The Complete Guide to Hazing, Accountability, and Texas Law for Combine and Dallas County Families

Your phone buzzes at 2 a.m. Your student, who joined a fraternity at a Texas university just weeks ago, texts a single worried emoji. Hours later, you learn they were at an off-campus house, pressured into a drinking game they couldn’t refuse, and are now in the ER. The university says it’s “investigating.” The fraternity brothers have gone silent. You’re left in the dark, terrified, and unsure where to turn.

If you’re a parent in Combine, in Dallas County, or anywhere in Texas, this nightmare is not just a story—it is a present reality for families across our state. Right now, we are actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history, representing Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. This case demonstrates the brutal reality of modern hazing and the complex fight for accountability that families face. This comprehensive guide is written for you—the parents, students, and concerned community members in Combine and throughout Dallas County—to understand what hazing truly 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 legal guidance for crises.

In the first 48 hours:

• Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine.”
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
  • Screenshot all group chats, texts, and DMs immediately.
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects used in hazing).
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
  • Sign anything from the university or an 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. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

1. Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Combine and Beyond

Hazing is not a relic of the past or simple “horseplay.” It is a calculated, often digitally coordinated form of abuse that endangers lives. For families in Combine and Dallas County, understanding its modern face is the first step to recognizing danger.

A Modern Definition

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining or maintaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. Crucially, “I agreed to it” or “it was voluntary” is not a legal defense under Texas law when power imbalances and peer pressure are at play.

Main Categories of Hazing Today

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains the most deadly form. It includes forced “lineup” drinking, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor (like the Pi Kappa Phi case at UH), and games where wrong answers mandate consumption.
2. Physical Hazing: This goes beyond push-ups. We see dangerous “smokings” leading to rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown), paddling, sleep and food deprivation, and exposure to extreme elements.
3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and acts with racist or sexist overtones designed to shame and dehumanize.
4. Psychological Hazing: Verbal abuse, isolation, threats of expulsion from the group, and manipulation designed to break down a person’s will.
5. Digital/Online Hazing: The 24/7 control via GroupMe or WhatsApp; forced participation in humiliating social media “challenges”; geo-tracking demands; and the use of disappeared messages on Snapchat to hide evidence.

Where Hazing Happens

While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing is a systemic problem in:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural councils).
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC programs.
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading).
• Spirit and Tradition Groups (like spirit squads or service organizations).
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups.

The common threads are social status, tradition, and a code of secrecy that persist even when everyone knows hazing is illegal.

2. The Active Case: Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi – A Texas Warning

To understand the stakes, you need to know what is happening right now in our state. We represent Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, its Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, the UH System Board of Regents, and 13 individual fraternity leaders.

This is not a historical case study. This is active, serious litigation we are leading. Here’s what happened to Leonel, a fall 2025 pledge at UH:

• Systematic Humiliation: He was forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, a sex toy, nicotine devices, and other humiliating items.
• Forced Labor & Control: Enforced dress codes, hours-long “study” blocks, weekly interrogations, and overnight chauffeuring duties for members.
• Extreme Physical Abuse: Sprints, bear crawls, “save-your-brother” drills, lying in vomit-soaked grass, and being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding” with threats of actual waterboarding.
• Violent “Workouts”: On November 3, he was forced through over 100 push-ups and 500 squats while reciting the creed under threat of expulsion. Another pledge was previously hog-tied face-down on a table for over an hour.
• Forced Consumption: He was made to consume excessive milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then forced to sprint immediately after.

The result? Leonel developed rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, could not stand, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels. He faces a lifelong risk of permanent kidney damage.

The institutional response? After reports surfaced, Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended the chapter on November 6. Members voted to surrender their charter on November 14, shutting it down. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised cooperation with law enforcement.

Why This Matters for Combine Families: This case is your proof. This level of severe, injurious hazing is happening at major Texas universities now. It shows the kind of fight required to hold national fraternities and public universities accountable. This is the reality we confront every day. You can read the detailed media coverage from Click2Houston and ABC13.

