If you’re reading this in Texas, your family may be facing one of the most terrifying moments of your life. Your child went off to college, eager to find their place, make friends, and build a future. Instead, they were tortured. They were hazed. They were abused. We understand what you’re going through, and we’re here to help families in Texas fight back.

At Attorney911, we are not just legal advocates; we are a lifeline for victims and their families when legal emergencies strike. Our firm is built on the belief that everyone deserves immediate, aggressive, and professional help when their world is turned upside down. This is particularly true for hazing victims in Texas, where the allure of Greek life or the desire to belong to a team can turn into a nightmare of abuse and a profound betrayal of trust.

We’re not just talking about hazing; we’re actively fighting it. Right now, in Harris County Civil District Court, our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña, are locked in a $10 million battle against a national fraternity and a major Texas university after a young man was waterboarded, hog-tied, and hospitalized with kidney failure during hazing rituals. This isn’t theoretical; this is real. This is our fight, and it can be your fight too, no matter where you are in Texas.

The Horrifying Reality: How Hazing Looks in Texas Today

The image of hazing that many parents hold—silly pranks, forced clean-ups, or mild inconveniences—is dangerously outdated. Today’s hazing is a brutal, often criminal, epidemic that thrives in the shadows of college campuses and student organizations across Texas. It is sophisticated in its cruelty, designed to break spirits, and frequently results in severe physical and psychological trauma, hospitalization, and even death.

Let us tell you about Leonel Bermudez. His story isn’t from a bygone era; it happened in November 2025, right here in Houston, at the University of Houston, and it could happen to your child at any university or college in Texas.

Leonel was a “ghost rush.” He wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet; he was planning to transfer for the upcoming semester. But he accepted a bid to join the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity on September 16, 2025. What followed was a weeks-long ordeal of systematic abuse, psychological torture, and extreme physical demands that ultimately landed him in the hospital for three nights and four days with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.

Imagine this: your child, trying to make friends, is sprayed in the face with a garden hose, simulating waterboarding. They are forced to eat large amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until they vomit, only to be made to run sprints while clearly in physical distress and lie in their own vomit-soaked grass. They are subjected to merciless workouts—over 100 push-ups, 500 squats, “suicides,” bear crawls, and wheelbarrows—all while reciting a fraternity creed under threat of immediate expulsion. They are struck with wooden paddles. They are stripped to their underwear in cold weather. They are forced to carry a fanny pack containing objects of a sexual nature at all times, a constant humiliation. They are deprived of sleep, forced to drive fraternity members during early morning hours until they are utterly exhausted.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. On October 13, 2025, another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour. Just two days later, on October 15, a pledge lost consciousness and collapsed during one of these forced workouts; other pledges had to elevate his legs until he recovered. Yet, the hazing continued.

Leonel’s breaking point came on November 3, 2025. Punished for missing an event, he was pushed past all human limits, so exhausted he couldn’t stand without help. Attorney Ralph Manginello recounted to ABC13, “When he finally made it home, he crawled up the stairs and went to bed. The next day, he was really sore and couldn’t really move. The next day was worse, and the next day, his mom rushed him to the hospital, and he had some kidney failure.” Leonel was passing brown urine, a classic sign of severe muscle breakdown, what doctors call rhabdomyolysis, which led to acute kidney failure. He spent nearly four days hospitalized, fighting for his life, facing the ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

This is not “boys being boys.” This is not “tradition.” This is torture. This happened in Texas, just weeks ago. And Attorney911 is fighting back.

What Hazing Truly Is: Beyond the Stereotypes

Many parents hold onto outdated notions of hazing—harmless pranks or mild inconveniences. But the tragic reality, as shown by Leonel Bermudez’s case and countless others across the country, is far more sinister. Hazing today is rarely benign; it is often criminal and deeply traumatizing.

