Hazing in Texas: A Comprehensive Legal Guide for Corsicana Families

If you’re a parent in Corsicana, Navarro County, and your child is heading to college, you’ve likely worried about their safety on campus. What you might not have considered is that some of the greatest dangers don’t come from strangers, but from the very organizations your child might join to find community.

Right now, in Texas, we’re fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in recent memory. In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. Our client, a UH transfer student, suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after enduring what the university called “deeply disturbing” hazing. He was forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms and a sex toy, sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and made to perform extreme workouts until his urine turned brown. He spent four days in the hospital and faces permanent kidney damage.

This isn’t an isolated incident in some distant state. This happened right here in Texas, at a public university many Corsicana families consider for their children. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter has been shut down, but the pattern continues across our state.

What This Guide Covers for Corsicana Families

This comprehensive legal guide is written specifically for parents and families in Corsicana, Navarro County, and throughout East-Central Texas. We’ll explain:

• What modern hazing really looks like in 2025 (beyond the stereotypes)
• Texas hazing laws and how they protect your child
• How national hazing cases at schools like Penn State and Bowling Green apply to Texas families
• The specific landscape at major Texas universities where Corsicana students attend
• What legal options exist when hazing causes injury or death
• Immediate steps to take if you suspect your child is being hazed

Whether your child attends Navarro College right here in our community, commutes to UT Arlington or Baylor, or lives on campus at Texas A&M or UT Austin, this information could save their life.

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. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

For Corsicana families who may not be familiar with modern campus culture, hazing has evolved far beyond simple pranks or initiation rituals. Today’s hazing is systematic, often digitally coordinated, and dangerously sophisticated.

A 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, “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal when there is peer pressure and power imbalance.

The Main Categories of Hazing Today

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the deadliest form. Students in Corsicana might hear about “Big/Little” nights where pledges are given handles of liquor, “family tree” drinking games where wrong answers mean drinking, or “lineups” where they must chug alcohol rapidly. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, Leonel Bermudez was forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then immediately forced to sprint.

Physical Hazing
This includes paddling, beatings, and extreme calisthenics disguised as “workouts.” At Texas A&M, Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledges suffered severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts after industrial-strength cleaner was poured on them. Sleep deprivation is common – pledges kept awake for days for “mandatory” meetings.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. The “pledge fanny pack” in the UH case contained intentionally humiliating items meant to degrade new members.

Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation, manipulation, and public shaming. Students from Corsicana might find themselves cut off from non-member friends, constantly berated, or forced to confess personal information.

Digital/Online Hazing
This is the newest frontier. Group chat dares on GroupMe or Discord, “challenges” shared on Instagram or TikTok, pressure to create compromising content, and 24/7 availability demands. Pledges might be required to share their location via Find My Friends or respond instantly to messages at all hours.

Where Hazing Actually Happens

While fraternities and sororities receive the most attention, hazing occurs in many organizations Corsicana students might join:

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

The common threads are social status, tradition, and secrecy. These practices persist even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal because the systems protect themselves.

Texas Hazing Law: What Corsicana Families Need to Know

Texas has specific anti-hazing provisions in the Education Code that apply whether your child is at Navarro College, a state university, or a private institution.

Texas Education Code – Chapter 37, Subchapter F

The Definition That Matters
Texas law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that endangers mental or physical health AND occurs for purposes of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students.

For Corsicana parents, this means:

• Location doesn’t matter – on-campus, off-campus, at an Airbnb, or back home during break
• It can be mental OR physical harm
• “Reckless” is enough – they don’t need to have intended harm
• “Consent is not a defense” – even if your child said yes, it’s still hazing

Criminal Penalties

• Class B Misdemeanor: 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

Additional crimes include failing to report hazing (if you’re a member/officer and knew) and retaliating against reporters.

Organizational Liability
Fraternities, sororities, clubs, and teams can be prosecuted if they authorized or encouraged hazing OR if an officer/member acting officially knew and failed to report. Organizations can face fines up to $10,000 per violation and university bans.

