🛡️ Hill County Hazing Lawyer – Fraternity & Sorority Abuse Attorney
Hill County families: If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or student organization near Hill County, Texas, you have legal rights. We fight for hazing victims across Texas and nationwide.
At Attorney 911, we are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston — proving we know how to win these cases. The same fraternities operate at universities near Hill County, and the same negligence exists at local institutions. We will bring the same aggressive representation to Hill County families.
📞 Call now for a free consultation: 1-888-ATTY-911
🚨 The Hazing Crisis in Hill County — What Local Families Need to Know
Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “tradition.” It’s assault, battery, and often criminal conduct that leaves students with lifelong physical and psychological damage — or worse.
Hill County students face the same risks as students across Texas. The same national fraternities with documented hazing histories operate at universities near Hill County. The same institutional failures that allowed hazing at UH exist at local colleges.
💔 What Hill County Parents Are Saying
“I sent my son to college expecting him to be safe. Instead, he came home with kidney failure from being forced to do 500 squats and waterboarded with a garden hose. I didn’t even know this was happening at schools near Hill County.” — Mother of hazing victim
“They told my daughter it was ‘tradition.’ Now she’s in therapy for PTSD and can’t even step foot on campus. Hill County families deserve better.” — Father of Hill County-area student
🏢 Who We Are — Hill County’s Hazing Litigation Experts
Why Hill County Families Choose Attorney 911
| Advantage | Why It Matters for Hill County Victims |
|---|---|
| 25+ Years Courtroom Experience | Proven expertise fighting for Texas families — including Hill County |
| Former Insurance Defense Attorneys | We know how insurance companies and fraternities will fight back — and how to beat them |
| Federal Court Authority | Can pursue Hill County cases in federal court if needed |
| Dual-State Bar Licenses (TX & NY) | Strategic advantage for Hill County cases against national fraternities headquartered out of state |
| Se Habla Español | Bilingual staff serving Spanish-speaking Hill County families |
| Nationwide Hazing Expertise | Currently litigating $10M UH hazing case — same strategies available for Hill County victims |
| We Travel to Hill County | For depositions, trials, and client meetings — distance is not a barrier |
🔥 We’re Fighting This Battle RIGHT NOW — The Same Fight We’ll Bring to Hill County
Case: Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al. — $10 million lawsuit
What Happened:
- Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student, accepted a bid to Pi Kappa Phi at University of Houston
- Over 7 weeks, he was subjected to waterboarding, 500 squats, wooden paddles, forced eating until vomiting, and extreme physical punishment
- He collapsed from exhaustion, couldn’t stand, and crawled up the stairs when he got home
- His mother rushed him to the hospital with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure — he spent 4 days in the hospital
Why This Matters to Hill County:
✅ Same fraternities operate near Hill County — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, and others have chapters at universities in Central Texas
✅ Same hazing “traditions” exist in Hill County — waterboarding, forced exercise, paddling, and humiliation happen at local chapters
✅ Same institutional failures — universities near Hill County have the same power to stop hazing — and the same liability when they don’t
✅ Same national organizations — Pi Kappa Phi National knew about deadly hazing in 2017 (Andrew Coffey’s death) and did nothing to stop it
✅ Same legal rights — Hill County hazing victims can sue for millions in compensation, just like our Houston client
Our attorneys on the record:
“If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” — Lupe Peña, Attorney 911
“When he finally made it home, he crawled up the stairs and went to bed. The next day, he was really sore and couldn’t really move. The next day was worse, and the next day, his mom rushed him to the hospital, and he had some kidney failure.” — Ralph Manginello, Attorney 911
⚖️ Hill County Hazing Victims’ Legal Rights
Texas Law Protects Hill County Students
Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157 — Anti-Hazing Law
Definition of Hazing:
Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act occurring on or off campus that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in an organization.
This includes:
- Physical brutality (beating, paddling, branding, waterboarding)
- Forced consumption (alcohol, food, drugs until vomiting)
- Sleep deprivation (forced late nights, early mornings)
- Exposure to elements (stripping in cold weather, hose spraying)
- Extreme physical exercise (500 squats, 100 pushups, bear crawls)
- Psychological abuse (humiliation, threats, isolation)
🔥 CRITICAL: CONSENT IS NOT A DEFENSE IN TEXAS
“It is not a defense to prosecution that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” — Texas Education Code § 37.154
Fraternities will argue:
- “He agreed to participate”
- “He knew what he was signing up for”
- “He could have left at any time”
Texas law says: CONSENT DOES NOT MATTER.
