The Ultimate Texas Hazing Guide for Double Oak Families: Understanding Rights, Risks & Recourse After Fraternity & Sorority Abuse

Introduction: A Double Oak Parent’s Nightmare and a Texas Legal Battle

For families in the tight-knit community of Double Oak, Texas, sending a child off to college is a milestone filled with pride and hope. You’ve watched them grow up in our quiet, family-oriented town in Denton County, and now they’re venturing to a Texas university, perhaps the University of North Texas or Texas Woman’s University just up the road, or maybe to a larger campus like the University of Texas or Texas A&M. You trust they’ll find community and build lifelong friendships. But for some Double Oak students, the search for belonging takes a devastating turn in the hidden world of fraternity and sorority hazing.

Picture this: your son, eager to fit in at his new university, accepts a bid from a fraternity. What starts as exciting camaraderie quickly morphs into something darker. He’s handed a “pledge fanny pack” he must carry 24/7, filled with humiliating items. He’s ordered to chauffeur older members at all hours, subjected to weekly interrogations, and forced into extreme physical “workouts” until he vomits. One night, after being sprayed in the face with a hose in a ritual compared to waterboarding and forced to overconsume food until he’s sick, he completes hundreds of squats and push-ups under threat of expulsion. Days later, he’s crawling up the stairs at home, his urine turned a frightening brown. A frantic trip to the emergency room reveals a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis—severe muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure, requiring a four-day hospitalization with the risk of permanent organ damage.

This is not a hypothetical scenario. This is the real-life experience of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student whose fall 2025 pledge period with the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter nearly cost him his life. In late 2025, his family, represented by our firm, Attorney911, filed a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, the chapter’s housing corporation, the UH System Board of Regents, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The fallout was swift: Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025, and by November 14, the members voted to surrender their charter, shutting down the chapter for good. UH called the alleged conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary action.

This case, detailed in reports from Click2Houston and ABC13, is the stark, current proof that severe, life-threatening hazing is not a relic of the past. It is happening right now on Texas campuses. And it can happen to students from towns like ours.

This guide is written specifically for parents and families in Double Oak and across Denton County. Our aim is to arm you with knowledge: what modern hazing truly looks like, the Texas laws designed to protect your child, the sobering patterns seen at universities our children attend, and the legal pathways to accountability and healing. If you suspect your child is being hazed, you are not alone, and you have rights.

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 professional evaluation. Conditions like rhabdomyolysis or internal injuries may not be immediately apparent.
2. Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted:
   • Screenshot all relevant group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), texts, and social media DMs.
   • Photograph any injuries from multiple angles.
   • Save any physical items (clothing, paddles, receipts, the “pledge fanny pack”).
3. Document Everything: Write down everything your child tells you—dates, times, locations, names of individuals involved—while memories are fresh.
4. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or its members 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” their phone.

Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney. Evidence vanishes quickly. Universities and organizations move fast to control narratives. We can help you navigate this crisis from the start. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is not just “boys being boys” or harmless initiation pranks. It is a calculated pattern of abuse that uses power imbalance, coercion, and tradition to exploit new members. In Texas, hazing is legally defined under the Education Code as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in an organization. Crucially, a victim’s “consent” is not a legal defense.

Modern hazing has evolved, often hiding in plain sight or leveraging digital tools. For Double Oak parents, recognizing these signs is critical.

Alcohol & Substance Hazing
The most common—and most deadly—form. This includes forced consumption during “lineups,” drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mandate drinks, “Big/Little” nights where a pledge is given a bottle of liquor, and coerced use of drugs or unknown substances.

Physical Hazing
This extends beyond paddling to include extreme, punitive calisthenics (“smokings,” 100+ push-ups, 500 squats), sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme weather, forced ingestion of disgusting foods or excessive amounts of food (like milk and hot dogs), and dangerous physical tests like the “glass ceiling” ritual or “wheelbarrow races” until collapse.