Good-Faith Reporting Protection
A person who in good faith reports hazing to university or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result. Many universities, including those Corsicana students attend, offer amnesty for those who call 911 in medical 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, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases
• Example: In the Leonel Bermudez UH case, criminal referrals were promised

Civil Cases

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Aim: monetary compensation and accountability
• Focus: negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress
• Example: Our $10 million lawsuit for Bermudez seeks compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and punitive damages

Both can run side-by-side, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. Many families in Corsicana pursue civil cases even when criminal charges aren’t filed, because the burden of proof is lower and the focus is compensation for harm.

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).

Title IX & Clery Act
When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger. Clery requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What They Mean for Corsicana Families

The tragedies at other universities aren’t distant news – they establish patterns that courts recognize and that affect cases right here in Texas.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
Bid-acceptance event with heavy drinking, severe falls captured on chapter cameras, hours delayed before medical help. Dozens of criminal charges, civil litigation, and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law resulted.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
Forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey, died from alcohol poisoning. Multiple criminal convictions, $10 million total settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU).

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
“Bible study” drinking game, forced to drink when answering incorrectly, died from alcohol toxicity (BAC 0.495%). Louisiana enacted the Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017)
“Big Brother Night” event, pledge given handles of hard liquor, died from acute alcohol poisoning. FSU temporarily suspended all Greek life.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
Blindfolded, weighted with backpack, repeatedly tackled during “glass ceiling” ritual at retreat, died from traumatic brain injury. National fraternity criminally convicted, banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

Athletic Program Hazing

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the program. Multiple lawsuits, head coach fired, confidential settlements. Shows hazing extends beyond Greek life.

What These Cases Mean for Corsicana

These national precedents matter because they establish:

• Patterns courts recognize as foreseeable
• Settlement ranges families can expect ($1M–$14M for deaths, $375K–multi-million for severe injuries)
• Legal strategies that work against national organizations
• That delaying medical care dramatically increases liability

When a Texas chapter repeats the same script that got a chapter shut down in another state, that pattern evidence strengthens our cases for Corsicana families.

Texas Focus: Where Corsicana Students Attend College

Corsicana families send their children to universities across Texas. Here’s what you need to know about hazing at the schools most relevant to our community.

Local & Regional Campuses for Corsicana Families

Navarro College (Corsicana, TX)
As our local community college, Navarro serves many Corsicana students before they transfer. While less publicized, hazing can occur in athletic teams, performing groups, and student organizations. Reporting goes through the Dean of Students office, and cases would be heard in Navarro County courts.

Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce, TX)
Just 90 minutes from Corsicana, many local students attend. The university has Greek life and athletic programs where hazing has occurred. In one documented case, the Sigma Chi Zeta Eta chapter at Texas A&M-Commerce faced disciplinary action.

University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, TX)
A common choice for Corsicana students wanting proximity to home. UTA has active Greek life and has faced hazing incidents, including Sigma Chi cases involving alcohol poisoning hospitalizations.

Major Texas Universities Corsicana Families Choose

Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)
Many Corsicana students pursue the Aggie experience. Texas A&M has faced serious hazing cases in both Greek life and the Corps of Cadets.

Recent Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges covered in industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. $1 million lawsuit, fraternity suspended.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Case (2023): Cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound between beds in “roasted pig” pose with apple in mouth. Sought over $1 million.
• Texas A&M Hazing Transparency: The university maintains disciplinary records but with less public transparency than UT Austin.

For Corsicana Families:
If hazing occurs at A&M, involved agencies include Texas A&M University Police Department and potentially Brazos County law enforcement. Civil suits might be filed in Brazos County courts. The Corps of Cadets presents unique hazing risks beyond Greek life.

University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)
UT’s size and prestige attract Corsicana students. The university maintains one of Texas’s most transparent hazing violation databases.

Documented Violations:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Chapter placed on probation.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Case (2024): Australian exchange student allegedly assaulted at party, suffering dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, broken nose. Sued for over $1 million.
• Public Database: UT’s hazing.utexas.edu lists organizations, dates, conduct, and sanctions – valuable evidence for families.

For Corsicana Families:
UT cases may involve UTPD and Austin PD. The public violation log provides powerful pattern evidence. Students should report through the Dean of Students or Office of Student Conduct.

