A Comprehensive Guide to Hazing in Texas: What Freeport Families Need to Know

If you’re a parent in Freeport, Texas, you sent your child off to college with pride and hope. Perhaps they’re at the University of Houston, just over an hour up Highway 288, or maybe at Texas A&M, UT Austin, or another Texas campus. Now, your child is coming home changed—exhausted, secretive, or injured. They mention “pledging,” “traditions,” or late-night “mandatory events.” You see unexplained bruises, a sudden drop in grades, or a personality shift from confident to anxious. You hear whispers about forced drinking, humiliating tasks, or extreme physical challenges. You’re starting to ask the hardest question: Is my child being hazed?

Right now, in Houston, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who was allegedly hazed by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. The lawsuit describes a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items, forced consumption of food until vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and extreme workouts that led to rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, and a four-day hospitalization. His urine was brown. This $10 million case names not just the fraternity members, but the University of Houston, its Board of Regents, and Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters. The chapter has been shut down.

This is not an isolated horror story from a distant state. This happened here, in Harris County, to a Texas student. It shows what hazing looks like in 2025: systematic, degrading, and capable of causing permanent physical and psychological harm. For Freeport families with children at any Texas university, the reality is that hazing persists—often hidden behind tradition, secrecy, and institutional reluctance.

This guide is for you. We will explain what modern hazing truly involves, how Texas law protects students, what has happened at major universities like UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, and Baylor, and what legal options exist for accountability and recovery. We will provide practical steps for parents and students, drawing on our active experience litigating these complex cases. Our goal is to arm you with knowledge, because in a hazing crisis, information is power, and timely action is critical.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

If you believe your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for immediate legal guidance.

In the first 48 hours, you must:

1. Secure Medical Care: Get your child to an ER or doctor immediately. Tell the medical provider the injuries may be from hazing.
2. Preserve Digital Evidence: Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text messages, and social media posts related to the incidents BEFORE they are deleted.
3. Document Physically: Photograph any injuries from multiple angles. Save any physical items (clothing, paddles, receipts).
4. Write It Down: Record everything your child tells you—dates, times, locations, names of involved individuals.
5. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or university directly.
   • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” their story.
   • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
   • Post details on public social media.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24-48 hours. Evidence vanishes quickly. We can help you preserve it and protect your child’s rights. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like for Texas Students

Hazing is no longer just about paddling in a basement. It’s a sophisticated, often digitally-enabled pattern of coercion that endangers mental and physical health. For Freeport parents, understanding its modern forms is the first step in recognizing risk.

A Clear, Modern Definition

Under Texas law (Education Code Chapter 37), hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—directed against a student for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining membership in a group, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student.

Crucially, “consent” is not a defense in Texas. The power imbalance, fear of social exclusion, and desire to belong mean a student’s “agreement” is not considered voluntary in the eyes of the law.

The Main Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains the most common and deadly form.

• Forced drinking games (“lineups,” “century club,” “family tree”).
• Mandatory consumption of large quantities of alcohol (handles of liquor, beer funnels).
• Coerced consumption of drugs or unknown substances.

2. Physical Hazing:

• “Smokings” or extreme calisthenics (hundreds of push-ups, wall-sits until collapse).
• Paddling, beating, or physical assaults.
• Sleep deprivation through all-night or early-morning “mandatory” events.
• Exposure to extreme elements (cold weather in underwear, locked in hot spaces).
• Forced consumption of excessive or disgusting foods (milk, raw eggs, hot sauce).

3. Psychological and Humiliating Hazing:

• Verbal abuse, yelling, and degradation.
• Public shaming or forced performance of embarrassing acts.
• Social isolation from friends and family.
• Assigning derogatory names or identities.

4. Sexualized Hazing:

• Forced nudity or partial nudity.
• Simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk”).
• Sexual assault or coercion.

5. Digital Hazing: The new frontier for control and humiliation.

• 24/7 monitoring and mandatory instant replies in group chats (GroupMe, Discord).
• Forced posting of humiliating content on social media (TikTok, Instagram).
• Geo-location tracking via apps.
• Cyberstalking or harassment if a pledge attempts to leave.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond the Frat House

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

• Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic sororities.
• National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC/”Divine Nine”) organizations.
• Multicultural Greek Council groups.
• Corps of Cadets, ROTC, and military-style units (especially at Texas A&M).
• Athletic teams, cheer squads, and marching bands.
• Spirit and tradition organizations (like the Texas Cowboys).
• Academic clubs and honor societies.

