The Complete Guide to Hazing in Texas: Legal Rights & Realities for Wixon Valley Families

1. A Parent’s Worst Fear: When Campus “Tradition” Becomes Abuse

The phone rings late on a Tuesday night. Your son, a freshman at a Texas university, sounds distant and slurred. “I’m fine, Mom,” he insists, but you hear chanting in the background. He mentioned a “big brother reveal” tonight at the fraternity house. You’ve seen the news stories—the tragic deaths at Penn State, LSU, Bowling Green. Now, sitting in your quiet Wixon Valley home in Brazos County, that abstract fear becomes chillingly specific. Could this be happening to your child?

Right now, just a few hours from Wixon Valley in Houston, our firm is fighting exactly this battle. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after alleged hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. According to the November 2025 lawsuit detailed in Click2Houston and ABC13 coverage, Bermudez endured forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, hours of extreme calisthenics including 500 squats, being sprayed with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and carrying a degrading “pledge fanny pack” 24/7. He was hospitalized for four days with brown urine indicating severe muscle breakdown.

This is happening here in Texas. Not in some distant state, but at our flagship universities where Wixon Valley families send their children. This comprehensive guide exists for you—the parents, students, and community members in Wixon Valley, Bryan, College Station, and throughout Brazos County who need to understand what hazing really looks like in 2025, your legal rights under Texas law, and how to protect 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, even if the student insists they are “fine”
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
  • Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects)
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where)
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity/sorority
  • Sign anything from the university or insurance company
  • Post details on public social media
  • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours:
Evidence disappears fast (deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, coached witnesses). Universities move quickly to control the narrative. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation.

2. Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like Beyond the Stereotypes

2.1 The Modern Definition: It’s Not Just “Boys Being Boys”

For Wixon Valley parents who may remember college as a simpler time, today’s hazing has evolved into sophisticated, often hidden abuse. Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits.

Critically, Texas law recognizes what parents intuitively know: “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal. When your child faces peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion, their “consent” means little in the eyes of the law. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing.

2.2 The Five Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common—and most deadly—form. It’s not just “drinking at a party.” It’s systematic:

• Forced consumption games: “Century club” (100 shots of beer), “lineups” where pledges drink in rapid succession
• Coerced binge drinking: Handles of liquor given during “Big/Little” reveals
• Punishment drinking: Wrong answers in “Bible study” or fraternity trivia mean forced shots
• Drugging: Pledges given unknown substances or pressured to use drugs

In the Bermudez case at UH, forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting was followed by immediate sprints—a classic alcohol-substance hybrid.

2. Physical Hazing
Beyond paddling (which still occurs despite national bans):

• Extreme calisthenics: “Smokings” with hundreds of push-ups, wall-sits until collapse
• Environmental exposure: Locked in freezing rooms, left outside in cold weather (as alleged in the UH case where pledges were in underwear in cold weather)
• Sleep deprivation: Mandatory 3 AM meetings, all-night “study sessions”
• Food/water restriction: Limited meals, forced consumption of disgusting combinations

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing

• Forced nudity or partial nudity: Often documented on phones
• Simulated sexual acts: “Elephant walk,” “roasted pig” positions (as alleged in Texas A&M Corps cases)
• Degrading costumes: Wearing diapers, embarrassing signs in public
• Racist/sexist role-play: Forced use of slurs, stereotype reinforcement

4. Psychological Hazing

• Verbal abuse: Systematic humiliation before groups
• Isolation: Cutting off from non-member friends
• Threat systems: Points deducted for “infractions,” leading to punishment
• Coerced confessions: Forcing personal secrets as “trust building”

5. Digital/Online Hazing
The newest frontier that particularly traps tech-native students:

• 24/7 group chat monitoring: Required immediate responses at all hours
• Social media dares: Humiliating TikTok challenges, Instagram story assignments
• Location tracking: Forced sharing of Find My Friends or Life360
• Digital humiliation: Creating memes mocking specific pledges

2.3 Where Hazing Happens: It’s Not Just Fraternities

While Greek organizations dominate headlines, hazing occurs across campus:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC at Texas A&M and other military programs
• Athletic Teams from football to cheerleading
• Spirit Groups like Texas Cowboys, cheer teams, drumlines
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups
• Academic and Service Organizations

The common thread? Social status, tradition, and secrecy keep these practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal. For Wixon Valley families with children at Texas A&M, this is particularly relevant given the Corps of Cadets’ documented hazing issues alongside Greek life concerns.

