The Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuits and Accountability for Families in the City of Staples, Guadalupe County, and Across Central Texas

A Parent’s Worst Nightmare: When “Tradition” Turns to Trauma

Imagine your child, a bright student from our tight-knit community in the City of Staples or surrounding Guadalupe County, has just joined a fraternity, sorority, or campus organization at a Texas university. What starts as excitement about finding community turns sinister. They’re being forced to carry a humiliating “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms and sex toys. They’re woken at 3 AM for “workouts” at remote parks. They’re sprayed in the face with a hose “like waterboarding” and threatened with the real thing. They’re forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until they vomit, then made to sprint immediately after. One night, after being forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion, they collapse. Days later, they’re hospitalized with brown urine, diagnosed with life-threatening rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, facing permanent kidney damage.

This isn’t hypothetical. This is exactly what happened to Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston’s Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter in late 2025—a case our firm, Attorney911, is litigating right now. The comprehensive coverage from Click2Houston and ABC13 details how what begins as “tradition” can escalate to near-fatal abuse while universities and national organizations fail to intervene.

For parents in the City of Staples, Marion, Kingsbury, and throughout Guadalupe County, this guide provides what you need most: clarity about what hazing really looks like in 2025, understanding of Texas laws that protect your child, knowledge of what’s happening at universities where our community sends students, and a clear path to accountability when institutions fail our children.

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 evidence, 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

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like for Texas Students

For families in the City of Staples and Guadalupe County, hazing isn’t about outdated stereotypes of “harmless pranks.” In 2025, it’s a sophisticated, often digitally-enabled system of coercion that endangers your child’s physical and mental health while organizations work hard to keep it hidden.

The Modern Definition: Coercion, Not Choice

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. The critical detail for Staples parents to understand is that “I agreed to it” does not make it legal or safe when there’s peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of social exclusion.

The Five Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and deadliest form. It includes forced chugging challenges, “lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor (like in the Pi Kappa Phi case), and “Bible study” games where wrong answers mean drinking. The goal is often rapid intoxication to the point of alcohol poisoning, with members deliberately delaying medical help to avoid “getting the chapter in trouble.”

2. Physical Hazing
Beyond traditional paddling, this now includes “smokings” or extreme calisthenics designed to cause physical collapse, sleep deprivation through mandatory all-night events, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, pledges were forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass and exercise in their underwear in cold weather.

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity or partial nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk,” “roasted pig” positions), degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. The “pledge fanny pack” requirement in the UH case, with its explicit contents, was designed specifically for humiliation.

4. Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, social isolation, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming during meetings. This creates psychological dependency and fear that prevents reporting.

5. Digital/Online Hazing
Group chat dares monitored 24/7, “challenges” shared on Instagram or TikTok, pressure to create compromising content, and geo-tracking via apps like Find My Friends. Evidence is often deleted within hours, which is why immediate screenshot preservation is critical.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond the Frat House

While fraternities and sororities are common settings, hazing occurs in:

Corps of Cadets / ROTC programs with military-style traditions
Athletic teams at all levels
Spirit squads and tradition clubs (like Texas Cowboys-type organizations)
Marching bands and performance groups
Some academic, service, and cultural organizations

The common thread is social status, tradition, and secrecy—these practices persist because veterans believe “we went through it, so you should too,” and victims fear reporting will destroy their social standing.

Texas Law & Liability Framework: What Guadalupe County Families Need to Know

When hazing impacts a student from our community, Texas law provides specific protections and pathways to accountability. Understanding this framework helps Staples families navigate what comes next.

Texas Education Code – Chapter 37: Your Legal Foundation

Texas has one of the country’s clearer anti-hazing statutes. Under Chapter 37 of the Education Code, hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that:

Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, AND
Occurs for purposes of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students.

