The Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuits in Texas: A Resource for Families in Cottonwood Shores

An Urgent Message for Cottonwood Shores Parents About Campus Safety

If you’re a parent in Cottonwood Shores, watching your child head off to college at Texas A&M, the University of Texas, or any Texas campus, that familiar mix of pride and worry is natural. You’ve worked hard to provide opportunities, and you trust the university to keep them safe. But what happens when that trust is broken not by strangers, but by the very organizations promising brotherhood, sisterhood, and tradition?

Right now, in Harris County just a few hours from Cottonwood Shores, we’re fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history. Our client, Leonel Bermudez, nearly lost his life during his fall 2025 pledge period at the University of Houston’s Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. What started as supposed “bonding” ended with him hospitalized for four days with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure—his urine was brown, his muscles were breaking down, and he faced permanent kidney damage. This wasn’t an accident. It was the result of systematic abuse: forced humiliating “fanny pack” rules, extreme physical workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park, simulated waterboarding with a hose, and dangerous forced consumption rituals.

This comprehensive guide exists because families in Cottonwood Shores and across Burnet County deserve to know the truth about hazing in 2025—what it really looks like, how Texas law protects (or sometimes fails) your children, and what you can do when the institutions you trust betray that trust. We’ll walk you through everything from recognizing early warning signs to understanding how national fraternity patterns play out at Texas campuses where Cottonwood Shores students study.

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

For Cottonwood Shores families whose college experiences might have been different, modern hazing has evolved far beyond harmless pranks. Today’s hazing is a calculated mix of psychological manipulation, digital control, and physical risk—often disguised as “tradition” or “team building.”

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 understanding for Cottonwood Shores parents is this: “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal. When there’s peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of social exclusion, what looks like consent is often coercion.

Main Categories of Hazing in Today’s College Environment

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and most deadly form. It includes forced chugging challenges, “lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights where handles of liquor are consumed, and games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean dangerous drinking. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, Bermudez was forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then immediately forced to sprint.

Physical Hazing
This extends beyond paddling to include extreme calisthenics called “smokings” (like the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats Bermudez endured), sleep deprivation through all-night “meetings,” food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements. Another UH pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and racial or sexist role-playing. The “pledge fanny pack” in the UH case contained condoms, sex toys, and other humiliating items that pledges had to carry 24/7.

Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members, manipulation through fear of expulsion from the group, and public shaming.

Digital/Online Hazing
This is where hazing has evolved most dramatically. Group chat dares on GroupMe or Discord, forced social media challenges on TikTok or Instagram, location tracking via Find My Friends, and pressure to create compromising content. Messages can be deleted in seconds, making immediate evidence preservation critical.

Where Hazing Actually Happens

While fraternities and sororities receive most attention, Cottonwood Shores parents should know hazing occurs in:

Corps of Cadets and ROTC programs
Athletic teams (from football to cheerleading)
Spirit squads and tradition organizations
Marching bands and performance groups
Some academic, service, and cultural organizations

The common thread across all these groups? Social status, tradition, and secrecy keep these practices alive, even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas and Federal Laws

Understanding the legal landscape is crucial for Cottonwood Shores families considering their options. Texas has specific protections, but also specific limitations.

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code Chapter 37)

Under Texas law—which governs cases involving Cottonwood Shores students at state schools—hazing is broadly defined as intentional, knowing, or reckless acts, on or off campus, directed against a student that:

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

Key Provisions Cottonwood Shores Families Should Know:

Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152):

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 requiring medical treatment
State Jail Felony: If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death

Organizational Liability (§ 37.153):
Fraternities, sororities, clubs, and teams can be criminally prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if the organization authorized or encouraged the hazing, or if officers knew and failed to report it.

Consent is Not a Defense (§ 37.155):
This is critical: Texas law explicitly states that the victim’s consent is not a defense to hazing charges. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure isn’t voluntary.

Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§ 37.154):
Students who report hazing in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability. Many universities, including Texas A&M and UT Austin, extend this to amnesty for underage drinking when seeking medical help.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases:

Brought by the state (Harris County, Travis County, or local prosecutors)
Aim: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
Typical charges: Hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, manslaughter in fatal cases

Civil Cases:

Brought by victims or surviving families like yours in Cottonwood Shores
Aim: Monetary compensation and institutional accountability
Focus on: Negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress

Both can proceed simultaneously, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. In fact, many hazing cases are primarily pursued through civil litigation where the burden of proof is different.

Federal Overlay: Stop Campus Hazing Act, Title IX, Clery

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024):
Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently and maintain public hazing data by 2026. This will eventually help Cottonwood Shores parents research organizations before their children join.

Title IX:
When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger separate investigations and potential federal claims.

