🛡️ Hazing Victims in Cochran County, Texas: Your Legal Rights and How Attorney 911 Can Help
Hazing Doesn’t Stop at State Lines — Neither Does Justice
Cochran County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. They trust universities and Greek organizations to provide a positive experience — not to subject them to torture, abuse, and life-threatening rituals.
But the reality is stark: hazing happens at universities near Cochran County, Texas. The same fraternities that waterboarded a student at the University of Houston have chapters across Texas. The same negligence that led to a $10 million lawsuit in Houston exists at institutions near Cochran County.
You are not alone. Our attorneys are fighting this battle right now — and we will fight for Cochran County families with the same fury.
🚨 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Cochran County
The Case That Proves Hazing is Systematic — Not Isolated
On November 21, 2025, Attorney 911 filed a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a young man who was hospitalized with severe rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure after weeks of brutal hazing.
This wasn’t an accident. This was torture.
What They Did to Him:
- Waterboarded with a garden hose — simulated drowning, a war crime when used on enemy combatants
- Forced to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed and couldn’t stand
- Struck with wooden paddles — physical assault with a weapon
- Forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting — then made to keep running
- Threatened with expulsion if he stopped or complained
- Another pledge lost consciousness during a workout — they kept going
The Result:
- 3 nights, 4 days in the hospital with kidney failure
- Brown urine — his muscles were breaking down
- Couldn’t walk or move for days
- Permanent health risks — chronic kidney disease, potential need for dialysis or transplant
The Defendants Knew — And Did Nothing
- Pi Kappa Phi National knew about a “hazing crisis” and failed to enforce their own anti-hazing policies
- University of Houston owned the fraternity house where the torture occurred — they collected rent while students were abused
- UH had a prior hazing hospitalization in 2017 — they knew this could happen again and did nothing
They’re Already Planning to Come Back
Pi Kappa Phi’s official statement after closing the UH chapter:
“We look forward to returning to campus at the appropriate time.”
No remorse. No accountability. Just waiting for this to blow over so they can do it again.
⚖️ Cochran County Families: You Have Legal Rights
Hazing is Illegal in Texas — Consent Doesn’t Matter
Texas has strict anti-hazing laws (Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157). Consent is not a defense. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, the law says:
“It is not a defense to prosecution that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”
Hazing is a crime in Texas:
- Class B Misdemeanor — up to 180 days in jail, $2,000 fine
- Class A Misdemeanor if it causes serious bodily injury — up to 1 year in jail, $4,000 fine
- State Jail Felony if it causes death — up to 2 years in jail, $10,000 fine
But criminal charges aren’t enough. Criminal cases focus on punishment, not compensation. Civil lawsuits allow victims and families to pursue justice, hold institutions accountable, and recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and long-term harm.
💰 Hazing Cases Win Millions — Cochran County Victims Can Too
Precedent Cases Prove It
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | Settlement | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | Jury Verdict | $6.1 million |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | Settlement | $110+ million |
| Adam Oakes | Virginia Commonwealth | Delta Chi | Settlement | $4+ million |
These aren’t just numbers. These are messages.
Our $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and UH is directly in line with these precedents. And Cochran County families can achieve the same results.
🏛️ Who Can Be Held Liable in Cochran County Hazing Cases?
Everyone Who Allowed It to Happen
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Fraternity Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| National Fraternity Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about “hazing crisis” |
| Fraternity Housing Corporation | Owned/controlled property where hazing occurred |
| University | Failed to protect students; may own fraternity property |
| Individual Members | Participated in hazing; failed to stop it |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their homes |
In our UH case, we’re suing:
- Pi Kappa Phi National
- The local UH chapter
- The housing corporation
- University of Houston (they owned the house)
- The fraternity president
- The pledgemaster
- Current and former members
- A former member and his spouse (hazing occurred at their home)
Cochran County families can pursue the same defendants.
📋 What Should Cochran County Families Do If Their Child Was Hazed?
