Hazing at Texas Universities: A Comprehensive Guide for Fort Cavazos Military Families

If Your Child Was Hazed, You Are Not Alone

The phone rings late at night. Your son or daughter, a student at a Texas university, is on the line. Their voice is shaky, distant. They talk about “mandatory” events, extreme fatigue, unexplained injuries, and a constant fear of letting their new “brothers” or “sisters” down. As a military family stationed at Fort Cavazos, you’ve faced challenges before, but this feels different. This isn’t about discipline or training—it feels like abuse hidden behind tradition.

Right now, in Texas, we’re fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after brutal hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. His urine turned brown. He was hospitalized for four days. The hazing included forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion, and carrying a degrading “pledge fanny pack” 24/7. This is happening here in Texas, right now.

If you’re a military parent at Fort Cavazos, this guide is for you. We’ll explain what hazing really looks like in 2025, Texas law, where Fort Cavazos families send their children to college, and what legal options exist when traditions turn toxic.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for medical emergencies
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• We provide immediate help – that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™

In the first 48 hours:

• Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine”
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
  • Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects)
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where)
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity/sorority
  • Sign anything from the university or insurance company
  • Post details on public social media
  • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours:

• Evidence disappears fast (deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, coached witnesses)
• Universities move quickly to control the narrative
• We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights
• Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like at Texas Schools

Hazing isn’t just “boys will be boys” or harmless tradition. For military families who understand discipline and chain of command, it’s important to recognize that hazing abuses that structure for cruelty. Modern hazing at Texas universities has evolved into sophisticated, often hidden abuse that can cause permanent physical and psychological damage.

Clear, Modern Definition of Hazing

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. The critical element military families should understand: “I agreed to it” does not make it legal or acceptable when there’s peer pressure and power imbalance. Just as consent under duress isn’t valid in military contexts, it’s not valid in hazing situations.

Main Categories of Hazing Affecting Texas Students

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and deadly form. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “Big/Little” nights, “bid acceptance” parties, or drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean consuming alcohol. At Texas A&M, pledges have been forced to drink until passing out. At University of Houston, our client was forced to consume excessive milk and hot dogs until vomiting, then immediately forced to do sprints.

Physical Hazing
This includes paddling, beatings, extreme calisthenics (“smokings” with hundreds of push-ups), sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH involved being forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass and exercise in cold weather while wearing only underwear.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. Texas A&M Corps of Cadets has faced allegations of cadets being bound in “roasted pig” positions. These acts cause deep psychological trauma.

Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation, manipulation, and public shaming. This is particularly damaging to students who may already be struggling with the transition to college life, especially common among military children accustomed to frequent moves.

Digital/Online Hazing
The new frontier. Group chat dares on GroupMe or Discord, “challenges” shared on Instagram or TikTok, pressure to create compromising content. Members often use disappearing messages on Snapchat to avoid evidence, but we know how to recover them.

Where Hazing Actually Happens

Military families should know hazing extends beyond fraternities:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural groups)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC at Texas A&M and other schools
• Athletic Teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer)
• Spirit Squads and tradition clubs (like Texas Cowboys at UT)
• Marching Bands and performance groups
• Some academic and service organizations

The common thread: social status, tradition, and secrecy keep these practices alive even when everyone knows they’re illegal.

Texas Hazing Law: What Fort Cavazos Families Need to Know

Texas Education Code – Chapter 37: Hazing Statutes

Texas has specific anti-hazing provisions in the Education Code. For military families accustomed to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, think of this as the civilian equivalent for campus conduct.

§ 37.151 Definition
Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that:

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

Key Points for Fort Cavazos Families:

• Can happen on or off campus (location doesn’t matter)
• Can be mental or physical harm
• “Reckless” is enough – they knew the risk and did it anyway
• “Consent is not a defense” (Texas Education Code § 37.155)

§ 37.152 Criminal Penalties

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that doesn’t cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, fine up to $2,000)
• Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death

Also Criminal:

• Failing to report hazing if you’re a member/officer and knew about it
• Retaliating against someone who reports hazing

§ 37.153 Organizational Liability
Organizations can be criminally prosecuted if they authorized or encouraged hazing, or if officers knew and failed to report. Penalties include fines up to $10,000 per violation and university bans.

§ 37.154 Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting
A person who in good faith reports hazing to university or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability. This is crucial – your child won’t get in trouble for calling for help.

