The Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuits for Jacksboro, Texas Families: Holding Fraternities, Sororities, and Universities Accountable

If you are a parent in Jacksboro, Texas, you know that sending your child to college is a time of immense pride and inevitable worry. You trust that at a Texas university, they will be safe, supported, and able to grow. For families across Jack County, this trust was shattered in late 2025, when a chilling lawsuit was filed in Harris County, alleging that a University of Houston student nearly died from a fraternity’s brutal hazing rituals. This is not an isolated horror story from a distant campus—it is a stark warning of a systemic danger threatening students from Jacksboro to Houston and every Texas community in between.

At this moment, our firm, Attorney911 (The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC), is actively litigating that landmark case: the $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, its Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The allegations are graphic and severe: a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items, forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, brutal “workouts” of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats, and being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.” This conduct allegedly caused our client to develop rhabdomyolysis—a severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, was hospitalized for four days, and faces a permanent risk of kidney damage.

This case is not just a Houston problem; it is a Texas crisis. The same national fraternity organizations present at UH also operate chapters at Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, and universities across the state where our Jacksboro families send their children. The institutional failures that allowed this to happen—lack of supervision, ignored red flags, inadequate enforcement of anti-hazing policies—are not unique to one campus.

This guide is written specifically for you: the parents, grandparents, and families in Jacksboro and across Jack County who need to understand the real risks of modern hazing, the full scope of Texas law, and the difficult path to accountability when a university or fraternity fails your child. We will demystify the legal process, expose the national patterns of abuse, and explain how our Texas-based firm uses a proprietary investigative engine to uncover the truth and fight for families like yours.

If This Just Happened: Immediate Crisis Response for Jacksboro Families

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for immediate legal guidance.

In the First 48 Hours:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek evaluation at an ER or urgent care. Conditions like rhabdomyolysis or internal injuries may not be immediately apparent.
2. Preserve Evidence IMMEDIATELY: Before digital evidence is deleted:
   • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text messages, and social media DMs.
   • Photograph any injuries from multiple angles. Take pictures again over several days as bruises evolve.
   • Save Physical Items: Do not wash clothing worn during the incident. Secure any objects used (bottles, paddles, props).
   • Write Down Everything: Document a timeline with names, dates, locations, and what your child tells you while their memory is fresh.
3. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or its members directly.
   • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” their phone.
   • Sign any documents from the university or an insurance company.
   • Post details on public social media.
4. Contact a Hazing Attorney: Evidence disappears within days. Universities move quickly to control the narrative. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 within 24-48 hours to protect your child’s rights and begin a proper investigation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is no longer just about silly pranks or “harmless” initiation. It is a calculated spectrum of abuse designed to assert power, enforce loyalty, and degrade new members. For Jacksboro families, understanding its modern forms is the first step in recognizing danger.

A Three-Tiered Spectrum of Abuse

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing (Psychological Control)
These acts establish power imbalances and are often dismissed as “tradition.” They include enforced secrecy, mandatory servitude (24/7 designated driving, cleaning members’ rooms), social isolation from non-members, sleep deprivation through late-night “meetings,” and being forced to carry degrading “pledge packs.” Digitally, this includes constant group chat monitoring, mandatory location sharing, and social media policing.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing (Emotional & Physical Discomfort)
This creates a hostile, abusive environment. Examples include verbal abuse and screaming sessions (“grillings”), forced calisthenics (“smokings”), food/water deprivation, public humiliation, and being exposed to disgusting conditions (lying in vomit-soaked grass, as alleged in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case).

Tier 3: Violent Hazing (High Risk of Injury or Death)
This is what leads to hospitalization, lifelong disability, and wrongful death lawsuits.

• Forced/Coerced Consumption: The #1 cause of hazing deaths. This includes “Big/Little” drinking games, “family tree” or “Bible study” trivia where wrong answers mean drinking, and forced chugging of alcohol or dangerous amounts of food.
• Physical Violence: Paddling, beatings, “glass ceiling” tackling rituals (like the Pi Delta Psi case that led to a death), and extreme physical exhaustion leading to rhabdomyolysis.
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexual assault.
• Dangerous Environments: Kidnapping, restraint (like the alleged hog-tying of a pledge in the UH case), exposure to extreme cold/heat, or being set on fire (as in a 2024 Phi Kappa Psi case in California).