Psychological & Humiliating Hazing
This includes verbal abuse, threats of expulsion, social isolation, forced servitude (like 24/7 driving duties), carrying humiliating items (the “pledge fanny pack”), public shaming, and simulated sexual acts or forced nudity.

Digital Hazing
A 21st-century evolution. Pledges may be subjected to 24/7 monitoring via group chats, required to share live locations, forced to post embarrassing content on social media, or harassed via cyberstalking if they don’t comply.

Where Hazing Happens
While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing pervades many groups:

• Interfraternity Council (IFC) & Panhellenic Sororities
• Multicultural Greek Councils (MGC) & National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations
• Corps of Cadets and ROTC programs
• Athletic teams and spirit groups (cheer, dance, mascots)
• Marching bands, performing arts groups, and academic clubs

The common thread is a dynamic where those in power subject new members to abuse under the guise of tradition, bonding, or testing commitment.

The Texas Legal Framework: Criminal Penalties and Civil Liability

Texas has specific statutes to combat hazing, providing both criminal penalties and avenues for civil justice. Understanding this framework is the first step toward holding abusers accountable.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Anti-Hazing Statute

Definition (§37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or maintenance of membership in an organization.

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 results in serious bodily injury or death.

Key Provisions:

• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): Even if a student “agreed” to participate, it is still hazing under the law. Courts recognize the power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations.
• 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 Reporters (§37.154): Individuals who in good faith report hazing or call for emergency medical help are generally protected from civil or criminal liability related to that report.

Civil Liability: The Path to Compensation and Accountability

A criminal case, prosecuted by the state, seeks punishment. A civil lawsuit, filed by the victim and their family, seeks compensation for damages and to hold every responsible party accountable. These cases can proceed independently.

Who Can Be Sued in a Civil Hazing Case?

1. Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, executed, or concealed the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As a legal entity, if it exists.
3. The National Organization: Headquarters can be liable for negligent supervision, failing to enforce policies, or having knowledge of dangerous patterns. The national Pi Kappa Phi organization is a defendant in the Bermudez lawsuit for this reason.
4. The University: Schools like UH, Texas A&M, or UT can face claims for negligent supervision, premises liability, or violating duties under Title IX if they knew or should have known about the risks and failed to act.
5. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, property owners of retreat venues, or alcohol providers.

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

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, schools have a legal obligation to investigate and address it.
• The Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults.
• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires colleges to publish more transparent hazing incident reports and strengthen prevention programs, with full implementation by 2026.

National Case Patterns: The Blueprint of Tragedy

The Bermudez case at UH is not an anomaly. It follows a decades-long, national pattern of hazing leading to injury, death, and multi-million dollar lawsuits. These cases create a legal principle of foreseeability: national organizations and universities cannot claim ignorance when the same dangerous rituals repeat across the country.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern:

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a bid-acceptance night of forced drinking. Brothers delayed calling 911. Resulted in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died of alcohol poisoning after a “Bible study” drinking game. Led to Louisiana’s felony hazing statute, the Max Gruver Act.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. His family reached a $10 million settlement with the national fraternity and university.
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother” night.

The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern:

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from brain injuries after a violent, blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, severe brain damage after forced drinking. Settlements with over 20 defendants.

The Athletic Hazing Pattern:

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements.

What This Means for Texas Families: These cases show that national fraternities like Pi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Phi Delta Theta have long-known, documented histories of hazardous rituals. When a Texas chapter repeats these patterns, it strengthens claims against the national organization for failing to prevent foreseeable harm.

The Local Greek Ecosystem: A Public Records Directory for Double Oak Families

At Attorney911, we don’t just take a case and hope for the best. We build from a foundation of deep, data-driven investigation. We maintain what we call the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, a proprietary database built from public records that maps the complex network of Greek organizations across the state. This allows us to immediately identify every legally liable entity behind a chapter—the house corporations, alumni associations, and national affiliates that often hold insurance and ultimate responsibility.

