Hazing in Texas: A Guide for McLendon-Chisholm Families Seeking Accountability

The Nightmare That Happened At Your Doorstep

Imagine this scene: your student from McLendon-Chisholm is at their Texas university, eager to join a respected organization. It’s “Big/Little” night at the fraternity house, an event framed as a harmless tradition. Under the relentless pressure of older members, they’re handed a bottle of liquor and told to finish it. Laughter and phones record the moment. Hours later, they’re unconscious, vomiting, their body shutting down from acute alcohol poisoning. Fraternity brothers hesitate, worried more about their chapter’s reputation than your child’s life. By the time someone finally calls 911, permanent damage has been done.

This isn’t a hypothetical scare story from another state. It’s the exact pattern of one of the most serious hazing lawsuits unfolding in Texas right now. If your family lives in McLendon-Chisholm—whether in the peaceful neighborhoods near Lake Ray Hubbard or in the growing communities of Rockwall County—you need to understand that the campus dangers affecting Texas families can impact your child at the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, or any of the dozens of universities where McLendon-Chisholm students enroll.

This comprehensive guide exists for one reason: to arm McLendon-Chisholm parents and families with the knowledge, legal understanding, and practical steps needed when hazing shatters the college experience. We’ll explain exactly what hazing looks like today, how Texas law protects your child, what’s happening at major Texas universities, and why the national patterns of fraternity violence matter right here in our state. Most importantly, we’ll show you how experienced legal counsel can pursue accountability when institutions fail to protect students.

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

The Texas Hazing Case That Changed Everything: Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston

To understand the seriousness of modern hazing in Texas, you need to know about the case that’s unfolding right now in our state’s court system. This isn’t a historical reference—it’s active litigation that demonstrates exactly what McLendon-Chisholm families might face.

In November 2025, Attorney911 filed a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, the UH System Board of Regents, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The details, as reported by Click2Houston and ABC13, reveal a systematic pattern of abuse that every Texas parent should recognize.

Bermudez, a transfer student who accepted a bid in September 2025, was subjected to what the lawsuit describes as “torture-like” conditions. He was forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, a sex toy, nicotine devices, and other humiliating items. The physical hazing included sprints, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, cold-weather exposure in underwear, lying in vomit-soaked grass, and being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.”

The breaking point came on November 3, 2025, when fraternity leaders forced Bermudez through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats while threatening expulsion if he failed. Days later, he was passing brown urine and could barely stand. Rushed to the hospital by his mother, doctors diagnosed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. His creatine kinase levels were critically elevated, confirming the life-threatening condition. He required four days of hospitalization and faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

The institutional response tells its own story: Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters suspended the Beta Nu chapter on November 6, 2025, after receiving hazing reports. Members voted to surrender their charter on November 14. University of Houston officials called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary action up to expulsion, along with cooperation with law enforcement.

This case matters to every family in McLendon-Chisholm because it proves three critical truths:

Severe hazing is happening right now in Texas – not just in other states
Universities and national fraternities have complex insurance and legal defenses that require specialized legal knowledge to navigate
Immediate medical consequences like rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure are real risks of physical hazing

When Attorney911’s Ralph Manginello stated, “We’re almost in 2026. This has to stop,” and Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) added, “If this prevents harm to another person…Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough,” they were speaking directly to the reality that Texas families now face. The same fraternities, the same national patterns, and the same institutional failures exist whether your child attends school in Houston, College Station, Austin, Dallas, or Waco.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like Beyond the Stereotypes

For McLendon-Chisholm families who may not be familiar with modern Greek life or campus organizations, understanding what hazing actually looks like today is crucial. It’s evolved far beyond the “harmless pranks” of old movies into systematic, dangerous, and often digitally-coordinated abuse.

The Modern Definition That Matters

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 legal and practical point is this: “I agreed to it” or “I wanted to fit in” does not make it safe or legal when there’s peer pressure and power imbalance. Texas law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing.

The Five Main Categories of Modern Hazing

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the deadliest form. It includes forced or coerced drinking through “lineups,” chugging challenges, drinking games where wrong answers mean consuming more, and being pressured to consume unknown substances. The Pi Kappa Phi case at UH included forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting—a classic example of substance hazing disguised as “tradition.”

Physical Hazing
Beyond paddling and beatings, today’s physical hazing includes extreme calisthenics or “workouts” far beyond normal conditioning, sleep deprivation through late-night “meetings,” food/water restriction, and exposure to dangerous environments. The rhabdomyolysis in the UH case resulted from precisely this kind of excessive physical hazing.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This category includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. The “pledge fanny pack” with sexual items in the UH case falls squarely here, as does traditional practices like “elephant walks” or “roasted pig” positions documented in other Texas cases.

Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming create psychological trauma that can last far longer than physical injuries. This is particularly prevalent in organizations that emphasize “breaking down” pledges to rebuild them in the group’s image.

Digital/Online Hazing
The newest frontier includes group chat dares, social media “challenges,” pressure to create compromising content, and public humiliation via Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, or Discord. This creates a permanent digital record of abuse while enabling organizers to coordinate and monitor compliance remotely.

Where Hazing Actually Happens in Texas

While fraternities and sororities dominate headlines, McLendon-Chisholm families should know hazing occurs across campus organizations:

Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural groups)
Corps of Cadets / ROTC / Military-Style Groups (particularly at Texas A&M)
Athletic Teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer, etc.)
Spirit Squads and Tradition Clubs (like Texas Cowboys or similar groups)
Marching Bands and Performance Groups
Some Service, Cultural, and Academic Organizations

The common thread across all these groups is the toxic combination of social status, tradition, and secrecy that keeps dangerous practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Texas Law & Liability Framework: What McLendon-Chisholm Families Must Know

Understanding the legal landscape is essential for any family considering action after a hazing incident. Texas has specific laws, but they operate within a broader federal framework that affects universities receiving federal funding.

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code Chapter 37)

Under Texas law—which governs cases involving McLendon-Chisholm families—hazing is broadly defined as intentional, knowing, or reckless acts, directed at a student, for the purpose of initiation/affiliation, that either:

Endanger physical health or safety (beating, forced exercise, forced consumption)
Or substantially affect mental health or safety (extreme humiliation, intimidation)

Criminal penalties escalate based on harm:

Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing without serious injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine)
Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death

Critical Protections for McLendon-Chisholm Families:

Reporter Immunity: Individuals who report hazing or call for help in good faith have protections from liability, even if they were involved
No Consent Defense: Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states that victim consent is not a defense to hazing charges
Organizational Liability: Fraternities, sororities, and other organizations can face fines up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized or encouraged hazing or if officers knew and failed to report it

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases

Brought by the state (prosecutor)
Aim: punishment (jail, fines, probation)
Typical charges: hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases
Example: Individual fraternity members in the UH case could face criminal charges

Civil Cases

Brought by victims or surviving families
Aim: monetary compensation and institutional accountability
Focus: negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress
Example: The $10 million Bermudez lawsuit is a civil case seeking damages

These tracks can run simultaneously, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. Many families pursue both to achieve both punishment and compensation.

Federal Overlay: Stop Campus Hazing Act, Title IX, Clery

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024)
This federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently, strengthen prevention programs, and maintain public hazing data. By 2026, universities like UH, Texas A&M, and UT Austin will have more public reporting requirements.

Title IX & Clery Act Implications
When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger additional reporting and response requirements. The Clery Act requires reporting certain crimes in campus safety statistics—hazing incidents often overlap with these categories when assaults or alcohol crimes occur.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

The legal strategy in hazing cases involves identifying every potentially liable party:

Individual Students
Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up. In the UH case, 13 individual members were named.

Local Chapter/Organization
The fraternity/sorority or club itself as a legal entity, plus officers acting in official capacity.

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

University or Governing Board
Schools may be liable under negligence or civil rights theories. Key questions involve prior warnings, policy enforcement, and deliberate indifference to known risks.

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

Every case is fact-specific, but experienced hazing attorneys like those at Attorney911 know how to investigate each potential defendant to maximize accountability.

National Hazing Case Patterns: Precedents That Protect Texas Families

The national landscape of hazing litigation provides both warning and precedent for McLendon-Chisholm families. These cases show patterns that repeat across states and organizations—patterns that Texas courts recognize when evaluating liability.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
A bid-acceptance event with forced drinking led to Piazza’s death after severe falls captured on chapter cameras. The hours-long delay in calling 911 resulted in dozens of criminal charges and civil litigation that produced Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. The takeaway for Texas families: delay in seeking medical help creates devastating legal consequences.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017)
Coffey died after being given a handle of liquor during a “Big/Little” event—the same fraternity involved in the UH case. The tragedy led to FSU temporarily suspending all Greek life and overhauling policies. The pattern shows how formulaic “tradition” drinking nights repeat across chapters.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
A “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant drinking led to Gruver’s death and Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, creating felony hazing statutes. The lesson: legislative change often follows public outrage fueled by litigation.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
Forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey, Foltz died from alcohol poisoning. Multiple criminal convictions followed, plus a $10 million total settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU). This case demonstrates the substantial financial consequences institutions now face.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
Deng died during a violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a fraternity retreat. His death led to multiple convictions and the fraternity being banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. The takeaway: off-campus retreats don’t eliminate liability—they often increase it.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program over multiple years, leading to multiple lawsuits and the head coach’s firing. This demonstrates hazing extends beyond Greek life into major athletic programs with significant oversight failures.

