Hazing Lawsuits in Texas: A Complete Guide for Yoakum County Families

If you’re a parent in Yoakum County, your world is built on hard work, family, and community. You’ve raised your children with West Texas values, supported their dreams, and watched them head off to college with hope. The nightmare begins with a phone call you never expected: your child is in the hospital, injured not in an accident, but during a fraternity, sorority, Corps of Cadets, or athletic team initiation. They’re hurt, scared, and the organization responsible is closing ranks. You feel isolated, angry, and powerless against a university or a national fraternity headquartered hours away.

You are not alone, and you are not powerless. Right now, in Houston, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who was hazed by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter in the fall of 2025. What began as a bid for brotherhood ended with him hospitalized for four days, suffering from rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after being forced through brutal workouts, sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and subjected to humiliating and dangerous rituals. The chapter has been shut down, and we have filed a $10 million lawsuit. This is happening here in Texas, to students from communities just like Yoakum.

This guide is for you—parents and families across Yoakum County and the South Plains. We will explain what modern hazing really looks like, your legal rights under Texas law, and how the same national organizations operating at Texas Tech in Lubbock or West Texas A&M in Canyon have long, documented histories of abuse. We will show you how to protect your child and hold every responsible party accountable.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR YOAKUM COUNTY FAMILIES:

• If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW: Call 911. Then, call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
• In the first 48 hours: Get medical care. Preserve evidence: screenshot ALL group chats (GroupMe, texts), photograph injuries, save any physical items. Write down everything your child tells you.
• Do NOT: Confront the organization, sign anything from the university or an insurance adjuster, or let your child delete messages.
• Contact an experienced Texas hazing lawyer: Evidence disappears fast. Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

For families in Yoakum County, where community and trust are paramount, the calculated cruelty of modern hazing can be hard to fathom. It is no longer just “boys will be boys” pranks. Today’s hazing is a systematic exercise of power, often meticulously planned and hidden behind digital walls.

Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group. Crucially, under Texas law, a student’s “consent” is not a defense.

The Four Pillars of Modern Hazing:

1. Alcohol & Substance Hazing: The most common and deadly form. This includes forced consumption during “Big/Little” nights, “family tree” drinking games, or lineups where pledges must chug to excess. The goal is often incapacitation.
2. Physical Hazing: This ranges from “smokings” (extreme, punitive calisthenics) and paddling to sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements. Injuries include rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown), fractures, burns, and traumatic brain injury.
3. Psychological & Humiliating Hazing: Designed to break down identity and instill blind obedience. This includes verbal abuse, public shaming, forced nudity or degrading costumes, simulated sexual acts, and isolation from non-member friends and family.
4. Digital Hazing: The new frontier. Pledges are controlled via 24/7 group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), required to share live locations, forced to post humiliating content on social media, or harassed if they don’t instantly respond to messages at all hours.

This abuse doesn’t just happen in fraternity houses on leafy campuses. It occurs in off-campus apartments, at remote retreats, in athletic locker rooms, within spirit groups like the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, and even in some academic clubs. The common thread is a power imbalance and a culture of secrecy that prioritizes tradition over safety.

Texas Hazing Law & Legal Liability: A Yoakum County Primer

Texas has strong laws against hazing, designed to protect students from exactly the kind of coercion we see in cases like Leonel Bermudez’s at UH. Understanding this framework is your first step toward accountability.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37 (The Hazing Law):

• Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or maintaining membership in an organization.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes injury and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals who fail to report hazing can also be charged.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (§ 37.155) is explicit: even if your child “agreed” to participate, it is not a legal defense for those who haze.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or team itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing.

Civil Lawsuits: The Path to Accountability & Compensation
A criminal case is brought by the state to punish wrongdoing. A civil lawsuit is brought by the victim and family to recover damages and force institutional change. They can proceed simultaneously. In a civil hazing case, we seek to hold every liable party responsible, including:

• The Individuals who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
• The Local Chapter as an entity.
• The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters for negligent supervision and failure to curb known, dangerous traditions.
• The University for negligent oversight, especially if it had prior knowledge of risks.
• Property Owners & Third Parties (e.g., Airbnb hosts, alumni house corporations).

Federal Laws That Intertwine:

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal funds to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based hostility, federal Title IX procedures and obligations are triggered.
• The Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults.

The National Playbook: How History Repeats in Texas

The horrific hazing that injured Leonel Bermudez at UH is not an isolated incident. It is part of a national pattern. Major cases across the country have set legal precedents and revealed the same destructive scripts, which now play out on Texas campuses.

