The Complete Guide to Hazing, Texas Law, and Protecting Your Child: A Resource for Wheeler County Families

If you are a parent in Wheeler County, and your child is texting less, coming home exhausted with unexplained injuries, or suddenly secretive about their new fraternity, sorority, or campus group, your deepest fears may be justified. What you’re seeing could be the warning signs of hazing—a dangerous, illegal practice that has hospitalized and killed students across Texas and the nation.

Right now, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who was hazed by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter in fall 2025. The alleged abuse—including forced consumption of food until vomiting, extreme workouts, and being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”—led to rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, and a four-day hospitalization. This $10 million lawsuit names the university, the national fraternity, and 13 individual members. This case proves that severe, life-altering hazing is not a relic of the past; it’s happening right now at Texas universities.

This guide is for you—the parent in Wheeler County, Shamrock, or across the Texas Panhandle. Whether your child attends nearby West Texas A&M University in Canyon, has gone to a major hub like Texas A&M in College Station, or is at any campus in between, you need to know the reality of modern hazing, the Texas laws that protect your child, and the legal pathways to accountability.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for medical emergencies.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate help—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

In the first 48 hours:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they’re “fine,” seek professional evaluation. Internal injuries like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) may not be immediately apparent.
2. Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted:
   • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, texts) immediately.
   • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
   • Save any physical items (clothing, paddles, receipts).
3. Document Everything: Write down everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, specific acts—while memories are fresh.
4. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
   • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
   • Post details on public social media.
   • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney. Evidence disappears fast. Universities and organizations move quickly to control the narrative. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights from the start. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, immediate, and confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

Hazing has evolved far beyond stereotypical “pranks.” It is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act by a person alone or with others, directed against a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation, that endangers the student’s mental or physical health or safety. Crucially, under Texas law, a victim’s “consent” is not a defense.

For Wheeler County families, it’s critical to understand the forms hazing can take:

The Four Core Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Substance Hazing: This remains the most common and deadly. It includes forced or coerced consumption of alcohol (like the “Big/Little” handles of liquor in the Stone Foltz case) or drugs. “Drinking games” with punishment for wrong answers are a classic, dangerous script.

2. Physical Hazing: This includes paddling, beatings, “smokings” (extreme calisthenics), sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements. The alleged workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, which led to rhabdomyolysis, are a severe example.

3. Psychological & Humiliating Hazing: This involves verbal abuse, threats, isolation, public shaming, forced nudity, or simulated sexual acts. The “pledge fanny pack” with humiliating items in the UH case was designed to degrade.

4. Digital Hazing: A 21st-century evolution. It includes 24/7 demands via group chat, forced sharing of compromising photos/videos, social media humiliation, and geo-location tracking. This creates a constant, inescapable environment of pressure.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond the Fraternity House

While fraternities and sororities are often in the spotlight, hazing permeates many groups:

• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading)
• Corps of Cadets and ROTC programs
• Marching Bands and performance groups
• Spirit & Tradition Organizations (like Texas A&M’s Corps or other campus societies)
• Academic Clubs and Honor Societies

The common threads are a hierarchy of power, a culture of secrecy, and the twisted justification of “tradition.”

Law & Liability Framework: Texas and Federal Laws

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code, Chapter 37)

Texas has strong anti-hazing statutes designed to protect students like yours.

• Definition: Hazing is broadly defined as reckless or intentional acts that endanger physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation or affiliation into a group.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a crime. It can range from a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 per violation.
• Key Protection: Consent is NOT a Defense. Texas law (Sec. 37.155) explicitly states that the victim’s agreement to participate is irrelevant. This shuts down the most common defense used by perpetrators.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office). Aim to punish with jail, fines, or probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by the victim and their family. Aim to secure compensation for medical bills, trauma, and future needs, and to hold all responsible parties accountable. A civil case does not require a criminal conviction.

These cases can—and often do—proceed simultaneously. For a Wheeler County family, a civil lawsuit might be filed in the county where the injury occurred or where a defendant resides, while criminal charges could be filed by the local district attorney near the university.

Federal Law Overlay

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires universities receiving federal funds to report hazing incidents more transparently and maintain public data, increasing institutional accountability.
• Title IX & The Clery Act: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, or occurs alongside certain reported crimes, these federal laws impose additional duties on universities to investigate and respond.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Lawsuit?

A thorough investigation seeks to identify every entity with responsibility:

1. The Individuals who planned, executed, or concealed the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter as an organization.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters for failing to supervise, enforce policies, or act on known patterns.
4. The University for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or premises liability.
5. Third Parties like property owners, alumni advisors, or alcohol providers.

Our approach in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case exemplifies this: we sued not only the 13 individual members but also the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, its housing corporation, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts That Repeat

Major national cases are not just headlines; they are blueprints that show how hazing happens and establish legal precedents that benefit Texas families.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): A bid-acceptance night with forced drinking led to fatal falls. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case resulted in dozens of criminal charges and Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.”
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge was forced to drink a bottle of liquor during a “Big/Little” event and died. The family secured a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from the university).
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking led to fatal alcohol toxicity. This spurred Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, a felony hazing statute.

