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

If you’re a parent in Linden, Texas, and your child is joining a fraternity, sorority, Corps program, or campus organization at any Texas university, this guide is for you. We’ve seen firsthand how a promising college experience can turn into a medical and legal nightmare within weeks. Right now, we are actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history, representing Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. This case demonstrates exactly what can happen when hazing culture goes unchecked—and what families in Linden and across Texas need to know to protect their children.

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 Linden families unfamiliar with modern Greek life and campus organization culture, hazing has evolved far beyond the stereotypes of “harmless pranks” or “team bonding.” What used to be occasional paddling or forced drinking has transformed into systematic, psychologically sophisticated abuse designed to break down new members while evading detection.

The 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 Linden 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.

Main Categories of Hazing Today

Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains the most common and dangerous form. It includes forced “family tree” drinking games, chugging challenges, “Big/Little” nights where pledges are given handles of liquor, and being pressured to consume unknown substances. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH involved forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.

Physical Hazing: This includes paddling, beatings, extreme calisthenics far beyond normal conditioning (like the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats Bermudez was forced to do), sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme environments. In the UH case, pledges were sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding” and threatened with actual waterboarding.

Psychological and Digital Hazing: This 21st-century evolution includes 24/7 group chat monitoring, public shaming on social media, forced compromising video creation, geo-tracking demands, and psychological manipulation designed to isolate pledges from family and non-Greek friends. The “pledge fanny pack” rule at UH—requiring constant carrying of humiliating items—exemplifies this psychological control.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. In the UH case, another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.

Where Hazing Actually Happens in Texas

While fraternities and sororities receive the most attention, hazing occurs across campus life:

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

For Linden families with children at Texas A&M, understanding Corps hazing risks is particularly important. For those with students at UT Austin or Baylor, Greek life hazing patterns dominate. At UH, where we’re currently litigating the Bermudez case, the patterns show how urban campuses face unique challenges with off-campus housing and decentralized control.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas and Federal Laws Every Linden Family Needs to Know

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code Chapter 37)

Texas has specific anti-hazing provisions in the Education Code that govern cases involving Linden families. The law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, 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 Penalties for Linden Families to Understand:

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that doesn’t cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, fine up to $2,000)
• Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death
• Organizational Liability: Fraternities/sororities can be fined up to $10,000 per violation

Critical Texas Legal Principle: Under §37.155, consent is not a defense to hazing prosecution. This means even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law recognizes that power imbalance and peer pressure make true consent impossible.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by the state (district attorney)
• Aim: punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical charges: hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases

Civil Cases:

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Aim: monetary compensation and accountability
• Focus on: negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress

For Linden families, it’s crucial to understand that a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. Many hazing cases proceed civilly even when criminal charges aren’t filed or result in acquittal.

Federal Overlay: Laws That Apply to All Texas Campuses

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024):

• Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently
• Strengthens hazing education and prevention
• Maintains public hazing data (phased in by around 2026)

Title IX and Clery Act:

• When hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger
• Clery requires reporting certain crimes; hazing often overlaps with assault or alcohol crimes
• These federal laws provide additional avenues for accountability beyond Texas state law

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit

Understanding potential defendants helps Linden families appreciate the full scope of accountability:

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

Local Chapter/Organization: The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if incorporated)

National Fraternity/Sorority: Headquarters that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters

University or Governing Board: Schools may be sued under negligence or civil-rights theories

Third Parties: Landlords of event spaces, bars that overserved alcohol, security companies

In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case we’re litigating, defendants include 13 individual fraternity leaders, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What They Mean for Linden Families

