A Guide to Hazing Laws, Lawsuits & Accountability for Families in Andrews, Texas

If you are a parent in Andrews, and your child has called home from college with a story that makes your blood run cold—forced drinking, brutal workouts, humiliating acts, or an unexplained trip to the emergency room—you are not alone, and you are not powerless.

Right now, in our own state of Texas, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country on behalf of a young man named Leonel Bermudez. This is not a historical example; this is active, high-stakes litigation unfolding in Harris County. Mr. Bermudez, a University of Houston (UH) student and pledge of the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, suffered catastrophic injuries after a fall 2025 pledge period filled with systematic abuse. The alleged hazing included being forced to carry a degrading “pledge fanny pack” 24/7, enduring hours of extreme physical drills at locations like Yellowstone Boulevard Park, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and consuming milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting. This culminated in a November 3rd “workout” of over 100 push-ups and 500 squats that left him unable to stand.

The result was a medical catastrophe: Leonel Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis, a severe skeletal muscle breakdown, and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine and was hospitalized for four days with critically elevated creatine kinase levels. He now faces an ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage. In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on his behalf against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the chapter’s housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders.

This case is proof that the most severe forms of hazing are happening right here in Texas, at our flagship universities. For parents in Andrews and across the Permian Basin, this is a sobering reality. Your child, whether at a West Texas school or a major university hours away, could be vulnerable. This guide exists to cut through the confusion, explain your legal rights under Texas law, and show you how to fight for accountability and protection for your family.

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).
• In the first 48 hours:
  • Get medical attention immediately, have a doctor document everything.
  • Preserve evidence: Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, texts, DMs), photograph injuries, save any physical items. Do not delete anything.
  • Write down everything your child tells you (who, what, when, where) while their memory is fresh.
  • Do NOT:
    • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
    • Sign anything from a university or insurance company.
    • Post details on public social media.
• Contact our experienced hazing attorneys within 24-48 hours. Evidence disappears fast. We can help you secure it and navigate this crisis.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

Hazing is not just “boys being boys” or harmless tradition. Modern hazing is a calculated, often digitally-coordinated system of control, degradation, and endangerment designed to assert power. For families in Andrews, it’s crucial to look beyond the stereotypes. Hazing today often hides behind euphemisms like “team building,” “character development,” or “pledge education.”

It falls into three escalating categories:

1. Subtle Hazing: Behaviors that emphasize power imbalance. This includes servitude (forced driving, cleaning, errands), social isolation, being “on call” 24/7 via group chat, mandatory events that interfere with sleep or academics, and being given derogatory names.

2. Harassment Hazing: Behaviors that cause emotional or physical discomfort. This involves verbal abuse, sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, forced physical activity (“smokings”) beyond safe limits, public humiliation, and being exposed to disgusting conditions.

3. Violent Hazing: Activities with a high potential for serious injury or death. This is what we see in cases like Leonel Bermudez’s. It includes:

• Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights, lineup drinking games, chugging contests.
• Physical Assault: Paddling, beatings, “glass ceiling” tackling rituals, dangerous physical tests.
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading positions.
• Extreme Environmental Exposure: Being left outside in cold weather, locked in confined spaces.
• Forced Ingestion: Consuming harmful amounts of food, non-food substances, or drugs.

Hazing extends far beyond social fraternities. It occurs in sororities, Corps of Cadets and ROTC programs, athletic teams (from football to cheerleading), spirit groups like band or drill team, and other campus organizations. The common thread is an abuse of power under the guise of tradition or membership.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: What Andrews Families Need to Know

Texas has specific statutes that criminalize hazing and create civil liability. Understanding this framework is the first step toward holding people accountable.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Anti-Hazing Statute

The law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in an organization that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student.

Key Provisions for Parents:

• Location Doesn’t Matter: Hazing is illegal whether it occurs on-campus, off-campus at a house, or at a remote retreat.
• “Consent” Is Not a Defense (Texas Education Code § 37.155): It does not matter if your child “agreed” to participate. The law recognizes that consent given under peer pressure, coercion, and fear of exclusion is not valid consent.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing.
• Organizations Can Be Prosecuted: Fraternities, sororities, and clubs can face fines up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Students who call for help in a medical emergency or report hazing in good faith are generally protected from university discipline and criminal prosecution related to their own minor involvement (like underage drinking).

