Hazing in Texas: A Comprehensive Guide for Mustang Ridge Families

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You’re Not Alone

Picture this scenario, one that could unfold for any family in Mustang Ridge, Caldwell County: your child, excited about their first semester at a major Texas university, joins what seems like a prestigious fraternity, sorority, Corps program, or campus organization. What starts as camaraderie slowly transforms into something darker—forced drinking sessions that leave them dangerously intoxicated, humiliating rituals captured on cell phones, extreme physical exertion that leads to hospitalization, or psychological manipulation that isolates them from everyone but the group. When they finally confide in you or come home injured, you’re left wondering: How did this happen? What are their rights? And who can possibly hold these powerful institutions accountable?

Right now, right here in Texas, we’re fighting exactly this kind of case. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered catastrophic injuries during his fall 2025 pledge period with Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter. According to a $10 million lawsuit filed in Harris County, Bermudez was subjected to months of systematic hazing that included carrying a degrading “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms and sex toys, enduring hours-long workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, and ultimately a November 3 workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats that left him unable to stand. The result? Rhabdomyolysis—severe muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown, he required four days of hospitalization, and he now faces the risk of permanent kidney damage. The chapter has been shut down, but the physical and psychological harm remains.

This guide exists because what happened to Leonel Bermudez is not an isolated incident. It’s part of a pattern that affects students at campuses across Texas—including schools where Mustang Ridge families send their children. We’ve created this comprehensive resource to help parents in Mustang Ridge and throughout Caldwell County understand what modern hazing really looks like, how Texas law addresses it, what’s happening at specific Texas universities, and what legal options exist 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

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

For Mustang Ridge families who may be unfamiliar with modern Greek life or campus organizations, today’s hazing bears little resemblance to the “harmless pranks” of decades past. What was once physical paddling has evolved into sophisticated systems of coercion that leave lasting physical and psychological scars.

A 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. Crucially—and this is what many Mustang Ridge parents need to understand—”I agreed to it” or “they wanted to fit in” does not automatically make it safe or legal when there is peer pressure and power imbalance. Texas law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing.

Main Categories of Hazing Affecting Texas Students

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and most dangerous form of hazing. It includes forced or coerced drinking through “lineups” where pledges drink in rapid succession, “Big/Little” nights where new members are given handles of liquor to consume, drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean forced consumption, and pressure to consume unknown or mixed substances. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH involved forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.

Physical Hazing
Beyond traditional paddling, today’s physical hazing includes extreme calisthenics or “smokings” far beyond normal conditioning (like the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats in the UH case), sleep deprivation through all-night “study sessions” or 3 AM wake-up calls, food/water deprivation, and exposure to extreme cold/heat. One Pi Kappa Phi pledge at UH was allegedly hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity or partial nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. The “pledge fanny pack” requirement in the UH case—forcing pledges to carry condoms and sex toys—represents this category of humiliation-based hazing.

Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, social isolation, manipulation through “brotherhood” or “sisterhood” rhetoric, forced confessions, and public shaming during meetings all constitute psychological hazing that can lead to PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Digital/Online Hazing
Modern hazing has moved to digital platforms: group chat dares on GroupMe or Discord, “challenges” shared via Instagram or TikTok, pressure to create or share compromising images/videos, and 24/7 availability requirements through constant messaging. This digital component means evidence often exists—if preserved quickly.

Where Hazing Actually Happens in Texas

Mustang Ridge families should understand that hazing extends far beyond stereotypical “frat parties”:

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

The common threads across all these groups are social status, tradition, and secrecy—elements that keep dangerous practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Texas Law & Liability Framework: What Mustang Ridge Families Need to Know

When hazing affects your family, understanding the legal landscape is crucial. Texas has specific laws addressing hazing, and federal regulations create additional layers of responsibility for universities.

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code Chapter 37)

Under Texas law—which governs cases involving Mustang Ridge families—hazing is broadly defined as intentional, knowing, or reckless acts, on or off campus, directed against a student for purposes of initiation or affiliation that:

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

Key provisions Mustang Ridge parents should understand:

Criminal Penalties (§37.152)

• 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 that causes serious bodily injury or death

Organizational Liability (§37.153)
Fraternities, sororities, clubs, and teams can be criminally prosecuted if they authorized or encouraged hazing, or if officers knew about it and failed to report it. Organizations can face fines up to $10,000 per violation and university revocation.

Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155)
Texas law explicitly states that victim consent does not defend against hazing charges—crucial for cases where students initially “agreed” to participate.

Good-Faith Reporting Protection (§37.154)
Individuals who report hazing in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability, and many Texas universities offer medical amnesty for those who call 911 in alcohol-related emergencies.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases

• Brought by the state (prosecutor)
• Aim: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical charges: Hazing offenses, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, or 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 types can proceed simultaneously, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. Many Mustang Ridge families pursue civil cases to recover medical expenses, therapy costs, and compensation for their child’s suffering.

Federal Overlay: Additional Protections

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024)
Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently, strengthen prevention programs, 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. The Clery Act requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics that often overlap with hazing incidents.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit

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

Local Chapter/Organization
The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if incorporated) and its officers.

National Fraternity/Sorority
Headquarters that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters—especially if they knew or should have known about patterns.

University or Governing Board
Schools may be liable under negligence or civil-rights theories, particularly if they had prior warnings or demonstrated deliberate indifference.

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

Every case is fact-specific, which is why Mustang Ridge families need experienced counsel to identify all potentially liable parties.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What Texas Can Learn

The tragedies that have unfolded on campuses nationwide provide both warning and precedent for Texas families. These cases show patterns that repeat across state lines and organizational boundaries.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
A bid-acceptance event with extreme drinking led to fatal falls captured on chapter cameras. Help was delayed for hours. Dozens faced criminal charges, civil litigation followed, and Pennsylvania enacted the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. Takeaway for Mustang Ridge families: Delay in calling 911 and culture of silence have devastating legal consequences.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
A “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking led to a 0.495% BAC and death. Louisiana responded with the Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony. Takeaway: Legislative change often follows public outrage and clear proof.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
Forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey during pledge night, Foltz died from alcohol poisoning. The university settled for nearly $3 million, and multiple individuals faced criminal conviction. Takeaway: Universities face significant financial consequences alongside fraternities.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
A blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a fraternity retreat caused fatal head injuries, with delayed medical care. The national fraternity was banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. Takeaway for Mustang Ridge parents: Off-campus “retreats” can be particularly dangerous, and national organizations face serious sanctions.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program, leading to multiple lawsuits, coach termination, and confidential settlements. Takeaway: Hazing extends beyond Greek life into major athletic programs with systemic oversight failures.

What These Cases Mean for Mustang Ridge Families

The common threads—forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, cover-ups—mirror what we see in Texas cases. Reforms and multi-million-dollar settlements typically follow only after tragedy and litigation. Mustang Ridge families facing hazing at Texas universities are operating in a landscape shaped by these national lessons, with established legal precedents and growing institutional awareness.

Texas Focus: Universities Where Mustang Ridge Families Send Students

Mustang Ridge, situated in Caldwell County just south of the Austin metro area, sends students to universities across Texas. Understanding the specific landscapes at these institutions helps families recognize risks and responses.

University of Texas at Austin: Closest Major University to Mustang Ridge

Campus & Culture Snapshot

UT Austin, approximately 35 miles north of Mustang Ridge, represents the closest major university for many Caldwell County families. With over 50,000 students and 60+ Greek organizations, it’s a hub of campus life where Mustang Ridge students often seek the “complete college experience.” The university’s intense school spirit and tradition-heavy culture can sometimes mask problematic behaviors within organizations.

Hazing Policy & Transparency

UT Austin stands out for its public Hazing Violations page—a transparency measure that families in Mustang Ridge should know about. The university prohibits hazing both on and off campus and provides multiple reporting channels through the Office of the Dean of Students, UTPD, and anonymous online forms.

Documented Incidents & Responses

UT’s public violation log reveals ongoing issues:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics, resulting in probation and mandatory hazing-prevention education
• Texas Wranglers (spirit organization): Sanctions for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Ongoing scrutiny with a 2024 lawsuit alleging assault causing dislocated leg, broken ligaments, and fractured tibia to an exchange student

What Mustang Ridge families should know: UT’s relative transparency means prior violations are publicly accessible, which can strengthen civil cases by showing patterns and institutional knowledge.

