Hazing in Texas: A Comprehensive Guide for Olmos Park Families

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

For families in Olmos Park, the journey to college is filled with pride and promise. Our children venture to campuses across Texas and the nation, seeking education, friendship, and growth. Yet, sometimes, that promise is shattered by a dark reality hidden within some campus organizations: hazing.

Right now, just hours away in Houston, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered catastrophic injuries during his fall 2025 pledge period with the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. According to his lawsuit and media reports, what began as a bid for brotherhood descended into months of systematic abuse that nearly killed him.

This comprehensive guide exists for you—the parents, grandparents, and concerned families of Olmos Park. Whether your child attends school in our backyard at the University of Texas at San Antonio, travels to prestigious institutions like UT Austin or Texas A&M, or studies anywhere in the United States, you deserve to understand the reality of modern hazing, your legal rights under Texas law, and how experienced counsel can help secure accountability and prevent future harm.

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 Beyond the Stereotypes

Many Olmos Park families remember hazing from their own college days or media portrayals—often reduced to “pranks” or “initiation hijinks.” The reality in 2025 is far more complex, dangerous, and digitally sophisticated. Hazing today 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, “I agreed to it” does not automatically make it safe or legal when there is peer pressure and power imbalance.

Modern Hazing Categories Every Parent Should Recognize

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and deadly form. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “lineup” challenges, “Big/Little” nights, or drinking games like “Bible study” where incorrect answers mandate consumption. Students may be pressured to consume unknown mixed substances or dangerous quantities. In the Leonel Bermudez case at UH, media reports describe pledges being forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then immediately forced to sprint.

Physical Hazing Beyond “Conditioning”
What organizations often frame as “workouts” or “team building” can cross into dangerous territory: paddling and beatings, extreme calisthenics (“smokings”) far beyond normal conditioning, sleep and food deprivation, and exposure to extreme temperatures. The UH Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit alleges Bermudez was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats in a single session, left unable to stand without help.

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—reportedly containing condoms, a sex toy, and other humiliating items that pledges had to carry 24/7—exemplifies this category.

Psychological and Digital Hazing
The digital age has transformed hazing. Students face 24/7 group chat monitoring with demands for instant responses at all hours, public shaming via social media challenges, forced creation of compromising content, and geo-tracking through apps like Find My Friends. This creates constant psychological pressure that doesn’t end when they leave the chapter house.

Where Hazing Happens: It’s Not Just “Frat Boys”

While fraternities and sororities receive significant attention, hazing occurs across campus organizations:

Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic sororities
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC/D9) organizations
Corps of Cadets, ROTC, and military-style groups
Athletic teams from football to cheer squads
Spirit organizations and tradition clubs
Marching bands and performance groups
Some academic, cultural, and service organizations

For Olmos Park families, understanding this breadth is crucial. Your child doesn’t need to join a traditional Greek organization to be at risk.

Texas Hazing Law: What Olmos Park Families Need to Know

Texas has specific anti-hazing provisions in the Education Code (Chapter 37) that govern cases involving Olmos Park students, regardless of where the hazing occurs. The law defines hazing broadly as intentional, knowing, or reckless acts, on or off campus, directed against a student for purposes of initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership that endanger mental or physical health or safety.

Criminal Penalties Under Texas Law

Class B Misdemeanor: 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
Additional charges: failing to report hazing, retaliating against reporters

The Critical “Consent Is Not a Defense” Provision

Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution for hazing that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” This legal principle directly counters the most common defense organizations attempt: “They wanted to do it.” Courts recognize that consent under peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion is not true voluntary consent.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding Both Paths

Criminal Cases

Brought by the state (district attorney)
Aim: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
May involve charges beyond hazing: assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, manslaughter in fatal cases
Do NOT require victim/family to hire an attorney (prosecutor handles)

Civil Cases

Brought by victims or surviving families
Aim: Monetary compensation for damages and institutional accountability
Focus on negligence, wrongful death, emotional distress, premises liability
Require private legal representation
Can proceed independently of criminal cases

Many hazing cases involve both tracks simultaneously. A criminal conviction can strengthen a civil case, but is not required for civil recovery.

Federal Overlay: Title IX, Clery Act, and New National Standards

The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024) requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs. When hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations are triggered. The Clery Act requires reporting of certain crimes 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 up
Local Chapter/Organization: The campus entity itself if incorporated
National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: Often the deepest pockets, liable for what they knew or should have known
Universities & Governing Boards: Under negligence, premises liability, or Title IX theories
Third Parties: Property owners, alcohol providers, security companies

In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, the lawsuit names 13 individual members, the Beta Nu housing corporation, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents.