Key Provisions for Guadalupe County Families:

Criminal Penalties (Section 37.152):
- Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that doesn’t cause serious injury (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
- Also criminal: Failing to report hazing you knew about, or retaliating against someone who reports
Organizational Liability (Section 37.153):
- Organizations can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized or encouraged hazing, or if an officer knew and failed to report it
- Universities can revoke recognition and ban the organization
Consent is NOT a Defense (Section 37.155):
- This is crucial: even if your child “agreed,” it’s still hazing under Texas law
- Courts recognize that peer pressure and power imbalance make true consent impossible
Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (Section 37.154):
- Those who report hazing in good faith to university or law enforcement are immune from civil/criminal liability
- Many universities extend this to medical amnesty – calling 911 for an alcohol emergency won’t result in underage drinking charges

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

Criminal Cases:

Brought by the state (Harris County DA, Guadalupe County DA, etc.)
Aim: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
Charges can include: hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases
Burden of proof: Beyond a reasonable doubt

Civil Cases:

Brought by victims or families like yours
Aim: Monetary compensation for damages and institutional accountability
Focus on: Negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress
Burden of proof: Preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not)
A criminal conviction is NOT required to pursue a civil case

These cases often proceed simultaneously, and our firm has experience navigating both tracks.

Federal Overlay: The Broader Legal Landscape

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing more transparently, strengthen prevention, and maintain public data (phased in through 2026).
Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger additional reporting and investigation requirements.
Clery Act: Requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics; hazing incidents often overlap with reportable assault or alcohol crimes.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Individual Students: Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover up.
Local Chapter/Organization: The fraternity/sorority itself (if incorporated), plus officers and “pledge educators.”
National Fraternity/Sorority: Headquarters that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Their knowledge of prior incidents elsewhere creates “foreseeability.”
University or Governing Board: Schools may be liable for negligence, deliberate indifference, or civil rights violations if they knew or should have known.
Third Parties: Landlords of event houses, alcohol providers (under dram shop laws), security companies.

In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case we’re litigating, defendants include 13 individual members, the Beta Nu chapter, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the housing corporation, University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents.

National Hazing Case Patterns: Why History Matters for Texas Families

The tragedies at other universities aren’t just news stories—they establish legal patterns that directly impact cases involving students from Guadalupe County. These “anchor cases” show how courts view institutional responsibility.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): Bid-acceptance drinking, delayed medical help despite severe falls caught on chapter cameras. Result: Dozens of criminal charges, civil litigation, Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.”
Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): “Big/Little” night with handle of liquor, fatal alcohol poisoning. Result: Criminal charges, FSU Greek life suspension, national scrutiny.
Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): “Bible study” drinking game, fatal alcohol toxicity (BAC 0.495%). Result: Felony convictions, Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act (felony hazing statute).
Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Forced to drink nearly a full bottle of whiskey. Result: $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU), multiple criminal convictions.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): Blindfolded, weighted “glass ceiling” ritual at retreat, fatal head injuries, delayed help. Result: Multiple convictions, national fraternity criminally convicted, Pi Delta Psi banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): “Pledge dad reveal” drinking, severe permanent brain damage (cannot walk, talk, or see). Result: Settlements with 22 defendants, chapter closed, national example of catastrophic non-fatal injury.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025): Alleged sexualized, racist hazing within program. Result: Multiple lawsuits, head coach fired and settled wrongful-termination suit, demonstrating hazing extends beyond Greek life.

What These Cases Mean for Guadalupe County Families

These national precedents establish that:

Delayed medical care dramatically increases liability
National organizations are responsible for patterns they knew or should have known about
Universities face multi-million dollar exposure when they fail to protect students
Juries award substantial damages for both fatal and catastrophic injury cases
Legislative reform often follows public litigation and outrage

When your child from Staples is hazed at a Texas university, these national cases provide the legal framework for holding every responsible party accountable.

Texas University Focus: Where Guadalupe County Students Are at Risk

Our community sends students to universities across Texas. Understanding the specific landscapes at these schools—especially those closest to us—is crucial for prevention and response.

Texas State University (San Marcos) – Your Closest Major Campus

For Staples and Guadalupe County families, Texas State University in nearby San Marcos is often the most accessible major university, just 30 miles away.

Campus & Culture Snapshot

Texas State’s rapid growth and strong Greek life (over 40 fraternities and sororities) create both opportunity and risk. The university’s “Bobcat Bond” emphasizes community, but traditional Greek culture can sometimes conflict with safety.

Hazing Policy & Reporting

Texas State prohibits hazing under University Policy 04.01.20, defining it broadly to include physical brutality, activities involving alcohol/drugs, and any action creating substantial risk. Reports go through the Dean of Students Office, Student Conduct, or University Police.