3. Law & Liability Framework: Texas Statutes and Your Rights

3.1 Texas Hazing Law: Education Code Chapter 37

Texas has specific anti-hazing provisions that Wixon Valley families should understand:

§ 37.151 Definition:
Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, by one person alone or with others, directed against a student, that:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, AND
• Occurs for the purpose of pledging, initiation into, affiliation with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students.

Key protections for Brazos County families:

• Location doesn’t matter: On or off campus, at a Wixon Valley student’s apartment or a Houston fraternity house
• Mental OR physical harm: Psychological trauma qualifies
• “Reckless” is enough: They don’t need to intend harm, just disregard obvious risks
• Consent is NOT a defense (§ 37.155): Your child’s “agreement” under pressure doesn’t legalize hazing

§ 37.152 Criminal Penalties:

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing without serious injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine)
• Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death (like Bermudez’s kidney failure)

§ 37.153 Organizational Liability:
Fraternities, sororities, clubs, and universities can face:

• Fines up to $10,000 per violation
• Criminal prosecution if they authorized or knew about hazing
• Civil liability for negligence

§ 37.154 Good-Faith Reporter Immunity:
Someone who in good faith reports hazing to university or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability. This protects your child if they call 911, even if underage drinking was involved.

3.2 Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Paths to Justice

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by: The State of Texas (prosecutor)
• Goal: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical charges: Hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, manslaughter in deaths
• Example: Individual Pi Kappa Phi members in the Bermudez case could face criminal charges

Civil Cases:

• Brought by: Victims or surviving families (like the Bermudez family)
• Goal: Compensation and accountability
• Claims: Negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, emotional distress
• Example: Our $10 million lawsuit against UH, Pi Kappa Phi national, and 13 individual members

Critical insight: These tracks run simultaneously. You don’t need a criminal conviction to pursue civil justice. Many families in Wixon Valley and across Texas pursue both—criminal accountability for individuals and civil compensation for their child’s suffering.

3.3 Federal Overlay: Stop Campus Hazing Act, Title IX, Clery

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024):

• Requires Texas colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents
• Strengthens prevention programs (phased in by 2026)
• Increases transparency that families in Brazos County can use to research organizations

Title IX:

• When hazing involves sexual harassment or assault
• Creates additional liability for universities
• Requires specific investigation procedures

Clery Act:

• Mandates crime reporting, including certain hazing-related assaults
• Creates public safety statistics for each campus

3.4 Who Can Be Liable: The Web of Responsibility

When hazing injures a Wixon Valley student, multiple parties may share liability:

1. Individual Students:

• Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover up
• In Bermudez’s case: 13 named individual members including chapter president, pledgemaster

2. Local Chapter:

• The fraternity/sorority as a legal entity
• Often incorporated as housing corporations with assets

3. National Fraternity/Sorority:

• Headquarters that set policies, collect dues, supervise chapters
• Pattern evidence is key: If same hazing occurred elsewhere, nationals likely knew risks

4. University:

• Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have some sovereign immunity but exceptions exist
• Private schools (SMU, Baylor) have fewer protections
• Liability hinges on: prior warnings, policy enforcement, deliberate indifference

5. Third Parties:

• Landlords of off-campus houses
• Bars/alcohol providers (Texas dram shop liability)
• Security companies at events