Criminal vs Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases

• Brought by the state (prosecutor)
• Aim: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Charges can include: hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases

Civil Cases

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Aim: Monetary compensation and accountability
• Focus on: negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress

Both can run side-by-side. A criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. In fact, we often pursue civil cases even when prosecutors decline to file criminal charges.

Federal Overlay: Additional Protections

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024)
Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents transparently, strengthen prevention, and maintain public hazing data (phased in by 2026).

Title IX / Clery Act
When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger. Clery requires reporting certain crimes – hazing often overlaps with assaults or alcohol crimes.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Individual Students
Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover up.

Local Chapter/Organization
The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if a legal entity). Officers and “pledge educators” are key.

National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters
That set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Liability hinges on what they knew or should have known from prior incidents.

University or Governing Board
Schools may be sued under negligence or civil-rights theories. Key questions: prior warnings, policy enforcement, deliberate indifference.

Third Parties
Landlords of event spaces, bars/alcohol providers (under dram shop laws), security companies.

Every case is fact-specific. We investigate to identify all potentially liable parties.

National Hazing Case Patterns: Precedents That Protect Texas Students

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
Bid-acceptance event with heavy drinking. Severe falls captured on chapter cameras; hours delayed before medical help. Dozens of criminal charges against fraternity members; civil litigation; new Pennsylvania anti-hazing law named after him. Takeaway: Extreme intoxication + delay in calling 911 + culture of silence = devastating liability.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
“Bible study” drinking game; forced to drink when answering questions incorrectly. Death led to felony hazing law in Louisiana (Max Gruver Act). Family received $6.1 million verdict. Takeaway: Legislative change follows public outrage and clear proof.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
Pledge night; forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey; died from alcohol poisoning. Multiple criminal convictions; BGSU agreed to $3 million settlement with family; other settlements with fraternity/individuals. Takeaway: Universities face significant financial consequences alongside fraternities.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
Pledge at fraternity retreat subjected to violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual. Suffered fatal head injuries; help was delayed. Multiple members convicted; fraternity banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. Takeaway: Off-campus “retreats” are equally dangerous; national orgs face serious sanctions.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within football program. Multiple lawsuits against university and staff; head coach fired and settled wrongful-termination suit confidentially. Takeaway: Hazing extends beyond Greek life to big-money athletic programs.

What These Cases Mean for Fort Cavazos Families

Common threads: forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, cover-ups. Reforms and multi-million-dollar settlements often follow only after tragedy and litigation. Texas families facing hazing are not alone – these national cases shape the legal landscape.

Texas Universities: Where Fort Cavazos Families Send Their Children

Military families at Fort Cavazos often have children attending universities across Texas. Understanding each campus’s specific hazing landscape is crucial.

Texas A&M University: Corps of Cadets & Greek Life

For Fort Cavazos Families: Many military-connected students gravitate toward Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets, located just a few hours from Fort Cavazos in College Station. The discipline and structure appeal to those from military households, but this environment has also seen serious hazing allegations.

Campus Culture Snapshot:

• 2,500+ students in Corps of Cadets
• 60+ fraternities and sororities
• Strong tradition culture with inherent hazing risks

Documented Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Lawsuit (2021): Pledges allegedly covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. Fraternity suspended; pledges sued for $1 million.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): Cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in “roasted pig” position with apple in mouth. Sought over $1 million. A&M stated it handled matter under its rules.
• Ongoing Hazing Investigations: Multiple fraternities under investigation for forced drinking and physical abuse as of 2025.

How a Texas A&M Hazing Case Proceeds:
13th District Court in Brazos County typically handles civil cases. Investigations involve Texas A&M Police Department and College Station PD. Defendants often include: individual cadets/members, chapter, national organization, Texas A&M University System.

What A&M Students & Fort Cavazos Parents Should Do:

• Report immediately to Commandant’s Office (for Corps) AND Dean of Students
• Document through Texas A&M’s online reporting system
• Understand both Corps regulations AND university conduct codes apply
• Contact attorney familiar with both military-style hazing AND Greek life hazing

University of Texas at Austin

For Fort Cavazos Families: UT Austin attracts many Central Texas students, including those from military families seeking strong academic programs. The campus has relatively transparent hazing reporting.

