The Essential Guide for Millican Families: Understanding Hazing, Texas Law, and Your Rights

If your child is heading to college from our tight-knit Millican community, the promise of new friends and lifelong memories is exciting. But for some Texas families, that promise has been shattered by a dark reality hiding behind Greek letters and campus traditions. Right now, just hours from Millican in Houston, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history—a case that shows exactly how quickly “tradition” can turn to tragedy.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for parents and families in Millican, Brazos County, and across Texas who need to understand the real risks of campus hazing in 2025, the legal protections available, and what to do if your child becomes a victim. We’ll walk through Texas law, examine what’s happening at universities where Millican students attend—especially nearby Texas A&M—and explain how our firm, Attorney911, is helping families right now in cases just like yours.

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
- 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 (deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, coached witnesses)
Universities move quickly to control the narrative
We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

For Millican families who may be unfamiliar with modern Greek life, hazing is no longer just about harmless pranks or silly traditions. Today’s hazing involves sophisticated coercion, digital tracking, and psychological manipulation that can leave lasting scars.

A Modern Definition of Hazing

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. The critical point Millican parents need to understand is this: “My child agreed to it” does not automatically make it safe or legal when there’s peer pressure and power imbalance involved.

Main Categories of Hazing Today

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common—and most dangerous—form of hazing. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “bid acceptance” nights, chugging challenges, “lineup” drinking games, and being pressured to consume unknown or mixed substances. The recent University of Houston case we’re handling involves exactly this pattern.

Physical Hazing
Beyond alcohol, physical abuse includes paddling and beatings, extreme calisthenics or “workouts” far beyond normal conditioning, sleep deprivation, food/water deprivation, and exposure to extreme cold/heat. The “conditioning” that caused rhabdomyolysis in the UH case shows how physical hazing can cause permanent organ damage.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. For Millican families, it’s important to know that what might be dismissed as “boys will be boys” or “sorority sister bonding” can cross legal lines.

Psychological and Digital Hazing
Today’s hazing lives on smartphones: 24/7 group chat monitoring, constant text demands, sleep deprivation via phone notifications, social media humiliation through forced TikTok challenges, and location tracking via apps. When your child is constantly checking their phone with anxiety, it might be more than social pressure.

Where Hazing Happens at Texas Universities

Hazing isn’t limited to fraternity houses. At Texas universities where Millican students attend, including Texas A&M just minutes away, hazing occurs in:

Fraternities and sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural)
Corps of Cadets / ROTC / military-style groups
Athletic teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer, etc.)
Spirit squads and tradition clubs
Marching bands and performance groups
Some service, cultural, and academic organizations

The common thread across all these groups is the toxic combination of social status, tradition, and secrecy that keeps these practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

The Leonel Bermudez Case: A Texas Wake-Up Call for Millican Families

Right now, our firm is actively litigating a case that every Millican parent should understand, because it shows exactly what can happen at Texas universities and how institutions respond.

What Happened at University of Houston

In fall 2025, Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student, accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at the University of Houston. What followed was a systematic campaign of abuse that nearly killed him. According to the Click2Houston report on the UH Pi Kappa Phi hazing case, Bermudez was subjected to:

The “pledge fanny pack” rule requiring him to carry condoms, a sex toy, nicotine devices, and other humiliating items 24/7
Enforced dress codes, hours-long “study/work” blocks, weekly interviews, and overnight chauffeuring duties
Extreme physical hazing including sprints, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, and cold-weather exposure in underwear
Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding” with threats of actual waterboarding
Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed immediately by sprints
The November 3 “workout” where he was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion

The Medical Catastrophe

After the November 3 hazing, Bermudez’s condition deteriorated rapidly. He passed brown urine, could not stand without help, and was rushed to the hospital by his mother. He was hospitalized for four days with diagnoses of rhabdomyolysis (severe skeletal muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. Lab tests showed critically high creatine kinase levels confirming the life-threatening condition. As detailed in the ABC13 coverage of Leonel Bermudez’s UH hazing lawsuit, he faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage and long-term physical and psychological harm.

Institutional Response and Legal Action

The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter was suspended on November 6, 2025, and members voted to surrender their charter on November 14. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary measures up to expulsion. Our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit on Bermudez’s behalf against the University of Houston, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders.

