For Families in Glenn Heights: The Complete Texas Hazing & Fraternity Lawsuit Guide

If your child was hazed at a Texas university, you are not alone, and you have legal options. This comprehensive guide, written specifically for parents and families in Glenn Heights and across Dallas County, explains what hazing really looks like in 2025, your rights under Texas law, and how to hold powerful institutions accountable.

A Parent’s Worst Fear: When “Tradition” Becomes Trauma in Texas

Imagine your child, a student at a prestigious Texas university, texts you late one night. The messages are vague but worrying—mentioning “mandatory” late-night events, exhaustion, and a fear of letting their new “brothers” or “sisters” down. Weeks later, you get the call no parent ever wants: your child is in the emergency room. The diagnosis isn’t from a sports injury or an accident, but from a systematic campaign of abuse disguised as initiation. Their urine is brown from severe muscle breakdown. They’ve suffered acute kidney failure. The cause? Hazing.

This is not a hypothetical scenario. Right now, our firm is fighting this exact battle. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who endured brutal hazing as a pledge of the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter in Fall 2025. His story—detailed in a $10 million lawsuit—involves forced humiliation, physical torture, and medical catastrophe. He was required to carry a “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms and sex toys, sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced to consume milk and hot dogs until vomiting, and subjected to extreme workouts that led to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, resulting in a four-day hospitalization with risk of permanent damage.

For families in Glenn Heights, Dallas County, and throughout North Texas, this case is critical proof: hazing isn’t “boys being boys” or harmless pranks. It’s a dangerous, often criminal practice that thrives in the Greek systems, athletic teams, and Corps programs where our children seek belonging. Whether your student attends the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, or any other Texas campus, the patterns are tragically similar.

This guide exists to arm you with knowledge. We will explain the modern reality of hazing, the Texas legal framework that protects your child, the national organizations behind local chapters, and the practical steps to take if you suspect abuse. Our firm, Attorney911, is leading this fight in Texas courtrooms. We believe that when families are informed, they are empowered to seek justice and prevent future harm.

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 all group chats, texts, and DMs. Photograph injuries from multiple angles. Save physical items.
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
• Do NOT: Confront the fraternity/sorority directly, sign anything from the university or insurance company, post details on public social media, or let your child delete messages.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears fast. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

1. Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like for Glenn Heights Families

For parents in Glenn Heights whose college experience may have been decades ago, today’s hazing has evolved far beyond stereotypes. It’s more digital, psychologically manipulative, and often disguised as “team building” or “character development.” Understanding its forms is the first step in recognizing danger.

The Modern Definition: Coercion, Not Choice

Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—directed against a student for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining membership in any group. The critical element is the power imbalance and coercion. The question isn’t “Did they agree?” but “Was their agreement truly free, or given under intense social pressure, fear of exclusion, and desire to belong?”

Texas law (Education Code Chapter 37) explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. The courts recognize that a first-year student desperate for friendship cannot freely consent to abuse from older members who control their social future.

The Four Tiers of Modern Hazing

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing & Digital Control
This establishes power dynamics and often precedes worse abuse. It includes:

• Mandatory Servitude: Being “on call” 24/7 as a designated driver, for cleaning duties, or running errands for active members.
• Social Isolation: Being told to cut contact with non-members, family, or romantic partners.
• Psychological Games: Being assigned a derogatory nickname or identity, forced to ask permission for basic activities.
• Digital Hazing (Most Common Today): Required to respond instantly to GroupMe or WhatsApp messages at all hours, share live location via apps, post humiliating content on social media, or participate in TikTok “challenges.”

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing
Behaviors that cause emotional or physical discomfort, creating a hostile environment:

• Sleep Deprivation: Mandatory 3 AM wake-up calls, overnight “study sessions,” or multi-day events with minimal rest.
• Verbal Abuse & Degradation: Yelling, screaming, “roasts,” or being forced to confess embarrassing secrets.
• Forced Consumption: Eating excessive amounts of bland food (like gallons of milk), hot sauce, or other unpleasant substances.
• Strenuous “Workouts”: Calisthenics framed as “conditioning” but designed to punish and exhaust—bear crawls, wall sits until collapse, wheelbarrow races.