Campus Culture Snapshot:

• 60+ fraternity/sorority chapters
• Public hazing violations log (hazing.utexas.edu)
• Multiple spirit organizations with hazing histories

Documented Incidents (From UT’s Public Log):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Found to be hazing. Chapter placed on probation and required to implement hazing-prevention education.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): Australian exchange student alleged assault at party resulting in dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, broken nose. Student sued for over $1 million. Chapter already under suspension for prior violations.
• Texas Wranglers (Multiple Years): Sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, punishment-based practices.

UT’s Transparency Advantage:
UT publishes violations including organization names, dates, conduct descriptions, and sanctions. This public record can be powerful evidence in civil cases showing pattern and knowledge.

What UT Students & Parents Should Do:

• Check UT’s public hazing log for prior violations by your child’s organization
• Report to Office of the Dean of Students AND UTPD
• Document everything – UT’s process can be lengthy
• Understand that prior violations on UT’s log strengthen civil cases significantly

University of Houston: The Flagship Case Location

For Fort Cavazos Families: UH’s proximity to Houston makes it accessible for East Texas military families. The Pi Kappa Phi case shows how quickly hazing can escalate to life-threatening injuries.

Campus Culture Snapshot:

• Urban campus with commuter and residential mix
• Active Greek life with multiple governing councils
• Site of our ongoing $10 million Bermudez case

The Bermudez Case – What Happened:
Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student, endured months of escalating abuse during fall 2025 pledge period:

• “Pledge fanny pack” with degrading contents required 24/7
• Forced dress codes, hours-long “study/work” blocks, overnight driving duties
• Physical hazing: sprints, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, cold-weather exposure
• Nov 3 workout: 100+ push-ups, 500 squats under expulsion threats
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, peppercorns until vomiting
• Hose spraying “similar to waterboarding”
• Medical outcome: Rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, brown urine, 4-day hospitalization

Institutional Response:

• Nov 6, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspends Beta Nu chapter
• Nov 14, 2025: Chapter votes to surrender charter; chapter shut down
• UH labels conduct “deeply disturbing,” promises disciplinary measures and cooperation with law enforcement

What UH Students & Parents Should Do:

• Report to UH Dean of Students Office immediately
• Document through UH’s online reporting system
• Understand this active case shows UH’s serious hazing problem
• Realize chapter closure doesn’t end liability – lawsuits continue against nationals, university, individuals

Baylor University

For Fort Cavazos Families: Baylor’s religious identity appeals to some military families, but its history of institutional misconduct requires careful scrutiny.

Campus Culture Snapshot:

• Private Christian university
• History of football and Title IX scandals
• Active Greek life with recurrent hazing issues

Documented Incidents:

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following hazing investigation; staggered suspensions over season.
• Multiple Greek Life Incidents: Ongoing investigations into forced drinking and humiliation rituals.
• Institutional Pattern: Baylor’s broader cultural and oversight challenges create environment where hazing persists despite “zero tolerance” policies.

What Baylor Students & Parents Should Do:

• Report to Baylor’s Title IX Office AND Student Conduct
• Document through Baylor’s online systems
• Understand private university status affects transparency
• Recognize Baylor’s history means they may be particularly aggressive in controlling narrative

Southern Methodist University

For Fort Cavazos Families: SMU’s Dallas location and private university status create different dynamics for military families.

Campus Culture Snapshot:

• Private, affluent campus with strong Greek presence
• Less public transparency than public universities
• Recurrent hazing incidents despite prevention efforts

Documented Incidents:

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink alcohol, deprived of sleep. Chapter suspended; restrictions on recruiting until 2021.
• Multiple Greek Life Investigations: Ongoing cases involving forced drinking, humiliation, and physical abuse.

What SMU Students & Parents Should Do:

• Report through SMU’s confidential systems (including Real Response anonymous reporting)
• Document everything – private universities control information tightly
• Understand civil discovery can uncover what SMU doesn’t publish
• Recognize affluent defendants may fight harder but also have deeper pockets

Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: The Data Behind Accountability

For Fort Cavazos families, understanding that we maintain comprehensive data on Texas Greek organizations is crucial. This isn’t speculation – it’s public records intelligence.

Texas-Registered Greek Organizations: The Public Records Directory

We maintain records on 125+ Texas-registered Greek entities through IRS B83 filings. These aren’t accusations – they’re public records showing which organizations operate in Texas, their legal structures, and how they’re organized.

