🚨 Hazing Lawyers for Tyler County, Texas — Protecting Students from Abuse
Tyler County families: If your child was hazed at a fraternity, sorority, or student organization, you are not alone. We are fighting this battle right now — and we will fight for Tyler County victims with the same fury.
At Attorney 911, we are currently representing a hazing victim in a $10 million lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the University of Houston after our client was hospitalized with kidney failure from extreme hazing. This isn’t just a case to us — it’s a mission. We are fighting to protect students across Texas, including in Tyler County and the surrounding East Texas region.
The same fraternities that hazed our client operate at universities near Tyler County. The same negligence exists at Tyler County-area institutions. And we will bring the same aggressive legal strategy to Tyler County families who have suffered from hazing abuse.
🏥 What Happened in Houston Could Happen in Tyler County
In November 2025, our client Leonel Bermudez — a young man who wasn’t even enrolled at the University of Houston yet — was subjected to weeks of systematic abuse as part of Pi Kappa Phi’s pledge process. The fraternity:
- Waterboarded him with a garden hose — simulated drowning is torture
- Forced him to do 500 squats and 100 pushups until he collapsed
- Beat him with wooden paddles
- Made him eat until he vomited, then forced him to keep running
- Hog-tied another pledge with an object in his mouth for over an hour
- Threatened him with expulsion if he didn’t comply
After one particularly brutal session, Bermudez couldn’t stand without help. He crawled up the stairs when he got home. The next day, he was so sore he couldn’t move. His condition worsened — by the time his mother rushed him to the hospital, he was passing brown urine, a classic sign of rhabdomyolysis — muscle breakdown that can lead to kidney failure and death. He spent four days in the hospital fighting for his life.
This didn’t happen in some distant state. It happened in Texas. It could happen in Tyler County.
📍 Hazing in Tyler County and East Texas — The Reality
Tyler County is home to hardworking families who send their children to college expecting them to be safe. But the truth is, hazing is happening at universities near Tyler County, and Tyler County students are at risk.
🎓 Universities Near Tyler County with Greek Life:
While Tyler County itself doesn’t have a major university, students from Tyler County attend colleges across East Texas where Greek life thrives:
- Lamar University (Beaumont) — Just 90 minutes from Tyler County
- Sam Houston State University (Huntsville) — 1.5 hours away
- Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches) — 1 hour away
- Texas A&M University (College Station) — 2.5 hours away
- University of Houston — Students from Tyler County attend
- Other Texas universities — Tyler County students go to school statewide
These are not just names on a map. These are the schools where Tyler County families send their children. And these are the schools where the same national fraternities — Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, and others — operate chapters.
The same fraternities that:
- Waterboarded our client at UH
- Killed Andrew Coffey at FSU in 2017
- Hospitalized Maxwell Gruver at LSU in 2017
- Caused Timothy Piazza’s death at Penn State in 2017
operate at universities near Tyler County.
⚖️ Tyler County Families Have Legal Rights
If your child was hazed in Tyler County or at a university they attend, you have legal rights. Texas law is clear:
📜 Texas Hazing Law — What Tyler County Families Need to Know
Texas Education Code § 37.151-37.157 defines hazing as:
Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act occurring on or off campus that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in an organization.
This includes:
- Physical brutality (beating, paddling, branding)
- Forced exercise to exhaustion (like 500 squats)
- Forced consumption of food, alcohol, or drugs
- Sleep deprivation
- Psychological abuse and humiliation
- Waterboarding or simulated drowning
Texas law is unambiguous: CONSENT IS NOT A DEFENSE.
“It is not a defense to prosecution that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.” — Texas Education Code § 37.154
This means fraternities cannot claim your child “agreed” to participate. Hazing is illegal regardless of consent.
💰 Multi-Million Dollar Precedents — Tyler County Victims Can Win Big
Hazing cases result in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Tyler County families deserve the same justice.
🏆 Recent Hazing Settlements & Verdicts:
| Case | University | Fraternity | Outcome | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Foltz | Bowling Green State | Pi Kappa Alpha | Settlement | $10.1 million |
| Maxwell Gruver | Louisiana State | Phi Delta Theta | Jury Verdict | $6.1 million |
| Timothy Piazza | Penn State | Beta Theta Pi | Settlement | $110+ million |
| Andrew Coffey | Florida State | Pi Kappa Phi | Settlement | Confidential (major) |
| Adam Oakes | Virginia Commonwealth | Delta Chi | Settlement | $4+ million |
Tyler County families: These results are possible for you too.
Our client’s case — Bermudez v. Pi Kappa Phi — is currently seeking $10 million. We will pursue the same level of compensation for Tyler County hazing victims.
🔍 Who Is Liable for Tyler County Hazing?
