Hazing Lawyer in Refugio County, TX | Attorney 911
Justice for Hazing Victims in Refugio County and Beyond
If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or student organization in Refugio County—or anywhere in Texas—we can help.
Hazing isn’t just “tradition.” It’s abuse. It’s torture. And when it sends students to the hospital—or worse—it’s illegal.
At Attorney 911, we’re fighting this fight right now. We’re currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston—a case involving waterboarding, forced exercise to the point of kidney failure, and systematic abuse.
The same fraternities operate in Refugio County. The same universities fail to protect students. And the same justice is possible for Refugio County families.
🚨 This Is Happening in Refugio County, TX
Refugio County families send their children to college expecting them to be safe. But the reality is:
- National fraternities like Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Pi Kappa Alpha have active chapters at universities near Refugio County.
- The same “traditions” that hospitalized our client in Houston happen right here in Texas.
- Universities in Refugio County have the same power to stop hazing—and the same liability when they don’t.
- Hazing causes permanent injuries, psychological trauma, and even death.
If your child was hazed in Refugio County, you are not powerless. You have legal rights. And we will fight for you.
💔 What Hazing Really Looks Like (From Our Case)
Our client at the University of Houston was subjected to weeks of torture disguised as “pledge activities.” This is what hazing looks like:
✅ Waterboarding with a garden hose – Simulated drowning, a form of torture recognized by the U.S. government.
✅ Forced to do 500 squats, 100+ pushups, bear crawls, and 100-yard crawls – Until his muscles broke down, causing rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
✅ Struck with wooden paddles – Physical assault with weapons.
✅ Forced to eat until vomiting – Then made to keep running through their own vomit.
✅ Sleep deprivation – Forced to drive fraternity members at all hours, leading to exhaustion.
✅ Psychological torture – Carrying sexual objects, being hog-tied, threatened with expulsion.
✅ Another pledge collapsed unconscious – The fraternity kept going.
Result? Our client spent four days in the hospital with kidney failure.
This isn’t hazing. This is a crime.
And it’s happening at universities near Refugio County, TX.
⚖️ Your Legal Rights as a Refugio County Hazing Victim
Texas law is clear: Hazing is illegal, and consent is not a defense.
Texas Hazing Laws (Education Code § 37.151-37.157)
Hazing includes:
- Physical brutality (beating, paddling, forced exercise)
- Forced consumption (alcohol, food, drugs)
- Sleep deprivation
- Psychological abuse
- Any activity that endangers mental or physical health
Penalties:
- Criminal charges (up to State Jail Felony if hazing causes death)
- Organizational fines (up to $10,000)
- Chapter closures
- Civil lawsuits (multi-million dollar settlements)
Most importantly:
“It is NOT a defense that the victim consented to the hazing.” (Texas Education Code § 37.154)
That means even if your child “agreed” to participate, the fraternity is still liable.
🏛️ Who Can Be Sued in a Refugio County Hazing Case?
We don’t just sue the students who did it. We go after everyone who allowed it to happen.
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Fraternity/Sorority Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing. |
| National Organization | Knew about hazing risks, failed to supervise chapters. (Pi Kappa Phi had a hazing death in 2017—8 years before our client was hospitalized.) |
| University | Owns fraternity houses, has power to regulate Greek life, failed to protect students. (UH had a hazing hospitalization in 2017—8 years before our case.) |
| Housing Corporation | Owns/controls property where hazing occurred. |
| Individual Members | Participated in or allowed hazing. (In the Stone Foltz case, a chapter president was ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.) |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their homes. (A former member and his spouse are named in our lawsuit.) |
Refugio County families: If your child was hazed, we will identify every liable party and hold them accountable.
💰 What Compensation Is Available for Refugio County Hazing Victims?
Hazing causes real harm—medical bills, psychological trauma, lost education, and lifelong consequences. You deserve real compensation.
Types of Damages We Pursue:
| Damage Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Hospital bills, ER visits, therapy, future treatment. (Our client was hospitalized for 4 days with kidney failure.) |
| Pain & Suffering | Physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression. (Our client is fearful of retribution for speaking out.) |
| Lost Wages | Time missed from work during recovery. |
| Educational Damages | Disrupted college plans, lost scholarships, delayed graduation. |
| Punitive Damages | Additional money to punish the fraternity/university for gross negligence. (Juries have awarded $6.1 million and $10.1 million in hazing cases.) |
Recent Hazing Settlements & Verdicts:
| Case | Fraternity | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz (BGSU, 2021) | Pi Kappa Alpha | Settlement | $10.1 Million |
| Maxwell Gruver (LSU, 2017) | Phi Delta Theta | Jury Verdict | $6.1 Million |
| Timothy Piazza (Penn State, 2017) | Beta Theta Pi | Settlement | $110+ Million |
| Andrew Coffey (FSU, 2017) | Pi Kappa Phi | Settlement | Confidential (Same fraternity as our case!) |
Refugio County families: These cases prove that hazing victims can and do win millions. The same legal strategies apply to your case.
🚨 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Refugio County, TX
Every day you wait is a day closer to losing your legal rights. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. And the fraternity will do everything to silence your child.
