The Complete Texas Hazing Litigation Guide: A Resource for Tatum, Rusk County & Longview Families

Section 1: Hook & Overview – A Message to Tatum Parents from Attorney911

For a parent in Tatum, Rusk County, Longview, or anywhere in East Texas, the nightmare begins with a late-night phone call. The voice on the other end is unfamiliar, or worse, it’s your child’s, but it’s slurred with exhaustion or fear. They’re talking about a “pledge event,” an “initiation workout,” or just apologize for waking you. In the background, you might hear chanting. The call drops. You try calling back—no answer. Your mind races between images of college camaraderie you hoped for and the dark headlines you’ve seen about fraternity hazing. Is your child safe? Is this normal? What is happening right now on that campus, whether it’s minutes away in Nacogdoches or hours away at a major state university?

You are not alone in this fear. Hazing is not a relic of the past or something that only happens elsewhere. It is a present, systemic danger in Texas Greek life, athletic programs, and campus organizations. Right now, our firm—Attorney911—is leading one of the most serious hazing lawsuits in the country, right here in Texas. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who nearly lost his life to fraternity hazing in Fall 2025.

His story is a critical warning for every Texas family. As pledges for the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at UH, Bermudez and others were subjected to months of degradation and abuse: forced to wear humiliating “pledge fanny packs,” driven to exhaustion with overnight duties, and subjected to violent physical hazing. The culmination was a November 3rd “workout” where he was forced through over 100 push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. Days later, he was crawling upstairs at home, passing brown urine. Rushed to the hospital, he was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis—severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. He spent four days hospitalized with critically high creatine kinase levels, facing the risk of permanent kidney damage. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter was swiftly suspended and then voted to surrender its charter. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” This is not a historical case. This is active, ongoing litigation that we are handling right now in Harris County. You can read the extensive coverage from Click2Houston and ABC13.

This guide exists because families in Tatum, Longview, Henderson, and across East Texas deserve to know the truth about hazing in 2025: what it looks like, the laws that are supposed to protect students, the grim national patterns that keep repeating, and the specific realities at Texas universities where your children may study. We will provide you with a clear, factual, and actionable understanding of your rights and options. If you are reading this during a crisis, your first priority is safety.

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.
  • Evidence disappears fast (deleted group chats, coached witnesses).
  • We can help preserve evidence and protect your rights from the start.
  • Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Section 2: Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing has evolved far beyond the stereotypical “prank.” It is a calculated spectrum of abuse designed to assert power, enforce loyalty, and filter members through degradation and risk. For Tatum families, understanding this modern reality is the first step in recognizing danger.

Clear, Modern Definition of Hazing

In plain terms, 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. The critical legal and human point is this: “I agreed to it” or “I wanted to fit in” does not make it safe or legal. True consent cannot exist under peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of social exclusion.

Main Categories of Hazing (The 2025 Playbook)

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains the most common and deadly form.

   • Forced or coerced drinking games (“lineups,” “century club,” “Big/Little” reveals).
   • Chugging challenges with hard liquor.
   • Being pressured to consume unknown mixtures, drugs, or excessive amounts of food (like the hot dogs and peppercorns forced on UH pledges).

2. Physical Hazing: Often disguised as “conditioning” or “team building.”

   • Extreme calisthenics (“smokings”) far beyond safe limits—like the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats in the UH case.
   • Paddling, beatings, or “paddling interviews.”
   • Sleep deprivation through all-night sessions or early-morning summons.
   • Exposure to extreme elements (forced to stand in cold in underwear).
   • Dangerous “rituals” like the “glass ceiling” tackle or being sprayed with a hose “similar to waterboarding.”

3. Psychological & Humiliating Hazing: Designed to break down identity and instill obedience.

   • Verbal abuse, screaming, and degradation.
   • Forced nudity or wearing demeaning costumes.
   • Assigning derogatory names or identities.
   • Social isolation from non-members.
   • “Roasts” or interrogation-style interviews.

4. Digital/Online Hazing: The 21st-century control tool.

   • 24/7 monitoring via GroupMe, WhatsApp, or Discord with instant response demands.
   • Forced participation in humiliating social media “challenges” or dares.
   • Cyberstalking via location-sharing apps.
   • Coerced creation or sharing of compromising images/videos.

Where Hazing Happens: It’s Not Just “Fraternities”

While Greek life is a major focus, hazing pervades many groups:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural councils).
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading).
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / Military-Style Groups (with deep tradition and sometimes dangerous “training”).
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups.
• Spirit and Tradition Organizations (like “Texas Cowboys” or similar groups on other campuses).
• Some Academic, Service, or Cultural Clubs.

