A Rockwall County, Texas Parent’s Guide to Hazing Litigation & Accountability at Texas Universities

If you are a parent living in Rockwall County, the quiet suburban communities of Rockwall, Fate, Royse City, and McLendon-Chisholm may feel far removed from the dangers of campus Greek life. Yet the unthinkable can follow your child from your home here at Lake Ray Hubbard to any Texas university campus. Right now, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country on behalf of a Texas family whose life was shattered by a fraternity’s brutal rituals.

This comprehensive guide is written for the parents, families, and students of Rockwall County who need to understand the harsh reality of modern hazing, the specific legal landscape in Texas, and what true accountability looks like when powerful institutions fail to protect our children. We will walk you through exactly what hazing entails today, the laws designed to stop it, the haunting national cases that shape our legal system, and a detailed examination of the universities where Rockwall County families most often send their students—including the University of Houston, where we are currently leading a critical $10 million hazing lawsuit.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES:

• If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:
  • Call 911 for medical emergencies.
  • Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911).
  • We provide immediate legal guidance—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.
• In the first 48 hours:
  • Get medical attention immediately, even if your child insists they are “fine.”
  • Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
    • Screenshot group chats, texts, and DMs immediately.
    • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
    • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects).
  • Write down everything while the memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
  • Do NOT:
    • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or university directly.
    • Sign anything from the school or an insurance company.
    • Post details on public social media.
    • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” evidence.
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears fast. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

Hazing is no longer the caricature of simple pranks or roughhousing. It is a calculated pattern of coercion, humiliation, and abuse designed to assert power and demand loyalty through fear and trauma. For families in Rockwall County, understanding these modern tactics is the first step in recognizing the danger.

A Modern Definition of Coercion and Harm

Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of joining, maintaining membership in, or affiliating with any organization. The act must endanger the mental or physical health or safety of the student. Critically, under Texas law, a victim’s so-called “consent” is not a defense. The power imbalance, fear of social exclusion, and intense pressure inherent in these situations mean true, voluntary consent is impossible.

The Evolving Arsenal of Abuse

Hazing has adapted to the digital age and become more sophisticated in its cruelty. We categorize it into three escalating tiers:

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing (The Foundation of Control)
This establishes the power dynamic and is often dismissed as “tradition.” It includes servitude like acting as a 24/7 on-call driver, cleaning members’ rooms, running humiliating errands, mandatory “study blocks” that interfere with academics, social isolation from non-members, and being assigned derogatory nicknames. Digitally, it manifests as mandatory, instant responses in monitored group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), enforced location-sharing, and control over social media activity.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing (Psychological and Physical Torment)
This causes measurable distress and discomfort. It includes sleep deprivation through late-night or 3 AM “meetings,” verbal abuse and “grilling” sessions, food/water restriction or forced consumption of disgusting substances (spoiled food, excessive milk, hot sauce), and extreme, punitive physical exercise—”smokings” involving hundreds of push-ups or wall-sits until collapse. Public humiliation, like forced embarrassing performances or being covered in non-harmful but degrading substances, is common.

Tier 3: Violent Hazing (Life-Threatening Acts)
This carries the highest risk of catastrophic injury or death.

• Alcohol Hazing: Forced consumption is the leading cause of hazing deaths. This includes “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, “Bible study” or trivia drinking games, lineups, keg stands, and funneling.
• Physical Assault: Beatings, paddling, branding, burning, “glass ceiling” or blindfolded tackle rituals, and forced fights.
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk”), sexual assault, and coercion.
• Environmental/Dangerous “Tests”: Exposure to extreme cold/heat, kidnapping/restraint, being locked in confined spaces, and dangerous driving.

Where Hazing Happens: While fraternities and sororities are most associated with hazing, it permeates Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams, spirit groups (like cheer and dance), marching bands, ROTC, and even some academic or service clubs. The common threads are hierarchy, tradition, and secrecy.

