Potter County Hazing Lawyer: A Texas Family’s Complete Guide to Fraternity & Sorority Hazing Lawsuits at UH, A&M, UT, SMU & Baylor

If you’re a parent in Potter County, the call you dread might start with a shaky voice or a strange text. Your student at Texas A&M, the University of Houston, or another Texas campus is saying something that doesn’t add up. They’re exhausted in a way that goes beyond finals. They have unexplained bruises. They’re suddenly secretive about their new fraternity or sorority “friends.” Or worst of all, you get the call from a hospital.

Right now, in Texas, we’re fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. In November 2025, we filed a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student and Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu chapter) pledge who suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after extreme hazing. The documented allegations include forced sprints, bear crawls, a humiliating “pledge fanny pack,” being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, and a brutal November 3rd workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. He was hospitalized for four days. The chapter has been shut down.

This case isn’t an anomaly. It’s proof of what we see every day: hazing remains a dangerous, pervasive reality at Texas universities, and families in Potter County—whether your student is at nearby West Texas A&M University in Canyon or at a major hub like Texas A&M in College Station—need to know their rights.

This guide is for you. We’ll explain what modern hazing really looks like, break down Texas law, show you how national fraternity patterns play out locally, and provide a clear path forward if your family is affected. We are The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911), Texas-based hazing litigation specialists. We serve families across the state, including here in the Texas Panhandle.

If This Just Happened: Immediate Steps for Potter County Families

Call 911 first if there is a medical emergency. Then, call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

In the First 48 Hours:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your student insists they’re “fine,” emergency room documentation is critical. Conditions like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) may not show immediate symptoms.
2. Preserve Digital Evidence: Screenshot EVERYTHING—GroupMe chats, text messages, Instagram DMs, Snapchat stories. Take photos of your student’s phone screen if needed. Do not let them delete anything.
3. Document Physically: Photograph any visible injuries from multiple angles. Save clothing, receipts, or any objects used in hazing.
4. Write Down Details: Note names, dates, times, locations, and what your child tells you while their memory is fresh.
5. Contact an Attorney: Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation. Evidence disappears fast; universities and fraternities move quickly to control the narrative.

Do NOT:

• Confront the fraternity or sorority directly.
• Sign any documents from the university or an insurance company.
• Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” their social media.
• Post details about the incident on public social media.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like on Texas Campuses

Hazing is not about “harmless pranks” or “boys being boys.” It is a calculated system of coercion, humiliation, and control designed to test loyalty through suffering. For Potter County families, understanding its modern forms is the first step to recognizing it.

Texas law (Education Code Chapter 37.151) defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in an organization. Consent is not a defense.

Today’s hazing often falls into three escalating tiers:

1. Subtle Hazing: Power imbalance and psychological control. This includes forced servitude (being an on-call driver, cleaning members’ rooms), sleep deprivation for “mandatory” meetings, social isolation from non-members, and carrying degrading “pledge items” (like the UH Pi Kappa Phi “fanny pack” containing condoms and sex toys).
2. Harassment Hazing: Verbal abuse, humiliation, and uncomfortable physical acts. This involves being yelled at, called derogatory names, forced to eat disgusting food combinations, subjected to “wall sits” or calisthenics until collapse, and public shaming.
3. Violent Hazing: Activities with a high probability of injury or death. This is what we see in the worst cases:
   • Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights, “family tree” drinking games, lineups where pledges must finish a bottle.
   • Physical Assault: Paddling, beatings, “gladiator” fights, dangerous physical tests.
   • Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts.
   • Environmental Dangers: Exposure to extreme cold, being locked in confined spaces, kidnapping to remote locations.

These acts don’t just happen in fraternity houses. They occur in sororities, athletic teams, spirit groups like the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, marching bands, and academic clubs. The location—whether on-campus, at an off-campus house, or a remote Airbnb—does not change its illegality.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Potter County Primer

Texas has some of the nation’s clearest anti-hazing statutes, but navigating the legal aftermath is complex. Here’s what Potter County families need to know about the framework governing cases at our state’s universities.

Criminal Hazing Penalties (Texas Education Code Chapter 37):

• Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing (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.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity/sorority itself can be fined up to $10,000 per violation.
• Failure to Report: Members or officers with knowledge who fail to report hazing commit a misdemeanor.