Clery Act:
Requires reporting of certain campus crimes. Hazing incidents involving assaults or alcohol crimes often fall under Clery reporting requirements.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Individual Students: Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up.

Local Chapter/Organization: The fraternity/sorority entity itself, plus officers acting in official capacity.

National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: Organizations that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Their knowledge of prior incidents at other chapters creates critical “foreseeability” arguments.

University or Governing Board: Schools may be liable under negligence theories, particularly if they had prior warnings. Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist.

Third Parties: Landlords of event spaces, alcohol providers under dram shop laws, security companies.

Every case is fact-specific, but experienced hazing attorneys investigate all potential sources of liability and insurance coverage.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What Cottonwood Shores Families Can Learn

The national landscape of hazing litigation provides both warning and precedent for Texas families. These cases show patterns that repeat across campuses—patterns we see here in Texas.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017):
A bid-acceptance event with dangerous drinking led to fatal falls captured on chapter security cameras. The delayed 911 call resulted in dozens of criminal charges and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017):
A “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking led to a 0.495% BAC and death. The case produced Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021):
Forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey during a “Big/Little” event, Foltz died from alcohol poisoning. The case resulted in a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, $3M from BGSU) and individual officers facing personal liability.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013):
A blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a remote retreat caused fatal head injuries. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025):
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hacing within the football program, resulting in multiple lawsuits and confidential settlements demonstrating hazing extends beyond Greek life.

What These Cases Mean for Cottonwood Shores Families

Common threads in these national cases—forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, cover-ups—mirror what we see in Texas. The reforms and multi-million-dollar settlements often follow only after tragedy and litigation. Cottonwood Shores families facing hazing at Texas campuses are operating in a landscape shaped by these national lessons and legal precedents.

Texas Focus: Where Cottonwood Shores Students Study

Cottonwood Shores families typically send students to universities across Texas. Understanding the specific landscape at each major campus helps you recognize risks and know your rights.

Texas A&M University – The Closest Major Campus

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Just over an hour from Cottonwood Shores, Texas A&M represents both tremendous opportunity and specific risks through its massive Greek system and Corps of Cadets. With over 1,000 student organizations, the scale alone creates supervision challenges.

Documented Incidents & Responses:

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges were covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits sought over $1 million in damages.
Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Case (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million, with A&M stating it handled the matter internally.
Public Disciplinary Records: A&M maintains less public transparency than UT Austin, but known suspensions involve alcohol hazing, physical abuse, and dangerous rituals.

How a Texas A&M Hazing Case Might Proceed:

Brazos County courts typically have jurisdiction
Multiple potential defendants: individual students, chapters, nationals, The Association of Former Students (which holds properties), and Texas A&M University System
Evidence often includes Corps training manuals, chapter records, and messages between members

What Cottonwood Shores Parents Should Do:

Understand that A&M’s “tradition” culture can normalize dangerous behavior
If your child is in the Corps, ask specific questions about physical training and “motivation”
Report concerns to: Student Conduct Office, Corps Commandant’s Office, or A&M Police
Preserve evidence immediately—Corps and Greek life both use extensive digital communication

University of Texas at Austin

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
UT Austin’s public hazing transparency makes it somewhat unique. Their online violations log provides concrete examples of what actually gets investigated and punished.

Documented Incidents from Public Records:

Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. The chapter was placed on probation and required to implement new hazing-prevention education.
Texas Wranglers & Other Spirit Groups: Multiple sanctions for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, and punishment-based practices.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): An Australian exchange student alleged assault resulting in dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, and broken nose during a party. The chapter was already under suspension for prior violations.

UT’s Hazing Violations Page Value:
Cottonwood Shores parents can actually research organizations at https://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/safety/hazing/violations.php. This public log shows patterns that strengthen civil cases by demonstrating institutional knowledge.

What Austin-Area Families Should Know:

Travis County courts handle most cases
UT’s transparency benefits plaintiffs through discoverable records
The university often argues sovereign immunity as a state institution, but exceptions exist

University of Houston – Site of Our Current Landmark Case

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
UH’s urban commuter campus hosts active Greek life with specific documented risks, as our Bermudez case demonstrates.