Sample Texas Greek Organizations (From Public IRS Records):

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc – EIN 13-3048786 – 3007 Earl Rudder Fwy S, College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 filing)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 46-2267515 – 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN 74-1380362 – PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 filing)
• Sigma Phi Lambda Inc – EIN 20-1237505 – 4251 FM 2181 Ste 230 PMB 480, Corinth, TX 76210 (IRS B83 filing – Beta Chapter)
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – EIN 47-5370943 – 5019 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 filing – Theta Delta chapter)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN 74-6064445 – 1855 Highway 69 N, Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 filing – Epsilon Kappa Chapter)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter – EIN 74-6084905 – 4300 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 filing)
• Beta Upsilon Chi – EIN 74-2911848 – 12650 N Beach St Ste 114 PMB 305, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (IRS B83 filing)

Metro Area Concentrations (From Cause IQ Data):

• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro: 510 Greek-related organizations
• Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metro: 188 organizations
• Austin-Round Rock Metro: 154 organizations
• San Antonio Metro: 86 organizations
• College Station-Bryan Metro: 42 organizations

Why This Matters for Your Case:
When we take your hazing case, we don’t start from zero. We already know:

• Legal names and EINs of organizations
• Their registered addresses and corporate structures
• How they’re connected to national headquarters
• Where to find insurance coverage information
• How to trace liability through complex organizational charts

Organizations Behind the Letters: National Patterns at Texas Campuses

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ) – “Pike”

• National History: Stone Foltz death at BGSU ($10M settlement), David Bogenberger death at NIU ($14M settlement)
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor
• Pattern: “Big/Little” alcohol hazing, forced consumption rituals

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ) – “SAE”

• National History: Multiple hazing deaths nationwide, traumatic brain injury case at Alabama, chemical burns at Texas A&M
• Texas Presence: Chapters at all 5 major Texas universities
• Pattern: Physical abuse, forced drinking, recurring violations

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)

• National History: Max Gruver death at LSU ($6.1M verdict, Max Gruver Act legislation)
• Texas Presence: Chapters throughout Texas university system
• Pattern: Drinking games disguised as “education”

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ)

• National History: Andrew Coffey death at FSU, our active Bermudez case at UH
• Texas Presence: Multiple Texas chapters including now-closed UH Beta Nu
• Pattern: Systematic physical and psychological abuse

Why National Histories Matter in Texas Courts:
When a Texas chapter repeats the same script that got a chapter shut down in another state, that shows foreseeability. National headquarters can’t claim “we didn’t know this could happen” when their own records show prior identical incidents. This supports negligence claims and can justify punitive damages.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Recovery

Evidence That Wins Cases

Digital Communications (Most Critical)

• GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord messages
• Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok content
• Recovered deleted messages through digital forensics
• Our Video on Evidence Preservation: Learn how to properly document evidence at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

Photos & Videos

• Content filmed during events
• Security camera footage from houses/venues
• Injury documentation with date stamps

Internal Organization Documents

• Pledge manuals, initiation scripts
• Emails/texts about “traditions” or “what we’ll do”
• National policies and training materials

University Records

• Prior conduct files and disciplinary history
• Incident reports and Clery Act disclosures
• Internal emails about the organization

Medical & Psychological Records

• ER and hospitalization records
• Toxicology reports
• Psychological evaluations (PTSD, depression diagnoses)

Witness Testimony

• Other pledges and members
• Roommates, RAs, bystanders
• Former members who quit

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Lost earnings and educational costs
• Diminished earning capacity for permanent injuries

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Wrongful Death Damages

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of companionship and support
• Emotional harm to family members

Punitive Damages
When defendants’ conduct is especially reckless or malicious. Texas has caps on punitive damages except in certain intentional tort cases.

Settlement vs Trial

Most cases settle confidentially. National averages:

• Death cases: $1M–$14M settlements/verdicts
• Severe injury cases: $375K–multi-million recoveries
• Individual officer liability: Personal judgments up to $6.5M

Our Approach: We prepare every case for trial. That readiness creates settlement leverage. When we took on BP in the Texas City explosion litigation, we learned how to fight billion-dollar defendants. Fraternities and universities with unlimited legal budgets respond differently to lawyers who are actually trial-ready.

