The Definitive Guide to Fraternity & Sorority Hazing in Texas: A Resource for De Kalb, Bowie County Families

The De Kalb Parent’s Nightmare: When Campus “Tradition” Turns to Trauma

It’s late on a fall semester night. Your phone buzzes with a call from your son or daughter at college—maybe at Texas A&M University in College Station, a few hours south of De Kalb, or perhaps at the University of Texas at Tyler, closer to home in East Texas. Their voice is strained, hesitant. They talk about “mandatory events” that keep them out until 3 AM, about being exhausted, about feeling pressured. They mention sore muscles from “workouts” or stomach issues from something they were told to eat. As a parent in De Kalb, Bowie County, your protective instincts flare. You suspect something is wrong, but your child clams up, saying, “It’s just how it is. Everyone does it. I don’t want to get them in trouble.”

This scenario is unfolding in dorm rooms, fraternity houses, and Corps dormitories across Texas right now. Hazing—the systematic abuse masked as tradition—is not a relic of the past. It is a present, evolving danger that preys on young people’s desire to belong. And when it causes injury, the aftermath leaves families in communities like De Kalb grappling with medical bills, trauma, and institutions that often prioritize their reputation over student safety.

We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD, operating as Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™. Right now, we are leading one of the most serious hazing litigation cases in Texas: representing Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, its Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. This case, detailed in recent Click2Houston and ABC13 reports, involves allegations of extreme physical hazing that led to Bermudez developing rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization. This is happening here in Texas, to Texas students, right now.

This guide is written for you—parents, families, and students in De Kalb and across Bowie County. Whether your child attends a local university like Texas A&M University-Texarkana, a major state hub like Texas A&M in College Station, or any campus in between, you deserve to understand the reality of modern hazing, the legal landscape in Texas, and the path to accountability. We will demystify what hazing looks like in 2025, explain Texas and federal law, examine patterns at major Texas universities, and outline how experienced legal counsel can help families navigate this crisis.

Immediate Help for a Hazing Emergency in De Kalb

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• 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: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek a professional medical evaluation. Injuries like rhabdomyolysis (seen in the UH case) or internal trauma may not be immediately apparent.
• Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted:
  • Screenshot all relevant group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), texts, and social media DMs immediately.
  • Photograph any visible injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save any physical items (specific clothing, props, receipts).
• Document Everything: Write down a detailed account of what happened, including names, dates, times, and locations, while memories are fresh.
• DO NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
  • Sign any documents from the university or an insurance company.
  • Post details about the incident on public social media.
  • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” digital evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24-48 hours. Evidence disappears rapidly. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a confidential, immediate consultation.

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

For parents in De Kalb who may not be familiar with the modern dynamics of Greek life or campus organizations, the term “hazing” might conjure images of harmless pranks or isolated incidents. The reality in 2025 is far more systematic, psychologically complex, and often digitally enabled. 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 critical element is that the act endangers the student’s physical health or safety or causes severe mental distress.

The Modern Taxonomy of Hazing

Hazing today is categorized into three escalating tiers, each with its own evolutions designed to evade detection.

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing (The “Gateway”)
This establishes power imbalances under the guise of tradition. It includes forced servitude (being an “on-call” driver, cleaning members’ apartments), social isolation from non-members, being assigned derogatory nicknames, and mandatory attendance at events that interfere with academics. In 2025, this includes digital control: mandatory 24/7 monitoring of group chats, required location-sharing via apps like Find My Friends, and social media policing.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing
This causes emotional or physical discomfort and creates an abusive environment. It includes sleep deprivation through late-night “meetings,” verbal abuse and humiliation, food/water restriction, and forced physical activity beyond safe limits (“smokings” or extreme calisthenics). The modern evolution involves digital humiliation: forced participation in embarrassing TikTok challenges, creating degrading memes shared in private group chats, or being coerced into livestreaming humiliating acts.

Tier 3: Violent Hazing
These are acts with a high potential for severe injury, sexual assault, or death. This remains the most dangerous category and includes:

• Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” reveal nights with handles of liquor, drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mandate drinking, lineups, and keg stands far beyond safety.
• Physical Assault: Paddling, beatings, “glass ceiling” or blindfolded tackle rituals, forced fights, and dangerous physical “tests.”
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexual assault, or coercion.
• Dangerous Environments: Exposure to extreme cold/heat, kidnapping/restraint, or forced consumption of harmful substances.