The common thread is the abuse of power under the guise of “tradition,” “bonding,” or “proving commitment.”

The Texas & Federal Legal Framework for Hazing

For a Freeport family navigating a hazing crisis, understanding the legal landscape is essential. Texas has specific statutes, but federal law also plays a role, especially when dealing with universities.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37)

Definition & Prohibition: Texas law defines hazing broadly and prohibits it at any educational institution.

Criminal Penalties:

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause serious bodily injury.
• Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
• State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.

Key Protections:

• Consent is NOT a Defense: A student’s “agreement” to participate does not excuse the conduct.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporters: Individuals who report hazing in good faith to authorities are immune from civil or criminal liability for their own minor involvement.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 per violation and lose university recognition.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office). Aim to punish with jail, fines, probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter in fatal cases.
• Civil Cases: Brought by the victim or their family. Aim to secure compensation for damages (medical bills, pain and suffering, lost future earnings) and hold all responsible parties accountable through financial verdicts or settlements.

These cases can run simultaneously. A criminal conviction is not required to file a civil lawsuit, and the evidence gathered in a civil case can often be more comprehensive.

Federal Law Overlay

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, universities have specific investigative and response obligations.
• The Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain crimes, including some hazing-related assaults, in annual security reports.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): A new federal law requiring colleges receiving federal aid to improve hazing transparency, reporting, and prevention programs by 2026.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

A thorough investigation seeks to identify every responsible entity, creating multiple avenues for recovery and accountability:

1. Individual Students: The members who planned, executed, or concealed the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The fraternity or sorority chapter as an entity.
3. The National Organization: The fraternity or sorority headquarters that sets policies, collects dues, and supervises chapters. Their knowledge of prior incidents is crucial.
4. The University: For negligence in supervision, failure to enforce policies, or deliberate indifference to known risks. Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have some sovereign immunity, but exceptions exist.
5. Housing Corporations/Alumni Boards: Entities that own or control the property where hazing occurred.
6. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, bars that served alcohol to minors.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Script Repeats

The tragedies that make national news are not random. They follow predictable patterns. Understanding these patterns shows Freeport families that what happened to their child is part of a known, foreseeable risk that organizations have failed to curb.

The Alcohol Poisoning Death Pattern

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): A bid-acceptance night with forced drinking led to fatal falls. Brothers delayed calling 911. The case resulted in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): A “Bible study” drinking game led to fatal alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495%). Louisiana passed the Max Gruver Act, a felony hazing statute.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A “Big/Little” night where the pledge was forced to drink a bottle of whiskey. A $10 million settlement was reached with the family.
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died of alcohol poisoning at a “Big Brother” event. His death led to a temporary suspension of all Greek life at FSU.

The Takeaway: The “forced drinking night” is a recurring, lethal script. Nationals and universities are repeatedly on notice.

The Physical & Ritualized Violence Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted.
• Danny Santulli (U. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Pledge suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. Settlements with 22 defendants.
• Collin Wiant (Ohio U., Sigma Pi, 2018): Died after alleged hazing involving nitrous oxide at an unofficial house. Led to “Collin’s Law” in Ohio.

The Takeaway: Violent rituals and off-campus “retreats” are high-risk environments where accountability often requires tracing conduct back to the national organization.

Athletic & Program Hazing

• 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.
• Robert Champion (Florida A&M, 2011): Drum major died from a brutal beating during marching band hazing. FAMU paid a $1 million settlement.

The Takeaway: Hazing is not exclusive to Greek life. Powerful athletic and performance programs can harbor deeply abusive cultures.

What This Means for Freeport Families: These national cases set legal precedents. They establish that national organizations can be liable for patterns of conduct, that universities can be responsible for oversight failures, and that juries will award significant damages for hazing injuries and deaths. Your case in Texas is part of this national story.

Texas University Focus: Where Freeport Students Are

Freeport families often send their children to major universities across Texas. Here is what you need to know about the hazing landscape at these schools, starting with the one in our own backyard.

University of Houston (UH) – In Our Metro, In Our Courts

For Freeport Families: UH’s main campus is in Houston, the heart of the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area that includes Brazoria County and Freeport. Many local graduates attend UH. When hazing happens at UH, it is investigated by UHPD or Houston PD, and any resulting civil cases are filed in Harris County courts. This is our community, and these are our courts.