4. National Hazing Case Patterns: The Script Repeats Itself

4.1 Alcohol Poisoning Deaths: The Deadliest Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017):

• Bid-acceptance night with excessive drinking
• Multiple falls captured on chapter security cameras
• 18 members charged with over 1,000 criminal counts
• Result: Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law
• Takeaway for Wixon Valley families: Delayed medical help dramatically increases liability

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017):

• “Bible study” drinking game answering fraternity trivia
  — Wrong answers = forced drinking
• BAC 0.495% at death
• Result: Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony
• Takeaway: “Games” with drinking penalties are still criminal hazing

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021):

• Forced to drink entire bottle of liquor during “Big/Little”
• $10 million settlement ($7M from national Pike, ~$3M from BGSU)
• Chapter president personally ordered to pay $6.5 million
• Takeaway: Individual officers face massive personal liability

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017):

• Big brother night with handle of liquor
• FSU suspended all Greek life temporarily
• Takeaway: Universities will take drastic action after tragedy

4.2 Physical & Ritualized Hazing: Violence Disguised as Tradition

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013):

• Blindfolded, weighted with backpack, tackled during “glass ceiling” ritual
• Fraternity banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years
• National organization criminally convicted
• Takeaway: “Retreat” hazing off-campus doesn’t eliminate liability

Danny Santulli – Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021):

• Pledge “dad reveal” night with forced drinking
• Permanent brain damage (cannot walk, talk, or see)
• Settlements with 22 defendants, reportedly multi-million dollar
• Takeaway: Non-fatal injuries can still be catastrophic

4.3 Athletic Hazing: Beyond Greek Life

Northwestern University Football (2023-2025):

• Sexualized, racist hazing within football program
• Multiple lawsuits, head coach fired
• Confidential settlement with coach in 2025
• Takeaway: Big-money athletic programs harbor systemic abuse

4.4 What These Cases Mean for Wixon Valley Families

1. Patterns repeat: The same “Big/Little” drinking nights, the same “workout” punishments, the same delays calling 911
2. Institutions know: National fraternities and universities have seen these scripts before
3. Justice is possible: Multi-million dollar settlements and criminal convictions show accountability is achievable
4. Time is critical: Evidence disappears within days—action must be immediate

5. Texas Focus: Where Our Children Actually Go to School

5.1 University of Houston: The Active Case in Our Backyard

For Wixon Valley families: UH is just over an hour away, making it a realistic choice for Brazos County students seeking urban opportunities while staying relatively close to home.

5.1.1 UH Hazing Reality:
The Bermudez case reveals systemic issues:

• Multiple locations: Pi Kappa Phi house, Culmore Drive residence, Yellowstone Boulevard Park
• Sophisticated control: “Pledge fanny packs” with humiliating contents, mandatory schedules
• Extreme physical abuse: Hose spraying “like waterboarding,” forced eating until vomiting
• Medical catastrophe: Rhabdomyolysis leading to kidney failure

5.1.2 UH’s Response Pattern:

• Chapter suspended November 6, 2025 after hazing reports
• Members voted to surrender charter November 14, 2025
• UH called conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised cooperation with law enforcement
• Critical insight: Reactive, not preventive—action came after catastrophic injury

5.1.3 UH Greek Landscape:
UH hosts approximately 50 Greek organizations including:

• Interfraternity Council: Alpha Epsilon Pi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Phi (now closed), etc.
• Panhellenic: Alpha Chi Omega, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, etc.
• NPHC: All Divine Nine organizations
• Multicultural: Various culturally-based groups

5.1.4 Practical Guidance for UH Families:

• Reporting: Dean of Students Office, UHPD (713-743-3333), online reporting forms
• Evidence: Houston locations mean potential HPD jurisdiction alongside UHPD
• Legal venue: Harris County courts likely jurisdiction
• Action steps: Document everything immediately—Houston’s size means evidence gets lost quickly

5.2 Texas A&M University: The Closest Campus to Wixon Valley

For Wixon Valley families: Texas A&M is essentially our local university—the campus where many Brazos County children attend, where neighbors work, and where community identity is deeply intertwined.

