Texas Hazing Lawsuits: A Comprehensive Guide for Families in the City of Castle Hills, Bexar County

If you are a parent in the City of Castle Hills, the thought of your child being hazed at college is a waking nightmare. It’s that late-night call you never want to receive, filled with confusion, fear, and the desperate need to protect your child from harm. Right now, in Texas, this nightmare is a reality for families just like yours. We are currently fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the state, representing Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 fraternity leaders.

This guide is for you—the parents and families in Castle Hills and across Bexar County. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, unpack the Texas laws designed to protect your child, and show you how national patterns of abuse are tragically repeated at universities where your students may be enrolled, including UTSA, Trinity University, Texas A&M, and UT Austin. Our goal is to arm you with knowledge, show you the path to accountability, and explain how our firm, with its deep Texas roots and investigative power, stands ready to help your family when institutions fail.

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: Get medical attention immediately. Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted: screenshot group chats, photograph injuries, save physical items. Write down everything while memory is fresh. Do NOT: confront the organization, sign anything from the university, or post details on public social media.
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney: Evidence disappears fast. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is not a relic of the past or merely “boys being boys.” It is a calculated, often hidden, system of abuse that endangers the physical and mental health of students seeking belonging. For families in Castle Hills, understanding its modern forms is the first step in recognizing danger.

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining or maintaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers health or safety, humiliates, or exploits. Critically, a student saying “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal under Texas law when peer pressure and power imbalance are at play.

Today’s hazing often falls into these categories:

• Alcohol and Substance Hazing: Forced consumption during “lineups,” “family tree” drinking games, or Big/Little nights. This remains the most common cause of fatal hazing.
• Physical Hazing: Paddling, extreme “workouts” or “smokings” (hundreds of push-ups, sprints until collapse), sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements.
• Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes or roles, and acts with racist or sexist overtones.
• Psychological Hazing: Verbal abuse, threats, isolation, manipulation, and public shaming.
• Digital Hazing: Coerced dares in GroupMe or Discord, forced embarrassing social media posts, 24/7 availability demands via text, and location tracking via apps.

This abuse doesn’t just happen in fraternity houses. It occurs in sororities, Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams, spirit groups like cheer and dance, marching bands, and other campus organizations. It thrives on tradition, secrecy, and the powerful human desire to belong.

The Texas Legal Framework: Criminal and Civil Liability

For Castle Hills families, it is essential to understand that Texas has strong laws against hazing, and powerful legal tools exist to hold offenders accountable.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37):
Texas defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group. Key provisions include:

• 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 or retaliating against someone who does.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (§37.155) explicitly states that a victim’s “consent” to the hazing activity is not a valid legal defense. Courts recognize that consent under peer pressure is not voluntary.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Those who report hazing in good faith to university or law enforcement officials are immune from civil or criminal liability that might result from the report. This encourages bystanders and victims to call for help.

Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Cases:

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office) to punish offenders with jail time, fines, or probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by the victim or their family to seek financial compensation and accountability. These cases focus on negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

A criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. The two can run concurrently, and a skilled legal team can navigate both tracks.

Federal Overlays: The Stop Campus Hasing Act (2024) now requires colleges receiving federal aid to report incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention. If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, Title IX obligations are triggered. The Clery Act also requires reporting of certain crimes that often overlap with hazing incidents.

A National Crisis: Anchor Cases That Shape Texas Litigation

Major hazing deaths have reshaped laws and shown the patterns that repeat across the country. These cases are not abstract; they provide the legal precedent and public outrage that empower Texas families to seek justice.

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A bid-acceptance night with extreme drinking led to fatal falls, captured on chapter cameras, with help delayed for hours. The case resulted in dozens of criminal charges and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant forced drinking led to a fatal alcohol overdose. This spurred Louisiana’s felony hazing statute, the Max Gruver Act.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): A pledge forced to drink a bottle of whiskey died from alcohol poisoning. The case led to multiple convictions and a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from the university).
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): A Big/Little event with a handle of liquor resulted in a fatal alcohol overdose, leading to criminal charges and a temporary suspension of all FSU Greek life.
• Danny Santulli – Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): A pledge dad reveal night with forced drinking caused permanent, catastrophic brain injury. The family settled with 22 defendants for multi-million-dollar sums.

The common threads are undeniable: forced consumption, humiliation, delayed medical care, and institutional failure. These national tragedies form the bedrock of legal arguments used in Texas courts, proving that these dangers are foreseeable and preventable.

Texas in the Spotlight: The Leonel Bermudez Case at University of Houston

Right now, Attorney911 is at the forefront of this fight in Texas. We represent Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and individual members. This case is a stark, current example of what Texas families are up against.

