Hazing Litigation in Texas: A Complete Guide for Agua Dulce Families

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You’re Not Alone—And You Have Rights

As parents in Agua Dulce, Texas, you send your children to college with hopes for their future—academic achievement, lifelong friendships, and safe passage into adulthood. The nightmare begins when that trust is betrayed by the very organizations promising brotherhood, sisterhood, or tradition. Right now, across Texas, families like yours are discovering that hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition”—it’s systematic abuse that can cause permanent injury, psychological trauma, and even death.

In November 2025, our firm filed one of the most serious hazing lawsuits in recent Texas history. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after what the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter called “pledge education.” His urine turned brown. He was hospitalized for four days. According to the complaint, fraternity members forced him through hundreds of push-ups and squats, sprayed him in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” made him consume milk and hot dogs until he vomited, and subjected him to the humiliation of a “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms and sex toys. The chapter is now shut down, but the physical and psychological damage remains.

If you’re reading this because you suspect your child has been hazed at Texas A&M University, UT Austin, University of Houston, Baylor, SMU, or any Texas campus, we understand your fear, anger, and confusion. This comprehensive guide explains what hazing really looks like in 2025, your legal rights under Texas law, and what experienced hazing attorneys can do to help your family seek accountability and prevent this from happening to anyone else.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

Call 911 for medical emergencies
Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
We provide immediate help—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™

In the first 48 hours:

Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine”
Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
- Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately
- Photograph injuries from multiple angles
- Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects)
Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where)
Do NOT:
- Confront the fraternity/sorority
- Sign anything from the university or insurance company
- Post details on public social media
- Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours:

Evidence disappears fast (deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, coached witnesses)
Universities move quickly to control the narrative
We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation

What Hazing Really Looks Like in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

For Agua Dulce families unfamiliar with modern Greek life or campus traditions, hazing often conjures images of movie stereotypes—harmless pranks or excessive partying. The reality in 2025 is far more sophisticated, dangerous, and psychologically damaging. Hazing has evolved into a calculated system of control that organizations intentionally hide behind euphemisms like “team building,” “bonding,” or “tradition.”

The Three-Tier Reality of Modern Hazing

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing (The Gateway)
These behaviors create power imbalances while seeming “harmless” to outsiders. Your child might be required to:

Carry a “pledge fanny pack” with humiliating items (as in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case)
Act as a 24/7 designated driver for older members
Clean members’ rooms, do their laundry, or run personal errands
Answer only to derogatory nicknames
Request permission to socialize with non-members
Attend mandatory late-night “study sessions” that interfere with academics

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing (The Abuse)
This is where psychological and physical harm becomes systematic:

Sleep deprivation through 3 AM wake-up calls or all-night “meetings”
Food/water restriction or forced consumption of spoiled food, hot sauce, or excessive bland items
“Smokings” or extreme calisthenics—hundreds of push-ups, wall sits until collapse
Public humiliation through embarrassing costumes, singing, or “roasting” sessions
Digital hazing: forced TikTok challenges, Instagram humiliation, group chat monitoring

Tier 3: Violent Hazing (The Crisis)
These are the activities that cause hospitalization, permanent injury, or death:

Forced alcohol consumption: “Big/Little” nights with entire bottles of liquor, “Bible study” drinking games where wrong answers mean chugging
Physical beatings: Paddling (especially in NPHC traditions), punches, kicks, “gladiator” fights
Sexualized hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, “elephant walks”
Dangerous environments: Locked in freezing rooms, left outside in extreme weather, dangerous driving while intoxicated
Chemical hazing: Texas A&M SAE pledges were allegedly covered in industrial-strength cleaner causing chemical burns requiring skin grafts

Where Hazing Happens in Texas

While fraternities and sororities receive most attention, hazing occurs across campus organizations:

Corps of Cadets programs (Texas A&M’s well-documented issues)
Athletic teams (from football to cheerleading)
Spirit organizations (Texas Cowboys, Absolute Texxas at UT)
Marching bands and performance groups
Academic honor societies and service organizations