What These Cases Mean for McLendon-Chisholm Families

Common threads across these national cases should alarm every Texas parent:

Forced drinking remains the most common fatal hazing method
Delayed medical care and cover-ups dramatically worsen outcomes and liability
Multi-million-dollar settlements have become standard for serious injuries and deaths
National organizations face liability when chapters repeat conduct seen elsewhere
Universities can be held accountable for failing to supervise recognized organizations

These precedents matter because they show Texas courts what patterns to recognize and what damages are appropriate when hazing causes harm.

Texas Focus: Where McLendon-Chisholm Students Actually Attend

McLendon-Chisholm families send students to universities across Texas, with many choosing schools within driving distance in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area or major state institutions. Understanding the specific landscape at each campus helps families recognize risks and responses.

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro Greek Ecosystem

While McLendon-Chisholm itself sits in Rockwall County, our community is part of the massive Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area that contains one of the nation’s largest concentrations of Greek organizations. According to public records data that Attorney911 maintains through our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, this metro area hosts approximately 510 Greek-related organizations including undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, honor societies, and housing corporations.

This means the fraternities and sororities that McLendon-Chisholm students encounter at schools like UT Dallas, University of North Texas, Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University, and others are backed by complex networks of legally-recognized entities. A small sample from public IRS records shows the scale:

Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, EIN 742911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244
Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147
Kappa Delta Sorority – Gamma Beta Chapter, Denton, TX (Texas Woman’s University)
Delta Tau Delta Fraternity – Gamma Iota Chapter, Austin, TX (University of Texas)

These organizations have legal identities, insurance policies, and liability structures that matter deeply when hazing occurs. For McLendon-Chisholm families, this means any hazing incident connects to a web of potential defendants beyond just the students involved.

University of Houston: The Active Litigation Example

Campus & Culture Snapshot
UH represents a large, diverse urban campus with significant Greek life. For McLendon-Chisholm families whose students choose UH, understanding its organizational landscape is crucial. The university hosts multiple Greek councils including IFC fraternities, Panhellenic sororities, NPHC (Divine Nine), and multicultural groups.

How a UH Hazing Case Proceeds
The Bermudez case provides the blueprint. When hazing occurs at UH or in Houston, multiple jurisdictions may be involved:

UHPD for on-campus incidents
Houston Police Department for off-campus locations
Harris County courts for civil litigation
Federal courts for Title IX or civil rights claims

Potential defendants typically include individual students, the local chapter, the national headquarters, the university, and sometimes property owners or third-party vendors.

What UH Students & McLendon-Chisholm Parents Should Do

Report immediately to UH Dean of Students Office and UHPD
Document everything with timestamps and photos
Preserve digital evidence (GroupMe, texts, social media)
Seek medical attention and request complete records
Contact experienced Houston-based hazing attorneys before speaking to university investigators or insurance representatives

Texas A&M University: Corps Culture & Greek Life

Campus & Culture Snapshot
Texas A&M’s unique Corps of Cadets tradition creates a distinct hazing risk environment alongside conventional Greek life. McLendon-Chisholm families with students in the Corps should be particularly vigilant about tradition-disguised abuse.

Documented Incidents & Responses

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges allegedly had industrial-strength cleaner poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended for two years.
Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged being bound between beds in a degrading position with an apple in his mouth during hazing rituals.

How Texas A&M Cases Differ
Corps cases often involve military-style traditions and unique disciplinary systems, while Greek cases follow more conventional patterns. Both can involve substantial institutional resistance and complex insurance coverage issues.

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency & Persistent Problems

Campus & Culture Snapshot
UT Austin’s public hazing violations page provides unusual transparency compared to other Texas schools. This can actually benefit families pursuing claims by providing evidence of prior knowledge and patterns.