It is critical for Texas parents to understand that hazing activities are designed to intimidate, degrade, and control. This isn’t about fostering camaraderie; it’s about breaking individuals down through:

• Physical Abuse: This includes beatings, paddling, branding, burning, and forced exercise to the point of collapse or serious injury. Leonel Bermudez endured repeated physical punishment, including being struck with wooden paddles and forced into workouts that led to rhabdomyolysis.
• Forced Consumption: Victims are made to consume dangerous amounts of alcohol, food until vomiting, or even non-food substances. Leonel’s experience of being forced to eat milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until he vomited, then made to continue exercising in his own vomit, is a stark example. Forced binge drinking is a leading cause of hazing deaths nationwide.
• Sleep Deprivation: Pledges are often kept awake for extended periods, forced to perform demanding tasks late at night or early in the morning, leading to extreme exhaustion, impaired judgment, and increased vulnerability. Leonel was compelled to drive fraternity members during early morning hours, contributing to his severe exhaustion.
• Psychological Torture: This category encompasses humiliation, degradation, verbal abuse, isolation, and threats. Forcing a pledge to carry a fanny pack with sexual objects, stripping them in cold weather, or the sheer terror of being waterboarded leads to severe mental anguish, anxiety, and long-term psychological trauma, including PTSD. The fact that Leonel is “fearful of doing an interview due to retribution” speaks volumes about the lasting psychological impact.
• Simulated Drowning/Waterboarding: As chillingly revealed in Leonel’s case, some hazing involves simulated drowning. This is recognized internationally as a form of torture, causing extreme physical and psychological distress, and can be deadly.
• Exposure: Leaving pledges in extreme weather conditions, or confining them in small, uncomfortable spaces, is another cruel tactic that endangers physical health.
• Servitude: Forced cleaning, performing personal errands, or driving members around at all hours ensures pledges are constantly under the control of active members, eroding their autonomy and exhausting them.

The medical consequences of such abuse are devastating. From rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure (as Leonel experienced) to alcohol poisoning, traumatic brain injury, hypothermia, cardiac arrest, and sexual assault injuries, the physical toll can be life-altering or fatal. Beyond the physical, victims frequently suffer from PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, academic decline, social withdrawal, and substance abuse as they try to cope with the trauma.

This is not some harmless rite of passage our children consent to. As we will discuss further, Texas law explicitly states that consent is NOT a defense to hazing. These are illegal, immoral, and often criminal acts. Texas parents, this is the modern reality of hazing, and it demands our aggressive intervention.

Holding Everyone Accountable: Who Is Responsible for Hazing in Texas?

When hazing leaves a student injured or dead, the responsibility rarely rests with just a few individuals. The web of liability typically extends far beyond the active participants to include those who created or enabled the environment for abuse, as we are pursuing in the Leonel Bermudez case. We cast a wide net because hazing is an institutional problem, and accountability must extend to every entity that allowed it to happen.

Here’s who can be held responsible in a hazing lawsuit in Texas:

The Local Chapter

The fraternity or sorority chapter directly involved in the hazing is a primary defendant. Their members are the ones planning and executing the activities. In Leonel Bermudez’s case, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu Chapter at the University of Houston directly organized and conducted the horrifying rituals. This includes:

• Chapter Officers: Individuals like the chapter president, pledgemaster, and risk manager have direct leadership responsibility. They often direct the hazing activities or fail in their duty to stop them. In the Bermudez lawsuit, the fraternity president and pledgemaster are specifically named as defendants.
• Individual Members: Any fraternity or sorority member who participated in, encouraged, or failed to intervene in hazing activities can be held individually liable for their actions. This includes those who actively engaged in the waterboarding, physical assaults, or forced consumption.
• Alumni & Former Members: Often, hazing rituals are perpetuated by alumni or take place at their residences. In Leonel’s case, former members and even a spouse of a former member are named as defendants because some major hazing sessions occurred at their private residence, implicating them under premises liability laws.

The National Fraternity or Sorority Organization

These national bodies oversee hundreds of chapters across the country, including many at universities throughout Texas. They have insurance policies, national rules, and codes of conduct, and often provide training and resources to their local chapters. Their liability stems from:

• Failure to Supervise: Despite having policies and personnel dedicated to chapter oversight, national organizations frequently fail to prevent hazing. In the Bermudez lawsuit, Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters is a key defendant because it allegedly “failed to enforce anti-hazing rules and policies despite knowledge of ‘a hazing crisis.'” They knew, or should have known, about deadly hazing cultures within their system, yet failed to act, as tragically exemplified by the death of Andrew Coffey at a Pi Kappa Phi chapter in Florida just eight years prior to Leonel’s hospitalization.
• Inadequate Policies or Enforcement: Even if policies exist on paper, if they are not rigorously enforced or are insufficient to deter hazing, the national organization can be held accountable. The swift closure of the UH chapter by Pi Kappa Phi National after Leonel’s hospitalization demonstrates their admission of serious violations and internal awareness of wrongdoing.
• Vicarious Liability: National organizations can be held responsible for the actions of their local chapters under legal theories of agency or vicarious liability. These organizations have millions in assets and insurance, making them “deep pockets” necessary for significant compensation.

