Hazing Litigation Guide for Agnes, Texas Families: Holding Fraternities, Sororities, and Universities Accountable

A Message to Parents in Agnes, Texas

It starts with a phone call that no parent in Parker County ever wants to receive. Your child, who left for the University of Houston, Texas A&M, or UT Austin with such bright hopes, is in the hospital. The story is confusing—something about a “pledge event,” “team bonding,” or a “tradition.” There are whispers of forced drinking, extreme physical exertion, or humiliating acts. The university seems more concerned with managing its reputation than providing answers, and the fraternity or sorority has closed ranks. You’re left in Agnes, feeling helpless and angry, searching for the truth and a path to accountability for what was done to your child.

This is the reality of modern hazing. It is not harmless pranking; it is systematic abuse that can leave permanent physical and psychological scars, or worse. Right now, in Texas, we are fighting this reality head-on. Our firm, Attorney911, represents Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, its local Beta Nu chapter, and 13 individual members. The allegations are severe and specific: a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items, forced consumption of food until vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and extreme workouts that led to Bermudez developing rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization with brown urine indicating muscle tissue breakdown.

This active case in Harris County is proof that the most serious hazing is happening here in Texas, at schools where families from Agnes and across Parker County send their children. This comprehensive guide is written for you, the Texas parent, to understand what hazing truly looks like in 2025, the legal landscape that governs it, and the serious legal options available to hold powerful institutions accountable.

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, and 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 directly, sign anything from the university or insurance company, post details on public social media, or let your child delete messages.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears fast. We can help preserve it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing has evolved far beyond the stereotypes. For families in Agnes, understanding these modern tactics is the first step in recognizing the danger your child might be facing at a Texas university.

A Modern Definition of Coercion and Control

Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in a group. The key element is the power imbalance—the coercion that makes “choice” an illusion. Whether your child is at a large state school like UT or a private institution like SMU, the dynamics are similar: a desired social identity is dangled as a reward for enduring abuse.

The Four Pillars of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Coercion: This remains the most deadly pattern. It includes forced chugging, drinking games with punitive rules (like the “Bible study” that killed Max Gruver at LSU), and “Big/Little” nights where pledges are given handles of liquor. The goal is rapid, dangerous intoxication.
2. Physical and “Conditioning” Abuse: This includes paddling, beatings, and “smokings”—extreme, punitive calisthenics. In the Bermudez case at UH, this meant over 100 push-ups and 500 squats in a single session, leading to rhabdomyolysis. It also involves sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements.
3. Psychological and Sexualized Humiliation: This encompasses forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (like the “roasted pig” positioning alleged in a Texas A&M Corps case), degrading costumes, racial or sexist slurs, and public shaming designed to break down a pledge’s dignity.
4. Digital Hazing and Control: This is the 21st-century evolution. Pledges are subjected to 24/7 monitoring via GroupMe or WhatsApp, required to share their location, forced to post humiliating content on social media, and threatened with expulsion from the pledge class for not responding instantly at all hours.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond the Fraternity House

While fraternities and sororities are most commonly associated with hazing, Agnes parents must be aware that it permeates other high-status campus groups:

• Corps of Cadets and ROTC Programs (particularly at Texas A&M)
• Athletic Teams (from football to swimming)
• Spirit and Tradition Organizations (like the Texas Cowboys at UT)
• Marching Bands and Performing Arts Groups
• Some Academic, Cultural, and Service Clubs

The common thread is a culture of secrecy, tradition, and social power that values group loyalty over individual safety.

The Texas Legal Framework for Hazing: Criminal and Civil Accountability

Texas has specific laws to combat hazing, and understanding them is crucial for families in Agnes seeking justice.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Anti-Hazing Statute

The Texas hazing law provides a clear framework for criminal and institutional liability. For parents, the key points are:

• Broad Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers physical or mental health for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group. This applies on or off campus.
• Criminal Penalties:
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause injury.
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death (like the kidney failure in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case).
• “Consent is NOT a Defense”: Texas law (§37.155) is explicit: even if your child “agreed” to participate, it is not a legal defense against hazing charges. The law recognizes the coercive power of peer pressure.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Individuals who report hazing or call for medical help in good faith are protected from civil or criminal liability related to that report. This is designed to break the code of silence.