The Texas & Federal Legal Framework for Hazing Accountability

For Rockwall County families, understanding the legal tools available is crucial. Texas has specific statutes, but federal law also provides important avenues for accountability.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Texas Hazing Law

The Texas hazing statute is found in the Education Code, underscoring its focus on protecting students. Key provisions every Rockwall County parent should know:

• § 37.151 – Broad Definition: Hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers mental or physical health for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership. This applies on or off campus.
• § 37.152 – Criminal Penalties:
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause serious injury.
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
• § 37.155 – Consent is NOT a Defense: This statutory provision directly destroys the most common excuse. It does not matter if the victim “went along with it.”
• § 37.153 – Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 if it authorized or encouraged the hazing, or if an officer with knowledge failed to report it.
• § 37.154 – Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: A person who reports hazing in good faith is immune from civil or criminal liability for the report itself. This is meant to encourage bystanders and victims to call for help.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Justice

It is vital to understand the distinct purposes of these legal paths.

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the State of Texas (via a county District Attorney). The goal is punishment—fines, probation, or jail time for individuals. Charges can range from hazing and furnishing alcohol to minors, up to assault, manslaughter, or negligent homicide in fatal cases.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by the victim and their family. The goal is compensation and accountability. We seek monetary damages to cover medical bills, future care, lost potential, and the profound pain and suffering inflicted. A civil case can proceed even if no criminal charges are ever filed. We hold every responsible party accountable, from the individual members who carried out the acts to the national headquarters and universities that enabled the culture.

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

• Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based hostility, a university’s federal Title IX obligations are triggered. Schools must promptly investigate and take steps to eliminate the harassment.
• The Clery Act: Requires colleges to report certain crimes, including assaults and alcohol/drug violations, which often accompany hazing incidents.
• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs, with full implementation by 2026. It aims to bring dark traditions into the light.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

A thorough investigation aims to identify every entity that shares responsibility:

1. Individual Students: The members who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As an organized entity that permitted the conduct.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to supervise, enforce policies, or act on known patterns of abuse across its chapters.
4. The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or failing to provide a safe environment.
5. Alumni Boards & Housing Corporations: The legal entities that own properties and often provide oversight.
6. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol (under Texas dram shop law), or security companies.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts of Tragedy

Major hazing deaths are not random, unforeseeable accidents. They follow repeated, predictable scripts. These national cases provide the precedent and the painful proof that universities and national fraternities are on notice. Their patterns are directly relevant to cases involving Texas students.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script: “Big/Little” Nights and Drinking Games

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A bid-acceptance night of extreme drinking led to fatal falls captured on the chapter’s own security cameras. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case resulted in dozens of criminal charges and spurred Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant forced drinking. Max died with a BAC of 0.495%. His death led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, a felony hazing statute.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): A “Big Brother” night where pledges were given handles of liquor. Andrew died of alcohol poisoning, leading to a temporary suspension of all Greek life at FSU.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Forced to drink a bottle of whiskey during a pledge event, Stone died from alcohol poisoning. His family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU).

The Physical Assault Script: Ritualized Violence

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): At a retreat, Michael was blindfolded, weighted with a backpack, and repeatedly tackled in a “glass ceiling” ritual. He died of traumatic brain injury while brothers delayed calling for help. The national fraternity was convicted of felony charges and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

The Catastrophic Injury Script: Permanent, Life-Altering Harm

• Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): During a “pledge dad reveal,” Danny was forced to drink until he suffered catastrophic, permanent brain damage. He cannot walk, talk, or see and requires 24/7 care. His family settled with 22 defendants.
• Texas A&M Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2021): Pledges were allegedly covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns that required skin graft surgeries. The pledges sued for $1 million.

What This Means for Rockwall County Families: These are not isolated events in faraway states. They are a playbook. The same national organizations—Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi—have active chapters at Texas universities. When a Texas chapter follows the same deadly script, it proves the national organization and the university were on clear notice of the foreseeable risk. This “pattern and practice” evidence is powerful in court.