The University or College

Educational institutions play a critical role in the lives of their students and often have substantial control over Greek life on their campuses. Their liability can arise from:

• Negligent Supervision: Universities have a duty to protect their students, especially from foreseeable dangers like hazing. If a university fails to monitor Greek life activities, turn a blind eye to reports, or does not take decisive action against problematic chapters, it can be held liable. The University of Houston and its Board of Regents are named defendants in the Bermudez lawsuit, partly because they own the fraternity house where much of the hazing took place.
• Premises Liability: If hazing occurs on university-owned or controlled property, the institution has a responsibility to maintain a safe environment. In Leonel’s case, the fact that the hazing occurred in a “University-owned fraternity house” is a critical point. The university effectively owned the property where students were being tortured.
• Failure to Act on Prior Incidents: A university that has a history of hazing incidents on its campus—as the University of Houston did with a 2017 Pi Kappa Alpha hazing that hospitalized another student—has a heightened duty to act. Their failure to implement effective changes makes them culpable when another student is harmed.
• Institutional Indifference: When universities prioritize reputation or fundraising from Greek alumni over student safety, they bear a heavy responsibility.

Insurance Carriers

Behind every national fraternity, university, house corporation, and often individual members, there are insurance policies designed to cover liability in civil lawsuits. As former insurance defense attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña possess invaluable insider knowledge of how these insurance companies value claims, strategize defenses, and attempt to minimize payouts. We know their playbook because we helped write it. This means we know exactly how to relentlessly pursue:

• National organization’s liability insurance
• University’s institutional insurance policies
• Housing corporation’s property and liability insurance
• Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance for off-campus locations or individual members
• Personal liability coverage of individual defendants

The goal is not just to identify wrongdoers, but to secure justice through comprehensive financial accountability. We target every entity that played a role, directly or indirectly, in your child’s hazing. This aggressive, data-driven approach ensures that those with the power and resources to prevent hazing are compelled to pay for their failures.

Proving Hazing: What Your Case Could Win in Texas

When a child is seriously injured or dies due to hazing, the legal system provides a path for families to seek justice and significant financial compensation. These are not small cases; they involve profound physical and emotional suffering, and the verdicts and settlements reflect that gravity. Families across the nation have recovered millions of dollars in similar cases, sending a clear message: hazing will not be tolerated, and institutions that enable it will pay.

Our own $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston is well within the range of what these cases have achieved. Let’s look at some landmark precedents that underscore the value of aggressive hazing litigation, and why your case in Texas can achieve similar results:

Massive Settlements and Verdicts Reflect the Damage of Hazing

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University / Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Total over $10.1 Million

  • What Happened: Stone Foltz was forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” initiation and died from alcohol poisoning.
  • The Outcome: The university settled for $2.9 million, and the Pi Kappa Alpha national organization and associated individuals settled for $7.2 million. Most recently, in December 2024, a $6.5 million personal judgment was awarded against Daylen Dunson, the former chapter president.
  • Relevance to Texas Families: This case demonstrates that both universities and national fraternities pay multi-million dollar amounts. Our $10 million demand for Leonel Bermudez, who survived but faces life-altering medical consequences, is directly aligned with this precedent. It also shows that individual perpetrators, like chapter presidents, can be held personally liable for millions.

• Maxwell Gruver – Louisiana State University / Phi Delta Theta (2017): $6.1 Million Verdict

  • What Happened: Max Gruver died from acute alcohol poisoning (BAC of 0.495) after being forced to consume excessive alcohol during a grueling “Bible Study” hazing ritual.
  • The Outcome: A jury awarded the Gruver family $6.1 million in a civil lawsuit. This case also led to the “Max Gruver Act,” making hazing a felony in Louisiana.
  • Relevance to Texas Families: This jury verdict proves that when hazing cases go to trial, juries are willing to award millions to victims, driven by outrage at the cruelty and negligence involved. The emotional impact of Gruver’s story resonated powerfully with the jury.