The Leonel Bermudez Case: A Texas Hazing Tragedy Unfolding Now

As we write this guide, our firm is actively litigating one of Texas’s most severe hazing cases. Leonel Bermudez’s experience at the University of Houston’s Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter exemplifies every danger Olmos Park families should understand.

The Hazing Timeline: Systematic Abuse Over Months

According to the complaint and media coverage including the Click2Houston report on UH Pi Kappa Phi hazing case and ABC13 coverage of Leonel Bermudez’s UH hazing lawsuit, Bermudez’s ordeal followed a disturbing pattern:

September 2025: Accepted bid, immediately subjected to enforced dress codes, hours-long “study/work” blocks, weekly interviews, overnight chauffeuring duties
The “Pledge Fanny Pack”: Required to carry 24/7 containing condoms, sex toy, nicotine devices, humiliating items
Physical Abuse: Sprints, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, “save-your-brother” drills, cold-weather exposure in underwear, lying in vomit-soaked grass
Simulated Waterboarding: Sprayed in face with hose “similar to waterboarding” with threats of actual waterboarding
Forced Consumption Rituals: Made to consume milk, hot dogs, peppercorns until vomiting, then immediate sprints
November 3 Workout: 100+ push-ups, 500 squats, creed recitation under expulsion threats
Parallel Violence: Another pledge allegedly hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour

Medical Catastrophe: From “Workout” to Kidney Failure

The physical toll culminated in rhabdomyolysis—severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. Bermudez passed brown urine, could not stand without help, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels. He faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage and long-term physical/psychological harm.

Institutional Response: Suspensions, Charter Surrender, and Lawsuits

November 6, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters suspends Beta Nu chapter
November 14, 2025: Chapter members vote to surrender charter; chapter shut down
University Statement: UH labels conduct “deeply disturbing,” promises disciplinary measures up to expulsion and cooperation with law enforcement
Lawsuit Filed: $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit in Harris County

This case matters to Olmos Park families not just as a Houston tragedy, but as proof that:

Severe hazing happens at major Texas universities
National organizations have patterns of similar conduct
Experienced Texas counsel is actively fighting these cases
The legal system can bring accountability even against powerful institutions

Where Olmos Park Families Send Their Students: Campus Realities

Olmos Park, nestled within the greater San Antonio area in Bexar County, sends students to universities across Texas and the nation. Understanding the hazing landscape at these institutions is crucial for informed family decisions.

The San Antonio Metro Context

While Olmos Park itself doesn’t host major universities, our community is part of the San Antonio metropolitan area which includes several institutions with Greek life. According to Cause IQ data, the San Antonio metro hosts approximately 86 Greek-related organizations. Our investigation database includes entities like:

XI Omicron Iota House Association (Trinity University)
Alpha Lambda Chapter of Sigma Chi (Trinity University)
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – San Antonio Alumnae
Kappa Alpha Psi – San Antonio Alumni

These organizations represent the backbone of Greek life that students from Olmos Park may encounter locally or when they venture to schools like Trinity University, University of Texas at San Antonio, or St. Mary’s University.

Major Texas Universities Olmos Park Families Choose

University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
For many Olmos Park families, UTSA represents a convenient local option with growing Greek life. Our investigation preserves records of UTSA-related Greek entities, including a Sigma Chi chapter at 18026 Shady Knl, San Antonio, TX 78258. UTSA’s Greek system includes Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, and Multicultural Greek Council organizations.

University of Texas at Austin
As Texas’s flagship institution, UT Austin attracts many Olmos Park students. The university maintains remarkable transparency through its public Hazing Violations page, documenting sanctions against organizations like Pi Kappa Alpha (2023: forced milk consumption and strenuous calisthenics), Texas Wranglers, and various spirit groups. This transparency provides valuable evidence for families investigating incidents.

Texas A&M University
The Aggie network includes many Olmos Park alumni and students. Texas A&M has faced significant hazing cases, including a Sigma Alpha Epsilon lawsuit where pledges allegedly suffered chemical burns from industrial-strength cleaner, and Corps of Cadets litigation involving simulated sexual acts and binding. These patterns demonstrate that hazing extends beyond Greek life to military-style organizations.

Baylor University
As a private Christian institution, Baylor presents unique considerations. The 2020 baseball hazing incident that led to 14 player suspensions shows that even religious-affiliated schools aren’t immune. Baylor’s history with institutional response to misconduct requires particular scrutiny in hazing cases.