The horrific details alleged in the University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi case—including forced overconsumption of milk and hot dogs leading to vomiting followed by sprints, and being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”—are stark examples of Tier 3 violent hazing.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond the Frat House

While fraternities and sororities are frequent settings, hazing is an institutional problem across campus life:

• Fraternities & Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural Greek Councils)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / Military-Style Groups
• Athletic Teams (from football and basketball to cheer and swimming)
• Spirit & Tradition Organizations (like the Texas Cowboys or A&M’s Ross Volunteers)
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups
• Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Clubs

The culture of secrecy, tradition, and social status keeps these practices alive, even when every member “knows” hazing is illegal. For a student from De Kalb seeking community hours from home, the pressure to conform can be overwhelming.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas Statutes and Federal Overlays

Understanding the legal rules is crucial for De Kalb families considering their options. Texas has specific laws, and federal statutes create additional layers of potential liability for universities and national organizations.

Texas Hazing Law: Education Code Chapter 37

The Texas legislature has defined hazing and attached criminal penalties. Key provisions include:

• Definition (§37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in an organization that endangers the student’s physical health or safety or causes severe mental distress. Consent of the victim is not a defense.
• Criminal Penalties (§37.152):
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
  • It is also a crime to fail to report hazing if you are an officer or member with knowledge.
• Organizational Liability (§37.153): The organization itself (fraternity, sorority, team) can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing, or if an officer knew and failed to report it.
• Immunity for Reporting (§37.154): A person who in good faith reports hazing to university officials or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability that might arise from the report. This is critical—it protects bystanders who call 911.

For De Kalb families, this means the act is a crime under Texas law regardless of where it occurred. A hazing incident at Texas A&M in College Station is under Texas jurisdiction.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

It’s vital to distinguish between the two legal tracks that may proceed simultaneously.

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by: The State of Texas (via local or campus police and a district attorney).
• Goal: Punishment of the perpetrators (jail time, fines, probation).
• Charges: Can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, assault, battery, and in fatal cases, manslaughter or negligent homicide.

Civil Cases:

• Brought by: The injured student or their family (through attorneys like ours).
• Goal: Financial compensation for damages and institutional accountability.
• Claims: Can include negligence, gross negligence, negligent supervision, premises liability, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and wrongful death.

A criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. The burden of proof is different (“beyond a reasonable doubt” in criminal court vs. “preponderance of the evidence” in civil court). Often, the civil discovery process uncovers evidence crucial to the criminal case, and vice-versa.

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

National frameworks add another layer of potential liability, especially for universities.

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents, strengthen prevention education, and maintain transparent hazing data. Full implementation is phased in by 2026.
• Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based hostility, a university’s Title IX obligations are triggered. Universities can be liable for “deliberate indifference” to known harassment.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crime statistics. Hazing incidents that involve assault, burglary, or alcohol/drug crimes may be Clery-reportable, and failure to report can lead to fines.

The Web of Liability: Who Can Be Held Responsible?

In a civil hazing lawsuit, multiple parties may share liability, creating a stronger case for recovery.

1. Individual Perpetrators: The students who planned, executed, or supplied alcohol for the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The fraternity, sorority, or club as an entity (if incorporated).
3. The National Organization: The fraternity/sorority headquarters that sets policies, collects dues, and supervises chapters. Their liability hinges on what they knew or should have known based on prior incidents at other chapters—a concept called “foreseeability.”
4. The University: The school or its board of regents may be liable for negligent supervision, premises liability, or deliberate indifference under Title IX. Public universities (like UH, Texas A&M, UT) have some “sovereign immunity” protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence.
5. Third Parties: Property owners of off-campus houses, bars that furnished alcohol (under Texas dram shop law), or security companies.

The Bermudez lawsuit exemplifies this, naming 13 individual members, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents. This comprehensive approach ensures all potentially responsible entities are held accountable.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts That Repeat in Texas

Tragic hazing deaths and severe injuries follow disturbingly predictable patterns. Understanding these national cases is not academic; it shows Texas courts and juries that the conduct alleged in local cases was foreseeable and preventable. These patterns directly inform the strategies we use for families in De Kalb and across Texas.

The Alcohol Poisoning Death Pattern

This is the most common fatal hazing script, repeated for decades.

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A bid-acceptance night with forced drinking led to fatal falls. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case resulted in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania and numerous criminal convictions.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): A pledge was forced to drink nearly a full bottle of liquor during a “Big/Little” event and died of alcohol poisoning. The case settled for $10 million total ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from the university). The chapter president was later held personally liable for $6.5 million.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers mandated drinking led to a fatal BAC of 0.495%. The Max Gruver Act made hazing a felony in Louisiana.