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond the Frat House

While fraternities and sororities are most associated with hazing, Jacksboro parents must know it occurs in other university contexts:

• Athletic Teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer)
• Marching Bands & Performance Groups
• Spirit & Tradition Organizations (like Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets, which has faced major lawsuits)
• Academic Clubs & Honor Societies
• ROTC & Military-Style Groups

The common thread is a hierarchy, a culture of secrecy, and a twisted view of “tradition” that prioritizes group loyalty over individual safety.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: What Jacksboro Families Need to Know

Texas has specific laws to combat hazing, but navigating the legal landscape requires understanding both criminal penalties and civil liability.

Texas Education Code – Chapter 37: The Anti-Hazing Statute

The law that governs our cases is clear. Under Texas Education Code § 37.151, hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization that:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of the student.

Key Provisions for Jacksboro Families:

• § 37.152 – Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes bodily injury and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
• § 37.155 – Consent is NOT a Defense: It does not matter if your child “agreed” to participate. The law recognizes that peer pressure and power imbalance negate true consent.
• § 37.153 – Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 if it authorized or knowingly allowed the hazing.
• § 37.154 – Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Students who call for help in an emergency are protected from prosecution, even if underage drinking was involved.

Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Charges: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Case: Brought by the State of Texas (e.g., Jack County District Attorney or Harris County DA). Goal is punishment (jail, fines, probation). A conviction helps a civil case but is not required to sue.
• Civil Lawsuit: Brought by the victim and their family. Goal is compensation for damages (medical bills, pain and suffering, future care) and institutional accountability. This is where we force universities and national organizations to change their policies and pay for the harm they allowed.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Our investigation in cases like the UH Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit aims to identify every responsible party to ensure full accountability and access to insurance coverage.

1. The Individual Perpetrators: The students who planned, carried out, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The fraternity or sorority chapter as an entity.
3. The National Headquarters: Organizations like Pi Kappa Phi Nationals have deep pockets and a legal duty to supervise chapters. We subpoena their records to prove they knew or should have known about dangerous patterns.
4. The University: Public universities like UH, Texas A&M, and UT have a legal duty to protect students. They can be sued for negligent supervision if they knew of risks and failed to act. Their anti-hazing policies are only as good as their enforcement.
5. Housing Corporations & Alumni Boards: These entities often own the property, provide funding, and influence chapter culture.
6. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol, or security companies that failed to act.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Script Texas Chapters Follow

The horrific details of the UH Pi Kappa Phi case did not emerge from a vacuum. They follow a national script written by decades of preventable tragedies. For Jacksboro families, these national cases prove that what happened here in Texas was foreseeable—and therefore preventable.

The Alcohol Poisoning Death Pattern

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a bid-acceptance drinking night. Brothers delayed calling 911 for 12 hours. Result: 18 members charged, new Pennsylvania law, multimillion-dollar civil settlements.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a bottle of whiskey during a “Big/Little” event. Died of alcohol poisoning. Result: $10 million in total settlements ($7M from national Pike, $3M from university), chapter president personally ordered to pay $6.5 million.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: Felony convictions, the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana, a $6.1 million verdict for his family.

The Takeaway for Texas: The “Big/Little” event, the forced drinking game, the delay in seeking help—these are repeated, known scripts. When a Texas chapter uses the same script, the national organization and university cannot claim they were caught by surprise.

The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a fraternity retreat. Result: National fraternity convicted of manslaughter, banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from alcohol poisoning during a “pledge dad reveal.” Requires 24/7 care for life. Result: Settlements with 22 defendants.

The Takeaway for Texas: Retreats and “rituals” are especially dangerous because they occur off-campus, away from oversight. The injuries in the UH case—rhabdomyolysis from extreme exercise—mirror the physical torture seen nationwide.