The tragic cases below aren’t just national news—they establish legal precedents and patterns that directly affect how Texas hazing cases are investigated and litigated. For Linden families, understanding these patterns helps recognize warning signs and appreciate the seriousness of institutional liability.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): Bid-acceptance event with extreme drinking, severe falls captured on chapter cameras, hours delayed before medical help. Result: Dozens of criminal charges, civil litigation, Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. Takeaway for Linden families: Delay in calling 911 and culture of silence can be legally devastating.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Big/little event where pledge was given a handle of liquor, drank to dangerous levels, died. Result: Criminal hazing charges, FSU temporarily suspended all Greek life. Takeaway: Formulaic “tradition” drinking nights are repeating scripts for disaster.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking, died from alcohol toxicity (BAC 0.495%). Result: Louisiana enacted Max Gruver Act (felony hazing statute). Takeaway: Legislative change often follows public outrage and clear proof of hazing.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Pledge forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey during “Big/Little” night, died from alcohol poisoning. Result: $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU). Takeaway: Universities face significant financial consequences alongside fraternities.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): Pledge subjected to violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at fraternity retreat, suffered fatal head injuries, help was delayed. Result: Multiple convictions, fraternity banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. Takeaway: Off-campus “retreats” can be extremely dangerous, and national orgs can face severe sanctions.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025): Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within football program. Result: Multiple lawsuits, head coach fired, confidential settlement. Takeaway: Hazing extends beyond Greek life to big-money athletic programs.

What These Cases Mean for Linden Families: Common threads include forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, and cover-ups. Multi-million-dollar settlements and reforms typically follow only after tragedy and litigation. Linden families facing hazing at Texas universities are operating in a landscape shaped by these national lessons.

Texas Focus: Universities Relevant to Linden Families

Linden, located in Cass County in East Texas, sends students to universities across the state. While you might think of Texas A&M or UT Austin as the primary destinations, Linden families actually have connections to multiple Texas campuses. Understanding each school’s hazing landscape is crucial for prevention and response.

University of Houston (UH): The Active Litigation Case Study

For Linden Families: While UH is about 200 miles from Linden, its patterns reflect what happens at urban campuses across Texas. The active Pi Kappa Phi case we’re litigating provides a current, detailed example of what modern hazing looks like.

Campus Culture Snapshot: Large urban campus with 47,000+ students, significant Greek life with 50+ fraternity/sorority chapters, commuter/residential mix, located in the nation’s fourth-largest city with complex jurisdictional issues.

The Leonel Bermudez Pi Kappa Phi Case – What Linden Families Need to Know:

This active lawsuit filed in late 2025 alleges systematic hazing that caused rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure requiring four days of hospitalization. Specific allegations include:

• “Pledge fanny pack” rule requiring constant carrying of condoms, sex toys, nicotine devices, and humiliating items
• Enforced dress codes, hours-long “study/work” blocks, weekly interviews, overnight driving duties
• Extreme physical hazing: sprints, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, cold-weather exposure in underwear, lying in vomit-soaked grass
• “Waterboarding” tactics: sprayed in face with hose, threatened with actual waterboarding
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, peppercorns until vomiting, then immediate sprints
• Nov 3 workout: 100+ push-ups, 500 squats, creed recitation under expulsion threats
• Medical outcome: critically high creatine kinase levels, rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, brown urine, ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage

Institutional Response Pattern: Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended the Beta Nu chapter on Nov 6, 2025. Chapter members voted to surrender their charter on Nov 14, 2025. UH labeled the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary measures up to expulsion and cooperation with law enforcement.

Why This Matters for Linden Families: This case shows how even a suspended and closed chapter can face ongoing litigation. It demonstrates the medical severity possible from physical hazing (rhabdomyolysis) and the multiple layers of defendants (13 individuals plus organizations).

Texas A&M University: Corps Culture and Greek Life

For Linden Families: Located about 230 miles from Linden, Texas A&M represents a different hazing environment with its strong Corps of Cadets tradition alongside substantial Greek life.

Documented Incidents Linden Families Should Know:

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Two pledges alleged forced strenuous activity with substances including industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, spit poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. Pledges sued for $1 million; fraternity suspended for two years.

