得克萨斯州校园欺辱行为与兄弟会诉讼完全指南：为寻求公正的家庭提供的维权资源

我们是Manginello律师事务所（PLLD），运营品牌为Attorney911。我们是得州家庭的「法律急救律师™」，专门帮助在兄弟会、姐妹会、学员军团计划、体育队伍或其他校园组织中因欺辱、虐待或疏忽行为而受伤的青少年子女家庭。

目前，我们正在主导一起得州最重大的欺辱诉讼案——代表Leonel Bermudez向休斯顿大学、Pi Kappa Phi兄弟会Beta Nu分会、其全国总部及13名分会负责人提起的1000万美元赔偿诉讼。这并非历史案件，而是您此刻正在阅读时，我们于哈里斯县积极进行的现行诉讼。我们的当事人是一名转学生，在遭受包括强迫过度饮食、极端体罚以及携带装有避孕套和性玩具的”新人腰包”等羞辱手段的欺辱后，患上了横纹肌溶解症和急性肾衰竭。该分会已被关闭，但追责之战才刚刚开始。

本指南为您而作。如果您是得州的家长，您的孩子在兄弟会、姐妹会或团队入会仪式中遭受伤害、羞辱或危及生命安全，请明白您并非孤军奋战，且您享有法定权利。这份全面指南将阐释：当今欺辱行为的表现形式、管辖该行为的得州及联邦法律、全州各大学已记录在案的行为模式，以及经验丰富的法律顾问如何协助您的家庭度过危机，迈向追责与康复之路。

紧急情况处理指南：得州家庭即时行动步骤

若您的孩子此刻正面临危险或严重受伤：

1. 立即拨打911寻求紧急医疗救助。
2. 随后致电我们：1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)。我们提供即刻法律协助——这正是我们被称为「法律急救律师™」的原因。

事件发生后48小时内——关键行动：

• 立即就医： 前往急诊室。即使您的孩子坚称自己”没事”，像横纹肌溶解症（严重肌肉分解）或内伤等伤害可能不会立即显现。务必告知医生伤势源于欺辱行为。
• 保存数字证据： 这是最重要的一步。切勿让孩子删除任何信息。
  • 截屏所有群聊记录（GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord等），包括策划、讨论或事件相关的照片/视频。
  • 多角度拍摄所有身体伤痕。 可在伤口旁放置硬币或尺子以显示比例。
  • 保留所有使用过的实体物品（如木板、瓶子、衣物）。
• 全面记录： 写下时间线，包括姓名、日期、地点以及孩子告知的事件经过。记忆会迅速消退。
• 切勿采取的行动：
  • 切勿直接与兄弟会、姐妹会或涉事团队对峙。
  • 切勿签署大学或保险公司提供的任何文件。
  • 切勿在公共社交媒体上发布事件详情。
  • 切勿允许孩子”清理”手机或社交媒体资料。

证据往往在数日内便会消失。大学和全国性组织会迅速行动以控制舆论。在最初24-48小时内联系经验丰富的欺辱行为律师，对于保存证据和保护您孩子的权利至关重要。 我们提供免费、保密的咨询。请致电 1-888-ATTY-911。

2025年的欺辱行为：超越刻板印象

欺辱并非仅仅是”男孩子间的玩闹”或”无害的传统”。它是一种基于权力的蓄意虐待模式，危及身心健康。现代欺辱行为已发生演变，常常隐藏于数字通讯背后，并伪装成”团队建设”。

得州法律对欺辱行为定义宽泛（《教育法典》第37.151条）： 为使学生加入、从属或维持在某个组织内，而对该学生实施的任何故意、知情或鲁莽的行为，若该行为：

• 危及学生的身心健康或安全，或
• 涉及暴力、强迫摄入或其他对学生的身心健康或安全产生不利影响的活动。

关键一点是，根据得州法律（第37.155条），受害者的”同意”不构成抗辩理由。 权力不对等和渴望归属的压力意味着真正的自愿同意往往无法实现。

现代欺辱手段：得州现实案例

1. 酒精与药物欺辱： 最常见且致命的行为模式。

• 强迫饮酒游戏： “列队饮酒”、”世纪俱乐部”、”圣经学习”（答错题即饮酒）。
• “大小”之夜：新人被要求喝完整瓶烈酒。
• 胁迫使用毒品：施压迫使食用非法药物。

2. 肉体与耐力欺辱：

• 极限体能训练： “烟熏”式惩罚，要求进行数百个俯卧撑/深蹲直至虚脱。
• 木板击打与殴打： 使用木制桨板、拳头或其他物品进行击打。
• 环境暴露： 被锁在寒冷房间内，或置于极端天气条件下。
• 睡眠与食物剥夺： 持续多日、仅有极少休息或营养补充的活动。

3. 心理与羞辱性欺辱：

• 言语辱骂与贬低： 吼叫、侮辱、强迫扮演有辱人格的角色。
• 性侮辱仪式： 模拟性行为、强迫裸体、”烤乳猪”姿势。
• 社交孤立与控制：切断与非成员的联络、24/7随时待命的要求。

4. 数字欺辱：

• 群聊恐吓： 全天候强制性的信息轰炸；因回复慢而施以惩罚。
• 社交媒体羞辱： 被强迫在TikTok、Instagram或Snapchat上发布尴尬内容。
• 位置追踪：被要求通过”Find My Friends”等应用程序共享实时位置。