This case matters to Millican families because it shows:

Hazing can cause permanent, life-altering injuries
Major Texas universities can be held accountable
National fraternity headquarters have liability when chapters repeat dangerous patterns
Immediate legal action is necessary to preserve evidence and rights

Texas Hazing Law: What Millican Families Need to Know

Under Texas law—which governs cases involving Millican residents—hazing is taken seriously with specific protections and penalties.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Hazing Statute

Texas defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, by one person alone or with others, directed against a student that:

Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, AND
Occurs for the purpose of pledging, initiation into, affiliation with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students

Key points for Millican families:

Can happen on or off campus (location doesn’t matter)
Can be mental or physical harm
Intent: Doesn’t have to be malicious; “reckless” is enough (knew the risk and did it anyway)
“Consent” is not a defense: Even if your child agreed, it’s still hazing if it meets the definition

Criminal Penalties in Texas

Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that doesn’t cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, fine up to $2,000)
Class A Misdemeanor: If hazing causes injury that requires medical treatment
State Jail Felony: If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death

Also criminal:

Failing to report hazing (if you’re a member or officer and you knew about it)
Retaliating against someone who reports hazing

Organizational Liability

Texas law allows organizations (fraternities, sororities, clubs, teams) to be criminally prosecuted for hazing if:

The org authorized or encouraged the hazing, OR
An officer or member acting in official capacity knew about hazing and failed to report it

Penalties for organizations:

Fine up to $10,000 per violation
University can revoke recognition and ban the org from campus

Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting

A person who in good faith reports a hazing incident to university or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result from the report. This is crucial for Millican students to understand: calling for help in an emergency, even if underage drinking was involved, is protected.

Criminal vs Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases

Brought by: The state (prosecutor)
Aim: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
Typical charges: Hazing offenses, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, or manslaughter in fatal cases

Civil Cases

Brought by: Victims or surviving families
Aim: Monetary compensation and accountability
Focus: Negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress

Both types can run side-by-side, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. Many Millican families pursue civil cases to recover medical expenses, cover lost educational opportunities, and hold institutions accountable even when criminal charges aren’t filed.

Federal Law Overlay: Additional Protections

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024)

This federal law requires colleges that receive federal aid (including all Texas public universities) to:

Report hazing incidents more transparently
Strengthen hazing education and prevention
Maintain public hazing data (phased in by around 2026)

Title IX and Clery Act

When hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations can be triggered. The Clery Act requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics; hazing incidents often overlap with those categories.

Who Can Be Liable in a Texas Hazing Lawsuit?

Individual Students

The ones who planned, supplied the alcohol, carried out the acts, or helped cover them up can face personal liability. In some cases, like the Pi Kappa Alpha case at Bowling Green, individual officers have been ordered to pay millions personally.

Local Chapter/Organization

The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if it’s a legal entity) and individuals acting as officers or “pledge educators” can be key defendants.

National Fraternity/Sorority

Headquarters that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters can be liable based on what they knew or should have known from prior incidents. This is where our investigation into national patterns becomes crucial.

University or Governing Board

The school or regents may be sued under negligence or civil-rights theories. Key questions involve prior warnings, policy enforcement, and deliberate indifference. Public universities like Texas A&M have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist.

Third Parties

Landlords/owners of houses or event spaces, bars or alcohol providers (under dram shop theories), and security companies can also share liability.

Every case is fact-specific, but experienced hazing attorneys know how to identify all potentially liable parties to ensure full accountability.

National Hazing Case Patterns: Lessons for Millican Families

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
A bid-acceptance event with heavy drinking led to severe falls captured on chapter cameras. Help was delayed for hours, resulting in death. Dozens faced criminal charges, civil litigation followed, and Pennsylvania passed the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017)
A “Big/Little” event where the pledge was given a handle of liquor led to death from alcohol poisoning. Criminal hazing charges followed, and FSU temporarily suspended all Greek life.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
A “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant forced drinking resulted in death and Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act creating felony hazing charges.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
Forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey during pledge night, Foltz died from alcohol poisoning. Multiple criminal convictions and a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU) resulted.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
Subjected to a violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a fraternity retreat, Deng suffered fatal head injuries while help was delayed. Multiple members were convicted, and the fraternity was banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023-2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program. Multiple lawsuits resulted, the head coach was fired, and the scandal showed hazing extends far beyond Greek life.

What These Cases Mean for Millican Families

These national cases establish important precedents that Texas courts consider. They show common threads: forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, and cover-ups. Most importantly, they demonstrate that multi-million-dollar settlements and institutional reform often only follow after tragedy and litigation.