✅ Immediate Steps to Take:
- Get Medical Help – Even if injuries seem minor, document everything. Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and kidney failure can develop days later.
- Preserve Evidence – Save texts, GroupMe chats, photos, videos, social media posts. Do NOT delete anything.
- Do NOT Talk to the Fraternity or University Alone – They will try to control the narrative. Anything your child says can be used against them.
- Do NOT Post on Social Media – Insurance companies and fraternity lawyers will use your posts against you.
- Contact a Hazing Lawyer Immediately – The statute of limitations in Texas is 2 years. After that, you lose your right to sue.
📞 Why Refugio County Families Choose Attorney 911
We’re not just hazing lawyers. We’re former insurance defense attorneys who know how the other side thinks. And we’re fighting this fight right now.
✅ We’re Currently Litigating a $10 Million Hazing Case
- Pi Kappa Phi & University of Houston – Same fraternity, same negligence.
- Waterboarding, forced exercise, wooden paddles – The same abuse happens in Refugio County.
- $10 million demand – Because that’s what it takes to make them stop.
✅ We Have the Expertise to Win
- 25+ years of litigation experience – Ralph Manginello is a former insurance defense attorney who knows how to dismantle fraternity defenses.
- Federal court authority – We can pursue cases in federal court, giving us leverage against national organizations.
- Dual-state bar licenses – Texas and New York, allowing us to sue national fraternities anywhere.
- Former insurance defense insight – We know how insurance companies try to minimize claims—and how to fight back.
✅ We Fight for Refugio County Families
- We come to Refugio County – For depositions, trials, and client meetings.
- We offer remote consultations – You don’t have to travel to Houston.
- We work on contingency – $0 upfront. We don’t get paid unless you win.
- Se habla español – Bilingual staff for Spanish-speaking families.
✅ We Get Results
“Ralph didn’t have me driving out to court just to reschedule it like my last lawyer did. He saved me a lot of time, money, and very prompt on answering any and all questions I had. Case dismissed.” – Kristyn Hinchliffe
“I have used him 2 TIMES FOR 2 separate cases the first case he got me an OFF DOCKET DISSMISSAL! And the other only 10 months probation. He gets the JOB DONE RIGHT!!!!” – Cassie Wright
“If you’re ever in a car accident, I highly recommend you give them a call 10/10. The staff provides great customer service and show they are a firm that cares about their clients!” – Devin Hebert
📢 Our Message to Refugio County Fraternities & Universities
We are watching.
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Kappa Sigma—if your chapter operates in Refugio County, know this:
- We track your house corporations, alumni chapters, and insurance policies.
- We know your national organization’s hazing death record.
- If your chapter harms a student in Refugio County, we will pursue every liable entity.
- We already shut down the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. Your chapter could be next.
Universities in Refugio County: The same institutional negligence that made University of Houston a defendant exists at your campus. Act now—or face the same accountability.
📞 Refugio County Families: Call Now for a Free Consultation
Hazing victims in Refugio County deserve justice. We will fight for you.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7 for hazing emergencies)
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com/hazing
We serve Refugio County and all of Texas. Distance is not a barrier to justice.
🚨 Frequently Asked Questions About Hazing in Refugio County, TX
Q: My child was hazed, but they don’t want to sue. Should we still talk to a lawyer?
A: Yes. Even if your child doesn’t want to sue, consulting a lawyer protects their rights. We can advise on evidence preservation, reporting to the university, and potential criminal charges. You don’t have to decide to sue right away—but you must act quickly to preserve your options.
Q: The fraternity says my child “consented” to hazing. Can they still be held liable?
A: Absolutely. Texas law explicitly says consent is NOT a defense. (Texas Education Code § 37.154) The fraternity is still liable for any harm caused.
Q: We’re worried about retaliation. Will the fraternity come after my child if we sue?
A: We take retaliation seriously. Our client in the UH case is fearful of doing an interview due to retribution. We will protect your child’s identity and take legal action if any retaliation occurs.
Q: How much does it cost to hire a hazing lawyer in Refugio County?
A: $0 upfront. We work on contingency—meaning we only get paid if we win your case. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: 2 years from the date of the hazing incident. (Texas statute of limitations) After that, you lose your right to sue. Do not wait.
Q: Can we sue even if the hazing didn’t happen at a Refugio County school?
A: Yes. We represent hazing victims nationwide. If your child was hazed at any Texas university, we can pursue the case.
Q: What if my child was hazed at a sports team, marching band, or ROTC—not a fraternity?
A: We handle all types of hazing cases. Fraternities, sororities, sports teams, marching bands, ROTC, clubs—if your child was hazed, we can help.
🔥 Enough Is Enough. Refugio County Families Deserve Justice.
Hazing isn’t tradition. It’s abuse. It’s torture. And it must stop.
If your child was hazed in Refugio County—or anywhere in Texas—we will fight for you. Call now.
📞 1-888-ATTY-911
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 attorney911.com/hazing
Attorney 911 – Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Proudly serving Refugio County, TX and all of Texas.
