The Complete Guide to Hazing in Texas: What Families in Claude and Across Armstrong County Need to Know

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

Imagine it’s a Thursday night in the fall. Your son, a freshman at a major Texas university, texts that he’s “studying with his new fraternity brothers.” You don’t hear from him again until 3 a.m., when a roommate calls. Your child is disoriented, covered in unexplained bruises, and his urine is a disturbing brown color. He’s rushed to the ER, where doctors diagnose rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure—severe muscle breakdown from extreme physical overexertion. As he recounts the night, a horrifying story emerges: forced consumption of food until vomiting, hours of punitive calisthenics, being sprayed in the face with a hose “like waterboarding,” all under threat of expulsion from the fraternity if he refused.

This is not a hypothetical. This is the real experience of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student, as detailed in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit we filed in late 2025 against UH, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 individual members. The chapter house where this occurred is just hours from Claude, and the same national organizations operate at campuses across Texas where Claude families send their children.

When hazing turns from “tradition” to trauma, families in Claude, Amarillo, and across Armstrong County face a nightmare of medical crises, institutional silence, and legal complexity. This comprehensive guide exists for you.

What This Guide Covers for Claude Families

This is your definitive resource on hazing, Texas law, and the path to accountability. We wrote this for parents in Claude, Panhandle, Washburn, and throughout the Texas Panhandle who need clear answers about:

• What modern hazing really looks like at Texas A&M, Texas Tech, West Texas A&M, and other schools where Panhandle students enroll.
• How Texas law protects victims and holds organizations accountable, both criminally and civilly.
• The real-world outcomes of major hazing cases nationwide and what they mean for Texas families.
• The specific landscape at Texas universities, including the ongoing Leonel Bermudez vs. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi case that we are actively litigating.
• Your legal options and practical steps if hazing has impacted your family.

We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911), Texas-based legal emergency lawyers specializing in complex litigation against powerful institutions. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including those in Claude and the Panhandle region. This article provides general information, not specific legal advice. Every case is unique, and we invite you to contact us for a confidential evaluation of your specific situation.

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:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek evaluation. Injuries like rhabdomyolysis (as in the UH case) or internal trauma may not be immediately apparent.
2. Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted:
   • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), texts, and social media DMs.
   • Photograph injuries from multiple angles with good lighting.
   • Save physical items (soiled clothing, paddles, receipts for alcohol).
3. Write Everything Down: Document who, what, when, and where while memories are fresh.
4. DO NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
   • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
   • Post details on public social media.
   • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney. Evidence vanishes quickly. We can help secure it and protect your family’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: It’s More Than “Just Partying”

For parents in Claude who may not be familiar with modern campus culture, hazing has evolved far beyond silly pranks. It is a systematic process of coercion, control, and abuse designed to test loyalty through suffering. Under Texas law, hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation with a group.

The Three Tiers of Modern Hazing

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing – The Gateway
This establishes power imbalance and seems “harmless.” It includes forced servitude (cleaning houses, running all-hour errands), carrying degrading “pledge packs” (as in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case), social isolation, and mandatory events that interfere with academics. Digitally, it manifests as 24/7 group chat monitoring, required location sharing, and social media policing.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing – Escalation
This causes clear discomfort and harm. It includes sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, verbal abuse, and forced physical activity beyond safe limits (“smokings,” endless calisthenics). Public humiliation, like being forced to wear degrading costumes or perform embarrassing acts, is common. In the UH case, this included forced dress codes, overnight chauffeuring duties, and lying in vomit-soaked grass.

Tier 3: Violent Hazing – Catastrophic Risk
These acts have high potential for severe injury or death. This tier includes:

• Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights, lineup drinking games, chugging contests. This is the most common cause of hazing deaths nationwide.
• Physical Assault: Paddling, beatings, “glass ceiling” tackling rituals, dangerous physical tests.
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexual assault.
• Extreme Environmental Exposure: Being locked in freezing rooms, left outside in extreme weather.

In the Leonel Bermudez case, Tier 3 violence was stark: forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting; being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”; and a Nov. 3 workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats that directly led to his kidney failure.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond the Frat House

While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing permeates many groups:

• Fraternities & Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural)
• Corps of Cadets and ROTC programs
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading)
• Spirit & Tradition Organizations (like Texas A&M’s Corps units or spirit groups)
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups
• Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Clubs

The common thread is a dynamic where older members wield power over new members, using “tradition” to justify abuse, and enforce a code of silence that prevents reporting.