Civil Liability & Lawsuits:
A criminal case is brought by the state to punish. A civil case is brought by the victim or family to recover compensation and hold all responsible parties accountable. They can proceed simultaneously. In a civil hazing lawsuit, we typically pursue claims of negligence, gross negligence, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Case?

1. Individual Perpetrators: The students who planned, carried out, or facilitated the hazing.
2. Chapter Officers & Leadership: The pledge educator, president, risk manager, and others who allowed or encouraged it.
3. The Local Chapter: If it holds assets or insurance.
4. The National Fraternity/Sorority: This is often where the deepest pockets are. Nationals can be liable for negligent supervision, failure to enforce their own policies, and having prior knowledge of dangerous patterns.
5. The University: Public universities like UH, Texas A&M, and UT have sovereign immunity, but exceptions exist for gross negligence or violations of federal law like Title IX. Private schools like SMU and Baylor have fewer immunity protections.
6. Third Parties: Property owners of off-campus houses, bars that furnished alcohol to minors.

The Critical Federal Overlay:

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires universities receiving federal funds to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention by 2026.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, it triggers the university’s Title IX obligations.
• Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain crimes, including assaults that occur during hazing.

National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not isolated. They reveal patterns that fraternities and universities have seen before—and that directly inform lawsuits in Texas. For Potter County parents, these cases show the stakes and the precedents.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern:

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): A pledge died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. His family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from BGSU).
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): Died after a “Bible study” drinking game. Led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, a felony hazing statute. His family secured a $6.1 million verdict.
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Died after a “Big Brother” night. This is the same national fraternity involved in the current UH case.

The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern:

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): Died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was convicted of felony charges and banned from Pennsylvania.

The Athletic Team Hazing Pattern:

• Northwestern University Football (2023-25): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements, proving hazing extends far beyond Greek life.

What This Means for Texas Families:
These cases establish critical legal principles: national organizations can be held liable for patterns they fail to stop; universities can face multi-million dollar exposure; and “consent” is never a defense. When we see the same fraternities—Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi—involved in similar incidents at Texas schools, it creates powerful evidence of foreseeability and negligence.

Texas University Hazing Landscape: Where Potter County Students Go

Parents in Potter County often have students at regional schools like West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) in nearby Canyon or at the major flagship universities across the state. Each campus has its own Greek ecosystem and history of incidents.

West Texas A&M University (Canyon, TX)

For Potter County Parents: WTAMU is your most immediate local campus, part of the Texas A&M University System. Its Greek life, while smaller than the flagship, is active and not immune to hazing risks.

Snapshot: A key university in the Texas Panhandle with traditional Greek life governed by university policies that mirror Texas A&M System standards.

Documented Incident & Response Framework: While specific major public hazing cases at WTAMU in recent years may be limited, the university’s disciplinary records would show policy violations. The structures for accountability are in place. Any incident would be investigated by WTAMU’s Office of Student Conduct and could involve the Canyon Police Department or Potter County Sheriff’s Office.

How a WTAMU Case Proceeds: Jurisdiction would likely fall in Randall County (Canyon) or Potter County courts, depending on where the incident occurred. The Texas A&M University System’s general counsel would be involved. As seen in the A&M system’s handling of the SAE chemical burn case, internal investigations are standard.

What WTAMU Families Should Do: Report immediately to the WTAMU Dean of Students and Campus Police. Document everything. Understand that as part of the A&M System, the university has significant resources but also layers of bureaucracy. An experienced attorney can help navigate this system.

Texas A&M University (College Station)

Snapshot: A massive, tradition-rich campus with a powerful Greek system and the nationally prominent Corps of Cadets. The culture of tradition can sometimes mask abusive behavior as “character building.”

Documented Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) – Chemical Burn Lawsuit (~2021): Pledges alleged they were forced to do strenuous activity and then had substances, including industrial-strength cleaner, poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The lawsuit sought $1 million. 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 with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million. Texas A&M stated it addressed the matter under its own rules.

How an A&M Case Proceeds: Incidents may involve Texas A&M University Police, the Bryan-College Station metro police, or Brazos County Sheriff. Civil suits are filed in Brazos County. The Texas A&M System Board of Regents is a potential defendant. The university’s historical use of sovereign immunity is a key legal battleground.

University of Texas at Austin

Snapshot: A flagship campus with a highly transparent public hazing log. UT posts detailed records of violations, providing a unique window into recurring problems.

