The Complete Guide to Hazing for Families in Gageby, Texas: Understanding Your Rights and Legal Options

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You Are Not Alone

For parents in the quiet communities of Gageby, Canadian, and across Hemphill County, sending a child off to college represents the culmination of years of hard work and hope. The promise of a bright future at a respected Texas university can feel like a dream realized. But for some families, that dream turns into a nightmare when their child becomes trapped in a cycle of abuse disguised as tradition. Right now, just hours from your home, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in recent Texas history—and we want every family in the Texas Panhandle to understand what this means for their children.

Our firm, Attorney911, currently represents Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. As detailed in the Click2Houston report on UH Pi Kappa Phi hazing case, Bermudez developed life-threatening rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after enduring what the university itself called “deeply disturbing” hazing conduct. He was hospitalized for four days, passed brown urine, and faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage—all while trying to become part of a community he thought would support him.

This comprehensive guide exists because families in Gageby deserve to know the truth about what can happen when their children join campus organizations at Texas universities. Whether your student attends nearby West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas Tech in Lubbock, or any of the major universities across our state, the patterns we’re seeing in Houston are tragically familiar. This article will explain what modern hazing really looks like, how Texas law protects your child, what major cases teach us, and—most importantly—what legal options exist when institutions fail to protect students.

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 using the methods shown in our video on using your phone to document evidence
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
- 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

What Hazing Really Looks Like in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

For many parents in Gageby who may not have experienced Greek life themselves, hazing often conjures images of harmless pranks or excessive partying. The reality in 2025 is far more dangerous, sophisticated, and hidden. Modern hazing has evolved into a calculated system of control that leverages technology, psychological manipulation, and institutional loopholes to avoid detection.

The Three Tiers of Modern Hazing

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing (Often Dismissed as “Tradition”)
This includes behaviors that establish power imbalances while seeming harmless: mandatory “pledge fanny packs” containing humiliating items (as in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case), required chauffeur duties at all hours, enforced dress codes, social isolation from non-members, and constant monitoring through group chats. These tactics condition new members to accept control as normal.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing (Crossing into Abuse)
Here we see sleep deprivation through 3 AM “meetings,” forced consumption of unpalatable foods (like the milk and hot dogs in the Bermudez case), extreme calisthenics framed as “workouts,” public humiliation, and exposure to disgusting conditions. The ABC13 coverage of Leonel Bermudez’s UH hazing lawsuit details how these practices escalate.

Tier 3: Violent Hazing (Life-Threatening Conduct)
This includes forced alcohol consumption leading to poisoning, physical beatings, dangerous “rituals” like blindfolded tackles, sexualized hazing, and extreme environmental exposure. The medical consequences can be catastrophic—Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis resulted from being forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats, then required hospitalization when his muscles began breaking down and shutting his kidneys.

The Digital Transformation of Hazing

Today’s hazing doesn’t just happen in basements—it lives in GroupMe chats, Snapchat stories, and encrypted apps. New members are tracked via location-sharing apps, subjected to 24/7 text demands, and coerced into creating humiliating TikTok content. This digital trail, while often deleted quickly, represents critical evidence that can reconstruct exactly what happened, when, and who ordered it.

Where Hazing Happens in Texas

While fraternities receive significant attention, hazing occurs across campus organizations:

Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural councils)
Corps of Cadets and ROTC Programs (particularly at Texas A&M)
Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading)
Spirit and Tradition Organizations (like Texas Cowboys at UT)
Marching Bands and Performance Groups
Academic and Service Clubs

The common thread isn’t the type of organization but the dynamic: older members exploiting their power over new members in the name of “tradition,” “team building,” or “earning your place.”

Texas Hazing Law: What Gageby Families Need to Know

Texas has some of the nation’s clearest anti-hazing statutes, specifically in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37. Understanding these laws is crucial for families throughout the Panhandle region, whether dealing with incidents at nearby schools or universities across the state.

The Legal Definition of Hazing in Texas

Under Texas Education Code §37.151, hazing means 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.

This broad definition covers everything from forced drinking to psychological torment, whether it happens at a fraternity house, an off-campus Airbnb, or a remote retreat. Location doesn’t matter—conduct does.

