24/7 LIVE STAFF — Compassionate help, any time day or night
CALL NOW 1-888-ATTY-911
Blog | City of Cool

City of Cool Fraternity & Sorority Hazing Lawyers | SMU, TCU, University of Dallas, Texas A&M Cases | Attorney911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™ | Former Insurance Defense Attorney Knows Fraternity Insurance Tactics | Federal Court Experience | BP Explosion Litigation Proves Institutional Fight Capability | Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Results | Evidence Preservation Specialists | 24/7 Emergency Legal Help: 1-888-ATTY-911

February 16, 2026 27 min read
city-of-cool-featured-image.png

A Complete Guide to Hazing Litigation for Families in City of Cool, Texas

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You Are Not Alone

For a parent in City of Cool, the college experience you imagined for your child—growth, friendship, and opportunity—can turn into a nightmare with a single phone call or text message. Right now, in our own state, we are actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in the country: the $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, and its national headquarters. This case, unfolding just hours from Parker County, involves allegations of extreme physical abuse, forced consumption leading to vomiting, simulated waterboarding, and hazing so severe it caused rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, resulting in a four-day hospitalization and ongoing risk of permanent harm.

This guide exists because families in City of Cool, Springtown, Weatherford, and across Parker County deserve to know the truth about hazing at Texas universities. We will explain what modern hazing really looks like, the specific Texas laws that protect your child, the documented histories of fraternities and sororities at schools like Texas A&M and UT Austin, and exactly how an experienced Texas hazing law firm builds a case for accountability. If you are facing this crisis, call us immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911. We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™, and we help Texas families navigate these legal emergencies every day.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES IN CITY OF COOL

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

  • Call 911 for medical emergencies.
  • Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911).

In the first 48 hours:

  1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” emergency care documents injuries and can treat hidden conditions like alcohol poisoning or rhabdomyolysis.
  2. Preserve Digital Evidence: Screenshot ALL group chats (GroupMe, texts, WhatsApp), social media posts, and DMs immediately. This evidence disappears fast.
  3. Photograph Everything: Take clear pictures of any injuries, bruises, or the location where hazing occurred.
  4. Write It Down: Document names, dates, times, and what happened while memories are fresh.
  5. Do NOT:
    • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or university directly.
    • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” their phone.
    • Sign anything from a university administrator or insurance adjuster.
    • Post details on public social media.

Contact an experienced Texas hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. We help families in City of Cool and across Parker County preserve evidence, understand their rights, and navigate the complex legal landscape. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like on Texas Campuses

Hazing is not a relic of the past or mere “horseplay.” It is a calculated pattern of coercion and abuse that adapts to avoid detection. For families in City of Cool sending students to universities across Texas, understanding its modern forms is critical.

A Modern, Texas-Specific Definition

Under Texas Education Code Chapter 37, 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. The act must endanger the mental or physical health or safety of the student. Crucially, Texas law states that the victim’s “consent” is not a defense. The power imbalance, fear of exclusion, and group pressure inherent in pledging negate any notion of voluntary participation.

The Three Tiers of Hazing Conduct

Hazing exists on a spectrum, often escalating from psychological control to physical violence.

  1. Subtle Hazing (Tier 1): Behaviors that emphasize power imbalance and set the stage for worse abuse. This includes forced servitude (being an on-call driver, cleaning members’ rooms), social isolation from non-members, “mandatory” events that interfere with academics, and constant digital monitoring through group chats.

  2. Harassment Hazing (Tier 2): Acts that cause emotional or physical discomfort. This encompasses sleep deprivation, verbal abuse and yelling, food/water restriction, forced consumption of unpleasant substances (e.g., milk, hot sauce, raw eggs), and “smokings” or extreme calisthenics framed as “workouts.”

  3. Violent Hazing (Tier 3): Activities with a high potential for severe injury or death. This is what we see in cases like Leonel Bermudez’s at UH. It includes:

    • Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights, “family tree” drinking games, lineups, and chugging contests.
    • Physical Beatings: Paddling, punching, kicking, or dangerous “rituals” like the “glass ceiling” tackle that killed Michael Deng.
    • Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk”), or sexual assault.
    • Extreme Physical Tests: Bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, and exhaustive drills until collapse, which can cause rhabdomyolysis—a life-threatening muscle breakdown.

