The Complete Guide to Hazing, Texas Law, and Your Family’s Rights in Cisco

For a parent in Cisco, Texas, the nightmare often begins with a late-night phone call or a worrying text. Your child, away at college seeking friendship and belonging, sounds distant, exhausted, or afraid. They mention “mandatory” events that conflict with exams, unexplained injuries brushed off as “just an accident,” or a sudden, intense secrecy about their fraternity, sorority, or campus group. In communities like ours, where values of hard work, faith, and family run deep, the idea that a university or national organization could enable the systematic abuse of our children is unimaginable. Yet, it is happening right now at campuses across Texas.

We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, operating as Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™. We represent families like yours in the most serious hazing injury and wrongful death cases in Texas. Right now, we are leading one of the most significant hazing lawsuits in the state: the case of Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. This $10 million lawsuit alleges brutal hazing that left a young man with life-threatening kidney failure. We are holding the university, the national fraternity, and individual members accountable. This isn’t a hypothetical—it’s active litigation we are handling today, and it demonstrates exactly the level of institutional fight families in Cisco and across Texas are up against.

This guide exists for you—the parents, grandparents, and family members in Cisco, Eastland County, and throughout Texas who need real answers, not scare tactics. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, how Texas law protects your child, and what has been happening at the universities where Cisco families send their students. If you are facing this crisis, you are not alone. Our team, including attorney Mr. Lupe Peña—a former insurance defense lawyer who knows exactly how these organizations fight claims—is ready to help you navigate this difficult path toward accountability and healing.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES IN CISCO:

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 directly.
  • 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. Universities move quickly to control the narrative. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

What Hazing Really Looks Like in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is not about “boys will be boys” or harmless pranks. It is a calculated pattern of abuse designed to assert power and create loyalty through fear and humiliation. For a Cisco family, understanding the modern reality is critical, as the tactics have evolved to avoid detection.

Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—directed against a student for the purpose of joining, maintaining membership in, or affiliating with any organization. It endangers mental or physical health or safety. In Texas, a student’s “consent” is not a legal defense.

The Four Pillars of Modern Hazing

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

   • Forced Consumption: “Family tree” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights where pledges are given handles of liquor, “lineups” where shots are forced in rapid succession.
   • Coerced Drug Use: Pressure to use marijuana, prescription pills, or nitrous oxide as part of initiation.
   • The Deadly Pattern: This is what killed Stone Foltz at Bowling Green, Max Gruver at LSU, and nearly killed our client, Leonel Bermudez, at the University of Houston.

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

   • Extreme Calisthenics: “Smokings” involving hundreds of push-ups, squats, or wall-sits until collapse. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, Bermudez was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats in a single session.
   • Paddling and Beatings: Still prevalent, especially in certain traditions.
   • Environmental Hazing: Sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, exposure to extreme cold or heat. Bermudez was forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass and endure cold-weather workouts in his underwear.
   • Kidnapping and Restraint: Being blindfolded, driven to remote locations, or tied up.

3. Sexualized and Degrading Hazing: Designed to humiliate and break down personal boundaries.

   • Forced nudity or partial nudity.
   • Simulated sexual acts or positions.
   • Humiliating costumes or “pledge attire.” At UH, pledges were forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, sex toys, and other degrading items.
   • Acts with racial, sexist, or homophobic overtones.

4. Digital and Psychological Hazing: The 24/7 abuse that follows a student home to Cisco.

   • Group Chat Tyranny: Required to respond instantly to messages at all hours; punishment for missed messages.
   • Social Media Humiliation: Forced to post embarrassing content on TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat.
   • Cyberstalking: Required to share live location via apps.
   • Isolation and Control: Cut off from non-member friends and family; every aspect of life controlled by the organization.

Where It Happens: While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing is pervasive in:

• Corps of Cadets and ROTC programs.
• Athletic teams (from football to cheerleading).
• Spirit and tradition groups (like Texas Cowboys or Aggie Bonfire crews).
• Marching bands and performing arts groups.
• Academic and service clubs.

The common thread is a dynamic of power, tradition, and secrecy that convinces young people that enduring abuse is the price of belonging.