What this means for De Kalb families: The “Big/Little” drinking night is not a unique tradition; it’s a known, deadly national pattern. When a Texas chapter replicates it, the national organization cannot claim ignorance.

Physical and Ritualized Hazing Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): A pledge was blindfolded, weighted with a backpack, and repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat, suffering fatal head injuries. The national fraternity was criminally convicted of aggravated assault and manslaughter and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): Forced drinking during a “pledge dad reveal” caused catastrophic, permanent brain damage. The family settled with 22 defendants, illustrating the multi-party liability in severe injury cases.

Athletic and Institutional Hazing

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Allegations of widespread sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements. This proves hazing is endemic in high-profile, revenue-generating sports programs, not just Greek life.

These national precedents create a legal landscape where universities and national fraternities are on clear notice. When similar conduct occurs at a Texas school, plaintiffs can argue the defendants were negligent because they failed to prevent a known, foreseeable danger.

Texas University Focus: Where De Kalb Families Send Their Students

For parents in De Kalb and Bowie County, your child’s university may be a local institution, a major state flagship, or a private school. Hazing risks exist across this spectrum. Our firm maintains detailed intelligence on the Greek ecosystems and hazing histories at these campuses—intelligence we use to build powerful cases.

The Local and Regional Connection: Texas A&M University-Texarkana

For many De Kalb families, the most accessible four-year university is Texas A&M University-Texarkana, located just across the county line in Bowie County’s twin city. While a commuter-focused campus, it is part of the Texas A&M System and may develop student organizations with associated risks. Any investigations or incidents here would involve local Texarkana authorities and the university’s own conduct process. Families in De Kalb should be aware that hazing is prohibited under the same Texas A&M System rules that apply to the flagship campus.

Major Texas Universities: Patterns and Precedents

De Kalb students often attend larger universities across the state. Here is what our investigation and publicly available data reveal about hazing at these hubs.

University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

UT Austin maintains one of the most transparent hazing disclosure systems in the country via its public online hazing violations log.

• Culture Snapshot: A massive Greek life scene alongside hundreds of student organizations. The university’s size can make oversight challenging.
• Documented Incidents: The public log shows repeated sanctions. For example, the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter was placed on probation in 2023 for directing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Other spirit groups like the Texas Wranglers have faced sanctions for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.
• Legal Logistics for De Kalb Families: A case here would involve the UT Police Department, the Travis County District Attorney for criminal matters, and potential civil filings in Travis County courts. UT’s public violation log is a powerful tool for plaintiffs, as it documents prior knowledge and patterns.

Texas A&M University (College Station)

The culture of tradition at Texas A&M is profound, extending deeply into the Corps of Cadets and a large Greek system.

• Culture Snapshot: A powerful combination of Corps tradition and robust Greek life. The “Aggie family” culture can sometimes pressure students to endure abuse to prove loyalty.
• Documented Incidents:
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) – Chemical Burns Lawsuit (2021): Pledges alleged they were doused with substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The pledges sued for $1 million and the chapter was suspended.
  • Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth. He sought over $1 million in damages.
• Legal Logistics for De Kalb Families: Cases involve Texas A&M University Police, the Brazos County District Attorney, and Brazos County courts. The university and the Corps have internal adjudication processes, but these do not preclude civil action.

University of Houston (UH) – The Flagship Active Case

The ongoing Bermudez case provides a current, severe example of hazing at a major Texas urban university.

• Culture Snapshot: A large, diverse commuter and residential campus with active Greek life across multiple councils (IFC, NPHC, Multicultural).
• The Bermudez Case: As reported by Click2Houston and ABC13, the alleged hazing of Leonel Bermudez by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter included:
  • A humiliating “pledge fanny pack” rule.
  • Extreme physical workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park.
  • Forced overconsumption of food leading to vomiting.
  • Being sprayed with a hose “similar to waterboarding.”
  • The result was rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, with brown urine and a four-day hospitalization.
• Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi nationals suspended the chapter on Nov 6, 2025, and members voted to surrender their charter on Nov 14, 2025. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”
• Legal Logistics: This active lawsuit is proceeding in Harris County courts. It demonstrates the firm’s current, high-stakes engagement in Texas hazing litigation.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

These private universities have significant Greek life but different cultural and reporting contexts.

