The Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuits for Pilot Point, Texas Families: Your Rights and Path to Accountability

A North Texas Parent’s Worst Nightmare Is Real

Your child left for college with dreams of friendship, tradition, and belonging. They wanted the full university experience—the football games, the lifelong connections, the pride of being part of something bigger. For many students from Pilot Point and across Denton County, that path leads through fraternities, sororities, Corps programs, athletic teams, or spirit groups. But what happens when the pursuit of belonging turns dangerous? When “tradition” becomes systematic abuse? When your child comes home from a weekend visit with unexplained injuries, a changed personality, or worse, doesn’t come home at all?

Right now, in Houston, we’re fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history. Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston transfer student, is represented by our firm in a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The allegations are not vague or generalized—they’re specific, documented, and horrifying. Bermudez was subjected to a “pledge fanny pack” humiliation rule carrying condoms and sex toys, forced through extreme physical workouts in Houston’s Yellowstone Boulevard Park, sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and made to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting. The culmination was a November 3rd workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats that left him with rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, brown urine, and a four-day hospitalization with ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

This is not an isolated incident in some distant state. This is happening here in Texas, at our flagship universities, to students who could be from Pilot Point, from Aubrey, from Sanger, from any of our Denton County communities. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter was suspended and then shut down, with members voting to surrender their charter. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” But for the Bermudez family, and for any family facing this nightmare, institutional statements are not enough. Real accountability requires legal action.

This guide is written specifically for parents and families in Pilot Point, across Denton County, and throughout North Texas who need to understand the reality of modern hazing, their legal rights under Texas law, and how to protect their children when universities and Greek organizations fail in their fundamental duty of care.

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 Beyond the Stereotypes

For families in Pilot Point, where community values and trust in institutions run deep, understanding modern hazing requires looking beyond dated stereotypes of “boys will be boys” pranks. Today’s hazing is systematic, often digitally coordinated, and frighteningly sophisticated in its psychological manipulation.

A Clear, 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. Critically—and this is where many Pilot Point families get understandably confused—”I agreed to it” or “they wanted to fit in” does not make it safe or legal when there is peer pressure and power imbalance. The law recognizes what parents intuitively know: an 18-year-old facing social exclusion and group pressure isn’t making a free choice.

Main Categories of Hazing: From Subtle to Violent

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and deadly form. It’s not “just drinking at a party.” It’s forced consumption rituals: “lineups” where pledges must quickly consume dangerous amounts, “Big/Little” nights where a handle of liquor is presented as a “gift,” games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean forced drinking. In the Bermudez case at UH, the forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns was designed to induce vomiting—then immediate sprints followed.

Physical Hazing
Beyond traditional paddling, modern physical hazing includes extreme calisthenics masquerading as “workouts”—like the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats that caused Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis. Sleep deprivation extends to 3 AM wake-up calls for “mandatory meetings.” Food and water restriction, exposure to extreme temperatures, and dangerous physical tests are common.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk,” “roasted pig” positions), degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. The “pledge fanny pack” in the UH case containing condoms and sex toys falls squarely here—designed to humiliate 24/7.

Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming. This creates the psychological conditions that make physical hazing possible.

Digital/Online Hazing
For Pilot Point parents whose children seem constantly on their phones, this is critical to understand. Group chat dares on GroupMe or Discord, “challenges” shared via Instagram or TikTok, pressure to create or share compromising images/videos, and 24/7 availability demands create a prison without walls.

Where Hazing Actually Happens in Texas Universities

While fraternities and sororities dominate headlines, hazing occurs in:

• Corps of Cadets and ROTC programs
• Athletic teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer)
• Spirit squads and tradition clubs
• Marching bands and performance groups
• Some service, cultural, and academic organizations

The common thread isn’t the type of organization but the dynamics of power, tradition, and secrecy that keep these practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas Statutes and Federal Overlay

For Pilot Point families navigating a hazing crisis, understanding the legal landscape is the first step toward meaningful action. Texas has specific laws, but federal requirements add additional layers of protection and obligation.