The common thread isn’t the type of organization—it’s the combination of tradition, power imbalance, and secrecy that allows abuse to continue even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Texas Hazing Law: What Agua Dulce Families Need to Know

Texas has some of the nation’s most comprehensive anti-hazing statutes, but understanding how they apply to your child’s situation requires navigating both state criminal law and civil liability frameworks.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Criminal Framework

§ 37.151 Definition: Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student that:

Endangers mental or physical health or safety
Occurs for purposes of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization

Critical elements for Agua Dulce families:

Location doesn’t matter—on-campus or off-campus property
“Reckless” is enough—they don’t need to have intended harm
Mental OR physical harm qualifies
§ 37.155: Consent is NOT a defense—even if your child “agreed”

§ 37.152 Criminal Penalties:

Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine)
Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death

§ 37.153 Organizational Liability:
Fraternities, sororities, and other organizations can be:

Fined up to $10,000 per violation
Subject to university recognition revocation
Criminally prosecuted if they authorized or encouraged hazing

Civil Liability: The Path to Accountability and Compensation

While criminal cases punish offenders, civil lawsuits provide compensation for victims and force institutional change. The key legal theories include:

Negligence & Gross Negligence:

Universities failing to enforce their own anti-hazing policies
National fraternities knowing about dangerous traditions but not intervening
Individual members creating foreseeable risks of harm

Negligent Supervision:

Chapter advisors failing to monitor pledge activities
University officials ignoring prior complaints
National headquarters collecting dues but not providing meaningful oversight

Premises Liability:

Property owners (universities, housing corporations) allowing dangerous activities on their premises
Failure to provide adequate security in fraternity houses

Wrongful Death:

When hazing results in death, families can recover funeral costs, loss of companionship, and emotional distress damages

Federal Overlay: Stop Campus Hazing Act, Title IX, and Clery

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024):
Requires colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs by 2026. This creates transparency but also means universities are highly motivated to minimize reported incidents.

Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, universities have specific investigation and response obligations.

Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain crimes on campus; hazing incidents involving assault, alcohol crimes, or sexual offenses may trigger reporting requirements.

National Hazing Patterns: What History Tells Us About Texas Cases

The hazing affecting Agua Dulce students at Texas universities follows predictable patterns seen nationwide. These cases aren’t isolated incidents—they’re part of systemic failures that repeat across campuses and organizations.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University (2021)
Pi Kappa Alpha “Big/Little” night forced Foltz to drink an entire bottle of alcohol. He died from alcohol poisoning. The $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU) shows both fraternities AND universities face massive liability.

Max Gruver – LSU (2017)
Phi Delta Theta’s “Bible study” drinking game killed Gruver. The $6.1 million verdict led to Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act” making hazing a felony.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State University (2017)
Pi Kappa Phi “Big Brother” night ended in fatal alcohol poisoning. FSU temporarily suspended all Greek life.

Why this matters for Texas families: The same fraternities operating at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, and Baylor—Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi—have killed students with identical “Big/Little” drinking rituals. When they repeat this conduct in Texas, courts can consider their national history as evidence of foreseeability and negligence.

The Physical Abuse Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College (2013)
Pi Delta Psi’s “glass ceiling” ritual involved blindfolded tackling at a retreat. Deng suffered fatal head injuries. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

Danny Santulli – University of Missouri (2021)
Phi Gamma Delta’s “pledge dad reveal” left Santulli with permanent brain damage. He cannot walk, talk, or see and requires 24/7 care. Settlements with 22 defendants reached multi-million dollar amounts.

Why this matters: Off-campus retreats and “unofficial” events don’t protect organizations from liability. The physical abuse seen in Texas cases—from chemical burns at A&M to the rhabdomyolysis at UH—follows established patterns that national organizations should have prevented.

The Athletic Hazing Pattern

Northwestern University Football (2023-2025)
Players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program. Multiple lawsuits led to coach firings and confidential settlements.