The Current Case – Proof of Serious Litigation: We are actively litigating the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case. This is not historical; it’s a live, $10 million lawsuit alleging severe physical and psychological hazing that caused rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. The chapter is closed. This case exemplifies the institutional fight Freeport families can face: suing the university, the national fraternity, the housing corporation, and individual members.

UH’s Greek Ecosystem & Public Records: UH hosts dozens of fraternities and sororities across its IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, and Multicultural councils. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks the entities behind these groups. For example, public IRS B83 filings show Texas-registered organizations like:

• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter (EIN: 74-6084905) at 4300 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX 77204.
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation (EIN: 37-1768785) at 4102 Eastshore St, Missouri City, TX 77459.
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. – Sigma Gamma Chapter (EIN: 39-2352450), PO Box 540026, Houston, TX 77254.

These are not just social clubs; they are legal entities that can hold insurance and liability.

What UH Parents & Students Should Do:

1. Report to both UH Dean of Students and UHPD. Assume internal reports may be limited.
2. Understand that hazing is not confined to the campus. The Bermudez case involved locations at the chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park.
3. Seek counsel familiar with Harris County civil procedure and the defenses used by large public institutions like the UH System Board of Regents.

Texas A&M University

For Freeport Families: Located in College Station, Texas A&M is a major destination for Texas students and has a unique culture with its Corps of Cadets. Hazing cases here may involve both Greek life and Corps traditions.

Documented Incidents & High-Risk Environments:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being doused with substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. A lawsuit sought $1 million.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position. The case sought over $1 million in damages.
• Greek Life Transparency: Like other schools, A&M has faced ongoing issues with forced drinking and physical abuse within its significant Greek community.

The Corps Dynamic: The Corps’ military-style hierarchy and tradition can create an environment where abusive practices are normalized as “discipline.” This requires attorneys who understand both civil liability and the unique culture of the Corps.

What Texas A&M Parents & Students Should Do:

1. Reporting paths include the Student Conduct Office and the Corps Commandant’s office (if applicable).
2. Preserve evidence with the understanding that peer pressure and loyalty can be intense.
3. Recognize that cases may need to address both university oversight and the specific subculture of the involved group.

University of Texas at Austin (UT)

For Freeport Families: UT Austin is a flagship campus with a massive Greek system. It also has one of the most transparent public hazing logs in the state, which can be a powerful tool for families.

Public Hazing Violations Log: UT maintains a public website listing organizations found responsible for hazing. This log is a treasure trove for showing patterns and institutional knowledge. Recent entries include:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: Probation.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2023): Under investigation for hazing allegations as of recent reports.
• Various spirit groups and other fraternities for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, and degrading behavior.

Why the Log Matters: This public record demonstrates that UT knows certain organizations are repeat offenders. In a lawsuit, we can use this to argue the university had a duty to take stronger preventative action.

What UT Parents & Students Should Do:

1. Check the public hazing log to see if your child’s organization has a prior history.
2. Report to the UT Dean of Students and UT Police Department.
3. Act quickly; the public nature of incidents can lead to faster evidence destruction by the involved group.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

For Freeport Families: These private, prominent universities in Dallas and Waco have active Greek systems and their own hazing challenges.

SMU’s Profile: As a private university, SMU has fewer public reporting requirements, but incidents still surface.

• Kappa Alpha Order was suspended in 2017 for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.

Baylor’s Context: Baylor’s history with institutional response to misconduct (the football sexual assault scandal) informs how it may handle hazing reports.

• Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players were suspended following a hazing investigation.

Key Consideration for Private Schools: While they lack state sovereign immunity, they often have significant resources and a strong desire to protect their brand. Litigation requires a firm prepared for aggressive defense from well-funded private counsel.

Fraternities & Sororities: National Histories, Local Harm in Texas

The fraternity or sorority your child sought to join has a national history—a history that often includes hazing deaths, injuries, and lawsuits. This history is not incidental; it forms the basis for holding the national organization accountable.

Why National Histories Matter in Court

When a chapter at UH or Texas A&M repeats a hazing script—a “Big/Little” drinking night, a violent paddling tradition, a degrading lineup—that script was often written years ago at another chapter. The national headquarters, which collects dues, provides materials, and sends consultants, is on notice. In legal terms, this creates foreseeability. A core question becomes: Given what this national organization knew from prior incidents across the country, did it do enough to prevent the same thing from happening here in Texas?