When hazing occurs, multiple parties can be held legally responsible:
| Defendant | Why They’re Liable |
|---|---|
| Local Chapter | Directly organized and conducted hazing |
| National Organization | Failed to supervise; knew about “hazing crisis” |
| University | Failed to protect students; may own fraternity house |
| Chapter Officers | Leadership responsibility; directed activities |
| Individual Members | Participated in hazing |
| Alumni/Hosts | Allowed hazing at their homes |
| Insurance Companies | Provide coverage for liability |
Tyler County families: We will pursue every liable party to maximize your recovery.
🚑 What to Do If Your Child Was Hazed in Tyler County
If your child was hazed — whether they attend Lamar, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M, or any other university — take these steps immediately:
✅ Step 1: Seek Medical Attention
- Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor
- Some injuries (like rhabdomyolysis) may not show symptoms immediately
- Medical records are critical evidence
✅ Step 2: Preserve All Evidence
- Save all communications: Texts, GroupMe, Snapchat, Instagram DMs, emails
- Take photos/videos: Injuries, hazing locations, items used in hazing
- Document everything: Names of participants, dates, locations, what happened
- Do not delete anything — even if it’s embarrassing
✅ Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Organization
- The fraternity/sorority will try to control the narrative
- They may offer “apologies” or settlements to silence you
- Do not sign anything without legal counsel
✅ Step 4: Contact an Attorney Immediately
- 2-year statute of limitations in Texas — don’t wait
- Evidence disappears quickly
- Witnesses forget details
- Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation
📞 Why Tyler County Families Choose Attorney 911
🏆 We Are Fighting This Battle Right Now
We are currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against Pi Kappa Phi and the University of Houston. This isn’t theoretical — we’re in the fight. Tyler County families get the same aggressive representation.
🌎 Nationwide Reach — We Serve Tyler County
While based in Houston, we represent hazing victims across Texas and nationwide, including Tyler County. We:
- Offer video consultations for Tyler County families
- Travel to Tyler County for depositions and meetings
- Pursue cases in federal court when needed
- Have dual-state bar licenses (Texas and New York)
⚖️ Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
Both Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena used to work for insurance companies defending against injury claims. We know their playbook — now we use that knowledge to maximize recovery for victims.
💰 Contingency Fee — $0 Upfront for Tyler County Families
We work on contingency — you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case. This means Tyler County families can fight powerful institutions without financial risk.
🗣️ Bilingual Representation — Se Habla Español
Our staff is fluent in Spanish. Tyler County Hispanic families deserve representation without language barriers.
🏛️ Federal Court Authority
We are admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, giving us the ability to pursue Tyler County cases in federal jurisdiction when advantageous.
🎯 Our Tyler County Hazing Case Strategy
1. Immediate Evidence Preservation
- Send preservation letters to all defendants
- Demand retention of all communications, photos, videos
- Prevent destruction of evidence
2. Comprehensive Investigation
- Interview witnesses
- Obtain medical records
- Document all damages (physical, emotional, financial)
3. Aggressive Litigation
- File lawsuit against all liable parties
- Conduct depositions of chapter officers, university officials, national leaders
- Pursue punitive damages for egregious conduct
4. Media and Public Pressure
- Hold institutions publicly accountable
- Work with legislators on hazing reform
- Pressure universities to implement real oversight
5. Maximum Compensation
- Pursue all available insurance coverage
- Target deep-pocket defendants (national organizations, universities)
- Fight for full and fair compensation
📢 Message to Tyler County Fraternities and Universities
To the fraternities operating near Tyler County: We are watching.
Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi — if your chapter is near Tyler County, know that the same legal strategies that secured $10+ million verdicts nationwide apply to your chapter.
To the universities near Tyler County: You have a duty to protect students.
If you own fraternity houses, if you collect rent, if you have the power to regulate Greek life — you share liability when hazing occurs.
The Pi Kappa Phi chapter that hospitalized our client? They’re now shut down. The University of Houston is facing a $10 million lawsuit. That’s what happens when you haze in Texas.
Tyler County institutions: Act now or face the same accountability.
📞 Tyler County Families — Contact Us Today
If your child was hazed at a university near Tyler County, we can help.
📞 Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (24/7)
📧 Email: ralph@atty911.com
🌐 Visit: attorney911.com
Free, confidential consultation. No obligation. No upfront cost.
We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
🔥 Enough is Enough. Tyler County Deserves Justice.
Tyler County families work hard to give their children opportunities. They send them to college expecting them to be safe. When universities and fraternities betray that trust through hazing abuse, we hold them accountable.
We are Attorney 911. We are Ralph Manginello and Lupe Pena. And we are fighting for Tyler County.
If your child was hazed, call us. We will fight for you.