Documented Violations from UT’s Public Log

Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; chapter placed on probation
Multiple spirit organizations: Sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, punishment-based practices

How UT’s Transparency Affects Cases
The public record of prior violations establishes pattern evidence that can prove universities and nationals knew or should have known about dangerous practices. This documentation becomes powerful evidence in civil litigation.

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University: Private School Challenges

Private University Realities
SMU and Baylor present different challenges as private institutions. They often have less public transparency but can face significant liability due to fewer sovereign immunity protections than public universities.

SMU’s Documented Issues

Kappa Alpha Order (2017): New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink, deprived of sleep; chapter suspended for years
Anonymous reporting systems like Real Response underscore ongoing concerns

Baylor’s Complex History
The university’s past Title IX scandals create a context where hazing claims may be viewed through existing institutional failure patterns. Baylor baseball hazing suspensions in 2020 demonstrate athletics aren’t immune.

Fraternities & Sororities: National Histories That Matter in Texas

When McLendon-Chisholm families face hazing incidents, understanding the national histories of specific organizations becomes critical to building liability cases. National headquarters often have extensive records of prior incidents that establish they knew or should have known about dangerous patterns.

Why National Histories Create Liability

Texas courts recognize that national fraternities and sororities aren’t passive collectives—they’re active organizations that:

Set policies and risk management procedures
Collect dues and maintain oversight
Provide training and materials to chapters
Maintain records of prior incidents across their network

When a Texas chapter repeats dangerous conduct that caused injuries or deaths elsewhere, that pattern establishes foreseeability—a key element in negligence claims. National organizations can’t claim “we didn’t know this could happen” when their own records show it happening repeatedly.

Organization-Specific Patterns Affecting Texas Students

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ)

National Pattern: Andrew Coffey’s alcohol poisoning death at Florida State (2017)
Texas Connection: The active UH lawsuit involving forced drinking, physical abuse, and life-threatening injuries
Liability Implication: Nationals had prior notice of fatal alcohol hazing risks but allegedly failed to prevent repetition at UH

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / “Pike”)

National Pattern: Stone Foltz’s death at Bowling Green ($10M settlement), multiple other alcohol hazing deaths
Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Baylor, and other Texas schools
Documented Texas Incidents: UT Austin probation for forced milk consumption and calisthenics (2023)

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ / SAE)

National Pattern: Multiple hazing-related deaths nationwide; elimination of traditional pledge process in 2014
Texas Incidents: Chemical burns case at Texas A&M ($1M lawsuit), assault allegations at UT Austin
Known Risk: Nationals have documented extensive hazing problems for decades

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)

National Pattern: Max Gruver’s death at LSU sparked Louisiana’s felony hazing law
Legal Precedent: Established that drinking game hazing creates foreseeable deadly risks

How This Knowledge Protects McLendon-Chisholm Families

When Attorney911 takes a hazing case, we immediately investigate the national organization’s history. Through discovery, we can obtain:

Prior incident reports from other chapters
Risk management files showing what nationals knew
Communications about hazing concerns
Training materials that may have been inadequate

This investigation establishes that the harm was foreseeable and preventable—key to overcoming defenses about “rogue chapters” or “unforeseeable accidents.”

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: How We Track What Organizations Try to Hide

For McLendon-Chisholm families, one of Attorney911’s most powerful advantages is our proprietary data system: the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine. This isn’t marketing hyperbole—it’s a systematic approach to tracking the organizations behind hazing incidents across Texas.

What Our Engine Contains

IRS B83 Organization Database
We maintain records of 125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations with legal names, EINs, and addresses. This includes entities like:

Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 133048786, College Station, TX 77845
Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Inc, EIN 161675890, The Woodlands, TX 77382
Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX 75035
Sigma Phi Lambda Inc, EIN 201237505, Corinth, TX 76210

Texas University Mapping
Our database tracks 96 Texas campuses with their city/county locations, helping us understand jurisdictional issues that affect McLendon-Chisholm families when incidents occur away from home.

Metro Organization Tracking
We monitor Greek entities across Texas metros, including the 188 organizations in the Houston metro, 154 in Austin-Round Rock, and 86 in San Antonio.

Why This Matters for Your Case

When you contact Attorney911 about a hazing incident, we don’t start from zero. We already know:

The legal identities of organizations involved
Their insurance and liability structures
Prior incidents and patterns
The network of related entities that might share liability

This headstart is crucial because hazing organizations often destroy evidence within days. We know how to immediately subpoena the right records, contact the correct insurance carriers, and identify all potentially liable parties.

Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy for McLendon-Chisholm Families

When hazing harms your child, understanding the legal process helps manage expectations and make informed decisions. Here’s what experienced hazing litigation involves.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Communications (Most Important)

GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord conversations
Instagram DMs, Snapchat messages, TikTok content
Emails between members or with nationals
Recoverable deleted messages through digital forensics

Photos & Videos

Content filmed during events (often shared in group chats)
Social media posts and stories
Security camera or doorbell footage
Medical documentation of injuries

Internal Organization Documents

Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, “tradition” documents
Risk management policies from nationals
Meeting minutes or planning communications

University Records

Prior conduct files on the same organization
Incident reports and investigative documents
Clery Act reports and campus safety records

Medical & Psychological Records

ER reports, hospitalization records, lab results (like the critical CK levels in the UH case)
Surgical notes and rehabilitation plans
Psychological evaluations for PTSD, depression, anxiety

Witness Testimony

Other pledges, members, roommates, RAs
Former members who quit or were expelled
Medical providers and first responders

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Understanding damage categories helps families appreciate what compensation addresses beyond medical bills:

Economic Damages

All medical expenses (past and future)
Lost income for parents who miss work
Lost educational opportunities (tuition, scholarships)
Diminished future earning capacity for permanent injuries

Non-Economic Damages

Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
Loss of enjoyment of life
Damage to reputation and relationships

Wrongful Death Damages (When Applicable)

Funeral and burial costs
Loss of financial support
Loss of companionship and guidance
Family members’ emotional suffering

Punitive Damages
In cases involving particularly reckless or intentional conduct, Texas courts may award punitive damages to punish defendants and deter future misconduct.

The Role of Insurance Coverage

One of Attorney911’s unique advantages comes from Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney. He understands exactly how fraternity and university insurers:

Value and reserve claims
Use Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) to reduce settlements
Deploy delay tactics to pressure families
Argue coverage exclusions for “intentional acts”

This insider knowledge helps us navigate complex insurance disputes that often determine whether families recover meaningful compensation.

Practical Guides & FAQs for McLendon-Chisholm Families

For Parents: Warning Signs & Immediate Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Hazed

Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns
Extreme fatigue beyond normal college stress
Sudden secrecy about organization activities
Personality changes: anxiety, withdrawal, irritability
Constant phone use for group chat monitoring
Fear of missing “mandatory” events
Financial requests without clear explanations
Academic performance decline

How to Talk to Your Child

Ask open questions without judgment: “How are things with your organization?”
Listen more than you talk
Emphasize safety over status: “Your health matters more than any group.”
Assure them: “We’ll support you no matter what.”

If Your Child Is Hurt

Medical First: Get immediate care, even if they resist
Document Everything: Photos, screenshots, notes with dates/times
Preserve Evidence: Don’t let them delete messages or clean up
Write It Down: Record everything they tell you while fresh
Contact a Lawyer: Before talking to university or insurance representatives

Dealing with Universities

Document every communication (emails, calls, meetings)
Ask specific questions about prior incidents involving the organization
Request copies of policies and procedures
Don’t sign anything without legal review
Remember: university processes aren’t designed for victim compensation

For Students: Safety & Rights

Is This Hazing? Quick Self-Check

Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
Is this dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
Would my parents/university approve if they knew details?
Am I being told to keep secrets or lie?
Are only new members doing this?

How to Exit Safely

Tell someone outside the organization first (parent, RA, friend)
Send a clear resignation email/text: “I resign my membership effective immediately.”
Don’t attend “one last meeting” where pressure might occur
If threatened, report immediately to campus police and Dean of Students

Your Legal Rights in Texas

You can’t be punished for calling 911 in an emergency (good-faith reporter immunity)
Hazing is a crime—you’re the victim, not the perpetrator
“Consent” isn’t a defense under Texas law
You can request no-contact orders if harassed after reporting

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

Letting Evidence Disappear
The single biggest error families make is allowing messages to be deleted or physical evidence destroyed. What seems embarrassing today becomes critical proof tomorrow.

Confronting the Organization Directly
When parents confront fraternities directly, it triggers immediate legal preparation, evidence destruction, and witness coaching. Always consult an attorney first.

Signing University “Resolution” Agreements
Universities often pressure families to sign settlements that waive legal rights for minimal compensation. Never sign anything without legal review.

Posting on Social Media
Defense attorneys monitor social media for inconsistencies, admissions, or statements that hurt credibility. Let your lawyer control public messaging.

Waiting for University Investigations
University processes prioritize institutional protection over victim compensation. Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, and statutes of limitation run while you wait.