Civil Lawsuits: The Path to Compensation and Accountability

A criminal case is brought by the state to punish wrongdoing. A civil lawsuit, which our firm handles, is brought by the victim and family to recover damages and force institutional change. They can proceed simultaneously.

Potential Defendants in a Civil Hazing Case:

• The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, assisted, or carried out the hazing.
• The Local Chapter: As an organization, it can be held liable for the actions of its members and leadership.
• The National Fraternity/Sorority: Headquarters can be liable for negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, and having prior knowledge of dangerous patterns. Our case against Pi Kappa Phi national demonstrates this.
• The University: Schools like UH, Texas A&M, and UT can face liability for negligent supervision, premises liability, and Title IX violations if they knew or should have known about the risk and failed to act.
• Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, alumni advisors, and property owners may also share liability.

Federal Law Overlays

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires universities receiving federal funding to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs, with full implementation by 2026.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, it triggers the university’s Title IX obligations for investigation and response.
• The Clery Act: Requires colleges to report certain crimes, including some hazing-related assaults, in annual security reports.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Script Texas Chapters Follow

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not isolated. They reveal predictable patterns that repeat at universities across the country, including in Texas. This “foreseeability” is a powerful legal concept for holding national organizations accountable.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script: “Big/Little” and Bid Nights

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event. He died of alcohol poisoning. His family secured a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from the university).
• Max Gruver, LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Pledge died after a “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking. This led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, a felony hazing statute.
• Andrew Coffey, Florida State (Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Pledge died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother” night. The university temporarily suspended all Greek life.

The Texas Connection: The forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case follows this same pattern of using food and drink as punitive, dangerous tools.

The Physical Assault and “Ritual” Script

• Chun “Michael” Deng, Baruch College (Pi Delta Psi, 2013): A pledge was blindfolded, weighted down, and repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat, suffering fatal head injuries. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli, University of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): A pledge suffered severe, permanent brain damage from forced alcohol consumption. His family settled with 22 defendants, illustrating the wide net of liability.

The Texas Connection: Allegations of hog-tying a pledge at UH and the dangerous physical “workouts” that cause rhabdomyolysis show how physical hazing rituals persist.

The Institutional Cover-Up Pattern

Virtually every major case involves delayed medical care, destruction of evidence (deleted group chats), and witness intimidation. This is not accidental; it is a systematic defense tactic that our firm is experienced in dismantling through digital forensics and aggressive discovery.

The Texas University Landscape: A Guide for Agnes Families

Agnes families have deep ties to Texas’s flagship universities. Understanding the specific hazing environment at each campus is critical. Below, we break down the landscape at the major schools where your children may be studying.

University of Houston (UH)

For Agnes Families: As a major urban university within driving distance for many Texas families, UH is a common destination. The ongoing Pi Kappa Phi case demonstrates the serious risks present in its Greek system.

Campus Snapshot: A large, diverse commuter and residential campus with an active Greek life encompassing IFC fraternities, Panhellenic sororities, and multicultural councils.

Recent Case – The Flagship Example:
The Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit, filed in late 2025, alleges a campaign of abuse during the Fall 2025 pledge period. Key details from media reports include:

• Humiliation: A mandatory “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms, a sex toy, and nicotine devices.
• Physical Abuse: Sprints, bear crawls, lying in vomit-soaked grass, being sprayed with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and forced overeating followed by immediate exercise.
• The Breaking Point: A November 3 workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats led Bermudez to develop rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, passing brown urine and requiring a four-day hospitalization.
• Defendants: UH, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual chapter leaders.
• Outcome: Pi Kappa Phi national suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025, and members voted to surrender their charter on November 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

How a UH Hazing Case Proceeds: Jurisdiction typically involves Harris County courts. Investigations must navigate UHPD and potentially Houston Police. Civil suits target the multi-layered defendant universe, as seen in our Bermudez case.

What UH Parents Should Do: Report to the UH Dean of Students Office and UHPD, but consult an attorney first to ensure evidence is preserved. The university’s internal process is not designed to deliver full civil accountability or compensation.

Texas A&M University

For Agnes Families: The traditions and tight-knit communities at Texas A&M, including the Corps of Cadets, are powerful draws. These same structures can enable and conceal hazing.

