The Definitive Texas Hazing Guide for Oak Leaf Families: Understanding Your Rights and Seeking Accountability

If you are a parent in Oak Leaf, Texas, your worst fear may be receiving a phone call that your child is hurt at college. Imagine your student—eager to belong, to build a lifelong network—standing in a fraternity house, Corps dormitory, or athletic locker room, being pressured to drink far beyond reason, endure brutal physical punishment, or perform degrading acts. Others are filming on phones, chanting, laughing. Your child feels trapped between loyalty to the group and their own safety. Someone gets hurt, but no one calls for help, fearing they’ll “get the chapter shut down.” This is not a hypothetical scenario. It is happening right now on Texas campuses, including schools where Oak Leaf families send their children.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for families in Oak Leaf, Ellis County, and across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex who need to understand the harsh reality of modern hazing. We will explain what hazing truly looks like in 2025, how Texas and federal law provide tools for accountability, what we can learn from national tragedies, and what has been happening at universities throughout Texas. We will also detail the legal options available to victims and their families and explain how our firm uses unparalleled data-driven investigation to pursue justice.

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, and DMs immediately.
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects used in hazing).
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
  • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
  • Post details on public social media.
  • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears rapidly—deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, coached witnesses. Universities often move quickly to control the narrative. We can help you preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

Hazing has evolved far beyond the stereotypical “prank” or “rough initiation.” It is a systematic pattern of coercion and abuse designed to assert power and force allegiance, often disguised as “tradition” or “bonding.” For Oak Leaf families, understanding these modern tactics is the first step in recognizing danger.

A Clear, Modern Definition

Legally and practically, hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, maintaining membership in, or gaining status within a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. Critically, a student saying “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal when profound power imbalances and peer pressure are at play.

The Main Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains the most common and deadly form. It includes forced or coerced rapid drinking (“chugging,” “shotgunning”), drinking games where wrong answers mandate consumption (“Bible study,” “family tree”), and being pressured to consume unknown or mixed substances. The goal is often loss of control and humiliation.

2. Physical Hazing: This involves direct bodily harm or extreme duress. Examples include paddling or beatings; extreme, punitive calisthenics (“smokings,” “hell workouts”); sleep and food/water deprivation; and exposure to dangerous environments (locked in cold rooms, left outside in extreme weather).

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: These acts are designed to degrade and shame. They include forced nudity or partial nudity; simulated sexual acts; degrading costumes or roles; and acts with racist, sexist, or homophobic overtones.

4. Psychological Hazing: This abuse targets the mind through verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming in meetings or on social media.

5. Digital/Online Hazing: The smartphone era has created new avenues for abuse. This includes group chat dares and “challenges,” pressure to create or share compromising images/videos on platforms like Snapchat or TikTok, and public humiliation orchestrated through social media.

Where Hazing Happens

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

• Fraternities and Sororities (Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic, National Pan-Hellenic Council, multicultural groups).
• Corps of Cadets, ROTC, and military-style groups.
• Athletic teams (from football and basketball to cheer and swim).
• Spirit squads and tradition clubs (like spirit organizations or service groups).
• Marching bands and performance ensembles.
• Some academic, cultural, and service organizations.

The common threads are social status, tradition, and enforced secrecy, which keep these practices alive even when everyone nominally “knows” hazing is illegal.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas and Federal Laws

Understanding the legal landscape is crucial for Oak Leaf families seeking accountability. Texas has specific statutes, and federal law adds important layers of protection and obligation.

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code Chapter 37)

Texas law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in an organization, that:

• Endangers the physical health or safety of the student, OR
• Adversely affects the mental health or safety of the student.

Key Provisions for Oak Leaf Families:

• Criminal Penalties (§37.152): Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes bodily injury, and a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing or for retaliating against someone who reports.
• Organizational Liability (§37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 if it authorized or encouraged the hazing, or if an officer knew and failed to report it.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): This is critical. Even if the victim “agreed,” it is still a crime under Texas law. Courts recognize that consent under peer pressure is not voluntary.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154): Individuals who report hazing in good faith to university officials or law enforcement are immune from civil or criminal liability for their own involvement. This “good Samaritan” provision is meant to encourage calls for help.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

It’s important to distinguish between these parallel legal tracks:

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (county or district attorney). The goal is punishment—jail time, fines, probation. Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to a minor, assault, and in fatal cases, manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by the victim or their family. The goal is monetary compensation for damages and institutional accountability. Claims focus on negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

A criminal conviction is not required to file a civil lawsuit. In fact, the evidentiary standards differ, and a skilled hazing attorney can often build a strong civil case even if criminal charges are never filed.