The Texas University Landscape: A Guide for Rockwall County Families

Rockwall County students attend universities across Texas. Whether your child is at a massive state school or a prestigious private campus, understanding the specific environment and history of hazing at that institution is critical. We focus here on the five universities with the most significant Greek life ecosystems and those commonly attended by students from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which includes Rockwall County.

Southern Methodist University (SMU)

For Rockwall County Families: Located just 45 minutes west in University Park, SMU is a common destination for local students. Its reputation as a prestigious, private university with a strong Greek life presence means Rockwall County parents must be particularly vigilant.

• Campus Culture: SMU has a historically prominent Greek system, with a significant portion of the undergraduate student body participating. The culture is often associated with social prestige and networking.
• Documented Incidents & Response: SMU has faced serious hazing allegations. In 2017, the Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended after reports of new members being paddled, forced to drink alcohol, and deprived of sleep. The university’s private status can sometimes obscure the full scope of incidents, as internal discipline may not be as publicly visible as at state schools.
• How a Case Might Proceed: Civil actions may be filed in Dallas County courts. Key defendants would include the local chapter, the national fraternity/sorority, and potentially SMU itself. Discovery would focus on obtaining internal university conduct records and national fraternity files that show prior knowledge of risky traditions.
• What SMU Students & Rockwall County Parents Should Do:
  • Report immediately to SMU’s Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards.
  • Utilize SMU’s anonymous reporting tool, “Real Response,” if safety is a concern.
  • Document all interactions with university administrators.
  • Understand that as a private institution, SMY may use confidentiality to protect its reputation; an attorney can use legal discovery to obtain crucial hidden records.

University of Texas at Austin (UT)

For Rockwall County Families: As Texas’s flagship university, UT Austin attracts many high-achieving students from our county. Its size and the sheer number of Greek organizations mean the statistical risk is significant.

• Campus Culture: UT hosts one of the largest and most diverse Greek communities in the nation, with over 60 chapters. The university has made efforts toward transparency.
• Public Transparency & Documented Incidents: UT maintains a publicly accessible Hazing Violations page. This log is a critical resource. For example, it shows:
  • Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for hazing after new members were directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
  • Various spirit groups and other fraternities have been placed on probation for forced workouts, alcohol hazing, and punishment-based activities.
• How a Case Might Proceed: These public violation logs are devastating evidence in a civil lawsuit. They prove the university had specific, documented knowledge that certain organizations were engaging in hazing. A lawsuit can argue the university was deliberately indifferent by not taking stronger action to prevent recurrence. Cases would be filed in Travis County.
• What UT Students & Rockwall County Parents Should Do:
  • Consult UT’s public hazing violation log to understand an organization’s history.
  • Report to the UT Dean of Students’ Office and UTPD.
  • Preserve evidence aggressively; the large campus can make witnesses harder to track down.
  • Leverage the university’s own public records to strengthen your case.

Texas A&M University

For Rockwall County Families: The culture and tradition of Texas A&M, including its famed Corps of Cadets, create unique hazing risks that parents should understand, even if their student is not in the Corps.

• Dual Risk Environments:
  1. Greek Life: A&M has a large Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic community.
  2. Corps of Cadets: This military-style program has its own, often insular, tradition-heavy culture where hazing can be disguised as “discipline” or “training.”
• Documented Incidents & Response:
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): As mentioned, a lawsuit alleged pledges suffered burns requiring skin grafts after being covered in cleaning substances. The chapter was suspended.
  • Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million.
• How a Case Might Proceed: A&M, as a public university, may raise sovereign immunity defenses. Overcoming this requires proving gross negligence or willful misconduct. Cases against the Corps involve navigating unique military-style chain-of-command issues. Litigation often occurs in Brazos County.
• What Texas A&M Students & Rockwall County Parents Should Do:
  • For Corps issues, reporting must go both up the chain of command and to the university’s Office of Student Conduct.
  • Be aware that the intense culture of loyalty and tradition can create a powerful “code of silence.”
  • Seek an attorney familiar with both standard Greek life hazing and the unique complexities of the Corps of Cadets.