Practical Guide for Fort Cavazos Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Child Is Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries or “accidents”
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Weight changes from food/water restriction
• Sleep deprivation (calls at 3 AM, all-night “meetings”)
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal
• Constant phone monitoring for group chat demands
• Financial surprises (unexpected large expenses)

If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk openly but non-confrontationally: “How are things with [organization]? Is anything making you uncomfortable?”
2. Prioritize safety: If injured/intoxicated, get medical help immediately
3. Document everything: Write down what they tell you with dates/times
4. Preserve evidence: Screenshot messages, photograph injuries
5. Contact us: Call 1-888-ATTY-911 before confronting organization or university

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case:

• Letting your child delete messages “to avoid trouble”
• Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly
• Signing university “resolution” forms without legal review
• Posting details on social media before consulting lawyer
• Waiting “to see how the university handles it”

For Students: Your Rights & Safety

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something unsafe?
• Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Am I being told to keep secrets or lie about it?

If You Want to Quit/De-Pledge:

• You have the legal right to leave at any time
• Tell someone outside the org first (parent, friend, RA)
• Send email/text: “I resign my membership effective immediately”
• Do NOT go to “one last meeting” where pressure/retaliation might occur

Your Legal Rights in Texas:

• You cannot be punished for calling 911 in an emergency (good-faith immunity)
• Hazing is a crime – you are the victim, not perpetrator
• Consent is not a defense under Texas law
• You can request no-contact orders if harassed after reporting

Statute of Limitations: Act Quickly

Generally 2 years from date of injury or death in Texas. The “discovery rule” may extend this if harm wasn’t immediately known, and fraud/concealment can toll (pause) the statute. But evidence disappears quickly – witnesses graduate, messages get deleted, memories fade.

Our Video on Statutes of Limitations: Understand your timeframe at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c

Why Attorney911 for Fort Cavazos Hazing Cases

Our Unique Qualifications

Insurance Insider Knowledge (Lupe Peña)
Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies:

• Value (and undervalue) hazing claims
• Use delay tactics to pressure families
• Fight coverage under “intentional act” exclusions
• Set reserves and negotiate settlements

We know their playbook because we used to run it.

Complex Institutional Litigation (Ralph Manginello)

• One of few Texas firms involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation
• Federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas)
• 25+ years handling cases against billion-dollar defendants
• Not intimidated by national fraternities or university legal teams

Multi-Million Dollar Results

• Wrongful death settlements in the millions
• Catastrophic injury cases with lifetime care planning
• Experience working with economists to value young lives

Dual Civil/Criminal Capability

• Ralph’s membership in Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA)
• Understands how criminal hazing charges interact with civil cases
• Can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure

Investigative Depth

• Network of experts: medical, digital forensics, economists, psychologists
• Experience obtaining hidden evidence through discovery
• Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine with 1,423 Greek organizations tracked

How We Investigate Your Case

Phase 1: Immediate Evidence Preservation

• Digital forensics for deleted messages
• Witness interviews before memories fade
• Medical record collection and analysis

Phase 2: Organizational Mapping

• Identify all potentially liable parties
• Trace insurance coverage through multiple policies
• Obtain national fraternity records showing prior incidents

Phase 3: Case Strategy Development

• Determine whether to pursue criminal reports
• Build damages model with economic experts
• Develop negotiation and litigation strategy

Phase 4: Accountability & Recovery

• Pursue maximum compensation for your family
• Seek institutional reforms to prevent future harm
• Maintain your privacy throughout process

No Fee Unless We Win

We work on contingency – you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. This makes justice accessible to all families, not just those who can afford hourly legal fees.

Our Video on Contingency Fees: Understand how it works at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Call to Action for Fort Cavazos Families

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus – whether at Texas A&M, UT Austin, University of Houston, Baylor, SMU, or any other Texas school – we want to hear from you.

Military families at Fort Cavazos understand sacrifice and service. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your child’s safety to campus traditions. You have the right to answers. You have the right to accountability.

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation

1. We listen to your story without judgment
2. Review evidence you have (photos, texts, medical records)
3. Explain legal options: criminal report, civil lawsuit, both, or neither
4. Discuss realistic timelines and what to expect
5. Answer questions about costs (contingency fee – no fee unless we win)
6. No pressure to hire us on the spot

Contact Attorney911 Today

Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070
Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com

Spanish Language Services:
Hablamos Español – Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish

Whether you’re at Fort Cavazos or anywhere in Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. Call us today.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston coverage: 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/
• Hoodline summary: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Evidence preservation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Statute of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client mistakes to avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Contingency fees explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website: 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