How a UT Hazing Case Might Proceed

For Mustang Ridge families, jurisdiction typically involves:

• UT Police Department for on-campus incidents
• Austin Police Department for off-campus events
• Travis County courts for civil litigation
• Potential defendants: Individual students, local chapter, national headquarters, university, and property owners

What UT Students & Parents in Mustang Ridge Should Do

• Report through UT’s Office of Student Conduct or UTPD
• Access the public hazing violation log to check organization histories
• Document everything before approaching the university
• Consult with attorneys experienced in Travis County litigation

Texas A&M University: Corps Culture Considerations

Campus & Culture Snapshot

While further from Mustang Ridge than UT Austin, Texas A&M in College Station draws students from across Texas for its unique Corps of Cadets tradition and strong Greek life. The military-style environment and intense tradition can create specific hazing risks that Mustang Ridge parents should understand.

Documented Incidents

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges allegedly covered in industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits sought $1 million.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): Cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose. The case sought over $1 million, with A&M stating it handled matters internally.
• Kappa Sigma Rhabdomyolysis Case (2023): Ongoing litigation involving severe muscle breakdown from extreme physical hazing.

Mustang Ridge parents should note: Texas A&M’s dual Greek and Corps environments mean hazing risks exist in both traditional fraternities and military-style organizations.

University of Houston: Active Litigation Example

Campus & Culture Snapshot

Though farther from Mustang Ridge, UH represents where many Texas students, including those from Caldwell County, pursue urban educational opportunities. The Pi Kappa Phi case we’re currently litigating demonstrates severe hazing risks even at commuter-heavy campuses.

The Leonel Bermudez Case: Mustang Ridge Families Take Notice

This active $10 million lawsuit alleges:

• Systematic hazing from September through November 2025
• “Pledge fanny pack” humiliation carrying condoms and sex toys
• Extreme workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park
• Hose spraying “similar to waterboarding”
• Forced consumption leading to vomiting
• November 3 workout causing rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure

The chapter has been shut down, but the case continues against UH, Pi Kappa Phi national, the housing corporation, and 13 individual members. For Mustang Ridge families: This case shows what’s possible in Texas hazing litigation right now.

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University: Private School Considerations

SMU’s Greek-Centered Culture

SMU’s affluent, Greek-dominated campus has faced incidents including a 2017 Kappa Alpha Order case involving paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation that resulted in multi-year suspension.

Baylor’s Complex History

Baylor’s religious identity coexists with documented hazing issues, including a 2020 baseball team hazing investigation that suspended 14 players. The university’s history with institutional response to misconduct adds complexity to hazing cases.

Mustang Ridge parents considering private universities should understand: Private school status affects transparency and legal strategies differently than public institutions.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: What Mustang Ridge Families Are Up Against

Behind the Greek letters at Texas universities stand complex networks of organizations, insurance policies, and legal entities. Our firm maintains what we call the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a comprehensive database tracking over 1,400 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros. This intelligence matters for Mustang Ridge families because it reveals the true scope of what you’re facing.

Public Records Directory: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Mustang Ridge Families

If you’re a parent in Mustang Ridge, you deserve to know who really stands behind the Greek organizations connected to your child. These are not just social clubs—they’re legal entities with insurance policies, assets, and liability structures. Below are examples from public records showing the organizational backbone of Texas Greek life:

Mustang Ridge & Central Texas Area Organizations

• Sigma Phi Lambda Inc – EIN: 201237505 – Corinth, TX 76210 (Beta Chapter, IRS B83 filing)
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – EIN: 475381060 – San Marcos, TX 78666 (Theta Iota Chapter, IRS B83 filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – EIN: 463831593 – Austin, TX 78723 (Texas State University chapter, IRS B83 filing)
• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity – Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Cause IQ metro listing)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity – Texas Rho Corp. – Austin, TX (House corporation at University of Texas)

Major Texas University Hubs Where Mustang Ridge Students Attend

• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation – EIN: 371768785 – Missouri City, TX 77459 (IRS B83 filing)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN: 462267515 – Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN: 741380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 filing)
• Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi – EIN: 746047117 – Austin, TX 78705 (IRS B83 filing)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter – EIN: 746084905 – Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 filing)

Texas-Wide Snapshot
Our database tracks 125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations through IRS B83 filings, plus 1,423 total fraternity/sorority entities across 25 Texas metros per Cause IQ data. The Austin-Round Rock metro alone has 154 Greek organizations, while Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land has 188.