Texas Hazing Law Basics: Education Code Chapter 37

Texas defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that endangers mental or physical health for purposes of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership. Key provisions every Denton County family should know:

Criminal Penalties (Section 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: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death

Organizational Liability (Section 37.153)
Fraternities, sororities, clubs, and teams can be prosecuted if they authorized or encouraged hazing, or if an officer knew and failed to report it. Organizations face fines up to $10,000 per violation, and universities can revoke recognition.

Critical Protections for Your Child

• Consent is NOT a defense (Section 37.155): Even if your child “agreed,” it’s still a crime if it meets the hazing definition.
• Good-Faith Reporting Immunity (Section 37.154): Those who report hazing in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result.
• Medical Amnesty: Most Texas universities and state law provide protection for those calling 911 in alcohol emergencies, even if they were drinking underage.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases

• Brought by the state (prosecutor)
• Aim: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical charges: Hazing offenses, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases
• Important: A criminal conviction is NOT required to pursue a civil case

Civil Cases

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Aim: Monetary compensation and institutional accountability
• Focus on: Negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress
• For Pilot Point families: Civil cases often provide the only meaningful accountability against well-insured organizations

Federal Overlay: Additional Protections

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024)
Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently, strengthen prevention, and maintain public hazing data (phased in by 2026). This will increase transparency at universities your Pilot Point children may attend.

Title IX & Clery Act
When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger additional reporting and investigation requirements. The Clery Act requires reporting certain crimes—hazing often overlaps with assault or alcohol crimes that must be publicly disclosed.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Individual Students
Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up. In the UH case, 13 individual fraternity leaders are named.

Local Chapter/Organization
The fraternity/sorority or club itself if it’s a legal entity. The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu housing corporation is a defendant in the Bermudez case.

National Fraternity/Sorority
Headquarters that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters is named in the UH lawsuit based on what they knew or should have known.

University or Governing Board
Schools may be sued under negligence or civil-rights theories. The University of Houston and UH System Board of Regents are defendants alongside the fraternity.

Third Parties
Landlords of event spaces, bars or alcohol providers (under dram shop theories), security companies. In the UH case, a Culmore Drive residence owned by a former member and spouse was a hazing location.

Every case is fact-specific, but this comprehensive approach ensures all potentially responsible parties are held accountable.

National Hazing Case Patterns: Lessons for Texas Families

The Bermudez case at UH isn’t an anomaly—it’s part of documented national patterns. Understanding these patterns helps Pilot Point families recognize that what happened to their child follows predictable scripts that organizations should have prevented.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern: The Deadly “Tradition”

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
A bid-acceptance event with heavy drinking led to severe falls captured on chapter cameras. Help was delayed for hours. Dozens faced criminal charges; Pennsylvania enacted the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. For Pilot Point families: The delay in calling 911 and culture of silence are legally devastating patterns.

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. Louisiana enacted the Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony. Takeaway: Legislative change follows tragedy—Texas families can drive similar reforms.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
Forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey during pledge night, Foltz died from alcohol poisoning. The family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU). For Denton County families: Universities face significant financial consequences alongside fraternities.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
A blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat caused fatal head injuries with delayed help. The national fraternity was convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. Important for Texas parents: Off-campus “retreats” are common hazing locations, and national organizations face serious sanctions.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program. Multiple lawsuits led to the head coach’s firing and confidential settlements. For Pilot Point families with athletes: Hazing extends beyond Greek life to big-money athletic programs.

What These Cases Mean for Pilot Point Families

Common threads in these national cases mirror what we see in Texas: forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, and cover-ups. Multi-million-dollar settlements and legislative reforms typically follow only after tragedy and litigation. Your family doesn’t have to wait for tragedy—understanding these patterns helps build stronger cases before the unthinkable happens.