The Evolving Playbook: How Hazing Stays Hidden

Organizations have become sophisticated in evading accountability. They use coded language (“traditions,” “bonding”), shift events to off-campus Airbnbs or rural properties, and maintain “unofficial” underground chapters after being suspended. Most insidiously, they frame activities as “optional,” knowing full well that refusal means social exile. For City of Cool families, the key takeaway is this: if your child feels coerced, unsafe, or humiliated as a condition of belonging, it is hazing, regardless of what the organization calls it.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas Statutes and Your Family’s Rights

Understanding the legal landscape empowers families in Parker County to take informed action. Texas has robust hazing laws, but navigating them requires precision.

Texas Criminal Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37)

  • Definition & Scope: The law covers acts that are intentional, knowing, or reckless. It applies both on and off campus.
  • Penalties:
    • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause bodily injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
    • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes bodily injury.
    • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
  • Organizational Liability: Fraternities, sororities, and other student groups can be fined up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized or encouraged the hazing.
  • Immunity for Reporting: Individuals who in good faith report hazing to authorities are immune from civil or criminal liability for their own minor involvement (like underage drinking). This “Good Samaritan” provision is critical for encouraging calls to 911.

Civil Liability: The Path to Accountability and Compensation

A criminal case, handled by the state, seeks punishment. A civil lawsuit, filed by the victim or their family, seeks compensation for harms and holds all responsible parties accountable. These cases can proceed independently.

Potential Defendants in a Civil Hazing Case:

  1. The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, carried out, or supervised the abuse.
  2. The Local Chapter: As a legal entity, it can be sued for creating a dangerous environment.
  3. The National Headquarters: Nationals are often the deepest-pocketed defendants. Liability hinges on proving they knew or should have known about the dangerous traditions and failed to intervene. The national history of an organization (like Pi Kappa Phi or Sigma Alpha Epsilon) becomes critical evidence.
  4. The University: Public universities like UH, Texas A&M, and UT Austin have some sovereign immunity, but they can be sued for gross negligence, Title IX violations (if sexual harassment is involved), or deliberate indifference to a known, substantial risk.
  5. Third Parties: Property owners of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol (under Texas dram shop law), and security companies.

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

  • Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, universities have a legal duty to investigate and respond promptly.
  • Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults.
  • Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires colleges to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs, increasing transparency for families researching campus safety.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts That Repeat in Texas

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not isolated incidents; they are chapters in a repeating playbook. Understanding these patterns shows City of Cool families that what happens at a Texas school is part of a predictable, national failure.

The Alcohol Poisoning Death Script

This is the most common fatal pattern, seen in cases that have reshaped laws across the country:

  • Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): A bid-acceptance night with a gauntlet of drinking games. Piazza suffered fatal falls captured on chapter security cameras. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case led to Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
  • Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers mandated drinking. Gruver died of alcohol toxicity. His death spurred Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony.
  • Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a bottle of liquor during a “Big/Little” event. His family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from the university).

The Texas Connection: The “Big/Little” night, the drinking game, the delayed emergency call—these are the exact patterns we see in Texas cases. They are foreseeable and preventable.

The Physical & Ritualized Abuse Script

  • Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Pledges were blindfolded, weighted down, and repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at an off-campus retreat. Deng died of traumatic brain injury. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania.
  • Danny Santulli (University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Coerced into consuming a lethal amount of alcohol during a “pledge dad reveal,” Santulli survived but suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage, requiring 24/7 care for life. His family settled with 22 defendants.

The Athletic & Institutional Hazing Script

  • Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Allegations of widespread, sexualized hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements. This proves hazing is not confined to Greek life; it infects multi-million dollar athletic programs.

What This Means for City of Cool Families: These national cases are not just news stories. They establish legal precedents, demonstrate patterns of institutional failure, and provide a roadmap for holding powerful organizations accountable in Texas courts. The same fraternities named above—Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta—have active chapters at Texas schools your child may attend.

Texas University Focus: Where Parker County Families Send Their Kids

City of Cool families are deeply connected to the Texas higher education system. Many students commute to nearby Tarrant County College or Weatherford College, while others head to major universities across the state. Understanding the specific landscape at these schools is essential.

University of Houston (UH)

Connection to City of Cool: As a major driver in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro, UH attracts students from all over Texas, including Parker County. Our firm’s deep roots in Houston give us particular insight into UH’s Greek ecosystem and legal environment.