Criminal Penalties: It’s Not Just a Misdemeanor

Many people mistakenly believe hazing is only a minor offense. Texas law provides escalating penalties:

Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing without serious injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine)
Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death

Additionally, Texas law criminalizes failing to report hazing if you’re a member or officer with knowledge, and retaliating against someone who reports hazing.

The Most Important Protections for Your Child

Consent is NOT a Defense (Texas Education Code §37.155)
This is arguably the most important provision for families to understand. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, even if they signed a waiver, even if they went along willingly—none of that matters under Texas law. The courts recognize that true consent cannot exist when there’s peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of social exclusion.

Good-Faith Reporting Immunity (§37.154)
Students who call for help in good faith—whether for themselves or others—are protected from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result from the report. This “medical amnesty” is crucial because delayed medical care turns dangerous situations into fatal ones.

Organizational Liability: Holding the Right Parties Responsible

Texas law allows organizations themselves to be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation. This means the fraternity, sorority, or club as an entity can face consequences, not just individual members. In civil cases, this organizational liability becomes even more significant, as we’ll explore in the damages section.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What Texas Can Learn

The tragedies occurring on Texas campuses aren’t isolated incidents—they’re part of national patterns that have been documented, litigated, and studied for decades. Understanding these patterns helps Gageby families recognize that what happened to their child wasn’t “unique” or “unforeseeable”—it was predictable based on known organizational behaviors.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
A 20-year-old pledge died after being forced to consume an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” night. The case resulted in a $10 million settlement ($7 million from Pi Kappa Alpha national, approximately $3 million from BGSU) and multiple criminal convictions. This pattern—structured drinking events tied to mentorship relationships—appears repeatedly across campuses.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
Gruver died from alcohol toxicity (BAC 0.495%) after a “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant forced drinking. His death led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, upgrading hazing to a felony. The family received a $6.1 million verdict, demonstrating juries’ willingness to hold organizations accountable.

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
Perhaps the most documented hazing death in history, with security camera footage showing the 19-year-old’s fatal falls and the fraternity’s hours-long delay in calling for help. The case resulted in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania and over 1,000 criminal charges against fraternity members.

Physical and Ritualized Hazing

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
A pledge died from traumatic brain injury after being blindfolded, weighted with a backpack, and repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at a Pennsylvania retreat. The national fraternity was convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter—a rare instance of organizational criminal liability—and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021)
An 18-year-old pledge suffered permanent, severe brain damage after forced drinking during a “pledge dad reveal” night. He cannot walk, talk, or see and requires 24/7 care. His family settled with 22 defendants, showing how multiple parties share liability in catastrophic injury cases.

Athletic Program Hazing

Northwestern University Football (2023-2025)
Former players alleged widespread sexualized and racist hazing within the football program over multiple years. The head coach was fired, the university faced multiple lawsuits, and the case demonstrated that habling extends far beyond Greek life into multi-million-dollar athletic programs.

What These Cases Mean for Gageby Families

These national precedents matter because they establish patterns that Texas courts recognize. When a Texas fraternity chapter repeats the same “Big/Little” drinking night that killed Stone Foltz, or the same “Bible study” game that killed Max Gruver, that pattern evidence becomes powerful proof of negligence and foreseeability. The organizations knew the risks—they’d seen the tragedies—and failed to prevent them.

Texas University Focus: Where Gageby Families Send Their Children

While Gageby students attend universities across Texas and beyond, certain schools have particular relevance based on proximity, tradition, and documented hazing histories. Understanding each campus’s unique landscape helps families recognize risks and responses.

West Texas A&M University (Canyon, TX) – The Closest Major Campus

For many families in Hemphill County, West Texas A&M represents the most accessible four-year university, just over an hour’s drive from Gageby in neighboring Randall County.

Campus Culture and Greek Life:
West Texas A&M hosts active fraternity and sorority communities, with traditional Greek organizations playing significant roles in campus social life. The university’s location in the Panhandle creates a close-knit environment where relationships between organizations matter.

Documented Incidents and Responses:
While smaller than the flagship campuses, WTAMU has faced hazing allegations within Greek organizations and athletic teams. The university maintains anti-hazing policies aligned with Texas law, but as with all institutions, enforcement consistency varies.