Texas Focus: Where Pilot Point Families Send Their Students

Pilot Point sits in the heart of Denton County, with educational pathways leading to institutions across North Texas and the state. Understanding the hazing landscape at these schools is critical for local families.

The Local & Regional Campuses Serving Denton County

University of North Texas (Denton)
Just minutes from Pilot Point, UNT hosts active Greek life with both historic and recent hazing concerns. As a major university in our own county, UNT’s policies and practices directly impact Pilot Point families.

Texas Woman’s University (Denton)
Another Denton County institution with Greek life and organizational activities where hazing can occur, particularly in spirit groups and organizations beyond traditional sororities.

North Central Texas College (Gainesville)
While less associated with traditional Greek life, athletic teams and student organizations at community colleges can still harbor hazing cultures.

Major Statewide Hubs: Where Pilot Point Students Often Attend

Texas A&M University (College Station)
Many Pilot Point students pursue the Aggie tradition. The Corps of Cadets culture carries particular hazing risks, with a 2023 lawsuit alleging degrading acts including simulated sexual positions and binding. Sigma Alpha Epsilon faced a lawsuit over chemical burns from industrial cleaner poured on pledges. Texas A&M’s size and tradition-heavy environment require particular vigilance from Denton County families.

University of Texas at Austin
UT’s relatively transparent Hazing Violations page reveals ongoing issues despite policies. Recent entries show Pi Kappa Alpha directing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics—echoing the forced consumption in the UH Bermudez case. For Pilot Point students at UT, documented patterns of violations can strengthen civil cases.

University of Houston
The Bermudez case demonstrates UH’s serious hazing problem. Despite policies prohibiting hazing on or off campus, the systematic abuse occurred at multiple locations over weeks. UH’s response—calling conduct “deeply disturbing” while facing a $10 million lawsuit—shows the gap between policy and reality.

Southern Methodist University (Dallas)
SMU’s affluent campus and strong Greek presence include hazing incidents like the Kappa Alpha Order 2017 case involving paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation. Private university status affects transparency, often requiring litigation to uncover truth.

Baylor University (Waco)
Baylor’s 2020 baseball hazing incident resulting in 14 player suspensions shows hazing extends beyond Greek life. The university’s religious identity and past scandals create complex dynamics for families seeking accountability.

How Hazing Cases at These Campuses Might Proceed

For Pilot Point families, geographic jurisdiction matters:

• UNT/TWU cases: Denton County courts, Denton police departments
• Texas A&M cases: Brazos County courts, College Station police
• UT Austin cases: Travis County courts, Austin police
• UH cases: Harris County courts, Houston police
• SMU cases: Dallas County courts, Dallas police
• Baylor cases: McLennan County courts, Waco police

Our firm serves families statewide from our Houston, Austin, and Beaumont offices, with particular understanding of Texas court systems and procedures.

The Greek Ecosystem Around Pilot Point: Public Records Reality

Many Pilot Point families are surprised to learn that fraternities and sororities are not just social clubs but often incorporated entities with tax IDs, insurance policies, and legal structures. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks these organizations so families don’t start from zero.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Pilot Point Families

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area, which includes Denton County, contains 510 Greek-related organizations according to Cause IQ data. These aren’t just undergraduate chapters but alumni associations, housing corporations, honor societies, and educational foundations—all potential sources of liability and insurance coverage.

Examples from the DFW Metro Serving Our Region:

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity – 12650 N Beach St #30, Suite 114, Fort Worth, TX 76244
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147-0061
• Kappa Delta Sorority – Gamma Beta Chapter – Denton, TX (Texas Woman’s University)
• Delta Delta Delta – Arlington Alumnae Chapter – Dallas, TX

Texas-Registered Entities from IRS B83 Filings:

• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – 411 Texas St Room 219, Denton, TX 76204 (Texas Woman’s University Chapter)
• Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity – Mu Gamma Chapter – 920 W Prairie St, Denton, TX 76201-5816
• Sigma Phi Lambda Inc – 4251 FM 2181 Ste 230 PMB 480, Corinth, TX 76210-4202 (multiple chapters)

Why This Directory Matters for Pilot Point Families:

When hazing occurs, identifying every potentially liable entity is crucial. National headquarters often point to local chapters as “rogue,” but our data shows interconnected networks of alumni support, housing corporations, and educational foundations that share responsibility. The Pi Kappa Phi case at UH demonstrates this: defendants include the national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation (located in Frisco, TX), and 13 individual leaders.