The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): A pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a violent, blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Texas A&M Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2021): Pledges alleged having industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and other substances poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended and a lawsuit was filed.

The Athletic Program Hazing Pattern

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Allegations of widespread sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements, proving hazing is entrenched in major athletic programs.

What This Means for Wheeler County Families: These are not isolated incidents. They reveal predictable scripts—forced drinking games, dangerous physical rituals, institutional cover-ups. When the same patterns emerge at a Texas school, it demonstrates foreseeability, a key element in proving negligence against nationals and universities.

Texas University Focus: Where Wheeler County Students May Be

Wheeler County families often send their children to universities across Texas. Understanding the specific landscape, policies, and history at these schools is critical.

West Texas A&M University (Canyon, TX) – In the Panhandle

For many Wheeler County families, West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) in nearby Canyon is a primary destination. Its Greek life and traditions are part of the Panhandle community.

• Campus Snapshot: A key regional university with active Greek life and strong agricultural and pre-professional programs. Its proximity means Wheeler County students may live at home or commute, but they are still exposed to on-campus group dynamics.
• Hazing Policy & Reporting: WTAMU prohibits hazing as defined by Texas law. Reports can be made to the Office of Student Conduct, Campus Police, or the Dean of Students.
• Legal Jurisdiction: A hazing incident at WTAMU would involve the Randall County courts and potentially the Canyon Police Department or WTAMU Campus Police. For Wheeler County families, this means legal proceedings would be local to the Panhandle region.
• Action for Families: If your WTAMU student shows signs of hazing, document everything and contact an attorney who understands both Texas hazing law and the dynamics of Panhandle universities. The evidence preservation steps are the same.

Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)

As a flagship institution, Texas A&M attracts students from across Texas, including Wheeler County. Its unique Corps of Cadets culture and large Greek system present specific hazing risks.

• Campus Snapshot: Home to a massive Greek community and the storied Corps of Cadets, where tradition runs deep. The culture of loyalty and tradition can sometimes be exploited to justify abuse.
• Documented Incidents:
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Lawsuit (2021): Pledges alleged being subjected to strenuous activity and having substances including industrial-strength cleaner poured on them, causing severe burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended.
  • Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position. The lawsuit sought over $1 million in damages.
• What A&M Families Should Do: Reporting can go to the Student Conduct Office or the Corps command. Given the institutional stature of A&M, families need counsel prepared to challenge a powerful system. Evidence of prior incidents like the SAE case can be crucial.

University of Houston (Houston, TX)

The ongoing case we are litigating makes UH a focal point for understanding how hazing investigations and lawsuits unfold.

• Campus Snapshot: A large, diverse urban university with a significant Greek life presence across multiple councils (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural).
• The Active Case: Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi: This lawsuit alleges a campaign of abuse against our client in Fall 2025, including the “pledge fanny pack,” forced overeating, waterboarding-like hose spraying, and extreme workouts leading to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. The chapter was suspended and voted to surrender its charter.
• How a UH Case Proceeds: Incidents may involve UH Police (UHPD) or Houston Police (HPD). Civil suits are filed in Harris County courts. The lawsuit demonstrates targeting all layers: individuals, chapter, national HQ, housing corporation, and the university itself.
• Action for UH Families: The UH case shows the importance of acting swiftly to preserve digital evidence (GroupMe chats, social media) and secure medical documentation. The university’s response will be scrutinized for whether it knew or should have known about systemic issues.

University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)

UT Austin sets a standard for transparency that other schools are slowly following.

• Campus Snapshot: A flagship university with a vast array of fraternities, sororities, and student organizations.
• Public Transparency: UT maintains a public Hazing Violations webpage listing organizations, violations, and sanctions—a valuable resource for families.
• Documented Incidents: The public log includes cases like Pi Kappa Alpha (2023) being sanctioned for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Other spirit groups and fraternities have been sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.
• Action for UT Families: Check the public hazing log. Prior violations are powerful evidence of a pattern that the organization and university knew about. This public record can significantly strengthen a civil case.

Other Texas Universities

Wheeler County students also attend schools like Texas Tech University (Lubbock), University of North Texas (Denton), and others across the state. The legal principles and hazing risks are consistent: wherever there is a power imbalance and a culture of initiation, the potential for abuse exists.

Fraternities & Sororities: Connecting National Histories to Texas Chapters

The fraternity or sorority your child is joining in Texas is part of a national organization with its own history—a history that often includes hazing settlements, lawsuits, and deaths. This isn’t about branding all groups; it’s about understanding foreseeability. When a national organization has seen chapters shut down for alcohol hazing, and a Texas chapter repeats the same “Big/Little” drinking script, that national can be held liable for failing to prevent a known, predictable danger.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Why Data Matters

Unlike firms that start from zero, we maintain a proprietary data engine built from public records to map the Greek ecosystem in Texas. For Wheeler County families, this means we already understand the landscape your child has entered. This engine includes:

• IRS Records of over 125 Texas-registered Greek housing corporations, alumni chapters, and honor societies.
• Metro-Level Analysis tracking organizations across Texas’s 25 major metro areas.
• Campus Rosters of active chapters at schools like UH, Texas A&M, and UT.