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

Federal laws create additional duties for universities:

• 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: When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, a university’s Title IX obligations are triggered, requiring a prompt, thorough investigation and possible remedies.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain crimes, including assaults and alcohol/drug violations, which often overlap with hazing incidents.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Multiple parties can share responsibility, creating more avenues for recovery:

• Individual Students: Those who planned, carried out, or covered up the hazing.
• The Local Chapter: If it is a legal entity (like a housing corporation).
• The National Fraternity/Sorority: Headquarters can be liable for negligent supervision, training, and failure to intervene despite known patterns.
• The University: Schools can be sued for negligent supervision, premises liability, or Title IX violations if they knew or should have known about the danger and failed to act.
• Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol (under Texas dram shop law), and security companies.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Anchor Stories

National tragedies have shaped the legal and cultural landscape, providing both cautionary tales and legal precedents that benefit Texas families. The patterns are heartbreakingly consistent.

The Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A bid-acceptance night involved forced drinking. Piazza suffered fatal falls captured on chapter security cameras while brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case led to dozens of criminal charges and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Maxwell “Max” Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): Gruver died from alcohol toxicity after a “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers mandated drinking. The case spurred Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, creating felony hazing penalties.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Foltz was forced to drink a bottle of whiskey during a “Big/Little” event and died. The case resulted in criminal convictions and a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from the university).

Physical & Ritualized Hazing

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): Deng died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a fraternity retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted, and it was banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

Athletic Program Hazing

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Former players alleged systemic, sexualized, and racist hazing within the program, leading to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements. This proves hazing is not confined to Greek life.

What This Means for Oak Leaf Families: These cases show common threads: forced consumption, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, and cover-ups. They also demonstrate that multi-million-dollar settlements and legislative reform often follow only after tragedy and relentless litigation. Your family is not alone, and the legal pathways to accountability are well-established.

Texas Focus: Where Oak Leaf Families Send Their Kids

Oak Leaf families have deep connections to the thriving educational landscape of North Texas and the broader state. Whether your student attends a local institution in the DFW metro or a flagship campus elsewhere, understanding the specific environment is key.

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Greek Ecosystem

Oak Leaf sits within Ellis County, part of the vast Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. According to our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, this metro is home to over 510 Greek-related organizations—the highest concentration in the state. This includes undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, housing corporations, and honor societies tied to schools like the University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Christian University (TCU), Southern Methodist University (SMU), and the University of North Texas (UNT).

A Snapshot from the Public Record:
Our firm maintains a detailed directory of these entities. For example, public IRS and organizational filings show Greek organizations operating in the DFW area, such as:

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, EIN 74-2911848, located at 12650 N Beach St in Fort Worth, TX 76244.
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, P.O. Box 470061 in Fort Worth, TX 76147.
• Kappa Delta Sorority – Gamma Beta Chapter, operating in Denton, TX (Texas Woman’s University).
• Delta Delta Delta – Arlington Alumnae Chapter, based in Dallas.

These entities represent the complex network behind campus Greek life—a network we investigate thoroughly when building a case.

University of Texas at Austin (UT)

For Oak Leaf Families: UT Austin is a premier destination for Texas students, including many from the DFW area. Its size and prominent Greek life mean hazing incidents occur and are publicly documented.

Transparency and Record: UT maintains a public Hazing Violations page, a resource more transparent than many universities. Recent entries include:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members were directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. The chapter was placed on probation and required to implement hazing-prevention education.
• Various spirit groups and other fraternities have been sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, and punishment-based practices.

How a UT Hazing Case Proceeds: Incidents may involve UT Police (UTPD) or Austin Police. Civil suits are filed in Travis County courts. UT’s own public log of violations can be powerful evidence in a lawsuit, demonstrating a pattern or the university’s prior knowledge.

What UT Students & Parents Should Do: Report to the UT Office of the Dean of Students immediately. Document everything. Understand that UT’s public record can be used to support a claim. Given the complexity of suing a large state institution, consult with an attorney who understands Texas sovereign immunity issues.

Southern Methodist University (SMU)

For Oak Leaf Families: Located in Dallas, SMU’s affluent campus and strong Greek presence are well-known to many Oak Leaf residents. Its private status affects how it handles hazing.

Documented Incidents: SMU has faced serious hazing allegations. In 2017, the Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended after reports of paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.

Policy and Response: SMU promotes anonymous reporting tools like Real Response. As a private university, it has less public disclosure obligation than state schools, which can make uncovering prior incidents more challenging without legal discovery.

What SMU Students & Parents Should Do: Utilize SMU’s internal reporting channels but understand their limitations. A civil lawsuit can compel the disclosure of internal records and prior complaints that are not publicly available. The university’s private status does not shield it from liability for negligent supervision.

Texas A&M University

For Oak Leaf Families: Many Oak Leaf students are drawn to Texas A&M’s tradition and network. The unique Corps of Cadets culture and robust Greek system present specific hazing risks.

