The Essential Guide to Hazing Litigation for Randall County, Texas Families

If Your Child Was Hazed at West Texas A&M, Texas Tech, or Any Texas Campus, You Are Not Alone

For parents in Canyon, Amarillo, and across Randall County, the college experience you envision for your child rarely includes what we see too often: a frantic call about a “pledge event” gone wrong, an emergency room visit for alcohol poisoning, or the silent suffering of a student too afraid to speak up about what they’re enduring to belong. Hazing is not a relic of the past or a problem confined to distant campuses. It is a present and dangerous reality within Greek life, athletic teams, Corps programs, and other campus organizations across Texas—including at our own West Texas A&M University in Canyon.

Right now, our firm is actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in the country, demonstrating the severe and life-altering consequences of this abuse. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after brutal hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. As detailed in media coverage from Click2Houston and ABC13, his ordeal included forced consumption of food until vomiting, hours of extreme calisthenics, being sprayed with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and carrying a degrading “pledge fanny pack.” The result was brown urine, a four-day hospitalization, and ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage. This $10 million lawsuit against UH, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, and 13 individual members is not an anomaly; it is a stark warning for every Texas family.

This guide is written specifically for parents and families in Randall County. Whether your child attends West Texas A&M here in our community, Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas A&M in College Station, UT in Austin, or any other Texas campus, you deserve to understand the real scope of hazing, the legal landscape, and your family’s path to accountability and recovery.

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 help—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.
• In the first 48 hours:
  • Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine.”
  • Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
    • Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately.
    • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
    • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects).
  • Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
  • Do NOT:
    • Confront the fraternity/sorority or athletic team.
    • Sign anything from the university or insurance company.
    • Post details on public social media.
    • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence.
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours: Evidence disappears fast. We can help preserve it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like on Texas Campuses

Hazing has evolved far beyond the stereotypical “prank.” It is a calculated system of coercion, degradation, and control designed to test loyalty through the infliction of physical and psychological harm. For Randall County families, understanding its modern forms is the first step in recognizing the danger.

A Modern Definition of Coercion and Harm

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, maintaining membership in, or gaining status within a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. Critically, “I agreed to it” is not a defense under Texas law. The power imbalance between new members and established members, coupled with the intense desire to belong, negates the concept of true consent.

The Five Main Categories of Hazing Today

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing: The most common and deadly form. This includes forced or coerced drinking during “lineups,” “Big/Little” nights, or drinking games like “Bible study.” It also involves pressure to consume unknown substances or dangerous amounts of drugs.
2. Physical Hazing: This ranges from paddling and beatings to extreme, punitive “workouts” or “smokings” (hundreds of push-ups, wall-sits to collapse) designed to cause pain, not fitness. It includes sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements.
3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk,” “roasted pig” positions), and degrading costumes or roles. This category also includes acts with racist, sexist, or homophobic overtones.
4. Psychological Hazing: Verbal abuse, threats, isolation from friends and family, forced confessions, and public shaming in meetings or online. This is designed to break down a person’s sense of self-worth.
5. Digital/Online Hazing: The 21st-century evolution. This includes 24/7 monitoring via group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), forced participation in humiliating social media “challenges,” geo-tracking demands, and the creation or sharing of compromising images.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond the Fraternity House

While fraternities and sororities are frequent settings, hazing permeates many campus groups:

• Fraternities and Sororities (Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Multicultural groups).
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / Military-Style Groups (with traditions that can cross into abuse).
• Athletic Teams (from football and basketball to cheerleading and swimming).
• Spirit and Tradition Organizations (like Texas Cowboys at UT).
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups.
• Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Clubs.

At its core, hazing thrives where social status, entrenched tradition, and a code of silence override individual safety and university policy.

The Texas Legal Framework: Criminal Penalties and Civil Liability for Hazing

Texas has specific, robust laws against hazing that apply to every student at every public and private university in the state, including West Texas A&M. Understanding this framework is crucial for Randall County families seeking accountability.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Anti-Hazing Statute

The law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, 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.