The Texas Legal Framework: Understanding Hazing Law for Cisco Families

Texas has specific laws to combat hazing, but navigating them requires understanding both criminal penalties and civil liability. As a parent in Cisco, your child’s rights are governed by these statutes, regardless of whether the hazing happened in College Station, Austin, or Houston.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37: The Hazing Statute

The law that matters most is the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. Here is what Cisco families need to know:

• Definition (Sec. 37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act on or off campus that endangers the mental or physical health/safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in any organization.
• Criminal Penalties (Sec. 37.152):
  • Class B Misdemeanor: General hazing (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
  • Separate Offense: Failing to report hazing or retaliating against a reporter is also a crime.
• Organizational Liability (Sec. 37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing, or if an officer knew and failed to report it.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (Sec. 37.155): This is critical. Even if your child “went along with it,” that does not legalize the hazing under Texas law. Courts recognize the power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations.
• Immunity for Reporters (Sec. 37.154): A person who in good faith reports hazing to authorities is immune from civil or criminal liability. Many universities also have medical amnesty policies to encourage calling 911 in alcohol emergencies.

Criminal Cases vs. Civil Lawsuits: Two Paths to Accountability

It is vital to understand the difference, as your family may be involved in both.

• Criminal Case: Brought by the State of Texas (e.g., Eastland County DA, Harris County DA, campus police). The goal is punishment—fines, probation, or jail time for individuals. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to a minor, or manslaughter in fatal cases. A criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case.

• Civil Lawsuit: Brought by the victim and their family. The goal is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. This is where our firm represents families. We sue for:

  • Negligence/Gross Negligence: The organization failed its duty of care.
  • Wrongful Death: If hazing results in a fatality.
  • Negligent Supervision: The national fraternity or university knew or should have known about the danger and failed to act.
  • Premises Liability: The property owner (house corporation, landlord) allowed dangerous activities.
  • Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.

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

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs. This will increase transparency for parents researching campus safety.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based hostility, the university has specific legal obligations to investigate and address it.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults or alcohol crimes.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Case?

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

1. Individual Students: The members who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. Local Chapter Officers: The president, pledgemaster, risk manager—those in charge who allowed or participated in the abuse.
3. The Local Chapter & Its Housing Corporation: As a legal entity, it can be sued. We use public records to identify them. For example, from IRS records, we know entities like the Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX) exist to hold and manage chapter property.
4. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: They collect dues, set policies, and are supposed to supervise chapters. Their knowledge of prior incidents nationwide is key to proving they should have prevented this.
5. The University: Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have some sovereign immunity, but can be sued for gross negligence or under specific claims like Title IX. Private schools (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity protections.
6. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol, security companies.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Blueprint for Texas Lawsuits

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not isolated incidents; they are a pattern. For a Cisco family, these cases set legal precedents and show the playbook that national organizations use—and the playbook we use to defeat them.

The Alcohol Poisoning Blueprint: Foreseeable and Deadly

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A bid-acceptance night of forced drinking led to fatal falls. Members delayed calling 911 for hours. Result: Dozens of criminal charges, sweeping civil settlements, and the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania. Lesson: Delay in seeking medical care drastically increases liability and illustrates a culture of silence.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant drinking. Gruver died with a 0.495% BAC. Result: Felony convictions and the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana. Lesson: “Games” involving forced consumption are a known, deadly script.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): A “Big/Little” night where Foltz was forced to drink a bottle of whiskey. Result: A $10 million settlement ($7M from Pike nationals, ~$3M from BGSU) and criminal convictions. Lesson: Universities and nationals both pay heavily when this predictable pattern repeats.

Physical and Ritualized Violence

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): A blindfolded pledge was repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. He died of brain injuries; help was delayed. Result: The national fraternity was criminally convicted of manslaughter and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. Lesson: Off-campus retreats are high-risk zones, and national organizations can face direct criminal liability.

Athletic and Institutional Hazing

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Allegations of widespread sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements. Lesson: Hazing is not confined to Greek life; multi-million dollar athletic programs harbor systemic abuse with institutional complicity.

What This Means for Cisco Families: These are not “unforeseeable accidents.” National fraternities and universities have seen this movie before. When the same patterns emerge at a Texas school—forced drinking, violent rituals, delayed help—it demonstrates knowledge and negligence. Our job is to prove that connection, just as we are doing in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case.

Texas Under the Microscope: Hazing at Major Universities Serving Cisco Families

Cisco students and families are connected to the vast Texas higher education system. Whether your child attends a local college, a major research university, or a private institution, understanding the landscape is crucial. Here, we focus on the five universities with the most significant Greek life and hazing histories, which draw students from across the state, including Eastland County.