Tier 3: Violent & Life-Threatening Hazing
Activities with high potential for serious injury, sexual assault, or death. This is where cases like Leonel Bermudez’s occur:

• Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: The single most common fatal hazing method. “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, “Bible study” drinking games where wrong answers mean drinking, lineups, keg stands beyond safe limits.
• Physical Beatings & Paddling: Despite national prohibitions, paddling persists, especially in some NPHC (Divine Nine) traditions. Punches, kicks, and slaps are also common.
• Dangerous Physical Tests: The “glass ceiling” ritual (blindfolded tackling), forced fights, being restrained or tied up (like the Pi Kappa Phi pledge who was hog-tied face-down with an object in his mouth).
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk”), sexual assault or coercion.
• Exposure to Extremes: Locked in freezing rooms, left outside in cold weather in underwear (as in the UH case), denied access to bathrooms.

Tier 4: The Cover-Up Culture
After injury occurs, the most dangerous phase often begins: the coordinated effort to avoid accountability. This includes deleting group chats, coaching members on what to say to police, intimidating witnesses, and delaying calls for medical help—a delay that has proven fatal in cases like Timothy Piazza’s at Penn State.

Where Hazing Happens: It’s Not Just Fraternities

While Greek life is a predominant source, hazing permeates many campus organizations:

• Fraternities & Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural Greek Councils)
• Corps of Cadets & ROTC Programs (especially at Texas A&M)
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading)
• Spirit & Tradition Organizations (like the Texas Cowboys at UT)
• Marching Bands & Performance Groups
• Academic & Service Clubs

For Glenn Heights parents, the key takeaway is this: if your child is joining any group that has an initiation process, power hierarchy, and emphasis on tradition, you must be vigilant. The lines between “bonding” and “abuse” are deliberately blurred by those in power.

2. Texas Hazing Law & Liability: What Glenn Heights Families Need to Know

Texas has specific laws criminalizing hazing and establishing civil liability. Understanding this framework is essential for knowing your rights and the potential consequences for those who harm your child.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Criminal Statute

The Texas hazing law, found in the Education Code, provides clear definitions and penalties:

§ 37.151 – Definition:
Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in any organization that endangers the student’s mental or physical health or safety. This broad definition captures everything from forced drinking to psychological torment.

§ 37.152 – Criminal Penalties:

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause serious bodily injury (up to 180 days in jail, fine up to $2,000).
• Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes bodily injury requiring medical treatment.
• State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Additional crimes: Failure to report hazing (if you’re a member/officer and knew) and retaliation against someone who reports are also misdemeanors.

§ 37.155 – Consent is NOT a Defense:
This is perhaps the most important provision for families. The law states: “It is not a defense to prosecution that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” In plain English: even if your child “went along with it,” the perpetrators can still be prosecuted.

§ 37.154 – Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting:
A person who in good faith reports hazing to university officials or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability that might result from the report. Many Texas universities extend this to medical amnesty: students who call 911 for an alcohol-related emergency, even if underage, are protected from university discipline to encourage life-saving action.

Civil Liability: The Path to Accountability & Compensation

A criminal case, pursued by the state, aims to punish. A civil lawsuit, which our firm files on behalf of victims, aims to compensate for harms and hold all responsible parties accountable. These cases can proceed even if no criminal charges are ever filed.