Texas Law & Liability: The Legal Framework for Accountability

Understanding the law is the first step to understanding your rights. Texas has specific statutes, and federal law adds another layer of protection and obligation.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37)

The Core Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, or affiliation with a group, that:

1. Endangers the physical health or safety of the student (e.g., beating, forced drinking, extreme exercise), OR
2. Adversely affects the mental health or safety of the student (e.g., severe humiliation, intimidation).

Key Provisions for Claude Families:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. If it causes “serious bodily injury,” it becomes a state jail felony. Causing death elevates it further.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it is still hazing under Texas law. Courts recognize that consent under peer pressure and power imbalance is not valid.
• Organizational Liability (§37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 if it authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154): A person who reports hazing in good faith to authorities is immune from civil or criminal liability for that report. Many universities also have medical amnesty policies to encourage calling 911.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Justice

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by: The State of Texas (prosecutor).
• Goal: Punishment (jail, fines, probation).
• Charges: Hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to a minor, manslaughter in fatal cases.
• Outcome: A conviction can punish individuals but rarely provides compensation to victims.

Civil Lawsuits:

• Brought by: Victims and their families.
• Goal: Compensation for damages and institutional accountability.
• Claims: Negligence, gross negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, intentional infliction of emotional distress.
• Outcome: Financial recovery for medical bills, pain and suffering, and future care. Civil discovery can also force institutions to reveal what they knew and when.

These paths can run simultaneously. A criminal conviction can strengthen a civil case, but you do not need a criminal conviction to file a successful civil lawsuit.

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

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault (including sexualized hazing rituals), schools have a duty to investigate and address it under federal Title IX regulations.
• Clery Act: Requires colleges to report certain crimes, including assaults and liquor/drug law violations, which often overlap with hazing incidents.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently and maintain public hazing data by 2026, increasing institutional accountability.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

A thorough investigation identifies all responsible parties, which may include:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, carried out, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As a legal entity, it can be sued for creating a dangerous environment.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: They can be liable for negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, and having knowledge of prior incidents (a key element in our UH Pi Kappa Phi case).
4. The University: Public (like UH, Texas A&M) and private (like SMU, Baylor) schools can be sued for negligent supervision, premises liability, or violating duties under Title IX. Public universities have some sovereign immunity, but exceptions exist for gross negligence.
5. Third Parties: Property owners (of off-campus houses), landlords, alcohol providers (under dram shop laws), and security companies.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts That Keep Repeating

The tragic cases below are not just news stories; they are legal precedents that show patterns of foreseeable harm. National fraternities and universities have seen these scripts before.

The Alcohol Poisoning Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A bid-acceptance night of extreme drinking led to fatal falls captured on chapter cameras. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case resulted in dozens of criminal charges and spurred Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant forced drinking. Gruver died with a 0.495% BAC. The case led to Louisiana’s felony hazing statute, the Max Gruver Act.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): A “Big/Little” night where Foltz was forced to drink a bottle of liquor. He died of alcohol poisoning. His family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU). The chapter president was later ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): A “Big Brother” night with a handle of liquor led to fatal alcohol poisoning. The case caused FSU to suspend all Greek life temporarily.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): At a retreat, Deng was blindfolded, weighted down, and repeatedly tackled in a “glass ceiling” ritual. He died of traumatic brain injury. The national fraternity was criminally convicted of manslaughter and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): An 18-year-old pledge suffered permanent, severe brain damage from alcohol poisoning during a “pledge dad reveal” night. His family settled with 22 defendants for confidential, multi-million-dollar amounts. He now requires 24/7 lifelong care.

The Texas Connection: Why These Cases Matter Here

The same national organizations involved in these tragedies—Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon—have active chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, and Baylor. When a Texas chapter engages in similar conduct, the national organization cannot claim ignorance. This pattern evidence is crucial in proving they had prior notice and a duty to prevent predictable harm.