University of Houston (UH): A Case Study in Active Litigation

For Cisco Families: UH is a major destination for Texas students. When hazing happens in Houston, it involves Harris County courts and police jurisdictions, where our firm has deep experience and credibility.

Snapshot: A large, diverse, urban campus with a vigorous Greek life community including IFC fraternities, Panhellenic sororities, and NPHC (Divine Nine) organizations.

The Flagship Case – Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi: This is not ancient history. This is our active, ongoing lawsuit filed in late 2025. It alleges a campaign of abuse against pledge Leonel Bermudez in Fall 2025, including:

• The degrading “pledge fanny pack.”
• Extreme physical workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park and the chapter house.
• Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.”
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.
• The November 3rd workout that led to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, brown urine, and a four-day hospitalization.

The Aftermath: Pi Kappa Phi nationals suspended the Beta Nu chapter on November 6, 2025. Members voted to surrender their charter on November 14, shutting the chapter down. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” Our lawsuit names the university, the Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi nationals, the housing corporation, and 13 individual members. This case exemplifies the full-universe investigation necessary to achieve justice.

Prior History: UH has suspended chapters for hazing, including a Pi Kappa Alpha chapter in 2016 after a pledge suffered a lacerated spleen.

For UH Families: Evidence moves quickly. The group chats used to coordinate this hazing (likely GroupMe, WhatsApp) are the first thing members delete. Immediate preservation is critical. Reporting should go to UH Dean of Students and UHPD, but consult an attorney to ensure the investigation is thorough and not controlled by the university’s public relations interests.

Texas A&M University: Tradition, Corps Culture, and High Risk

For Cisco Families: Many Central Texas students aspire to be Aggies. The culture in College Station is unique, blending intense school spirit with the military structure of the Corps of Cadets and a powerful Greek system.

Snapshot: A massive campus with a deeply ingrained culture of tradition. Greek life and the Corps of Cadets are dominant social forces.

High-Risk Environments:

1. Corps of Cadets Hazing: A 2023 lawsuit alleged a freshman cadet was subjected to degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth. Texas A&M stated it addressed the matter internally. Such cases show hazing permeates beyond Greek letters.
2. Fraternity Hazing – Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): In a 2021 case, two Texas A&M SAE pledges alleged they were doused with substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. They sued for $1 million. The chapter was suspended. This shows the shocking brutality that can occur.
3. Aggie Bonfire Legacy: The 1999 collapse, while not classic hazing, remains a stark lesson in the dangers of unsupervised, tradition-heavy student activities with inadequate institutional oversight.

The Greek Ecosystem: Our data engine tracks the entities behind A&M Greek life. For instance, public records show a Gentlemen of Aggie Tradition organization (EIN 88-0537463) in College Station and numerous fraternity housing corporations registered in Texas. This network of legal entities is where liability and insurance coverage reside.

For Texas A&M Families: The “pull yourself up” Aggie spirit can sometimes deter reporting. Emphasize to your child that reporting abuse is not weakness; it’s holding the Aggie values of integrity and loyalty to a higher standard. The Corps and university have internal investigative processes, but they are not substitutes for an independent civil investigation.

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency and Repeated Violations

For Cisco Families: UT Austin is the flagship academic destination. Its size and prestige mean hazing incidents are frequent, but so is its relative transparency compared to other schools.

Snapshot: A sprawling campus with over 60 Greek chapters and a highly competitive social scene. UT publishes an online hazing violations log—a valuable, though incomplete, resource for parents.

Documented Violations (from UT’s Public Log):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: Probation and mandatory hazing prevention education.
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group): Sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Faced a lawsuit in 2024 from an Australian exchange student alleging a brutal assault at a party, resulting in a broken nose, dislocated leg, and fractured tibia. The chapter was already on suspension for prior violations.

The Data Behind the Letters: Austin is a hub for Greek organizational infrastructure. IRS records show entities like the Chi Omega Fraternity house corporation (EIN 74-0555581) in Austin and the Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi (EIN 74-6047117). Cause IQ data lists multiple fraternity house corporations in the Austin metro. When hazing occurs at a UT chapter, these are the entities we look to for accountability.

For UT Austin Families: Use UT’s hazing violation log as a starting point, but know it only shows what the university has chosen to formally adjudicate. Many incidents are handled informally or never reported. If an incident involves a group with prior violations on the log, that history powerfully supports a negligence claim.