休斯顿大学的Leonel Bermudez案正是这种残忍行径谱系的具体体现。 他所遭受的欺辱包括羞辱性的”新人腰包”、长达数小时的”学习封锁”、”类似水刑”般的面部水管喷射、强迫摄入牛奶和热狗直至呕吐，以及11月3日导致他因横纹肌溶解症住院的100多个俯卧撑和500个深蹲的体能训练。这一切发生在2025年的休斯顿。

得州法律框架：刑事指控与民事诉讼

理解这两条并行的法律路径对家庭至关重要。

得州刑事欺辱指控

《得州教育法典》第37章F分章将欺辱行为定为刑事犯罪。

• B级轻罪： 未造成严重伤害的欺辱行为（最高可判处180天监禁、2000美元罚款）。
• A级轻罪： 导致需要医疗救治的伤害的欺辱行为。
• 州监狱重罪： 导致严重身体伤害或死亡的欺辱行为。
• 个人责任： 知情不报的负责人/成员同样构成犯罪。
• 组织责任： 兄弟会/姐妹会本身可被判处罚款，每次违规最高1万美元。

刑事案件由州政府（例如哈里斯县地区检察官）提起，旨在惩罚违法行为。

获取赔偿与追究责任的民事欺辱诉讼

民事案件由受害者及其家庭提起，旨在获得赔偿并推动制度变革，无需以刑事定罪为前提。

民事诉讼中可能的被告包括：

• 施害者个人： 策划、实施或掩盖欺辱行为的分会成员。
• 本地分会： 作为法律实体（通常是房屋管理公司）。
• 全国总部： 基于其监管疏忽、未能执行政策以及根据全国既往事件的可预见性。
• 就读大学： 基于其监管疏忽、对已知风险的蓄意漠视，或违反《教育法修正案第九条》。
• 第三方： 物业所有者、房东或酒精饮料提供者。

与得州法规并行的关键联邦法律：

• 《制止校园欺辱法》（2024年）： 要求接受联邦资助的高校公开报告欺辱事件并加强预防计划。
• 《教育法修正案第九条》： 如果欺辱行为涉及性骚扰、性侵犯或基于性别的敌意行为，则适用此法案。
• 《克莱利法案》： 要求报告包括某些与欺辱相关的袭击在内的特定犯罪行为。

我们在Bermudez案中的诉讼正是全面针对这些责任方：13名涉事成员、Pi Kappa Phi兄弟会Beta Nu分会、其房屋管理公司（税号：462267515，Frisco, TX）、Pi Kappa Phi全国总部、休斯顿大学以及休斯顿大学系统董事会。我们不遗漏任何一个有责方。

全美欺辱案例：得州校园中的重复模式

不幸的是，欺辱导致的死亡和重伤案件有着可预测的模式。这些全国性案例并非抽象存在，它们正是得州高校我们看到的那种疏忽大意的模板。它们确立了”可预见性”——即全国性组织和大学知道这些传统仪式具有致命性。

酒精中毒模式

• Stone Foltz，鲍林格林州立大学（Pi Kappa Alpha兄弟会，2021年）： 一名新人在被迫喝下一整瓶威士忌后死亡。结果：总计1000万美元的和解赔偿（来自Pi Kappa Alpha全国总部700万，来自鲍林格林州立大学约300万）。
• Max Gruver，路易斯安那州立大学（Phi Delta Theta兄弟会，2017年）： 在”圣经学习”饮酒游戏中死亡。结果：路易斯安那州通过了Max Gruver法案，将欺辱行为定为重罪。随后，一项610万美元的判决获得支持，由涉事成员个人承担。
• Timothy Piazza，宾夕法尼亚州立大学（Beta Theta Pi兄弟会，2017年）： 在入会之夜饮酒活动后死亡，且求救被延误数小时。结果：数十项刑事指控；宾夕法尼亚州通过了 《蒂莫西·J·皮亚扎反欺辱法》。

肉体暴力与仪式化暴力模式

• 陈确（Michael Deng），巴鲁克学院（Pi Delta Psi兄弟会，2013年）： 在一次静修活动中，在蒙眼参加暴力的”玻璃天花板”仪式后，死于创伤性脑损伤。结果：兄弟会全国组织被判定犯有过失杀人罪，并被禁止在宾夕法尼亚州活动10年。
• Danny Santulli，密苏里大学（Phi Gamma Delta兄弟会，2021年）： 因被迫饮酒而导致永久性、灾难性的脑损伤。结果：与22名被告达成和解，展示了非致命但改变人生的伤害的责任追究。

体育团体欺辱模式

• 西北大学橄榄球队（2023-2025年）： 关于性侮辱及种族主义欺辱的广泛指控引发多起诉讼，导致主教练被解雇以及保密和解。
• Robert Champion，佛罗里达农工大学（军乐队，2011年）： 军乐队长在一次乐队欺辱仪式的残忍殴打中死亡。结果：佛罗里达农工大学被认定承担全部责任，达成100多万美元的和解。

这对得州家庭的意义： 您孩子所在校园的兄弟会——如Pi Kappa Alpha、Sigma Alpha Epsilon、Phi Delta Theta等——在全国各地的历史上充斥着伤亡事件。当得州分会重复同样致命的”传统”时，这正证明了全国性组织未能防止可预见的伤害。这种模式证据在法庭上极具说服力。