The common thread is a dynamic where older members hold power over new members’ social futures, and “tradition” is used to justify abuse.

Section 3: Law & Liability Framework: Texas & Federal Hazing Laws

Texas has specific laws against hazing, and federal statutes create additional layers of potential liability. Understanding this framework shows that victims have rights and perpetrators can be held accountable.

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code Chapter 37)

Texas law defines hazing broadly and seriously. Under Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code, hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in any organization, that:

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

Key Provisions for Tatum Families:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes injury requiring medical treatment, and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (§37.155) explicitly states that the victim’s “consent” to the activity is not a defense to prosecution. This legally acknowledges the coercive power dynamic.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Individuals who in good faith report hazing to authorities are immune from civil or criminal liability resulting from the report. This is meant to encourage people to call for help.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office). Aim is punishment (jail, fines, probation). Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or even manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by the victim or their family. Aim is monetary compensation for damages and institutional accountability. These cases focus on negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, and emotional distress.

These paths can run simultaneously. A lack of criminal charges does not prevent a civil lawsuit, and a civil case has a lower burden of proof.

Federal Law Overlay: Title IX, Clery, and New National Laws

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently and maintain public hazing data. This will soon provide families with better information.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, the university has specific federal obligations to respond.
• Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain crimes on campus; hazing incidents that involve assault or alcohol crimes may trigger Clery reporting.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

A thorough investigation aims to identify every responsible party to ensure full accountability and access to insurance coverage.

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, carried out, or covered up the acts.
2. Local Chapter / Organization: The campus chapter as a legal entity and its officers.
3. National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: Often the deepest pocket. Liability hinges on what they knew or should have known based on prior incidents across the country.
4. University or Governing Board: Schools can be liable for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or premises liability. Public universities (like UH, Texas A&M) have some sovereign immunity, but exceptions exist.
5. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, alumni housing corporations, bars that overserved alcohol (under Texas dram shop law).

Section 4: National Hazing Case Patterns: The Script Repeats

Major hazing deaths and injuries follow heartbreakingly predictable scripts. These national cases are not just news stories; they establish legal precedents and patterns of negligence that directly impact Texas lawsuits. They show universities and national fraternities what is foreseeable—and what they have failed to prevent.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death: The Most Common Killer

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A bid-acceptance night with forced drinking led to fatal falls. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case resulted in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania and criminal charges against 18 members.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant drinking. Gruver died with a 0.495% BAC. The Max Gruver Act made hazing a felony in Louisiana.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Forced to drink a bottle of liquor on “Big/Little” night; died of alcohol poisoning. The family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pike nationals, ~$3M from BGSU). The chapter president was later ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Another “Big Brother” night with a handle of liquor. His death led to FSU suspending all Greek life.

Physical & Ritualized Violence

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): Blindfolded, weighted down, and repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. He died of traumatic brain injury. The national fraternity was criminally convicted of assault and manslaughter—a landmark for organizational liability.
• Danny Santulli – Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): Forced drinking led to catastrophic, permanent brain damage. He cannot walk, talk, or see and requires 24/7 care. Settlements with 22 defendants reportedly total in the multi-millions.

Athletic & Institutional Hazing

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread sexualized and racist hazing allegations led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements, proving hazing pervades big-money sports programs.

What This Means for Tatum Families: These cases create a map of “foreseeable” harm. When a Texas chapter uses the same “Big/Little” drinking script that killed Stone Foltz, the national organization cannot claim ignorance. This pattern evidence is powerful in proving negligence and seeking punitive damages.

Section 5: Texas University Focus: Where Tatum Families Send Their Kids

Families in Tatum and Rusk County have deep educational ties across Texas. Your student might attend a local college, commute to a regional university, or head to a major statewide hub. Hazing risks exist at all levels. We start with the campuses most connected to East Texas.

Local & Regional Campuses for Tatum/Rusk County Families

Before we discuss major hubs, it’s important to recognize the institutions close to home where Greek life and organized groups also operate. Based on the Texas Universities directory (Table B), families in our area are connected to:

• Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, TX): Just a short drive from Tatum in Nacogdoches County. A public university with active Greek life.
• Kilgore College (Kilgore, TX): A community college in nearby Gregg County.
• University of Texas at Tyler (Tyler, TX): A growing public university in Smith County.
• Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce, TX): Located in Hunt County.
• LeTourneau University (Longview, TX): A private Christian university in Gregg County.
• Tyler Junior College (Tyler, TX): A large community college.