Western Kentucky Swim Team (2012-2015)
Systemic hazing led to program suspension and a $75,000 settlement.

Why this matters: Texas athletic programs—from football to baseball—aren’t immune. Baylor’s baseball hazing suspensions show even prestigious programs face these issues.

Texas Universities: Where Agua Dulce Families Send Their Kids

Agua Dulce is part of Nueces County in the Corpus Christi metropolitan area. While many local students attend Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, families throughout South Texas also send children to major universities across the state. Understanding the hazing landscape at these institutions is critical for Agua Dulce parents.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi: The Local Campus

Campus Culture & Greek Life:
As part of the Texas A&M system, the Corpus Christi campus has growing Greek life alongside its maritime and environmental science focus. The proximity to Agua Dulce means many local families have direct experience with this campus.

Documented Greek Organizations (from public records):

Alpha Sigma Phi – Iota Phi Chapter (Corpus Christi, TX – Texas A&M–CC chapter)
Kappa Sigma Fraternity – Rho-Psi Colony (Corpus Christi, TX – TAMU–CC colony/chapter)
Sigma Chi Fraternity – Zeta Pi Chapter (Kingsville, TX – Texas A&M–Kingsville chapter)
Delta Zeta Sorority – Corpus Christi Alumnae (Corpus Christi, TX)
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Corpus Christi Alumnae (founded 1952)

Hazing Prevention & Reporting:
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi follows system-wide anti-hazing policies with reporting through the Dean of Students office and campus police. However, like many campuses, enforcement varies based on resources and institutional priorities.

What Agua Dulce Families Should Know:

Incidents may be investigated by campus police or Corpus Christi PD depending on location
The Texas A&M system has faced significant hazing issues at College Station, creating system-wide scrutiny
Maritime and ROTC programs have their own tradition cultures that require monitoring

University of Houston: Current Crisis, Immediate Lessons

The Leonel Bermudez Case (2025):
Our firm’s ongoing litigation against UH and Pi Kappa Phi provides the most current example of how hazing cases develop in Texas. Key facts every Agua Dulce parent should understand:

The Hazing Conduct:

“Pledge fanny pack” requirement with condoms, sex toys, nicotine devices
Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, peppercorns until vomiting
Hose spraying “similar to waterboarding”
100+ push-ups, 500 squats under expulsion threats
Cold-weather exposure in underwear
Overnight chauffeuring and sleep deprivation

Medical Catastrophe:

Rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown)
Acute kidney failure
Brown urine, inability to stand
Four-day hospitalization
Ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage

Institutional Response:

Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended chapter November 6, 2025
Members voted to surrender charter November 14, 2025
UH called conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised cooperation with law enforcement
13 individual members named as defendants alongside university and national org

UH’s Greek Ecosystem (from verified rosters):

IFC Fraternities: Pi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta
Panhellenic Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta
NPHC: All Divine Nine organizations present
Multicultural: Lambda Phi Epsilon, Omega Delta Phi, Sigma Lambda Beta

What This Means for Agua Dulce Families:
The UH case demonstrates that even when chapters are shut down, the legal battle for accountability continues. Universities and national fraternities have deep pockets and experienced defense teams. Families need equally experienced plaintiff counsel who understand how to investigate digital evidence, trace insurance coverage, and prove institutional negligence.

Texas A&M University (College Station): Tradition, Corps, and Systemic Issues

Corps of Cadets Hazing Lawsuits:
The 2023 lawsuit alleging cadets were bound between beds in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in their mouth sought over $1 million. A&M stated it handled the matter internally, highlighting the tension between institutional control and victim justice.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021):
Pledges allegedly covered in industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit suffered chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The $1 million lawsuit resulted in fraternity suspension.

Corps Culture & Risk:
With its military traditions and intense loyalty, the Corps presents unique hazing risks that parents from Agua Dulce should understand if their children participate.