Texas University Focus: Where Panhandle Students Study

Families in Claude and Armstrong County often send students to regional schools like West Texas A&M University in nearby Canyon, as well as major hubs like Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas Tech University in Lubbock, and the University of Houston. Understanding each campus’s specific landscape is vital.

The Flagship Case: University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi

The Active Litigation: Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi

Right now, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. This is not a historical example; it is active, current proof of the brutal reality of Texas hazing and our firm’s commitment to holding institutions accountable.

• The Victim: Leonel Bermudez, a Fall 2025 transfer student and Pi Kappa Phi pledge.
• The Hazing: A regime of degradation and violence including:
  • A mandatory “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms, a sex toy, and nicotine devices.
  • Enforced dress codes, overnight chauffeuring, and weekly interviews.
  • Extreme physical abuse: sprints, bear crawls, cold-weather exposure in underwear, lying in vomit, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.”
  • Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.
  • The Nov. 3 workout: 100+ push-ups, 500 squats under threat of expulsion.
• The Injury: Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, could not stand, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels. He faces a risk of permanent kidney damage.
• The Defendants: The $10 million lawsuit names the University of Houston, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders (president, pledgemaster, risk manager, etc.).
• The Institutional Response: On Nov. 6, 2025, Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended the chapter. On Nov. 14, members voted to surrender their charter, shutting it down. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary action and cooperation with law enforcement.

This case demonstrates the multi-defendant approach necessary in serious hazing litigation: suing not just the individuals, but the national organization that failed to supervise and the university that failed to protect.

UH’s Greek Ecosystem & Resources for Parents:
UH has a large, diverse Greek community. For parents, key reporting channels are the Dean of Students Office, UHPD, and the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life. Public records requests and litigation discovery can uncover prior incidents involving the same organizations.

Texas A&M University & The Corps of Cadets

For many in the Panhandle, Texas A&M is a primary destination. Its Greek life and Corps of Cadets culture carry specific hazing risks.

Documented Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged they were doused with industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. They sued for $1 million and the chapter was suspended.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth. He sought over $1 million in damages.
• Ongoing Rhabdomyolysis Investigations: There have been allegations of extreme physical hazing at A&M leading to rhabdomyolysis, the same life-threatening condition suffered by Leonel Bermudez at UH.

The A&M Context: The Corps’ tradition-heavy environment and the scale of Greek life require specialized understanding. Cases may involve Texas A&M University Police Department and the Student Conduct Office. The university’s sovereign immunity as a public institution is a hurdle, but one that experienced counsel knows how to navigate.

West Texas A&M University (Canyon, TX)

As the closest major university to Claude, WTAMU is where many local students enroll. It has an active Greek system and its own history of disciplinary incidents.

Local Greek Life & Oversight: WTAMU’s Greek organizations are subject to Texas hazing law and university policy. Incidents would typically involve the WTAMU Office of Student Conduct and the Canyon Police Department or Randall County Sheriff. For Claude families, the legal venue would likely be in Randall County.

Panhandle-Specific Considerations: The closer-knit community can sometimes increase pressure to stay silent. Having experienced, outside counsel from a firm like ours can provide the necessary support and objectivity to pursue accountability.

Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)

Another major destination for Panhandle students, Texas Tech has a large Greek system. National organizations with hazing histories, like Kappa Sigma and Sigma Alpha Epsilon, have chapters there.

Legal Venue: Hazing cases involving Texas Tech would typically be litigated in Lubbock County. The university, as part of the Texas Tech University System, is a public institution with associated sovereign immunity considerations.

University of Texas at Austin & Southern Methodist University

While farther from Claude, UT Austin and SMU in Dallas are where some Texas students head. UT is notable for its relatively transparent public hazing violations log, which sanctions organizations for everything from forced drinking to dangerous physical rituals. SMU, as a private university, has different procedural rules and potentially deeper insurance pockets.

The Greek Organization Backbone: Public Records & National Histories

When we take a hazing case, our investigation starts with data. We maintain a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine built from public records to map the organizational landscape. This is not guesswork; it’s how we identify every potentially liable entity behind a chapter.

The Texas Greek Organization Public Records Directory

Below is a sample from our proprietary directory of Texas-registered fraternity, sorority, and Greek-letter organizations, compiled from IRS filings (B83 codes) and other public data. This illustrates the complex network of house corporations, alumni chapters, and national entities that exist behind the letters—and that may carry insurance or liability.

