevention programs, with full implementation by 2026.

National Patterns: The Tragic Proof That History Repeats

The hazing incident your family may be facing is likely not an anomaly. It is part of a documented, deadly national pattern. Understanding these cases shows the foreseeability of harm that forms the basis for holding national organizations accountable.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a forced drinking “bid acceptance” night. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. Resulted in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania and numerous criminal convictions.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died from alcohol toxicity after a “Bible study” drinking game. Led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, creating felony hazing penalties.
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died from alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother” night. Pi Kappa Phi was the same national fraternity involved in the recent UH case.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. His family reached a $10 million settlement with the national fraternity and university.

The Physical & Ritualized Abuse Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter.
• Danny Santulli (University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. His family settled with 22 defendants, highlighting the web of liability.

What This Means for Shelby County Families

These national cases establish critical legal principles: national fraternities have prior knowledge of these dangerous rituals, universities have been put on notice, and juries will hold them accountable with multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. When we investigate a case at a Texas school, we can use these national patterns to prove that the harm was foreseeable and preventable.

The Texas Campus Landscape: Risks at Universities Serving Shelby County Families

Shelby County students pursue higher education at a variety of institutions, from nearby state schools to major flagship universities across Texas. Each campus has its own Greek ecosystem and documented hazing history.

For East Texas Families: Lamar University & Stephen F. Austin State University

Many Shelby County students choose universities closer to home. These campuses have active Greek communities subject to the same risks and laws.

Lamar University (Beaumont) – A Hub for East Texas Students

• Campus Snapshot: A public university in the heart of the Beaumont-Port Arthur metro, drawing significantly from surrounding East Texas counties like Shelby.
• Greek Life & Documented Entities: The Beaumont-Port Arthur metro data shows a active Greek presence, including organizations like:
  • Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Mu Epsilon Chapter (Undergrad chapter, Lamar Univ.)
  • Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Lambda Lambda Chapter (Undergrad chapter at Lamar Univ., founded 2018)
  • Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Alumni (Alumni association, Lamar Univ.)
  • Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Beaumont Alumni (Graduate chapter)
• Hazing Context: As a public Texas university, Lamar is governed by Texas Education Code Chapter 37. Any hazing incident would involve Lamar University Police Department and potentially Beaumont PD. Civil suits could name the university, the specific chapter, its national headquarters, and involved individuals. The proximity to Shelby County means families are dealing with local legal venues and familiar institutions.

Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches)

• Campus Snapshot: Another major regional university for East Texas, located in Nacogdoches.
• Greek Life: SFASU has a long-established Greek system with Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic chapters.
• Legal Jurisdiction: Hazing incidents would fall under the jurisdiction of Nacogdoches County and the Nacogdoches PD, with potential civil filings in East Texas district courts.

Major Statewide Universities: Where Many Shelby County Students Excel

It is common for Shelby County’s top students to attend Texas’s flagship institutions, carrying these hazing risks with them.

University of Houston – The Active Litigation Frontline

• Shelby County Connection: Many East Texas students attend UH for its strong programs and urban opportunities.
• The Flagship Case – Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi: This is not a historical reference; this is our firm’s active, ongoing litigation. We represent Leonel Bermudez. The lawsuit alleges a campaign of abuse throughout Fall 2025 at the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park. Hazing included the degrading “pledge fanny pack,” forced overnight driving duties, being sprayed with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and the November 3rd workout that caused rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, leading to a four-day hospitalization. The chapter was suspended by nationals on November 6 and voted to surrender its charter on November 14, 2025. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”
• Public Records Context: The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro contains 188 Greek-related organizations according to our data engine. This dense ecosystem is why our investigation must be thorough.

Texas A&M University – Corps Culture and Greek Life

• Campus Culture: Home to a large Corps of Cadets and a massive Greek system.
• Documented Incidents: Has faced serious hazing allegations, including a Sigma Alpha Epsilon lawsuit where pledges alleged being doused with industrial-strength cleaner causing chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The Corps has also faced lawsuits over degrading hazing rituals.
• Legal Relevance: Demonstrates hazing spans both Greek and military-style traditions, and that universities can be liable for abuses in both spheres.