Texas A&M’s Greek Landscape:

Major Fraternities with National Hazing Histories: Pi Kappa Alpha (Stone Foltz death), Sigma Alpha Epsilon (multiple deaths), Phi Delta Theta (Max Gruver death)
Corps-Connected Organizations: Traditions intertwine with Greek life
Transparency Issues: Less public reporting than UT Austin

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency and Repeated Violations

Public Hazing Violations Database:
UT maintains one of Texas’ most transparent systems at hazing.utexas.edu. Recent entries show patterns:

Pi Kappa Alpha (2023):
New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Chapter placed on probation with required hazing prevention education.

Texas Wranglers & Spirit Groups:
Multiple sanctions for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, and punishment-based practices.

What Transparency Reveals:
Even with public reporting, violations continue. Organizations serve probation, implement “education,” then often repeat similar conduct. This pattern supports civil claims that universities know about systemic issues but fail to implement effective prevention.

Southern Methodist University: Private Campus, Public Problems

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

Private University Dynamics:
SMU’s status affects transparency but not liability. Civil discovery can uncover internal reports that aren’t publicly posted.

Baylor University: Religious Identity and Repeated Scandals

Baseball Hazing (2020):
14 players suspended following hazing investigation.

Title IX History Context:
Baylor’s sexual assault scandal created institutional awareness but also demonstrates how universities can prioritize reputation over victim protection.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories Matter

When your child is hazed by Pi Kappa Alpha at Texas A&M or Sigma Alpha Epsilon at UT Austin, you’re not just dealing with college students—you’re facing national organizations with decades of hazing histories, insurance policies worth millions, and legal teams trained to minimize liability.

Fraternities with Deadly Patterns in Texas

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike):

Stone Foltz death (2021) – $10M settlement
David Bogenberger death (2012) – $14M settlement
UH Chapter: Active on campus with prior disciplinary history
Legal Strategy: National HQ tries to distance itself from “rogue chapters”

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ):

Multiple deaths nationwide leading to 2014 pledge process elimination
Texas A&M chemical burns lawsuit – $1M demand
UT Austin assault case (2024) – $1M+ lawsuit
University of Alabama TBI case (2023) – ongoing

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ):

Max Gruver death (2017) – $6.1M verdict, Louisiana felony law
Active at UT Austin, Texas A&M, other Texas campuses

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ):

Andrew Coffey death (2017) – FSU Greek system suspension
Current UH case – our firm’s litigation shows ongoing issues
National headquarters named in Bermudez lawsuit

Why National Histories Create Liability

In civil hazing cases, we use national histories to prove:

Foreseeability: The national organization knew or should have known this conduct was likely based on prior incidents at other chapters.

Pattern and Practice: When the same dangerous “traditions” appear across multiple chapters, it’s not “rogue individuals”—it’s organizational culture.

Inadequate Prevention: If nationals received prior complaints, conducted “investigations,” but only issued wrist-slap punishments, that shows negligent supervision.

Insurance Coverage Arguments: National policies may exclude “intentional acts,” but negligent supervision claims can trigger coverage.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Connected to Texas Campuses

At Attorney911, we maintain a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracking over 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. This data comes from IRS filings, university rosters, and public records. For Agua Dulce families, understanding this landscape reveals how many entities may share liability when hazing occurs.

Corpus Christi Metro Area Greek Organizations

The Corpus Christi metropolitan area, which includes Agua Dulce in Nueces County, has 21 Greek-related organizations according to Cause IQ data. Examples include:

Alpha Sigma Phi – Iota Phi Chapter

Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Campus: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Role: Undergraduate chapter

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Corpus Christi Alumnae

Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Founded: 1952
Role: Graduate chapter serving Corpus Christi area

Kappa Sigma Fraternity – Rho-Psi Colony

Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Campus: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Role: Colony/chapter in development

Phi Kappa Phi – TAMU Corpus Christi Chapter

Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Campus: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Role: Academic honor society chapter

Statewide Greek Infrastructure

Beyond local chapters, these organizations have complex structures that matter for liability:

IRS-Registered Texas Organizations (Sample):

Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 462267515 – Frisco, TX 75035
Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter – EIN 746084905 – Houston, TX 77204
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN 746064445 – Nederland, TX 77627
Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN 741380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147
Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – EIN 475370943 – Houston, TX 77204

What This Means for Your Case:
When hazing occurs, multiple entities may hold insurance coverage and legal responsibility:

Undergraduate chapter (may or may not be incorporated)
Housing corporation (owns the house, often separate legal entity)
Alumni corporation (may control funds and oversight)
National headquarters (sets policies, collects dues)
Educational foundation (may hold assets)

Our data engine helps identify every potential defendant and insurance policy from day one.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Realistic Expectations

If your child has been hazed, you need to understand what building a case actually involves—not television drama, but meticulous investigation, strategic legal arguments, and preparation for institutional resistance.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Evidence (Most Important in 2025):

Group chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord
Social media: Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook
Deleted message recovery: Digital forensics can often retrieve “disappearing” messages
Location data: Find My Friends tracking, Snapchat maps, geotagged photos

Medical Documentation:

ER records stating “patient reports hazing incident”
Toxicology reports showing alcohol/drug levels
Specialist evaluations for long-term injuries
Psychological assessments for PTSD, depression, anxiety

Organizational Records:

Chapter bylaws, pledge manuals, “tradition” documents
National risk management policies
University conduct files (obtained via subpoena)
Prior incident reports and disciplinary history

Witness Testimony:

Other pledges (often afraid but can be protected)
Former members who quit over hazing
Roommates, friends, RAs who observed changes
Medical providers who treated injuries

The Attorney911 Investigation Process

Immediate Evidence Preservation:
- Forensic collection of phones and devices
- Cloud backup recovery
- Documenting chain of custody
Organizational Mapping:
- Identifying all potential defendants using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine
- Tracing insurance policies and coverage
- Investigating prior incidents at same chapter and nationally
Expert Collaboration:
- Medical experts to document injury causation and long-term effects
- Economists to calculate lifetime earning capacity loss
- Digital forensics specialists to recover deleted evidence
- Greek life culture experts to explain coercion dynamics
Strategic Legal Analysis:
- Evaluating criminal vs civil options
- Navigating university conduct processes
- Preparing for insurance coverage disputes
- Developing settlement vs trial strategy

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable):

Medical bills (past and future)
Lost educational costs (withdrawal, transfer expenses)
Diminished earning capacity (for permanent injuries)
Therapy and counseling costs

Non-Economic Damages:

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, depression)
Loss of enjoyment of life
Humiliation and reputational harm

Wrongful Death Damages:

Funeral and burial expenses
Loss of companionship and support
Parents’ and siblings’ emotional suffering

Punitive Damages (When Available):

To punish especially reckless or malicious conduct
Requires proving gross negligence or intentional harm
Subject to Texas statutory caps in many cases

Practical Guide for Agua Dulce Parents, Students, and Witnesses

For Parents: Warning Signs and Immediate Action

Physical Warning Signs:

Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries with inconsistent explanations
Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
Sudden weight changes from food restriction or stress eating
Signs of alcohol poisoning (slurred speech, vomiting, confusion)

Behavioral Red Flags:

New secrecy about organization activities
Withdrawal from family and old friends
Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability

Constant phone checking for group chat messages

Defensiveness when asked about the organization
Financial irregularities (large unexplained expenses)

48-Hour Action Plan:

Medical First: ER evaluation even if they resist
Evidence Preservation: Screenshot everything before deletion
Documentation: Write down everything they tell you with dates
Legal Consultation: Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 within 48 hours
University Reporting: Decide with attorney guidance whether/when to report

For Students: Recognizing Hazing and Protecting Yourself

Ask Yourself These Questions:

Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
Would my parents/university approve if they knew exactly what was happening?
Am I being told to keep secrets or lie about activities?