Sample Texas Greek Organization Entities (Public Records):

• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 746064445, Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 filing)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc., EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc., EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 filing)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, EIN 237279532, Prairie View, TX 77446 (IRS B83 filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M University Chapter, EIN 900293166, College Station, TX 77843 (IRS B83 filing)
• Chi Omega Fraternity, EIN 740555581, Austin, TX 78705 (IRS B83 filing – house corporation)
• Frank Heflin Foundation (Phi Delta Theta alumni), EIN 203507402, Canyon, TX 79015 (IRS B83 filing – linked to WTAMU)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, EIN 364091267, Waco, TX 76710 (IRS B83 filing)

This data allows us to trace connections from a local chapter to its national headquarters, housing corporation, and alumni support networks—all potential sources of recovery and accountability.

Why National Histories Create Legal Liability

A national fraternity that has seen deaths at other campuses cannot plausibly claim ignorance when the same pattern emerges at a Texas chapter. This establishes foreseeability, a cornerstone of negligence law. For example:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) has a national history of alcohol hazing deaths (Stone Foltz, David Bogenberger).
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) has faced dozens of hazing lawsuits nationwide, including traumatic brain injury and severe burn cases.
• Pi Kappa Phi had the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State before the Bermudez case at UH.

In litigation, we subpoena the national organization’s records to show their knowledge of prior incidents, the adequacy (or inadequacy) of their prevention training, and their failure to supervise the local chapter. This can overcome defenses and support claims for punitive damages.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Winning a hazing case requires a meticulous, strategic approach from the first moment. This is where our experience in complex litigation against billion-dollar defendants (like in the BP Texas City explosion cases) directly applies.

Critical Evidence Collection

Evidence in modern hazing cases is often digital and ephemeral. Preservation is key.

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and Instagram/Snapchat DMs. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages.
2. Photos & Videos: Content filmed by participants, doorbell/security camera footage, social media posts and stories.
3. Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” scripts, emails between officers, national risk management policies.
4. University Records: Prior conduct violations, Clery Act reports, internal investigation files (obtained through discovery or public records requests).
5. Medical Records: Documenting the direct physical and psychological harm is crucial. This includes ER reports, lab results (like CK levels for rhabdomyolysis), and psychiatric evaluations for PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and RAs.

Recoverable Damages in a Hazing Case

The law allows victims to seek compensation for their full range of losses:

• Economic Damages:
  • All past and future medical expenses (ER, hospitalization, surgery, therapy, medications).
  • Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity (if injuries cause permanent disability).
  • Educational costs (lost tuition, missed semesters, transfer expenses).
• Non-Economic Damages:
  • Physical pain and suffering.
  • Mental anguish, emotional distress, humiliation, and PTSD.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families):
  • Funeral and burial costs.
  • Loss of companionship, love, and financial support.
  • Parents’ and siblings’ emotional suffering.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of particularly reckless or malicious conduct, courts can award damages to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

Settlements in severe injury or death cases regularly reach millions of dollars, as seen in the Foltz ($10M), Gruver ($6.1M), and Santulli (confidential multi-million dollar) cases.

Overcoming Common Institutional Defenses

We anticipate and dismantle the standard defenses:

• “The Victim Consented”: Texas law (§37.155) explicitly states consent is not a defense. We demonstrate the coercive power imbalance.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter / We Didn’t Know”: We use national pattern evidence and prior incident reports to prove the national organization and university had constructive knowledge.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: Liability is based on duty and control, not strictly property lines. Nationals and universities that sponsor and supervise organizations remain responsible.
• “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”: We show the gap between paper policies and actual enforcement, proving negligent supervision.
• “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”: We argue that the organization’s failure to supervise was negligent, which is typically covered, and we identify all available insurance policies.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Claude Families

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

1. Recognize the Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight changes.
• Sudden secrecy about group activities, withdrawal from family/friends.
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Financial requests for unexplained “fines” or “dues.”

2. Have the Conversation:

• Ask open, non-judgmental questions: “Is anything about your new group making you uncomfortable?” “Do you feel safe?”
• Listen without immediately reacting. Validate their feelings.