According to the lawsuit and media reports from Click2Houston and ABC13, Bermudez’s fall 2025 pledge period involved:

• Humiliation & Control: A mandatory “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms, a sex toy, and nicotine devices; enforced dress codes; overnight chauffeuring duties.
• Physical Torture: Sprints, bear crawls, and “save-your-brother” drills at Yellowstone Boulevard Park; being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”; forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed by more sprints.
• Extreme Violence: Another pledge was allegedly hog-tied face-down on a table for over an hour. On November 3, Bermudez was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion.
• Catastrophic Injury: This led to rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, was hospitalized for four days, and faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

The Pi Kappa Phi chapter was suspended on November 6 and voted to surrender its charter on November 14, 2025. The University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” This case is active litigation, and we are pursuing every entity responsible—from the individual members to the national organization and the university itself.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: A Data-Driven Look for Castle Hills Families

As a data-driven firm, we maintain the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, a comprehensive directory built from public records. This allows us to immediately identify every entity behind a Greek organization. For parents in Castle Hills, this means we don’t start from scratch; we know the landscape.

Where Castle Hills Families Send Their Students:
Castle Hills is part of the vibrant San Antonio metro area in Bexar County. Students from our community attend universities across Texas, from local campuses to major statewide hubs. Key schools include:

• In the San Antonio/Bexar County Area: The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), Trinity University, St. Mary’s University, Our Lady of the Lake University, and Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
• Major Texas Hubs: University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University in College Station, University of Houston, Baylor University in Waco, and Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas.

Public Records Directory: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations in Texas

This is a sample from our proprietary directory of over 1,400 Greek-related organizations tracked across 25 Texas metros. These public records (IRS B83 filings, Cause IQ data) show the complex network of house corporations, alumni chapters, and honor societies that exist behind the scenes.

Sample Texas Organizations from Public Filings:

• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation | EIN: 37-1768785 | Missouri City, TX 77459 (IRS B83 filing)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc | EIN: 46-2267515 | Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 filing)
• Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Texas Gamma Chapter | EIN: 92-1575785 | Fort Worth, TX 76109 (IRS B83 filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc | EIN: 74-1380362 | Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 filing)
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – Theta Delta Chapter | EIN: 47-5370943 | Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 filing)
• Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi | EIN: 74-6047117 | Austin, TX 78705 (IRS B83 filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – University of Texas at San Antonio Chapter | Based in San Antonio, TX (Cause IQ metro listing)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – San Antonio Alumni Chapter | Based in San Antonio, TX (Cause IQ metro listing)
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – San Antonio Alumnae Chapter | Based in San Antonio, TX (Cause IQ metro listing)

San Antonio Metro Greek Presence:
The San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area is home to 86 Greek-related organizations, ranging from undergraduate chapters and alumni associations to honor societies and housing corporations. This dense network means the organizations operating near your student in San Antonio are part of a documented, traceable system.

Hazing Realities at Texas Universities Relevant to Castle Hills

Each major Texas campus has its own culture, policies, and history with hazing. Understanding this context is crucial for Castle Hills families.

University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA):
As a major commuter and residential university in Bexar County, UTSA has active Greek life governed by the Student Life office. The university prohibits hazing and maintains disciplinary procedures. Incidents may be investigated by UTSA Police and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. For Castle Hills families, UTSA is often the closest large public university, making awareness of its Greek ecosystem particularly important.

Texas A&M University:
The Corps of Cadets and a massive Greek system define campus culture. Hazing scandals have involved both:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): A 2021 lawsuit alleged pledges were covered in industrial-strength cleaner and raw eggs, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended.
• Corps of Cadets: A 2023 lawsuit alleged a cadet was subjected to degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position. The case sought over $1 million.

University of Texas at Austin:
UT Austin maintains one of the most transparent hazing databases in the country at hazing.utexas.edu.

• Documented Cases: The log includes incidents like Pi Kappa Alpha (2023) where new members were directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics, resulting in probation. Other spirit groups and fraternities have been sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol hazing.
• SAE Incident (2024): A lawsuit alleged an Australian exchange student was assaulted at an SAE party, suffering a dislocated leg, broken nose, and fractured tibia.

Southern Methodist University (SMU):
This private Dallas university with a strong Greek presence has faced serious incidents.

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): The chapter was suspended for multiple years following reports of paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation of new members.

Baylor University:
Following major institutional scandals, Baylor has emphasized reform. The baseball team faced a 2020 hazing investigation that resulted in 14 player suspensions, indicating that hazing persists even within athletic programs at values-based institutions.

Building a Powerful Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

When hazing occurs, building a successful case requires immediate, strategic action and deep investigative resources. This is where our experience as complex litigation attorneys makes the difference.

Critical Evidence in Modern Hazing Cases:

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Discord chats are the #1 source of evidence. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages. Our video on using your phone to document evidence outlines best practices.
2. Photos & Videos: Content filmed by members, social media posts, and security footage from houses or venues.
3. Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, ritual scripts, and chapter communications.
4. University Records: Prior conduct files, Clery Act reports, and internal investigation documents obtained through discovery.
5. Medical Records: ER reports, toxicology screens, psychological evaluations for PTSD, and future care plans.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and RAs.