Corps of Cadets Litigation: In a 2023 lawsuit, a cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth. The case sought over $1 million, highlighting the severe traditions within some units.

Fraternity Incidents: In a notable case, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) pledges alleged they were doused with substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended, and a lawsuit was filed.

What Texas A&M Families Should Do: Be aware of the dual risks in Greek life and the Corps. Reporting goes through the Student Conduct office or Corps leadership. These institutions have powerful internal cultures; having an external legal advocate is often critical to ensure a thorough investigation.

Baylor University

For Oak Leaf Families: Baylor’s strong Christian identity and athletic programs attract Texas families. The university’s history with institutional scandal informs its approach to hazing.

Athletic Hazing: In 2020, 14 Baylor baseball players were suspended following a hazing investigation. Such incidents in athletic programs are common nationwide and often involve coercive team “bonding.”

Institutional Context: Baylor’s past Title IX failures have led to increased scrutiny of how it handles misconduct. Its “zero tolerance” policies are tested when allegations arise within prized programs like athletics or influential Greek chapters.

What Baylor Families Should Do: Report through Baylor’s Title IX and Student Conduct offices. Be prepared for the university to emphasize its faith-based mission; an experienced attorney can ensure the focus remains on factual investigation and legal accountability.

University of Houston (UH) & The Leonel Bermudez Case

For Oak Leaf Families: While farther away, UH is a major Texas institution, and the recent case there exemplifies the extreme dangers of hazing and the aggressive legal response required.

The Flagship Case: Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi: Right now, our firm is actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a UH student and Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu chapter) pledge.

The Hazing: Allegations include being forced to carry a humiliating “pledge fanny pack” 24/7, enduring hours-long “study” blocks, overnight driving duties, and extreme physical abuse. This included forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed by immediate sprints; being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”; and a November 3rd workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion.

The Catastrophic Injury: This abuse caused Bermudez to develop rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, was hospitalized for four days, and faces a risk of permanent kidney damage. Media coverage from Click2Houston and ABC13 detailed the horrific ordeal.

The Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025. On November 14, chapter members voted to surrender their charter, shutting it down. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised cooperation with law enforcement.

Why This Matters to You: This case is not an anomaly. It is proof of the brutal reality of hazing in Texas today. It also demonstrates our firm’s commitment to taking on the toughest cases against powerful universities and national fraternities. We are in the fight right now.

Fraternities & Sororities: National Histories and Local Patterns

The organizations on Texas campuses are almost always chapters of national groups. This connection is legally significant because national histories of hazing create “foreseeability”—the legal concept that an organization should have anticipated and prevented the harm.

Why National Histories Matter in Court

When a chapter at UT, A&M, or SMU repeats a hazing script that caused death or serious injury at another campus, it demonstrates that the national organization failed to implement effective prevention despite clear prior notice. This can support claims for negligent supervision and punitive damages.

Organization Patterns Relevant to Texas Campuses

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): National pattern of alcohol hazing deaths (Stone Foltz at BGSU). Chapters have been suspended at UT and other Texas schools for hazing violations.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): One of the deadliest fraternities nationally, with multiple hazing fatalities. Facing lawsuits for traumatic brain injury at Alabama and severe chemical burns at Texas A&M.
• Phi Delta Theta: The death of Max Gruver at LSU led to felony hazing legislation. The national organization has since implemented reforms, but local chapter compliance varies.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The death of Andrew Coffey at Florida State and our active case at UH demonstrate severe, recurring risks within the organization’s culture.
• Kappa Alpha Order: A history of physical hazing and suspensions, including at SMU.

This pattern evidence is crucial. In litigation, we subpoena national fraternity records to show prior complaints, incident reports, and risk management failures across the country, proving they knew or should have known the dangers their Texas chapters posed.

Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategic Investigation

Pursuing a hazing case requires a meticulous, strategic approach. At Attorney911, we deploy an investigative engine built for institutional defendants.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

We pursue every potential source:

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and fraternity apps. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages.
2. Photos & Videos: Content filmed by participants, security camera footage, Ring doorbell videos.
3. Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, emails between officers and national headquarters.
4. University Records: Prior conduct files, probation letters, Clery Act reports, and internal investigation notes obtained through discovery.
5. Medical & Psychological Records: ER reports, toxicology screens, diagnoses of PTSD, depression, or anxiety.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and advisors.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine in Action

For our clients, we leverage a proprietary data asset: a master directory of over 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros, built from IRS filings, university rosters, and corporate records. This means when we take your case, we don’t start from zero. We already know how to identify the housing corporation, alumni chapter, and national entities behind the local chapter—the parties that often hold insurance and true liability.

Example from the Public Record: Our directory includes entities like the Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 46-2267515) in Frisco, TX—a defendant in the Bermudez case. This level of detail is where we begin our investigation.