Campus Snapshot: A culture deeply rooted in tradition, with a massive Greek system and the prominent Corps of Cadets. Both have faced serious hazing allegations.

Documented Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged they were doused with a mixture including industrial-strength cleaner and raw eggs, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and a lawsuit was filed.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth. He sought over $1 million in damages.

How a Texas A&M Case Proceeds: Cases may involve the Bryan/College Station PD and Brazos County courts. The unique culture of the Corps and strong fraternity traditions require attorneys who understand these institutions to effectively investigate and litigate.

What Texas A&M Parents Should Do: Be aware that hazing is not limited to Greek life. Document any mention of “cutting,” “training,” or “motivation” in the Corps context. Report to the Student Conduct Office and the Commandant’s Office for the Corps, but secure legal counsel to navigate these powerful institutions.

University of Texas at Austin (UT)

For Agnes Families: UT’s prestige and vibrant campus life are major attractions. Its relatively transparent public hazing log provides a window into persistent problems.

Campus Snapshot: A highly competitive academic and social environment with a large, influential Greek system and numerous spirit organizations.

Public Transparency – The Hazing Violations Log:
UT maintains a public online log of hazing violations, a resource that can help build a case by showing pattern and prior knowledge.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for directing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group): Cited for violations including mandatory events that interfered with academics and activities that could cause mental distress.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) at UT: Has faced litigation alleging assault of an exchange student, resulting in serious injuries including a fractured tibia.

How a UT Case Proceeds: Cases will be in Travis County courts. UT’s own public records can be used as evidence that the university was on notice of specific, recurring hazing problems within certain organizations.

What UT Parents Should Do: Check UT’s public hazing log for your child’s organization. It can reveal a history of similar conduct. Report to the UT Dean of Students and UTPD, but understand that university discipline is separate from your family’s right to seek civil damages.

Southern Methodist University (SMU)

For Agnes Families: SMU’s private, affluent campus in Dallas has a prominent Greek life scene where social pressures can be intense.

Campus Snapshot: A private university with a significant percentage of students involved in Greek life, governed by both university policy and national organization rules.

Documented Incidents:

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): The chapter was suspended for multiple years following reports of paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation of new members.

How an SMU Case Proceeds: As a private institution, SMU has fewer sovereign immunity protections than public schools. Cases are typically in Dallas County courts. Litigation often involves piercing the veil between the local chapter and its national headquarters to access policies and prior incident reports.

What SMU Parents Should Do: The private school setting may create different pressures. Document all communications with university administrators. Consider that national fraternity/sorority risk management policies may be extensive on paper but poorly enforced in practice.

Baylor University

For Agnes Families: Baylor’s faith-based mission attracts many Texas families, but its campus is not immune to the systemic issue of hazing.

Campus Snapshot: A Baptist-affiliated university that has undergone significant reform following past scandals, with active Greek and athletic programs.

Documented Incidents:

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players were suspended following a hazing investigation, with staggered suspensions affecting the team’s season.

How a Baylor Case Proceeds: Located in McLennan County, Baylor’s religious affiliation does not shield it from civil liability for negligence. Cases often involve balancing the university’s public faith-based messaging with its internal handling of misconduct reports.

What Baylor Parents Should Do: Scrutinize any “team bonding” or “new member education” activities within athletic programs and Greek life. Report through official Baylor channels, but seek independent legal advice to ensure the family’s interests are protected outside the university’s internal process.

Fraternities and Sororities: Connecting National Histories to Texas Chapters

The fraternity or sorority your child is seeking to join at a Texas school is almost certainly part of a national organization with a documented history of hazing incidents across the country. This history is not incidental; it is central to building a case for liability.

Why National History Matters in Court

When a chapter at UH or Texas A&M engages in forced drinking, the national headquarters cannot plausibly claim it was an unforeseeable, “rogue” event. National organizations have anti-hazing policies precisely because they have paid millions in settlements for the same conduct elsewhere. This “pattern and practice” evidence is crucial for establishing:

• Foreseeability: The national knew or should have known this type of harm could occur.
• Negligent Supervision: The national failed to adequately monitor, train, or control its chapters.
• Gross Negligence/Punitive Damages: The conscious disregard of known risks can justify punitive damages.