What Parents Should Know:

WTAMU falls under the Texas A&M University System policies
Incidents would typically involve Randall County law enforcement
The university’s size can mean closer faculty-student relationships but also potentially less administrative oversight of Greek organizations

Practical Steps for WTAMU Families:

Review the university’s specific hazing policy at wtamu.edu
Understand that geographic proximity doesn’t reduce legal rights—Texas hazing law applies equally in Canyon as in Houston
Document any incidents thoroughly, as smaller communities sometimes face additional social pressure against reporting

Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX) – The Regional Hub

Many Hemphill County students choose Texas Tech for its strong programs and relative proximity (approximately 2.5 hours from Gageby).

Greek Life Scale and History:
Texas Tech hosts one of Texas’s largest Greek communities, with over 40 fraternities and sororities. This scale means more resources but also more potential for problematic behavior to go unnoticed.

Notable Cases and Patterns:
Texas Tech has faced multiple hazing incidents involving both alcohol poisoning and physical abuse. The university’s published conduct records show periodic sanctions against organizations for hazing violations, though specific details are often limited due to privacy laws.

Lubbock Metro Greek Organizations (from Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine):
Our firm maintains detailed records of Greek organizations operating in the Lubbock metro area, including those connected to Texas Tech. For example:

-txb]- Texas Tech Chapter of Phi Delta Theta Housing, EIN tracking available, Lubbock, TX (IRS B83 filing)
-txb]- Kappa Alpha Order – Texas Tech (Gamma Chi Chapter), Lubbock, TX (Cause IQ metro listing)
-txb]- Delta Kappa Gamma Society – Lubbock chapter, Lubbock, TX (educators’ society)
-txb]- Alpha Phi Omega – TTU Chapter, Lubbock, TX (service fraternity)

Legal Jurisdiction Considerations:

Incidents typically involve Lubbock Police Department and Texas Tech University Police
Civil cases would generally be filed in Lubbock County courts
Multiple insurance policies may apply (national fraternity, local chapter, university)

Major Statewide Universities: Understanding the Landscape

While further from Gageby geographically, these universities attract students from throughout Texas and have well-documented hazing histories that establish important precedents.

University of Houston – Current Ground Zero for Texas Hazing Litigation

Our firm’s active case against UH and Pi Kappa Phi represents what’s happening right now in Texas hazing litigation. The details from the Hoodline summary of the $10M UH hazing lawsuit show the systematic nature of modern hazing.

Key UH-Specific Considerations:

Harris County jurisdiction (one of Texas’s largest court systems)
UH’s status as a public university affects sovereign immunity arguments
The university’s urban location means incidents often involve Houston PD alongside campus police

Texas A&M University – Corps Culture and Greek Life Intersection

Beyond the well-publicized Corps of Cadets cases, Texas A&M’s Greek system has faced serious allegations, including the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chemical burns case where pledges allegedly had industrial-strength cleaner poured on them, requiring skin graft surgeries.

University of Texas at Austin – Transparency and Tradition

UT maintains one of Texas’s most transparent hazing violation databases at hazing.utexas.edu. Public records show repeated sanctions against organizations like Pi Kappa Alpha for “new members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics”—almost identical to allegations in our UH case.

Southern Methodist University and Baylor University – Private Institutional Dynamics

Private universities like SMU and Baylor face different legal considerations than public institutions, particularly regarding sovereign immunity. However, their documented hazing incidents show similar patterns to public schools.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: How We Track Responsibility

One of our firm’s unique advantages in hazing cases is what we call the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a comprehensive database tracking Greek organizations across Texas. For families in Gageby, understanding this network matters because liability often extends far beyond the individual students who directly committed the acts.