Southern Methodist University
SMU’s affluent campus and strong Greek presence make it another common choice. The 2017 Kappa Alpha Order suspension for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation illustrates recurring patterns even at prestigious private institutions.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: Public Records Reality

Through our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we maintain comprehensive data on Greek organizations across the state. For Olmos Park families, understanding this ecosystem is crucial because the same national brands operate at multiple campuses. For example:

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority appears in both IRS B83 records and Cause IQ metro data with multiple Texas chapters. An organization with EIN 364091267 is registered in Waco, while another with EIN 752609909 is registered in Commerce—both appear in Cause IQ listings for Houston and Beaumont metros. This cross-referencing capability helps us trace organizational relationships wherever your student attends.

Sample Public Records (Partial Listing):

Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity: EIN 742911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (from IRS B83 and Cause IQ DFW listing)
Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc: EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147
Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi: Multiple Texas chapters including UT Tyler (EIN 352335400), UT El Paso (EIN 383742830), Texas A&M (EIN 900293166)
Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc: Chapters at Texas State (EIN 475381060), Texas A&M (EIN 812525354), UTSA (EIN 815229133)

These records matter because they help identify potentially liable entities beyond the immediate campus chapter—including alumni associations, housing corporations, and national headquarters that may carry insurance coverage.

National Hazing Patterns: History Repeating at Texas Schools

When Olmos Park students encounter hazing at Texas universities, they’re often experiencing variations of national patterns that have caused tragedies elsewhere. Understanding these patterns helps families recognize warning signs and strengthens legal claims by demonstrating organizational foresight.

Alcohol Poisoning Death Pattern

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University (2021)
Pi Kappa Alpha pledge forced to consume entire bottle of alcohol during “Big/Little” night; died from alcohol poisoning. Result: $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU), chapter permanently removed, strengthened Ohio anti-hazing laws.

Max Gruver – Louisiana State University (2017)
Phi Delta Theta pledge forced into “Bible study” drinking game; died from alcohol toxicity (BAC 0.495%). Result: Multiple members convicted, confidential family settlement, Louisiana enacted Max Gruver Act creating felony hazing statute.

Why this matters for Olmos Park families: The same national organizations involved in these deaths—Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta—have active chapters at UT Austin, Texas A&M, UH, SMU, and Baylor. Their national headquarters knew or should have known these “Big/Little” and drinking game traditions were deadly.

Physical and Ritualized Violence Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College (2013)
Pi Delta Psi pledge subjected to violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at retreat; died from traumatic brain injury; help delayed. Result: National fraternity criminally convicted, banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years, $110,000+ fine.

Why this matters: Off-campus retreats and physical rituals aren’t isolated incidents but recurring patterns that national organizations failed to eradicate despite prior warnings.

Athletic Program Abuse Pattern

Northwestern University Football (2023-2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within program over years. Result: Multiple lawsuits, head coach fired and settled wrongful-termination suit, confidential settlements with players.

Why this matters for Olmos Park families with athletes: Hazing extends beyond Greek life to revenue sports programs with institutional pressures to maintain success and silence.

Severe Injury Non-Death Pattern

Danny Santulli – University of Missouri (2021)
Phi Gamma Delta pledge forced to consume excessive alcohol during “pledge dad reveal”; suffered severe permanent brain damage (cannot walk, talk, or see; requires 24/7 care). Result: Settlements with 22 defendants, chapter closed.

Texas A&M Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2021)
Pledges allegedly covered in industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, spit causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. Result: $1 million lawsuit, fraternity suspended.

Why this matters: Not all hazing victims die, but living with catastrophic injuries creates lifelong needs that require substantial compensation and care.

Fraternity and Sorority National Histories: Patterns That Predict Risk

When evaluating an organization your Olmos Park student is considering, understanding national histories provides crucial context. These patterns demonstrate what national headquarters knew and when they knew it—key to proving negligence in civil cases.

High-Risk National Organizations with Texas Presence

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)

National History: Stone Foltz death ($10M settlement), David Bogenberger death ($14M settlement)
Texas Chapters: UT Austin (sanctioned 2023 for forced milk consumption/calisthenics), Texas A&M, UH, others
Pattern: “Big/Little” alcohol hazing, physical endurance tests

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)

National History: Multiple hazing deaths nationwide, elimination of pledge system in 2014 in response
Texas Incidents: Texas A&M chemical burns lawsuit, UT Austin assault case (2024), University of Alabama TBI case
Pattern: Physical violence, dangerous substance exposure

Phi Delta Theta

National History: Max Gruver death, Louisiana felony hazing law bears his name
Texas Chapters: Active at UT Austin, Texas A&M, others
Pattern: Drinking games framed as “education” or “tradition”