3. Texas Hazing Law and Liability: What Combine Families Need to Know

Texas has specific laws governing hazing. Understanding this framework is crucial for knowing your rights.

Texas Education Code – Chapter 37 (Hazing)

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

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes injury requiring medical treatment, and a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Organizational Liability: The organization itself (fraternity, sorority, team) can be fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing or if an officer knew and failed to report it.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (§ 37.155) explicitly states that the victim’s “consent” is not a defense against hazing charges.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Individuals who report hazing in good faith to university officials or law enforcement are immune from civil or criminal liability.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases

Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office) to punish wrongdoing with jail, fines, or probation. Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, or manslaughter.
Civil Cases: Brought by victims and families to obtain compensation and accountability. These lawsuits focus on negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, and emotional distress.

These two paths can run simultaneously. You do not need a criminal conviction to pursue a civil case for damages.

Federal Law Overlay

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs.
• Title IX & Clery Act: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, Title IX obligations are triggered. The Clery Act requires reporting of certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

A comprehensive civil hazing lawsuit can target multiple parties to ensure full accountability and access to insurance coverage:

1. Individual Students who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter as a legal entity.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters for negligent supervision and failure to curb known patterns.
4. The University for negligent oversight, deliberate indifference, or Title IX violations.
5. Third Parties like landlords of off-campus houses or alcohol providers.

4. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Mapping the Greek Ecosystem Around Combine

When you face a hazing crisis, you shouldn’t have to start from zero. At Attorney911, we maintain a proprietary data engine built from public records to understand the full landscape of Greek organizations in Texas. This investigative depth is part of how we build powerful cases.

For families in Combine and Dallas County, here is a snapshot of the complex Greek ecosystem connected to our community.

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro Greek Landscape

Combine sits within the vast Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area, which, according to our analysis of Cause IQ and IRS data, contains over 500 Greek-related organizations. These include undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, housing corporations, and honor societies.

A Sample of Publicly Listed Organizations in the DFW Metro:

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity – EIN: 742911848 – Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc. – EIN: 741380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Kappa Delta Sorority – Gamma Beta Chapter – Denton, TX (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Delta Delta Delta – Arlington Alumnae Chapter – Dallas, TX (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity – Gamma Psi Chapter – Fort Worth, TX (Cause IQ Metro Listing)

Where Combine and Dallas County Families Send Their Students

Parents in Combine have children at a wide range of Texas institutions, from local colleges to major statewide hubs.

Nearby Campuses with Greek Life:

• University of North Texas (UNT) – Denton, Denton County
• Texas Woman’s University – Denton, Denton County
• Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Dallas, Dallas County
• University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) – Richardson, Dallas County
• Dallas Baptist University – Dallas, Dallas County

Major Texas University Hubs:

• University of Texas at Austin (UT)
• Texas A&M University – College Station
• University of Houston (UH)
• Baylor University – Waco
• Texas Tech University – Lubbock

The Organizations Behind the Letters

National fraternities and sororities operate through a network of legal entities. Using our cross-referenced data, we can trace a single brand across multiple forms. For example, the Kappa Sigma brand appears in Texas as both an educational foundation in Fort Worth (IRS B83) and various undergraduate chapters. This allows us to identify all potentially liable parties—undergrad chapters, alumni housing corporations, and national headquarters—from the very start of an investigation.

5. National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts That Repeat in Texas

The hazing that injured Leonel Bermudez at UH is not an anomaly. It follows tragic scripts that have played out at universities across the country. These national cases create legal precedents and demonstrate the patterns of negligence that we use to build cases for Texas families.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a bid-acceptance night of forced drinking; brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. Resulted in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): Died from alcohol toxicity after a “Bible study” drinking game. Led to Louisiana’s felony hazing statute, the Max Gruver Act.
• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. Family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from nationals, ~$3M from BGSU).