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State University / Beta Theta Pi (2017): Estimated $110+ Million in Settlements

  • What Happened: Timothy Piazza was forced to consume 18 drinks in 82 minutes, reaching a near-fatal BAC of 0.36. He then fell down stairs multiple times, suffered a traumatic brain injury, and fraternity brothers waited 12 hours before calling 911. He died from his injuries.
  • The Outcome: While the university settlement was confidential, estimates place the total recovery for the Piazza family at over $110 million from various defendants. This tragedy also spurred Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.”
  • Relevance to Texas Families: When the evidence is strong and egregious conduct is clear (as in Leonel’s case with waterboarding and physical assault), settlements can reach astronomical figures. This case shows the immense leverage gained when a firm can uncover and present compelling evidence.

• Andrew Coffey – Florida State University / Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Same Fraternity as Bermudez

  • What Happened: Andrew Coffey was forced to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon during a “Big Brother Night” and died from acute alcohol poisoning.
  • The Outcome: Nine fraternity members faced criminal charges, and the chapter was permanently closed. The family reached a confidential civil settlement.
  • Relevance to Texas Families: This is a crucial precedent for Leonel’s case because it involves Pi Kappa Phi, the same national fraternity. It proves Pi Kappa Phi National had actual notice of its deadly hazing practices eight years before Leonel’s hospitalization, yet failed to enact effective change. This pattern of negligence strengthens our argument for punitive damages and shows a deliberate indifference to student safety.

What Multi-Million Dollar Awards Cover

These significant awards compensate families for a wide range of harms:

• Economic Damages: These are quantifiable financial losses, including:

  • Medical Expenses: Past and future hospital stays (like Leonel’s four-day hospitalization), emergency room visits, specialist consultations, medications, physical therapy, and even potential long-term care or kidney dialysis for Leonel. Serious hazing injuries can incur hundreds of thousands to millions in medical costs over a lifetime.
  • Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: If hazing injuries prevent a student from working or impact their future career path, compensation can cover immediate lost wages and projected future lost earnings.
  • Lost Academic Investment: Tuition and fees for semesters disrupted, scholarships lost, and delays in graduation.

• Non-Economic Damages: These are subjective, non-financial losses, often representing the largest portion of a settlement or verdict, including:

  • Physical Pain and Suffering: The agony endured during the hazing itself, during hospitalization, and throughout recovery. Imagine the pain of rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure, of being waterboarded or struck with paddles.
  • Mental Anguish and Emotional Distress: This covers the psychological trauma, including PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, humiliation, and the profound fear and betrayal felt by victims. Leonel’s fear of retribution is a clear example of ongoing emotional distress. Texas has no cap on pain and suffering damages in personal injury cases, allowing for full compensation for such profound emotional harm.
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life: The inability to participate in normal college activities or pursue hobbies due to injury or trauma.
  • Disfigurement: Compensation for permanent scars from branding, burns, or other injuries.

• Punitive Damages: These are awarded not to compensate the victim, but to punish the wrongdoer for outrageous or grossly negligent conduct and to deter others from similar actions. In hazing cases, where there is often intentional abuse, reckless endangerment, and a conscious disregard for student safety, punitive damages are highly appropriate. The clear pattern of negligence by Pi Kappa Phi National (from Andrew Coffey in 2017 to Leonel Bermudez in 2025) and the University of Houston (with a prior hazing hospitalization in 2017) strengthens the argument for significant punitive damages in Leonel’s case.

These precedent cases are not just historical footnotes; they are blueprints for justice. They demonstrate what is possible when victims and their families decide to fight back with aggressive, data-driven legal representation. For Texas families facing the aftermath of hazing, these multi-million dollar outcomes prove that accountability is within reach.

Your Rights in Texas: The Legal Framework That Protects You

Texas has strong anti-hazing laws designed to protect students and hold perpetrators and institutions accountable. When hazing hits close to home, understanding these laws is crucial for Texas families seeking justice. Our firm, deeply rooted in Texas, leverages these statutes alongside broader civil liability theories to build an unshakeable case for our clients.

Texas Hazing Laws (Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157)

These laws define hazing, outline criminal penalties, establish organizational liability, and, critically, remove the defense of consent.