Baylor University

For Rockwall County Families: Baylor’s distinct identity as a prominent Christian university does not inoculate it from hazing problems, as seen in its athletic programs.

• Campus Culture: Baylor promotes a faith-based community, but it has faced national scrutiny over institutional handling of misconduct, notably in its football program. This history can inform how the university responds to hazing crises.
• Documented Incidents & Response: In 2020, 14 Baylor baseball players were suspended following a hazing investigation. The incident highlighted that hazing persists within athletic departments, often under the guise of “team bonding.”
• How a Case Might Proceed: As a private university, Baylor cannot claim state sovereign immunity. Lawsuits would focus on the disconnect between its professed values and its failure to prevent known harms, as well as potential negligent supervision by coaches and staff. Cases are typically filed in McLennan County.
• What Baylor Students & Rockwall County Parents Should Do:
  • Do not assume the university’s religious character guarantees a safer environment.
  • Report hazing to both athletic department leadership (if applicable) and Baylor’s Title IX/Student Conduct office.
  • Be prepared for the university to emphasize its “zero tolerance” policy; an attorney can investigate whether this policy was meaningfully enforced.

University of Houston (UH): A Rockwall County Family’s Case Study in Real-Time

For Rockwall County Families: The University of Houston is a prime example of how quickly a hazing incident can escalate into a life-threatening catastrophe and major litigation. This is not a historical case study—it is an active lawsuit our firm is handling right now.

• The Active Case – Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi: In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a UH student and Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu chapter) pledge who nearly died from hazing.
• What Happened (The Hazing Script):
  1. Humiliation & Control: Pledges were forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, a sex toy, and other degrading items. They faced strict dress codes, overnight driving duties, and weekly interviews.
  2. Physical Torture: Activities included sprints, bear crawls, lying in vomit-soaked grass, and cold-weather exposure in underwear. Bermudez was sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.”
  3. Forced Consumption & Extreme Exercise: He was forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then immediately forced to sprint. On November 3, he was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion.
• The Medical Catastrophe: The extreme exertion caused rhabdomyolysis—severe skeletal muscle breakdown. His muscles released toxins that shut down his kidneys. He passed brown urine, could not stand, and was hospitalized for four days with acute kidney failure, facing a risk of permanent damage.
• The Institutional Response: After media investigation by Click2Houston and ABC13, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters suspended the chapter on November 6. Members voted to surrender their charter on November 14, shutting down the chapter. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised cooperation with law enforcement.
• The Defendants: Our lawsuit targets the full universe of responsibility: 13 individual fraternity leaders, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu local housing corporation, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents.
• What This Means for You: This case is the embodiment of everything we discuss. It shows the brutal reality of modern hazing, the specific medical dangers like rhabdomyolysis, the rapid cover-up attempts, and our firm’s commitment to taking on every liable entity, from the individuals to the national organization and the university itself. Click2Houston’s report on this case and ABC13’s coverage provide full details.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: Public Records & Organizational Networks

When hazing occurs, it is not the act of a few “bad apples.” It happens within a vast, well-funded, and legally structured network of organizations. Our firm maintains a proprietary Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine built from public records to map this network. This investigative depth is what allows us to identify every entity that shares liability.

Public Records Directory: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro and Statewide

For parents in Rockwall County, you deserve to know who really stands behind the Greek organizations connected to your child. Below is a sample from our directory of Texas-registered Greek organizations, compiled from IRS public filings (B83 classifications) and commercial databases. This is the kind of data we use to trace liability to housing corporations, alumni chapters, and national affiliates.