Connecting National Brands to Texas Campuses

Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine cross-references national brands with their Texas-registered entities. This allows us to map the full liability network. For example:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): National history includes the Stone Foltz death at BGSU ($10M settlement). In Texas, we find entities like the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (EIN: 74-6064445) in Nederland, TX, connected to its Epsilon Kappa Chapter.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): One of the most deadly fraternities nationally, with multiple alcohol-related deaths. In Texas, we find SAE – Texas Sigma Incorporated (EIN: 88-2755427) in San Marcos.
• Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ): National history includes the Andrew Coffey death at FSU. In Texas, we are currently suing their national headquarters in the Bermudez case and see entities like the Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc. (EIN: 46-2267515) in Frisco.
• Kappa Sigma (ΚΣ): National history includes the Chad Meredith drowning death at Miami ($12.6M verdict). In Texas, we find the Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc. (EIN: 74-1380362) in Fort Worth.

This data-driven approach means we don’t start from scratch. We know how to find the legal entities, insurance policies, and prior incident reports that form the backbone of a strong case.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy for Freeport Families

If you are considering legal action, you need to understand what building a case entails. It is a meticulous process of investigation, evidence preservation, and strategic pressure.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, Instagram DMs. These are the #1 source of evidence, showing planning, boasting, threats, and real-time accounts of hazing. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages.
2. Photos & Videos: Content filmed by participants, often shared in group chats. Security or doorbell camera footage from houses.
3. Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, emails from officers, national risk management policies.
4. University Records: Prior conduct files on the chapter, Clery Act reports, internal investigation notes (obtained through discovery or public records requests).
5. Medical & Psychological Records: ER reports, hospitalization records, lab results (like the critical CK levels showing rhabdomyolysis), and diagnoses of PTSD, depression, or anxiety from a treating psychologist.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, RAs. Often, once one person comes forward, others find the courage to do so.

The Damages Hazing Causes

A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and hold defendants accountable through compensation for:

• Economic Damages: Past and future medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, diminished future earning capacity (if injuries are permanent), and educational losses (withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships).
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life, and psychological trauma (PTSD, depression, anxiety).
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and the family’s emotional suffering.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of particularly reckless or malicious conduct, intended to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

Our Strategic Advantage: The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine & Litigation Experience

We don’t just take a case; we build a data-driven litigation strategy. For Freeport families, this means:

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation: We guide you to secure digital and physical evidence before it vanishes.
2. Defendant Identification: Using our engine, we identify all potentially liable entities: the local chapter, the national HQ, the housing corporation, alumni boards, and the university.
3. Insurance Coverage Analysis: With Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney, we know how fraternity and university insurers fight claims. We anticipate their arguments and work to maximize available coverage.
4. Leveraging National Patterns: We use the national history of the organization to prove foreseeability and gross negligence.
5. Trial Readiness: Our willingness and preparation to go to trial—proven by Ralph Manginello’s federal court experience and involvement in massive litigation like the BP Texas City explosion cases—changes settlement dynamics. Defendants know we are not a firm that will settle cheaply to avoid court.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Freeport Parents and Students

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Recognize the Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, limping).
• Extreme exhaustion, sleep deprivation.
• Drastic personality changes (withdrawn, anxious, secretive).
• Sudden obsession with phone/group chats, anxiety when it pings.
• Decline in academic performance.
• Needing large sums of money for unexplained “fines” or “dues.”

2. Have the Conversation:

• Be calm, non-judgmental, and supportive. Say, “I’m worried about you. Your safety is all that matters.”
• Ask open-ended questions: “What does a typical pledge week look like?” “Has anything made you uncomfortable?”
• Reassure them: “You will not be in trouble. We will get through this together.”

3. Take Immediate Action:

• Medical First: Seek care and tell the doctor about the hazing.
• Preserve Evidence: Follow the 48-hour checklist at the top of this guide.
• Consult an Attorney: Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 before reporting to the university. We can help you navigate the process to protect your child’s rights and your potential claim.

For Students: Your Safety and Rights

Is This Hazing?
If you feel coerced, unsafe, humiliated, or are being forced to do something dangerous or degrading to belong, it is hazing. Trust your instincts.

How to Exit Safely:

• Your physical safety is paramount. If in danger, call 911.
• You have the right to quit. Send a simple text/email: “I resign my membership/pledgeship effective immediately.”
• Tell a trusted adult (parent, RA, professor) first for support.
• Do NOT go to a “final meeting” where pressure or retaliation could occur.