Snapshot & Recent Crisis: The Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case is the defining current event. The lawsuit alleges a campaign of abuse against Bermudez in Fall 2025, including a degrading “pledge fanny pack,” forced overconsumption of food leading to vomiting, hose-spraying “similar to waterboarding,” and extreme workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park that induced rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. Following the exposure, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters suspended the Beta Nu chapter on November 6, 2025, and members voted to surrender their charter on November 14, 2025. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

Public Records & Greek Ecosystem: According to our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, the Houston metro area hosts 188 Greek-related organizations. IRS B83 filings show Texas-registered entities supporting UH Greek life. For example:

  • Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035.
  • Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 74-6084905, Houston, TX 77204.
  • Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc (Theta Delta Chapter), EIN 47-5370943, Houston, TX 77204.

For UH Families: Evidence preservation is paramount. The Bermudez case shows hazing occurs at chapter houses, off-campus residences (like the Culmore Drive location), and public parks. Reporting should go to UHPD, the Dean of Students, and an experienced attorney who can navigate Harris County courts and deal with the UH System Board of Regents.

Texas A&M University

Connection to City of Cool: Many Parker County students aspire to or attend Texas A&M. Its unique traditions, including the Corps of Cadets, present specific hazing risks.

Documented Incidents:

  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged they were doused with a mixture containing industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and victims filed a lawsuit.
  • Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged he was tied between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth, among other degrading acts. He filed a lawsuit seeking over $1 million in damages.

Public Records & Greek Ecosystem: The College Station-Bryan metro has 42 Greek organizations. IRS records show entities like:

  • Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 13-3048786, College Station, TX 77845.
  • Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc (Theta Rho Chapter), EIN 81-2525354, College Station, TX 77845.
  • Eta Alpha House Corporation of Kappa Delta Sorority, EIN 74-2930349, College Station, TX 77840.

For Texas A&M Families: Hazing risk exists in both the Greek system and the Corps. The university’s disciplinary processes are extensive. Civil cases may be filed in Brazos County. An attorney with experience in both complex personal injury and institutional defense is crucial.

University of Texas at Austin

Connection to City of Cool: UT Austin is a flagship destination for high-achieving Texas students, including those from Parker County.

Transparency & Public Log: UT maintains a public online log of hazing violations, a resource more transparent than most universities. Recent entries include:

  • Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members were directed to consume excessive milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: Probation and mandatory hazing prevention education.
  • Texas Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): A lawsuit filed by an Australian exchange student alleges an assault at the chapter house resulting in a dislocated leg, broken nose, and fractured tibia.

Public Records & Greek Ecosystem: The Austin-Round Rock metro contains 154 Greek organizations. IRS and Cause IQ data show entities such as:

  • Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi, EIN 74-6047117, Austin, TX 78705.
  • Texas Rho Housing Corporation (Sigma Alpha Epsilon), Austin, TX (from Cause IQ data).
  • Chi Omega Fraternity (House Corporation), EIN 74-0555581, Austin, TX 78705.

For UT Austin Families: The public violation log is a valuable tool. It demonstrates patterns and university knowledge. Civil litigation often proceeds in Travis County courts. The prevalence of national fraternities with known hazing histories (like SAE and Pike) is a key factor in building a case.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

Connection to City of Cool: These private, prestigious universities draw students from across Texas.

  • SMU: Has faced hazing incidents, such as a 2017 Kappa Alpha Order chapter suspension for paddling and forced drinking.
  • Baylor: Has dealt with hazing within its athletics programs, including a 2020 baseball team hazing investigation that led to multiple player suspensions.

For Private University Families: Sovereign immunity defenses are weaker against private institutions like SMU and Baylor. However, they often exert strong control over their internal narratives and disciplinary processes. Legal action must be strategic and assertive.

Fraternities & Sororities: Connecting National Histories to Texas Chapters

The fraternity in your child’s lawsuit is rarely an island. It is part of a national brand with a history, an insurance policy, and a legal playbook. Our investigative advantage comes from our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, which maps these connections.

Why the National Brand Matters

A national headquarters collects dues, provides policies, and sends representatives. In court, we argue they also inherit responsibility. If the same dangerous “tradition”—like Pi Kappa Alpha’s “Big/Little” drinking night—causes a death at Bowling Green (Stone Foltz) and a serious injury in Texas, the national organization cannot claim it was unforeseeable. This “pattern and practice” evidence is central to proving negligence and securing punitive damages.