Immediate Action Steps
| Step | Action | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seek medical attention | Document injuries; rhabdomyolysis and alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening |
| 2 | Preserve all evidence | Texts, GroupMe chats, photos, videos, witness names |
| 3 | Do NOT talk to the fraternity or university alone | They will try to control the narrative and minimize your claim |
| 4 | Do NOT post on social media | Anything you post can be used against you |
| 5 | Contact an attorney immediately | Evidence disappears fast; statutes of limitations apply |
| 6 | Consider filing a police report | Hazing is a crime in Texas; criminal + civil cases can run parallel |
🎯 Why Cochran County Families Choose Attorney 911
We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now — And We’ll Fight for You
1. We’re Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Case
- Plaintiff: Leonel Bermudez (hospitalized with kidney failure)
- Defendants: Pi Kappa Phi, University of Houston, individuals
- Status: Filed November 21, 2025 — active litigation
- Media Coverage: ABC13, KHOU 11, Houston Chronicle, Houston Public Media
Cochran County families get the same aggressive representation we’re bringing to Houston.
2. Former Insurance Defense Attorneys — We Know Their Playbook
- Ralph Manginello — former insurance defense attorney
- Lupe Pena — former attorney at Litchfield Cavo LLP, a national insurance defense firm
- We know how insurance companies think, strategize, and try to deny claims
- We use that knowledge to dismantle their defenses and maximize your recovery
3. Federal Court Authority — We Can Pursue Your Case Anywhere
- Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- Dual-state bar admission — Texas AND New York
- We serve hazing victims nationwide, including Cochran County
- We will travel to Cochran County for depositions, trials, and client meetings
4. Proven Track Record of Multi-Million Dollar Results
- BP Texas City explosion litigation — experience with complex, high-stakes cases
- $10 million hazing lawsuit — currently litigating
- Numerous multi-million dollar settlements in personal injury cases
- Hundreds of cases won by exposing flawed evidence
5. We Work on Contingency — $0 Upfront for Cochran County Families
- No attorney fees unless we win your case
- No hourly billing — we take the risk, not you
- Level playing field — now you can fight back against institutions with deep pockets
6. Bilingual Representation — Se Habla Español
- Fluent Spanish speakers on staff
- Comprehensive legal services in Spanish
- Eliminate language barriers to justice
7. We Understand the Culture — And How to Fight It
- Ralph Manginello — former athlete, youth coach, understands team dynamics
- We know Greek life culture — the pressure, the loyalty, the fear of speaking out
- We’ve seen what fraternities do to kids — and we know how to stop it
📞 Cochran County Families: Call Us Now — Free Consultation
Hazing is a Legal Emergency. We Respond 24/7.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com
We offer:
- Free, confidential case evaluation
- Video consultations for Cochran County families
- Immediate response — we know time is critical
- Aggressive representation — we don’t back down from institutions
🔥 To Fraternities Near Cochran County: We Are Watching
The Same Legal Strategies That Secured $10+ Million Verdicts Nationwide Apply to Your Chapter
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — if your chapter operates near Cochran County, know this:
- We track your house corporations — EINs, legal names, addresses
- We track your national organizations — assets, insurance, prior incidents
- We know your “traditions” — and we know they’re illegal
- We’ve beaten you before — and we’ll do it again
The Beta Nu chapter at University of Houston? SHUT DOWN.
Charter surrendered. Criminal referrals initiated. $10 million lawsuit ongoing.
That’s what happens when you haze in Texas.
Your chapter could be next.
🏆 Cochran County Families: You Deserve Justice
Hazing isn’t “boys being boys.” It isn’t “tradition.” It isn’t “building brotherhood.”
It’s abuse. It’s assault. It’s torture. And it’s illegal.
You have the right to:
- Hold the people who hurt your child accountable
- Recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and long-term harm
- Prevent this from happening to another Cochran County family
We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. And we are fighting for you.
Call us now. The clock is ticking.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | 📧 ralph@atty911.com | 🌐 attorney911.com