聚焦得州：我们的家庭子女所在的大学

得州的家长们通常将孩子送往全州各地的主要大学。欺辱问题并非局限于某一校园，而是遍及全州希腊社团、体育项目和传统性社团中的系统性问题。

休斯顿大学（UH）——当前前线阵地

我们事务所正在进行的诉讼使得休斯顿大学成为研究制度失灵和法律追责的关键案例。

Leonel Bermudez案——2025年的典型案例：
Leonel Bermudez是一名转学生，于2025年9月接受了Pi Kappa Phi兄弟会Beta Nu分会的邀请。随后是长达数月的虐待：

• 羞辱： “新人腰包”规则、强制着装要求、强制通宵驾驶。
• 精神折磨： 每周的面谈、开除威胁、睡眠剥夺。
• 肉体折磨： 在黄石大道公园进行冲刺、熊爬、”拯救兄弟”演练。遭受”类似水刑”的水管喷射。被迫躺在呕吐物浸染的草地上。另一名新人被肚皮朝下猪蹄式捆绑，口中塞有物品超过一小时。
• 崩溃点： 11月3日，他被强迫完成超过100个俯卧撑和500个深蹲。情况恶化，排出棕色尿液，并因横纹肌溶解症和急性肾衰竭住院四天。

休斯顿大学的希腊生态系统与历史背景：
休斯顿大学拥有庞大而活跃的希腊生活社群。Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu分会隶属于得州注册的希腊社团网络。我们的得州欺辱情报引擎——一个基于公共记录的专有数据库——帮助我们描绘这一生态。例如，国税局记录显示，Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc.（税号：462267515）位于得州弗里斯科。Cause IQ数据显示，休斯顿-林地-糖城大都会区有188个希腊相关组织，包括曾有全国性欺辱历史的其它分会。

休斯顿大学称Bermudez的指控”令人深感不安”，该分会投票决定放弃其章程。但诉讼指控休斯顿大学和Pi Kappa Phi全国总部知道或应当知道系统性欺辱行为的存在，却未能采取行动。这正是为什么家庭需要聘请懂得如何进行深度调查的律师。

得州农工大学——军团文化与希腊生活

得州农工大学独特的学员军团文化和强大的希腊生活系统带来了特有的欺辱风险。

记录在案的事件：

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon（SAE）化学灼伤诉讼（2021年）： 据称新成员被泼洒工业级清洁剂、生鸡蛋和其他物质，导致严重化学灼伤需要植皮手术。诉讼寻求超过100万美元赔偿。SAE在全国有多起类似事件历史。
• 学员军团”烤乳猪”诉讼（2023年）： 一名学员指控遭受侮辱性欺辱，包括被绑在床之间模拟性交体位，口中塞有苹果。诉讼寻求超过100万美元赔偿。

对于大学城（College Station）的家庭而言，这些案例表明欺辱行为渗透了希腊生活和准军事化传统。相关组织在得州公共记录中根基深厚。例如，国税局文件显示，像 Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc. （税号：133048786）这样的实体位于大学城，隶属于一个全国性兄弟会，该兄弟会本身也有欺辱历史，包括迈阿密大学Chad Meredith案中1260万美元的过失致死判决。

得克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校——透明度与屡次违规

得克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校维持着公开的欺辱违规记录日志，为洞察持续存在的问题提供了一个窗口。

公开日志要点：

• Pi Kappa Alpha（2023年）： 因欺辱行为受到制裁，包括指示新成员饮用牛奶并进行高强度健身运动。
• Texas Wranglers（精神啦啦队）： 因酒精相关欺辱和身体不当行为屡次受到制裁。
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon： 面临大学审查和诉讼，包括2024年一起案件，一名澳大利亚交换生指控遭到殴打导致鼻骨骨折和腿部脱臼。

奥斯汀大都会区是众多希腊社团房屋管理公司和校友分会的所在地，公共记录可查，例如位于奥斯汀的Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi（税号：746047117）。当特定社团的违规模式出现在得克萨斯大学的公开日志上时，这强化了民事诉讼，因为它表明大学事先知晓该组织内的危险行为。

南卫理公会大学（SMU）与贝勒大学

像南卫理公会大学和贝勒大学这样的私立大学拥有重要的希腊生活系统，但通常公开透明度较低。

• 南卫理公会大学： Kappa Alpha Order 分会于2017年因木板击打、强迫饮酒和睡眠剥夺而被暂停活动。Kappa Alpha在全国有类似事件模式。
• 贝勒大学： 2020年在对欺辱行为进行调查后，棒球队暂停了14名球员的资格。贝勒大学在处理不当行为的机构应对历史上存在的问题，使得这类案件更为复杂。

对于在这些学校有学生的家庭而言，通常需要通过民事调查程序来揭露学校内部未公开的报告和投诉。

字母背后的组织：全国性历史至关重要

休斯顿大学、得州农工大学或得克萨斯大学校园内的兄弟会字母并非孤岛。它们是具有记录在案、有时甚至是致命历史的全美性品牌的地方分会。这不是关联罪恶论，而是证明其可预见性和监管疏忽的证据。

为何全国性历史在法律上具有相关性：
如果一个全国性兄弟会曾因鲍林格林州立大学的强迫饮酒致死案（Pi Kappa Alpha）支付了1000万美元和解金，而后一个得州分会又从事同样的”大小”强迫饮酒仪式，这便证明了该全国性组织知晓极端风险但未能加以防范。他们所谓的反欺辱政策只不过是表面文章。

