Hazing Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyers for Horizon City Families: The Definitive Texas Guide

If you are a parent in Horizon City, your deepest fears may have become reality. The phone call you never wanted comes late at night. Your child’s voice is shaky, or maybe they can’t speak at all. They’re at a hospital. Or they’re hiding in their dorm, terrified of the organization that was supposed to be their new family.

The nightmare of hazing—the forced drinking, the brutal workouts, the systemic humiliation—is not a distant problem. It is happening right now on Texas campuses, and families from Horizon City to Houston are living with the devastating consequences. We know because we are fighting one of these battles at this very moment.

Right now, our firm, The Manginello Law Firm PLLC (Attorney911), represents Leonel Bermudez in a landmark $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston (UH), the national Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, and 13 individual members of its Beta Nu chapter. This case, detailed in Click2Houston and ABC13 reports, exposes the brutal reality of modern hazing: a “pledge fanny pack” filled with condoms and sex toys, forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, hose spraying “similar to waterboarding,” and physical drills that led to rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, and a four-day hospital stay.

This is not an isolated incident. It is a pattern, and it reaches every corner of Texas, including families right here in Horizon City and across El Paso County. Whether your child attends a local university or has ventured to a major campus like Texas A&M, UT Austin, or UH, they are part of a Greek ecosystem with deep, documented risks.

This guide is for you. It is a comprehensive resource written specifically for Horizon City parents and families to understand the true scope of hazing in Texas, the legal pathways to accountability, and how experienced counsel can fight for your child’s future when institutions fail them.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

• If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW: Call 911 for medical emergencies. Then, call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
• In the first 48 hours: Get medical attention. Preserve evidence—screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, texts) and photograph injuries. Write down everything. Do NOT confront the fraternity/sorority, sign anything from the university, or let your child delete messages.
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney immediately: Evidence vanishes fast. We can help secure it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Understanding the Vast Greek Ecosystem Serving Horizon City Families

When a hazing incident occurs, parents often face a wall of letters and acronyms: the local chapter, the national headquarters, the housing corporation, the alumni association. Who is really responsible? At Attorney911, we don’t start from zero. We maintain the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary, data-driven directory built from public records that maps the entire network of fraternities, sororities, and related organizations across the state.

This intelligence is critical because holding the right parties accountable means finding every entity that bears legal and financial responsibility.

Where Horizon City Families Send Their Students: Local and Statewide Campuses

Families in Horizon City and El Paso County have deep educational ties across Texas. Your child may attend a local institution or one of the major statewide hubs known for robust Greek life.

Local & Regional Campuses:

• The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP): Located in El Paso, this is a primary university for many Horizon City students, with active fraternity and sorority life.
• El Paso Community College: While primarily commuter-based, it serves as a pathway for many local students.
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso: A major health sciences institution in the region.

Major Texas Universities with Significant Greek Life:
Horizon City families also send students to prestigious universities across Texas, where Greek organizations are deeply embedded in campus culture.

• University of Texas at Austin (UT)
• Texas A&M University (College Station)
• University of Houston (UH)
• Baylor University (Waco)
• Southern Methodist University (SMU)
• Texas Tech University (Lubbock)
• Texas State University (San Marcos)

Public Records Directory: The Organizations Behind the Letters

To illustrate the scale and complexity of the system, below is a sampling of the hundreds of Texas-registered Greek organizations we track. These are not accusations but factual listings from IRS (B83) and corporate public records, showing the legal entities that exist behind the scenes.

A Snapshot of Texas Greek Organizations from Public Filings:

• KAPPA SIGMA – MU CAMMA CHAPTER INC | EIN: 13-3048786 | College Station, TX 77845
• BETA NU PI KAPPA PHI FRATERNITY HOUSING CORPORATION INC | EIN: 46-2267515 | Frisco, TX 75035
• PI KAPPA PHI DELTA OMEGA CHAPTER BUILDING CORPORATION | EIN: 37-1768785 | Missouri City, TX 77459
• HONOR SOCIETY OF PHI KAPPA PHI (UTEP Chapter) | EIN: 38-3742830 | El Paso, TX 79968
• SIGMA PHI EPSILON TEXAS ETA | EIN: 82-4398421 | Richmond, TX 77406
• TEXAS KAPPA SIGMA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC | EIN: 74-1380362 | Fort Worth, TX 76147
• ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY INCORPORATED – SIGMA GAMMA CHAPTER | EIN: 39-2352450 | Houston, TX 77254
• ALPHA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY INC (Theta Delta Chapter) | EIN: 47-5370943 | Houston, TX 77204

The greater El Paso metro area itself is home to Greek organizations, including honor societies and local chapters, all part of the interconnected web that spans Texas.

Why This Directory Matters for Your Case:
When tragedy strikes, national fraternities often claim the local chapter was “rogue.” Our data engine helps dismantle that defense. We can identify the housing corporation that owns the property, the alumni association that provided funding, and the national headquarters that collected dues—all of which may share liability. In the Bermudez case, we named not only the UH chapter and Pi Kappa Phi nationals but also the Beta Nu Housing Corporation Inc., proving a multi-layered approach to securing accountability.

Texas Hazing Law: The Legal Framework Protecting Your Child

Texas has specific laws designed to combat hazing, but they require knowledgeable navigation to be effective for victims.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37 (Hazing):

• Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with an organization.
• Criminal Penalties: Ranges from a Class B misdemeanor to a State Jail Felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death—exactly what we alleged in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case where our client suffered kidney failure.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Under Texas law (§ 37.155), a victim’s “agreement” to participate is irrelevant. The power imbalance and coercive environment of pledging negate true consent.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity or sorority itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose its recognition.