Documented Incidents (From UT’s Public Hazing Log):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members were directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: Probation and mandatory hazing prevention education.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) – Assault Lawsuit (2024): An Australian exchange student alleged an assault at an SAE party resulted in a dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, and broken nose. He sued for over $1 million. The chapter was already under suspension for prior violations.
• Various spirit groups and other fraternities appear on the log for forced workouts, alcohol hazing, and humiliation.

How a UT Case Proceeds: Involves UT Police (UTPD) and potentially Austin Police. Civil suits are filed in Travis County. UT’s public log is a goldmine for establishing “prior notice” and pattern evidence against specific organizations.

Southern Methodist University (Dallas)

Snapshot: A private, affluent university with a dominant Greek life culture. As a private institution, it has less public reporting than state schools, but discovery in lawsuits can uncover internal records.

Documented Incident:

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): The chapter was suspended after reports of new members being paddled, forced to drink alcohol, and deprived of sleep. The chapter faced multi-year recruiting restrictions.

How an SMU Case Proceeds: Involves SMU Police and Dallas Police. Civil suits are filed in Dallas County. The private university status means less sovereign immunity but potentially more aggressive defense from a well-resourced institution.

Baylor University (Waco)

Snapshot: A private Baptist university with a history of high-profile institutional failures regarding student safety (the football sexual assault scandal). This context shapes how hazing is handled.

Documented Incident:

• Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players were suspended following a hazing investigation, with staggered suspensions affecting the team’s early season.

How a Baylor Case Proceeds: Involves Baylor Police and Waco Police. Civil suits are filed in McLennan County. Baylor’s religious identity and past scandals create a complex environment for accountability.

University of Houston (UH) – The Current Front Line

Snapshot: A large, diverse urban university where the Leonel Bermudez case is currently unfolding. This case is a live example of the legal process in action.

Documented Incident – Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi:
As covered by Click2Houston and ABC13, the allegations for our client include:

• Humiliation: Mandatory “pledge fanny pack” with condoms, sex toys, nicotine.
• Psychological Control: Enforced dress codes, overnight driving duties, weekly interrogations.
• Physical Torture: Sprints, bear crawls, lying in vomit-soaked grass, cold-weather exposure in underwear, being sprayed with a hose “similar to waterboarding.”
• Forced Consumption: Made to drink milk and eat hot dogs/peppercorns until vomiting, then immediate sprints.
• The Breaking Point: A Nov. 3 workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats led to rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine and was hospitalized for four days.
• Defendants: UH, UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi National HQ, the Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders.
• Outcome: Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended the chapter on Nov. 6, 2025. Members voted to surrender their charter on Nov. 14, shutting it down. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

How the UH Case Proceeds: This active lawsuit is in Harris County. It demonstrates the multi-defendant strategy, targeting the national organization, the university, the housing corporation, and individuals. It is the flagship example of our firm’s hazing litigation capability.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Following the Organizations & the Money

When we take a hazing case, our investigation doesn’t start from zero. We maintain a proprietary data engine built from public records to track the financial and legal backbone of Greek life in Texas. This allows us to identify every potentially liable entity from day one.

The Data Behind the Letters:
Our directory includes IRS records, university registries, and metro-level organizational data. For example, our public records research shows Greek-life entities across Texas, such as:

• Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu 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 at Texas A&M University (EIN 90-0293166), College Station, TX 77843
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (EIN 36-4091267), Waco, TX 76710
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – Theta Delta Chapter (EIN 47-5370943), Houston, TX 77204

Why This Matters for Your Case:
These registered entities often hold insurance policies, own property, or control funds. In litigation, we can trace liability and insurance coverage through this corporate web. For instance, the same national brand (like Sigma Gamma Rho) appears in both IRS records and local chapter listings across metros (Waco, Beaumont, Houston), showing how we track organizations statewide.

For a Potter County family with a student at Texas Tech, this means we can immediately identify the Texas-based house corporation or alumni chapter associated with the offending fraternity, uncovering assets and insurance that a less thorough investigation might miss.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Winning a hazing case requires converting trauma into a legally compelling narrative backed by irrefutable evidence. This is where experience matters.