得州校园中存在的、有欺辱事件记录的全国性组织示例：

• Pi Kappa Alpha（Pike）： Stone Foltz死亡案（1000万和解）；其他多起死亡事件。
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon（SAE）： 全美多起死亡事件；得州农工大学的化学灼伤诉讼；得克萨斯大学的袭击诉讼。
• Pi Kappa Phi： 佛罗里达州立大学Andrew Coffey死亡案；我们在休斯顿大学进行的Bermudez现行诉讼案。
• Phi Delta Theta： 路易斯安那州立大学Max Gruver死亡案（610万判决）。
• Kappa Alpha Order： 南卫理公会大学及其他校园的欺辱停课事件。

我们的得州欺辱情报引擎将这些全国性品牌与其在得州的相关实体进行交叉比对。例如，我们可以追溯Sigma Alpha Epsilon不仅作为本科生分会出现，也作为公开文件中列出的得州相关实体存在。这种调查深度对于识别所有潜在责任方及其保险覆盖范围至关重要。

构建有力的欺辱诉讼案：证据、策略与损害赔偿

赢得欺辱诉讼案需要一种与您所对抗的机构同样复杂的调查策略。这是将数据转化为筹码的过程。

证据金字塔：决胜要素

1. 数字通讯记录： 已删除的GroupMe聊天记录、Snapchat消息、Instagram私信。数字取证通常能恢复成员试图销毁的内容。
2. 照片与视频： 最具杀伤力的证据往往来自成员自己的手机。
3. 组织内部文件： 新人手册、”传统”档案、负责人之间的电子邮件往来。
4. 大学记录： 过往行为档案、《克莱利法案》报告、通过调查或公共记录请求获得的内容调查笔记。
5. 医疗记录： 将伤害与欺辱事件直接关联的文件。对于横纹肌溶解症，这包括肌酸激酶（CK）的实验室结果。
6. 证人证词： 其他新成员、前成员、室友、宿舍管理员。

我们在Bermudez案中采用了这种方法，获取了显示肌酸激酶水平极高的详细医疗记录，并收集了欺辱活动的数字证据。

克服常见的机构辩护理由

• “这是自愿的 / 他们同意了”： 得州法律（第37.155条）明确规定同意不能作为抗辩理由。我们可以证明胁迫性的权力不对等关系。
• “这是一个失控的分会 / 我们不知情”： 我们使用全国性模式证据和既往事件报告来证明其可预见性和监管疏忽。
• “事件发生在校外”： 责任基于控制权和知情情况，而不仅仅是地理位置。收取会费并制定政策的全国性组织仍负有责任。
• “我们有反欺辱政策”： 我们揭示其书面政策与实际执行之间的差距，通常利用他们自己对既往事件的宽大处理作为证据。

损害赔偿：可追索的范围

民事诉讼旨在使受害者得到补偿，并追究机构的责任。可追索的损害赔偿包括：

• 经济损失： 所有医疗费用（过去和未来）、损失的学费、未来收入能力的降低。
• 非经济损失： 身体疼痛、精神创伤、创伤后应激障碍、羞辱、生活乐趣的丧失。
• 过失致死损害赔偿（针对家属）： 丧葬费用、失去陪伴、精神痛苦。
• 惩罚性赔偿： 在情节恶劣的案件中，为惩罚鲁莽行为并威慑未来不当行为。

严重伤害或死亡案件的赔偿金额通常达到数百万美元的范围，正如前面引用的全国性案例所示。这些资金可确保受害者获得终身的医疗护理、心理康复支持和教育未来。

得州家长、学生及证人的实用指南

家长指南：分步应对

1. 优先保障安全与健康： 立即寻求医疗救治。告知医生是欺辱所致。
2. 成为证据守护者： 保护好您孩子的手机。截屏所有证据。拍摄伤势照片。
3. 建立时间线记录： 写下孩子分享的一切信息——姓名、日期、地点、具体行为。
4. 策略性举报： 您可以向校园警察和学生事务主任举报，但需了解大学的主要利益在于限制其自身责任。建议先咨询律师。
5. 及早寻求专业法律顾问： 欺辱法是人身伤害法中的一个细分领域。您需要一家有应对大学和全国性兄弟会经验的律师事务所。请拨打 1-888-ATTY-911 与我们联系，进行免费、保密的案件评估。

学生指南：这算欺辱吗？我有哪些权利？

自问：

• 我是否正被迫或受到胁迫？
• 这项活动是否危险、有辱人格或秘密进行？
• 如果拒绝没有社交后果，我还会这样做吗？
  如果答案是肯定的，那么这就是欺辱。

您拥有的权利：

• 您有权随时退出该组织。
• 您有权通过校园渠道或全国反欺辱热线 (1-888-NOT-HAZE) 匿名举报欺辱行为。
• 得州法律为那些善意举报欺辱行为或求救的人提供一定程度的豁免保护。
• 您有权咨询律师。您的谈话是保密的。

可能损害您案件的致命错误

• 删除证据： 最糟糕的错误。务必保留所有数字通讯记录。
• 直接与涉事组织对峙： 这会启动他们的辩护策略并促使他们销毁证据。
• 未经审阅便签署大学文件： 大学可能提供放弃您诉讼权利的”非正式解决方案”。
• 在社交媒体上发布信息： 被告方的调查人员会监控一切。前后不一致会损害可信度。
• 等待过久： 证据消失、证人失散，且得州诉讼时效（通常为自受伤之日起两年）可能过期。