Baylor University (Waco, TX)
Baylor’s religious identity and Greek life attract Corsicana students. The university has faced scrutiny over handling of misconduct.

Recent Incident:

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following hazing investigation.
• Greek Life: Active fraternity/sorority system with national organizations that have hazing histories.

For Corsicana Families:
Baylor’s private status affects transparency. Civil suits can compel discovery even when reports aren’t public. Students should use Baylor’s reporting systems and document all communications.

Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX)
SMU’s affluent campus and strong Greek presence attract some Corsicana students.

Documented Incident:

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink, deprived of sleep. Chapter suspended until approximately 2021.

For Corsicana Families:
SMU’s hazing prevention includes anonymous reporting systems. Private university status means different procedural rules. Cases might involve SMU PD and Dallas PD.

The University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi Case: A Texas Watershed

The case we’re litigating right now deserves special attention because it shows what’s possible in Texas courts.

What Happened to Leonel Bermudez:

• September 2025: Accepted bid to Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter
• September-October: Forced dress codes, hours-long “study/work” blocks, overnight chauffeuring, mandatory “pledge fanny pack”
• October: Another pledge hog-tied face-down with object in mouth for over an hour
• November 3: Forced through 100+ push-ups, 500 squats under expulsion threats
• November 6-9: Hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, brown urine, critically high creatine kinase levels

Institutional Response:

• November 6: Pi Kappa Phi national suspended chapter
• November 14: Chapter members voted to surrender charter
• UH called conduct “deeply disturbing,” promised disciplinary measures and cooperation with law enforcement

Our $10 Million Lawsuit Names:

• University of Houston
• UH System Board of Regents
• Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters
• Beta Nu housing corporation
• 13 individual fraternity leaders/members

This case demonstrates that Texas universities and national fraternities can be held accountable. The medical catastrophe – rhabdomyolysis causing kidney failure – shows how physical hazing can cause permanent organ damage.

The Greek Ecosystem Around Corsicana: What Parents Need to Know

Corsicana operates within the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area, which according to our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine has 510 Greek-related organizations. These aren’t just social clubs – they’re legal entities with insurance, property, and liability.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Corsicana Families

As part of our investigative approach, we maintain comprehensive data on Texas Greek organizations. Here are examples relevant to Corsicana families:

In the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro Area (510 organizations total):

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Cause IQ metro listing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, Fort Worth, TX 76147-0061 (IRS EIN 741380362)
• Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delta) national headquarters, Dallas area
• Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity – Gamma Psi Chapter, Fort Worth (TCU chapter)
• Sigma Nu Fraternity – Lambda Epsilon Chapter, Fort Worth (TCU chapter)

Texas-Wide Registered Organizations (125 IRS B83 entities):

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, College Station, TX 77845-6681 (EIN 133048786)
• Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Inc, The Woodlands, TX 77382-1822 (EIN 161675890)
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc, Houston, TX 77204-7005 (EIN 475370943) – Theta Delta chapter
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Nederland, TX 77627-8843 (EIN 746064445) – Epsilon Kappa chapter
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, Houston, TX 77204-3067 (EIN 746084905)

Cross-Validated Brands (appearing in both IRS and metro data):

• Beta Upsilon Chi (appears in IRS as EIN 742911848 and Cause IQ DFW listings)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation
• Pi Kappa Alpha (multiple Texas filings)

This data matters because when hazing occurs, we know exactly which legal entities to investigate – house corporations, alumni chapters, national headquarters – not just the chapter name students know.