Overcoming Common Institutional Defenses:
Fraternities, sororities, and universities have well-funded legal playbooks. We know how to counter them:

• “The Pledge Consented”: Texas law (§37.155) nullifies this. We demonstrate the coercive power imbalance.
• “Rogue Chapter, National Didn’t Know”: We subpoena national headquarters’ records to show patterns of prior incidents and knowledge.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: Liability is based on sponsorship and control, not just geography.
• “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”: We expose the gap between paper policies and actual enforcement or cover-up culture.
• Insurance Coverage Fights: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense lawyer. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers try to deny claims or limit payouts, and how to fight them.

Damages: What Families Can Recover
Civil hazing lawsuits seek to make victims whole and hold offenders accountable through:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, lost educational costs, and diminished future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of particularly egregious or reckless conduct, courts may award damages to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

Practical Guide for Castle Hills Parents and Students

For Parents – Warning Signs & Action Steps:

• Warning Signs: Unexplained injuries, extreme exhaustion, drastic mood changes, withdrawal from family, constant secretive phone use, fear of missing “mandatory” events, sudden requests for money.
• How to Talk to Your Child: Ask open, non-judgmental questions. Emphasize their safety is your only concern.
• If Your Child is Hurt: Seek medical care immediately. Document everything (photos, screenshots). Write down a timeline with names. Do not confront the organization.
• When to Call a Lawyer: If there is significant harm, if the institution is minimizing the incident, or if you simply need guidance. Time is critical; evidence vanishes quickly.

For Students – Is This Hazing?
If you feel unsafe, humiliated, or coerced; if you’re forced to drink or endure pain; if the activity is hidden from outsiders—it is likely hazing. Your “consent” under pressure is not legally valid. Your priority is safety: call 911 in an emergency. You can report anonymously through campus channels or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case:

1. Deleting evidence (messages, photos).
2. Confronting the organization directly (they will lawyer up and destroy evidence).
3. Signing university “resolution” forms without an attorney.
4. Posting details on social media (defense attorneys monitor everything).
5. Waiting to see what the university does (the clock is ticking on the statute of limitations).

We explain more about these pitfalls in our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case.

Why Attorney911 for Your Texas Hazing Case

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need attorneys who understand the powerful institutions you’re up against and have a proven record of holding them accountable. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) is built for this fight.

Our Competitive Advantages for Hazing Litigation:

1. Active, High-Stakes Texas Hazing Litigation: We are currently leading the Leonel Bermudez $10 million lawsuit against UH and Pi Kappa Phi. We are in the trenches right now, fighting the same national fraternities and university systems that may be involved in your case.
2. Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance firm. He knows how fraternity and university insurers value claims, fight coverage, and use delay tactics. This insider knowledge is invaluable in maximizing your recovery. You can learn more about Mr. Peña’s background at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/.
3. Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing billion-dollar defendants. We are not intimidated by national fraternities or university legal teams. Learn about Ralph’s background and HCCLA membership at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/.
4. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We don’t start investigations from zero. We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,400 Greek organizations in Texas, built from IRS filings, university records, and public data. We can quickly identify every liable entity, from the local house corporation to the national headquarters.
5. Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand both sides of a hazing case. We can effectively advise clients when criminal charges are also involved.
6. Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña is a fluent Spanish speaker, ensuring we can serve all Texas families with comfort and clarity.
7. A Track Record of Results: We have recovered multi-million-dollar settlements for clients in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. We work with economists, life-care planners, and medical experts to build the strongest possible case for full accountability.

We combine empathy for what your family is enduring with aggressive, strategic legal action. We investigate to find the truth, fight to secure the resources your child needs to heal, and pursue accountability to prevent this from happening to another family.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you are a parent in Castle Hills, San Antonio, or anywhere in Texas and suspect your child has been hazed, you do not have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved will have teams of lawyers; you deserve dedicated advocates on your side.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911 today for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.

In your consultation, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your family’s legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Discuss the realistic timeline and process.
• Answer all your questions about legal fees (we work on a contingency basis—no fee unless we win).

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 email at ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com.

Se habla Español. For consultation in Spanish, please ask for Mr. Lupe Peña.

We serve families throughout Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Let us put our experience, data-driven strategy, and unwavering commitment to your family to work.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit:

• Click2Houston (KPRC 2) report: 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 Eyewitness News (KTRK) coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-facedinjured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

Attorney911 Educational YouTube Videos:

• Using your cellphone to document evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Statute of limitations on your case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client mistakes that can ruin your injury case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website & Attorney Profiles:

• Main Website & Contact: https://attorney911.com
• Ralph Manginello Profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/
• Lupe Peña Profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/

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)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com | lupe@atty911.com