The Leonel Bermudez/Pi Kappa Phi Case Details:

Multiple Hazing Locations: Pi Kappa Phi house, Culmore Drive residence, Yellowstone Boulevard Park
Systematic Abuse: Fanny pack humiliation, forced dress codes, overnight chauffeuring, extreme physical hazing
Medical Catastrophe: Rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, four-day hospitalization, risk of permanent damage
Defendants: UH, UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national, Beta Nu housing corporation, 13 individual members
Institutional Response: Chapter suspended November 6, 2025; charter surrendered November 14, 2025; UH called conduct “deeply disturbing”

How a UH Hazing Case Proceeds:

Harris County courts typically have jurisdiction
Evidence preservation is critical—group chats are often on platforms like GroupMe
University police (UHPD) and Houston Police Department may both be involved

What Houston-Area Families Should Know:

UH has suspended multiple chapters for hazing violations
The urban environment means hazing occurs at both on-campus and off-campus locations
Immediate evidence preservation is even more critical as messages disappear quickly

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

SMU’s Private Campus Dynamics:
As a private university, SMU has different reporting requirements but documented incidents including Kappa Alpha Order’s 2017 paddling and drinking violations.

Baylor’s Complex History:
Following prior scandals, Baylor faces particular scrutiny, with incidents like the 2020 baseball team hazing resulting in 14 player suspensions.

For Cottonwood Shores Families at Private Schools:

Different rules apply regarding sovereign immunity
Discovery can be more challenging but equally critical
National fraternity policies often apply regardless of university type

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: What We Know About Greek Organizations

At Attorney911, we maintain what we call our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a comprehensive database of Greek organizations across Texas. For Cottonwood Shores families, this means we don’t start from zero when investigating your case.

Public Records Directory: Fraternities & Sororities Serving Texas Families

From IRS records and campus data, we track hundreds of Texas-registered Greek organizations. For example, in the broader Austin-Round Rock metro area (which serves many Central Texas families), there are 154 Greek-related organizations. Throughout Texas, we track 1,423 organizations across 25 metros.

Sample Texas-Registered Organizations from Public Records:
-o TEXAS KAPPA SIGMA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC (EIN: 741380362) – Fort Worth, TX 76147
-o BETA UPSILON CHI (EIN: 742911848) – Fort Worth, TX 76244
-o SIGMA PHI EPSILON TEXAS ETA (EIN: 824398421) – Richmond, TX 77406
-o HONOR SOCIETY OF PHI KAPPA PHI (EIN: 900293166) – College Station, TX 77843
-o ALPHA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY INC – Multiple Texas chapters in Houston, San Marcos, San Antonio, El Paso, Huntsville

This directory matters because when hazing occurs, we already know how to identify every entity behind the letters—house corporations, alumni associations, national headquarters—and what insurance policies might apply.

Why National Histories Matter for Your Texas Case

When a Pi Kappa Phi chapter at UH engages in dangerous hazing, that’s not an isolated incident. Pi Kappa Phi nationals faced the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State in 2017. When Sigma Alpha Epsilon hazes at Texas A&M, SAE nationals have faced multiple wrongful death lawsuits nationwide. This pattern evidence establishes foreseeability—the national organization knew or should have known this could happen based on their own history.

Organization Patterns We Track:

Pi Kappa Alpha: Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green, multiple other alcohol hazing incidents
Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Traumatic brain injury case at Alabama, chemical burns at Texas A&M
Phi Delta Theta: Max Gruver death at LSU
Kappa Alpha Order: Multiple paddling and drinking violations across campuses

For Cottonwood Shores families, this means if your child is hazed by an organization with national history, that history becomes part of your case strategy.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

When hazing affects your family in Cottonwood Shores, understanding how cases are built helps you make informed decisions about moving forward.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Communications:

GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord—where most hazing planning occurs
Social media: Instagram DMs, Snapchat (screenshot immediately), TikTok
Deleted message recovery through digital forensics

Photos & Videos:

Content filmed by members during events
Security footage from houses and venues
Injury documentation over time (bruises evolve)

Internal Organization Documents:

Pledge manuals and “tradition” documents
Emails between officers and nationals
Risk management policies they failed to follow

University Records:

Prior conduct files—critical for pattern evidence
Campus police reports
Clery Act disclosures

Medical Documentation:

ER records mentioning hazing (crucial)
Specialist evaluations for ongoing conditions
Psychological assessments for PTSD, depression, anxiety

Types of Damages in Hazing Cases

Economic Damages (Quantifiable):

Medical bills: Emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, ongoing treatment
Future medical needs: Physical therapy, psychological care, medication
Lost educational costs: Withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships
Diminished earning capacity: For permanent injuries affecting career prospects

Non-Economic Damages:

Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
Loss of enjoyment of life
For families in wrongful death cases: Loss of companionship, grief, funeral expenses

Punitive Damages:
In cases involving particularly reckless conduct or cover-ups, courts may award punitive damages to punish defendants and deter future behavior.