National Organizations with Documented Hazing Patterns Present at Texas Schools

• Pi Kappa Alpha (“Pike”): Present at UH, Texas A&M, UT, Baylor. National History: The 2021 Stone Foltz alcohol poisoning death at Bowling Green State ($10M settlement). This pattern makes national Pi Kappa Alpha’s knowledge of “Big/Little” drinking risks a key issue.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Present at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU. National History: Multiple deaths and injuries nationwide; a traumatic brain injury lawsuit at University of Alabama; the chemical burns case at Texas A&M.
• Pi Kappa Phi: Present at UH, Texas A&M, UT. National History: The 2017 Andrew Coffey alcohol poisoning death at Florida State. Our active lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi national in the Bermudez case directly alleges the national failed to prevent known hazing risks.
• Phi Delta Theta: Present at Texas A&M, UT, SMU, Baylor. National History: The 2017 Max Gruver death at LSU, which led to felony hazing legislation.
• Kappa Alpha Order: Present at Texas A&M, SMU. National History: Multiple suspensions for paddling and physical hazing, including at SMU in 2017.

The Public Records Directory: Seeing the Organizational Backbone

Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks the complex web of legal entities behind Greek life. For Agnes families, this means we don’t start from zero. We know how to identify the housing corporations, alumni associations, and national headquarters that may hold insurance and liability.

Example Entities from Our Database Relevant to Texas Campuses:

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 462267515) – Frisco, TX 75035. This is the entity that owned/controlled the UH chapter house.
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter (EIN 746064445) – Nederland, TX 77627. An alumni/housing corp tied to Lamar University in Beaumont.
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN 741380362) – Fort Worth, TX 76147. A foundation supporting Kappa Sigma chapters across Texas.
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – Theta Rho Chapter (EIN 812525354) – College Station, TX 77845. The house corporation for the Texas A&M chapter.

This directory, built from IRS and public filings, allows us to trace liability beyond the undergraduate members to the organizations with deeper pockets and insurance coverage.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Legal Strategy

Pursuing a hazing case requires a meticulous, strategic approach. At Attorney911, we combine investigative rigor with legal experience honed in complex institutional litigation.

The Evidence Pyramid: What Wins Cases

1. Digital Communications (The Most Critical): Preserving GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Discord threads is paramount. These chats show planning, boasting, threats, and cover-up attempts. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages.
2. Photographic & Video Evidence: Photos of injuries, videos of events shared on social media or in private chats, and security footage from houses or venues.
3. Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, emails between officers, and national fraternity risk management policies obtained through discovery.
4. University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same organization (like UT’s public log), Clery Act reports, and internal investigation files.
5. Medical & Psychological Records: ER reports, hospitalization records, toxicology screens, and diagnoses of PTSD, depression, or anxiety from a treating psychologist.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders. We know how to approach witnesses who may be fearful or conflicted.

The Damages: What Families Can Recover

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

• Economic Damages:
  • All past and future medical expenses (ER, hospitalization, surgery, therapy, long-term care).
  • Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
  • Educational costs for missed semesters or required transfers.
• Non-Economic Damages:
  • Physical pain and suffering.
  • Mental anguish, emotional distress, humiliation, and PTSD.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (in fatalities):
  • Funeral and burial costs.
  • Loss of companionship, love, and financial support for the family.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of gross negligence or intentional conduct, courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

Navigating Insurance and Institutional Defenses

Fraternities and universities are insured. Their insurers often fight claims by arguing hazing is an “intentional act” excluded from coverage. Our advantage comes from Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney. He knows the tactics insurers use to deny or minimize claims. We build cases to overcome these defenses, often by arguing the negligent supervision by the national or university—a failure to act—is a covered occurrence.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Agnes Families

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Guide

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight changes.
• Sudden secrecy about group activities or fear of missing messages.
• Personality changes: withdrawal, anxiety, depression.
• Financial requests for unexplained “fines,” alcohol, or gifts.