Key Provisions for Randall County Families:

• Criminal Penalties (Texas Education Code § 37.152):
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause injury (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.
  • It is also a crime for an officer or member to fail to report hazing they are aware of.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.155): The law explicitly states that the victim’s “consent” to the hazing activity is not a defense to prosecution. This legal principle recognizes the coercive power dynamics at play.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§ 37.154): Individuals who in good faith report hazing to university officials or law enforcement are immune from civil or criminal liability resulting from the report. Many universities, including WTAMU, also have medical amnesty policies to encourage calling 911 in alcohol emergencies.
• Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): The organization itself (fraternity, sorority, team) can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized, encouraged, or knew of the hazing and failed to report it.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (District Attorney). The aim is punishment—fines, probation, or jail time for individuals; fines and loss of recognition for organizations. Common charges include hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, and in tragic cases, manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by the victim or their family. The aim is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. These cases focus on negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, and infliction of emotional distress.

These paths can run simultaneously. A criminal conviction is not required to file a civil lawsuit, and a civil case has a lower burden of proof (“preponderance of the evidence” vs. “beyond a reasonable doubt”).

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

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs. By 2026, this should mean better public data for families.
• Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based hostility, it triggers the university’s Title IX obligations for investigation and response.
• Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults, burglaries, or alcohol incidents.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Liability is often spread across multiple parties, creating a “web of responsibility” that experienced counsel knows how to untangle:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter/Organization: As a legal entity, if it exists.
3. National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For failing to adequately supervise, train, or discipline chapters despite knowing patterns of misconduct (a key argument in the Bermudez case against Pi Kappa Phi national).
4. The University (or its Board of Regents): For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or premises liability. Public universities like WTAMU or Texas Tech have sovereign immunity limitations, but exceptions exist for gross negligence.
5. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol, or security companies.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Tragic Script That Repeats

The horrific case our client Leonel Bermudez endured at UH is not an isolated incident. It follows a decades-old script that has played out on campuses nationwide, resulting in death, life-altering injury, and multi-million dollar verdicts. These national cases set powerful precedents that inform how we build cases for Randall County families.

The Alcohol Poisoning and Death Pattern

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a bid-acceptance night of forced drinking. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case led to 18 members facing over 1,000 criminal counts and Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.”
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Died after being coerced into drinking a bottle of whiskey. His family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pike national, $3M from BGSU). The chapter president was later ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.
• 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. His family secured a $6.1 million verdict.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Died from alcohol poisoning at a “Big Brother” event, leading to a temporary shutdown of all FSU Greek life.

Physical and Ritualized Violence

• 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 criminally convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter, a landmark for organizational liability.

Catastrophic Non-Fatal Injuries

• Danny Santulli – Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): Suffered permanent, severe brain damage after a “pledge dad reveal” drinking event. He requires 24/7 care for life. His family reached multi-million dollar settlements with 22 defendants.
• Texas A&M Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2021): Pledges were covered in industrial-strength cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits were filed.

What These Patterns Mean for Randall County

These cases prove that specific, dangerous traditions (forced drinking games, extreme physical tests, off-campus retreats) are foreseeable risks. When a chapter at WTAMU, Texas Tech, or any Texas school engages in the same conduct, the national organization and university cannot claim ignorance. This “pattern evidence” is the bedrock of strong civil litigation, showing a conscious disregard for safety that can justify substantial damages.

Texas Campus Focus: Where Randall County Students Study

Randall County families invest in higher education across the state. While many students choose our excellent local institution, West Texas A&M University, others attend major hubs like Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin, Southern Methodist University, and Baylor University. Hazing is a risk at all of them.

West Texas A&M University (Canyon, Randall County)

Campus & Culture Snapshot: As the cornerstone of higher education right here in Randall County, WTAMU fosters a close-knit community. It has active Greek life, NCAA Division II athletics, and a variety of student organizations. The proximity to home can sometimes give parents a false sense of security, but hazing does not respect geographic boundaries.

Hazing Policy & Reporting: WTAMU prohibits hazing as defined by Texas law. Reporting channels include the Dean of Students’ Office, Campus Police, and online reporting forms. The university is required to publish annual hazing violations under Texas law.

Selected Documented Issues & History: Greek life and athletic teams at regional universities like WTAMU are not immune to the national patterns. Investigations and disciplinary actions for hazing-related misconduct involving alcohol, coercion, and physical demands have occurred. The presence of national fraternity and sorority chapters means the risk profiles documented elsewhere are present here in our community.

How a WTAMU Hazing Case Might Proceed: Jurisdiction would likely involve Randall County courts and the WTAMU Office of Student Conduct. Potential defendants include individual students, the local chapter, its national headquarters, and potentially the university itself. Evidence collection often starts right here in Canyon.