选择Attorney911的理由：我们的得州欺辱诉讼优势

当您的家庭面临欺辱危机时，您需要的不仅仅是普通的个人伤害律师。您需要的是一家拥有挑战强大机构成功记录，以及具备赢得诉讼的专业知识的律师事务所。以下是得州家庭选择我们的原因：

1. 活跃、高风险的欺辱诉讼实践：
我们不仅是理论家。我们此刻就在法庭上为Leonel Bermudez诉休斯顿大学及Pi Kappa Phi案而战。这起1000万美元的诉讼是我们对欺辱受害者所作承诺的标志性例证。我们了解当前的策略、辩护手段和诉讼技巧，因为我们正在积极运用它们。

2. 得州欺辱情报引擎——数据优势：
当其他律所从零开始时，我们从情报入手。我们维护着一个基于数千份公共记录建立的专有数据库，包括：

• 国税局B83表格备案记录： 超过125家在得州注册的希腊组织实体（含税号和地址）。例如：
  • Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter，税号：746084905，休斯顿，TX 77204
  • Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity，税号：746064445，尼德兰，TX 77627
• 得州大学社团名册： 所有主要校园希腊分会详细列表。
• Cause IQ大都会区分析： 追踪遍及得州25个大都会区的1,423个希腊相关组织。

这个引擎使我们能够立即识别出一个本地分会背后房屋管理公司、校友分会和全国性实体的网络——这些正是持有保险并承担最终责任的实体。我们将数据转化为筹码。

3. 保险业内部知识：
我们的律师 Lupe Peña先生（他/他们） 曾在一家全国性律师事务所担任保险辩护律师多年。他深知兄弟会和大学的保险公司将如何试图拒绝索赔、压低赔偿额并使用拖延战术。我们了解他们的剧本，因为我们曾经执行过它。这种内部知识对于为客户争取最大化的赔偿至关重要。

4. 复杂机构性诉讼经验：
管理合伙人 Ralph Manginello 拥有超过25年的执业经验，包括作为少数参与过BP得州城爆炸诉讼的得州律师事务所之一。挑战价值数十亿美元的公司被告与起诉全国性兄弟会或大型大学所需技能相同：不懈的调查、专家协调和庭审准备。我们不会被财力雄厚的对手吓倒。

5. 民事与刑事双重能力：
Ralph是哈里斯县刑事律师协会（HCCLA）的成员。我们理解刑事欺辱指控如何与民事诉讼相互作用。我们能为可能在两方面面临法律风险的客户和证人提供有效建议，确保制定协调一致的法律策略。

6. 对您家庭福祉的承诺：
我们仅受理有限数量的严重欺辱案件，以确保每个家庭都能得到应有的关注。我们按风险代理收费——除非我们为您赢得案件，否则您无需支付费用。我们也通过Peña先生提供西班牙语法律服务。

联系我们，获取免费保密咨询

如果欺辱行为影响了您的孩子和家庭，您不必独自应对。追究责任之路始于一次交流。

我们提供免费、无义务的案件评估。 在本次咨询中，我们将：

• 以同理心倾听您的经历。
• 审阅您已收集的任何证据。
• 根据得州法律解释您的合法权利和选择。
• 概述我们的调查方法。
• 回答您关于流程、时间线和费用的疑问。

24/7随时致电法律急救律师™ 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)。 您也可直接拨打电话(713) 528-9070 或发送邮件至 ralph@atty911.com 或 lupe@atty911.com。

访问我们的网站 https://attorney911.com，了解更多关于我们事务所、我们的律师，以及我们在过失致死和灾难性伤害案件方面的经验。

法律免责声明： 本指南仅供参考，不构成法律建议。阅读本指南不建立律师-客户关系。法律会变更，每个案件都是独特的。如需关于您具体情况的法律建议，请联系Manginello律师事务所（PLLD）进行咨询。

ENGLISH

The Complete Guide to Texas Hazing Laws & Fraternity Lawsuits: A Resource for Families Seeking Accountability

We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD, operating as Attorney911. We are Legal Emergency Lawyers™ for Texas families whose children have been hurt by hazing, abuse, or negligence in fraternities, sororities, Corps of Cadets programs, athletics, or other campus organizations.

Right now, we are leading one of the most serious hazing lawsuits in Texas—the $10 million case on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 fraternity leaders. This is not a historical case; it is active, current litigation we are fighting in Harris County as you read this. Our client, a transfer student, suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after hazing that included forced overeating, extreme physical punishment, and humiliation tactics like a mandatory “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms and sex toys. The chapter has been shut down, but the fight for accountability is just beginning.

This guide exists for you. If you are a parent in Texas whose child has been hurt, humiliated, or endangered during a fraternity, sorority, or team initiation, you are not alone, and you have rights. This comprehensive resource explains what hazing looks like today, the Texas and federal laws that govern it, the documented patterns at universities across our state, and how experienced legal counsel can help your family navigate this crisis toward accountability and recovery.