In a civil hazing case, we can seek damages for:

• Medical Expenses (past and future ER care, hospitalization, surgery, therapy)
• Lost Wages & Earning Capacity (if injuries affect ability to work or finish school)
• Physical Pain & Suffering
• Mental Anguish & Emotional Distress (PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation)
• Punitive Damages (to punish especially reckless or malicious conduct)

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

One of the most critical aspects of hazing litigation is identifying every entity with responsibility and insurance coverage. We use our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine to map this liability universe:

1. The Individual Perpetrators: The students who planned, executed, or directly participated in the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The fraternity, sorority, or club as an entity (if incorporated).
3. Chapter Officers & Leaders: The president, pledgemaster, risk manager, and others in positions of authority who knew or should have known.
4. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: This is often where significant insurance coverage exists. Nationals can be liable for negligent supervision—failing to enforce their own anti-hazing policies or ignoring patterns of misconduct across chapters. In the Bermudez case, Pi Kappa Phi national is a defendant.
5. The University: Public universities (like UH, Texas A&M, UT) have some sovereign immunity, but can be sued for gross negligence or deliberate indifference. If the university knew of prior hazing and failed to act, liability is possible. Private schools (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity protections.
6. Housing Corporations & Alumni Boards: Separate legal entities that own chapter houses or manage alumni relations often carry insurance.
7. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol (under Texas Dram Shop law), or security companies.

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

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, or is based on gender, it triggers Title IX obligations for the university to investigate and address a hostile environment.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain crimes, including hazing that involves assault, burglary, or alcohol/drug violations.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): A new federal law requiring colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs by 2026. This will increase transparency for families.

For Glenn Heights families, the legal landscape is complex but navigable. The combination of Texas criminal law and civil negligence theories provides multiple avenues to seek justice. The challenge is that defendants—wealthy national fraternities and large universities—have experienced defense lawyers and deep pockets. This is why having counsel with equivalent experience and resources is not just an advantage; it’s a necessity.

3. The Flagship Case: Leonel Bermudez vs. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi

To understand what a serious Texas hazing case looks like, and what our firm is actively litigating right now, we detail the case that has become a rallying cry for accountability.

The Victim: Leonel Bermudez

A transfer student at the University of Houston who accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter in September 2025, seeking community and friendship.

The Systematic Hazing (Fall 2025)

The abuse was not a single event but a coordinated campaign over weeks:

• The “Pledge Fanny Pack”: Bermudez and other pledges were forced to carry a fanny pack 24/7 containing condoms, a sex toy, nicotine devices, and other humiliating items. Failure to have it meant punishment.
• Enforced Servitude: Strict dress codes, hours-long “study/work” blocks, weekly interviews, and overnight chauffeuring duties for active members.
• Physical & Psychological Torment:
  • Sprints, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, and “save-your-brother” drills.
  • Being forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass.
  • Simulated Waterboarding: Sprayed in the face with a hose while threats of actual waterboarding were made.
  • Forced Consumption: Made to drink milk and eat hot dogs with peppercorns until vomiting, then forced to immediately run sprints.
  • The November 3 Workout: Forced to do over 100 push-ups and 500 squats while reciting the fraternity creed under threat of expulsion. This extreme exertion was the direct cause of his medical crisis.
  • Other Pledge Abuse: Another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. Other dawn workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park left pledges losing consciousness.

The Medical Catastrophe

After the November 3 workout, Bermudez’s body began to shut down. He was unable to stand without help. Days later, he passed brown urine—a classic sign of rhabdomyolysis. His mother rushed him to the hospital where he was admitted for four days. Lab tests confirmed:

• Critically High Creatine Kinase (CK) Levels: Evidence of severe skeletal muscle breakdown.
• Rhabdomyolysis: A life-threatening condition where damaged muscle tissue floods the bloodstream, overwhelming the kidneys.
• Acute Kidney Failure: His kidneys were unable to filter toxins, requiring urgent medical intervention.
  He faces an ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage and long-term physical and psychological harm.

The Defendants: A Full Universe of Responsibility

Our lawsuit, filed in Harris County, names every entity we believe shares liability:

1. The University of Houston and the UH System Board of Regents
2. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity’s National Headquarters
3. The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu Housing Corporation
4. 13 Individual Fraternity Leaders/Members, including the chapter president, pledgemaster, sorority relations chair, and risk manager.