National Organizations with Hazing Histories at Texas Schools

These national organizations have documented hazing incidents both nationally and at Texas schools:

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)

• National: Stone Foltz death (BGSU, $10M settlement), David Bogenberger death (NIU, $14M settlement)
• Texas: UT Austin probation (2023), UH incidents

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)

• National: Traumatic brain injury case (Alabama), multiple deaths historically
• Texas: Chemical burns case (Texas A&M, $1M lawsuit), assault case (UT Austin, $1M+ lawsuit)

Pi Kappa Phi

• National: Andrew Coffey death (FSU)
• Texas: Leonel Bermudez case (UH, $10M lawsuit, our active case)

Phi Delta Theta

• National: Max Gruver death (LSU, led to felony hazing law)
• Texas: Chapters at UT Austin, Texas A&M, others

Sigma Chi

• National: $10M+ settlement (College of Charleston), alcohol poisoning cases
• Texas: UT Arlington hospitalization, Texas A&M-Commerce disciplinary action

These patterns matter because they show national organizations had prior knowledge of hazing risks. When a Texas chapter repeats these patterns, it strengthens negligence claims against the national headquarters.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

When hazing injures a Corsicana student, building a strong case requires immediate action and strategic expertise.

Critical Evidence That Wins Cases

Digital Communications (Most Important Today)

• GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord messages
• Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok content
• Deleted messages recovered through digital forensics
• In the UH case: group chats planning events, discussing traditions

Photos & Videos

• Content filmed during hazing events
• Injury documentation (multiple angles, with scale)
• Security/Ring camera footage from houses
• Social media posts and stories

Internal Organization Documents

• Pledge manuals, initiation scripts
• Emails/texts from officers about “traditions”
• National policies and training materials
• Risk management files

University Records

• Prior conduct files, probation/suspension letters
• Incident reports to campus police
• Clery Act reports
• Internal emails about the organization

Medical & Psychological Records

• ER/hospitalization records
• Toxicology reports (blood alcohol levels)
• Psychological evaluations (PTSD, depression diagnoses)
• Documentation of ongoing treatment needs

Witness Testimony

• Other pledges (often afraid but may cooperate)
• Former members who quit
• Roommates, RAs, bystanders
• Medical personnel who treated injuries

Damages: What Can Be Recovered

Economic Damages (Quantifiable)

• Medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, ongoing care)
• Future medical expenses (lifetime care for permanent injuries)
• Lost income (time off work for student or parents)
• Diminished earning capacity (if permanent disability)
• Educational costs (withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships)

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Damage to reputation

Wrongful Death Damages (For Families)

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of companionship, love, society
• Grief and emotional suffering of family

Punitive Damages (When Available)

• To punish especially reckless or malicious conduct
• Available when defendants ignored prior warnings
• In Texas, caps apply except in certain intentional tort cases

In the Bermudez case, we’re seeking compensation for four days of hospitalization, ongoing kidney treatment, pain and suffering, and punitive damages against entities that should have known better.

Overcoming Common Defense Tactics

Fraternities, universities, and their insurers use predictable defenses. Here’s how we counter them:

Defense: “The Pledge Consented”

• Our Response: Texas Education Code § 37.155 says consent is not a defense. Power imbalance and peer pressure invalidate “consent.”

Defense: “National Didn’t Know”

• Our Response: Pattern evidence from other chapters shows foreseeability. National policies exist because they know the risks.

Defense: “It Happened Off-Campus”

• Our Response: Location doesn’t eliminate duty. Nationals collect dues and exercise control regardless of location.

Defense: “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”

• Our Response: Paper policies without enforcement are meaningless. We show prior incidents were ignored or minimally punished.

Defense: “University Sovereign Immunity”

• Our Response: Exceptions exist for gross negligence, willful misconduct, Title IX violations. Individual employees can be sued personally.

Defense: “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”

• Our Response: Negligent supervision claims may be covered. We identify all potential policies and fight exclusions.

Practical Guide for Corsicana Parents, Students & Witnesses

For Corsicana Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries with inconsistent explanations
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities (“I can’t talk about it”)
• Withdrawal from family, old friends, or non-member activities
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability
• Constant phone use for group chat monitoring
• Financial changes: unexpected large expenses, requests for money
• Academic decline: dropping grades, missing classes

Questions to Ask (Non-Confrontationally):

1. “How are things going with [organization]? Are you enjoying it?”
2. “Have they been respectful of your time for classes and sleep?”
3. “What do they ask you to do as a new member?”
4. “Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?”
5. “Do you feel like you can leave if you want to?”