Southern Methodist University (SMU): Affluence and Secrecy

For Cisco Families: SMU is a private, affluent university in Dallas. The Greek system is central to campus social life. As a private institution, it has less public transparency than state schools.

Snapshot: A beautiful, tightly-knit campus where Greek life is a major pathway for social and professional networking.

Known Incidents:

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): The chapter was suspended for multiple hazing violations including paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation. It remained under restrictions for years.
• SMU, like many private schools, tends to handle incidents through internal conduct processes. The details and outcomes are rarely made public unless a lawsuit is filed.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Greek Web: The DFW metro has the highest concentration of Greek organizations in Texas—over 510 according to our Cause IQ data. This includes national headquarters and countless alumni and house corporations. For example, the Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN 74-1380362) is in Fort Worth. When an SMU chapter hazes, it is operating within this vast, well-resourced ecosystem.

For SMU Families: Do not assume a private university will be more protective or transparent. Their primary interest is often protecting their reputation and endowment. Internal investigations may be designed to limit liability rather than uncover the full truth. Early involvement of independent counsel is essential.

Baylor University: Faith, Football, and Scrutiny

For Cisco Families: Baylor’s Christian identity is a draw for many Texas families. However, its history with institutional scandals (particularly the football sexual assault crisis) reveals patterns of inadequate oversight.

Snapshot: A prominent private Baptist university in Waco with strong Greek life and athletic programs.

Hazing in the Spotlight:

• Baylor Baseball (2020): 14 players were suspended following a hazing investigation, with staggered suspensions affecting the team’s season.
• The university’s past failure to properly address systemic abuse in its football program has led to heightened scrutiny of how it handles all misconduct reports, including hazing.

The Waco Network: Baylor’s Greek life is supported by a local infrastructure. Cause IQ data lists several Baylor-specific alumni and house associations in Waco. IRS records show organizations like the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated Nu Iota Chapter Baylor University (EIN 52-1346485). This localized network is part of the liability picture.

For Baylor Families: Be wary of institutional messaging that prioritizes “grace” or “internal reconciliation” over accountability and safety. Hazing is an abuse of power, not a simple mistake. Ensure any reporting is documented and that you follow up to see what concrete actions are taken.

Fraternities & Sororities: Connecting National Histories to Texas Chapters

When a hazing incident occurs at a Texas chapter, it is almost never the first time that national organization has seen such behavior. This history of prior incidents is called “pattern evidence” or “foreseeability,” and it is a cornerstone of holding national headquarters liable. For Cisco parents, understanding that your child’s local chapter is part of a national brand with a known safety record is crucial.

Why National Histories Matter in Court

National fraternities and sororities have thick risk management manuals and anti-hazing policies precisely because they have paid millions for deaths and injuries in the past. When a Texas chapter repeats the same dangerous “tradition,” the national organization cannot credibly claim it was an unforeseeable, rogue event. This knowledge supports claims of negligent supervision and can justify punitive damages.

A Sample of National Patterns Relevant to Texas Campuses

• Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): The national organization has faced numerous high-profile hazing deaths, including Stone Foltz at Bowling Green ($10M settlement) and David Bogenberger at Northern Illinois University ($14M settlement). Their “Big/Little” drinking night is a known, deadly script.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): SAE has been involved in hazing deaths and severe injury cases for decades, leading it to famously abolish the “pledge” status in 2014—a policy that chapters often ignore. They face lawsuits for traumatic brain injury, chemical burns (as at Texas A&M), and assault.
• Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): This is the national fraternity in our UH lawsuit. It has a prior history, including the death of Andrew Coffey at Florida State University in 2017 from alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother” event. This pattern makes the UH allegations even more egregious.
• Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): The death of Max Gruver at LSU from a “Bible study” drinking game led to felony hazing laws in Louisiana.
• Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ): Known for traditions bordering on Old South pageantry, the fraternity has faced repeated hazing suspensions, including at SMU.

The Legal Takeaway: In litigation, we subpoena the national headquarters for their entire history of incident reports, complaints, and disciplinary actions. We demonstrate that the hazing methods used in Texas are part of a documented, nationwide pattern that the national failed to stamp out. This drastically increases settlement leverage and jury appeal.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategic Investigation

Pursuing a hazing case is a complex forensic and legal undertaking. It is about building an unassailable narrative from digital fragments, medical records, and institutional documents. Here is how we approach it for our clients.