Why National Histories Matter for Mustang Ridge Cases

When your child is hazed by a chapter of Pi Kappa Phi at UH or Sigma Alpha Epsilon at UT Austin, you’re not just dealing with local students—you’re facing national organizations with decades of documented hazing incidents:

Pi Kappa Alpha National Pattern

• Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green State ($10M settlement)
• David Bogenberger death at Northern Illinois ($14M settlement)
• Multiple chapters suspended nationwide for alcohol hazing

Sigma Alpha Epsilon National Pattern

• Traumatic brain injury lawsuit at University of Alabama
• Chemical burns case at Texas A&M
• Assault case at UT Austin
• Carson Starkey death at Cal Poly leading to national pledge process elimination

Phi Delta Theta National Pattern

• Max Gruver death at LSU leading to felony hazing law
• Multiple chapter suspensions for alcohol games

Legal Significance for Mustang Ridge Families
These national patterns establish foreseeability—the legal concept that organizations should have anticipated and prevented harm based on prior known incidents. When a Texas chapter repeats the same dangerous behaviors that caused deaths elsewhere, it strengthens negligence claims against national headquarters.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages & Strategy for Mustang Ridge Families

When hazing harms your child, building a strong case requires systematic evidence collection, understanding of damages, and strategic navigation of complex legal landscapes.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Communications (Most Important)

• GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage threads: Capture full conversations with timestamps
• Instagram DMs, Snapchat messages, TikTok comments: Screenshot before deletion
• Fraternity-specific apps and Discord servers: Preserve all content
• Location data and shared calendars: Show planning and coordination

Photos & Videos

• Event footage shared in group chats
• Social media posts showing activities
• Security camera/doorbell footage from houses
• Injury documentation from multiple angles

Internal Organization Documents

• Pledge manuals and initiation scripts
• Emails about “traditions” or “pledge education”
• National policies and training materials
• Chapter meeting minutes

University Records

• Prior conduct files and probation letters
• Campus police incident reports
• Clery Act disclosures
• Internal investigation documents

Medical & Psychological Records

• ER/hospitalization records mentioning hazing
• Toxicology reports and lab results
• Psychological evaluations (PTSD, depression diagnoses)
• Ongoing treatment documentation

Witness Testimony

• Other pledges and members
• Roommates and friends
• Resident advisors and campus staff
• Former members who left the organization

Damages in Hazing Cases

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses)

• Medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, therapy)
• Future medical care and life care plans
• Lost educational opportunities (withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships)
• Diminished earning capacity for permanent injuries

Non-Economic Damages

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

Wrongful Death Damages (for Families)

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of companionship and guidance
• Parents’ and siblings’ emotional suffering

Punitive Damages
In cases involving particularly reckless or intentional conduct, courts may award punitive damages to punish defendants and deter future behavior. Texas has statutory caps on exemplary damages, but certain intentional torts may exceed these limits.

Insurance Coverage Complexities

Fraternities, sororities, and universities maintain complex insurance policies that often become battlegrounds in hazing litigation. Insurers frequently argue that hazing constitutes “intentional conduct” excluded from coverage. Our firm’s unique advantage—Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney—means we understand exactly how insurers evaluate claims, set reserves, and employ delay tactics. We know how to navigate coverage disputes and, when necessary, pursue bad faith claims against insurers who wrongfully deny coverage.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Mustang Ridge Families

For Parents: Recognizing & Responding to Hazing

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Hazed

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal
• Constant phone use for group chat monitoring
• Financial pressures (unexplained expenses, requests for money)
• Academic decline (missed classes, dropping grades)

How to Talk to Your Child

• Use open questions: “How are things with your organization?”
• Avoid judgment: “I’m concerned about your safety, not getting anyone in trouble”
• Emphasize support: “No group is worth your health or life”
• Listen without interrupting if they begin to share

If Your Child Is Injured

1. Get medical care immediately, even if they resist
2. Document everything: photos of injuries, screenshots of messages
3. Write detailed notes of what they tell you (dates, names, locations)
4. Preserve physical evidence: clothing, objects, receipts
5. Contact an attorney before reporting to the university

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case

1. Letting your child delete messages – Preserve everything immediately
2. Confronting the organization directly – They’ll lawyer up and destroy evidence
3. Signing university “resolution” forms – You may waive legal rights
4. Posting details on social media – Defense attorneys screenshot everything
5. Waiting for the university to investigate – Evidence disappears during delays
6. Talking to insurance adjusters without counsel – Recorded statements hurt cases

For Students: Your Rights & Safety

Is This Hazing?
Ask yourself:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something dangerous or degrading?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences for refusing?
• Am I being told to keep secrets or lie about activities?
• Are older members making me do things they don’t have to do?