University of Texas at Austin – Transparency and Pattern

• Public Accountability: UT Austin maintains a public “Hazing Violations” log, a resource we use to establish patterns.
• Example: Pi Kappa Alpha was sanctioned in 2023 for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Significance: This public record helps prove a national organization’s local chapter was on notice, strengthening negligence claims against the national headquarters.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories, Local Chapters

Fraternities and sororities are not isolated campus clubs. They are local chapters of multi-million dollar national organizations with documented, repeated histories of hazing tragedies. This “pattern and practice” is central to building a strong civil case.

Why the National Organization Matters

When we sue a fraternity like Pi Kappa Phi, we are not just suing the college students in the chapter house. We are suing the national headquarters that:

• Collects dues from the chapter.
• Provides (or fails to provide) risk management training.
• Maintains records of prior violations at this and other chapters.
• Has the ultimate authority to suspend or revoke a chapter’s charter—often only after tragedy strikes, as seen in the UH case.

Their prior knowledge is key. For example, Pi Kappa Phi national knew about the fatal hazing of Andrew Coffey at Florida State in 2017. When similar forced consumption and physical abuse patterns allegedly emerged at UH in 2025, it demonstrates a failure to effectively reform and supervise.

Mapping the Data: The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine

Our firm doesn’t rely on guesswork. We maintain a data-driven directory built from public records to trace liability. For Shelby County families, this means we can identify the entities behind the Greek organizations at local and statewide schools.

A Snapshot of Greek Organizations in the Beaumont-Port Arthur Metro & Beyond:
The following are examples of Greek-related entities drawn from public IRS (B83) and metro organizational data relevant to the region serving East Texas students.

• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Mu Epsilon Chapter – Beaumont, TX (Undergrad chapter, Lamar Univ.)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Lamar Univ. – Beaumont, TX (Academic honor society chapter)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Alumni – Beaumont, TX (Alumni association, Lamar Univ.)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Lambda Lambda Chapter – Beaumont, TX (Undergrad chapter at Lamar Univ.)
• Alpha Delta Kappa – Texas Gamma Upsilon – Vidor, TX (Teachers’ sorority chapter)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN 746064445 – Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 filing)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – EIN 237279532 – Prairie View, TX 77446 (IRS B83 filing)
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc – EIN 273662583 – Lufkin, TX 75904 (IRS B83 filing)

Statewide Hubs Relevant to Shelby County Students:

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 462267515 – Frisco, TX 75035 (The housing corp for the UH chapter involved in our lawsuit)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN 741380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN 364091267 – Waco, TX 76710
• Phi Delta Theta Fraternity – EIN 900927378 – San Antonio, TX 78249

This data illustrates the interconnected web of house corporations, alumni associations, and national brands that operate across Texas. When hazing occurs, our investigative strategy involves identifying every entity in this chain that may share liability or provide insurance coverage.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Pursuing a hazing case requires a meticulous, strategic approach from the very first day. The goal is to secure justice for the victim and create institutional change that protects others.

The Evidence Pyramid: What Wins Cases in 2025

1. Digital Communications (The Gold Standard): Archived GroupMe chats, WhatsApp messages, iMessage threads, Discord logs, and emails that show planning, boasting, threats, and coordination among members. Deleted messages can often be recovered through digital forensics.
2. Photos & Videos: Smartphone footage of the hazing itself, social media posts (Instagram stories, Snapchats, TikTok), and security camera footage from houses or surrounding areas.
3. Medical Documentation: ER records, hospitalization reports, lab tests (like the critically high creatine kinase levels in Bermudez’s case), psychological evaluations for PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
4. Internal Organization Records: Obtained through subpoena, these can include “pledge manuals,” minutes from chapter meetings, risk management reports sent to nationals, and correspondence about prior incidents.
5. University Records: Prior disciplinary files on the same chapter, Clery Act reports, emails between administrators discussing concerns, and internal investigation findings.
6. Witness Testimony: Statements from other pledges, former members, roommates, resident advisors, and bystanders.

The Damages Families Can Recover

Civil lawsuits seek to make the victim whole. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses, lost wages, costs of psychological counseling, and diminished future earning capacity if disabilities are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, mental anguish, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship, love, and guidance for surviving family members.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of particularly egregious or reckless conduct, courts may award these to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

Overcoming Institutional Defenses

We anticipate and counter common defenses:

• “The Victim Consented”: Texas law explicitly states consent is not a defense to hazing. We demonstrate the coercive power dynamics at play.
• “It Was Rogue Individuals”: We use pattern evidence from the national organization’s history and the university’s prior knowledge to prove systemic failure.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: Universities and nationals still have a duty of care. Landmark cases have upheld liability for off-campus and retreat hazing.
• “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”: We show the gap between paper policies and actual enforcement, or how policies were ignored.