Texas’s Greek Organizational Landscape

According to our analysis of IRS records, Cause IQ data, and university registrations, Texas hosts:

1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 metropolitan areas
125+ Texas-registered entities with IRS recognition (EIN numbers)
510 organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro alone
188 organizations in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro

Why Organizational Structure Matters for Your Case

When your child is hazed, multiple entities may share liability:

Individual Members (who planned, participated, or covered up the hazing)
Local Chapter (as a recognized student organization)
Chapter Housing Corporation (which often owns or controls the physical location)
National Headquarters (which sets policies, collects dues, and oversees chapters)
Alumni Boards and Advisory Groups
The University (through its supervision and response)
Property Owners and Landlords
Insurance Carriers (multiple layers of potential coverage)

Sample Texas Greek Organization Records

To illustrate the depth of our tracking, here are examples from our database showing the types of entities involved in Texas Greek life:

IRS B83-Registered Organizations (Tax-Exempt Greek Entities):

Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 746064445, Nederland, TX 77627-8843 (IRS B83 filing)
Frank Heflin Foundation, EIN 203507402, Canyon, TX 79015-5815 (Phi Delta Theta alumni fund)
Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147-0061
Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 900293166, College Station, TX 77843-0001 (Texas A&M chapter)

Cause IQ Metro Organizations (Houston Area Examples):

Texas District of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Houston, TX (alumni/house corporation)
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Beta Sigma Chapter, Houston, TX (undergraduate chapter)
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity – Theta Chi Chapter, Houston, TX (graduate chapter)

Cross-Validated Brands (Appearing in Both IRS and Cause IQ Data):

Beta Upsilon Chi appears in IRS records (EIN 742911848, Fort Worth) and Cause IQ (Fort Worth metro)
Sigma Gamma Rho appears across multiple Texas metros in both datasets
Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi has chapters statewide with consistent IRS recognition

How This Intelligence Benefits Gageby Families

When we take a hazing case, we don’t start from zero. We already know:

The legal names and EINs of potentially liable organizations
Their geographic connections across Texas
How national brands operate through local chapters
Where to find additional entities that may share responsibility

This means faster investigation, more comprehensive defendant identification, and better leverage in negotiations.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Realistic Expectations

For families in Gageby facing the nightmare of their child being hazed, understanding what building a case actually involves can reduce anxiety and set appropriate expectations. Here’s what the process looks like from our perspective as experienced hazing litigators.

The Evidence That Wins Cases in 2025

Digital Communications (The Most Critical Evidence)

Group chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack
Text messages: iMessage, SMS threads with multiple participants
Social media: Instagram DMs, Snapchat messages (screenshot before they disappear)
Deleted content: Through digital forensics recovery
Location data: Find My Friends, Snapchat Maps, geotagged posts

In the Bermudez case, group chats revealed the systematic planning of hazing activities—who gave orders, who participated, who knew what was happening. This digital trail often survives even when participants try to delete evidence.

Photographic and Video Evidence

Injuries documented over time (showing progression)
Event locations (houses, parks, retreat centers)
Objects used in hazing (paddles, alcohol bottles, props)
Social media posts and stories from the events

Medical Documentation

ER records explicitly stating “hazing” as cause
Toxicology reports (blood alcohol levels, drug screens)
Specialist evaluations (kidney function tests like those showing Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis)
Psychological assessments (PTSD, anxiety, depression diagnoses)

Institutional Records

University conduct files (prior violations by the same organization)
Campus police reports
National fraternity risk management files
Insurance policies and coverage documents

The Damages Your Family Can Recover

Understanding what’s compensable helps families recognize the full scope of their loss:

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Financial Losses)

Past and future medical expenses (emergency care, hospitalization, ongoing treatment)
Lost educational costs (withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships)
Lost income and reduced earning capacity (if injuries affect future work ability)
Property damage (destroyed belongings during hazing)

Non-Economic Damages (Subjective but Real Harm)

Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress, humiliation, trauma
Loss of enjoyment of life
Damage to family relationships

Wrongful Death Damages (For Families Who Lose a Child)

Funeral and burial costs
Loss of financial support the child would have provided
Loss of love, companionship, and guidance
Parents’ and siblings’ emotional suffering

Punitive Damages (When Conduct is Especially Reckless)
In cases showing particularly egregious conduct or cover-ups, Texas law may allow punitive damages meant to punish the wrongdoers and deter future similar conduct.

The Legal Strategy: Overcoming Common Defenses

Fraternities, sororities, and universities have sophisticated defense strategies. Here’s how we counter them:

Defense: “The Student Consented”
Our Response: Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states consent is not a defense to hazing. We show how power dynamics, peer pressure, and fear of exclusion create coercive environments where true consent cannot exist.