The Athletic & Institutional Hazing Pattern

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to a coach’s firing, confidential settlements, and multiple lawsuits showing hazing pervades billion-dollar athletic programs.

The Takeaway for Texas: Hazing is not exclusive to Greek life. Texas universities with major athletic programs and tradition-heavy groups like the Corps of Cadets must be held to the same standard.

Texas University Focus: Where Jacksboro Families Send Their Kids

Parents in Jacksboro and Jack County often see their children attend regional universities like Tarleton State University in Stephenville or Texas A&M University-Commerce, as well as major hubs like Texas A&M in College Station, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Houston. Understanding the landscape at these schools is critical.

University of Houston (UH) – A Case Study in Systemic Failure

The ongoing Leonel Bermudez lawsuit against UH and Pi Kappa Phi is the flagship example of how a major Texas public university can allegedly fail in its duty to protect students.

• The Allegations: As detailed in the Click2Houston investigation and ABC13 coverage, the hazing was not a single incident but a months-long campaign of abuse at the chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park.
• The Institutional Response: Only after our client was hospitalized did Pi Kappa Phi Nationals suspend the chapter. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” This reactive stance is the problem—universities and nationals must be proactive in rooting out known hazing cultures.
• For Jacksboro Families: This case demonstrates that even a large, urban university minutes from a major medical center can harbor life-threatening abuse. The legal arguments we are making in Harris County apply equally to cases at any Texas school.

Texas A&M University & The Corps of Cadets

Texas A&M is a top destination for many Texas students, and its Corps of Cadets is a revered tradition. It has also been the scene of severe hazing litigation.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged they were doused with industrial-strength cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits were filed.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged he was subjected to degrading hazing, including being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million, highlighting that hazing permeates beyond Greek life.
• Our Data-Driven Approach: Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we track the entities behind A&M Greek life. For example, public IRS records show a Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN 74-1380362) in Fort Worth and a Beta Upsilon Chi fraternity (EIN 74-2911848) also in Fort Worth, illustrating the network of supporting organizations that exist across the state.

University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin maintains one of the most transparent hazing violation logs in the country, which itself reveals an ongoing problem.

• Public Violations Log: UT’s website lists recent sanctions. For example, Pi Kappa Alpha was placed on probation in 2023 for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Other spirit groups have been sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol hazing.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Case (2024): An Australian exchange student sued the UT SAE chapter after allegedly being assaulted at a party, suffering a dislocated leg, broken nose, and fractures. The chapter was already on suspension for prior violations.
• The Significance: This public record is a powerful tool for families. It establishes pattern and knowledge. When an organization is on probation for hazing and does it again, the university’s and national’s failure to prevent it becomes a central liability argument.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

These private universities have their own histories and challenges.

• SMU’s Kappa Alpha Order was suspended in 2017 for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.
• Baylor University’s baseball team suspended 14 players in 2020 following a hazing investigation, showing these abuses occur in athletic programs at religious-affiliated schools as well.

The common denominator across all five major Texas universities is a gap between written anti-hazing policies and the reality of enforcement. When harm occurs, that gap becomes the basis for a negligence lawsuit.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Uncovering the Network Behind the Letters

Most families see a fraternity’s Greek letters. We see a complex network of legal entities, insurance policies, and national organizations. Our proprietary investigative system—the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—is built from thousands of public records to map this network for your case.

Public Records Directory: Greek Organizations Connected to Texas Campuses

We maintain a database of over 1,400 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros. This is not speculation; it is compiled from IRS filings, university rosters, and corporate records. For a Jacksboro family with a child at a Texas university, this means we start our investigation with knowledge, not guesswork.

Example Entities from Our Database (Illustrative Samples):

• Pi Kappa Phi Related:
  • 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
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Related:
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Sigma Incorporated | EIN 88-2755427 | San Marcos, TX 78666
• Multi-Chapter House Corporations:
  • Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc (Theta Delta Chapter) | EIN 47-5370943 | Houston, TX 77204
  • Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc (Theta Iota Chapter) | EIN 47-5381060 | San Marcos, TX 78666
• Honor Societies & Alumni Chapters:
  • Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (UT Austin) | EIN 46-3831593 | Austin, TX 78723
  • Fort Worth Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. | EIN 75-2755600 | Fort Worth, TX 76101

This data allows us to instantly identify the legal entities that may hold insurance, own property, or bear responsibility. When we take a case, we are not starting from zero.