For families in Double Oak and the greater DFW metro, here is a snapshot of the Greek ecosystem that surrounds our community, drawn from IRS filings, university rosters, and metro registries.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Connected to North Texas Campuses

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area, which includes Denton County and Double Oak, is home to over 510 Greek-related organizations according to public records. Students from Double Oak attending local universities interact with a vast network of these entities. Below is a sample listing of organizations recorded in public filings—the kind of data we use to build a case.

Organizations in the North Texas / DFW Metro Area:

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity – EIN: 742911848 – Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN: 741380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Kappa Delta Sorority – Gamma Beta Chapter – Denton, TX (Cause IQ Listing: Texas Woman’s University)
• Phi Chi Theta – Gamma Iota Chapter – Carrollton, TX (Cause IQ Professional Business Fraternity)
• Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity – Gamma Psi Chapter – Fort Worth, TX (Cause IQ Listing: TCU)
• Sigma Nu Fraternity – Lambda Epsilon Chapter – Fort Worth, TX (Cause IQ Listing: TCU)
• Denton-Lewisville Guide Right Foundation – EIN: 861205340 – Flower Mound, TX 75028 (IRS B83 Filing, Kappa Alpha Psi affiliated)
• Zeta Sigma House Corporation of Kappa Kappa Gamma – EIN: 752620706 – Dallas, TX 75223 (IRS B83 Filing)

Texas-Registered Honor Societies & Educational Foundations:

• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – EIN: 263170920 – Denton, TX 76204 (IRS B83 Filing: Texas Woman’s University Chapter 229)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – EIN: 820644459 – Lubbock, TX 79430 (IRS B83 Filing: Texas Tech Univ. Health Sciences)

Major National Brands with Texas Presence (IRS & Cause IQ Overlap):

• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Appears in IRS filings (EIN: 364091267, Waco, TX) and Cause IQ metro listings for Houston and Beaumont, showing how a single national brand operates through multiple chapter types across the state.
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Multiple IRS-listed alumni and graduate chapters across Texas (EINs: 237279532, 521278573), including in Prairie View and Dallas, interconnected with metro-based chapters.

This directory illustrates a critical point: behind every set of Greek letters on campus, there is a web of legally registered organizations, each with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), mailing addresses, and potential liability. When hazing occurs, we know how to trace responsibility through this network, ensuring no entity can hide.

Where Double Oak Families Send Their Kids: Campus-Specific Realities

Double Oak students often attend universities within commuting distance or head to major state schools. Each campus has its own Greek life culture, history of incidents, and reporting mechanisms. Here’s what families need to know about key Texas universities.

University of North Texas (UNT) & Texas Woman’s University (TWU) – In Our Backyard

Campus Snapshot: As Denton County’s largest universities, UNT and TWU are common choices for Double Oak students. Both have active, diverse Greek communities.

Documented Incidents & Climate:

• UNT’s Office of Student Conduct investigates hazing allegations regularly. While specific case details are often confidential until adjudicated, public logs show periodic disciplinary action against fraternities and sororities for conduct code violations encompassing hazing behaviors.
• The proximity of these campuses means hazing incidents can directly impact our community. Evidence gathering and legal proceedings may involve the Denton County court system and the Denton Police Department, in addition to campus authorities.

What Double Oak Families Should Do:

1. Familiarize yourself with UNT’s Hazing Policy and TWU’s Student Handbook prohibitions on hazing.
2. Reporting channels include the UNT Dean of Students Office, the TWU Office of Civility and Community Standards, and the respective campus police departments (UNT PD, TWU PD).
3. If an incident occurs off-campus in Double Oak or surrounding Denton County, also report it to the Denton County Sheriff’s Office or local police.

The Major Texas Hubs: UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor

Double Oak students also attend these flagship institutions. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH is a current, tragic example of the severe risks present.

University of Houston (UH): The Active Battleground

• The Bermudez Case: As detailed in the Hoodline report, this lawsuit alleges a system of abuse at the Pi Kappa Phi chapter. It names 13 individual members, showing how personal liability attaches to those in leadership.
• UH’s Response: Highlights the dual-track response: internal university discipline and parallel civil litigation. UH’s statement condemning the acts shows the public relations pressure institutions face.