National Histories Reveal Patterns, Not Isolated Incidents

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ)
The national fraternity involved in Stone Foltz’s death at Bowling Green ($10M settlement) has multiple Texas chapters. Their “Big/Little” drinking tradition has caused deaths nationally—making similar incidents at Texas chapters foreseeable.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ)
Multiple hazing deaths nationwide, plus Texas-specific incidents including chemical burns at Texas A&M and assault allegations at UT Austin. National patterns establish what the organization knew or should have known.

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ)
Andrew Coffey’s death at Florida State from a “Big Brother Night” drinking ritual shows national patterns. The UH Bermudez case continues this pattern in Texas.

Why National Histories Matter in Court:
When a Texas chapter repeats conduct that caused injuries or deaths elsewhere, that demonstrates foreseeability. National organizations cannot claim “we didn’t know this could happen” when their own history shows exactly what happens. This supports negligence claims and can increase damages.

Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

For Pilot Point families considering legal action, understanding how cases are built demystifies the process and highlights why acting quickly matters.

Evidence That Wins Hazing Cases

Digital Communications (The Most Critical Category)

• GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord: Screenshot immediately before deletion
• Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok: Evidence often disappears within hours
• Fraternity-specific apps: Many organizations use custom apps for communication
• In the UH case: Group chats likely contained planning, bragging, and coordination

Photos & Videos

• Content filmed during events (often shared in group chats)
• Doorbell/security camera footage from houses
• Injury documentation over time (bruises evolve)

Internal Organization Documents

• Pledge manuals, initiation scripts
• Risk management policies nationals claim to enforce
• Communication between local chapters and nationals

University Records

• Prior conduct files (obtained via discovery or public records requests)
• Incident reports to campus police
• Clery Act reports showing patterns

Medical & Psychological Records

• ER/hospitalization records (like Bermudez’s 4-day stay for kidney failure)
• Toxicology reports showing blood alcohol levels
• Psychological evaluations diagnosing PTSD, depression, anxiety

Witness Testimony

• Other pledges often initially fear speaking but may cooperate as cases develop
• Former members who quit over concerns
• Roommates, RAs, bystanders

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses)

• Medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, ongoing treatment)
• Future medical care (therapy, medications, lifelong care for catastrophic injuries)
• Lost educational opportunities (withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships)
• Diminished earning capacity (for permanent disabilities)

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• In wrongful death cases: Funeral costs, loss of companionship, family’s emotional suffering

Punitive Damages

• When defendants show reckless indifference or intentional misconduct
• Meant to punish and deter future conduct
• In Texas: Subject to caps but available for gross negligence

The Role of Insurance Coverage

Fraternities, sororities, and universities typically have insurance policies. Insurers often initially deny claims, arguing hazing is an “intentional act” excluded from coverage. Our experience—particularly Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney—is crucial here. We know how insurers value claims, use independent medical exams to minimize injuries, and employ delay tactics. We identify all potential coverage sources and fight exclusion arguments.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Pilot Point Families

For Parents: Warning Signs and Immediate Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries with inconsistent “accident” stories
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal
• Constant phone monitoring of group chats
• Financial strain from unexplained expenses

How to Talk to Your Child:

• Ask open questions: “How are things with [organization]? Are they respectful of your time?”
• Listen without judgment if they start to open up
• Emphasize: “Your safety matters more than any membership”

If Your Child Is Hurt:

1. Get medical attention immediately (even if they resist)
2. Document everything (photos of injuries, screenshot texts)
3. Write down names, dates, locations while memory is fresh
4. Contact an attorney before confronting the organization

For Students: Recognizing and Escaping 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?
• Are older members making me do things they don’t do?
• Am I being told to keep secrets?