Sample Public Records Relevant to Texas Universities:

• Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity – Named defendant in our active UH lawsuit.
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 46-2267515) – FRISCO, TX 75035
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN 74-1380362) – FORT WORTH, TX 76147
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Multiple chapters across Texas campuses, including Texas A&M (EIN 90-0293166) – COLLEGE STATION, TX 77843

This data allows us to quickly identify all potentially liable entities behind a campus chapter—the house corporations, alumni associations, and national insurance policies that other attorneys might miss.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Building a successful hazing case requires an investigative approach that treats the organization like the institutional defendant it is.

Critical Evidence Categories

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Instagram/Snapchat messages are the modern “smoking gun.” They show planning, boasting, threats, and cover-up attempts. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted data.
2. Photos & Videos: Media captured by participants during events is devastating evidence. We also seek security footage from houses, apartments, and nearby businesses.
3. Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, and emails between members and nationals.
4. University Records: Obtained through discovery or public records requests, these can reveal prior complaints, conduct violations, and knowledge that the school failed to act upon.
5. Medical Records: These objectively document the harm: ER reports, diagnoses like rhabdomyolysis, toxicology screens, and psychological evaluations for PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

Comprehensive Damages: What Can Be Recovered

The goal is to make the victim whole and hold perpetrators accountable. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, costs of psychological care, 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 egregious cases, these may be available to punish particularly reckless or malicious conduct and deter future hazing.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Wheeler County Families

For Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps

Watch for:

• Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, limping).
• Extreme fatigue or sleep deprivation.
• Sudden secrecy or withdrawal from family.
• Anxiety about missing group messages or events.
• Personality changes: depression, irritability, fearfulness.
• Defensiveness when asked about the group.

What to Do:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’ve noticed you’re exhausted and seem stressed about your group. Is everything okay with the new member process?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If they are injured or intoxicated, get medical help immediately.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help them screenshot chats and photograph injuries.
4. Consult an Attorney Early: Before reporting to the university, talk to a lawyer. We can help you navigate the process strategically to protect your child and your rights.

For Students: Is This Hazing?

Ask yourself:

• Would I do this if I truly had a free choice, without fear of being kicked out or mocked?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Am I being told to keep it a secret from the university, my parents, or outsiders?
  If you answer “yes,” it is hazing. Your “consent” under pressure is not legally valid in Texas.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case

• Deleting Evidence: Screenshot everything first. Deleted messages can sometimes be recovered, but preservation is key.
• Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers their defense protocol—they lawyer up, destroy evidence, and coach witnesses.
• Signing University Paperwork Without Counsel: Universities may offer “informal resolution” that waives your right to sue.
• Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys scour social media for inconsistencies.
• Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, memories fade. Texas generally has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue a university in Texas for hazing?
A: Yes. While public universities have some sovereign immunity protections, exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals. Private universities like SMU and Baylor have fewer protections. Our active lawsuit against the University of Houston demonstrates this path.

Q: What if the hazing happened at an off-campus house or Airbnb?
A: Location does not shield liability. Nationals and universities can still be responsible if they sponsored, knew about, or should have foreseen the activity. The Pi Delta Psi case that resulted in a death at a remote retreat is a prime example.

Q: How much does it cost to hire your firm?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury and hazing cases. This means you pay no upfront fees or hourly costs. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery we secure for you, and only if we win your case.

About The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911: Why We Handle Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need advocates who understand how powerful institutions defend themselves and who have the experience to win anyway. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve Wheeler County families and victims across Texas.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

• 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 insurance companies value claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello is one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. National fraternities and major universities do not intimidate us.
• Active, High-Stakes Case Experience: We are not theorizing about hazing law; we are actively litigating one of the most severe cases in the state—the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are in the fight right now.
• Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from public IRS, university, and metro records, allows us to immediately identify all potentially liable entities—house corporations, alumni associations, national headquarters—that other firms might miss.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits, allowing us to advise clients holistically.

Call to Action for Wheeler County Families

If hazing has injured your child or shattered your family, you are not alone. The path ahead is difficult, but you do not have to walk it without guidance or advocacy.

We invite you to contact The Manginello Law Firm for a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation. We will listen to your story, explain the legal landscape in plain English, review any evidence you have, and outline your family’s options. There is no pressure to hire us. Our goal is to ensure you have the information needed to make the best decision for your child and your family.

Contact Us Today:

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Se Habla Español: Mr. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

Serving families in Wheeler County, across the Texas Panhandle, and throughout the State of Texas.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC.

Hazing laws, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.

If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Website: https://attorney911.com