Practical Guides for Parents, Students, and Witnesses

For Shelby County Parents: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

1. Listen Without Judgment: Create a safe space for your child to talk. Their fear of retaliation or shame is powerful.
2. Prioritize Health: Seek medical and psychological care immediately. Document everything from doctors.
3. Preserve Evidence: Follow the 48-hour checklist at the beginning of this guide. This step cannot be overstated.
4. Report Strategically: You can report to campus police, the Dean of Students, and local law enforcement. Consult with an attorney first to understand the implications of each.
5. Engage Legal Counsel Early: Before meetings with the university or insurance adjusters, have a lawyer. We can attend with you, protect your rights, and ensure nothing is said to jeopardize the case.

For Students: Is This Hazing? What Are My Rights?

• The Gut Test: If an activity is secret, humiliating, dangerous, or feels forced, it is hazing.
• You Have the Right to: Be safe, say no, leave, and report what happened without fear of formal retaliation from the university (thanks to good-faith reporting protections).
• Exiting Safely: You can resign your pledge or membership at any time via email. You do not owe anyone an in-person explanation.

For Witnesses or Former Members: Navigating Guilt and Responsibility

If you participated and now regret it, or if you saw something and said nothing, you can choose a different path now. Providing truthful information can be crucial to achieving justice and preventing future harm. We can help you understand your legal position and how to cooperate in a way that protects you.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage a Hazing Case

• Deleting Digital Evidence: This can be seen as destruction of evidence and cripple the investigation.
• Confronting the Chapter Directly: This prompts them to lawyer up, destroy evidence, and coordinate stories.
• Signing University Settlement Offers Prematurely: Universities may offer quick, low-value resolutions that require waiving your right to sue.
• Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys scour social media for inconsistencies or statements they can use against you.
• Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses scatter, and the statute of limitations (generally 2 years in Texas for personal injury) continues to tick.

Why Attorney911 is the Right Firm for Texas Hazing Cases

When your family is facing the trauma of hazing, you need more than a general personal injury attorney. You need a firm with specific experience taking on powerful institutions, insider knowledge of how they defend themselves, and a commitment to thorough, victim-centered investigation.

Our Proven Advantage in Hazing Litigation

1. Active, High-Stakes Litigation Experience: We are not theorizing about hazing law; we are practicing it at the highest level. Right now, we are lead counsel for Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi national, and 13 individual members. This case is our laboratory and our proof of capability.

2. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We invest in data. Our proprietary directory, built from the public records cited in this guide, tracks over 1,400 Greek organizations across Texas. When we take your case, we don’t start from zero. We already understand the organizational landscape, the house corporations, the alumni networks, and the insurance entities behind the fraternity letters. This allows us to identify every potentially liable party from day one.

3. Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance defense firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to help write it. This insider perspective is invaluable in negotiating fair settlements and preparing for trial.

4. Complex Institutional Litigation Pedigree: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on one of the world’s largest corporations. We are not intimidated by the deep pockets of national fraternities or major universities. We have federal court experience, understand multi-defendant cases, and know how to manage the extensive discovery that these cases require.

5. A Full-Service, Investigative Approach: We have a network of experts we deploy: digital forensics specialists to recover deleted messages, medical experts to explain lifelong injuries, economists to calculate damages, and psychologists to document trauma. We treat every case as a puzzle requiring all pieces to be found.

6. Serving Shelby County and All of Texas: While our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas. We understand the unique dynamics of East Texas communities and the pathways students take from counties like Shelby to universities across the state. Whether your child was hazed at Lamar University, Stephen F. Austin, University of Houston, or any Texas campus, we have the knowledge and resources to help.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If you are a parent in Shelby County—from Center to Joaquin, from Tenaha to Huxley—and you believe your child has been victimized by hazing, we urge you to reach out. The journey to accountability begins with a conversation.

During your free consultation with Attorney911, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain the legal landscape and your family’s specific rights and options.
• Outline our investigative process and how we build a case.
• Discuss our contingency fee structure—you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.
• Answer every question you have, with honesty and clarity.

You do not have to navigate this nightmare alone. The institutions involved have teams of lawyers. You deserve a team that fights exclusively for you.

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

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

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

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, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.

If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.

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