Texas A&M University: Corps Culture and Greek Life

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges allegedly doused with industrial cleaner, causing severe burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits followed.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Allegations (2023): A lawsuit described cadets being bound and humiliated in a simulated sexual position. This underscores that hazing extends beyond Greek life to military-style programs.
• For Double Oak Families: A&M’s vast network of traditions requires extra vigilance. Incidents may involve the Brazos County legal system.

University of Texas at Austin: Public Transparency

• UT maintains a public Hazing Violations Log, a resource more transparent than most. Past entries show sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced calisthenics and milk chugging.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Allegation (2024): A lawsuit alleges a guest was severely assaulted at the SAE house, indicating ongoing risk management failures.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University: Private School Pressures

• As private institutions, disciplinary processes can be less transparent. However, civil discovery can unlock internal records.
• Both have faced hazing scandals in Greek life and athletics (e.g., Baylor baseball hazing suspensions). The national histories of their chapters mirror patterns seen elsewhere.

The Common Thread: At every one of these schools, national fraternities and sororities with known hazing histories operate chapters. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter at UH that harmed Leonel Bermudez is part of the same national organization that had a chapter at Florida State where Andrew Coffey died. This pattern evidence is powerful in court.

Building a Hazing Case with Attorney911: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

When a family from Double Oak comes to us after a hazing incident, we deploy a methodical, proven strategy built on our unique firm strengths.

Our Investigative Advantage: The Data Engine and Insider Knowledge

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation: We guide families to secure digital evidence—the GroupMe chats planning the event, the Snapchats showing the abuse, the deleted texts we can often recover through forensic means. As we explain in our video on using your phone to document a legal case, this step is critical.
2. Mapping the Liability Web: Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we immediately identify all potential defendants: not just the active members, but the chapter housing corporation (like the “Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc” with an EIN in Frisco), the alumni board, and the national headquarters. We check their IRS status, insurance affiliations, and prior litigation history.
3. Insurance Insider Expertise: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny claims, argue exclusions for “intentional acts,” or lowball settlements. We counter their tactics from day one.
4. Complex Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, a case against a billion-dollar corporation with limitless legal resources. We are not intimidated by university regents or national fraternity legal teams. We have federal court experience and know how to manage large-scale discovery.

Recoverable Damages in a Hazing Case

A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and punish wrongdoing. Recoverable damages include:

Economic Damages:

• All Medical Expenses: Past and future, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, therapy, and long-term care for permanent injuries like kidney damage or TBI.
• Lost Earnings & Earning Capacity: If injuries delay graduation or cause permanent disability.
• Educational Costs: Lost tuition, fees, and scholarships.

Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical Pain and Suffering
• Mental Anguish: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life

Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable):

• Funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship for the family.

Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious, reckless conduct—like that alleged in the Bermudez lawsuit—courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

The Critical Importance of Timeliness: Texas Statutes of Limitations

Texas law imposes strict deadlines for filing lawsuits. For personal injury from hazing, the statute is generally two years from the date of injury. However, complexities can arise. We strongly advise consulting an attorney immediately to protect your rights. Watch our video explaining Texas statutes of limitations for more information.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Double Oak Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight changes.
• Becoming secretive or defensive about organization activities.
• Sudden anxiety, depression, or withdrawal from family and old friends.
• Constantly being on call for “mandatory” events, even during exams.
• Receiving constant, demanding messages via group chat at all hours.
• Having to purchase unusual items or large amounts of alcohol.

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly and Supportively: Ask open-ended questions. “I’m worried about you. Is anything happening that makes you feel unsafe or humiliated?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If there is immediate danger or medical need, call 911.
3. Document and Preserve: Follow the 48-hour checklist at the start of this guide.
4. Seek Legal Counsel Early: Before reporting to the university, consider consulting with us. We can help you navigate the process to protect your child from retaliation and preserve crucial evidence.