Texas Universities: What Millican Families Need to Know

Texas A&M University: Our Neighbor in Brazos County

For Millican families, Texas A&M University is not just another school—it’s where many of our children attend, just minutes from home. The Aggie culture, including both Greek life and the Corps of Cadets, requires special understanding.

Campus & Culture Snapshot
Texas A&M’s traditions run deep, and with them come specific risks. The Corps of Cadets maintains military-style discipline that can cross into hazing, while Greek life includes over 60 fraternities and sororities with their own traditions.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting
Texas A&M prohibits hazing through Student Rules and the Corps’ regulations. Reporting channels include the Dean of Students Office, Student Conduct Office, and Corps leadership. However, the “Aggie Code of Honor” and cultural pressure can discourage reporting.

Documented Incidents & Responses

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021)
Two pledges alleged being covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. They sued for $1 million, and the fraternity was suspended for two years.

Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023)
A cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million, and Texas A&M stated it handled the matter under its rules.

How a Texas A&M Hazing Case Might Proceed
For Millican families, cases involving Texas A&M would typically involve:

Jurisdiction: Brazos County courts for local incidents
Investigating agencies: Texas A&M University Police Department and/or Bryan/College Station PD
Potential defendants: Individual students, the chapter, national headquarters, Texas A&M University System
Special considerations: Sovereign immunity arguments for the public university, Corps chain of command issues

What Texas A&M Students & Parents Should Do

Report immediately to both university authorities AND local police
Document everything through the university’s formal channels
Understand that Corps cases involve military-style discipline systems
Contact an attorney familiar with both Texas A&M’s specific culture and Texas hazing law

University of Houston

Campus & Culture Snapshot
UH’s urban campus has active Greek life with multiple councils and organizations. The Pi Kappa Phi case we’re litigating shows the serious risks present.

Recent Major Case: Leonel Bermudez
As detailed earlier, this ongoing $10 million lawsuit involves life-threatening injuries from systematic hazing. The chapter has been closed, but the legal battle for accountability continues.

What UH Students & Parents Should Do

Utilize UH’s reporting channels through Dean of Students and UHPD
Preserve digital evidence immediately (group chats disappear fast)
Seek medical attention even for seemingly minor injuries
Contact legal counsel familiar with Harris County courts and procedures

University of Texas at Austin

Campus & Culture Snapshot
UT’s Greek life includes approximately 60 fraternity/sorority chapters with strong traditions and social pressure.

UT’s Public Hazing Violations Page
Unlike many schools, UT maintains a public log of hazing violations. Recent entries include:

Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; chapter placed on probation
Various spirit organizations sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing

What UT Students & Parents Should Do

Check UT’s public hazing log for prior violations by organizations
Report through Dean of Students and UTPD
Understand that prior violations on UT’s log can strengthen civil cases
Seek counsel experienced with Travis County courts and UT’s specific policies

Southern Methodist University

Campus & Culture Snapshot
SMU’s private, affluent campus has a strong Greek presence with specific social dynamics.

Documented Incident
Kappa Alpha Order (2017): New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink alcohol, and deprived of sleep. The chapter was suspended with recruiting restrictions until around 2021.

What SMU Students & Parents Should Do

Utilize SMU’s anonymous reporting systems
Understand that private university status affects transparency
Seek legal counsel who can compel discovery when internal reports aren’t public

Baylor University

Campus & Culture Snapshot
Baylor’s religious identity interacts with Greek life and athletic traditions in specific ways.

Documented Incident
Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following a hazing investigation, with staggered suspensions through the season.

What Baylor Students & Parents Should Do

Report through Baylor’s conduct office while documenting independently
Understand how religious branding might affect institutional response
Seek counsel familiar with McLennan County courts and Baylor’s history

Fraternities & Sororities: Connecting National Patterns to Texas Campuses

Why National Histories Matter to Millican Families

When your child joins a fraternity or sorority at Texas A&M or another Texas school, they’re joining an organization with a national history. That history matters because:

National headquarters have thick anti-hazing manuals and risk policies because they’ve seen deaths and catastrophic injuries before
Patterns repeat: The same dangerous traditions appear across different campuses
Foreseeability: When a Texas chapter repeats a script that got another chapter shut down elsewhere, that supports negligence claims

Organization Mapping for Texas Universities

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ)