Talking to Insurance Adjusters Unrepresented
Insurance representatives record statements designed to minimize claims. “We just need to understand what happened” becomes “You admitted…” in court.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can we sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under specific circumstances. Public universities have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and individual employee actions. Private universities like SMU and Baylor have fewer immunity barriers. Every case requires individual analysis.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Basic hazing is a Class B misdemeanor, but it becomes a state jail felony if serious bodily injury or death occurs. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report hazing.

“What if our child ‘agreed’ to participate?”
Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that “agreement” under peer pressure and power imbalance isn’t true voluntary consent.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but exceptions exist if the harm wasn’t immediately discoverable or if fraud occurred. Time is critical—evidence disappears quickly.

“What if hazing happened off-campus?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, and foreseeability. Many major cases (including retreat deaths) occurred off-campus.

“Will this be confidential?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. You can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms. We prioritize family privacy while pursuing accountability.

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases

When McLendon-Chisholm families face hazing incidents, they need more than a general personal injury lawyer. They need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Cases

Insurance Insider Advantage (Mr. Lupe Peña)
Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm, learning exactly how fraternity and university insurers value claims, deploy delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. As he says, “We know their playbook because we used to run it.” This knowledge is invaluable when negotiating with carriers who try to minimize hazing claims.

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience (Ralph Manginello)
Ralph’s involvement in the BP Texas City explosion litigation demonstrates our capability against billion-dollar defendants. We’ve faced massive corporations with unlimited legal budgets and won. National fraternities and universities employ similar defense strategies—we know how to counter them.

Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine
Our proprietary data system tracks 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. When you contact us, we don’t start from zero—we already understand the organizational landscape, liability structures, and patterns that affect your case.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Experience
We’ve recovered millions for families in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, working with economists to value lifetime care needs and lost earning capacity. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that force accountability.

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise
Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand how criminal charges interact with civil litigation. We can advise on both tracks and represent witnesses or former members with dual exposure.

Bilingual Services for Texas Families
Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish and can serve Spanish-speaking families throughout Texas. Hablamos Español y estamos aquí para ayudar.

How We Investigate Hazing Cases Differently

Immediate Evidence Preservation
Within hours of being retained, we initiate evidence preservation letters to universities, phone companies, and social media platforms to prevent destruction.

Comprehensive Defendant Identification
We identify all potentially liable parties: individuals, local chapters, nationals, universities, housing corporations, alumni associations, and third parties.

Pattern Evidence Development
We research prior incidents involving the same organization nationally to establish foreseeability and notice.

Expert Collaboration
We work with medical experts, digital forensics specialists, economists, life care planners, and Greek culture experts to build compelling cases.

Trial Readiness
Universities and nationals know which lawyers will actually go to trial. Our federal court experience and trial history change how they negotiate.

Call to Action: McLendon-Chisholm Families Deserve Answers

If hazing has impacted your family—whether at a university in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, elsewhere in Texas, or beyond—you don’t have to navigate this nightmare alone. The same institutions that failed to protect your child now have teams of lawyers working to minimize their liability.

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation

When you contact Attorney911, you’ll receive:

A Compassionate Listening Session: We’ll hear your story without judgment
Evidence Review: We’ll examine any documentation you have
Legal Options Explained: We’ll outline criminal reporting, civil litigation, or other paths
Realistic Timeline Discussion: We’ll explain what to expect and when
Cost Transparency: Contingency fee basis—we don’t get paid unless you recover
No Pressure Decision Making: Take time to decide what’s right for your family

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 (Ralph Manginello) or lupe@atty911.com (Mr. Lupe Peña)

Hablamos Español
Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish. Servicios legales en español disponibles.

Final Thoughts for McLendon-Chisholm Families

Hazing thrives in silence and shame. It counts on families feeling isolated, confused, and intimidated by powerful institutions. But the landscape has changed. With Texas law, federal regulations, and legal precedents from cases like the UH Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit, families have more tools than ever to seek accountability.

Your child’s safety and recovery matter more than any organization’s reputation. The medical bills, emotional trauma, and disrupted education are real costs that deserve real compensation. More importantly, holding institutions accountable today prevents other families from suffering tomorrow.

As Ralph Manginello stated in the UH case coverage: “We’re almost in 2026. This has to stop.” We’re committed to making that statement true—one case, one family, one accountability victory at a time.

Whether you’re in McLendon-Chisholm’s Rockwall County neighborhoods or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has touched your family, call us today. Let us help you turn pain into purpose, and victimization into victory.

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