• What Constitutes Hazing (§ 37.151): Texas law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of initiation or maintaining membership in an organization, if that act endangers mental or physical health. This includes:

  • Physical Brutality: Whipping, beating, striking (like the wooden paddles Leonel endured), branding, electronic shocking, or similar activities.
  • Endangering Health or Safety: Sleep deprivation, exposure to elements (such as stripping in cold weather or being sprayed with a hose), confinement, extreme calisthenics (like Leonel’s 500 squats and 100 push-ups that led to kidney failure), or other activities creating an unreasonable risk of harm.
  • Forced Consumption: Making a student consume food, liquid, alcohol (like the excessive milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns forced upon Leonel), drugs, or other substances that pose an unreasonable risk of harm.
  • Coercion to Violate Penal Code: Any act that forces a student to violate criminal law.
  • Coercion to Consume Drugs or Excessive Alcohol: Coercing a student to consume drugs or an amount of alcohol that would lead a reasonable person to believe they are intoxicated.

  The Leonel Bermudez case clearly satisfies multiple elements of this statutory definition, from physical brutality and dangerous calisthenics to forced consumption and exposure.

• Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152): Individuals who engage in or aid hazing, or even those with firsthand knowledge who fail to report it, can face misdemeanor charges. If hazing causes serious bodily injury (like Leonel’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure), it escalates to a Class A Misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine. If hazing causes death, it becomes a State Jail Felony, with penalties up to two years in state jail and a $10,000 fine. The University of Houston’s spokesperson explicitly stated that individuals would face “potential criminal charges” in Leonel’s case, underscoring the severity.

• Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): This is critical for holding institutions accountable. An organization commits an offense if it condones, encourages hazing, or if an officer, member, or alumni commits or assists in hazing. Penalties can include fines up to $10,000, denial of permission to operate on campus, and forfeiture of property. This means both the local Pi Kappa Phi chapter and the national organization can be held liable.

• Consent is NOT a Defense (§ 37.154): This is one of the most powerful provisions in Texas hazing law. It explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution for an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” This directly refutes the common “he knew what he was getting into” or “he could have left” arguments often made by perpetrators. In Texas, the law recognizes that under conditions of duress, peer pressure, and the desire to belong, true consent is impossible.

Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Charges

Even if criminal charges are not pursued or result in acquittal, victims can pursue civil lawsuits for significant financial compensation. These civil claims often parallel criminal statutes but focus on monetary recovery for damages.

• Negligence Claims: This is a cornerstone of personal injury law. We must show that:

  1. Duty of Care: The university, national fraternity, and individual members owed Leonel a duty to ensure his safety.
  2. Breach of Duty: They violated this duty by permitting or encouraging hazing.
  3. Causation: Their actions (or inactions) directly led to Leonel’s injuries.
  4. Damages: Leonel suffered quantifiable harm (medical bills, pain, suffering).

• Premises Liability: Because the hazing largely occurred at a University-owned fraternity house, the University of Houston has a direct responsibility as a property owner to maintain a safe environment. If they failed to address dangerous conditions (like systemic hazing) on their property, they can be held liable.

• Negligent Supervision: This applies to the national fraternity and the university if they failed to adequately oversee the local chapter and Greek life, respectively, especially given prior hazing incidents and knowledge of a “hazing crisis.”

• Assault and Battery: Individual participants can be sued for intentional harmful contact (battery) or the threat of it (assault). Waterboarding, paddling, and forced physical abuse clearly fall into these categories.

• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: The outrageous and extreme nature of hazing, designed to inflict severe emotional pain, makes this a strong claim. Waterboarding, for instance, is conduct so extreme that it can support this claim.

The Power of Being a Texas-Based Firm

From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we deeply understand the nuances of Texas law and the regulatory landscape for universities and Greek organizations throughout the state. We’ve fought in Texas courts for decades. However, our capabilities extend far beyond state lines, thanks to:

• Federal Court Authority: Our attorneys are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, allowing us to pursue cases in federal jurisdiction. This is often crucial when national organizations headquartered out of state are involved.
• Dual-State Bar Licenses: Ralph Manginello is licensed in both Texas and New York, providing a strategic advantage when litigating against national fraternities that may be headquartered or incorporated in other states.
• Nationwide Reach: We represent hazing victims from Florida to California, bringing our aggressive, data-driven approach to bear wherever justice demands. Distance is no barrier to our commitment to fighting for Texas families.

The legal framework in Texas, coupled with our firm’s extensive expertise, gives hazing victims powerful tools to seek justice. We ensure that those who inflict harm, and those who enable it, are held fully accountable for their actions.