Students from Tatum also routinely attend the major flagship and private universities across Texas, where Greek life is most intensive and hazing cases often originate.

The Texas “Big Five” Greek Life Hubs

5.1 University of Houston (UH) – The Active Case

Campus Snapshot: A massive, diverse urban university with a significant commuter population but very active Greek life across multiple councils (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, MGC).
The Flagship Incident (Our Case): The Leonel Bermudez vs. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit, filed in late 2025, is the most serious current example. It alleges a system of abuse at the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter involving forced labor, humiliating “fanny pack” rules, sleep deprivation, and violent physical hazing culminating in rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. The university labeled it “deeply disturbing,” and the chapter is now closed. This case is active proof of severe, ongoing hazing at a major Texas public university.
UH’s Greek Ecosystem: According to campus rosters, UH hosts chapters of national organizations with documented hazing histories, including Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, and Kappa Sigma within its IFC.
For UH Families: This case demonstrates that hazing here is not theoretical. If your child is involved in UH Greek life, the risks are real and current. Evidence preservation and timely legal consultation are critical.

5.2 Texas A&M University – Corps & Greek Life Tradition

Campus Snapshot: A tradition-rich campus with a massive Greek system and the nationally known Corps of Cadets.
Documented Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Lawsuit (~2021): Pledges allegedly had industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and other substances poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million.
• Kappa Sigma Rhabdomyolysis Case (2023): Ongoing litigation involving allegations of extreme physical hazing leading to the same life-threatening muscle breakdown seen in the UH case.
  For Texas A&M Families: The dual culture of intense Greek tradition and the Corps means hazing risks can come from multiple directions. The university’s size and tradition can sometimes complicate transparency.

5.3 University of Texas at Austin – Public Transparency Leader

Campus Snapshot: The state’s flagship, with one of the largest and most historic Greek systems.
Public Transparency: UT Austin maintains a public Hazing Violations webpage, listing organizations, conduct, and sanctions—more transparency than many peers.
Example Sanctions:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Chapter placed on probation.
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group): Cited for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Faced a $1M+ lawsuit in 2024 after an exchange student was allegedly assaulted, suffering a broken nose, dislocated leg, and fractured tibia.
  For UT Austin Families: The public log is a resource, but the repeated violations show hazing persists despite policies. A history on this log can be powerful evidence in a civil case.

5.4 Baylor University & Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Private School Realities

Baylor & SMU Snapshots: Leading private universities with strong Greek life and athletic cultures.
Incident Patterns: While often less publicly documented than state schools, these campuses are not immune. SMU’s Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended for paddling and forced drinking. Baylor’s baseball team faced a 2020 hazing scandal resulting in multiple player suspensions.
For Private University Families: Institutional pressure to protect reputation can be high. Legal action must be prepared to use discovery to obtain internal records that may not be public.

Section 6: Fraternities & Sororities: National Histories & Local Chapters

The letters on a house are not just a local club; they are a franchise of a national brand. That national brand has a history, an insurance policy, and a legal department. For Tatum families, understanding this connection is key to understanding who is truly responsible.

Why National Histories Matter in Court

When a chapter at UH or Texas A&M repeats a hazing script—a forced drinking “Big/Little” night, a violent paddling tradition, an extreme “workout”—that script was almost certainly written years ago at another chapter hundreds of miles away. National headquarters issue anti-hazing policies precisely because they know these patterns cause death and injury. This creates “foreseeability.”

In litigation, we use this pattern evidence to show the national organization:

• Had prior knowledge of the specific risks.
• Failed to adequately enforce its own policies or supervise the chapter.
• Is therefore negligent and share liability.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Mapping the Greek Ecosystem

Our firm doesn’t guess about these connections; we investigate using data. We maintain a proprietary directory built from public records to track the complex web of Greek organizations in Texas. For families in the East Texas region, this includes entities connected to nearby campuses and statewide hubs.

Public Records Snapshot: Greek Organizations Relevant to Texas Families
Below is a sample from our directory of Texas-registered Greek organizations (from IRS B83 filings and other public sources). This shows the scale and legal presence of these groups behind the scenes.