Civil Liability & The Path to Justice:
Criminal charges are pursued by the state, but a separate civil lawsuit is how families secure compensation for medical bills, trauma, and future care, while forcing institutional change. Defendants in a civil hazing case can include:

1. The Individuals who planned and carried out the acts.
2. The Local Chapter as an entity.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters, which often has deep-pocketed insurance policies and a duty to supervise.
4. The University, for negligent supervision or failing to act on known patterns.
5. Property Owners & Housing Corporations.

Federal Laws That Apply:

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, schools have specific obligations to investigate and address it.
• The Clery Act: Requires universities to report campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults.
• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires increased transparency in hazing reporting from colleges nationwide.

Building an Unbeatable Case: Our Data-Driven, Experienced Approach

At Attorney911, we don’t just file lawsuits; we build institutional cases designed to win at trial or force a settlement that reflects the true harm done. Our approach in the Bermudez case is a blueprint for how we handle every hazing matter.

1. Evidence Preservation & Digital Forensics:
Hazing evidence lives on phones and in the cloud, but it disappears quickly. We act immediately to preserve:

• Group Chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage): Where hazing is planned, coordinated, and boasted about.
• Social Media (Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok): Where humiliating acts are recorded and shared.
• Deleted Messages: Our digital forensics experts can often recover what members tried to erase.
• Medical Records: Documenting the direct physical harm, like the critically high creatine kinase levels proving rhabdomyolysis in our UH case.

We created a video guide on using your phone to document evidence because this step is so crucial.

2. Uncovering Pattern & Institutional Knowledge:
A “one-time mistake” defense fails when we show a history. Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine and national case database, we subpoena records to prove:

• The same national organization had prior hazing incidents at other chapters.
• The university knew or should have known about risks with the specific chapter.
• Policies were paper-only and not enforced.

3. Navigating Insurance & Institutional Defense Tactics:
This is where our unique advantage shines. Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense lawyer for national firms. He knows the exact playbook that fraternity and university insurers use to delay, deny, and minimize claims.

• They argue “coverage exclusions” for intentional acts.
• They use “Independent Medical Exams” (IMEs) to downplay injuries.
• They drag out proceedings, hoping financially strained families will settle for less.

Because Mr. Peña helped run this playbook, we know how to counter it effectively. You can learn more about his insurance insider background on his attorney profile.

4. Proven Litigation Strength Against Powerful Defendants:
Hazing cases are battles against wealthy, well-defended institutions. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has the proven experience for this fight. He was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing down billion-dollar corporate defendants. That same tenacity and complex litigation skill are applied to holding universities and national fraternities accountable. Learn about Ralph’s background and his approach to complex litigation.

Practical Steps for Horizon City Parents & Students

If You Suspect Hazing:

• Talk to Your Child: Ask open-ended questions. “What does a typical pledge event look like?” “Have you ever felt unsafe or pressured to do something you didn’t want to do?”
• Look for Signs: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, personality changes, secrecy around phone use, sudden academic decline, or constant anxiety about missing group messages.
• Trust Your Instincts: If something feels wrong, it probably is.

If Hazing Has Occurred:

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: Get immediate medical attention. Describe the hazing to doctors so it’s in the medical record.
2. Preserve Evidence: This is the most critical step. Follow our evidence preservation guide.
3. Report Carefully: You can report to campus police or the Dean of Students, but understand the university’s primary interest is often limiting its own liability. Consult with an attorney first.
4. Contact a Specialist: Call a hazing litigation firm before giving formal statements or signing anything. The window to secure evidence is short.

Critical Mistakes to Avoid:

• Deleting messages or “cleaning up” social media.
• Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly, which triggers their defense strategy.
• Signing a university “resolution” agreement without an attorney’s review.
• Waiting to see how the university “handles it.” Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, and deadlines pass.

We discuss common pitfalls in our video on client mistakes that can ruin a case.

Why Horizon City Families Choose Attorney911

When your family is in crisis, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates who understand the depth of the trauma and the height of the institutional walls you face. Here is why we are uniquely equipped to guide Horizon City families through this nightmare:

• We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now: Our active representation in the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case is not ancient history. It is current proof of our commitment and capability in the most serious hazing litigation. You can read the Hoodline summary of this $10M lawsuit.
• Insider Knowledge of Insurance Defense: Mr. Peña’s background is a strategic advantage that directly translates into higher recoveries for our clients.
• Complex Litigation Pedigree: From the BP explosion to federal court hazing claims, we are unafraid of large, well-funded opponents.
• A Data-Driven Investigation: We start with intelligence, not guesswork. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine gives us a map of liability that other firms lack.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. We are committed to serving the diverse families of Texas.
• Contingency Fee Basis: We invest in your case from day one. You owe us no attorney fees unless we win a settlement or verdict for you. Learn how contingency fees work.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

The journey to accountability begins with a conversation. If your child has been hazed at any Texas university—whether they are a student from Horizon City at UTEP, or attending school in College Station, Austin, Houston, or beyond—we are here to help.

We will listen to your story with compassion. We will review the evidence you have. We will explain your legal options clearly and without pressure. And we will help you decide the best path forward for your family’s healing and future.

Time is of the essence. Statutes of limitations apply, and evidence fades. We explain these deadlines in our video on Texas statutes of limitations.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm PLLC (Attorney911) Today:

• Call our Legal Emergency Lawyers™: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Visit our website: https://attorney911.com
• Email Managing Partner Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com
• Email Attorney Lupe Peña (Se habla Español): lupe@atty911.com

You and your child do not have to face this alone. Let us bring our experience, data, and determination to your fight.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and law. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, please contact us or another qualified attorney for a consultation regarding your individual situation.

© The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911). Serving Horizon City, El Paso County, and all of Texas from offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.