The Evidence Pyramid: What Wins Cases in 2025

1. Digital Communications (The Most Critical):

   • Group Chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord. These show planning, bragging, threats, and cover-up attempts. They must be screenshot immediately.
   • Social Media: Instagram Stories, Snapchats, TikTok videos, Facebook posts/events. These provide visual proof and context.
   • Deleted Message Recovery: Through digital forensics and subpoenas to app providers, we can often recover what members tried to destroy.

2. Photographic & Video Evidence:

   • Injuries (photograph from multiple angles over several days).
   • Hazing locations (the house, the park, the Airbnb).
   • Objects used (paddles, alcohol bottles, props).

3. Medical & Psychological Records:

   • ER reports, hospitalization records, lab tests (like the creatine kinase levels showing rhabdomyolysis in the UH case).
   • Records from follow-up care with specialists.
   • Psychological evaluations diagnosing PTSD, depression, anxiety—essential for proving emotional damages.

4. Institutional Documents (Obtained via Discovery):

   • The university’s prior disciplinary files on the same chapter.
   • The national fraternity’s risk management files and prior incident reports.
   • Emails between chapter advisors, alumni, and nationals.
   • Pledge manuals and “tradition” documents.

5. Witness Testimony:

   • Other pledges (who are often terrified but become crucial witnesses).
   • Former members who left because of hazing.
   • Roommates, RAs, bystanders.

Types of Damages in a Hazing Case

The law provides compensation for the full scope of harm, which can be substantial in severe cases.

• Economic Damages:

  • All past and future medical expenses (ER, hospital, surgery, therapy, medications).
  • Lost wages for a parent who must care for an injured child.
  • Lost future earning capacity if injuries cause permanent disability.
  • Educational costs (lost tuition, withdrawn semesters, transfer expenses).

• Non-Economic Damages:

  • Physical Pain and Suffering from the injuries.
  • Mental Anguish, Humiliation, and Emotional Distress. This is often the most significant damage in hazing cases—the psychological trauma of betrayal and abuse.
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life.

• Wrongful Death Damages (for families who have lost a child):

  • Funeral and burial costs.
  • Loss of the child’s love, companionship, and future support.
  • The family’s own emotional trauma.

• Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme recklessness or intentional conduct (like a national ignoring years of warnings), courts can award punitive damages to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

The Insurance Battle: Where Recovery Often Hinges

National fraternities and universities carry liability insurance. Their insurers’ first move is often to deny coverage, arguing hazing is an “intentional act” excluded from the policy. This is where Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as an insurance defense attorney is invaluable. We know their arguments and how to defeat them. We identify all possible insurance policies—from the national, the local housing corporation, the university, even individual members’ homeowners policies—to create maximum pressure for a fair settlement.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Cisco Parents and Students

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

1. Recognize the Signs: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, drastic personality changes, secrecy about group activities, constant anxious phone use, declining grades.
2. Talk to Your Child: Choose a calm, private moment. Use open-ended questions: “I’ve noticed you seem really stressed about the fraternity. Is there anything they’re asking you to do that makes you uncomfortable?” Listen without judgment.
3. Prioritize Safety & Evidence: If they are injured or intoxicated, get medical help first. Then, help them preserve evidence: screenshot chats, photograph injuries, write down a timeline.
4. Seek Legal Counsel BEFORE Reporting: Contact a hazing attorney to discuss the strategic implications of reporting to the university or police. We can guide you on how to report effectively while protecting your child from retaliation and preserving your legal rights.
5. Document Everything: Create a file. Save every email from the university, every medical bill, every note from your conversations.

For Students: Is This Hazing? How to Get Out Safely.