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State University (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge died from alcohol poisoning after a “Big/Little” night. Result: A $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, $3M from the university) and criminal convictions.
• Timothy Piazza, Penn State (Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died after a bid-acceptance night of forced drinking; his falls were caught on chapter security cameras while brothers delayed calling for help. Result: Dozens of criminal charges and a new Pennsylvania anti-hazing law.
• Max Gruver, LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers mandated drinking. Result: The Max Gruver Act made hazing a felony in Louisiana.
• Danny Santulli, University of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. Result: Settlements with 22 defendants and the chapter closed.

Why This Matters for Yoakum County: When a chapter at Texas Tech, UT, or A&M uses the same “Big/Little” drinking script that killed Stone Foltz, it shows the national organization failed to enforce its own policies. This “pattern and practice” evidence is powerful in court, proving foreseeability and gross negligence.

The Texas Campus Landscape: Where Yoakum County Students Go

While Yoakum County is home to a strong community college, many students pursue four-year degrees at larger institutions across the state. The hazing risks at these universities directly impact our families.

Public Records: The Greek Ecosystem Serving Texas Students

As part of our investigative process, we maintain detailed intelligence on the Greek organizations operating in Texas. This isn’t speculation—it’s built from public records. For example, IRS B83 filings show over 125 Texas-registered Greek entities. A small sample relevant to universities Yoakum County families attend includes:

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc (EIN: 133048786) – 3007 Earl Rudder Fwy S, College Station, TX 77845. IRS B83 filing.
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN: 462267515) – 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035. IRS B83 filing.
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter (EIN: 746084905) – 4300 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX 77204. IRS B83 filing.
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN: 741380362) – PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147. IRS B83 & Cause IQ overlap.
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (EIN: 900293166) – 114 Henderson Hall 4233 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843. IRS B83 filing (multiple chapters statewide).

These records help us trace the network of housing corporations, alumni chapters, and national affiliates that may share liability when hazing occurs.

University-Specific Realities

1. Texas Tech University (Lubbock)
For many Yoakum County students, Texas Tech is the nearest major university. Its vibrant Greek life carries known risks.

• Documented Issues: National fraternities with violent hazing histories maintain active chapters at Tech. Physical hazing leading to injuries like rhabdomyolysis is a known pattern within certain organizations.
• Practical Guidance: Reports go to the Center for Campus Life. The Lubbock Police Department may have jurisdiction for off-campus incidents. Immediate evidence preservation is critical, as groups may try to hide activities from both university and local authorities.

2. West Texas A&M University (Canyon)
A common choice for Panhandle and South Plains students, WTAMU has Greek life and athletic teams.

• Local Context: Incidents here may involve students from tightly-knit Yoakum County communities, complicating reporting due to social pressures. The focus may be on athletic teams or smaller Greek chapters.
• Jurisdiction: Canyon PD and university police. The Amarillo metro area legal community is involved, but complex hazing litigation often requires expertise from firms with statewide reach.

3. Texas A&M University (College Station)
The Corps of Cadets and a massive Greek system present dual risks.

• Corps of Cadets Hazing: Has faced lawsuits alleging degrading physical and sexualized hazing, including the infamous “roasted pig” binding incident.
• Fraternity Hazing: Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) at A&M was sued after pledges suffered severe chemical burns from being doused with industrial cleaner. The chapter was suspended.
• For Yoakum County Families: A&M’s culture is steeped in tradition. Challenging this system requires attorneys who are not intimidated by institutional prestige and who understand how to investigate both the Corps and Greek life.

4. University of Texas at Austin
UT publishes a public hazing violations log, offering a window into recurring problems.

• Public Record: The log shows sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon: The UT chapter faced a lawsuit in 2024 after an exchange student was assaulted, suffering fractures and ligament damage.
• Transparency as a Tool: This public record can be used in litigation to demonstrate a university’s prior knowledge of a specific chapter’s dangerous behavior.

5. University of Houston (The Flagship Case)
Our active litigation against UH and Pi Kappa Phi defines the current battleground.

• The Bermudez Case: As reported by Click2Houston and ABC13, the hazing included “pledge fanny packs” with humiliating items, overnight driving duties, forced overeating until vomiting, and the near-fatal workout that caused kidney failure. Pi Kappa Phi nationals suspended the chapter, and members voted to surrender their charter.
• The Legal Battle: We are pursuing the full “defendant universe”: 13 individual members, the chapter, the national headquarters, the housing corporation, UH, and the UH System Board of Regents. This is the model for how to attack a systemic hazing problem.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Winning a hazing case requires turning anger into a meticulous, evidence-driven legal strategy. This is where our experience as complex litigators makes the difference.

The Evidence That Wins Cases:

• Digital Forensics: Deleted GroupMe chats, Snapchat messages, Instagram DMs, and chapter Slack channels. We work with experts to recover what has been erased. Learn more about evidence preservation in our video: Using Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case.
• Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” guides, emails between actives, and communications with national headquarters.
• University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same chapter obtained through discovery or public records requests.
• Medical Evidence: ER records, toxicology reports, diagnoses of rhabdomyolysis (like Bermudez’s), and psychological evaluations for PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
• Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders.