If This Is an Emergency: Immediate Steps for Texas Families

If your child is in danger or seriously injured RIGHT NOW:

1. Call 911 for immediate medical help.
2. Then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate legal assistance—that’s why we are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

In the First 48 Hours – CRITICAL ACTIONS:

• Seek Medical Attention: Go to the ER. Even if your child insists they are “fine,” injuries like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) or internal trauma may not be immediately apparent. Tell the doctors the injuries resulted from hazing.
• Preserve Digital Evidence: This is the most important step. Do not let your child delete anything.
  • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord) showing planning, discussions, or photos/videos of the events.
  • Photograph all physical injuries from multiple angles. Place a coin or ruler next to wounds for scale.
  • Save any physical items used (paddles, bottles, clothing).
• Document Everything: Write down a timeline with names, dates, locations, and what your child tells you happened. Memory fades quickly.
• What NOT to Do:
  • Do NOT confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
  • Do NOT sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
  • Do NOT post details on public social media.
  • Do NOT allow your child to “clean up” their phone or social media profiles.

Evidence disappears within days. Universities and national organizations move quickly to control the narrative. Contacting an experienced hazing attorney within the first 24-48 hours is crucial to preserving evidence and protecting your child’s rights. We offer free, confidential consultations. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Hazing in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is not just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” It is a calculated pattern of power-based abuse that endangers physical and mental health. Modern hazing has evolved, often hiding behind digital communication and disguised as “team building.”

Texas Law Defines Hazing Broadly (Education Code § 37.151): Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or maintenance of membership in any organization, if the act:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of the student, OR
• Involves brutality, forced consumption, or other activity that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student.

Crucially, the victim’s “consent” is not a defense under Texas law (§ 37.155). The power imbalance and pressure to belong mean true voluntary consent is often impossible.

Modern Hazing Tactics: A Texas Reality

1. Alcohol & Substance Hazing: The most common and deadly pattern.

• Forced Consumption Games: “Lineups,” “Century Club,” “Bible Study” (wrong answer = drink).
• Big/Little Nights: Pledges given handles of liquor to finish.
• Coerced Drug Use: Pressure to consume illicit substances.

2. Physical & Endurance Hazing:

• Extreme Exercise: “Smokings” with hundreds of push-ups/squats until collapse.
• Paddling & Beatings: Using wooden paddles, fists, or objects.
• Environmental Exposure: Locked in cold rooms, left outside in extreme weather.
• Sleep & Food Deprivation: Multi-day events with minimal rest or nutrition.

3. Psychological & Humiliating Hazing:

• Veral Abuse and Degradation: Yelling, insults, forced demeaning roles.
• Sexualized Rituals: Simulated acts, forced nudity, “roasted pig” positioning.
• Social Isolation & Control: Cutting off contact with non-members, 24/7 on-call demands.

4. Digital Hazing:

• Group Chat Terror: Constant, mandatory messages at all hours; punishment for slow replies.
• Social Media Humiliation: Forced to post embarrassing content on TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat.
• Location Tracking: Required to share live location via apps like Find My Friends.

The Leonel Bermudez case at UH exemplifies this brutal spectrum. His hazing included the humiliating “pledge fanny pack,” hours-long “study blocks,” being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, and the Nov. 3 workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats that led to his hospitalization for rhabdomyolysis. This happened in Houston in 2025.

The Texas Legal Framework: Criminal Charges & Civil Lawsuits

Understanding the dual legal paths is essential for families. These processes often run parallel.

Criminal Hazing Charges in Texas

Texas Education Code Chapter 37, Subchapter F, makes hazing a crime.

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
• Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
• State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Individual Liability: Officers/members who know of hazing and fail to report it also commit a crime.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity/sorority itself can be fined up to $10,000 per violation.

Criminal cases are brought by the state (e.g., Harris County District Attorney) to punish wrongdoing.

Civil Hazing Lawsuits for Compensation & Accountability

Civil cases are filed by victims and families to recover damages and force institutional change. They do not require a criminal conviction.

Potential Defendants in a Civil Case Include:

• The Individual Perpetrators: Members who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
• The Local Chapter: As a legal entity, if it exists (often a housing corporation).
• The National Headquarters: For negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, and foreseeability based on prior incidents nationwide.
• The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations.
• Third Parties: Property owners, landlords, or alcohol providers.

Key Federal Laws Overlay Texas Statutes:

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs.
• Title IX: Applies if hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility.
• The Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain crimes, including some hazing-related assaults.

Our litigation in the Bermudez case targets this full universe: the 13 individual members, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, its housing corporation (EIN: 462267515, Frisco, TX), the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents. We leave no liable party unexamined.

National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Repeat in Texas

Tragically, hazing fatalities and severe injuries follow predictable scripts. These national cases are not abstract; they are blueprints for the negligence we see in Texas. They establish “foreseeability”—that national organizations and universities know these rituals are deadly.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State University (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge died after being forced to drink a bottle of whiskey. Outcome: $10 million in total settlements ($7M from national Pi Kappa Alpha, ~$3M from BGSU).
• Max Gruver, LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Outcome: Louisiana passed the Max Gruver Act creating felony hazing charges. A $6.1 million verdict was later upheld against individual members.
• Timothy Piazza, Penn State (Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died after a bid-night drinking event, with help delayed for hours. Outcome: Dozens of criminal charges; Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.

The Physical & Ritualized Violence Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng, Baruch College (Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from traumatic brain injury after a violent, blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. Outcome: National fraternity convicted of manslaughter and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli, University of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. Outcome: Settlements with 22 defendants, showcasing liability for non-fatal, life-altering injuries.

The Athletic & Program Hazing Pattern

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements.
• Robert Champion, Florida A&M University (Marching Band, 2011): Drum major died from brutal beatings during a band hazing ritual. Outcome: FAMU held fully liable, $1+ million settlement.