Public Records Directory: A Snapshot of the Texas Greek Ecosystem

To illustrate the scale and structure we investigate, here is a sample from our master directory of Texas-registered Greek organizations. These are public IRS B83 filings and Cause IQ records—the tangible entities behind the Greek letters.

Organizations with Texas Presence (Sample):

  • Beta Upsilon Chi, EIN 74-2911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244. (Also listed in Cause IQ DFW metro data).
  • Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147. (Matched in Cause IQ data).
  • Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, EIN 36-4091267, Waco, TX 76710. (Appears in multiple metro datasets, including Houston and Beaumont).
  • Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, EIN 52-1278573, Dallas, TX 75241. (Includes multiple alumni and graduate chapters across Texas metros).
  • Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 90-0293166, College Station, TX 77843. (This academic honor society appears in IRS data tied to multiple campuses, showing the breadth of tracked organizations).

This directory, encompassing over 1,400 entities across 25 Texas metros, allows us to quickly identify every potentially liable party in a hazing case—from the local house corporation to the alumni association to the national foundation.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and the Attorney911 Advantage

When a family from City of Cool contacts us after a hazing incident, we immediately deploy a proven, multi-phase strategy built on our experience in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation.

Phase 1: Immediate Evidence Preservation & Investigation

Digital evidence is the lifeblood of a modern hazing case. We guide families to:

  1. Forensically Preserve Digital Trails: This means more than screenshots. We work with digital forensic experts to recover deleted GroupMe messages, Instagram DMs, and Snapchat logs from phones and cloud backups. We map communication patterns to establish who gave orders and who knew what.
  2. Secure Physical Evidence: Photograph injuries sequentially to show progression. Preserve clothing, paddles, or props. Obtain security footage from neighboring properties.
  3. Identify All Witnesses: Other pledges are often terrified. We know how to conduct sensitive, confidential interviews that protect witnesses while securing vital testimony.

Phase 2: Identifying Every Liable Party & Insurance Source

Using our data engine, we identify the legal entities behind the chapter:

  • The chapter housing corporation (like the “Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc”).
  • The alumni advisory board.
  • The national headquarters.
  • The university and its governing board.
    We then initiate a coverage investigation to locate every applicable insurance policy. As Mr. Lupe Peña, a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm, knows: insurers will initially deny coverage, claiming hazing is an “intentional act” exclusion. We have the experience to fight these denials and push for policy limits.

Phase 3: Damages Analysis – The Full Scope of Harm

We quantify the true cost of the hazing, working with a network of experts:

  • Medical Experts & Life Care Planners: For catastrophic injuries like rhabdomyolysis or traumatic brain injury, we project lifetime medical and therapeutic care costs.
  • Economists: Calculate lost future earning capacity, especially critical for a young college student whose career trajectory is altered.
  • Psychologists: Diagnose and document PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other long-term psychological trauma.
    Damages we pursue include past/future medical care, lost earnings, physical pain, emotional distress, and, in wrongful death cases, loss of companionship and funeral expenses.

Why Attorney911’s Core Strengths Matter for Your Hazing Case

  • Insurance Insider Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) spent years on the defense side. He knows how insurers value claims, use Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) to downplay injuries, and drag out proceedings. We use this insight to counteract their tactics from day one.
  • Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello’s involvement in the BP Texas City explosion litigation is direct proof our firm can take on billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. Universities and national fraternities use the same playbook.
  • Dual Criminal/Civil Capability: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand criminal hazing charges. We can advise families and witnesses navigating parallel criminal and civil proceedings, a common scenario in serious hazing cases.
  • Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish (Se habla Español), ensuring we can serve all Texas families with comfort and clarity.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Parents, Students, and Witnesses

For Parents in City of Cool: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

1. Recognize the Warning Signs:

  • Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, limping).
  • Extreme fatigue or sleep deprivation.
  • Sudden secrecy about organizational activities.
  • Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal.
  • Constant, anxious phone monitoring of group chats.
  • Financial requests for unexplained “fines” or “dues.”

2. Have the Right Conversation:

  • Use open-ended questions: “How are things really going with the fraternity/sorority? Is anything making you uncomfortable?”
  • Reassure them: “Your safety is our only concern. We will support you no matter what.”
  • Avoid judgment: “I believe you. This is not your fault.”