• SMU: An affluent student body with strong Greek ties. Past incidents include the Kappa Alpha Order chapter being suspended in 2017 for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation. As a private institution, SMU has less public reporting but is still subject to Texas hazing law and federal statutes.
• Baylor: Still rebuilding trust after prior institutional scandals. The university suspended 14 baseball players in 2020 following a hazing investigation. Its religious affiliation does not shield it from civil liability for negligent supervision.

For a De Kalb family with a student at any of these schools, the path forward involves understanding both the specific campus ecosystem and the universal legal principles that apply.

Fraternities & Sororities: The National Brands Behind the Local Chapters

The letters on the house in College Station or Austin represent national organizations with their own histories, insurance policies, and legal exposure. This national connection is a critical element of liability.

Why National Histories Matter in Your Texas Case

When a chapter at UT Austin or Texas A&M repeats a hazing script that caused death at a chapter in Ohio or Louisiana, it demonstrates foreseeability. The national headquarters cannot credibly claim it was an unforeseeable, “rogue” act. Their own risk management manuals exist precisely because they know these patterns.

Our legal strategy involves investigating and presenting these national patterns to show:

1. The national organization had prior knowledge of the specific dangers.
2. Its policies and training were inadequate or poorly enforced.
3. It benefited from the chapter’s existence (through dues, reputation) while failing to exercise proper control.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Our Data Advantage

To effectively litigate against national organizations, you need to identify all legally liable entities. We maintain a proprietary database built from public records, which includes entities like:

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc. (EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035) – The housing corp for the chapter sued in the UH case.
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (EIN 74-608473, Nederland, TX 77627) – Related to the Epsilon Kappa Chapter.
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity (EIN 23-7279532, Prairie View, TX 77446) – A registered Texas entity.

This is just a sample from over 125 Texas-registered Greek organization entities we track via IRS records. For the major metro areas relevant to Texas universities:

• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro: 510+ Greek-related organizations.
• Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metro: 188+ Greek-related organizations.
• Austin-Round Rock Metro: 154+ Greek-related organizations.

This intelligence means we don’t start from zero. We know how to find the housing corporations, alumni associations, and national affiliates that may hold insurance coverage and share liability. This depth is crucial when going against well-resourced national fraternities.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Legal Strategy

If your family in De Kalb is facing the aftermath of a hazing incident, understanding the process can demystify the path ahead. A strong case is built on evidence, guided by strategy, and aimed at securing full compensation.

The Evidence Battlefield: Preserving the Digital Trail

In 2025, the most critical evidence is digital. Immediate preservation is essential.

1. Group Communications: Screenshots of GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, or fraternity-specific app chats showing planning, boasting, or threats. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages.
2. Social Media & Photos: Posts, stories, snaps, or videos depicting the hazing or its aftermath. Metadata can confirm time and location.
3. Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” guides, emails from national organizations, chapter meeting notes.
4. University Records: Prior conduct reports for the same organization, obtained via discovery or public records requests. UT Austin’s public log is a prime example.
5. Medical Records: Documentation from ER visits, hospitalizations, therapists, or specialists that explicitly links injuries to hazing.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, or bystanders.

We have a detailed video on using your phone to document evidence that can guide these first steps.

Recoverable Damages: What a Civil Case Can Address

A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim and family whole, both economically and non-economically.

• Economic Damages:
  • All past and future medical expenses (ER, hospitalization, surgery, therapy, long-term care).
  • Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity (if injuries affect career potential).
  • Educational costs (lost tuition, delayed graduation).
• 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.
  • Emotional suffering of parents and siblings.

In cases involving extreme recklessness or intentional conduct, Texas law may also allow for punitive damages intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter future conduct.

Overcoming Institutional Defense Tactics

National fraternities and universities have sophisticated defense playbooks. We anticipate and counter their common strategies:

• “The Pledge Consented”: Texas law §37.155 explicitly states consent is not a defense. We argue coercion under power imbalance.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter / We Didn’t Know”: We use national pattern evidence and prior incident reports to prove foreseeability and negligent supervision.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: Liability is based on relationship and control, not just property ownership. The Pi Delta Psi conviction for a retreat death proves this.
• “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”: We demonstrate the gap between “paper policies” and enforcement, showing a culture of non-compliance.
• Insurance Coverage Fights: Insurers often try to deny coverage, calling hazing an “intentional act.” Our experience, including Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney, is critical in navigating these complex disputes to secure compensation.