Protecting Yourself After Reporting:

• Texas law provides immunity for good-faith reporting.
• Document any retaliation (threats, harassment) and report it to police and the university.
• You have the right to a no-contact order.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm Your Case

1. Deleting Evidence: “Cleaning up” group chats destroys your strongest proof.
2. Confronting the Organization: This triggers their defense lawyers and evidence destruction.
3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms: These often contain waivers of your right to sue.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense investigators monitor everything. Inconsistencies hurt credibility.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses scatter, and the Texas statute of limitations (generally 2 years) runs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue a public university like UH or Texas A&M in Texas?
A: Yes, but with complexities. Public universities have sovereign immunity, but it can be overcome by showing gross negligence, willful misconduct, or by suing individual employees in their personal capacity. It requires experienced legal strategy.

Q: What if the hazing happened off-campus at a rented house?
A: Location does not defeat liability. The university and national organization can still be responsible based on their knowledge, sponsorship, and control over the organization. Many major cases have involved off-campus locations.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury, including hazing injury, is generally two years from the date of injury. For wrongful death, it’s two years from the date of death. However, exceptions and “tolling” arguments exist. Do not wait. Call us to understand your specific timeline.

Q: Will our case be public?
A: Most civil hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. We always prioritize our clients’ privacy and can negotiate for sealed records and confidential settlement terms.

Q: How much does it cost to hire your firm?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury and wrongful death cases. This means you pay no upfront fees or hourly costs. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery we secure for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay attorney’s fees.

Why Freeport Families Choose Attorney911 for Hazing Cases

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need advocates who are not intimidated by powerful institutions and who understand the unique mechanics of these cases. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) brings a distinct combination of insider knowledge, complex litigation muscle, and a data-driven approach.

Our Unmatched Advantages

1. Insurance Insider Knowledge – Mr. Lupe Peña:
Before fighting for victims, Mr. Peña spent years as an attorney for a national insurance defense firm. He knows precisely how fraternity and university insurance companies value claims, deploy delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. We know their playbook because we used to run it. This insight is invaluable in maximizing recovery for our clients.

2. Proven Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants – Ralph Manginello:
Our firm was one of the few in Texas involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on one of the world’s largest corporations. That experience—in federal court, against unlimited defense budgets, in massively complex cases—is directly applicable to suing national fraternities and large university systems. We are not intimidated by Goliath.

3. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine:
We don’t just practice law; we engineer cases. Our proprietary database tracks over 1,400 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros, including the 188 in the Houston metro that encompasses Freeport. We know the EINs, the legal entities, the housing corporations, and the national histories before we even file suit. We turn public data into legal leverage.

4. Active, High-Stakes Litigation – The Bermudez Case:
We are not theorists. We are currently leading the $10 million Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. This active case in Harris County courts is our flagship proof of capability. We are in the fight right now, setting precedents and forcing accountability that protects all Texas students.

5. Full-Spectrum Capability:
From our Houston base, we serve families across Texas. We are admitted to federal courts, have Spanish-language services available through Mr. Peña, and have a network of medical experts, economists, and digital forensics specialists we deploy to build unassailable cases.

A Final Message to Freeport Parents

The call you never wanted to make is the one that can start the path to healing and accountability. The fear, anger, and confusion you feel are justified. What happened to your child was not a “tradition” or a “mistake”—it was a preventable abuse of power that has real legal consequences.

You sent your child to college to build a future. Hazing tried to steal that future. Let us help you take it back. We will listen to your story without judgment, investigate with relentless precision, and fight with every tool at our disposal to secure the compensation and accountability your family deserves.

Call to Action: Your Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family in Freeport or anywhere in Texas, you do not have to navigate this crisis alone.

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

What to expect when you call 1-888-ATTY-911:

1. We Listen: We will hear your story with compassion and focus.
2. We Assess: We will review any evidence you have and provide an initial assessment of your legal options.
3. We Explain: We will clarify the legal process, potential timelines, and our contingency fee structure. You will have no upfront cost.
4. You Decide: There is no pressure. We will provide the information you need to make the best choice for your family.

Contact Information:

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

We serve families throughout Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

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

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

• Using your phone to document evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas statutes of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client mistakes that can ruin a case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer

This article is 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 and university policies can change. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and evidence. If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified attorney to review your specific situation.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com