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Case: Brought by the state (DA’s office). Aims to punish offenders with jail time, fines, and probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or even manslaughter.
• Civil Lawsuit: Brought by the victim and their family. Aims to secure compensation for damages (medical bills, pain and suffering, lost future earnings) and force institutional change. This is where we hold all responsible parties accountable, not just the individual who poured the drink.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

A thorough investigation aims to identify every entity with responsibility:

1. The Individuals: The members who planned, carried out, or facilitated the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The campus chapter as a legal entity.
3. The National Organization: Headquarters that collect dues, set policies, and have a history of similar incidents across the country (like Pi Kappa Phi in the Bermudez case).
4. The University: Schools can be liable for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations if the hazing is sex-based.
5. Third Parties: Property owners of off-campus houses, alumni advisors, and event vendors.

Where Andrews Families Send Their Kids: Campus Hazing Realities

Families in Andrews and the Permian Basin have deep ties to Texas higher education. Your children may attend regional universities like Texas Tech University (Lubbock) or the University of Texas Permian Basin (Odessa), or they may head to major hubs like Texas A&M University, UT Austin, University of Houston, Baylor, or Texas Tech. Hazing is a risk at all of them.

University of Texas Permian Basin (Odessa)

Just a short drive from Andrews, UT Permian Basin is a common choice for local students. While its Greek life is smaller than major schools, the risk of misconduct in any student organization exists. Parents should ensure their students understand that hazing is prohibited and know how to report it through the Dean of Students office.

Texas Tech University (Lubbock)

Many West Texas families have deep-red roots with Texas Tech. Its significant Greek life and spirited campus culture come with documented hazing risks. The university maintains conduct records, and past incidents have involved fraternities and other groups. A hazing case here would likely involve the Lubbock County court system.

Major Texas University Hubs

When your child goes to a large campus, the Greek ecosystem is vast and complex. At schools like Texas A&M, hazing has been alleged in both fraternity and Corps of Cadets contexts, including shocking lawsuits alleging degrading physical abuse. At UT Austin, the university publishes an online log of hazing violations, showing a pattern of recurring issues with specific chapters. At University of Houston, our active litigation in the Bermudez case proves the severe consequences of systemic failure.

The lesson for Andrews parents is clear: no campus is immune. The same national fraternities named in fatal cases nationwide have chapters at Texas schools. The institutional pressures to protect reputations are universal.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: A Public Records Perspective

When hazing occurs, it’s not just a few “bad apples.” There is often an entire support structure of legally-registered organizations behind the scenes. Our firm maintains a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine built from public records to identify every potentially liable entity. This includes house corporations that own chapter houses, alumni chapter foundations, and national headquarters—all of which may carry insurance.

For example, in the Leonel Bermudez case, the defendant list includes not just the student members, but the “Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc.” (EIN 46-2267515, with a mailing address in Frisco, TX). This is the kind of entity that families and ordinary lawyers might overlook, but which our investigative process identifies immediately.

Public Records Snapshot: Texas Greek Organizations
The following are examples of Texas-registered organizations recorded in IRS (B83) filings. This illustrates the network of entities operating behind the scenes of campus Greek life:

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 13-3048786, 3007 Earl Rudder Fwy S, College Station, TX 77845
• Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Inc, EIN 16-1675890, 115 Wild Wick Way, The Woodlands, TX 77382
• Sigma Phi Lambda Inc, EIN 20-1237505, 4251 FM 2181 Ste 230 PMB 480, Corinth, TX 76210
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc, EIN 47-5370943, 5019 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77204
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 46-2267515, 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Chi Omega Fraternity, EIN 74-0555581, 2711 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78705

This data is part of how we build a powerful case. We don’t start from scratch; we start with a map of the organizational landscape, which is critical for pursuing maximum accountability and insurance coverage.