Practical Guides & FAQs for De Kalb Families and Students

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: Get immediate medical care for any injury or intoxication.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot all relevant digital communications. Photograph injuries. Secure physical items.
3. Document: Write a detailed narrative of events with names, dates, and locations.
4. Seek Legal Counsel Early: Contact our firm at 1-888-ATTY-911 before engaging with the university or insurance adjusters. We can guide reporting decisions.
5. Understand University Process: You can report to the Dean of Students and campus police, but be aware the university’s interests may not align with yours. Do not sign any settlement or release without an attorney’s review.
6. Focus on Your Child’s Wellbeing: Seek psychological support. The trauma of hazing is real and lasting.

For Students: Is This Hazing? Your Rights & Exit Strategies

• Self-Assessment: If you feel coerced, endangered, humiliated, or forced to keep secrets for membership, it is likely hazing.
• Your Right to Leave: You can resign your pledge or membership at any time, for any reason. Send a clear email or text to the president for documentation.
• Safe Reporting: You can report to the Dean of Students, campus police, or anonymously through the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE). Texas law offers good-faith reporter protections.
• Evidence Collection: Take screenshots, photos, and notes. Tell a trusted friend or family member what is happening.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage a Case

We made a video detailing client mistakes that can ruin an injury case. In hazing, key mistakes include:

• Deleting digital evidence out of shame or fear.
• Confronting the organization before evidence is preserved.
• Signing university “resolution” agreements without understanding they may waive your right to sue.
• Posting details on social media, which defense attorneys will mine for inconsistencies.
• Waiting for the university to “handle it internally” while the statute of limitations runs and evidence disappears.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue a public university like Texas A&M or UT for hazing?
A: Yes, but there are complexities due to “sovereign immunity.” Exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individual employees in their personal capacity. The strategy requires careful legal analysis.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years from the date of injury. For wrongful death, it’s generally two years from the date of death. However, there are exceptions (like for minors or in cases of fraud). Time is critical. Watch our video on Texas statutes of limitations and contact an attorney immediately.

Q: How much will this cost? Our family in De Kalb isn’t wealthy.
A: We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases. This means you pay no upfront attorney fees. We only get paid if we successfully recover money for you through a settlement or verdict. Watch our explanation of how contingency fees work.

Q: Will my child’s name be dragged through the media?
A: We prioritize our clients’ privacy. Many cases settle confidentially before trial. We can seek protective orders from the court to seal sensitive documents. Your family’s wellbeing guides our approach.

Why Attorney911 for Your Texas Hazing Case

When your family in De Kalb is facing a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need a firm with the specific expertise, resources, and tenacity to take on powerful universities and national fraternities. Here is why The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD, is uniquely equipped.

A Proven Track Record Against Institutional Giants

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation: We are currently leading the $10 million Leonel Bermudez vs. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are in the fight right now.
• BP Texas City Explosion Experience: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in litigation against BP after the catastrophic 2005 refinery explosion. We have faced billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets and know how to win.
• Multi-Million Dollar Results: We have a history of securing significant settlements and verdicts in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases, working with economists and life-care planners to ensure families are fully compensated.

Insider Knowledge of the Defense Playbook

• Insurance Insider Advantage: Associate Attorney Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers value claims, deploy delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. We know their strategy because we used to be on their side.
• Dual Civil/Criminal Capability: Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal justice process. We can effectively advise clients when hazing involves potential criminal charges, navigate witness cooperation, and manage parallel proceedings.

Deep-Texas Roots and Investigative Resources

• Texas-Based, Statewide Reach: From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including in De Kalb and Bowie County. We understand Texas courts, Texas juries, and Texas law.
• The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We don’t start investigations from scratch. We maintain detailed data on Greek organizations across Texas, helping us quickly identify all potentially liable parties and their insurance coverage.
• Network of Experts: We have trusted relationships with medical specialists, digital forensics experts, psychologists, economists, and Greek life culture experts who can build an unassailable case.

Our Commitment to De Kalb Families

We know this is one of the most painful experiences a family can endure. Our mission is threefold: to get you and your child the resources needed for recovery, to hold every responsible party accountable, and to force the institutional changes that will prevent this from happening to another family. We fight with empathy, integrity, and relentless determination.

Your Next Step: A Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family in De Kalb, Bowie County, or anywhere in Texas, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path to accountability and recovery begins with a conversation.

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

In your consultation, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas and federal law.
• Discuss the realistic timeline and process.
• Answer all your questions about costs, privacy, and what to expect.
• There is no pressure to hire us. This is about empowering you with information.

We are here to help 24/7.

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Se habla Español: Mr. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

Your child’s safety and your family’s future are paramount. Let us use our experience, resources, and dedication to help you secure both. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD.

Hazing laws, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.

If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD / 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