Sample from the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro Area (510+ Greek entities tracked):

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity – 12650 N Beach St #30, Suite 114, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN 74-1380362, PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147-0061 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity – Gamma Psi Chapter – Fort Worth, TX (Chapter at TCU) (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Delta Delta Delta – Arlington Alumnae Chapter – Dallas, TX (Cause IQ Metro Listing)

Sample of Texas-Wide House Corporations & Alumni Chapters (from IRS B83 Filings):

• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN 74-6064445, 1855 Highway 69 N, Nederland, TX 77627-8843 (Epsilon Kappa Chapter housing/alumni entity)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 46-2267515, 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035-6629
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter – EIN 74-6084905, 4300 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX 77204-3067
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – EIN 47-5381060, 1936 N St SFA Station Box 6159, Nacogdoches, TX 75965 (Theta Iota Chapter)

Why This Directory Matters: These are not just social clubs. They are legal entities with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), mailing addresses, and often, insurance policies. When hazing occurs, we use this data to immediately identify the correct legal targets for a lawsuit, ensuring no responsible organization can hide behind a generic chapter name.

Building a Powerful Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Winning a hazing case requires a military-level evidence collection strategy and a deep understanding of how to dismantle institutional defenses. This is where our experience as trial lawyers and former insurance defense attorneys gives Rockwall County families a decisive advantage.

The Evidence Battlefield: Preserving the Digital Crime Scene

The first 72 hours are critical. Hazing is planned and documented digitally, and the cover-up begins the moment something goes wrong.

• Group Chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage): These are the #1 source of evidence, showing planning, boasting, and coordination. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages.
• Social Media (Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok): Videos and photos of the hazing, often posted as “jokes,” are irreplaceable evidence. Stories disappear; screenshots must happen immediately.
• Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, emails from national headquarters, and chapter meeting notes.
• University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same chapter, obtained through discovery or public records requests. UT’s public log is a prime example.
• Medical Records: Documentation linking injuries directly to the hazing event. For rhabdomyolysis (like in the UH case), lab reports showing critically elevated creatine kinase (CK) levels are essential.

We have a dedicated video, Using Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case, that guides families on immediate evidence preservation.

Overcoming Institutional Defense Tactics

We know the playbook because Mr. Lupe Peña used to help write it as an insurance defense attorney. Here’s how we counter their most common strategies:

• Defense: “The Pledge Consented.”
  • Our Counter: Texas law § 37.155 states consent is not a defense. We use psychological experts to testify about coercion and group dynamics.
• Defense: “This Was a Rogue Chapter; National Didn’t Know.”
  • Our Counter: We subpoena the national’s records to show prior incidents at other chapters involving the same rituals (e.g., Big/Little drinking). This proves “foreseeability.”
• Defense: “We Have Strict Anti-Hazing Policies.”
  • Our Counter: We prove the policies were window dressing. We show prior violations resulted in meaningless “probation,” not genuine enforcement.
• Defense (from Public Universities): “Sovereign Immunity.”
  • Our Counter: We argue exceptions for gross negligence or Title IX violations. We also sue individual employees in their personal capacity and focus on securing settlements, as Bowling Green State University did in the Stone Foltz case.

Understanding Damages: What Recovery Can Provide

A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim and their family as whole as possible, though no amount of money can undo the trauma. Damages fall into key categories:

1. Economic Damages:
   • Past & Future Medical Bills: Hospitalization, surgeries, therapy, medications, lifelong care for catastrophic injuries.
   • Lost Earnings & Earning Capacity: Missed semesters, delayed career start, reduced lifetime income due to permanent disability.
2. Non-Economic Damages:
   • Physical Pain & Suffering: From injuries and recovery.
   • Emotional Distress & Psychological Harm: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life.
3. Wrongful Death Damages (for families):
   • Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of love, companionship, and guidance.

Our video on How Contingency Fees Work explains our commitment: we invest in your case upfront and only get paid if we win.