• Stephen F Austin State University Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., EIN 237279532, PO Box 2142, Prairie View, TX 77446 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity Inc., EIN 800209640, PO Box 7334, Houston, TX 77248 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc., EIN 741380362, PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83/Cause IQ Overlap)
• Beta Upsilon Chi, EIN 742911848, 12650 N Beach St Ste 114 PMB 305, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (IRS B83/Cause IQ Overlap)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, EIN 364091267, 1101 Melrose Dr, Waco, TX 76710 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – University of Texas at Tyler, EIN 352335400, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX 75799 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Alumni (Beaumont), EIN 746064445, 1855 Highway 69 N, Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83/Cause IQ Overlap)

Metro-Level Context: The Cause IQ database shows 188 Greek-related organizations in the Houston metro area alone and 510 in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. These aren’t just social clubs; they are legal entities with EINs, insurance, and liability.

National Organizations with Documented Hazing Patterns Present at Texas Schools

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): National history includes the Stone Foltz death ($10M settlement). Present at UH, Texas A&M, UT, Baylor.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Multiple deaths and severe injury cases nationwide, including chemical burns at Texas A&M and a severe assault lawsuit at UT. Present at all major Texas schools.
• Pi Kappa Phi: National history includes the Andrew Coffey death at FSU. The active UH lawsuit involves this fraternity.
• Phi Delta Theta: National history includes the Max Gruver death (Louisiana felony law). Present at Texas A&M, UT, SMU.
• Kappa Sigma: Named in rhabdomyolysis litigation at Texas A&M and other national incidents. Present across Texas campuses.

This overlap means the same organizations being sued for fatalities in Ohio, Louisiana, and Florida are operating chapters in your child’s Texas university. Their national history is directly relevant to your local case.

Section 7: Building a Hazing Case with Attorney911

Pursuing justice after hazing is a complex, multi-front battle against well-resourced defendants. It requires an investigative and legal strategy built for institutional warfare. This is where our unique experience matters.

Evidence Collection: The Digital Battlefield

The evidence that wins modern hazing cases is often digital and ephemeral. Immediate preservation is everything.

• Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, Instagram/Snapchat DMs. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages.
• Photos & Videos: Content filmed by participants, security footage from houses, Ring doorbells.
• Internal Records: Pledge manuals, chapter emails, national fraternity risk management files obtained through discovery.
• University Records: Prior conduct reports, Clery Act filings, internal investigation notes.
• Medical & Psychological Records: Documenting the physical injury (e.g., rhabdomyolysis lab reports) and the psychological trauma (PTSD, depression diagnoses).

We have a detailed video guide on using your phone to document evidence, which you can view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

Damages: What Can Be Recovered

A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and hold defendants accountable. Damages fall into key categories:

• Economic Damages: Past and future medical bills, lost wages, diminished earning capacity (e.g., if a brain injury prevents a chosen career).
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, trauma, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of companionship, emotional suffering.
• Punitive Damages: In egregious cases, to punish defendants for reckless or malicious conduct and deter future behavior.

Our Strategic Advantages in Hazing Litigation

We are not a general practice firm taking on a hazing case. We are complex litigation specialists whose skills are perfectly matched for this fight.

1. Insurance Insider Knowledge (Mr. Lupe Peña): Mr. Peña (he/him) spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers value claims, use delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. We know their playbook because we used to run it. This is an invaluable advantage in negotiation and litigation.

2. Institutional Litigation Experience (Ralph Manginello): Ralph was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on a billion-dollar corporation. Suing a national fraternity or a major university system requires the same level of resourcefulness, tenacity, and courtroom skill. We are not intimidated by deep-pocketed defendants.

3. Dual Civil/Criminal Capability: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal hazing process. We can effectively advise clients navigating parallel criminal and civil proceedings, or represent witnesses who need counsel.

4. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: As shown in Section 6, we don’t start from scratch. We use data to map liability, identify all potential defendants (chapter, housing corp, alumni association, national HQ), and understand the ecosystem we’re litigating against.

5. Comprehensive Investigative Network: We have relationships with medical experts, life-care planners, economists, digital forensics specialists, and psychologists who can build an undeniable case for the full scope of harm.

Section 8: Practical Guides & FAQs for Tatum Families

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

Warning Signs: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, sudden secrecy, personality changes (anxiety, withdrawal), dropping grades, constant/ anxious phone use for group chats.
If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: If there’s any immediate danger or injury, call 911 and get medical care.
2. Preserve Evidence Gently: Help your child screenshot messages and photos. Do not let them delete anything.
3. Document: Write down everything they tell you with dates, times, and names.
4. Seek Legal Counsel BEFORE Reporting: Contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911. We can advise on how to report to the university or police in a way that protects your child’s rights and preserves evidence. Universities often have their own interests first.
5. Do Not: Confront the organization, sign anything from the university or an insurer, or post details on social media.