Pi Kappa Phi

National History: Andrew Coffey death at Florida State
Texas Incident: Current UH Bermudez case alleging rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, systematic abuse
Pattern: Physical endurance hazing, forced consumption rituals

Kappa Alpha Order

National History: Multiple suspensions including SMU chapter (2017)
Pattern: Paddling, forced drinking, Southern tradition framing

Why National Histories Create Legal Liability

When a Texas chapter repeats conduct that caused deaths or injuries at other chapters, plaintiffs can argue:

Foreseeability: National knew this conduct was dangerous
Negligent Supervision: Failed to adequately monitor/prevent known risks
Punitive Damages Basis: Repeated failure to address known dangers shows reckless disregard

Our investigation into national organizations includes tracking their insurance carriers, risk management protocols, and prior incident responses—all crucial for building maximum leverage in settlement negotiations or trial.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Realistic Expectations

For Olmos Park families facing a hazing incident, understanding the legal process helps manage expectations and avoid critical mistakes. Every case is unique, but certain principles apply broadly.

Evidence That Wins Cases in 2025

Digital Communications (Most Critical)

Group chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, fraternity apps
Social media: Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook Messenger
Preservation: Screenshot immediately, avoid deletion, use cloud backup
Recovery: Digital forensics can often recover deleted messages

We have a detailed video explaining evidence preservation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

Medical Documentation

Emergency room records, hospitalization notes
Lab results (toxicology, kidney function, creatine kinase levels)
Psychological evaluations (PTSD, depression, anxiety diagnoses)
Future care projections from specialists

Organizational Records

Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, “tradition” documents
Chapter meeting minutes, officer communications
National policies, training materials, prior incident reports
University conduct files obtained through discovery

Witness Testimony

Other pledges often fear coming forward initially but may cooperate as case develops
Former members who left organizations often have valuable insights
Roommates, RAs, bystanders
Medical personnel, first responders

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable)

Past medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, therapy)
Future medical care (lifetime projections for permanent injuries)
Lost educational costs (withdrawn semesters, transferred tuition)
Lost earning capacity (reduced lifetime earnings from disability)
Funeral/burial costs in wrongful death cases

Non-Economic Damages

Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of companionship (for families in wrongful death)

Punitive Damages (When Available)

Punish particularly reckless or malicious conduct
Deter future similar conduct
Available when defendants showed conscious indifference to known risks

In Texas, punitive damages have statutory caps except in certain intentional tort cases. Our experience with high-value wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases ensures proper valuation of all damage categories.

Insurance Coverage Battles: Why Experience Matters

Fraternities, sororities, and universities carry various insurance policies that often become battlegrounds. Insurers frequently argue:

Hazing constitutes “intentional conduct” excluded from coverage
Certain defendants aren’t named insureds
Notice requirements weren’t met

Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney at a national firm gives us unique insight into these tactics. We know how insurers value claims, set reserves, and deploy delay strategies. This insider knowledge helps us:

Identify all potential coverage sources (chapter, national, university, umbrella policies)
Navigate coverage exclusions and disputes
Pursue bad faith claims when insurers wrongfully deny coverage

Practical Guide for Olmos Park Parents and Students

For Parents: Recognizing Warning Signs

Physical Red Flags

Unexplained bruises, burns, cuts with inconsistent “accident” stories
Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
Weight changes from food/water restriction
Signs of alcohol poisoning (slurred speech, vomiting, confusion) in non-drinkers

Behavioral Changes

Sudden secrecy about organization activities
Withdrawal from family, old friends, non-organization activities
Personality shifts: anxiety, depression, irritability
Constant phone monitoring/response anxiety
Talking about “just getting through” initiation

Academic Impacts

Grades dropping suddenly
Missing classes or falling asleep in class
Losing scholarships or academic standing

Financial Patterns

Unexpected large expenses (forced purchases, “fines”)
Buying excessive alcohol or gifts for older members
Maxed credit cards, unusual money requests

Questions to Ask (Non-Confrontational Approach)

“How are things going with [organization]? Are you enjoying it?”
“Have they been respectful of your time for classes and sleep?”
“What do new members typically do? Anything make you uncomfortable?”
“Have you seen anyone get hurt or been hurt yourself?”
“Do you feel like you could leave if you wanted to?”

If your child opens up, listen without judgment. If they shut down, continue monitoring and stay ready to intervene.

For Students: Safety Planning and Exit Strategies

Is This Hazing? Decision Guide
Ask yourself:

Am I being forced or pressured to do something I don’t want to do?
Would I do this if there were no social consequences?
Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
Would my parents/university approve if they knew details?
Am I being told to keep secrets or lie?