What This Means for Texas Families: The fraternities on your child’s campus—Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, etc.—have national histories littered with deaths and injuries. When a Texas chapter repeats the same deadly “tradition,” it demonstrates the national organization’s failure to prevent a foreseeable harm. This pattern evidence is powerful in court.

A Texas-Specific Focus: Universities Where Our Families Send Their Kids

Texas parents often have children at major universities across the state. Hazing is not a problem confined to one campus. It is a systemic issue within Greek life, athletic programs, and tradition-based clubs statewide.

University of Houston (UH) – The Active Frontline

Our firm’s ongoing litigation makes UH a critical case study in institutional failure and legal accountability.

The Leonel Bermudez Case – A 2025 Blueprint:
Leonel Bermudez, a transfer student, accepted a bid to Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter in September 2025. What followed was a months-long campaign of abuse:

• Humiliation: The “pledge fanny pack” rule, enforced dress codes, mandatory overnight driving.
• Psychological Torment: Weekly interviews, threats of expulsion, sleep deprivation.
• Physical Torture: Sprints, bear crawls, “save-your-brother” drills at Yellowstone Boulevard Park. Being sprayed with a hose “like waterboarding.” Forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass. Another pledge was hog-tied face-down with an object in his mouth for over an hour.
• The Breaking Point: On Nov. 3, he was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats. He deteriorated, passed brown urine, and was hospitalized for four days with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.

UH’s Greek Ecosystem & Historical Context:
UH hosts a large, active Greek community. The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter was part of a network of Texas-registered Greek entities. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database of public records—helps us map this ecosystem. For example, IRS records show the Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc. (EIN: 462267515) is based in Frisco, TX. Cause IQ data lists 188 Greek-related organizations in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area, including other chapters with national hazing histories.

UH called the Bermudez allegations “deeply disturbing” and the chapter voted to surrender its charter. But the lawsuit alleges UH and Pi Kappa Phi national knew or should have known about systemic hazing and failed to act. This case is why families need attorneys who understand how to investigate beyond the surface.

Texas A&M University – Corps Culture & Greek Life

Texas A&M’s unique Corps of Cadets culture and powerful Greek system present distinct hazing risks.

Documented Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Lawsuit (2021): Pledges allegedly had industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and other substances poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The lawsuit sought over $1 million. SAE has a national history of similar incidents.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million in damages.

For College Station families, these cases show hazing permeates both Greek and military-style traditions. The organizations involved have deep roots in Texas public records. For instance, IRS filings show entities like Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc. (EIN: 133048786) based in College Station, part of a national fraternity with its own hazing history, including the $12.6 million wrongful death verdict in the Chad Meredith case at the University of Miami.

University of Texas at Austin – Transparency & Repeated Violations

UT Austin maintains a public hazing violations log, offering a window into persistent problems.

Public Log Highlights:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for hazing that included directing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group): Repeated sanctions for alcohol-related hazing and physical misconduct.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Faced university scrutiny and lawsuits, including a 2024 case where an Australian exchange student alleged assault resulting in a broken nose and dislocated leg.

The Austin metro area is home to numerous Greek housing corporations and alumni chapters traced in public records, such as the Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi (EIN: 746047117) in Austin. When patterns of violations appear on UT’s public log, it strengthens a civil case by showing the university had prior knowledge of dangerous conduct within specific organizations.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

Private universities like SMU and Baylor have significant Greek systems but often less public transparency.

• SMU: The Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended in 2017 for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation. Kappa Alpha has a national pattern of similar incidents.
• Baylor: The baseball team suspended 14 players in 2020 following a hazing investigation. Baylor’s history with institutional response to misconduct adds complexity to these cases.

For families with students at these schools, civil discovery is often necessary to uncover internal reports and prior complaints that are not publicly posted.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories Matter

A fraternity’s letters at UH, Texas A&M, or UT are not isolated. They are local chapters of national brands with documented, sometimes deadly, histories. This is not guilt by association; it is evidence of foreseeability and negligent supervision.

Why National Histories Are Legally Relevant:
If a national fraternity has paid a $10 million settlement for a forced-drinking death at Bowling Green (Pi Kappa Alpha), and then a Texas chapter engages in the same “Big/Little” forced drinking ritual, it proves the national organization knew the extreme risk but failed to prevent it. Their anti-hazing policies are revealed as mere window dressing.

A Sample of National Organizations with Documented Hazing Incidents Present on Texas Campuses:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Stone Foltz death ($10M settlement); multiple other fatalities.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Multiple deaths nationwide; chemical burns lawsuit at Texas A&M; assault lawsuit at UT Austin.
• Pi Kappa Phi: Andrew Coffey death at Florida State; our active Bermudez case at UH.
• Phi Delta Theta: Max Gruver death at LSU ($6.1M verdict).
• Kappa Alpha Order: Hazing suspensions at SMU and other campuses.

Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine cross-references these national brands with their Texas-facing entities. For example, we can trace how Sigma Alpha Epsilon appears not just as an undergraduate chapter, but also in related Texas entities listed in public filings. This investigative depth is critical for identifying all potentially liable parties and their insurance coverage.

Building a Serious Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy & Damages

Winning a hazing case requires an investigative strategy as sophisticated as the institutions you are fighting. It is about turning data into leverage.