3. If Hazing is Confirmed – ACT:

• Medical First: Prioritize health. Get a full medical evaluation and explain the cause to doctors.
• Preserve Evidence: Follow the 48-hour checklist at the top of this guide.
• Report Strategically: You can report to campus police, the Dean of Students, and local law enforcement. Consult with an attorney first to understand the implications.
• Consult a Lawyer Early: Before giving formal statements or signing anything from the university.

For Students: Your Rights & Safety

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: No tradition justifies abuse.
• “Consent” is Not a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card: For the organization or its members.
• You Can Report Anonymously: Use campus hotlines or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE).
• Good Faith Reporter Protections Exist: Texas law and most school policies protect those who call for help in an emergency, even if underage drinking was involved.
• Exiting Safely: If you want to quit, do so in writing (email/text) and inform a trusted adult outside the group first. Do not attend “one last meeting.”

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Hazing Case

1. Deleting Digital Evidence: It looks like a cover-up and destroys your best proof.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers their defense lawyers and evidence destruction.
3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms: These often contain waivers of your right to sue.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense teams scour social media for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, and the 2-year Texas statute of limitations passes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue a public university like Texas A&M or UT for hazing?
A: Yes, but with challenges. Public universities have sovereign immunity, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, or when suing individual employees in their personal capacity. The strategic approach is critical.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death is generally two years from the date of injury or death. However, complexities like the “discovery rule” or fraudulent concealment by the defendants can affect this. Do not delay.

Q: Will our case be public?
A: Most civil hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. We can negotiate for private settlements and sealed records to protect your family’s privacy.

Q: What if the hazing happened at an off-campus house or Airbnb?
A: Location does not defeat liability. The university and national organization can still be responsible based on their sponsorship and control over the group. The property owner may also be liable.

About The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911: Why Choose Us for Your Hazing Case

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who know how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win.

Our Unique Qualifications for Texas Hazing Litigation

1. Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our associate attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value claims, deploy delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. We know their playbook because we used to run it.

2. Proven Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas lawyers involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by national fraternities, university regents, or their high-priced defense teams. We’ve taken on the biggest and won.

3. Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation: We are not theorizing. We are currently lead counsel in the $10 million Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit, one of the most serious active hazing cases in the country. This is our daily work.

4. Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand criminal hazing charges and how they interact with civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise witnesses or victims who may have dual exposure.

5. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We don’t start from scratch. We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,400 Texas Greek organizations, their IRS filings, and national histories. We know how to find every potentially liable entity behind a chapter.

6. A Network of Essential Experts: We work with digital forensics specialists to recover deleted messages, medical experts to detail lifelong injuries, economists to calculate lost earning capacity, and psychologists to document trauma. We build unassailable cases.

7. Empathetic, Victim-Centered Advocacy: We know this is the most painful experience a family can endure. Our mission is to get you answers, secure the resources needed for recovery, and force the changes necessary to protect the next student from Claude, from Canyon, from anywhere.

We Serve Families Across Texas, Including Claude and the Panhandle

We are a Texas-based firm with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. While our physical offices are hours away, our legal reach covers the entire state. We regularly represent families from communities like yours, navigating the complex legal systems in College Station, Lubbock, Canyon, and beyond. Distance is no barrier to dedicated, effective representation.

Take the First Step Toward Accountability Today

If hazing has hurt your child and your family, silence helps only those responsible. You have the right to answers, to recovery, and to ensuring this doesn’t happen to another student.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.

In your consultation, we will:

• Listen to your story with compassion and without judgment.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal options clearly and honestly.
• Discuss the realistic timeline, process, and potential outcomes.
• Answer all your questions about costs—we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.
• Give you the space and information you need to make the best decision for your family.

You are not alone. Let us help you fight back.

Call Us Now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)

Direct Line: (713) 528-9070 | 24/7 Cell: (713) 443-4781

Email: ralph@atty911.com | Website: https://attorney911.com

Spanish-Speaking Services Available: Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

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

• Click2Houston Report: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/
• ABC13 Coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Using Your Cellphone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas Statutes of Limitations Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case: 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

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Hazing laws and policies are complex and continually evolving. Every case is unique. If you believe you or your child has been a victim of hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified attorney to discuss the specific facts of your situation. Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a confidential consultation.