The Institutional Response & Why It Matters

• November 6, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters suspended the Beta Nu chapter after receiving hazing reports.
• November 14, 2025: Chapter members voted to surrender their charter. The chapter was permanently shut down.
• University of Houston Statement: UH called the alleged conduct “deeply disturbing,” promised disciplinary measures up to expulsion, and confirmed cooperation with law enforcement.

This case is a blueprint. It shows:

• The Severity: How hazing escalates from humiliation to life-threatening injury.
• The Institutional Web: How liability extends from individual members to national organizations and the university itself.
• The Evidence: The critical importance of medical records, witness accounts, and a detailed timeline.
• The Goal: Full accountability to compensate the victim and force systemic change to protect others.

For a Glenn Heights family, this case is Texas-specific proof that the worst can and does happen at our state’s universities. It also proves that with dedicated legal action, chapters can be shut down, nationals can be forced to answer, and victims can fight for justice.

4. The Greek Ecosystem Around Glenn Heights & North Texas: A Data-Driven Look

Glenn Heights is part of the vibrant and sprawling Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area—a hub with one of the highest concentrations of Greek-letter organizations in the United States. Understanding this local and statewide network is key to grasping the scale of the system your child may be entering.

The Metro Reality: 500+ Greek Organizations in DFW

According to our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, which compiles IRS filings, university rosters, and organizational data, the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area is home to over 500 fraternities, sororities, and related Greek entities. These range from undergraduate chapters at universities to alumni associations, honor societies, and housing corporations scattered across cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, Frisco, and Irving.

This means a student from Glenn Heights attending a DFW school like UT Dallas, Texas Woman’s University, or SMU is entering a Greek landscape with deep roots and complex overlapping structures. The same national brands present at major state schools also have graduate chapters and support networks in our own backyard.

Where Glenn Heights Families Send Their Students: Campus Connections

Parents in Glenn Heights and southern Dallas County typically see their students attend a mix of local institutions and major statewide universities. Our legal work involves understanding these pathways.

Local & Regional Campuses (within commuting distance or common choices):

• University of Texas at Dallas (Richardson, Dallas County)
• Texas Woman’s University (Denton, Denton County)
• University of North Texas (Denton, Denton County)
• Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Dallas County)
• Dallas Baptist University (Dallas, Dallas County)
• University of North Texas at Dallas (Dallas, Dallas County)
• Tarleton State University – Fort Worth (Tarrant County)

Major Statewide University Hubs (Where Glenn Heights students commonly enroll):

• University of Houston (Harris County)
• Texas A&M University (Brazos County)
• University of Texas at Austin (Travis County)
• Baylor University (McLennan County)
• Texas Tech University (Lubbock County)
• Texas State University (Hays County)

The legal jurisdiction for a hazing case depends on where the incident occurred. A hazing event at an off-campus house in College Station falls under Brazos County courts. An injury at a Dallas bar after an SMU event involves Dallas County. Our firm is admitted in federal courts and works with local counsel across Texas to ensure seamless representation, no matter where your child goes to school.

5. Public Records Directory: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Entities Connected to Texas Campuses

One of our firm’s strategic advantages is the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database built from public records that tracks the legal and financial backbone of Greek life in Texas. We maintain this to quickly identify every potentially liable entity in a hazing case. Below is a sample of the kind of data we utilize, showing the complex organizational landscape behind the Greek letters. This is public information compiled from IRS filings (Form 990/B83 data) and other sources.

This directory illustrates that fraternities and sororities are not just student clubs; they are often formal legal entities with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), insurance policies, and national hierarchies.

A Snapshot of Texas Greek Organizations in IRS Records

The following are real entities listed in IRS public filings as of our latest data compilation. Being listed does not imply any wrongdoing; it simply demonstrates the formal infrastructure.