Building a Hazing Case with Attorney911’s Data-Driven Strategy

When you contact us about a potential hazing incident, our approach is built on a foundation of deep investigation and proven litigation strategy. We know how institutions defend themselves, and we prepare accordingly.

Our Investigative Process

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation: We guide you to secure digital evidence—GroupMe chats, text threads, social media posts, photos, and videos—before it’s deleted. We work with digital forensics experts when necessary.
2. Identifying All Defendants: Using tools like our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we identify not just the obvious participants, but the house corporations, alumni associations, and national organizations that may share liability.
3. Uncovering Pattern Evidence: We subpoena national fraternity records to show prior similar incidents at other chapters, proving they knew the risks. We obtain university conduct records to show prior warnings or a pattern of indifference.
4. Building the Damages Case: We collaborate with medical experts, life-care planners, and economists to fully document the physical, emotional, and financial impact on your child—both now and for their future.

How We Overcome Common Defense Tactics

• “They Consented”: We cite Texas law § 37.155 and use evidence of coercion and power imbalance to defeat this.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We expose national headquarters’ knowledge of patterns across their network and their failure to enforce their own policies.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: We prove the university or national organization still had control, responsibility, or knowledge of the activities.
• Insurance Coverage Fights: Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney is invaluable here. He knows how insurers try to deny claims under “intentional act” exclusions, and we build arguments for coverage based on negligent supervision and failure to protect.

Practical Steps for Parents & Students in Andrews

For Parents – Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight change.
• Sudden secrecy about organizational activities.
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Requests for money for unexplained “fines” or “mandatory” purchases.

For Students – If You’re Being Hazed:

• Your safety is paramount. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
• Know that Texas law protects good-faith reporters. You can call for help without fear of minor related charges.
• Preserve evidence: Take screenshots, photos, and notes. Do not delete anything.
• Tell someone you trust: A parent, a resident advisor, a counselor, or the Dean of Students office.
• You have the right to resign your membership immediately, without explanation.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case:

1. Deleting evidence to “make it go away.”
2. Confronting the organization directly, alerting them to destroy evidence.
3. Signing university-offered resolutions without having an attorney review them.
4. Posting about the incident publicly on social media.
5. Waiting too long. Evidence vanishes, witnesses scatter, and statutes of limitations apply.

Why Texas Hazing Families Choose Attorney911

We are not a general practice firm that occasionally takes a hazing case. We are Texas complex litigation specialists who apply decades of experience fighting powerful institutions directly to the hazing context.

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation: We are lead counsel in the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case—a current, multi-million-dollar lawsuit against a major university and national fraternity. This isn’t theory; it’s our daily work.
• Insider Insurance Knowledge: Associate Attorney Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney for large companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate, deny, and lowball claims. We use that knowledge to maximize your recovery.
• Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by the deep pockets and aggressive defense teams of national fraternities and universities.
• The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,400 Greek organizations in Texas. We don’t start investigations from zero; we start with a map of the organizational and insurance landscape.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish (Se habla Español), ensuring we can serve all Texas families with comfort and clarity.
• A Record of Results: We have recovered multi-million-dollar settlements for victims of catastrophic injury and wrongful death. We prepare every case for trial, because that’s what forces fair settlements.

If Hazing Has Impacted Your Andrews Family, We Are Here to Help

For families in Andrews, Odessa, Midland, and throughout the Permian Basin, the nightmare of hazing can feel isolating. You might wonder if an attorney in Houston can truly understand your family’s situation. We want you to know that we serve families across Texas, and the legal principles, institutional defendants, and fight for justice are the same whether your child was hurt in Lubbock, College Station, or Houston.

We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will listen to your story, explain the legal landscape in plain English, and outline your family’s options. There is no pressure, only information and support.

Contact Attorney911 – The Legal Emergency Lawyers™

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com
• Email Lupe Peña (Se habla Español): lupe@atty911.com

You don’t have to navigate this alone. Let us use our experience, data, and determination to help your family find answers, secure justice, and protect your child’s future.

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is fact-specific, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this content. The outcome of any case depends on its unique facts and applicable law. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.