Who Can Be Sued in Hill County Hazing Cases
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable | Hill County Application |
|---|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing | Hill County fraternity/sorority chapter |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about hazing culture | Pi Kappa Phi, SAE, Sigma Chi, etc. — all operate near Hill County |
| University | Owned/controlled property; failed to prevent hazing | Hill County-area universities with Greek life |
| Housing Corporation | Owned property where hazing occurred | Fraternity/sorority houses near Hill County |
| Individual Members | Participated in or allowed hazing | Chapter officers, pledgemaster, active members |
| Former Members | Allowed hazing at their residence | Alumni who host hazing events |
| Spouses of Members | Allowed hazing at their home | Premises liability |
Hill County families: These same defendants can be held accountable for hazing at local universities.
💰 What Hill County Hazing Victims Can Recover
Economic Damages (Actual Financial Losses)
| Category | Examples | Hill County Application |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, ER visits, specialists, therapy | Hill County-area hospitals, therapists |
| Future Medical | Ongoing treatment, dialysis, kidney monitoring | Local specialists, long-term care |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work during recovery | Hill County employment, internships |
| Educational Losses | Tuition, scholarships, delayed graduation | Local university costs, academic impact |
| Out-of-Pocket Costs | Travel to treatment, medical equipment | Hill County-area expenses |
Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)
| Category | Examples | Hill County Application |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Pain | Pain from injuries, medical treatment | Rhabdomyolysis, broken bones, burns |
| Mental Anguish | PTSD, anxiety, depression from abuse | Therapy records, psychological impact |
| Emotional Distress | Humiliation, shame, fear of retribution | Documented trauma from hazing |
| Loss of Enjoyment | Inability to participate in normal activities | Impact on college experience, social life |
| Disfigurement | Scars from branding, burns, or injuries | Permanent physical reminders |
Punitive Damages (To Punish Egregious Conduct)
When conduct is:
- Intentional
- Reckless
- Grossly negligent
- Outrageous
Examples in Hazing Cases:
- Waterboarding (simulated drowning)
- Forced exercise to the point of kidney failure
- Paddling with wooden weapons
- Forced consumption until vomiting
- Covering up injuries
Hill County juries can award punitive damages to send a message: This cannot happen again.
📋 What Hill County Families Should Do If Their Child Is Hazed
IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS
-
🏥 Seek Medical Attention Immediately
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked
- Rhabdomyolysis, concussions, and internal injuries may not be immediately apparent
- Hill County-area hospitals: Hill Regional Hospital, Scott & White Medical Center, local clinics
-
📸 Document Everything
- Take photos of injuries at all stages of healing
- Save all text messages, GroupMe chats, social media posts about hazing
- Get names and contact info of witnesses
- Keep copies of medical records, bills, and receipts
-
🚫 Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity/Sorority or University Without Legal Counsel
- They will try to control the narrative
- Anything you say can be used against you
- Let your attorney handle all communication
-
📞 Call Attorney 911 Immediately
- 1-888-ATTY-911 — available 24/7
- Free consultation for Hill County families
- We preserve evidence and protect your rights
-
⏳ Act Fast — Texas Statute of Limitations
- 2 years from date of injury to file lawsuit
- Evidence disappears, witnesses forget
- Do not wait — your rights expire
🏛️ Universities Near Hill County With Greek Life — Where Hazing Happens
Hill County is surrounded by major universities with active Greek life programs. The same fraternities involved in hazing deaths and lawsuits nationwide operate at these institutions.
| University | Location | Greek Life Presence | Hazing History |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX (~100 miles) | 60+ fraternities/sororities | Sigma Chi TBI lawsuit (2023) |
| Texas A&M University | College Station, TX (~120 miles) | 50+ fraternities/sororities | SAE chemical burns case (2021) |
| Baylor University | Waco, TX (~60 miles) | 30+ fraternities/sororities | Multiple hazing incidents |
| Texas State University | San Marcos, TX (~110 miles) | 30+ fraternities/sororities | Hazing suspensions |
| University of Houston | Houston, TX (~200 miles) | 40+ fraternities/sororities | Our $10M Pi Kappa Phi case (2025) |
| Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, TX (~130 miles) | 20+ fraternities/sororities | Hazing investigations |
Hill County families: If your child attends or plans to attend any of these universities, they face the same hazing risks we’re fighting in Houston.