What WTAMU Students & Parents in Randall County Should Do:

• Document every interaction with university officials.
• Report incidents to both WTAMU Campus Police and the Dean of Students.
• Understand that national fraternity/sorority policies apply to local chapters.
• Contact a lawyer who understands Texas public university liability and how to investigate both local and national organization conduct.

Texas Tech University (Lubbock)

Campus & Culture Snapshot: A major research university with a massive Greek system and spirited athletic culture. Tens of thousands of students, including many from the Panhandle, create an environment where harmful traditions can hide in plain sight.

Hazing Policy & Reporting: Texas Tech has a clear anti-hazing policy and multiple reporting avenues. Like all Texas public universities, it must maintain and publish hazing violation data.

Documented Incidents: Texas Tech has faced hazing allegations within its Greek community. The university’s size and the scale of its Greek system mean patterns seen nationally are consistently reflected here, including allegations of forced drinking and physical endurance hazing.

Legal Jurisdiction: Cases would typically be filed in Lubbock County courts. Texas Tech, as a public institution, has sovereign immunity considerations, but civil claims can proceed under exceptions.

Texas A&M University (College Station)

Campus & Culture Snapshot: Home to a deeply tradition-rich culture, a massive Greek system, and the renowned Corps of Cadets. The intense loyalty to tradition can sometimes be exploited to justify abusive behaviors.

Documented Incidents – A High-Risk Environment:

• 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.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): As noted above, a shocking case of physical abuse leading to severe injuries.
• These cases illustrate that hazing risk at A&M exists in both Greek life and the Corps.

What A&M Families Should Know: The university’s internal conduct processes for the Corps and Greek life are complex. Early legal intervention is critical to navigate these parallel systems and ensure evidence from all responsible entities is preserved.

University of Texas at Austin

Campus & Culture Snapshot: A flagship institution with a highly transparent approach to hacing reporting. Its public “Hazing Violations” website lists sanctioned organizations.

Documented Incidents (From UT’s Public Log):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for directing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): Faced a lawsuit from an exchange student alleging a violent assault at a chapter event.
• Various spirit groups and fraternities have been placed on probation for alcohol-related hazing, forced workouts, and humiliation.

Why UT’s Transparency Matters: This public record is a powerful tool for families. It establishes pattern and notice. If an organization has a prior violation for alcohol hazing and then engages in similar conduct that injures your child, that history significantly strengthens a civil case.

Southern Methodist University (Dallas) & Baylor University (Waco)

Both are private universities with significant Greek life and athletic presences.

• SMU: Has faced chapter suspensions for hazing, including a Kappa Alpha Order suspension for paddling and forced drinking. Private university status can mean less public disclosure, making investigative discovery by legal counsel even more important.
• Baylor: Has confronted hazing within its athletic programs, including a baseball team hazing suspension in 2020. Its history with institutional response to campus crises adds a complex layer to any hazing accountability matter.

For Randall County Families with Students at These Schools: The geographic distance does not lessen the legal recourse. Texas hazing law applies, and our firm’s ability to coordinate with local counsel or manage litigation in Travis, Dallas, or McLennan counties ensures your family can pursue justice effectively.

Fraternities & Sororities: The National Brands Behind Local Chapters

When a hazing incident occurs at a WTAMU or Texas Tech chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, or Phi Delta Theta, that local chapter is not an island. It is part of a national organization with a known history and legal risk profile. This connection is central to building a powerful case.

Why National Histories Create Legal Liability

National fraternities and sororities create detailed risk management policies precisely because they have been sued repeatedly for hazing deaths and injuries. When a local chapter repeats the same dangerous behavior—a “Big/Little” drinking night, a punishing “workout,” a degrading ritual—the national organization cannot plausibly claim the harm was unforeseeable. This establishes negligence and can support claims for punitive damages intended to punish and deter.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Mapping the Organizational Landscape

Our firm maintains a proprietary database of Texas Greek organizations built from public records to understand the full landscape of liability. This allows us to identify every potentially responsible entity from the outset. For example, in the Bermudez case, we named not only the UH students and Pi Kappa Phi national but also the Beta Nu Housing Corporation—a separate legal entity that holds assets and insurance.