The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): Died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded “glass ceiling” tackling ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

The Athletic Program Hazing Pattern

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements.

What This Means for You: When a chapter at a Texas school repeats a hazing “tradition” that has already caused death or catastrophic injury elsewhere, it demonstrates foreseeability. This powerfully supports arguments that the national organization and university were negligent in their duty to prevent it.

6. Campus Focus: Hazing at Texas Universities Combine Families Attend

Southern Methodist University (SMU)

For Combine and Dallas County families, SMU is often the closest major university with a significant Greek life presence. As a private institution in University Park, it has a strong Greek culture.

• Official Policy & Reporting: SMU prohibits hazing and provides anonymous reporting via systems like Real Response. The Office of Student Affairs handles investigations.
• Documented Incident – Kappa Alpha Order (2017): The chapter was suspended after allegations of paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation. It remained under recruiting restrictions for years.
• Considerations for Families: SMU’s private status can affect transparency. Civil discovery is often necessary to uncover the full scope of internal investigations and prior violations.

University of Texas at Austin (UT)

UT maintains one of the most transparent hazing reporting systems in the country at hazing.utexas.edu.

• Public Violations Log: The website lists sanctioned organizations. For example, in 2023, the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter was placed on probation for hazing that involved “directing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.”
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Incident (2024): A lawsuit was filed by an Australian exchange student alleging assault at an SAE party that resulted in a broken nose, dislocated leg, and fractured tibia. The chapter was already under suspension for prior violations.
• Legal Advantage: This public log is a powerful tool for families, as it documents prior knowledge and patterns that can be used in civil litigation.

Texas A&M University

The culture in College Station encompasses both a large Greek system and the Corps of Cadets, each with its own hazing risks.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (~2021): Pledges alleged being doused with substances, including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits were filed.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound in a “roasted pig” position. The lawsuit sought over $1 million.
• Key Takeaway: Hazing at A&M is not limited to fraternities. The Corps and athletic programs present similar risks that require specialized investigative understanding.

University of Houston (UH)

As detailed in the Bermudez case, UH has faced severe, ongoing hazing issues.

• Pi Kappa Alpha Incident (2016): A pledge suffered a lacerated spleen during alleged hazing. The chapter faced misdemeanor charges and suspension.
• Institutional Response: UH’s public statements in the Bermudez case acknowledge the gravity but highlight the challenge of effective intervention. Their policies prohibit hazing both on and off-campus.

Baylor University

Baylor’s history with institutional accountability issues, particularly around sexual assault, provides context for its hazing landscape.

• Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players were suspended following a hazing investigation, with staggered suspensions affecting the team’s season.
• Considerations: Baylor’s religious identity and past scandals create a complex environment for reporting and investigating abuse. Persistence and legal expertise are often required to navigate its internal processes.

7. Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Attorney911’s Strategy

When hazing causes injury or death, building a successful case requires an investigative approach that mirrors the complexity of the institutions you’re facing.

Critical Evidence We Secure

1. Digital Communications: Deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text messages recovered via digital forensics; social media posts and DMs.
2. Photos & Videos: Content filmed by participants, security footage from houses or neighboring properties.
3. Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” lists, emails between chapter officers and national headquarters.
4. University Records: Prior conduct reports, Clery Act filings, and internal emails obtained through discovery or public information requests.
5. Medical Records: ER reports, toxicology results, psychological evaluations for PTSD and trauma.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and advisors.

Recoverable Damages for Victims and Families

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

Our Strategic Advantage: Why Attorney911 is Different

We do not approach hazing cases like standard personal injury claims. We bring a specialized, institutional-fighting skill set:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers fight claims, deny coverage, and undervalue injuries. We use their playbook against them.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. National fraternities and major universities do not intimidate us.
• Data-Driven Investigation: We employ the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine from day one. We don’t start from scratch; we know how to identify the house corporations, alumni associations, and national entities that share liability.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise clients navigating both systems.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña is fluent in Spanish, ensuring Hispanic families in Combine and across Texas can access legal help in their native language.