If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Prioritize Safety: If there is immediate danger, call 911.
2. Talk to Your Child: Use open-ended, non-judgmental questions. “I’m worried about you. Is there anything happening in your [fraternity/sorority/team] that feels unsafe or wrong?”
3. Document Everything: Have your child show you group chats—take screenshots immediately. Photograph injuries. Write down a timeline of what they tell you.
4. Seek Medical Care: Get a professional medical evaluation, even for psychological trauma. Tell the doctor the injuries may be hazing-related.
5. Contact an Attorney Before Reporting: Once you have preserved evidence, consult with a hazing lawyer. We can guide you on how to report to the university or police in a way that protects your child’s rights and case.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

• “Is This Hazing?” If you feel coerced, unsafe, humiliated, or are forced to do something you wouldn’t otherwise do to belong, it likely is.
• You Can Leave: You have the legal right to resign your pledge or membership at any time. Send a clear email or text to the president or new member educator to create a record.
• Reporting Safely: You can report anonymously through university hotlines or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE). Texas law provides immunity for good-faith reports.
• Preserve Evidence: Do NOT delete messages, even if they’re embarrassing. Screenshot everything. Take photos of injuries.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case

1. Deleting Digital Evidence: This looks like a cover-up and destroys the best evidence.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This prompts them to lawyer up, destroy evidence, and coach witnesses.
3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms: Universities may offer quick, low-value settlements that waive your right to sue. Do not sign anything without an attorney.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys monitor everything. Inconsistencies can be used against you.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, and the two-year Texas statute of limitations continues to run.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue a public university like UH or Texas A&M in Texas?
A: Yes, though sovereign immunity provides some protection. Exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individual employees. Even with immunity, universities often settle to avoid bad publicity, as seen in the $3M settlement with Bowling Green State in the Stone Foltz case.

Q: My child “agreed” to participate. Do we have a case?
A: Yes. Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states consent is not a defense to hazing. The law recognizes the coercive power of peer pressure and the desire to belong.

Q: What if the hazing happened at an off-campus house or Airbnb?
A: Location does not eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on their sponsorship and knowledge of activities. Major cases, like the Pi Delta Psi retreat death, have succeeded despite off-campus locations.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: Generally, two years from the date of injury or death in Texas. However, the “discovery rule” may extend this if the full extent of the harm was not immediately known. Do not delay—call an attorney to understand your specific deadlines.

Q: Will our case be public?
A: Most civil hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize your family’s privacy while aggressively pursuing accountability behind the scenes.

About The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911

For families in Agnes and across Texas facing the nightmare of hazing, you need advocates who are not intimidated by powerful institutions and who understand the complex landscape of Greek life, university politics, and insurance defense tactics.

Why Attorney911 is Uniquely Qualified for Texas Hazing Cases:

• We Are Fighting a Major Texas Hazing Case Right Now: We represent Leonel Bermudez in the $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. This isn’t theoretical—we are in the trenches, litigating the exact type of case Agnes families may be facing.

• Insurance Insider Advantage – Mr. Lupe Peña: Before joining our firm, Mr. Peña worked for years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows firsthand how insurance companies for fraternities and universities value claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it.

• Complex Institutional Litigation Experience – Ralph Manginello: Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, is one of the few Texas attorneys who was involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on one of the world’s largest corporations. We apply the same relentless investigative and litigation skills to hold national fraternities and universities accountable.

• Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—tracking over 1,400 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros—means we start with knowledge. We know how to identify the housing corporations, alumni associations, and national entities that share liability.

• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can advise families and witnesses on navigating both systems.

• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish, ensuring we can serve the diverse families of Texas with compassion and clear communication.

A Call to Action for Agnes, Texas Families

If hazing has impacted your child at the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, or any other Texas campus, you are not alone. The path to answers and accountability begins with a conversation.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will:

1. Listen to your story with empathy and without judgment.
2. Review any evidence you have gathered.
3. Explain your legal options under Texas law in clear terms.
4. Discuss the realistic timeline and process.
5. Answer your questions about how our contingency fee works—you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach us directly at (713) 528-9070 or via email at ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com.

Hablamos Español. For consultation in Spanish, please ask for Mr. Lupe Peña.

From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families throughout Texas, including here in Agnes and across Parker County. Let us help you fight for the justice and safety your child 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
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com | lupe@atty911.com (Se habla Español)