If You’re in Immediate Danger

Call 911 or campus police
Get to a safe location (dorm, friend’s place, public area)
You won’t get in trouble for calling for help in medical emergencies

How to Exit Safely

Tell someone outside the organization first (parent, RA, friend)
Send email/text to chapter president: “I resign my membership effective immediately”
Do NOT go to “one last meeting” where pressure/retaliation may occur
If fearing retaliation, report to Dean of Students and campus police

Your Texas Legal Rights

You cannot be punished for calling 911 in good faith (reporter immunity)
Hazing is a crime—you are the victim, not perpetrator
You can request no-contact orders through university
Consent is not a defense under Texas law

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Deleting Evidence
What families think: “I don’t want them to get in more trouble”
Why it’s wrong: Looks like cover-up, can be obstruction of justice, makes case nearly impossible
Instead: Preserve everything immediately, even embarrassing content

2. Confronting the Organization Directly
What families think: “I’ll give them a piece of my mind”
Why it’s wrong: They immediately lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
Instead: Document everything, call a lawyer first

3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms
What universities do: Pressure families to sign waivers or internal agreements
Why it’s wrong: May waive right to sue; settlements often below true value
Instead: Do NOT sign anything without attorney review

4. Posting on Social Media
What families think: “I want people to know what happened”
Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
Instead: Document privately; let your lawyer control public messaging

5. Waiting “to See How University Handles It”
What universities promise: “We’re investigating internally”
Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute runs
Instead: Preserve evidence NOW; consult lawyer immediately

We have a video detailing common client mistakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY

Frequently Asked Questions from Olmos Park Families

“Can we 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 personally. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity hurdles. Every case is fact-specific.

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

“What if my child ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states: “Consent is not a defense.” Courts recognize that consent under peer pressure and power imbalance isn’t truly voluntary.

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

Learn more in our statute of limitations video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c

“What if hazing happened off-campus?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, knowledge, and foreseeability. Many major cases (Pi Delta Psi retreat, Sigma Pi unofficial house) occurred off-campus with successful judgments.

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

“How much will this cost?”
We work on contingency fee—no upfront costs, no fee unless we win. Learn how contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Why Attorney911 for Olmos Park 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 Texas offices, we serve families throughout the state, including Olmos Park and surrounding Bexar County 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)
Our involvement in BP Texas City explosion litigation—one of the few Texas firms selected—demonstrates our capability against billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. We’re not intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their defense teams. We’ve taken on massive corporations and won.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Results
We have proven experience in complex wrongful death cases with economist collaboration, lifetime care planning for brain injuries, and proper valuation of permanent disabilities. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that force real accountability.

Dual Criminal/Civil Hazing Expertise
Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) signals elite criminal defense capability. This is crucial when hazing involves criminal charges or when advising witnesses/former members with dual exposure.

Investigative Depth and Expert Networks
We maintain a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine with data on 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted evidence, medical experts to document injuries, psychologists to assess trauma, and economists to quantify damages.

Spanish-Language Services
Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. For Hispanic families in Olmos Park and throughout Texas, we provide consultations and representation in Spanish. Hablamos Español—contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com.

Our Approach: Empathetic, Thorough, Strategic

We know this is one of the hardest things a family can face. Our job is to:

Get you answers about what really happened
Hold the right people accountable
Secure compensation for medical care, therapy, and future needs
Help prevent this from happening to another family

We’re not about bravado or quick settlements. We’re about thorough investigation, strategic litigation, and real accountability. We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does.

Take the Next Step: Confidential Consultation for Olmos Park Families

If you or your child experienced hazing at any campus—whether here in Texas at UTSA, UT Austin, Texas A&M, or anywhere in the United States—we want to hear from you. Families in Olmos Park and throughout the surrounding region have the right to answers and accountability.

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, discuss realistic timelines, and answer questions about costs. There’s no pressure to hire us on the spot—take time to decide. Everything you tell us is confidential.

Contact Attorney911 Today

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

Spanish Services: Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com

Whether you’re in Olmos Park or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The same organizations, the same patterns, the same institutional defenses exist everywhere. We have the experience, data, and determination to help you fight back.

Call us today. Let’s discuss how we can help your family find answers, secure accountability, and prevent this from happening to anyone else.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of Leonel Bermudez/UH Pi Kappa Phi 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 case summary: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

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

Attorney911 Main Website:

https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC.

Hazing laws, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.

If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com | Spanish: lupe@atty911.com