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

Unique A&M Considerations for Linden Families: The Corps of Cadets represents a different hazing environment with military-style traditions. Greek life at A&M is among the largest in the nation, with particular patterns around “retreat” hazing at rural properties.

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency and Patterns

For Linden Families: UT Austin is about 230 miles from Linden and offers the most transparent hazing reporting of any Texas university through its public Hazing Violations page.

Documented Patterns from UT’s Public Records:

Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; found to be hazing; chapter placed on probation with required hazing-prevention education.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Case (January 2024): Australian exchange student alleged assault by fraternity members at party; injuries included dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, broken nose. Student sued SAE chapter for over $1 million; chapter already under suspension for prior violations.

UT’s Transparency Advantage: UT’s public hazing log allows families to research specific organizations before allowing their children to join. This resource is unique among Texas universities and provides valuable pattern evidence for litigation.

Southern Methodist University (SMU): Private Campus Dynamics

For Linden Families: SMU in Dallas is about 180 miles from Linden and represents the private university hazing environment with different transparency and liability considerations.

Documented Incident: Kappa Alpha Order (2017) – New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink alcohol, deprived of sleep; chapter suspended; restrictions on recruiting until about 2021.

Private University Factors: SMU’s status affects transparency—internal reports aren’t publicly posted like UT’s. However, civil discovery can compel disclosure. The affluent campus culture presents unique social pressure dynamics.

Baylor University: Religious Identity and Athletic Hazing

For Linden Families: Baylor in Waco is about 150 miles from Linden and has experienced significant scrutiny over campus culture issues.

Documented Incident: Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020) – 14 players suspended following hazing investigation; suspensions staggered over early season.

Cultural Context: Baylor’s religious identity interacts with hazing accountability in complex ways. The university’s history with football sexual assault scandal informs how it handles misconduct reporting and response.

Texas Greek Life Ecosystem: What Linden Families Need to Know

Behind every fraternity or sorority chapter at Texas universities stands a complex network of legal entities, insurance policies, and national organizations. For Linden families pursuing accountability, understanding this ecosystem is crucial.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Our Investigative Advantage

We maintain comprehensive data on Texas Greek organizations that informs our litigation strategy. This includes tracking 1,423 fraternity/sorority entities across 25 Texas metros. For Linden families, this means we don’t start from zero when investigating hazing at any Texas campus.

Public Records Directory: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Relevant to Texas Families

The following represents a sample of the Texas-registered Greek organizations we track through IRS B83 filings and public records. This data forms the backbone of our institutional investigation strategy.

Sample Texas Greek Organization Registrations (IRS B83 Entities):

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc | EIN: 133048786 | 3007 Earl Rudder Fwy S, College Station, TX 77845-6681 | IRS B83 filing
• Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Inc | EIN: 161675890 | 115 Wild Wick Way, The Woodlands, TX 77382-1822 | IRS B83 filing
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc | EIN: 475370943 | 5019 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77204-7005 | IRS B83 filing (Theta Delta chapter)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc | EIN: 462267515 | 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035-6629 | IRS B83 filing
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter | EIN: 746084905 | 4300 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX 77204-3067 | IRS B83 filing
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc | EIN: 741380362 | PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147-0061 | IRS B83 filing
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity | EIN: 746064445 | 1855 Highway 69 N, Nederland, TX 77627-8843 | IRS B83 filing (Epsilon Kappa chapter)
• Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Texas Gamma Chapter | EIN: 911981478 | 2609 S University Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76109-1149 | IRS B83 filing
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity | EIN: 237279532 | PO Box 2142, Prairie View, TX 77446-2142 | IRS B83 filing
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated – Sigma Gamma Chapter | EIN: 392352450 | PO Box 540026, Houston, TX 77254-0026 | IRS B83 filing

Metro-Level Greek Organization Presence in Texas:

• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro: 510 total Greek organizations
• Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metro: 188 total Greek organizations
• Austin-Round Rock Metro: 154 total Greek organizations
• San Antonio Metro: 86 total Greek organizations
• College Station-Bryan Metro: 42 total Greek organizations

National Organization Patterns: Why History Matters for Linden Families

When a Texas chapter repeats hazing behaviors that caused deaths or injuries at other campuses, that history establishes foreseeability—a crucial legal concept. National organizations with documented hazing patterns include:

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): Stone Foltz death at BGSU ($10M settlement), David Bogenberger death at NIU ($14M settlement), multiple Texas chapter violations

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): Traumatic brain injury case at University of Alabama, chemical burns case at Texas A&M, assault case at UT Austin, Carson Starkey death at Cal Poly

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): Max Gruver death at LSU (Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act)

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): Andrew Coffey death at Florida State, active litigation at University of Houston (Bermudez case)

Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ): Timothy Piazza death at Penn State (Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law)

For Linden families, this means: if your child is hazed by an organization with national hazing history, that history strengthens your case by showing the organization knew or should have known the risks.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy for Linden Families

Evidence Collection: The Critical First Steps

Digital Communications (Most Important Category):

• GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord messages showing planning, execution, or cover-up
• Instagram DMs, Snapchat messages, TikTok comments related to hazing
• Deleted message recovery through digital forensics
• Linden families should: Screenshot everything immediately before deletion

Photos & Videos:

• Content filmed by members during events
• Social media posts showing hazing activities
• Security camera footage from houses and venues
• Linden families should: Photograph injuries from multiple angles immediately

Internal Organization Documents:

• Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, “tradition” documents
• Emails/texts from officers about activities
• National policies and training materials obtained through discovery

University Records:

• Prior conduct files, probation/suspension records
• Incident reports to campus police or student conduct
• Clery Act reports and similar disclosures
• For Linden families: These records often show pattern of prior violations

Medical and Psychological Records:

• Emergency room and hospitalization records
• Toxicological reports (blood alcohol, drug screens)
• Psychological evaluations for PTSD, depression, anxiety
• Critical for Linden families: Documenting ongoing treatment establishes damages

Damages: What Linden Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses):

• Medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, ongoing treatment)
• Future medical care (therapy, medications, long-term care for permanent injuries)
• Lost educational opportunities (tuition for withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships)
• Diminished earning capacity (if injuries affect future employment)

Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical pain and suffering from injuries
• Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life (can’t participate in activities they loved)
• For wrongful death: loss of companionship, emotional harm to family

Punitive Damages (When Available):

• Designed to punish particularly reckless or malicious conduct
• Available when defendants had prior warnings and ignored them
• In Texas, subject to statutory caps except in certain intentional tort cases

Practical Guides & FAQs for Linden Families

For Parents: Warning Signs and Immediate Actions

Warning Signs Your Linden Student May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries with inconsistent explanations
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities (“I can’t talk about it”)
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability, withdrawal
• Constant phone use for group chat monitoring, anxiety about missing messages
• Academic performance dropping suddenly
• Financial requests without clear explanation (forced purchases, “fines”)

How to Talk to Your Child About Hazing:

• Ask open questions: “How are things going with [organization]? Are they respectful of your time?”
• Listen without judgment if they open up
• If they shut down, monitor closely and be ready to intervene
• Emphasize: “Your safety matters more than any organization”

If Your Child Is Hurt – Immediate Actions for Linden Families:

1. Medical care first: Get to ER if injured or intoxicated
2. Preserve evidence: Screenshot messages, photograph injuries, save physical items
3. Document everything: Write down what they tell you (who, what, when, where)
4. Contact Attorney911: Call 1-888-ATTY-911 within 24-48 hours
5. Do NOT: Confront the organization, sign university documents, post on social media

For Students: Recognizing and Responding to Hazing

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something unsafe or humiliating?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences?
• Is this activity hidden from university officials or my parents?
• Are older members making new members do things they don’t have to do?