Practical Guides & Critical FAQs for Rockwall County Parents and Students

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

1. Recognize the Warning Signs: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, personality changes (anxiety, withdrawal), sudden secrecy about group activities, constant stressful phone use for group chats, dropping grades.
2. Initiate a Caring Conversation: Ask open-ended questions: “How are the dynamics in your [fraternity/sorority/team]? Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable? Do you ever feel pressured to do things that seem unsafe?”
3. In a Crisis – ACT: Get medical care first. Then, help your child preserve evidence (screenshots, photos). Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 before you report to the university. We can guide you on how to report in a way that protects your rights and preserves evidence.
4. Navigate the University: Document all communications. Understand that the school’s primary interest may be limiting its own liability. Do not sign any resolution agreements without an attorney’s review.

For Students: Your Safety and Rights

• Is This Hazing? If you feel coerced, unsafe, humiliated, or are forced to do something you wouldn’t otherwise do to belong, it is hazing.
• How to Exit Safely: Your safety comes first. If you need to leave an event, do so. You can resign your membership via email. If you fear retaliation, document it and report it immediately to campus police and the Dean of Students.
• Good-Faith Reporting Protections: Texas law and most university policies offer immunity for those who call for help in a medical emergency, even if underage drinking was involved.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage a Case

We detail this in our video on Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case. Key missteps include:

• Deleting evidence to “protect” friends or avoid trouble.
• Confronting the organization before consulting a lawyer, tipping them off to destroy evidence.
• Signing university-offered settlement forms that waive your right to sue.
• Posting about the incident on social media, creating inconsistencies for defense lawyers to exploit.
• Waiting too long. The Texas statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years, but evidence vanishes quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can we sue a university in Texas?
  Yes. While public universities have some immunity, we sue under exceptions and often secure significant settlements, as seen nationally. We also sue national fraternities, which typically have deep insurance coverage.
• What if it happened off-campus at a rental house?
  Location does not matter. Liability extends to national organizations that sponsor the chapter and universities that recognize it. The Pi Delta Psi case in the Pocono Mountains proves this.
• Will our name be public?
  Most cases settle confidentially. We aggressively pursue protective orders and sealed settlements to guard our clients’ privacy.
• How long do we have?
  You generally have two years from the date of injury in Texas, but you must act immediately to preserve evidence. Do not wait. Watch our video on the Texas Statute of Limitations for more detail.

Why Attorney911 is the Right Firm for Rockwall County Hazing Cases

When your family is facing the aftermath of hazing, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need a firm with the specific expertise, resources, and tenacity to take on national fraternities and university legal teams. Here is why The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) is uniquely equipped to fight for Rockwall County families.

Our Proven Advantage in Complex Institutional Litigation

• Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation: We are not theorists. We are currently leading the $10 million Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are in the fight right now, uncovering evidence, taking depositions, and holding powerful institutions accountable. Read the Hoodline summary of this active case.
• Insurance Insider Knowledge – Mr. Lupe Peña: Before fighting for victims, Mr. Peña spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, deploy delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants – Ralph Manginello: Our firm was one of the few in Texas involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by the deep pockets and aggressive defense teams of national fraternities or major universities. We have the resources and experience for marathon legal battles.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise clients navigating both systems.
• The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: As demonstrated in our public records section, we don’t start from scratch. We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,400 Greek organizations in Texas. We know the legal entities, the EINs, and the networks before we even take your case.

Our Commitment to Rockwall County Families

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. For Rockwall County residents, we are your dedicated Texas hazing specialists. We understand the communities you come from and the universities your children attend. We are committed to providing the compassionate, relentless representation you need during this crisis.

Your Path Forward: A Confidential Consultation

If you suspect your child has been hazed at SMU, UT Austin, Texas A&M, Baylor, UH, or any other Texas campus, you do not have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved will have lawyers from the moment they are aware. You should too.

We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation to every family. In this meeting, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have preserved.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Outline our investigative strategy.
• Answer your questions about the process, timelines, and costs.

We work on a contingency fee basis for civil cases—you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.

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

• Call us 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (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.

Whether you live in Rockwall, Heath, Rowlett, or anywhere in North Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, call us. Let us help you secure the answers, accountability, and closure you deserve.

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)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com