5.2.1 A&M’s Dual Hazing Challenge:
Texas A&M faces hazing in both Greek life and the Corps of Cadets:

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021):

• Pledges allegedly covered in industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, spit
• Severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries
• $1 million lawsuit filed
• Chapter suspended for two years

Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023):

• Cadet alleged being bound between beds in “roasted pig” position with apple in mouth
• Simulated sexual acts as hazing
• Sought over $1 million
• A&M stated it handled matter under Corps regulations

5.2.2 A&M’s Greek Ecosystem:
Approximately 60+ Greek organizations including:

• Prominent fraternities: Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Pi Kappa Alpha
• Corps-affiliated: Many cadets also join fraternities
• Historical issues: Multiple suspensions for hazing violations over decades

5.2.3 Brazos County Jurisdiction Reality:

• Campus police: Texas A&M University Police Department
• Local coordination: College Station PD, Brazos County Sheriff
• Court venue: Brazos County courts for local incidents
• Community dynamic: Close-knit community can complicate reporting

5.2.4 Special Considerations for Wixon Valley A&M Families:

1. Corps vs. Greek: Different reporting channels, different traditions, same dangers
2. Community pressure: “Don’t embarrass the university/A&M” mentality
3. Economic ties: Many local businesses dependent on Greek/Corps events
4. Action steps: Document first, report strategically with legal guidance

5.3 University of Texas at Austin: The Flagship Campus

For Wixon Valley families: UT Austin is a common destination for high-achieving Brazos County students, particularly for specialized programs not available at A&M.

5.3.1 UT’s Public Transparency Model:
UT maintains a public hazing violations log (hazing.utexas.edu) showing:

Example Incidents:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics → probation
• Texas Wranglers (spirit group): Multiple hazing violations over years
• Various fraternities: Alcohol hazing, forced physical activity

5.3.2 UT Greek Landscape:
Approximately 60 Greek organizations including:

• Historic houses: Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi
• Large Panhellenic system: 14 sororities with significant membership
• Transparency advantage: Public log helps families research organizations

5.3.3 Practical Guidance for UT Families:

• Use the public database: Research organizations BEFORE joining
• Document correspondence: Save emails with university officials
• Understand venue: Travis County courts, Austin PD jurisdiction
• Action steps: The public log provides evidence of pattern—use it if your child is hazed by an organization with prior violations

5.4 Southern Methodist University: The Private University Option

For Wixon Valley families: SMU attracts Brazos County students seeking private education, business programs, or different social environments.

5.4.1 SMU’s Greek-Centric Culture:

• Higher Greek participation percentage than public universities
• Affluent demographic can mean sophisticated legal defenses
• Private university status affects transparency and liability standards

5.4.2 Documented Incidents:
Kappa Alpha Order (2017):

• Paddling, forced drinking, sleep deprivation
• Chapter suspended, restrictions until 2021
• Pattern: Physical hazing despite national bans

5.4.3 Practical Guidance for SMU Families:

• Private school dynamics: Different disciplinary procedures, less public transparency
• Dallas venue: Dallas County courts, Dallas PD jurisdiction
• Action steps: Assume less institutional cooperation, need stronger independent evidence

5.5 Baylor University: The Faith-Based Institution

For Wixon Valley families: Baylor’s Christian identity and proximity to Waco make it attractive for some Brazos County families.

5.5.1 Baylor’s Complex History:

• Football sexual assault scandal revealed institutional protection patterns
• Religious identity can complicate reporting (fear of “embarrassing the Christian community”)
• Baseball hazing (2020): 14 players suspended after investigation

5.5.2 Practical Guidance for Baylor Families:

• Understand the culture: Religious context affects internal reporting
• McLennan County venue: Waco courts, Baylor PD coordination with Waco PD
• Action steps: Document meticulously—institutional protection patterns may emerge

6. Fraternities & Sororities: National Histories Meet Texas Chapters

6.1 Why National Histories Matter for Brazos County Families

When your child is hazed by Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Texas A&M or Pi Kappa Alpha at UT Austin, you’re not just dealing with a local chapter. You’re confronting a national organization with a documented pattern of conduct.