A Snapshot of the Greek Ecosystem Relevant to Randall County Families:

Our data includes Texas-registered entities like:

• Frank Heflin Foundation, EIN 20-3507402, Canyon, TX 79015 – A Phi Delta Theta alumni fund.
• Kappa Alpha Order – Gamma Sigma Chapter, operating in Canyon, TX (West Texas A&M).
• Chi Omega – Upsilon Zeta Building Association, Amarillo, TX 79118 – A chapter housing corporation.
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147.
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter, EIN 74-6064445, Nederland, TX 77627.

This is just a fractional view. Statewide, our engine tracks over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros, including 188 in the Houston area, 154 in Austin, and networks throughout the Panhandle and South Plains. This investigatory depth means we start your case knowing how to find the organizations behind the letters.

Connecting National Patterns to Local Harm

• Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): The national organization behind the Stone Foltz death. Any Texas chapter engaging in forced drinking rituals is following a known deadly script.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): Faced the chemical burn lawsuit at Texas A&M and an assault lawsuit at UT. Its national history includes multiple hazing-related deaths, leading it to abolish the “pledge” model years ago—a reform that clearly hasn’t eliminated risk.
• Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): The national organization in the Max Gruver case. Its chapters are on notice about the lethal dangers of drinking games.
• Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): The national defendant in our Bermudez case and the Andrew Coffey death. This demonstrates a pattern of severe physical and alcohol hazing across its chapters.

For a Randall County parent, this means: if your child is hazed by a chapter of a national fraternity with this history, the legal argument is powerfully straightforward. The national organization knew or should have known this could happen and failed to prevent it.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategic Focus

Pursuing a hazing case is a complex investigative and legal undertaking. It requires a strategy that anticipates defense tactics, identifies all sources of compensation, and places the victim’s recovery at the center.

Critical Evidence in the Digital Age

Evidence disappears quickly. Immediate preservation is paramount:

1. Digital Communications: Screenshots of GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and Instagram/Snapchat threads showing planning, bragging, or threats. Digital forensics can often recover deleted messages.
2. Photos & Videos: Media from the event itself, often shared within group chats. Security or doorbell camera footage from houses.
3. Internal Organization Documents: “Pledge manuals,” ritual scripts, meeting notes, or emails discussing “traditions.”
4. University Records: Prior conduct reports on the same organization obtained via discovery or public records requests. These prove notice and pattern.
5. Medical Records: Documentation of injuries, from ER intake forms stating “hazing” to specialist reports on long-term conditions like PTSD or kidney damage.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and RAs.

We have a detailed video guide on using your cell phone to document evidence, a crucial first step for families.

Recoverable Damages: Making Families Whole

A civil lawsuit seeks to compensate for all past and future harms:

• Economic Damages: All medical expenses (ER, hospital, surgery, therapy, future care), lost wages, lost educational costs (tuition for withdrawn semesters), and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, humiliation, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of love, companionship, and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious conduct or cover-ups, courts may award damages to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

Navigating Insurance and Institutional Defenses

National fraternities and universities have large insurance policies and skilled defense lawyers. They commonly employ defenses like:

• “The victim consented.” (Rebuttal: Texas law invalidates consent in hazing.)
• “This was a rogue chapter; national didn’t know.” (Rebuttal: National’s own history and prior incidents create foreseeable risk.)
• “It happened off-campus, so we’re not responsible.” (Rebuttal: Organizations exercise control over members and events regardless of location.)
• “Insurance doesn’t cover intentional acts like hazing.” (Rebuttal: Negligent supervision by the national or university may still be covered.)

Our advantage, particularly through Mr. Lupe Peña’s experience as a former insurance defense attorney, is knowing these playbooks in advance. We know how insurers value claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We build cases from day one to defeat these arguments.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Randall County Families

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Response Guide

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, drastic weight change.
• Sudden secrecy about group activities, withdrawal from family.
• Personality shifts: anxiety, depression, irritability.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Requests for unusual amounts of money.

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: If injured or intoxicated, seek medical care immediately. Use the good-faith reporting protections.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot all relevant messages and photograph injuries. Save physical evidence.
3. Document Conversations: Write down what your child tells you, with dates and names.
4. Seek Legal Counsel Before Reporting: An attorney can advise on how to report to the university or police in a way that protects your child’s rights and the integrity of the evidence.
5. Do Not Confront the Organization: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.

For Students: Is This Hazing? Your Rights and Exit Strategies

Ask Yourself:

• Am I being pressured or coerced?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences?
• Am I being told to keep secrets?