Documented Incidents & Responses

Sigma Chi disciplinary cases involving alcohol hazing
Multiple IFC fraternities placed on probation for risk management violations
Sorority chapters disciplined for “underground” pledging activities
The university maintains disciplinary records but doesn’t publish as comprehensively as UT Austin

How a Texas State Hazing Case Might Proceed

Jurisdiction: Hays County courts, with potential connections to Guadalupe County if victims are from our community
Potential Defendants: Individuals, local chapters, national organizations, Texas State University (though sovereign immunity applies to public universities)
Evidence Sources: Texas State disciplinary records, San Marcos PD reports, digital evidence from students’ devices

What Texas State Students & Parents Should Do

Document every interaction with Texas State administrators
Request prior disciplinary records for the involved organization through public information requests
Understand that as a public university, Texas State has sovereign immunity protections that require specific legal strategies to overcome
Contact a lawyer experienced in Texas public university litigation immediately

University of Texas at Austin – A Common Destination

Many high-achieving students from Guadalupe County attend UT Austin, approximately 50 miles away.

UT’s Public Transparency Advantage

UT Austin maintains one of Texas’ most transparent Hazing Violations pages, listing organizations, conduct, and sanctions. This public record becomes powerful evidence in litigation.

Documented Incidents Involving National Organizations with Histories:

Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; chapter probation and mandatory hazing-prevention education.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): Australian exchange student alleged assault resulting in dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, broken nose; lawsuit seeks over $1 million.
Multiple spirit organizations: Sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, punishment-based practices.

UT-Specific Considerations

UTPD and Austin PD share jurisdiction depending on location
Prior violations on UT’s public log establish pattern knowledge that strengthens civil cases
The university’s size can make oversight challenging despite robust policies

Texas A&M University – Traditions and Risk

While farther from Guadalupe County, Texas A&M attracts many Central Texas students with its strong academic and Corps programs.

Corps of Cadets Culture

The tradition-heavy, military-style environment carries specific hazing risks documented in lawsuits, including allegations of simulated sexual acts and binding.

High-Profile Cases:

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns (2021): Pledges allegedly covered in industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries; $1 million lawsuit, fraternity suspended.
Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): Cadet alleged degrading hazing including “roasted pig” positioning with apple in mouth; sought over $1 million.
Kappa Sigma Rhabdomyolysis Case (2023, ongoing): Allegations of extreme physical hazing causing severe muscle breakdown; specialized litigation focused on this specific injury.

A&M’s Dual Systems

Hazing cases may involve both Greek life through Student Conduct and Corps traditions through military-style regulations, requiring attorneys familiar with both systems.

University of Houston – Our Current Case Example

Though farther from Guadalupe County, UH’s Pi Kappa Phi case establishes crucial Texas precedents affecting all universities.

The Leonel Bermudez Case We’re Litigating

Our firm represents Bermudez in the $10 million lawsuit against UH, Pi Kappa Phi national, the housing corporation, and 13 individual members. The hazing included:

“Pledge fanny pack” humiliation
Hose spraying “similar to waterboarding”
Forced consumption leading to vomiting followed by immediate sprints
Extreme workouts causing rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure
Four-day hospitalization, risk of permanent kidney damage

Institutional Response Patterns

Nov 6, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi national suspends Beta Nu chapter
Nov 14, 2025: Chapter votes to surrender charter; chapter closed
UH Statement: Conduct “deeply disturbing,” cooperation with law enforcement promised
This pattern—rapid chapter closure after litigation—is common nationally but doesn’t eliminate liability

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

Private universities like SMU and Baylor present different legal landscapes:

SMU: Affluent private campus with strong Greek presence; Kappa Alpha Order suspended in 2017 for paddling, forced drinking, sleep deprivation
Baylor: Religious identity with history of Title IX scrutiny; baseball hazing in 2020 led to 14 player suspensions
Key Difference: Fewer sovereign immunity protections than public universities, but potentially more institutional control over disclosure

The Greek Ecosystem Serving Guadalupe County Families: Public Records Reality

At Attorney911, we maintain the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a comprehensive database of Greek organizations across Texas. This isn’t theoretical; these are real entities with insurance, assets, and legal responsibility. For Staples parents, understanding this landscape reveals who truly stands behind the letters.

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

Why This Matters: When hazing injures your child, these organizations—with their EINs, legal names, and mailing addresses—may hold insurance coverage and legal responsibility. We track them so families don’t start from zero.