Overcoming the Common Defenses:
Fraternities and universities have deep-pocketed insurers and seasoned defense lawyers. Their playbook is predictable:

1. “The Victim Consented.” We counter with Texas law § 37.155 and evidence of peer pressure and coercion.
2. “This Was a Rogue Chapter.” We subpoena the national’s records to show prior, similar incidents at other chapters, proving a pattern they failed to stop.
3. “It Happened Off-Campus.” Liability isn’t about geography; it’s about control, sponsorship, and foreseeability. Nationals and universities cannot hide behind this.
4. “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies.” We show the gap between paper policies and actual enforcement—prior wrist-slaps, ineffective training, and a culture that encouraged secrecy.

Damages: What Can Be Recovered
A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and punish egregious conduct. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, costs of ongoing therapy, and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship, love, and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of gross negligence or intentional conduct, to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

Practical Guide for Yoakum County Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Immediate Steps

• Red Flags: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, sudden secrecy, personality changes (anxiety, withdrawal), drastic grade drops, constant/ anxious phone use related to group chats.
• The First 48 Hours: Prioritize medical care. Help your child preserve all digital evidence (screenshots, photos). Write a detailed timeline. Contact a lawyer before reporting to the university or police, to ensure evidence is protected.
• Avoid Critical Mistakes: Do not let your child delete messages. Do not confront the organization. Do not sign any university resolution agreements without legal counsel. Do not post details on social media.

For Students: Your Safety & Rights

• Is This Hazing? If you feel coerced, unsafe, or humiliated to belong, it likely is. Trust your instincts.
• How to Exit Safely: Your safety comes first. You can resign via email/text; you do not need to attend an “exit interview.” If you fear retaliation, document threats and report them to campus police and the Dean of Students.
• Reporting: You can report to campus authorities, local police, or anonymously via the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE). Texas law offers limited immunity for good-faith reporters.
• Evidence Collection: Save everything. Take photos of injuries. Screenshot ALL communications. See our guide: Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case.

FAQs for Yoakum County Families

• “Can we sue even though it happened in another Texas city?” Absolutely. Texas law applies statewide. We handle cases across Texas and have offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont for statewide reach.
• “What if my child ‘agreed’ to it?” Consent is not a defense to hazing under Texas law. The power dynamics and pressure invalidate true consent.
• “How long do we have to file a lawsuit?” Generally, two years from the date of injury in Texas, but exceptions apply. Do not wait. Time is evidence disappearing. Learn more: Statute of Limitations on My Case.
• “Will this be public?” Most cases settle confidentially. We always prioritize our clients’ privacy while aggressively pursuing accountability.

Why Attorney911: Texas Hazing Litigators for Yoakum County Families

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who speak your language—both literally and legally. At The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911), we bring a unique combination of insider knowledge, tenacity, and Texas-sized litigation experience to hazing cases.

Our Proven Advantages:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), spent years as an insurance defense lawyer for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers try to deny, delay, and undervalue claims. We know their playbook because we used to help write it.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff’s attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar corporations, national fraternities, or major university systems. We know how to build cases that force them to the table.
• Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation: We are not theorists. We are in the fight right now, leading the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We understand the tactics, defenses, and emotional toll of these cases firsthand.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. We are committed to serving the Hispanic families of Yoakum County and across Texas with culturally competent representation.
• A Data-Driven Investigative Edge: We don’t start from scratch. We utilize public records and our own intelligence to map the organizational landscape behind a fraternity or sorority, identifying every potentially liable entity from the start.
• Contingency Fee Basis: You pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we recover money for you. Learn how this works: How Do Contingency Fees Work?

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

From Denver City to Plains, if hazing has injured your child and shattered your trust, you have the right to answers, accountability, and justice. The organizations responsible are betting on your silence and confusion. Prove them wrong.

Contact Attorney911 today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We will listen to your story, explain your legal options in plain English, and help you decide the best path forward for your family. Everything you tell us is confidential.

Call the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach us directly at (713) 528-9070, or visit our website at https://attorney911.com. For Spanish-language services, ask for Mr. Lupe Peña.

We serve families across Texas, including Yoakum County, Lubbock, Amarillo, and beyond. You don’t have to face this alone.

Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and law. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 can be reached at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

• Click2Houston coverage of UH Pi Kappa Phi case: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/
• ABC13 coverage of UH Pi Kappa Phi case: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Attorney911 video on documenting evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Attorney911 video on statutes of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Attorney911 video on client mistakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Attorney911 video on contingency fees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc
• Attorney911 main website: https://attorney911.com