Recoverable Damages in a Hazing Case

Families can seek compensation for:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (ER, hospital, surgery, future care), lost wages, lost educational costs (tuition for withdrawn semesters), and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship, love, and guidance for the family.

Navigating Insurance and Institutional Defenses

National fraternities and universities have deep-pocketed insurers who immediately look for ways to deny coverage, often arguing hazing is an “intentional act” excluded from policies. Our advantage is twofold:

1. Insider Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney. He knows their tactics, how they value claims, and how to fight coverage denials.
2. Complex Litigation Experience: Ralph Manginello’s work on the BP Texas City explosion litigation prepared us for battles against institutional giants with unlimited legal budgets.

We identify all potential insurance policies—from national fraternity risk pools to university umbrella policies and even homeowners’ policies of individual members—to maximize the resources available for recovery.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Oak Leaf Families

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Guide

Recognizing Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue or sleep deprivation.
• Sudden secrecy about group activities (“I can’t talk about it”).
• Personality changes: withdrawal, anxiety, depression.
• Constant, anxious phone use monitoring group chats.
• Grades plummeting due to “mandatory” late-night events.

If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Prioritize Safety: If there’s immediate danger, call 911.
2. Talk Openly: Ask non-judgmental questions. “Are you being asked to do anything that makes you uncomfortable?” “Do you feel safe?”
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot texts and group chats. Photograph injuries. Do not let them delete anything.
4. Seek Medical Care: Even if injuries seem minor, a medical record creates a crucial timeline.
5. Document Everything: Write down dates, times, names, and what your child tells you.
6. Consult an Attorney BEFORE Reporting: Once you report to a university, the institution’s legal team swings into action. Having your own counsel ensures your family’s interests are protected from day one.

For Students: Is This Hazing?

Ask yourself:

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

If you answered “yes,” it is hazing. Your “consent” under pressure is not a legal defense for them.

How to Exit Safely: You have the right to quit. Send a clear text or email to the chapter president: “I resign my membership/pledgeship effective immediately.” Do NOT go to a “final meeting” where pressure or retaliation could occur. Tell a trusted adult, RA, or the Dean of Students. Texas law protects good-faith reporters.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage a Case

1. Deleting Evidence: “Cleaning up” group chats is often seen as obstruction of justice. Preserve everything.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This gives them a head start to destroy evidence and lawyer up.
3. Signing University Paperwork: Universities may offer “quick resolutions” that require signing away your right to sue. Do not sign anything without an attorney’s review.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys scour social media for inconsistencies. Keep details private.
5. Waiting for the University to “Handle It”: Internal processes are designed to protect the institution. The clock is ticking on the statute of limitations.

FAQ for Oak Leaf Families

“Can we sue a university in Texas?”
Yes. While public universities have some sovereign immunity, exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals. Private universities like SMU and Baylor have fewer protections. The specific facts of your case determine the strategy.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Simple hazing is a misdemeanor. Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death is a state jail felony.

“What if it happened off-campus?”
Location does not matter. Liability is based on the organization’s sponsorship and control over the activity, not the property line.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally, two years from the date of injury or death in Texas. However, evidence disappears within days. Contacting an attorney immediately is vital.

“Will this be public?”
Most cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize your family’s privacy while aggressively pursuing accountability.

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how universities, national fraternities, and their insurers fight back—and who have a proven record of winning anyway.

From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including Oak Leaf and throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Our qualifications for hazing litigation are unique:

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation: We are currently leading the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit—a $10 million case involving rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. This isn’t theoretical; it’s what we do right now.
• Insider Insurance Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers undervalue claims, deploy delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced billion-dollar defendants with infinite legal resources. We are not intimidated by national fraternities or flagship universities.
• Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—tracking over 1,400 Greek entities—means we start your case with a deep understanding of the organizational landscape. We know how to find the liable parties.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal side of hazing, which is essential for advising witnesses and navigating cases with parallel proceedings.
• Spanish-Language Services: Hablamos Español. Mr. Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal counsel, ensuring all Texas families have access to expert representation.

We combine relentless investigation with compassionate advocacy. Our mission is to get your family answers, secure the compensation needed for recovery, and force the institutional changes that prevent future tragedies.

Call to Action for Oak Leaf Families

If you suspect your child has been hazed at any Texas campus—whether it’s a local DFW school, a flagship like UT or A&M, or any university nationwide—you do not have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved will have experienced legal teams from day one. You deserve the same advantage.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will listen compassionately to your story, review any evidence you have, and explain your legal options clearly and honestly. There is no pressure, and there is no cost unless we win your case.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach us directly at (713) 528-9070 or via email at ralph@atty911.com. For Spanish-language assistance, contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com.

Let us help you turn a moment of crisis into a path toward accountability, recovery, and prevention.

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