National history: Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green ($10M settlement), multiple other serious cases
Texas presence: Chapters at Texas A&M, UT Austin, others
Pattern: “Big/Little” alcohol hazing, forced consumption rituals

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ)

National history: Multiple hazing-related deaths nationwide, traumatic brain injury lawsuit at Alabama
Texas presence: Chapters at Texas A&M (chemical burns case), UT Austin
Pattern: Physical abuse, chemical hazing, alcohol coercion

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)

National history: Max Gruver death at LSU leading to Louisiana’s felony hazing law
Texas presence: Multiple Texas campuses
Pattern: Drinking game hazing, “Bible study” rituals

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ)

National history: Andrew Coffey death at Florida State
Texas presence: University of Houston (our Bermudez case), other campuses
Pattern: Extreme physical hazing, forced consumption, psychological abuse

Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ)

National history: Multiple hazing suspensions including SMU chapter
Texas presence: SMU, other campuses
Pattern: Paddling, alcohol hazing, tradition-based abuse

How This Affects Legal Strategy for Millican Families

When we investigate hazing cases for Millican families, we look for:

Prior incidents at the same chapter
Prior incidents at other chapters of the same national organization
National headquarters’ knowledge and response (or lack thereof)
Pattern evidence demonstrating foreseeability

This investigation can affect:

Settlement leverage: National organizations often settle to avoid discovery of their full history
Insurance coverage: Patterns show insurers should have known risks
Punitive damages: Repeated warnings ignored can support additional penalties

Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

Critical Evidence in Modern Hazing Cases

Digital Communications

GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, Slack, fraternity apps
Instagram DMs, Snapchat messages, TikTok comments
Preservation tip: Screenshot immediately—messages disappear

Photos & Videos

Content filmed by members during events
Security camera or doorbell footage at houses
Our video on using your phone to document evidence shows proper preservation techniques

Internal Organization Documents

Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, ritual lists
Emails/texts from officers about activities
National policies and training materials

University Records

Prior conduct files, probation/suspension records
Incident reports to campus police
Clery Act reports

Medical & Psychological Records

Emergency room and hospitalization records
Toxicology reports
Psychological evaluations for PTSD, depression, anxiety

Witness Testimony

Other pledges, members, roommates, RAs
Former members who quit or were expelled

Damages: What Millican Families Can Recover

Medical Bills & Future Care

Immediate care (ER, ICU, hospitalization)
Surgeries, ongoing treatment, physical therapy
Long-term care for permanent injuries

Lost Earnings & Educational Impact

Missed semesters, delayed graduation
Reduced earning capacity from permanent injuries
Lost scholarships or academic standing

Non-Economic Damages

Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
Loss of enjoyment of life

Wrongful Death Damages

Funeral and burial costs
Loss of companionship and support
Emotional harm to parents and siblings

Insurance Coverage and Institutional Strategies

Fraternities, sororities, and universities have insurance policies that often become battlegrounds. Insurers may argue:

Hazing is an “intentional act” excluded from coverage
Policy doesn’t cover certain defendants
Claims exceed policy limits

Our experience as former insurance defense attorneys is crucial here. We know how insurers value claims, use Independent Medical Exams to reduce settlements, and deploy delay tactics. We navigate these disputes to maximize recovery for Millican families.

Practical Guides for Millican Families

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed

Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries
Extreme fatigue beyond normal college stress
Sudden secrecy about organization activities
Withdrawal from family and non-group friends
Constant phone anxiety (group chat monitoring)
Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability
Grades dropping suddenly
Financial requests without clear explanation

How to Talk to Your Child

Ask open questions: “How are things going with [organization]?”
Be non-judgmental: “Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?”
Emphasize safety: “Your health is more important than any group.”
Listen without interrupting: Let them share at their own pace.

If Your Child is Hurt

Medical care first: Even if they insist they’re “fine”
Preserve evidence: Screenshot everything, photograph injuries
Document: Write down who, what, when, where while memory is fresh
Secure items: Clothing, receipts, objects used in hazing
Contact attorney: Before talking to university or insurance

Dealing with the University

Document every communication
Ask specifically about prior incidents involving the organization
Don’t sign anything without legal review
Remember: University processes ≠ real accountability

When to Contact a Lawyer

Significant physical or psychological harm
University is minimizing or hiding what happened
Evidence preservation is needed immediately
You want independent investigation beyond university process

For Students: Is This Hazing?