Why Attorney911 Is the Obvious Choice for Texas Hazing Victims

When your child has been subjected to the horrors of hazing, you need more than just a lawyer. You need a fierce advocate who understands what you’re going through, knows exactly how to unravel complex institutional negligence, and has a proven track record of taking on powerful defendants and winning. Attorney911 is that firm, and here’s why Texas families consistently choose us:

We Are Actively Fighting This Battle – Right Now

We’re not just reading about hazing; we’re in the trenches. Our $10 million lawsuit for Leonel Bermudez against Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity, the University of Houston, its Board of Regents, and 13 individual defendants is a live, ongoing case in Harris County Civil District Court. This isn’t theoretical; this is proof that we possess:

• Real-time expertise: We understand the nuances of current hazing tactics, institutional responses, and litigation strategies as they unfold.
• Unwavering commitment: This case embodies our dedication to holding every responsible party accountable, sending a resounding message across Texas.
• The blueprint: The aggressive, data-driven strategy we’ve deployed in the Bermudez case is the same blueprint we will use for your child’s case, wherever it may be in Texas.

As Lupe Peña told ABC13, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” We believe this with every fiber of our being.

Unparalleled Insider Knowledge: We Know Their Playbook

Our firm has a unique and powerful advantage: both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña are former insurance defense attorneys. This means:

• We know how the other side thinks: Ralph and Lupe spent years defending major corporations and insurance companies against claims just like yours. They learned firsthand the strategies, tactics, and loopholes used to minimize payouts and deny justice.
• We anticipate their moves: This invaluable insider perspective allows us to anticipate the defense’s arguments, dismantle their strategies, and build rock-solid cases that leave them no room to hide.
• Higher claim leverage: Insurance companies and universities take us seriously because they know we’ve seen their playbook. This often translates to higher settlement offers and a greater chance of securing maximum compensation for our Texas clients.

Battle-Tested Experience Against Major Corporations and Institutions

Ralph Manginello’s 25+ years of courtroom experience includes involvement in the multi-billion dollar BP Texas City Explosion litigation. This experience against a massive corporate defendant demonstrates our capability to:

• Handle complex, high-stakes litigation: Hazing cases against national fraternities and universities are often intricate, involving multiple defendants, intricate corporate structures, and significant resources. Our firm thrives in this environment.
• Take on deep pockets: We’re not intimidated by large institutional defendants like the University of Houston or national fraternities with vast endowments and legal teams. We have successfully navigated these battles before.
• Uncover hidden liabilities: Our deep investigative skills, honed in complex mass tort cases, enable us to identify every potential defendant and every avenue of recovery.

Federal Court Authority and Dual-State Bar Admissions

Hazing often involves national organizations, potentially based in other states, and can involve federal civil rights violations. Our firm is uniquely positioned to handle this complexity:

• Federal Court Admissions: Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña are admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, providing the authority to pursue federal claims directly. This is crucial for national hazing cases that transcend state boundaries.
• Dual-State Bar Admission: Ralph Manginello is licensed in both Texas and New York, offering a strategic advantage when dealing with national fraternities or universities with legal ties outside of Texas. This broad reach enables us to effectively litigate against national organizations no matter their primary jurisdiction.

Compassion, Communication, and Contingency Fees

We understand that hazing cases are not just legal challenges; they are deeply personal tragedies. We approach every Texas family with empathy and a commitment to clear communication.

• Empathetic Approach: Many of our testimonials speak to how we treat clients “like family.” We understand the trauma, anger, and fear you’re experiencing, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
• Constant Communication: We believe in keeping you informed. As client Dame Haskett noted, our “consistent communication” means you’ll never be left wondering about your case.
• Se Habla Español: Our bilingual staff ensures that Spanish-speaking families throughout Texas receive comprehensive legal services without language barriers, from initial consultation to courtroom representation.
• Contingency Fees: We operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case. This eliminates financial barriers and allows any Texas family, regardless of their economic situation, to access top-tier legal representation against powerful institutions. We take on the financial risk, so you can focus on healing.

Ready to Fight for Every Texas Community

Whether your child attends Texas A&M University in College Station, the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech University in Lubbock, or any other institution across our vast state, the risk of hazing is real. Fraternities and sororities with chapters in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, or San Antonio metro areas operate under the same national organizations that have paid millions in hazing settlements.

