Hazing Victims in Medina County, Texas: Your Legal Rights and How We Can Help

🚨 Medina County Families: Hazing Is Happening Near You — And It’s More Dangerous Than You Think

If your child attends a college or university near Medina County, Texas — whether it’s San Antonio, Uvalde, Hondo, or even as far as Austin or College Station — they may be at risk of hazing. The same fraternities that waterboarded, forced excessive exercise, and hospitalized a student at the University of Houston operate chapters across Texas, including near Medina County.

This isn’t just “boys being boys.” This is abuse. This is assault. And in some cases, this is torture.

At Attorney 911, we are actively litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for what happened to Leonel Bermudez — a young man who wasn’t even a UH student yet when he was subjected to simulated drowning, 500 squats until his muscles broke down, and wooden paddle beatings that landed him in the hospital with kidney failure.

The same thing could be happening to students in Medina County right now.

If your child has been hazed — whether through forced drinking, extreme physical punishment, waterboarding, sleep deprivation, or psychological abuse — you have legal rights. And we can help.

🔥 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Medina County

The UH Hazing Case: A Warning for Medina County Families

In November 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston for the hazing of Leonel Bermudez, a prospective fraternity member who was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after weeks of abuse.

What they did to him:
✅ Waterboarded him with a garden hose (simulated drowning — a form of torture)
✅ Forced him to do 500+ squats and 100+ pushups until he collapsed
✅ Struck him with wooden paddles
✅ Forced him to eat until he vomited, then made him continue exercising
✅ Hog-tied another pledge with an object in his mouth for over an hour
✅ Forced him to drive fraternity members at all hours, causing sleep deprivation
✅ Threatened him with expulsion if he didn’t comply

The result?
Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized for four days with kidney failure from rhabdomyolysis — a life-threatening condition caused by extreme muscle breakdown.

Why this matters to Medina County:

• Pi Kappa Phi has 150+ chapters nationwide, including near Medina County.
• The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client exist at fraternities in San Antonio, Austin, College Station, and beyond.
• Universities near Medina County have the same oversight failures as UH.
• If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Medina County, they face the same risks.

💔 Hazing Isn’t Just “Tradition” — It’s Abuse

What Really Happens in Hazing Near Medina County

Hazing isn’t just “a few pushups” or “drinking a little too much.” It’s systematic abuse designed to break students down physically and psychologically.

Common hazing practices near Medina County include:

• Forced alcohol consumption (binge drinking, chugging, drinking games)
• Extreme physical punishment (500+ squats, bear crawls, “suicides” until collapse)
• Waterboarding or simulated drowning (as seen in our UH case)
• Sleep deprivation (forced to stay up all night, drive members at odd hours)
• Psychological torture (humiliation, degradation, carrying sexual objects)
• Beatings with paddles, belts, or other objects
• Forced eating until vomiting (milk, hot dogs, peppercorns, non-food items)
• Exposure to extreme heat or cold (stripping in cold weather, forced outdoor activities)
• Isolation and servitude (cleaning, errands, acting as personal drivers)

The medical consequences can be severe:

• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure)
• Alcohol poisoning (can be fatal)
• Traumatic brain injury (from beatings or falls)
• Hypothermia or heatstroke (from exposure)
• PTSD, anxiety, depression, and suicide

This isn’t just “hazing” — it’s assault. And it’s happening near Medina County.

⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Medina County Hazing Victim

Texas Law Protects You — And We Can Help You Fight Back

If your child has been hazed near Medina County, San Antonio, Austin, or anywhere in Texas, they have legal rights under Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157 and other laws.

Key legal protections for Medina County hazing victims:

✅ Consent is NOT a defense — Even if your child “agreed” to participate, Texas law says consent does not matter. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.154)

✅ Hazing is a crime in Texas — It can be charged as a Class B misdemeanor (up to 180 days in jail) or Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail) if serious bodily injury occurs.

✅ Universities and fraternities can be held liable — If the university knew or should have known about hazing and failed to stop it, they can be sued for negligence, premises liability, and failure to protect students.

✅ National fraternities can be held accountable — Organizations like Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and others have deep pockets and insurance policies that can pay for your child’s injuries.

✅ You have 2 years to file a lawsuit — In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is 2 years from the date of injury. If your child was hazed recently, you need to act now.

💰 How Much Is a Medina County Hazing Case Worth?

Hazing cases can result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts, especially when:

✔ The injuries are severe (hospitalization, surgery, permanent damage)
✔ The hazing was extreme (waterboarding, forced drinking, physical beatings)
✔ The university or fraternity knew about prior hazing incidents
✔ There is clear evidence (texts, photos, videos, witness statements)

Recent Hazing Case Settlements & Verdicts:

Medina County families: These same results are possible for your child.

📋 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed Near Medina County

Step-by-Step Guide for Medina County Families

If your child has been hazed near Medina County, San Antonio, Austin, or anywhere in Texas, take these steps immediately:

🚨 1. Get Medical Help Immediately

• If your child is injured, take them to the ER or urgent care.
• Rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, and head injuries can be life-threatening.
• Document everything — keep medical records, test results, and bills.