8. Practical Guides & FAQs for Combine Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight changes.
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities (“I can’t talk about it”).
• Personality shifts: increased anxiety, depression, or withdrawal.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Financial requests for unexplained “fines” or dues.

Your 48-Hour Action Checklist:

1. Ensure Safety & Health: Get medical attention immediately.
2. Preserve Evidence: Screenshot all messages; photograph injuries; save physical items.
3. Document: Write down everything your child tells you with dates and names.
4. Seek Legal Counsel: Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 before reporting to understand your rights.
5. Do Not: Confront the organization, sign university paperwork, or post on social media.

For Students: Is This Hazing? What Are My Rights?

Use This Quick Test: Are you being pressured to do something dangerous, degrading, or illegal to join or stay in the group? Would you do it if there was no social consequence for refusing? If the answer is no, it is likely hazing.
Your Rights in Texas:

• You have the right to leave the organization at any time.
• You have legal protections as a victim; “consent” is not a defense for them.
• Texas law and most university policies offer amnesty for those who call 911 in a medical emergency, even if underage drinking is involved.

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Deleting Evidence: “Cleaning up” group chats is often seen as obstruction of justice.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This gives them a head start to destroy evidence and lawyer up.
3. Signing University Settlement Offers: These are often quick, low-value deals that waive your right to sue.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys scour social media for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, and the statute of limitations runs.

We have a dedicated video explaining common client mistakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue a university in Texas for hazing?
A: Yes. While public universities have certain immunity protections, exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing employees individually. Private universities like SMU and Baylor have fewer immunity barriers. The specific facts of your case determine the strategy.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death is generally two years from the date of injury or death. However, exceptions can apply. You must act quickly. Watch our video on statutes of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c.

Q: What if the hazing happened at an off-campus house?
A: Location does not negate liability. Universities and national organizations can still be held responsible based on their knowledge, sponsorship, and control over the organization and its activities.

Q: How much does it cost to hire Attorney911?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no upfront costs or hourly fees. We only get paid if we successfully recover money for you. Learn more in our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc.

9. Why Choose Attorney911? Your Combine and Texas Hazing Litigation Firm

If hazing has impacted your family, you need advocates who understand you are fighting more than a few individuals—you are taking on powerful institutions with deep pockets and experienced defense teams. We are those advocates.

From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including those in Combine, Dallas County, and throughout the DFW metro. We know the courts, the laws, and the tactics used by national fraternities and universities because we confront them daily in active litigation, like the Bermudez case at UH.

We combine the relentless investigative approach of a former insurance defense attorney (Mr. Peña) with the complex litigation experience of a lawyer who has taken on corporate giants (Mr. Manginello). We are not just personal injury lawyers; we are institutional accountability litigators.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

You do not have to navigate this crisis alone. We offer a confidential, no-obligation consultation to every family that contacts us. In this meeting, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal options and rights under Texas law.
• Outline a potential strategy based on our experience.
• Answer all your questions about the process, timeline, and costs.

There is no pressure. Our goal is to empower you with information so you can make the best decision for your family.

Call Attorney911 Today: 1-888-ATTY-911

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Legal Emergency Lawyers™
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
Se habla Español: Contact Mr. Lupe Peña for consultation in Spanish.

If your child has been hurt by hazing at any Texas campus—whether near Combine at SMU or UNT, or at a major hub like UT, A&M, or UH—you have the right to answers, accountability, and justice. Let us help you fight for it.

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.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

• Click2Houston coverage of UH Pi Kappa Phi case: 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 coverage of UH Pi Kappa Phi case: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Attorney911 Video: Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Attorney911 Video: Texas Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Attorney911 Video: How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc
• Attorney911 Main Website: https://attorney911.com