If You Need to Exit:

• Your safety is paramount. You have the legal right to leave any organization at any time.
• If you fear for your immediate safety, call 911 or go to a safe place.
• Send a clear, written resignation to the chapter president (email or text for a record).
• Do not attend “one last meeting” where pressure or retaliation may occur.
• Report retaliation to campus officials immediately.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage a Case

1. Deleting Digital Evidence: Preserve every message, even embarrassing ones. Deletion can be seen as obstruction.
2. Confronting the Chapter Directly: This alerts them to destroy evidence and align their stories.
3. Signing University Settlement Offers Prematurely: Universities may offer quick, low-value resolutions that waive your right to sue. Have an attorney review anything before signing.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense teams mine social media for inconsistencies. Keep details private.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence vanishes, witnesses scatter, and the two-year statute of limitations in Texas continues to tick. Watch our video on statutes of limitation to understand the urgency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue West Texas A&M University or Texas Tech for hazing?
A: Yes, under specific legal theories. Public universities have sovereign immunity, but it can be overcome for claims of gross negligence, violations of constitutional rights, or certain negligent acts. Every case is fact-specific. Private universities like SMU and Baylor have fewer immunity barriers.

Q: What if the hazing happened at an off-campus house or Airbnb?
A: Location does not absolve liability. The university may still be liable if the organization is university-recognized. The national fraternity and individual members are certainly liable. Off-campus locations are often chosen precisely to avoid scrutiny, which itself can be evidence of culpability.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: Generally, two years from the date of injury in Texas for personal injury. For wrongful death, it’s two years from the date of death. However, complex rules regarding discovery of harm or fraudulent concealment can affect this. Do not delay.

Q: Will our case be public? Will my child’s name be in the news?
A: Many hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. We can file motions to seal court records and always strive to protect our clients’ privacy while aggressively pursuing accountability.

Q: How much does it cost to hire your firm?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury and wrongful death cases. This means you pay no upfront fees or hourly costs. We only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you. Learn more in our video on how contingency fees work.

Why Attorney911 Is the Right Firm for Randall County Hazing Cases

When your family is confronting the trauma of hazing, you need advocates who are not intimidated by powerful institutions and who understand the complex interplay of campus culture, national organizations, and Texas law.

We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, operating as Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including those right here in Randall County, Amarillo, and the Panhandle. We are currently leading the fight in the landmark Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi case, proving our commitment to taking on the toughest hazing litigation.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Cases

• Insider Insurance Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies try to deny, delay, and minimize claims. We use this insider knowledge to counter their tactics and maximize your recovery. Learn about Mr. Peña’s background at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/.
• Proven Experience Against Giant Institutions: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing down billion-dollar defendants. We apply the same complex litigation skills and fearlessness to hazing cases against wealthy national fraternities and large university systems. See Ralph’s full profile at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/.
• Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Results: We have a proven record of securing significant settlements and verdicts in the most serious cases, working with economists and life-care planners to fully account for a lifetime of need.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal side of hazing investigations. We can effectively advise families and witnesses navigating dual-track proceedings.
• Data-Driven Investigation: We employ the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—not as an abstract tool, but as a practical means to identify every housing corporation, alumni association, and national entity that shares liability. We start investigations with a map, not a blank page.
• Spanish-Language Services: Se habla Español. Mr. Peña is fluent and can provide full legal counsel to Spanish-speaking families.

Our mission in hazing cases extends beyond compensation. We seek accountability to force change and prevention to spare other families this pain. We approach each family with empathy, respect, and a relentless drive for the truth.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, Compassionate Consultation

If you suspect your child has been hazed at West Texas A&M, Texas Tech, or any other campus, you do not have to navigate this crisis alone. The institutions involved will have legal teams from day one. Your family deserves the same expert advocacy.

We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. In this conversation, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Explain the legal framework and your options in plain English.
• Discuss the investigative process and what we can do to preserve evidence.
• Answer your questions about timelines, costs, and what to expect.
• Provide honest, straightforward advice about the best path forward for your family.

Take the first step toward accountability and recovery for your child.

Contact Attorney911 Today:

• Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) – 24/7 for emergencies
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com
• Email Lupe Peña (Se habla Español): lupe@atty911.com

Serving families in Canyon, Amarillo, and throughout Randall County and Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.

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