The Role of Insurance Coverage

Fraternities, sororities, and universities typically carry insurance policies that may cover hazing claims. However, insurers often argue that intentional acts or criminal conduct are excluded. Our experience as former insurance defense attorneys is crucial here—we know how insurance companies evaluate claims, set reserves, and employ delay tactics.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Cottonwood Shores Families

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns
Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
Sudden weight loss or gain
Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal
Secretive behavior about organization activities
Constant phone use for group chat monitoring
Requests for unusual amounts of money

How to Talk to Your Child:

“How are things going with [organization]? Are you enjoying it?”
“Have they been respectful of your time for classes and sleep?”
“What do they ask you to do as a new member?”
“Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?”
“Do you feel like you could leave if you wanted to?”

If You Suspect Hazing:

Ensure immediate medical care if needed
Preserve evidence: screenshot messages, photograph injuries
Document everything: dates, times, what your child says
Contact an experienced hazing attorney before confronting the organization
Report to appropriate authorities with your attorney’s guidance

For Students: Recognizing and Responding to Hazing

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
Is this 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?

How to Exit Safely:

Tell someone outside the organization first (parent, RA, friend)
Send written resignation to chapter leadership
Do NOT attend “one last meeting” where pressure might occur
If threatened, report immediately to campus police and Dean of Students

Evidence Preservation for Students:

Screenshot ALL group chats with timestamps visible
Take photos of injuries immediately and over several days
Save emails, texts, and any organization documents
If recording conversations, remember Texas is a one-party consent state
Seek medical care and mention hazing specifically for documentation

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Letting Your Child Delete Evidence
What families think: “I don’t want them to get in more trouble”
Why it’s wrong: Looks like obstruction; makes case nearly impossible
Better approach: Preserve everything immediately

2. Confronting the Organization Directly
What families think: “I’ll give them a piece of my mind”
Why it’s wrong: They lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
Better approach: Document everything, then call an attorney first

3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms
What universities do: Pressure quick settlements with confidentiality clauses
Why it’s wrong: You may waive rights to adequate compensation
Better approach: Have an attorney review everything before signing

4. Posting on Social Media Early
What families think: “I want people to know what happened”
Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys use inconsistencies against you
Better approach: Let your attorney control public messaging

5. Waiting for the University Investigation
What universities promise: “We’re handling this internally”
Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statutes run
Better approach: Parallel investigation with legal counsel

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under specific circumstances. Public universities have some sovereign immunity, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals. Private universities have fewer protections. The specific facts of your case determine the best approach.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas makes hazing a state jail felony when it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report hazing.

“What if my child ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that consent under peer pressure and power imbalance 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 if the harm wasn’t immediately discoverable or if there was fraudulent concealment. Time is critical—evidence disappears quickly.

“Will this be confidential?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability and can request sealed court records when necessary.

Why Attorney911 for Hazing Cases: Our Texas Expertise

When your Cottonwood Shores family faces a hazing case, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

Insurance Insider Advantage (Lupe Peña):
Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value (and undervalue) hazing claims, their delay tactics, coverage exclusion arguments, and settlement strategies. As he says, “We know their playbook because we used to run it.”

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience (Ralph Manginello):
We’re one of the few Texas firms involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation—we’ve taken on billion-dollar corporations and won. We’re not intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their defense teams. Our federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas) prepares us for Title IX and multi-defendant cases.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Experience:
We have a proven track record in complex wrongful death cases, working with economists to value lifetime care needs for catastrophic injuries. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that force real accountability.

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise:
Ralph’s membership in Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand both criminal hazing charges and civil litigation. We can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure and navigate the interaction between criminal and civil cases.

Investigative Depth:
Our network includes medical experts, digital forensics specialists, economists, and psychologists. We know how to obtain hidden evidence—deleted group chats, chapter records, university files. We investigate like your child’s life depends on it, because it does.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine in Action

Our proprietary database tracking 1,423 Greek organizations across Texas means we don’t start from zero. When you come to us with a hazing case, we already understand:

The organizational structure behind the chapter
Prior incidents involving that national organization
Typical insurance coverage patterns
Which courts and jurisdictions typically handle these cases

Call to Action for Cottonwood Shores Families

If you or your child has experienced hazing at any Texas campus—whether it’s Texas A&M where many Burnet County students attend, UT Austin, UH, or any other school—we want to hear from you. Families in Cottonwood Shores and throughout the Highland Lakes region have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a Confidential Consultation

What to Expect 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: criminal report, civil lawsuit, both, or neither
Discuss realistic timelines and expectations
Answer questions about costs (contingency fee—we don’t get paid unless we win)
No pressure to hire us on the spot—take time to decide
Everything you tell us is confidential

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-Language Services:
Hablamos Español—Contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish. Servicios legales en español disponibles.

Whether you’re in Cottonwood Shores, Marble Falls, Burnet, or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The institutions responsible for your child’s safety failed them. Let us help you hold them accountable and prevent this from happening to another family.

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