Ask Yourself:

Am I being forced or pressured to do something unsafe?
Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
Would my parents/university approve if they knew exactly what was happening?
Am I being told to keep secrets or lie about activities?

If You Answer Yes:

Your safety comes first—remove yourself from danger
Call 911 for medical emergencies (you won’t get in trouble for seeking help)
Talk to a trusted adult: parent, RA, professor, counselor
Preserve evidence: Screenshot messages, photograph injuries
Report through official channels (university, police)

Exiting Safely

You have the legal right to leave at any time
Send written notice to chapter leadership (email/text for record)
Don’t go to “one last meeting” where pressure might occur
Report any retaliation immediately

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

Letting evidence be destroyed: Messages deleted, photos lost, items returned
Confronting the organization directly: Triggers cover-up, witness coaching
Signing university agreements without review: May waive legal rights
Posting on social media: Defense attorneys screenshot everything
Waiting for university investigation: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate
Talking to insurance adjusters: Recorded statements used against you
Missing statutes of limitations: Generally 2 years in Texas

Learn more about avoiding these mistakes in our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case.

Frequently Asked Questions for Millican Families

“Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities (Texas A&M, UH, UT) have sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer protections. Every case is fact-specific.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law makes hazing a Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report.

“What if my child ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Consent is not a defense under Texas law. Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states this, recognizing that “consent” under peer pressure isn’t voluntary.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but exceptions exist. The discovery rule may extend this if harm wasn’t immediately known, and fraud or cover-ups may toll (pause) the statute. Time is critical—call immediately.

“What if it happened off-campus?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, and knowledge. Many major cases occurred off-campus.

“Will this be confidential?”
Most cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability.

Why Attorney911 for Millican Hazing Cases

When your Millican family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand Texas universities, Greek life culture, and how powerful institutions fight back.

Our Unique Qualifications

Insurance Insider Advantage
Mr. Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value claims, use delay tactics, and fight coverage. As he explains, “We know their playbook because we used to run it.” This insider knowledge is invaluable when negotiating with insurers who try to minimize hazing claims.

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience
Ralph Manginello, our managing partner, brings experience from the BP Texas City explosion litigation—one of the few Texas firms involved. We’ve faced billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. National fraternities and major universities don’t intimidate us; we know how to investigate institutional knowledge, uncover cover-ups, and hold powerful organizations accountable.

Multi-Million Dollar Results
We have recovered millions for clients in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. We work with economists to value lifetime care needs, vocational experts to assess earning capacity loss, and medical specialists to document permanent injuries. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that demand full accountability.

Dual Criminal + Civil Capability
Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand criminal hazing charges and how they interact with civil litigation. We can advise witnesses, former members, and families navigating both systems.

Texas-Specific Expertise
From our Houston office, we serve families throughout Texas, including Millican and Brazos County. We understand Texas law, Texas university systems, and Texas courts. We’ve handled cases involving Texas A&M, UH, UT, and other schools where Millican students attend.

Our Investigative Approach

When we take a hazing case for a Millican family, we investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does. We:

Immediate evidence preservation: Digital forensics for deleted messages, social media recovery
National pattern investigation: Prior incidents at same chapter, other chapters, national knowledge
University records discovery: Prior complaints, disciplinary history, internal communications
Expert collaboration: Medical specialists, psychologists, economists, Greek life experts
Strategic litigation: Identifying all liable parties, navigating insurance coverage fights, preparing for trial

Empathy and Advocacy

We know this is one of the hardest things a family can face. Our approach balances fierce advocacy with genuine compassion. We’re not just seeking compensation—we’re seeking answers, accountability, and prevention so no other Millican family suffers what yours has.

Your Next Steps: Contact Us Today

If hazing has impacted your Millican family, you don’t have to face this alone. Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.

In your free consultation, we’ll:

Listen to your story without judgment
Review any evidence you have (photos, texts, medical records)
Explain your legal options in plain English
Discuss realistic timelines and expectations
Answer questions about costs (contingency fee—we don’t get paid unless we win)
Help you decide the best path forward for your family

Contact Information:

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
Spanish Services: Hablamos Español—contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com

Serving Millican and All of Texas
Whether you’re in Millican, Bryan, College Station, or anywhere in Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, we’re here to help. We understand the unique dynamics of Texas universities and the specific challenges Millican families face when their children are harmed at school.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. Let us help you get answers, hold the right people accountable, and begin moving forward.

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 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