📸 2. Preserve All Evidence

• Save all text messages, GroupMe chats, Snapchats, and social media posts about the hazing.
• Take photos of injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, swelling).
• Get names and contact info of witnesses (other pledges, friends, roommates).
• Keep any physical evidence (clothing, objects used in hazing).

🚫 3. Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone

• Do not sign anything from the fraternity, sorority, or university.
• Do not give a statement without an attorney present.
• Do not post about the incident on social media.
• Anything you say can be used against you.

📞 4. Call Attorney 911 Immediately

• Free, confidential consultation — we’ll evaluate your case.
• No upfront costs — we work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
• We come to Medina County — we’ll travel for depositions, meetings, and trials.

📞 Call now: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com

🏢 Who Can Be Held Liable for Medina County Hazing?

In hazing cases, multiple parties can be held responsible, including:

1. The Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter

• Directly organized and conducted the hazing.
• Individual members who participated can be sued personally.

2. The National Fraternity/Sorority Organization

• Failed to supervise the local chapter.
• Knew about hazing risks but did nothing to stop it.
• Have deep pockets and insurance policies to pay damages.

3. The University or College

• Premises liability — if hazing occurred on university-owned property.
• Negligent supervision — if they knew or should have known about hazing.
• Failure to protect students — universities have a duty to keep students safe.

4. Individual Members & Officers

• Chapter president, pledgemaster, and active members can be sued personally.
• Former members who hosted hazing can be held liable.
• Spouses of members can be liable if hazing occurred at their home.

5. Insurance Companies

• Fraternities, sororities, and universities have liability insurance policies that can pay for damages.
• Some members may have homeowner’s insurance that covers liability.

🎯 Why Medina County Families Choose Attorney 911

We Are the Hazing Litigation Experts — And We’re Fighting This Battle Right Now

✅ We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and UH — we know how to win these cases.

✅ 25+ years of experience — Ralph Manginello has been fighting for victims for over two decades.

✅ Former insurance defense attorneys — we know how insurance companies try to deny claims, and we know how to beat them.

✅ Federal court authority — we can pursue cases in federal court, giving us more leverage against national organizations.

✅ Dual-state bar admission (Texas & New York) — strategic advantage for cases involving out-of-state fraternities.

✅ We come to Medina County — we’ll travel for depositions, meetings, and trials.

✅ We speak Spanish — our bilingual staff can serve Spanish-speaking families in Medina County.

✅ No upfront costs — we work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.

📞 Medina County Hazing Victims: Call Us Now — Free Consultation

If your child has been hazed near Medina County, San Antonio, Austin, or anywhere in Texas, you need to act fast.

📞 Call now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com

We serve Medina County and all of Texas. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

🚨 To Fraternities Near Medina County: We Are Watching

Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, and all other fraternities operating near Medina County:

We are actively investigating hazing incidents across Texas. The same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.

If you haze students near Medina County, San Antonio, Austin, or anywhere in Texas, we will find you. We will sue you. And we will hold you accountable.

The Beta Nu chapter at UH? Shut down. Charter surrendered. Criminal referrals initiated.

That’s what happens when you haze in Texas.

Your chapter could be next.

📢 To Medina County Parents: Your Child Deserves Better

If your child is pledging a fraternity or sorority near Medina County, San Antonio, Austin, or College Station, they are at risk.

Ask them:

• Have they been forced to drink excessively?
• Have they been subjected to extreme physical punishment?
• Have they been humiliated or degraded?
• Have they been threatened with expulsion if they don’t comply?
• Have they seen other pledges collapse or get injured?

If the answer is yes, call us immediately.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com

🏆 We Don’t Just Talk About Hazing — We’re Fighting It Right Now

Our $10 Million Lawsuit Against Pi Kappa Phi & UH

Case: Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Inc., et al.
Court: Harris County Civil District Court
Filing Date: November 21, 2025
Damages Sought: $10,000,000

What We’re Fighting For:

• Justice for Leonel Bermudez, who was waterboarded, beaten, and hospitalized.
• Accountability for Pi Kappa Phi, which had 8 years to fix its hazing culture after Andrew Coffey’s death — and did nothing.
• Accountability for the University of Houston, which owned the fraternity house where the torture occurred and had a prior hazing incident in 2017 — yet did nothing to prevent it from happening again.
• A message to all fraternities near Medina County: Hazing will cost you millions.

The fraternity’s response?

“We look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time.”

No apology. No remorse. Just planning their comeback.

We won’t let that happen.

🔥 Medina County: This Is Your Wake-Up Call

Hazing isn’t just happening at big universities in Houston or Austin — it’s happening near Medina County, too.

If your child is being hazed, you have options.
You have rights.
And you have us.

📞 Call now: 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Website: attorney911.com

We fight for Medina County families. We fight for justice. And we don’t back down.