We are headquartered in Houston with additional offices in Austin and Beaumont, strategically positioned to serve all of Texas. We are prepared to travel to your community, from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley, to meet with you, gather evidence, and fight in local courts. Our video consultations also ensure that families anywhere in Texas can connect with us directly and securely.

When you choose Attorney911, you’re not just hiring lawyers; you’re gaining a dedicated team of aggressive, experienced, and compassionate advocates who will stop at nothing to secure justice for your child and send a message no institution can ignore.

What to Do Right Now for Hazing Victims in Texas

If your child has been involved in a hazing incident at a Texas college, university, or any student organization, the moments immediately following the event are crucial. What you do—and don’t do—can significantly impact your child’s well-being and the strength of any potential legal claim. We understand you’re scared and angry, but acting quickly and strategically is paramount.

Here are the critical steps families in Texas should take right now:

1. Prioritize Medical Attention and Document Everything

• Seek Immediate Medical Care: Your child’s health is the absolute top priority. Even if injuries seem minor, get them thoroughly evaluated by a medical professional. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some severe conditions, like rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure (as Leonel experienced), may have delayed symptoms. Insist on a full examination and tell the doctors exactly what happened.
• Preserve Medical Records: Keep copies of all hospital records, emergency room reports, doctor’s notes, lab results (especially for blood and urine tests), and any follow-up therapy or counseling records. These documents are vital evidence of the physical and psychological harm suffered.
• Photograph Injuries: Take clear, timestamped photos of any physical injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, rashes, swelling, signs of dehydration) at all stages of healing. If your child was hospitalized, photos of them in the hospital bed can be powerful evidence. If they are severely injured, ask a trusted friend or family member to take these photos.

2. Secure and Preserve All Evidence – Do NOT Delete Anything

The defense will try to argue your child consented or was not truly harmed. Your evidence will be your strongest weapon.

• Digital Communications (CRITICAL!):
  • Text Messages: Screenshot and save ALL text messages related to the hazing—both to and from your child. This includes group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, etc.) where hazing activities were planned, discussed, or celebrated.
  • Social Media: Screenshot any relevant posts, photos, or videos from social media accounts of your child or other members involved in the organization. Save private messages.
  • Emails: Preserve any emails related to the organization, hazing, or the incident.
  • DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING! Deleting digital evidence can be considered spoliation and severely damage your case. The defense will allege you destroyed evidence because it was incriminating.
• Photos and Videos: Beyond injury photos, if any photos or videos exist of the hazing activities themselves, preserve them immediately.
• Witness Information: Collect names, phone numbers, and any other contact information for anyone who witnessed the hazing or has knowledge of the organization’s activities. This includes other pledges, members who may have expressed discomfort, or bystanders.
• Physical Evidence: If there is any physical evidence related to the hazing (clothing worn, objects used, alcohol containers), secure it without tampering.
• Documents: Save any pledge manuals, schedules, rules, or communications your child received from the organization or university.

3. Do NOT Communicate with the Perpetrators or Institutions

This is a critical mistake many families make that can unknowingly jeopardize their case.

• Organizations, Universities, and Their Lawyers: Do NOT speak with any fraternity or sorority leader, university administrator, or their legal representatives without your attorney present. They are not on your side; they are trying to protect the institution and minimize liability. Anything you say can be used against you.
• Do NOT Give Recorded Statements: You are not obligated to give recorded statements to insurance adjusters or university officials. Politely decline and state that all communication should go through your legal counsel.
• Do NOT Sign Anything: Never sign any documents presented by the organization, university, or their insurance companies without a lawyer reviewing them first. These documents often include waivers of liability or settlement agreements that will strip you of your legal rights.
• Limit Social Media Activity: Do NOT post about the incident on social media. Do not post photos that could be misconstrued (e.g., seeming happy or engaged in activities contrary to claims of suffering). The defense will scour your child’s digital footprint for anything to undermine their claims of injury or distress.

4. Consult with an Experienced Hazing Litigation Attorney Immediately

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. Hazing cases are complex, and evidence disappears quickly.