Defense: “This Was Rogue Individuals”
Our Response: We demonstrate pattern evidence—showing the same national organization has faced similar incidents elsewhere, proving the behavior was foreseeable and preventable with proper supervision.

Defense: “It Happened Off-Campus”
Our Response: Location doesn’t eliminate duty. Universities and nationals maintain control over recognized organizations regardless of where misconduct occurs, as established in cases like Pi Delta Psi’s retreat death.

Defense: “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”
Our Response: We show the gap between paper policies and actual enforcement—prior incidents that resulted in minimal punishment, inadequate training, or systematic ignoring of red flags.

Defense: “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”
Our Response: We argue negligent supervision claims (which are often covered) alongside intentional conduct claims, and identify multiple potential insurance policies from different entities.

Practical Guidance for Gageby Families: What to Do Right Now

For Parents: Recognizing and Responding to Hazing

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

Unexplained injuries with inconsistent stories
Extreme fatigue or sleep deprivation
Sudden personality changes (anxiety, withdrawal, irritability)
Constant phone use for group chat monitoring
Financial strain from unexplained expenses
Academic performance plummeting
Defensiveness about organization activities

Questions to Ask (Without Confrontation):

“How are you managing your time between the organization and your studies?”
“Have you felt pressured to do anything that made you uncomfortable?”
“What happens if someone doesn’t participate in an activity?”
“Are you able to get enough sleep and maintain your health?”

Immediate Steps If You Suspect Hazing:

Prioritize Safety: If there’s immediate danger, call 911
Document Everything: Write down dates, times, what your child tells you
Preserve Digital Evidence: Help your child screenshot messages before they’re deleted
Medical Attention: Even if injuries seem minor, get professional evaluation
Legal Consultation: Contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 before confronting anyone

For Students: Protecting Yourself and Your Rights

Is This Hazing? A Simple Self-Test:

Are you being pressured or coerced?
Would you do this if you truly had a free choice?
Is the activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
Are you being told to keep secrets?
Would the university approve if they knew the details?

If You Need to Exit Safely:

Tell someone outside the organization first (parent, trusted friend)
Send a clear written resignation (email/text) to chapter leadership
Do NOT attend “one last meeting” where pressure might occur
Report any retaliation immediately to campus authorities

Evidence Preservation Checklist:
✅ Screenshot all group chats with timestamps visible
✅ Photograph injuries from multiple angles over several days
✅ Save voicemails and record conversations (Texas is a one-party consent state)
✅ Document witness names and contact information
✅ Preserve physical evidence (clothing, objects used in hazing)

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

Based on our experience handling hazing cases across Texas, these common errors can significantly harm your family’s ability to recover:

1. Deleting Digital Evidence
What happens: Families think “I don’t want this embarrassing content saved”
Why it’s devastating: Looks like evidence destruction; can be obstruction of justice; makes case nearly impossible to prove
Better approach: Preserve everything immediately. As shown in our video on using your phone to document evidence, proper documentation makes all the difference.

2. Confronting the Organization Directly
What happens: Parents want to “give them a piece of my mind”
Why it’s devastating: Triggers immediate evidence destruction, witness coaching, and defense preparation
Better approach: Document everything first, then let your attorney handle communications

3. Signing University “Resolution” Agreements
What happens: Universities pressure families to sign waivers for “quick resolution”
Why it’s devastating: You may waive your right to sue or accept inadequate compensation
Better approach: Never sign anything without attorney review. Watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case for more guidance.

4. Posting on Social Media
What happens: Families want to “tell their story” publicly
Why it’s devastating: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
Better approach: Keep discussions private; let your legal team control public messaging

5. Waiting for “Internal Resolution”
What happens: Universities promise “we’re handling this internally”
Why it’s devastating: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statutes of limitations run
Better approach: Consult an attorney immediately while evidence is fresh. Understand that there is a statute of limitations on your case that keeps ticking while you wait.