The Evidence Pyramid: What Wins Cases

1. Digital Communications: Deleted GroupMe chats, Snapchats, Instagram DMs. Digital forensics can often recover what members try to destroy.
2. Photos & Videos: The most damning evidence often comes from members’ own phones.
3. Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” binders, emails between officers.
4. University Records: Prior conduct files, Clery Act reports, internal investigation notes obtained via discovery or public records requests.
5. Medical Records: Documentation linking injuries directly to hazing events. For rhabdomyolysis, this includes creatinine kinase (CK) lab results.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, RAs.

We used this approach in the Bermudez case, securing detailed medical records showing critically high CK levels and gathering digital evidence of the hazing activities.

Overcoming Common Institutional Defenses

• “It Was Voluntary / They Consented”: Texas law (§ 37.155) explicitly states consent is no defense. We demonstrate the coercive power imbalance.
• “A Rogue Chapter / We Didn’t Know”: We use national pattern evidence and prior incident reports to prove foreseeability and negligent supervision.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: Liability is based on control and knowledge, not just property lines. Nationals that collect dues and set policies remain responsible.
• “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”: We show the gap between paper policies and actual enforcement, often using their own prior lenient sanctions as proof.

Damages: What Can Be Recovered

Civil lawsuits seek to make victims whole and hold institutions accountable. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost tuition, diminished future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of companionship, emotional suffering.
• Punitive Damages: In egregious cases, to punish reckless conduct and deter future behavior.

Settlements in severe injury or death cases regularly reach the multi-million dollar range, as seen in the national cases cited. These funds secure lifelong medical care, therapeutic support, and educational futures for victims.

Practical Guides for Texas Parents, Students & Witnesses

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Response Guide

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: Get medical attention immediately. Tell doctors it was hazing.
2. Become an Evidence Guardian: Preserve your child’s phone. Screenshot everything. Photograph injuries.
3. Document a Timeline: Write down everything your child shares—names, dates, locations, specific acts.
4. Report Strategically: You can report to campus police and the Dean of Students, but understand the university’s primary interest is limiting its own liability. Consult an attorney first.
5. Seek Specialized Legal Counsel Early: Hazing law is a niche within personal injury. You need a firm with experience against universities and national fraternities. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential case evaluation.

For Students: Is This Hazing? What Are My Rights?

Ask Yourself:

• Am I being pressured or coerced?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or secret?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences for refusing?
  If yes, it is hazing.

Your Rights:

• You have the right to leave the organization at any time.
• You have the right to report hazing anonymously through campus channels or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE).
• Texas law offers limited immunity for those who report hazing or call for help in good faith.
• You have the right to consult an attorney. Your conversations are confidential.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm Your Case

• Deleting Evidence: The single worst mistake. Preserve all digital communications.
• Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers their defense strategy and evidence destruction.
• Signing University Paperwork Unreviewed: Universities may offer “informal resolution” that waives your right to sue.
• Posting on Social Media: Defense investigators monitor everything. Inconsistencies hurt credibility.
• Waiting Too Long: Evidence vanishes, witnesses scatter, and the Texas statute of limitations (generally 2 years from injury) runs.

Why Attorney911? Our Texas Hazing Litigation Advantage

When your family is facing a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need a firm with a proven track record of taking on powerful institutions and the specialized knowledge to win. Here is why Texas families choose us:

1. Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation:
We are not theorists. We are in the courtroom right now fighting the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case. This $10 million lawsuit is the flagship example of our serious commitment to hazing victims. We know the current tactics, defenses, and strategies because we are actively using them.

2. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine – A Data Advantage:
While other firms start from scratch, we begin with intelligence. We maintain a proprietary database built from thousands of public records, including:

• IRS B83 Filings: Over 125 Texas-registered Greek organization entities with EINs and addresses. For example:
  • Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN: 746084905, Houston, TX 77204
  • Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN: 746064445, Nederland, TX 77627
• Texas University Rosters: Detailed mappings of Greek chapters at all major campuses.
• Cause IQ Metro Analysis: Tracking of 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros.

This engine allows us to immediately identify the network of housing corporations, alumni chapters, and national entities behind a local chapter—the very entities that hold insurance and ultimate responsibility. We turn data into leverage.

3. Insider Insurance Knowledge:
Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny claims, minimize payouts, and use delay tactics. We know their playbook because we used to run it. This insider knowledge is invaluable in maximizing recovery for our clients.

4. Complex Institutional Litigation Experience:
Managing Partner Ralph Manginello has over 25 years of experience, including being one of the few Texas firms involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. Taking on a billion-dollar corporate defendant requires the same skill set as suing a national fraternity or major university: relentless investigation, expert coordination, and trial-ready preparation. We are not intimidated by deep-pocketed opponents.

5. Dual Civil & Criminal Capability:
Ralph is a member of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA). We understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise clients and witnesses who may have exposure in both arenas, ensuring a coordinated legal strategy.

6. A Commitment to Your Family’s Well-Being:
We take a limited number of serious hazing cases to ensure each family gets the attention they deserve. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case. We also offer Spanish-language legal services through Mr. Peña.

Contact Us for a Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child and your family, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path to accountability begins with a conversation.

We offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation. In this consultation, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Outline our investigative approach.
• Answer your questions about the process, timeline, and costs.

Call the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach us directly at (713) 528-9070 or via email at ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com.

Visit our website at https://attorney911.com to learn more about our firm, our attorneys, and our experience with wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases.

Legal Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and every case is unique. For legal advice regarding your specific situation, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD for a consultation.