For Students/Victims: Is This Hazing & What Can I Do?

Self-Assessment: Ask: Am I being pressured? Would I do this if there were no social consequences? Is it dangerous or degrading? Would I hide it from my parents or the school? If yes, it’s hazing.
Your Rights: Texas law protects good-faith reporters. You have the right to leave the organization at any time. “Consent” is not a legal defense for them.
Exiting Safely: Your physical safety comes first. If you need to leave, do so and tell a trusted person (parent, RA, friend) immediately. You can send a simple text or email to the chapter president: “I resign my membership/pledgeship, effective immediately.”
Evidence: Save everything—screenshots, photos of injuries, voice memos (Texas is a one-party consent state). Watch our video on evidence preservation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Hazing Case

1. Deleting Evidence: Group chats are the #1 source of proof. Preserve them.
2. Confronting the Fraternity/Sorority Directly: This triggers their defense lawyers and leads to evidence destruction.
3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms: These often contain waivers of your right to sue.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense investigators monitor everything. Inconsistencies can be used against you.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, memories fade. Texas has a statute of limitations. Learn more about legal deadlines here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue a public university like UH or Texas A&M?
A: Yes, but with strategic considerations. Public universities have some sovereign immunity, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing employees in their personal capacity. It requires careful legal framing, which we are experienced in.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury, including hazing injury, is generally two years from the date of the incident. However, exceptions and “tolling” arguments can apply. Do not wait. Call us to understand your specific timeline.

Q: What if it happened off-campus at a rented house?
A: Location does not eliminate liability. Nationals and universities can still be liable based on their supervision and control over the chapter. Many major cases (like Pi Delta Psi) happened at off-campus retreats.

Q: How much does it cost to hire your firm?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury hazing cases. This means you pay no upfront fees or hourly rates. We only get paid if we successfully recover money for you through a settlement or verdict. Learn how contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Q: Will my child’s name be public?
A: We prioritize client privacy. Most civil cases settle confidentially before a public trial. We can seek protective orders and use pseudonyms (John Doe) in court filings to shield your family’s identity.

Section 9: About Attorney911 – Your Texas Hazing Litigation Firm

If you are a parent in Tatum, Longview, or anywhere in East Texas facing the nightmare of hazing, you need advocates who understand both the profound human trauma and the complex legal battlefield. You need attorneys who have faced institutional giants before and know how to win.

At The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD (operating as Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™), we bring a unique and powerful combination of skills to hazing litigation:

• We Are Currently in the Fight: We are lead counsel in the $10 million Leonel Bermudez vs. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit—one of the most serious active hazing cases in Texas. We are not theorizing about hazing; we are litigating it right now.
• Insider Knowledge of the Defense: Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney gives us an unmatched advantage in predicting and countering the tactics fraternity and university insurers will use.
• Proven Against Billion-Dollar Defendants: Ralph Manginello’s experience in the BP Texas City explosion litigation proves we have the resources, tenacity, and skill to take on the largest institutional defendants.
• Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine means we start with knowledge, not guesses. We know how to trace liability from the local act to the national organization.
• Compassionate, Client-Centered Advocacy: We understand the fear, anger, and confusion you feel. We treat your family with respect, keep you informed at every step, and fight not just for compensation, but for the accountability that can prevent future harm.

Call to Action for Tatum & East Texas Families

Your child’s safety and future are paramount. If hazing has impacted your family—whether at Stephen F. Austin, Kilgore College, UT Tyler, Texas A&M, UH, or any Texas campus—you have the right to answers, accountability, and justice.

We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. During this consultation, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Outline the potential paths forward.
• Answer all your questions honestly.

There is no pressure. Our goal is to empower you with information so you can make the best decision for your family.

Contact Attorney911 Today:

• 24/7 Emergency Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Office: (713) 528-9070
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Se habla Español: Mr. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

You do not have to face this alone. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including Tatum, Rusk County, Longview, and all of East Texas. Let us bring our experience, empathy, and relentless advocacy to your family’s side.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Active UH Hazing Lawsuit:

• Click2Houston (KPRC 2) Coverage: 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 (KTRK) 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:

• 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 a Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website & Contact:

• Main Website & Free Consultation: https://attorney911.com

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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