For Students: Your Rights and How to Exit Safely

• You Have the Right to Be Safe. No tradition is worth your life or health.
• “Consent” is Not a Defense. You cannot legally consent to being hazed.
• Good Faith Reporting is Protected. Texas law and most university policies offer immunity for those who call for emergency medical help.
• To Exit Safely: Inform the chapter president in writing (email/text for record) that you are resigning. Notify a trusted university official (Dean of Students) simultaneously. Have a safety plan if you fear retaliation.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Hazing Case

We’ve seen well-meaning families inadvertently damage their case. Avoid these pitfalls:

• Deleting Evidence: Telling your child to “clean up” their phone destroys the case. Preserve everything.
• Confronting the Fraternity Directly: This triggers their legal defense, leading to evidence destruction and witness coaching.
• Signing University Settlement Papers Prematurely: Universities may offer a quick, low-value resolution that waives your right to sue. Do not sign without an attorney’s review.
• Posting on Social Media: Public posts can be used by defense attorneys to contradict your claims.
• Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses scatter, and statutes of limitations run out.

For a deeper dive, watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case.

FAQs for Texas Families

“Can we sue the university?”
Yes, under theories of negligent supervision or if they were deliberately indifferent to a known risk. Public universities have some immunity, but exceptions exist, especially for gross negligence.

“How much does a hazing lawyer cost?”
We work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront fees. We only get paid if we win a settlement or verdict for you. Learn more in our video on how contingency fees work.

“Will my child’s name be public?”
Many cases settle confidentially. We use every legal tool to protect our clients’ privacy while aggressively pursuing accountability.

“The hazing was off-campus. Does that matter?”
No. Texas hazing law applies to on- and off-campus conduct. Liability extends to organizations and universities based on their involvement and knowledge.

Why Double Oak Families Choose Attorney911 for Hazing Cases

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who are both compassionate and formidable. At The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC, operating as Attorney911, we bring a unique combination of expertise to hazing litigation.

We Are Currently in the Fight. We are not theorists; we are practitioners. We are lead counsel for Leonel Bermudez in the active, high-stakes lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. We know the current tactics of institutional defense because we are facing them right now in a Texas court.

We Know the Playbook of the Other Side. With Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as an insurance defense attorney, we understand how fraternity and university insurers value claims, dispute coverage, and drag out proceedings. We use this insider knowledge to build leverage and avoid common pitfalls.

We Have Faced Goliaths—and Won. Our experience with the BP Texas City explosion litigation proved our capability against the deepest-pocketed, most complex institutional defendants. National fraternities and major universities operate from the same playbook of delay and denial. We are prepared for it.

We Investigate with Unmatched Depth. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine gives us a head start no other firm can match. We know the organizational landscape before we even file a lawsuit, allowing us to identify all sources of liability and insurance from day one.

We Serve Texas Families in Their Darkest Hour. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve clients across Texas, including right here in Double Oak and Denton County. We offer Spanish-language legal services through Mr. Peña. We treat every client with the dignity, respect, and fierce advocacy we would demand for our own families.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If you are a Double Oak parent or student grappling with the aftermath of hazing, the path forward begins with a conversation. We offer a free, confidential case evaluation to listen to your story, explain your legal rights under Texas law, and outline the options available to you.

You don’t have to navigate this alone. Let us help you pursue accountability, secure compensation for medical care and suffering, and work to ensure no other family endures this pain.

Contact Attorney911, The Legal Emergency Lawyers™

• Call us 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com
• Email Lupe Peña (Se habla Español): lupe@atty911.com

Learn more about our attorneys and firm:

• Ralph Manginello’s background and experience: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/
• Lupe Peña’s insurance defense insight: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/
• Our wrongful death practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/

PLAIN TEXT LINKS TO KEY RESOURCES

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

1. Click2Houston Investigation: 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/
2. ABC13 Eyewitness News Timeline: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
3. Hoodline Summary of the $10M Case: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational YouTube Videos:
4. Using Your Cellphone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
5. Texas Statutes of Limitations Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
6. Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
7. How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website & Contact:
8. Homepage & Free Consultation: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer

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

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

If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, 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