3. Take Immediate Action:

  • Medical First: Seek care and tell the doctor exactly what happened: “This was a hazing injury.”
  • Preserve Evidence: Follow the 48-hour checklist at the top of this guide.
  • Consult an Attorney BEFORE Reporting: We can help you navigate reporting to the university or police in a way that protects your rights and preserves legal leverage.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

  • Is This Hazing? If you feel coerced, unsafe, or humiliated to belong, it is. Your “consent” under pressure is not valid under Texas law.
  • How to Exit Safely: You have the right to quit. Send a clear text/email: “I resign my membership effective immediately.” Do not attend “one last meeting.” Tell a trusted adult or RA first.
  • Reporting: You can report anonymously through university hotlines or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE). If you call 911 for a medical emergency, Texas law offers protections for good faith reporters.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Potential Case

  1. Deleting Digital Evidence: Letting your child “clean up” their phone is obstruction of justice. PRESERVE, DON’T DELETE.
  2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers their defense lawyers, who will immediately secure evidence and coach witnesses.
  3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms: Universities may offer quick, confidential settlements that waive your right to sue for far less than your case is worth.
  4. Posting on Social Media: Defense investigators monitor everything. Inconsistent statements can damage credibility.
  5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence vanishes, witnesses graduate, memories fade. The Texas statute of limitations is generally two years, but building a case takes time. Act now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue the University of Houston or Texas A&M?
A: Yes, it is possible. Public universities have sovereign immunity, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, or suing individual employees. Private universities like SMU and Baylor have fewer immunity barriers. The specific facts of your case will determine the strategy.

Q: What if the hazing happened at an off-campus Airbnb?
A: Location does not shield liability. If the event was organized by a university-recognized group or members acting in their capacity, the organization and university can still be held responsible. National fraternities have been held liable for retreat deaths (see the Pi Delta Psi case).

Q: How much is a hazing case worth?
A: There is no average. Value depends on the severity of injury, the conduct of the defendants, insurance policy limits, and the skill of your legal team. National wrongful death settlements and verdicts have ranged from $1 million to over $14 million. Severe injury cases like Danny Santulli’s involve multi-million dollar life care plans. We work with economists and experts to build a comprehensive damages model for your specific situation.

Q: Will my child’s name be public?
A: We prioritize confidentiality. Most civil cases settle before trial with confidential terms. We can petition the court to use initials or seal certain records. Our goal is to achieve accountability while protecting your family’s privacy.

About Attorney911: Why Texas Hazing Families Choose Us

When your family in City of Cool is facing the aftermath of hazing, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates who understand the depth of the trauma and the complexity of the fight. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (operating as Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™) was founded on the principle of providing immediate, aggressive, and professional help in legal emergencies.

We are a Texas-based personal injury and complex litigation firm with a national case footprint. Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Mr. Lupe Peña, bring complementary, powerful strengths to hazing litigation:

  • Ralph Manginello draws on over 25 years of experience, including litigation against corporate giants in the BP Texas City explosion. His federal court experience and HCCLA criminal defense background mean he is not intimidated by institutional defendants and understands the full legal landscape.
  • Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) offers an invaluable insider’s perspective from his years as an insurance defense attorney. He knows how the other side thinks, values claims, and fights coverage. This allows us to anticipate and counter defense tactics effectively, maximizing recovery for our clients.

We have built a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine from thousands of public records to map the Greek ecosystem in our state. We maintain a network of expert witnesses—from digital forensic analysts to nephrologists who understand rhabdomyolysis. We have a proven track record in multi-million dollar wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases.

Most importantly, we listen. We understand the fear, anger, and confusion you feel. We see our role not just as legal technicians, but as guides and advocates who walk with you through this crisis, fighting to secure the accountability and resources your family needs to heal.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child and your family, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path forward begins with a conversation.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. In this confidential consultation, we will:

  • Listen carefully to your story.
  • Review any evidence you have preserved.
  • Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
  • Outline our investigative process and how we build cases.
  • Answer your questions about timelines, costs, and what to expect.
  • We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases: you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.

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

Se habla Español. Mr. Peña is available to consult with Spanish-speaking families.

For families in City of Cool, Parker County, and across Texas, we are here to help you find the path to accountability, recovery, and peace of mind.

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.

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 | lupe@atty911.com

Share this article:

Need Legal Help?

Free consultation. No fee unless we win your case.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911

Ready to Fight for Your Rights?

Free consultation. No upfront costs. We don't get paid unless we win your case.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911