Critical Evidence We Pursue:

1. Digital Footprint: Archived GroupMe/WhatsApp chats showing planning, boasting, or cover-ups. Social media posts and geotags. Even deleted messages can often be recovered via forensic investigation.
2. Internal Chapter Records: Pledge manuals, “family trees,” meeting minutes, emails between members and national officers.
3. University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same chapter, obtained via discovery or public records requests. Emails between administrators discussing concerns.
4. National Fraternity Files: Risk management reports, prior incident histories at other chapters, training materials—proving they knew the risks.
5. Medical & Psychological Records: Documenting the physical injury (e.g., lab reports confirming rhabdomyolysis) and the mental trauma (PTSD, depression diagnoses).

Overcoming Common Defense Tactics:

• “They Consented”: Texas law (§37.155) voids this defense. We demonstrate coercion through power imbalance and social pressure.
• “Rogue Individuals, Not the Chapter”: We use pattern evidence from the national org’s history and the chapter’s own records to show systemic failure.
• “It Was Off-Campus”: Liability is based on duty and foreseeability, not just property lines. Nationals and universities that sponsor organizations retain responsibility.
• “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”: We argue that the negligent supervision by nationals or universities is a covered claim, separate from the members’ intentional acts.

Damages: What Can Be Recovered

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, future therapy), lost wages, diminished future earning capacity if permanently disabled.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life, PTSD.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, grief.
• Punitive Damages: In egregious cases, to punish the defendants and deter future conduct.

A Practical Guide for Potter County Parents & Students

For Parents – Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, burns, or limping.
• Extreme fatigue or sleep deprivation unrelated to academics.
• Sudden secrecy, withdrawal from family, or anxiety around their phone.
• Constant, anxious texting in group chats.
• Requests for unusual amounts of money for “fines” or “supplies.”
• Personality changes: increased anger, depression, or defensiveness.

For Students – Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

• Am I being pressured to do something I wouldn’t otherwise do?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or secret?
• Would I be punished socially or otherwise if I said no?
• Are only new members required to do this? If the answer to any is yes, it is hazing.

Critical Steps to Take Immediately:

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: Get medical care. Call 911 if needed.
2. Preserve Evidence: Take screenshots. Photograph injuries. Save everything. Do not delete.
3. Report: Tell the university’s Dean of Students Office and/or campus police. You can also report anonymously to the National Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE.
4. Seek Support: Contact a counselor through the university or a private therapist.
5. Consult an Attorney: Before giving formal statements to the university or insurance adjusters, talk to a lawyer who understands hazing law. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Why Choose The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911 for Your Texas Hazing Case

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who know how to fight institutions that are designed to protect themselves. We are not a general personal injury firm that dabbles in hazing cases. We are litigators who understand the intricate mechanics of fraternity, sorority, and university liability.

Our Unmatched Texas Hazing Litigation Advantage:

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation Experience: We are currently leading the $10 million Bermudez v. UH Pi Kappa Phi hazing lawsuit. We are in the fight right now, developing strategies and precedents that benefit all our clients.
• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers value claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Pedigree: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing down billion-dollar corporate defendants. We are not intimidated by national fraternities or university legal teams with unlimited budgets.
• Data-Driven Investigation: We utilize our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—built from IRS, university, and organizational records—to immediately identify all potentially liable entities, their insurance carriers, and their assets. We don’t start investigations from scratch.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the intersection of criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise clients navigating both systems.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña is fluent in Spanish (Se habla Español). We are committed to serving the full diversity of Texas families.
• “No Fee Unless We Win” Promise: We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and no attorney’s fees unless we recover money for you.

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. For Potter County families, whether your student is hurt at WTAMU, Texas A&M, Tech, or any other campus, we have the resources, knowledge, and determination to guide you through this nightmare and fight for the justice your family deserves.

Call Attorney911 Today for a Free, Confidential Consultation

If hazing has injured your child or shattered your family, you do not have to face this alone. The institutions involved will have teams of lawyers working to minimize their liability. You need an experienced team on your side.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) right now.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach us directly at (713) 528-9070 or via cell at (713) 443-4781.

Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com (for Spanish-language consultation).

During your free, confidential consultation, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Discuss the investigation process and what to expect.
• Answer your questions about costs and timelines.
• Help you plan the next steps to protect your child and your family.

We represent Texas families, and we are here to help you. Call now.

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 applicable law. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) | Offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas | https://attorney911.com | 1-888-ATTY-911.