If You’re Being Hazed – Safe Exit Strategies:

• In immediate danger: Call 911
• To quit/de-pledge: Send email/text to chapter president: “I resign my membership effective immediately”
• Do NOT go to “one last meeting” where pressure or retaliation might occur
• Report retaliation to Dean of Students and campus police

Evidence Preservation for Students:

• Screenshot group chats with timestamps visible
• Photograph injuries immediately (use coin for scale)
• Record conversations if safe (Texas is one-party consent state)
• Save everything digital – don’t delete even if embarrassed
• Tell medical providers “I was hazed” so it’s in medical records

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Hazing Case

MISTAKES LINDEN FAMILIES MUST AVOID:

1. Letting your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence

   • Why it’s wrong: Looks like cover-up, can be obstruction of justice
   • What to do instead: Preserve everything immediately

2. Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly

   • Why it’s wrong: They immediately lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
   • What to do instead: Document everything, call a lawyer first

3. Signing university “release” or “resolution” forms

   • Why it’s wrong: May waive right to sue; settlements often below true value
   • What to do instead: Do NOT sign anything without attorney review

4. Posting details on social media before talking to a lawyer

   • Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt case
   • What to do instead: Document privately; let your lawyer control messaging

5. Waiting “to see how the university handles it”

   • Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute runs
   • What to do instead: Preserve evidence NOW; consult lawyer immediately

FAQ: Answers for Linden Families

“Can we sue a Texas university for hazing?”
Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have sovereign immunity protections but exceptions exist for gross negligence. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity protections. Every case depends on specific facts.

“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 hazing causes serious bodily injury or death.

“What if my child ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure isn’t true voluntary consent.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if harm wasn’t immediately known. Time is critical—call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately.

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

“Will this be confidential?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. You can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms. We prioritize your family’s privacy.

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases: Our Unique Qualifications

When your Linden 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. From our Houston office, we serve families throughout Texas, including Linden and all of Cass County.

Our Competitive Advantages for Linden Families:

Insurance Insider Knowledge (Mr. Lupe Peña):

• Former insurance defense attorney at a national firm
• Knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value hazing claims
• Understands their delay tactics, coverage exclusion arguments, and settlement strategies
• “We know their playbook because we used to run it.”

Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions (Ralph Manginello):

• One of the few Texas firms involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation
• Federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas)
• Not intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their defense teams
• “We’ve taken on billion-dollar corporations and won. We know how to fight powerful defendants.”

Active Texas Hazing Litigation Experience:

• Currently representing Leonel Bermudez in $10M UH Pi Kappa Phi case
• Deep understanding of Texas hazing laws and university policies
• Experience with Texas-specific defenses like sovereign immunity

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death and Catastrophic Injury Experience:

• Proven track record in complex wrongful death cases
• Experience valuing lifetime care needs for permanent injuries
• Collaboration with economists, life care planners, medical experts
• “We don’t settle cheap. We build cases that force accountability.”

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise:

• Ralph’s membership in Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA)
• Understands how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation
• Can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure

Investigative Depth and Texas Data Advantage:

• Network of experts: medical, digital forensics, economists, psychologists
• Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: 1,423 Greek organizations tracked across 25 metros
• Experience obtaining hidden evidence through discovery and public records requests
• “We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does.”

Spanish-Language Services:

• Mr. Lupe Peña speaks fluent Spanish
• Servicios legales en español disponibles para familias hispanas
• Contact Lupe directamente: lupe@atty911.com

Call to Action for Linden Families

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus, we want to hear from you. Families in Linden, Atlanta, Hughes Springs, and throughout Cass County have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We’ll listen to what happened, explain your legal options, and help you decide on the best path forward.

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 what to expect
• Answer your 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 Services: Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com

Whether you’re in Linden or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The patterns we’ve seen—from the UH Pi Kappa Phi case to national tragedies—show that accountability only comes when families take action. Call us today.

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