Central Texas & San Antonio Metro Area Organizations

Based on IRS B83 filings and Cause IQ metro data, Greek entities operating in the region that serves Guadalupe County families include:

Sigma Phi Lambda Inc – EIN 201237505 – Corinth, TX 76210 (Beta Chapter, IRS B83 filing)
Sigma Phi Lambda Inc – EIN 202203769 – Corinth, TX 76210 (Tau Chapter, IRS B83 filing)
Sigma Phi Lambda Inc – EIN 260805977 – Corinth, TX 76210 (Alpha Alpha Chapter, IRS B83 filing)
Sigma Phi Lambda Inc – EIN 320217610 – Corinth, TX 76210 (Omega Chapter, IRS B83 filing)
Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – EIN 463831593 – Austin, TX 78723 (Texas State University chapter, IRS B83 filing)
Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – EIN 475381060 – San Marcos, TX 78666 (Theta Iota chapter at Texas State, IRS B83 filing)
Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation – EIN 371768785 – Missouri City, TX 77459 (housing corporation, IRS B83 filing)
Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter – EIN 746084905 – Houston, TX 77204 (UH chapter, IRS B83 filing)

San Antonio Metro Greek Presence (Cause IQ Data)

The San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area, which includes Guadalupe County, contains 86 Greek-related organizations according to Cause IQ data, including:

Xi Omicron Iota House Association – San Antonio, TX (Trinity University)
Alpha Lambda Chapter of Sigma Chi – San Antonio, TX (Trinity University)
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – San Antonio Alumnae – San Antonio, TX
Kappa Alpha Psi – San Antonio Alumni – San Antonio, TX

National Organizations with Texas Presence and Hazing Histories

These organizations operate chapters at Texas universities attended by Guadalupe County students and have documented national hazing patterns:

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): Stone Foltz death ($10M settlement), multiple other fatalities
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): Chemical burns at Texas A&M, assault at UT Austin, traumatic brain injury at Alabama
Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): Max Gruver death (Louisiana felony hazing law)
Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): Andrew Coffey death, Leonel Bermudez case we’re litigating
Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ): Timothy Piazza death (Pennsylvania anti-hazing law)
Phi Gamma Delta (ΦΓΔ): Danny Santulli permanent brain injury

Why National Histories Matter Legally

When a Texas chapter repeats patterns seen in other states, it establishes foreseeability—the national organization knew or should have known this could happen. This undermines defenses like “we didn’t know” or “this was a rogue chapter.” In litigation, we subpoena national records showing:

Prior incident reports at other chapters
Risk management materials acknowledging these specific dangers
Communications between nationals and local chapters about “traditions”
Inadequate responses to prior violations

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy for Guadalupe County Families

When hazing affects your family, building a strong case requires immediate action and strategic understanding of what evidence matters most.

Critical Evidence That Wins Cases

Digital Communications (Most Important)

GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord messages showing planning, execution, and cover-up
Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok content related to events
Immediate Action: Screenshot EVERYTHING before deletion. Use our video guide on documenting evidence with your phone.

Photos & Videos

Injuries photographed immediately and over subsequent days
Event locations, alcohol containers, props used
Social media posts by participants

Medical Documentation

ER reports specifically stating “hazing” as cause
Lab results (blood alcohol, creatine kinase for rhabdomyolysis)
Psychological evaluations diagnosing PTSD, depression, anxiety
Critical: Tell medical providers exactly what happened—”I was forced to drink by my fraternity” creates vital records

Organizational Records

Pledge manuals, “tradition” documents
National fraternity policies and training materials
University disciplinary records (obtained via public information requests)

Witness Information

Names and contact information for other pledges, members, roommates, RAs
Former members who quit or were expelled

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages

Medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, ongoing therapy)
Future medical care (for permanent injuries like kidney damage or brain injury)
Lost educational costs (withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships)
Diminished earning capacity (if injuries affect career prospects)

Non-Economic Damages

Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
Loss of enjoyment of life
For wrongful death: Loss of companionship, grief, funeral expenses

Punitive Damages

When defendants’ conduct is especially reckless or malicious
Designed to punish and deter future hazing
Available in Texas under specific circumstances

The Insurance Coverage Battle

Fraternities, sororities, and universities carry insurance, but insurers routinely argue hazing is excluded as “intentional” or “criminal.” Our advantage: Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how these companies:

Value (and undervalue) claims
Use Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) to minimize injuries
Delay to pressure families into low settlements
Fight coverage under exclusions

We identify all potential policies—national, local chapter, university, homeowners—and navigate coverage disputes from insider knowledge.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Guadalupe County Families

For Parents: Warning Signs & Response

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Hazed:

Unexplained injuries, bruises, burns
Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
Sudden secrecy about organization activities
Withdrawal from family and old friends
Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability
Constant phone monitoring for group chat demands
Requests for money without clear explanation
Academic performance plummeting

If You Suspect Hazing:

Talk non-confrontationally: “How are things with [organization]? Is everyone respectful of your time for classes and sleep?”
Listen without judgment if they open up
Prioritize safety: If injured or intoxicated, get medical help immediately
Document everything they tell you with dates/times
Contact an attorney BEFORE confronting the organization or university

For Students: Safety & Evidence Preservation

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
Is this 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?