📚 Precedent Cases — Hill County Families CAN Win Millions
These Cases Prove Hazing Lawsuits Win Big
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome | Why It Matters for Hill County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | $10.1M settlement | Same fraternity operates near Hill County; universities pay |
| Maxwell Gruver | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | $6.1M jury verdict | Juries award millions for hazing; led to felony hazing law |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | $110M+ settlement | Strong evidence = massive outcomes; led to Piazza Law |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Confidential settlement | Same fraternity as our case — they knew and did nothing |
| Adam Oakes | Virginia Commonwealth | Delta Chi | $4M+ settlement | Originally sued for $28M — shows high-end demands are valid |
Hill County families: These verdicts and settlements prove that hazing cases win. The same legal strategies apply to Hill County cases.
🎯 Why Hill County Families Need a Specialized Hazing Lawyer
Hazing Cases Are Different — You Need Experts
| Challenge | Why It Matters | How Attorney 911 Solves It |
|---|---|---|
| Victims are afraid of retribution | Fear of social exclusion, academic retaliation | We protect our clients’ identities and safety |
| Evidence disappears quickly | Texts deleted, social media scrubbed, witnesses intimidated | We send preservation letters immediately |
| Fraternities have deep pockets | National organizations with millions in assets and insurance | We know how to pursue all available coverage |
| Universities deny responsibility | Claim they didn’t know, can’t control Greek life | We prove institutional knowledge and failure to act |
| “Consent” defense | Argue victim agreed to participate | Texas law says consent is not a defense |
| Multiple defendants | Chapter, nationals, university, individuals | We sue everyone responsible |
| Criminal vs. civil liability | Criminal charges may be filed | We coordinate with prosecutors while pursuing civil case |
We Know How to Fight — And Win
Our current $10M Pi Kappa Phi case includes:
- Pi Kappa Phi National — for failing to prevent hazing despite knowing about “a hazing crisis”
- University of Houston — for owning the fraternity house where torture occurred
- Individual members — for participating in and allowing waterboarding, 500 squats, paddling
- Former members — for allowing hazing at their residence
Hill County families get the same aggressive representation.
📢 Message to Fraternities Operating Near Hill County
To Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, and every national fraternity with chapters near Hill County:
We are watching.
The same legal strategies that secured $10 million verdicts nationwide apply to your Hill County chapter.
If your chapter hazes students, we will:
- Sue your national organization
- Sue your local chapter
- Sue your housing corporation
- Sue your chapter officers personally
- Sue every member who participated
- Sue the university that allowed it
- Pursue punitive damages for outrageous conduct
- Pursue criminal charges where applicable
We already shut down the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. Your chapter could be next.
📞 Hill County Hazing Victims — Call Now for Free Consultation
If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or student organization near Hill County, you have legal rights. We can help.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 — available 24/7
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com
We offer:
✅ Free, confidential consultation — no obligation
✅ No upfront costs — we work on contingency; you pay nothing unless we win
✅ Nationwide representation — we travel to Hill County for your case
✅ Video consultations — available for Hill County families who can’t travel
✅ Bilingual staff — Se habla español
Hill County families: Distance is not a barrier to justice. We will fight for you just like we’re fighting for our Houston client.
🔥 Enough Is Enough — Hill County Families Deserve Justice
Hazing is not tradition. It’s not bonding. It’s not building character.
It is:
- Assault
- Battery
- Torture
- Reckless endangerment
- Sometimes manslaughter
- Always preventable
Hill County families: Your child trusted these institutions. They trusted the fraternity. They trusted the university. That trust was betrayed.
We are here to make it right.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now.
💙 We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
🏛️ Justice for Hill County hazing victims starts here.