If You’re Being Hazed:

Immediate Safety: Call 911 if in danger
Medical Attention: Go to ER or student health—tell them you were hazed
Evidence Collection: Screenshot messages, photograph injuries
Safe Exit: You can quit anytime—send an email/text resignation
Reporting Options: Anonymous hotlines, Dean of Students, campus police

Texas Legal Protections:

Good-faith reporter immunity for calling 911 in emergencies
Consent is NOT a defense to hazing charges
Retaliation against reporters is illegal

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Deleting Evidence:

What happens: Looks like cover-up, destroys case
Right approach: Preserve everything—even embarrassing content

2. Confronting the Organization:

What happens: They lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
Right approach: Document silently, let your attorney handle communication

3. Signing University “Resolutions”:

What happens: May waive right to sue, accept low settlement
Right approach: No signatures without attorney review

4. Social Media Posts:

What happens: Defense attorneys screenshot everything, inconsistencies hurt credibility
Right approach: Document privately, let lawyer control messaging

5. Waiting for University Investigation:

What happens: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute runs
Right approach: Preserve evidence NOW, consult lawyer immediately

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how universities, national fraternities, and insurance companies fight back—and how to win anyway. From our Houston office, we serve families throughout Texas, including Agua Dulce and all of South Texas.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

Insurance Insider Advantage (Lupe Peña):
Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value claims, use delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. As he says, “We know their playbook because we used to run it.” This insider knowledge is invaluable when facing insurers who try to deny hazing claims as “intentional acts.”

Complex Institutional Litigation (Ralph Manginello):
Our involvement in the BP Texas City explosion litigation proves we can take on billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. Universities and national fraternities use the same tactics—delaying, denying, and defending with teams of lawyers. We’re not intimidated because we’ve faced this before and won.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Experience:
We’ve recovered millions for families in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. We work with economists to calculate lifetime damages, with medical experts to document permanent injuries, and with life care planners to ensure future needs are covered. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that force accountability.

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise:
Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) signals elite criminal defense capability. We understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation, how to advise witnesses with dual exposure, and how to navigate parallel proceedings.

Investigative Depth and Resources:
Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 metros. We know how to:

Recover deleted group chats and social media evidence
Subpoena national fraternity records showing prior incidents
Uncover university files through discovery and public records requests
Work with digital forensics experts, medical experts, and psychologists

Spanish Language Services:
Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish and can serve Hispanic families in their preferred language. Se habla Español.

Our Approach: Empathy, Investigation, Accountability

We understand this is one of the hardest things a family can face. Our approach balances:

Compassionate Support: We listen without judgment, understand the trauma, and prioritize your family’s wellbeing throughout the process.

Thorough Investigation: We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does. We leave no stone unturned in seeking truth and accountability.

Strategic Advocacy: We know when to negotiate and when to fight. We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, because that’s what forces fair settlements.

Prevention Focus: While we seek compensation for your family, we also push for institutional changes that prevent future hazing. Many settlements include consent decrees requiring policy reforms.

Call to Action for Agua Dulce Families

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus—whether Texas A&M Corpus Christi, University of Houston, Texas A&M College Station, UT Austin, or any other institution—we want to hear from you. Families in Agua Dulce and throughout Nueces County have the right to answers and accountability.

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

Listen to your story without judgment
Review any evidence you have (photos, texts, medical records)
Explain your legal options clearly
Discuss realistic timelines and expectations
Answer questions about costs (contingency fee—we don’t get paid unless we win)
Help you decide the best path forward for your family

No pressure to hire us on the spot. Take time to think, talk with family, and make the decision that’s right for you. Everything you tell us is confidential.

Contact Information

Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070
Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com

Spanish Services: Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish

Additional Resources

Educational Videos:

Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
Texas Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc
Using Your Phone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

National Reporting Options:

National Anti-Hazing Hotline: 1-888-NOT-HAZE (anonymous)
University-specific reporting channels
Local law enforcement for criminal conduct

Whether you’re in Agua Dulce or anywhere across South Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit:

Click2Houston report: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/
ABC13 coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
Hoodline summary: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational YouTube Videos:

Evidence preservation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
Statute of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
Client mistakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
Contingency fees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website:

Contact and information: 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.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com