• The Simple Test: Are you being pressured to do something dangerous, degrading, or illegal to belong? Would you do this if there were no social consequences? If you’re hiding it from your parents or the school? It’s hazing.
• Your Rights: You have the legal right to quit at any time. Texas law protects those who report hazing in good faith.
• Exiting Safely: Do NOT go to a “final meeting.” Send a clear text or email to the chapter president: “I am resigning my membership/pledge status, effective immediately.” Tell a trusted adult (parent, RA, campus counselor) first.
• If You Fear Retaliation: Document any threats. Report them to campus police and the Dean of Students. You may be eligible for a no-contact order.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Hazing Case

1. Deleting Evidence: The #1 error. Those embarrassing group chats are your most powerful evidence. Do not delete anything.
2. Confronting the Fraternity Directly: This gives them a head start to destroy evidence, lawyer up, and coach witnesses.
3. Signing University “Resolution” Papers: Universities may offer a quick, confidential resolution in exchange for a waiver of your right to sue. Do not sign anything without an attorney.
4. Posting on Social Media: Venting online gives defense attorneys free ammunition to attack your credibility.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence vanishes, witnesses graduate, memories fade. The Texas statute of limitations is generally two years, but the investigation must start immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue a public university like Texas A&M or UT?
A: Yes, but there are hurdles. Public universities have “sovereign immunity,” but it can be overcome for gross negligence, Title IX violations, or by suing individual employees in their personal capacity. It requires specific legal strategy.

Q: What if the hazing happened off-campus at a rented house?
A: Location does not matter for liability. The university and national can still be responsible based on their relationship to the chapter and their knowledge of its activities. Many of the worst cases happen off-campus.

Q: Will our names be public?
A: Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. We can request sealed court records to protect your family’s privacy throughout the process.

Q: How much does it cost to hire your firm?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury and wrongful death cases. This means you pay no upfront fees or costs. We only get paid if we secure a settlement or verdict for you. You can learn more about how this works in our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc.

Q: Is there a time limit to file a lawsuit?
A: Yes. In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years from the date of the injury. For wrongful death, it is generally two years from the date of death. However, certain rules can extend or “toll” this period. Do not wait. Call us immediately to preserve your rights. We discuss this in detail here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c.

Why Attorney911 for Cisco Families Facing Hazing

When your family is in crisis, you need more than a lawyer; you need a dedicated team with the specific expertise, resources, and tenacity to take on powerful institutions. At The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911), we are that team.

Our Unmatched Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

• Active, High-Stakes Experience: We are not theorists. We are currently litigating the $10 million Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case. We know exactly what it takes to build a hazing case against a major university and national fraternity right now, in Texas courts.
• Insurance Insider Knowledge (Mr. Lupe Peña): Before fighting for victims, Mr. Peña spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows how fraternity and university insurers value claims, deny coverage, and drag out cases. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Complex Institutional Litigation (Ralph Manginello): Managing Partner Ralph Manginello is one of the few Texas attorneys who handled BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on a billion-dollar global corporation. We are not intimidated by the deep pockets or aggressive defense teams of national fraternities or universities. His federal court experience is critical for Title IX and other federal claims.
• The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We don’t start from scratch. We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,400 Greek organizations in Texas, built from IRS filings, university rosters, and public records. We know the legal names, EINs, and addresses of the housing corporations and alumni chapters behind the Greek letters at your child’s school. This gives us an immediate investigative advantage.
• Full-Service Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Expertise: We have a proven record of multi-million dollar results in wrongful death and life-altering injury cases. We work with top economists, life-care planners, and medical experts to fully value the lifetime impact of an injury, whether it’s kidney damage from rhabdomyolysis or PTSD from trauma.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Insight: Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal side of hazing cases. We can effectively advise clients navigating parallel criminal investigations and coordinate with criminal defense counsel when needed.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña is a fluent Spanish speaker, ensuring we can serve all Texas families with comfort and clarity.

Our Commitment to Cisco and Texas Families

We are a Texas-based firm with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. We serve families across the state, from the metroplexes to communities like Cisco in Eastland County. We understand the values you hold dear and the profound breach of trust you feel when an institution fails to protect your child.

We approach each case with a mission: to get your family the answers and accountability you deserve, to secure the resources needed for healing and recovery, and to force the changes necessary to prevent this from happening to another student.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If you suspect your child has been hazed at any Texas university—whether it’s the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, or another campus—we urge you to contact us. The window for preserving evidence and protecting your rights is small.

During your free consultation, we will:

• Listen with compassion to your story.
• Review any evidence or information you have.
• Explain the legal landscape and your family’s options in plain English.
• Discuss the realistic path forward, including potential timelines.
• Answer all your questions about the process and our contingency fee structure.
• Provide you with clear, honest advice with no pressure to proceed.

You do not have to navigate this alone. Let our experience be your guide.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 Today:

• Call Our Legal Emergency Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com
• Email Lupe Peña (Se habla Español): lupe@atty911.com

We are here to help 24/7. Call now.

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