These nationals have thick anti-hazing manuals precisely because they’ve seen deaths and catastrophic injuries before. When a Texas chapter repeats the same script that got chapters shut down in Ohio, Louisiana, or Pennsylvania, that shows foreseeability—a key legal concept meaning they should have known this would happen.

6.2 The Texas Fraternity & Sorority Intelligence Engine

Our firm maintains what we call the “Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine”—a database of every Greek organization registered in Texas. This isn’t theoretical; it’s concrete public records data that shows the scale of what families are up against:

IRS B83 Data: 125+ Texas-Registered Greek Organizations
These are legal entities with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), including:

1. Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 46-2267515 – Frisco, TX 75035 (The organization behind the UH chapter in the Bermudez case)
2. Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc – EIN 13-3048786 – College Station, TX 77845 (Texas A&M chapter)
3. Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN 74-6064445 – Nederland, TX 77627 (National Texas district)
4. Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Sigma Incorporated – EIN 88-2755427 – San Marcos, TX 78666
5. Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN 74-1380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147
6. Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – EIN 47-5370943 – Houston, TX 77204 (Theta Delta chapter at UH)
7. Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter – EIN 74-6084905 – Houston, TX 77204
8. Phi Delta Theta Fraternity – EIN 90-0927378 – San Antonio, TX 78249 (Texas Xi chapter)
9. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – EIN 23-7279532 – Prairie View, TX 77446 (Prairie View alumni)
10. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN 36-4091267 – Waco, TX 76710 (Xi Chi chapter)

Metro-Level Presence:

• Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metro: 188 Greek organizations
• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro: 510 Greek organizations
• Austin-Round Rock Metro: 154 Greek organizations
• College Station-Bryan Metro: 42 Greek organizations (directly relevant to Wixon Valley)

What This Means for Wixon Valley Families:
When we take a hazing case, we don’t start from zero. We already know:

• The legal names and EINs of organizations
• Their registered addresses
• Their corporate structures (housing corporations, alumni associations, educational foundations)
• Their insurance carriers (through investigation)

This database becomes critical when:

1. Identifying all liable parties: Not just the chapter, but housing corporations, alumni groups, nationals
2. Locating assets and insurance: Where to recover compensation
3. Proving pattern evidence: Showing nationals knew risks based on other chapters

6.3 National Organizations with Documented Hazing Histories in Texas

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike):

• National pattern: Stone Foltz death (Bowling Green), multiple alcohol hazing deaths
• Texas presence: Chapters at UT Austin, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
• Prior Texas incidents: UH 2016 spleen laceration case, UT probation 2023

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE):

• National pattern: Called “the deadliest fraternity” by some publications
• Texas presence: Chapters at all major Texas universities
• Texas incidents: A&M chemical burns lawsuit, UT assault allegations 2024

Pi Kappa Phi:

• National pattern: Andrew Coffey death (Florida State)
• Texas presence: Now-closed UH chapter (Bermudez case), other Texas chapters
• Current relevance: Active $10 million lawsuit demonstrates liability reality

Phi Delta Theta:

• National pattern: Max Gruver death (LSU)
• Texas presence: Multiple Texas chapters
• Legal significance: Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act shows legislative response

Kappa Alpha Order:

• National pattern: Physical hazing including paddling
• Texas presence: SMU chapter suspended 2017-2021 for hazing
• Texas relevance: Private university context

6.4 The Liability Chain: From Wixon Valley to National Headquarters

When your child is hazed, the liability chain often looks like this:

Level 1: Individual Members (personal assets, possibly parents’ homeowners insurance)
Level 2: Local Chapter (chapter bank accounts, local fundraising)
Level 3: Chapter Housing Corporation (real estate assets, property insurance)
Level 4: Alumni Corporation (endowment funds, alumni donations)
Level 5: National Headquarters (national insurance policies, endowment funds)
Level 6: University (institutional funds, liability insurance)

The Bermudez case against UH and Pi Kappa Phi demonstrates this multi-level approach: we sued 13 individuals, the local chapter, the housing corporation, the national headquarters, UH, and the UH System Board of Regents.

7. Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

7.1 Evidence Collection: The Digital Battlefield

In 2025, hazing evidence lives on phones. For Wixon Valley families, immediate action is critical:

Digital Communications (Preserve Within 24 Hours):

• GroupMe/WhatsApp: Screenshot entire threads with timestamps
• iMessage/SMS: Export conversations if possible
• Instagram/Snapchat: Screenshot before stories disappear
• Discord/Slack: Capture server chats and channels
• Fraternity-specific apps: Many have proprietary messaging

Watch our video on using your phone to document evidence for proper techniques.

Photos & Videos:

• Injury documentation: Multiple angles, include ruler for scale, date stamps
• Event footage: Often shared in group chats or social media
• Location shots: Houses, specific rooms, landmarks
• Object photos: Paddles, alcohol bottles, props

Internal Documents:

• Pledge manuals: Digital or physical copies
• Initiation scripts: Often passed down digitally
• Chapter bylaws: Show organizational structure
• Risk management plans: Nationals require these—they’re discoverable

University Records (Obtained via Discovery or Public Records):

• Prior conduct violations
• Campus police reports
• Dean of Students correspondence
• Clery Act reports

Medical Evidence:

• ER records: Specifically mention “hazing” to treating physicians
• Lab results: Blood alcohol, toxicology, kidney function (critical in rhabdomyolysis cases)
• Psych evaluations: PTSD, depression, anxiety diagnoses
• Future care plans: For catastrophic injuries

7.2 Damages: What Can Be Recovered

Economic Damages (Quantifiable):

• Medical expenses: Past and future (ER, hospitalization, therapy, medications)
• Lost earnings: Current and future diminished earning capacity
• Educational costs: Withdrawn semesters, transfer expenses, lost scholarships
• Life care plans: For permanent disabilities (like kidney damage from rhabdomyolysis)

Non-Economic Damages:

• Pain and suffering: Physical pain from injuries
• Emotional distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment: Can’t participate in college life, sports, activities
• Reputational harm: Social stigma from publicized hazing

Wrongful Death Damages (for families):

• Funeral/burial costs
• Loss of companionship and support
• Parents’ and siblings’ emotional suffering

Punitive Damages (when conduct is egregious):
guishable): Designed to punish and deter, available in Texas for gross negligence or malice

7.3 Insurance Strategy: The Hidden Battle

Fraternities and universities carry layers of insurance. Our approach, informed by Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney, includes:

Identifying All Potential Coverage:

1. Chapter liability policies
2. National fraternity umbrella policies
3. University liability insurance
4. Individual members’ parents’ homeowners policies
5. Property policies for house corporations

Navigating Common Insurance Defenses:

• “Intentional acts exclusion”: We argue negligent supervision is covered even if hazing was intentional
• “Criminal acts exclusion”: Civil negligence claims may still trigger coverage
• “Known risk exclusion”: We prove nationals should have known based on pattern evidence

8. Practical Guides & FAQs for Wixon Valley Families

8.1 For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

Physical Indicators:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Weight changes (from food restriction or stress eating)
• Sleep deprivation patterns (constantly tired, up at strange hours)
• Chemical burns or skin damage
• Signs of alcohol poisoning (even if your child doesn’t normally drink)

Behavioral Changes:

• Sudden secrecy about organizational activities
• Withdrawal from family and non-member friends
• Personality shifts: anxiety, depression, irritability
• Defensive when asked about the organization
• Constant phone checking/responding (group chat demands)
• Talking about “just getting through” something

Academic Red Flags:

• Grades dropping suddenly
• Missing classes or falling asleep in class
• Skipping assignments for “mandatory” events
• Losing scholarships or academic standing

Digital Behavior:

• Deleting messages or browser history obsessively
• Anxiety when phone buzzes
• New tracking apps (Find My Friends, Life360 demanded by org)
• Embarrassing social media posts they wouldn’t normally make

How to Talk to Your Child:

1. Choose the right time: Privately, when they’re not rushed
2. Use open questions: “How are things with [organization]?” not “Are they hazing you?”
3. Express concern, not accusation: “I’m worried about you” not “You’re being hazed”
4. Emphasize safety: “Your health matters more than any organization”
5. Offer unconditional support: “I’m here no matter what”

If Your Child Opens Up:

1. Listen without judgment
2. Document what they say (date, time, details)
3. Get medical attention if injured
4. Preserve evidence before it disappears
5. Contact an attorney within 24-48 hours

8.2 Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

Based on our experience and detailed in our video on client mistakes:

Mistake #1: Letting Your Child Delete Evidence

• What happens: Messages get deleted, photos disappear
• Why it’s fatal: Looks like cover-up, destroys digital evidence trail
• Better approach: Preserve everything immediately. Screenshot, backup, store securely

Mistake #2: Confronting the Organization Directly

• What happens: They lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
• Why it’s fatal: Gives them advance warning to build defenses
• Better approach: Document silently, let your attorney make first contact

Mistake #3: Signing University “Resolution” Forms

• What happens: You may waive legal rights for minimal compensation
• Why it’s fatal: Bars legitimate lawsuit, settlements are usually lowball
• Better approach: “I need to have my attorney review this before signing”

Mistake #4: Posting on Social Media

• What happens: Defense attorneys screenshot everything
• Why it’s fatal: Inconsistencies hurt credibility, may waive privileges
• Better approach: Keep details private, let attorney control messaging

Mistake #5: Waiting for University “Internal Process”

• What happens: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute runs
• Why it’s fatal: Universities protect institutions, not your child
• Better approach: Parallel track: preserve evidence while university investigates

Mistake #6: Talking to Insurance Adjusters

• What happens: Recorded statements used against you
• Why it’s fatal: Early settlements are always lowball
• Better approach: “Please contact my attorney”

Mistake #7: Letting Your Child Go to “One Last Meeting”

• What happens: Pressure, intimidation, extracted statements
• Why it’s fatal: They may get your child to say something damaging
• Better approach: Once legal action is considered, all communication through attorney

8.3 FAQ for Wixon Valley Families

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit in Texas?
A: Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death, but exceptions exist. The “discovery rule” may extend this if harm wasn’t immediately known. In hazing cases with cover-ups, the clock may be paused. Time is critical—call us immediately. Learn more in our statute of limitations video.

Q: Can we sue Texas A&M/UT/UH since they’re public universities?
A: Yes, but with complexities. Public universities have some sovereign immunity, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals in personal capacity. Every case is fact-specific.

Q: What if the hazing happened off-campus?
A: Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, and knowledge. The Bermudez case involved off-campus locations (Culmore Drive, Yellowstone Park).

Q: Will our names be public?
A: Most cases settle confidentially before trial. We can request sealed records and confidential settlements. We prioritize your family’s privacy.

Q: How much does it cost to hire your firm?
A: We work on contingency—no fee unless we win. Learn how this works in our contingency fee video.

Q: What if my child “agreed” to the activities?
A: Texas law (§ 37.155) states consent is not a defense to hazing. Peer pressure and power imbalance mean it’s not true voluntary consent.

Q: Can international students pursue cases?
A: Yes. Hazing laws protect all students regardless of citizenship. We’ve represented international students and understand unique concerns.

9. Why Attorney911 for Hazing Cases: Texas-Based, Nationally Relevant

9.1 Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Cases

When your Wixon Valley family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway.