Exiting Safely:

• You have the legal right to leave at any time
• Tell someone outside the organization first
• Send a simple resignation email/text: “I am resigning effective immediately”
• Do NOT go to “one last meeting” where pressure may occur

Preserving Evidence:

• Screenshot group chats with timestamps visible
• Photograph injuries with a coin for scale
• Save all digital communication
• If messages auto-delete (Snapchat), screenshot immediately

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Letting Evidence Be Destroyed

   • What happens: Messages deleted, photos “cleaned up”
   • Result: Case becomes nearly impossible to prove
   • Better: Preserve everything immediately

2. Confronting the Organization Directly

   • What happens: They lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
   • Better: Document quietly, then contact an attorney

3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms

   • What happens: You may waive legal rights for minimal compensation
   • Better: “I need to review this with my attorney first”

4. Posting on Social Media

   • What happens: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
   • Better: Keep details private until your attorney advises otherwise

5. Waiting for the University to “Handle It”

   • What happens: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute of limitations runs
   • Better: Preserve evidence now; university process ≠ real accountability

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can we sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes. Public universities have some sovereign immunity, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer protections. Every case is fact-specific—we analyze your situation individually.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Simple hazing is a Class B misdemeanor, but hazing causing serious bodily injury or death is a state jail felony. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report hazing.

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

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the injury or death in Texas, but exceptions exist. Evidence disappears quickly—call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911 to preserve your rights.

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

Why Attorney911 for Pilot Point Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing crisis, 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 (Mr. 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) claims, their delay tactics, coverage exclusion arguments, and settlement strategies. As he says, “We know their playbook because we used to run it.” This insider knowledge is invaluable when facing well-insured national organizations.

Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions (Ralph Manginello)
Our firm was one of the few in Texas involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation against billion-dollar defendants. That experience translates directly to taking on national fraternities and universities with unlimited legal budgets. We’re not intimidated by powerful defendants—we’ve beaten them before.

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

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise
Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation. We can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure, and we know how to navigate parallel proceedings.

Investigative Depth
Our network includes medical experts, digital forensics specialists, economists, and psychologists. We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does. In the UH Bermudez case, our investigation uncovered the systematic nature of abuse across multiple locations over weeks.

Spanish-Language Services
Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish, serving Hispanic families across Texas who may face additional barriers in seeking justice.

We Serve Pilot Point and All of Texas

From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families throughout Texas, including Pilot Point, Denton County, and all North Texas communities. While we’re based in Houston, we understand that hazing at Texas universities affects families statewide. We’ve represented clients across Texas and can serve as lead counsel for Texas-connected cases or co-counsel with local attorneys for optimal representation.

Your Path Forward: Contact Us for a Confidential Consultation

If you suspect your child has been hazed at any Texas campus—whether UNT just down the road, Texas A&M, UT Austin, UH, or any university—we want to help. The Bermudez case at UH shows that even in 2025, systematic abuse continues at our institutions. But it also shows that accountability is possible through determined legal action.

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 questions about costs (we work on contingency—no fee unless we win)
• No pressure to hire us—take time to decide with full information
• Everything you tell us is confidential

Contact The Manginello Law Firm Today:

• 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 or lupe@atty911.com (Spanish services available)

Hablamos Español – Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish.

Whether you’re in Pilot Point, Denton, Aubrey, or anywhere in Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The institutions protecting themselves have powerful lawyers—you should too. Call us today for the immediate, aggressive, professional help that defines Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

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

• Click2Houston report: 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 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 your case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website & Contact:

• Main website: https://attorney911.com
• Contact page: https://attorney911.com/contact/
• Wrongful death practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/
• Criminal defense practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/criminal-defense-lawyers/

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