If You Suspect Hazing – Immediate Steps:

1. Safety First: If in physical danger, call 911
2. Medical Attention: Get evaluation even if they insist they’re “fine”
3. Document Everything: Screenshot messages, photograph injuries, write notes
4. Preserve Evidence: Don’t let them delete messages or “clean up”
5. University Reporting: Contact Dean of Students, but consult lawyer first
6. Legal Consultation: Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 within 24–48 hours

For Corsicana Students: Is This Hazing? What to Do

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something unsafe?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences?
• Would my parents/university approve if they knew exactly what’s happening?
• Am I being told to keep secrets or lie?

If It’s Hazing – Exit Strategies:

1. Immediate Danger: Call 911, get to safe location
2. Medical Emergency: Good-faith reporter protections apply when calling for help
3. Quitting: Send email/text: “I resign my membership effective immediately”
4. Safety Planning: Tell someone outside the org first, avoid “one last meeting”
5. Documentation: Screenshot everything before confronting anyone

Reporting Channels for Texas Students:

• Campus: Dean of Students, Office of Student Conduct, Title IX Coordinator
• Law Enforcement: Campus police or local PD for crimes
• Anonymous: National Anti-Hazing Hotline: 1-888-NOT-HAZE
• Legal: Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (confidential consultation)

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

MISTAKE #1: Letting your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence

• Why it’s wrong: Looks like cover-up, obstruction of justice, makes case impossible
• What to do instead: Preserve everything immediately, even embarrassing content

MISTAKE #2: Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly

• Why it’s wrong: They lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
• What to do instead: Document everything, call lawyer before any confrontation

MISTAKE #3: Signing university “release” or “resolution” forms

• Why it’s wrong: May waive right to sue, settlements often far below value
• What to do instead: Do NOT sign anything without attorney review

MISTAKE #4: Posting details on social media before talking to lawyer

• Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys screenshot everything, inconsistencies hurt case
• What to do instead: Document privately, let lawyer control public messaging

MISTAKE #5: Waiting “to see how the university handles it”

• Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute runs
• What to do instead: Preserve evidence NOW, consult lawyer immediately

Why Attorney911 for Corsicana 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 (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) hazing claims, their delay tactics, coverage exclusion arguments, and settlement strategies. As he says about the UH case: “If this prevents harm to another person…Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions (Ralph Manginello)
We’re one of the few Texas firms involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation – taking on billion-dollar corporations. That same experience applies to national fraternities and universities. Our federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas) means we’re not intimidated by institutional defendants.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Experience
We have recovered millions for families in complex wrongful death cases. We work with economists to value lifetime care needs for brain injuries, permanent disabilities, and catastrophic harm. We don’t settle cheap – we build cases that force accountability.

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise
Ralph’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.

Investigative Depth
We maintain the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine – tracking 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. We know which legal entities (house corporations, alumni chapters, nationals) hold insurance and responsibility. Our network includes digital forensics experts who recover deleted messages, medical experts, psychologists, and economists.

Spanish-Language Services
Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish – critical for serving Hispanic families in Corsicana and throughout Texas.

Our Approach: Thorough Investigation, Real Accountability

We investigate like your child’s life depends on it – because it does. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case:

• We preserved group chat evidence before deletion
• We identified all 13 individual defendants plus institutional entities
• We documented the medical catastrophe with expert testimony
• We’re pursuing the national headquarters, not just local chapter

We know this is one of the hardest things a family can face. Our job is to get you answers, hold the right people accountable, and help prevent this from happening to another Corsicana family.

Contact Attorney911 Today

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus – whether Navarro College, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Baylor, UH, or any other school – we want to hear from you. Families in Corsicana, Navarro County, and throughout East-Central Texas have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We’ll listen to what happened, explain your legal options, and help you decide on the best path forward.

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation:

• We 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 (contingency fee – we don’t get paid unless we win)
• No pressure to hire us on the spot – take time to decide
• Everything you tell us is confidential

Contact Information:

• 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

Hablamos Español – Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish. Servicios legales en español disponibles.

Whether you’re in Corsicana or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. Call us today.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston investigation: 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 with phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas statutes of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client mistakes that ruin cases: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website & Practice Areas:

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

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