If you answered yes to any, it’s likely hazing.

How to Exit Safely

• Tell someone outside the organization first (parent, RA, friend)
• Send a clear resignation message: “I resign my membership effective immediately”
• Do NOT attend “one last meeting” where you might be pressured
• Document any retaliation or threats immediately
• Seek a protective order if necessary

Evidence Preservation for Students

• Screenshot all group chats with timestamps visible
• Photograph injuries immediately and over several days
• Save voice memos or recordings (Texas is one-party consent)
• Back up everything to cloud storage or email to trusted adult
• Tell medical providers you were hazed so it’s in your records

Frequently Asked Questions from Mustang Ridge Families

“Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities (UT, Texas A&M, UH) have sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity barriers. Every case depends on specific facts—contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for case-specific analysis.

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

“Can my child sue if they ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Yes. Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion is not true voluntary consent.

“How long do we have to file a hazing lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if the harm wasn’t immediately known. In cases involving cover-ups, the statute may be tolled. Time is critical—call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately.

“What if the hazing happened off-campus?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, and knowledge. Many major hazing cases occurred off-campus and still resulted in multi-million-dollar judgments.

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

Why Attorney911 for Mustang Ridge Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway. From our Houston base, we serve families throughout Texas, including Mustang Ridge in Caldwell County and surrounding Central Texas communities.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

Insurance Insider Advantage (Mr. 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, their delay tactics, coverage exclusion arguments, and settlement strategies. “We know their playbook because we used to run it.”

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience (Ralph Manginello)
As one of the few Texas firms involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation, we’ve taken on billion-dollar corporations and won. Our federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas) means we’re not intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their defense teams.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Results
We have a proven track record in complex wrongful death cases with economist collaboration and experience valuing lifetime care needs for brain injuries and permanent disabilities. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that force accountability.

Dual Civil/Criminal Hazing Expertise
Ralph Manginello’s membership in Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation. We can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure and navigate parallel proceedings.

Investigative Depth & Resources
We maintain the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracking over 1,400 Greek organizations across Texas. Our network includes digital forensics experts who recover deleted messages, medical experts who document rhabdomyolysis and PTSD, economists who calculate damages, and psychologists who assess trauma.

Spanish-Language Services
Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish, ensuring Hispanic families in Mustang Ridge and across Texas receive compassionate, culturally competent representation.

Our Approach: Empathy Meets Aggressive Advocacy

We know hazing cases represent one of the hardest experiences a family can face. Our approach balances:

• Thorough investigation that leaves no stone unturned
• Strategic litigation that targets all liable parties
• Compassionate client care that respects your family’s trauma
• Principled advocacy focused on accountability and prevention

We’re currently leading the Leonel Bermudez case against University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi—a $10 million lawsuit alleging systematic hazing causing rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. This isn’t theoretical for us; it’s what we do every day.

Contact Attorney911 for a Mustang Ridge Hazing Consultation

If your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus, we want to hear from you. Families in Mustang Ridge, Caldwell County, and throughout Central Texas have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We’ll listen to what happened, explain your legal options, and help you decide on the best path forward.

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation

• We’ll listen to your story without judgment
• Review any evidence you have (photos, texts, medical records)
• Explain your legal options: criminal report, civil lawsuit, both, or neither
• Discuss realistic timelines and what to expect
• Answer your questions about costs (contingency fee – we don’t get paid unless we win)
• No pressure to hire us on the spot – take time to decide
• Everything you tell us is confidential

Contact Information

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

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

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of Leonel Bermudez UH Case:

• Click2Houston investigation: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/
• ABC13 detailed timeline: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Hoodline $10M lawsuit 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 with cellphone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas statutes of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client mistakes that ruin cases: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Firm Resources:

• Main website: https://attorney911.com
• Wrongful death practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/
• Ralph Manginello profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/
• Lupe Peña profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/

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
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