Insurance Insider Advantage (Mr. Lupe Peña):

• Former insurance defense attorney at a national firm
• Knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers value (and undervalue) claims
• Understands their delay tactics, coverage exclusion arguments, and settlement strategies
• “We know their playbook because we used to run it”

Complex Institutional Litigation (Ralph Manginello):

• BP Texas City explosion litigation experience—one of few Texas firms involved
• Federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas)
• Not intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their defense teams
• “We’ve taken on billion-dollar corporations. We know how to fight powerful defendants.”

Multi-Million Dollar Catastrophic Injury Experience:

• Proven track record in complex wrongful death cases
• Economist collaboration for lifetime care valuation
• Experience with brain injury, permanent disability, and life care planning
• “We don’t settle cheap. We build cases that force accountability.”

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise:

• Ralph’s HCCLA membership (Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association)
• Understands criminal hazing charges and how they interact with civil litigation
• Can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure

Investigative Depth:

• Digital forensics experts for recovering deleted messages
• Medical experts for rhabdomyolysis, TBI, PTSD evaluation
• Greek life culture experts for understanding organizational dynamics
• Economists for lifetime earnings loss calculation
• “We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does.”

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine:

• Database of 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros
• IRS B83 records for 125+ Texas-registered entities
• Campus-specific rosters for all major Texas universities
• “We don’t start from zero. We already know the organizations behind the letters.”

9.2 Our Approach: Empathy, Investigation, Accountability

Phase 1: Immediate Response (0-48 Hours)

• Medical attention coordination
• Evidence preservation before deletion
• Witness identification and protection
• Strategic reporting decisions

Phase 2: Investigation (Weeks 1-8)

• Digital forensics for deleted communications
• Public records requests for prior incidents
• Expert consultations (medical, psychological, economic)
• Liability analysis across all potential defendants

Phase 3: Case Development (Months 2-6)

• Demand package preparation
• Settlement negotiations
• Litigation filing if necessary
• Discovery planning

Phase 4: Resolution (Months 6-24+)

• Settlement or trial
• Structured settlement planning for long-term care
• Institutional reform advocacy
• Family support through process

9.3 For Wixon Valley Families: Local Understanding, Statewide Reach

We serve families throughout Texas from our Houston office. For Wixon Valley and Brazos County residents, this means:

Understanding Your Community:

• Familiarity with Texas A&M and local dynamics
• Knowledge of Brazos County courts and procedures
• Experience with College Station/ Bryan jurisdiction issues
• Recognition of local economic and social pressures

Accessible Representation:

• Phone consultations available immediately
• In-person meetings in Houston or locally when needed
• Digital evidence collection guidance remotely
• Regular updates every 2-3 weeks

Spanish Language Services:

• Hablamos Español—Mr. Peña is fluent in Spanish
• Spanish-language consultations available
• Cultural understanding of Hispanic family dynamics

9.4 Call to Action: Your Next Step

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus—whether right here at Texas A&M, at UH like Leonel Bermudez, or any university—we want to hear from you. Families in Wixon Valley, College Station, Bryan, and throughout Brazos County have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation:

What to expect:

1. We listen to your story without judgment
2. Review evidence you have (photos, texts, medical records)
3. Explain legal options: criminal report, civil lawsuit, both, or neither
4. Discuss realistic timelines and what to expect
5. Answer questions about costs (contingency fee—we don’t get paid unless we win)
6. No pressure to hire us on the spot—take time to decide
7. Everything confidential—protected by attorney-client privilege

Contact Information:

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Website: https://attorney911.com
  all@atty911.com
• Spanish services: Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com

Additional Resources:

• Wrongful death expertise: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/
• Criminal defense capability: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/criminal-defense-lawyers/
• Learn about Ralph Manginello: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/
• Learn about Lupe Peña: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/

Whether you’re in Wixon Valley or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The institutions have lawyers. The fraternities have lawyers. Your child deserves the same protection.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. We answer 24/7 because emergencies don’t wait for business hours.

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
Spanish Services: lupe@atty911.com