• Call Us Now: Your first contact should be with an attorney experienced in hazing litigation. We offer free, confidential consultations 24/7. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911. You can also email ralph@atty911.com or visit attorney911.com.
• Statute of Limitations: In Texas, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases, including hazing, is two years from the date of the injury. For wrongful death, it’s two years from the date of death. This deadline may seem distant, but it shrinks rapidly when considering the time needed for medical treatment, investigation, and complex litigation. Missing this deadline means losing your right to sue forever.
• Evidence Collection: The sooner an attorney is involved, the quicker we can send preservation letters, subpoena records, secure digital evidence, and prevent the destruction of crucial information by defendants.
• Remote Consultations: Even if you’re not in Houston, we offer video consultations, and our attorneys are prepared to travel anywhere in Texas to meet with you and take your case. Distance is not a barrier to justice.

Leonel Bermudez was hospitalized on November 6, 2025; our $10 million lawsuit was filed just weeks later. This rapid, aggressive response protects his rights and sends a clear message. For Texas families facing the trauma of hazing, let us bring that same fight and dedication to your side. Your child deserves justice, and together, we will demand accountability.

Texas Families: Have You or Your Child Been Hazed? Call Attorney911 Now.

If your child has suffered abuse, injury, or severe trauma due to hazing at a Texas college, university, or any student organization, you are not alone. And you do not have to fight these powerful institutions by yourself. What happened to your child was not a harmless prank; it was a profound betrayal of trust, and it may have been criminal. You have legal rights, and we are here to help you exercise them aggressively.

Our attorneys, Ralph Manginello and Lupe Peña, are currently representing a hazing victim in Harris County in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity, the University of Houston, and 13 individuals responsible for waterboarding, physical assault, and psychological torture that led to kidney failure. This is our fight, right now, in your home state, and we will bring that same relentless pursuit of justice to your family’s case.

Why You Can’t Afford to Wait: The Clock is Ticking

• Time is Critical (Statute of Limitations): In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of injury or death to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. This window closes quickly, allowing vital evidence to disappear and memories to fade. While your child is healing, we need to begin building your case immediately.
• Evidence Disappears: Text messages get deleted, social media posts vanish, witnesses move, and institutions “misplace” records. Our prompt action can secure the evidence needed to win.
• Protecting Your Child: The university and fraternity will have their legal teams trying to minimize their liability. You need experienced advocates to protect your child’s rights, prevent them from being manipulated, and ensure they receive justice.

Texas Families – Call Now for a Free, Confidential Consultation

The consultation is absolutely free, and there is no obligation. This is your chance to speak directly with attorneys who are experts in hazing litigation and understand the unique challenges and trauma your family is facing. We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront. We don’t get paid unless we win your case. This allows you to focus on your child’s healing without the added financial stress.

📞 Don’t Wait. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 Now.

Available 24/7 for Texas hazing emergencies. You can also reach us via email at ralph@atty911.com or visit our website at attorney911.com.

We Serve Hazing Victims Across Texas and Nationwide

While our roots are deep in Texas, with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we proudly represent hazing victims across the entire state and nationwide. Hazing knows no geographic boundaries, and neither does our commitment to justice.

• Wherever you are in Texas: Whether your child attends a university in Dallas, San Antonio, College Station, Lubbock, El Paso, or any community across our vast state, we will come to you. Distance will not deter us from getting you the justice you deserve. We regularly conduct video consultations and travel for depositions, meetings, and trials.
• Federal Court Authority: Our attorneys are admitted to federal courts, enabling us to take on national fraternities and universities across state lines.
• National Reach for National Fraternities: The same national fraternities and sororities that operate chapters in Texas are on campuses throughout America. We have the experience and legal reach to hold these national organizations accountable, regardless of where they are headquartered.
• Comprehensive Hazing Defense: We represent victims of hazing in all types of organizations, including:
  • Fraternities and sororities
  • Sports teams and athletic programs
  • Marching bands and performing arts groups
  • ROTC programs and military academies
  • Any club or organization that uses abuse as a twisted form of “initiation.”

To the Other Victims of the University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi Hazing:

We know Leonel Bermudez was not the only one. Another pledge lost consciousness during forced workouts. Pledges were hog-tied and waterboarded. Others were subjected to the same physical and psychological abuse. If you were one of them, or if you witnessed these horrors, you have rights, and your voice is critical to holding these perpetrators accountable.

As Lupe Peña expressed, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Call us. Share your story. Let’s bring them ALL to justice.

📞 1-888-ATTY-911 | ralph@atty911.com | attorney911.com

Your child’s future, and the safety of countless other students across Texas, depends on your courage to act now.