Entity: Beta Upsilon Chi | EIN: 74-2911848 | Location: Fort Worth, TX 76244 | Notes: Fraternity foundation in the DFW metro.
Entity: Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc. | EIN: 74-1380362 | Location: Fort Worth, TX 76147 | Notes: Kappa Sigma housing and educational foundation.
Entity: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Arlington-Grand Prairie Alumni Chapter | EIN: 23-2452759 | Location: Grand Prairie, TX 75054 | Notes: Alumni chapter of national NPHC fraternity.
Entity: Sigma Phi Lambda Inc. | EIN: 20-1237505 | Location: Corinth, TX 76210 | Notes: National Christian sorority with a Beta Chapter listing.
Entity: Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas Woman’s University Chapter | EIN: 26-3170920 | Location: Denton, TX 76204 | Notes: Academic honor society chapter.
Entity: Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Alumni | EIN: 74-6064445 | Location: Nederland, TX 77627 | Notes: Alumni association connected to a Texas chapter.
Entity: Chi Omega Fraternity – House Corporation | EIN: 74-0555581 | Location: Austin, TX 78705 | Notes: Chapter housing corporation at UT Austin.
Entity: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Mu Zeta Chapter | EIN: 75-2609909 | Location: Commerce, TX 75428 | Notes: Undergraduate chapter of national NPHC sorority.
Entity: Frank Heflin Foundation (Phi Delta Theta Alumni) | EIN: 20-3507402 | Location: Canyon, TX 79015 | Notes: Alumni fund associated with a Texas chapter.
Entity: Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc. – Theta Delta Chapter | EIN: 47-5370943 | Location: Houston, TX 77204 | Notes: Undergraduate chapter at University of Houston.

Why This Directory Matters to Glenn Heights Parents:
When hazing occurs, the immediate reaction is to focus on the students in the room. However, lasting accountability and meaningful compensation often come from the organizations behind them—the national headquarters that set policy, the housing corporations that own the properties, and the alumni groups that provide oversight. These entities have insurance and assets. Our data engine allows us to immediately identify and investigate these organizations, preventing them from hiding behind the claim that “it was just a few rogue kids.”

6. National Hazing Histories: Why Patterns at OSwego or Penn State Matter in Texas

A common defense from national fraternities is, “We didn’t know what our local chapter was doing.” Our response, backed by decades of case law, is: “You should have known.” A national organization’s history of hazing incidents across the country creates “foreseeability”—a legal concept meaning the risk was predictable and should have been prevented.

Here are just a few examples of national patterns that directly impact Texas cases:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): The national fraternity involved in the Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green State University (2021). Foltz was forced to drink a bottle of alcohol and died. This resulted in a $10 million settlement and criminal convictions. When a Texas Pike chapter engages in forced drinking, the national’s knowledge of this lethal pattern is a powerful liability factor.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Dubbed the “deadliest fraternity” by some publications, SAE has been involved in numerous hazing deaths and injuries nationwide, including a traumatic brain injury lawsuit at the University of Alabama and a chemical burns case at Texas A&M where pledges were doused with industrial cleaner.
• Phi Delta Theta: The fraternity involved in the Max Gruver death at LSU (2017), which led to Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act” strengthening hazing laws. Gruver died during a “Bible study” drinking game.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The national fraternity we are currently suing in the Bermudez case. Its history includes the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State University (2017), another alcohol poisoning case during a “Big Brother” night.

The Legal Takeaway for Texas Families: In a civil lawsuit, we can subpoena a national fraternity’s internal records to show how many times they’ve been warned, how many chapters they’ve suspended for hazing, and whether their “anti-hazing training” is merely window dressing. This pattern evidence is crucial for defeating the “rogue chapter” defense and for seeking punitive damages. The same dangerous traditions—Big/Little drinking nights, forced calisthenics, humiliating rituals—are recycled from campus to campus, from state to state. What happened to Stone Foltz in Ohio is tragically foreseeable in Texas.

7. Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and the Attorney911 Advantage

If you suspect hazing, immediate and strategic action is critical. The first 72 hours often determine whether a case can be successfully built. Here is our approach, honed over decades of complex litigation against institutions like BP, national insurance companies, and now, universities and fraternities.

Phase 1: Emergency Evidence Preservation (The First 48 Hours)

Evidence in hazing cases is notoriously ephemeral. Group chats are deleted, witnesses are coached, and physical signs fade. Our first step is guiding families to preserve everything:

• Digital Forensics: Screenshot ALL group messages (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord). Do not delete anything, even if embarrassing. We work with digital experts who can sometimes recover deleted data.
• Photo/Video Documentation: Photograph injuries from multiple angles daily to show progression. Take pictures of locations, alcohol bottles, or props used.
• Medical Records: Go to the ER or a doctor immediately. Ensure the medical record states the injuries are “due to hazing” or “fraternity initiation events.” This creates a crucial link.
• Witness List: Write down names and contact information for every other pledge, member, or bystander.
• Secure Physical Evidence: Preserve clothing, the “pledge fanny pack,” paddles, or any other objects involved.

We have an educational video detailing this critical step: Using Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case.

Phase 2: The Investigative Engine

While the family tends to immediate needs, our legal team activates:

• Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We run the names of the involved fraternity/sorority through our database to identify every related legal entity—national HQ, housing corp, alumni chapter—for potential liability and insurance coverage.
• Public Records & Discovery Demands: We subpoena university conduct records for the chapter’s prior violations. We demand the national fraternity’s risk management files and incident reports from other chapters.
• Expert Network: We engage medical experts to explain the long-term impact of injuries like rhabdomyolysis, psychologists to diagnose PTSD, and economists to calculate lifelong damages if earning capacity is affected.

Phase 3: Navigating the Dual-Track System

Hazing cases often proceed on two parallel tracks:

1. University Disciplinary Process: The school may conduct its own investigation, which can result in chapter suspension or expulsion of students. We caution families: university processes are designed to protect the institution, not necessarily your child. Do not sign any settlement or resolution agreement from the university without an attorney’s review.
2. Civil Lawsuit: Our separate legal action seeks financial compensation and broader accountability from all liable parties. A strong civil case can often pressure the university to take more meaningful action.

Why Attorney911’s Specific Expertise Matters

1. Insurance Insider Knowledge (Mr. Lupe Peña): Mr. Peña (he/him) spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows precisely how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny claims, argue exclusions, and lowball settlements. We know their playbook because we used to help write it.
2. Complex Institutional Litigation (Ralph Manginello): Our involvement in the BP Texas City explosion litigation proved our ability to take on billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal resources. National fraternities and major universities use the same tactics: delay, deny, and outspend. We are not intimidated.
3. Dual Civil/Criminal Understanding (HCCLA Membership): Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association means we understand the criminal exposure hazing participants may face. This allows us to strategically advise families and witnesses navigating both systems.
4. Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña is a fluent Spanish speaker, ensuring we can serve the diverse families of Texas, including Hispanic families affected by hazing, without language barriers.

8. Critical Guide for Glenn Heights Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps

Red Flags Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Physical: Unexplained bruises, burns, or limping. Extreme fatigue beyond normal studying. Sudden weight loss/gain.
• Behavioral: Becoming secretive about group activities. Withdrawing from old friends and family. Personality shifts toward anxiety, depression, or irritability. Defensiveness when asked about the organization.
• Digital: Constant, anxious phone monitoring of group chats. Receiving calls/texts at all hours requiring immediate response.
• Academic: Grades plummeting, missing classes, falling asleep in school.
• Financial: Unaccountable large expenses, maxed-out cards for “fines” or “mandatory” purchases.