Frequently Asked Questions from Texas Families

Q: Can we sue a university for hazing in Texas?
A: Yes, under specific circumstances. Public universities (like UH, Texas A&M, UT) have sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals in their personal capacity. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity hurdles. Every case depends on specific facts—contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for case-specific analysis.

Q: Is hazing a felony in Texas?
A: It can be. Texas law classifies hazing as a Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report known hazing.

Q: What if my child “agreed” to participate?
A: Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that true consent cannot exist under peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of social exclusion.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if the harm or its cause wasn’t immediately known. In cases involving cover-ups, the statute may be tolled (paused). Time is critical—call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately to protect your rights.

Q: Will our case be public or confidential?
A: Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. You can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability.

Q: What if the hazing happened off-campus?
A: Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and national fraternities can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, knowledge, and foreseeability. Many major hazing cases occurred off-campus and still resulted in multi-million-dollar judgments.

Q: How much does it cost to hire your firm?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. Learn more about how contingency fees work in our educational video.

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases: Our Gageby Commitment

For families in Hemphill County and throughout the Texas Panhandle, choosing legal representation for a hazing case means selecting advocates who understand both the legal complexities and the human tragedy involved. Here’s why our firm brings unique capabilities to these cases.

Our Active Texas Hazing Litigation: The Bermudez Case

Right now, we’re leading one of Texas’s most significant hazing lawsuits—representing Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. This isn’t historical analysis; this is active, current litigation where we’re fighting for accountability against powerful institutional defendants. When we tell Gageby families we understand what they’re facing, we’re speaking from direct, ongoing experience.

Insurance Insider Advantage: Knowing How the Other Side Thinks

Our attorney Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies:

Value (and undervalue) hazing claims
Use delay tactics to pressure families
Argue coverage exclusions
Negotiate settlements

This insider knowledge means we anticipate their moves and counter them effectively. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background and experience.

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience

Managing partner Ralph Manginello’s experience includes:

BP Texas City explosion litigation (against billion-dollar corporate defendants)
Federal court practice (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas)
Multi-million dollar wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases
HCCLA membership (Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association)

This background matters because universities and national fraternities have unlimited legal budgets and sophisticated defense teams. We’ve faced—and beaten—similar institutional defendants before. See Ralph’s complete credentials and case history.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine

Unlike firms that start from scratch with each case, we maintain detailed intelligence on:

1,423 Greek organizations across Texas metros
IRS-registered entities with EINs and addresses
Organizational connections between nationals, locals, and alumni groups
Historical incident patterns by organization and campus

This means faster investigation, more comprehensive defendant identification, and better leverage in negotiations for Gageby families.

Spanish-Language Services

Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish and can provide full consultation and representation services in Spanish—an important consideration for many Texas families.

Your Next Steps: Getting Help for Your Gageby Family

If you’re reading this because your child has been affected by hazing at a Texas university, we want you to know three things:

You are not alone. What happened to your child follows patterns we’ve seen across Texas and nationwide.
Texas law provides real protections. Consent is not a defense, and multiple parties can be held accountable.
Time matters. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and statutes of limitations continue running.

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation

When you contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911, here’s what will happen:

We’ll listen without judgment. You can tell us what happened in complete confidence.
We’ll review any evidence you have. Bring photos, screenshots, medical records—whatever you’ve preserved.
We’ll explain your legal options clearly. Criminal reporting, civil lawsuits, university processes, or combinations.
We’ll discuss realistic timelines and expectations. No false promises, just honest assessment.
We’ll answer all your questions about costs. Remember, we work on contingency—no recovery, no fee.
No pressure to decide immediately. Take the information home, discuss with family, then decide.

Contact Us Today

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Serving families throughout Texas from our Houston, Austin, and Beaumont offices

Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com

Hablamos Español – Full Spanish-language services available

Whether your child attends West Texas A&M, Texas Tech, or any university across our state, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The institutions involved have legal teams already working to protect themselves. You deserve the same level of representation protecting your child.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. Let’s discuss how we can help your family find answers, secure accountability, and work toward preventing this from happening to another student.

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 Videos:

Evidence preservation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
Statute of limitations video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
Client mistakes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
Contingency fees video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website:

Homepage: https://attorney911.com
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/
Ralph Manginello profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/
Lupe Peña profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/

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