How This Engine Powers Your Case

1. Identifies All Potential Defendants: We find the housing corps, alumni associations, and educational foundations behind a chapter, maximizing potential sources of compensation.
2. Proves National Knowledge: We can trace a national brand’s presence across multiple Texas campuses and metros, building a pattern that undermines claims of a “rogue chapter.”
3. Accelerates Discovery: We know what records to subpoena and where to find them, preventing delays and obstruction.

For a family in Jacksboro, this means your legal team possesses an unmatched understanding of the true landscape of Texas Greek life before the first deposition is even taken.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Pursuing a hazing case against a national fraternity and a major university is a complex fight. It requires a strategic, evidence-first approach from attorneys who are not intimidated by institutional defendants.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

In the digital age, hazing is often meticulously documented—and then frantically deleted. Preserving this evidence is our first priority.

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, and iMessage chats are the modern minute books of hazing. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages that show planning, boasting, and cover-ups.
2. Photos & Videos: Content filmed by members during events is powerful proof. This includes social media stories, videos shared in private chats, and even doorbell or security camera footage.
3. Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” binders, emails from national headquarters, and risk management reports.
4. University Records: Prior conduct complaints, Clery Act reports, disciplinary letters, and internal investigation files. We use public records requests and discovery to obtain these.
5. Medical Records: Documentation from ER visits, hospitalizations, and psychological evaluations is crucial to proving the extent of harm—from rhabdomyolysis and kidney injury to PTSD and depression.

We have a detailed video guide on using your phone to document evidence after an incident.

Understanding Damages: What Can Be Recovered

A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and hold defendants accountable. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses, lost wages, costs of therapy, and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, mental anguish, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship, love, and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of gross negligence or intentional conduct, courts can award damages meant to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

The settlements and verdicts in national cases—$10 million for Stone Foltz, $6.1 million for Max Gruver, $12.6 million for Chad Meredith—reflect the serious value juries place on holding these organizations accountable.

Overcoming Institutional Defense Tactics

We know the defenses these organizations will use because we have fought them before. Mr. Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for large companies. He knows their playbook.

• Defense: “The Pledge Consented.” Our Rebuttal: Texas law (§ 37.155) states consent is not a defense. Coercion under threat of social exclusion is not true consent.
• Defense: “It Was a Rogue Chapter; National Didn’t Know.” Our Rebuttal: We use our data engine and subpoenas to prove national patterns. If Pi Kappa Phi had deaths at other chapters, they cannot claim the UH conduct was unforeseeable.
• Defense: “It Happened Off-Campus.” Our Rebuttal: Universities and nationals maintain control and responsibility over recognized student organizations regardless of location. The Pi Delta Psi conviction proves this defense fails.
• Defense: “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts.” Our Rebuttal: We argue negligent supervision—the failure of the national or university to prevent foreseeable harm—which is often covered. We identify all possible insurance policies.

Our experience with the BP Texas City explosion litigation taught us how to manage massive, document-intensive cases against well-funded institutional defendants. We apply the same rigor to hazing cases.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Jacksboro Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Red Flags Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme exhaustion or drastic changes in sleep patterns.
• Becoming secretive or defensive about organization activities.
• Sudden anxiety, depression, or withdrawal from family and old friends.
• Constant, anxious monitoring of a group chat on their phone.
• Receiving calls/texts at all hours with demands for immediate response.
• Unexplained financial charges (for alcohol, “fines,” or gifts for older members).

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk to Your Child: Ask open, non-judgmental questions. Express concern for their safety, not judgment about their choices.
2. Seek Medical Care: If there is any sign of injury or illness, go to the ER. Tell doctors you suspect hazing so it is documented.
3. Preserve Evidence: Follow the 48-hour checklist at the top of this guide.
4. Report to Authorities: You can report to the university’s Dean of Students and campus police. You can also file a report with local police.
5. Consult an Attorney Before: Speaking with university administrators in depth, signing any documents, or speaking to insurance adjusters.