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly & Supportively: Avoid accusations. Say, “I’m worried about you. Are you safe? Is there anything you’re being asked to do that makes you uncomfortable?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If there is immediate danger or intoxication, call 911.
3. Document & Preserve: Follow the evidence steps in Section 7.
4. Seek Legal Counsel BEFORE Reporting: Once you report to the university, the organization will likely lock down and destroy evidence. An attorney can help you report strategically to preserve your rights. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 to discuss.

For Students: Is This Hazing? How to Get Out Safely.

Ask Yourself:

• Am I being pressured to do something I wouldn’t normally do?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would I do this if I knew there were no social consequences for saying no?
• Am I being told to keep it a secret?

If the answer is YES, it is hazing.

Your Rights & Exit Strategies:

• You Have the Right to Leave: At any time, for any reason. No “pledge oath” overrides your safety.
• Safe Reporting: You can report anonymously through university hotlines or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE.
• Medical Amnesty/Good Faith Reporting: Texas law and most university policies protect you from discipline if you call 911 for someone in an alcohol-related emergency.
• If You Fear Retaliation: Document any threats (screenshots). Report them to campus police and the Dean of Students. You may be eligible for a no-contact order.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Hazing Case

We have a full video on this topic, but the summary is vital:

• MISTAKE 1: Deleting Evidence. “Cleaning up” group chats is evidence destruction. PRESERVE, DON’T DELETE.
• MISTAKE 2: Confronting the Organization First. This gives them a head start to lawyer up, destroy evidence, and coach witnesses.
• MISTAKE 3: Signing University Papers. Universities may offer a quick “resolution” agreement that waives your right to sue. Do not sign anything without an attorney.
• MISTAKE 4: Posting on Social Media. Defense attorneys scour social media for inconsistencies. Let your lawyer control the narrative.
• MISTAKE 5: Waiting Too Long. Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury in most cases, but evidence and memories fade fast. Act now. Learn more about deadlines in our video: Texas Statutes of Limitations.

9. Your Next Step: A Confidential Consultation with Attorney911

If this guide has resonated with you—if you see pieces of your child’s story in the warnings, or recognize the patterns from a recent crisis—you do not have to navigate this alone.

Why Choose Attorney911 for Your Hazing Case?

We are not a general personal injury firm dabbling in hazing. We are Texas-based complex litigation specialists who have made hazing accountability a core practice. We combine:

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation: We are in the courtroom right now on the Bermudez vs. UH case.
• A Data-Driven Advantage: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine gives us an investigative head start.
• Insider Knowledge: We know how the other side fights because Mr. Peña was once on their side.
• A Mission for Accountability: We seek compensation for our clients, but we also fight to expose systemic failures and prevent the next tragedy.

Our Promise for Your Free Consultation

When you call 1-888-ATTY-911, you will speak directly with our team. Your consultation is:

• Confidential: Everything you tell us is protected by attorney-client privilege.
• Compassionate: We listen without judgment. We know this is traumatic.
• Educational: We explain your legal options in plain English—criminal reporting, civil lawsuits, university processes.
• No-Pressure: We will not pressure you to hire us. We will give you the information you need to make the best decision for your family.
• Contingency-Fee Based: For civil cases, we work on a contingency fee—you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case. Learn how this works: How Do Contingency Fees Work?

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) Today

Serving Glenn Heights, Dallas County, and Families Across Texas

Phone (24/7): 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
Attorney Emails: Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com | Mr. Lupe Peña: lupe@atty911.com
Website: https://attorney911.com

Se Habla Español. Mr. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

Whether your student is at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, Baylor, or any other Texas campus, the time to act is now. Evidence disappears, witnesses scatter, and institutions close ranks. Let us help you secure the evidence, understand your rights, and pursue the accountability your family deserves.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit:

• Click2Houston (KPRC 2) Coverage: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/
• ABC13 (KTRK) Coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Hoodline Summary: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational YouTube Videos:

• Using Your Phone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website & Contact:

• Firm Website: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change, and every case is unique. For legal advice regarding your specific situation, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, for a confidential consultation.