If You Need to Exit Safely:

In immediate danger: Call 911 first
To quit: Notify chapter president in writing (email/text), tell someone outside the org first
If fearing retaliation: Report threats to campus police and Dean of Students, consider protective order

Evidence Collection Steps:

Screenshot ALL group chats with timestamps visible
Photograph injuries with scale reference (coin, ruler)
Save event locations, alcohol bottles, props
Do NOT delete anything, even if embarrassing
Back up everything to cloud storage or email to trusted adult

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

Letting your child delete messages – Looks like cover-up, destroys strongest evidence
Confronting the organization directly – Triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching
Signing university “resolution” forms – May waive legal rights for inadequate settlements
Posting details on social media – Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
Waiting “to see how university handles it” – Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statutes run
Talking to insurance adjusters without lawyer – Recorded statements used against you

Watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case for complete guidance.

FAQ: Answers for Guadalupe County Families

“Can we sue a Texas university for hazing?”
Yes, under specific circumstances. Public universities (UT, Texas A&M, Texas State) have sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity barriers. Every case is fact-specific—call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for case analysis.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Default is Class B misdemeanor, but becomes a state jail felony if hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report.

“What if my child ‘agreed’ to it?”
Consent is NOT a defense under Texas Education Code § 37.155. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure and power imbalance isn’t voluntary.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if harm wasn’t immediately known. Time is critical—call us immediately. Learn more in our statute of limitations video.

“What if it happened off-campus?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, and knowledge. Major cases (Pi Delta Psi retreat, Sigma Pi unofficial house) occurred off-campus with multi-million-dollar judgments.

“Will this be confidential?”
Most cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability.

Why Attorney911 for Guadalupe County Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway. From our Texas offices, we serve families throughout the state, including those in the City of Staples, Guadalupe County, and across Central 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, fight coverage exclusions, and pressure families into low settlements. “We know their playbook because we used to run it.”

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience (Ralph Manginello)
As one of the few Texas firms involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation, we’ve faced billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. We’re not intimidated by national fraternities or university defense teams. Our federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas) prepares us for Title IX and complex civil rights claims.

Dual Criminal/Civil Capability
Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) signals elite criminal defense expertise. We understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation and can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure.

Investigative Depth
We deploy experts specific to hazing cases: medical professionals (rhabdomyolysis, TBI, PTSD specialists), digital forensics experts for deleted message recovery, Greek life culture experts, economists for lifetime care calculations, and psychologists for trauma assessment.

Proven Results
Our wrongful death practice (https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/) has recovered millions for families in catastrophic injury cases. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that force accountability and prevent future harm.

Our Approach: Empathy Meets Aggressive Advocacy

We know this is one of the hardest things a family can face. Our job is to:

Get you answers about what really happened
Hold every responsible party accountable—from individual members to national headquarters
Secure compensation for medical care, therapy, and life disruption
Help prevent this from happening to another family
Guide you through criminal and university processes while protecting your rights

Your Next Step: Confidential Consultation

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus—whether Texas State University in San Marcos, UT Austin, Texas A&M, or any other school—we want to hear from you. Families in the City of Staples, Guadalupe County, and throughout Central Texas 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’ve preserved
Explain your legal options clearly
Discuss realistic timelines and expectations
Answer questions about costs (contingency fee—we don’t get paid unless we win)
Apply no pressure—take time to decide what’s right for your family

Contact Us Today:

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 Language Services:

Hablamos Español – Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish
Servicios legales en español disponibles

Whether you’re in the City of Staples, Seguin, San Marcos, or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. Call us today.

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 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

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

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

Attorney911 Educational YouTube Videos:

Documenting evidence with your phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
Statute of limitations explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
Client mistakes to avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
How contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website:

https://attorney911.com