For Students: Is This Hazing? How to Get Help

Ask Yourself:

• Am I being pressured or coerced?
• Would I do this if I truly had a free choice?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Am I being told to keep it a secret?
  If you answer “yes,” it is hazing.

How to Exit Safely & Report:

• In Immediate Danger: Call 911.
• You Have the Right to Quit: You can de-pledge at any time. Send a clear text or email to the chapter president and new member educator stating your resignation. Do not attend a “final meeting.”
• Report Anonymously: Use the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE) or your university’s anonymous reporting system.
• Seek Medical and Mental Health Care: Your well-being is the priority. Student health centers and counseling services are confidential resources.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage a Case

We detail common pitfalls in our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case. In hazing cases, the top mistakes are:

1. Deleting Digital Evidence: Those embarrassing or frightening messages are your most powerful proof.
2. Confronting the Fraternity Directly: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms: These often include waivers of your right to sue.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys scour social media for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses become uncooperative, and the statute of limitations runs. Learn about Texas statutes of limitations here.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can we sue a public university like UH or Texas A&M in Texas?”
Yes. While sovereign immunity offers some protection, exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individual employees. Universities often settle to avoid the discovery process and public trial.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years from the date of injury. For wrongful death, it is generally two years from the date of death. However, specific circumstances can affect this deadline. Do not delay.

“How much does it cost to hire your firm?”
We work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront fees or hourly costs. We only get paid if we successfully recover money for you through a settlement or verdict. See how contingency fees work.

“Will my child’s name be public?”
Most cases settle confidentially before trial. We can file motions to seal court records and always prioritize your family’s privacy while fighting for accountability.

Why Attorney911 Is the Right Firm for Jacksboro Hazing Cases

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates who understand the power dynamics of universities, the tactics of national fraternities, and the depth of investigation required to win. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including those in Jacksboro and throughout Jack County.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

1. Active, High-Stakes Litigation Experience: We are not theorizing about hazing law; we are actively fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country right now—the Leonel Bermudez lawsuit against UH and Pi Kappa Phi. We are in the trenches on the issues discussed in this guide.

2. Insurance Insider Knowledge: Associate Attorney Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers value claims, argue exclusions, and employ delay tactics. We know their playbook because we used to run it.

3. Complex Institutional Litigation Credentials: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing billion-dollar defendants. We are not intimidated by the deep pockets of national fraternities or large universities. We have federal court experience and a network of experts ready to deploy.

4. Data-Driven Investigation: Our proprietary Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine gives us an unmatched starting point. We don’t begin your case from zero; we begin with a map of the Greek organizational landscape in Texas.

5. Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal side of hazing investigations, which often runs parallel to civil cases. We can advise on all aspects of the legal process.

6. Compassionate, Client-Focused Advocacy: We understand that behind every case is a family in pain. We listen, we explain, and we fight not just for compensation, but for answers, accountability, and change to prevent this from happening to another family in Jacksboro or anywhere else.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you suspect your child has been hazed at any Texas university—whether it’s a fraternity at Tarleton State, an athletic team at Texas A&M, the Corps of Cadets, or any organization at UT, UH, SMU, or Baylor—we urge you to contact us.

What to expect when you call 1-888-ATTY-911:

• We will listen to your story with compassion and without judgment.
• We will explain the legal landscape and your options in clear, plain English.
• We will review any evidence you have preserved.
• We will outline our investigative strategy tailored to your specific situation.
• We will explain our contingency fee structure—you pay nothing unless we win.
• Hablamos Español. Mr. Lupe Peña provides consultations in Spanish.

You do not have to navigate this crisis alone. The institutions involved have teams of lawyers. You deserve a team that fights exclusively for you.

Call the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ today: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). Let us help you secure the justice, accountability, and future safety that your family deserves.

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 | lupe@atty911.com (Se habla Español)

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 Cellphone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas Statutes of Limitations Explained: 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:

• Homepage & Contact: https://attorney911.com