Hazing Litigation Guide for Coppell Families: Holding Fraternities, Sororities & Universities Accountable

If you are a parent or family member in Coppell, hearing your child whisper about “weird traditions” at their university fraternity, sorority, or campus organization can be the start of a nightmare. That feeling in your gut—that something is wrong—is often the first sign. Right now, in Texas, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country on behalf of a young man and his family. This is not a distant news story; it is active litigation happening in our state’s courts, and it proves that the horrors of hazing are a present and urgent threat to Texas students.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for families in Coppell, Denton County, and across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, your legal rights under Texas law, the stark realities at major universities like the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, and Baylor, and the concrete steps you can take if your child has been harmed. Our firm, Attorney911, is leading this fight in Texas courtrooms today.

If This Just Happened: Immediate Crisis Response for Coppell Families

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate legal help—that’s why we are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

In the First 48 Hours:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek a professional medical evaluation. Internal injuries, rhabdomyolysis, or alcohol poisoning may not be immediately apparent.
2. Preserve Evidence BEFORE It Disappears:
   • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord) immediately.
   • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
   • Save physical items (torn clothing, paddles, receipts for forced purchases).
   • Do NOT let your child delete anything, no matter how embarrassing.
3. Document Everything: Write down everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, specific acts—while their memory is fresh.
4. Do NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or university directly.
   • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
   • Post details on public social media.
   • Allow the “brotherhood” or “sisterhood” to pressure your child into silence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24-48 hours. We can help you navigate this crisis, preserve critical evidence, and protect your child’s rights from the outset. Call 1-888-ATTY-911.

The Texas Case That Changed Everything: Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi

To understand the gravity and reality of hazing in Texas, you must know about the case we are litigating right now. It is not a historical footnote; it is a active, multi-million dollar lawsuit that exposes the systemic failures behind Greek life tragedies.

In late 2025, we filed a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit in Harris County on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student and pledge of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter. The allegations, supported by extensive evidence and detailed in major media reports from Click2Houston and ABC13, describe a campaign of degradation and violence.

The Hazing Included:

• A “pledge fanny pack” rule, requiring pledges to carry condoms, a sex toy, and nicotine devices at all times or face punishment.
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed immediately by punitive sprints.
• Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding” with threats of actual waterboarding.
• Extreme physical workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park, including one on November 3 where Bermudez was forced to do 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion.
• Sleep deprivation, enforced dress codes, overnight chauffeuring duties, and weekly interrogations.
• Another pledge was hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.

The Medical Catastrophe:
This abuse led Leonel Bermudez to develop rhabdomyolysis—a severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, could not stand without help, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels. He faces an ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

The Institutional Response:
The defendants in this lawsuit include the University of Houston, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. Following the incident, Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025. On November 14, chapter members voted to surrender their charter, shutting it down. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised cooperation with law enforcement.

This case is the flagship example of what we do. It demonstrates our deep investigative approach, our willingness to take on powerful universities and national organizations, and our commitment to turning a family’s nightmare into a fight for accountability. For Coppell families, it is proof that these tragedies happen here in Texas and that experienced legal counsel is essential.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

Hazing is not just “boys being boys” or harmless pranks. It is a calculated pattern of abuse designed to create power through humiliation, fear, and trauma. For Coppell families, understanding its modern forms is the first step in recognizing it.

A Modern Definition:
Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in a group, that endangers the student’s mental or physical health or safety.

The Main Categories of Abuse:

1. Alcohol & Substance Hazing: The most common and deadliest. This includes forced “power hours,” drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean drinking, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, and coerced consumption of drugs or unknown substances.
2. Physical Hazing: Paddling, beatings, “smokings” (extreme calisthenics), forced exposure to extreme weather, sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and dangerous “tests” like blindfolded tackles.
3. Sexualized & Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (e.g., “elephant walk”), degrading costumes, acts involving racial or sexist slurs, and public shaming rituals.
4. Psychological Hazing: Verbal abuse, threats of expulsion from the group, isolation from friends and family, forced confessions, and manipulation designed to break down a person’s identity.
5. Digital Hazing: A 21st-century evolution. This includes 24/7 demands via GroupMe, forced participation in humiliating social media “challenges,” cyberstalking via location-sharing apps, and pressure to create or share compromising photos/videos.

Where Hazing Happens:
While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing permeates many campus groups:

• Corps of Cadets / ROTC (especially at Texas A&M)
• Athletic teams (from football to cheerleading)
• Spirit and tradition organizations (like the Texas Cowboys at UT)
• Marching bands and performance groups
• Certain academic, cultural, and service clubs

The common thread is a toxic combination of tradition, secrecy, and a power imbalance between new and existing members.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Framework for Accountability

Texas has specific laws to combat hazing, and understanding them is crucial for Coppell families seeking justice.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37 (The Hazing Statute):

• Definition (§37.151): Hazing is broadly defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation with a group.
• Criminal Penalties (§37.152): Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes injury and a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Failing to report hazing is also a crime.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it is not a legal defense against hazing charges. The law recognizes the coercive power of peer pressure.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154): Individuals who report hazing in good faith or seek medical help in an emergency are protected from civil or criminal liability related to that report.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases:

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office) to punish wrongdoing with jail time, fines, or probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by victims and their families to secure compensation for damages and hold institutions accountable. These cases focus on negligence, wrongful death, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A criminal conviction is not needed to file a civil suit.

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 & The 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 in a Civil Lawsuit?
We look at the entire ecosystem of responsibility:

1. Individual Students: The members who planned, executed, or concealed the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: The fraternity or sorority chapter as an entity.
3. The National Organization: Headquarters that collect dues, set policies, and have a history of similar incidents across the country (creating “foreseeability”).
4. The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or failing to enforce its own policies.
5. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, property owners where hazing occurred, or alcohol providers.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Script Repeats

The tragedy in Houston is not an anomaly. It follows a national script written by decades of preventable deaths and injuries. These cases set legal precedents that empower Texas families.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern:

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died 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 and numerous criminal convictions.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. His family reached a $10 million settlement with the fraternity national and university.

The Physical & Ritualized Violence 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 convicted of manslaughter and banned from Pennsylvania.

The Athletic Program Abuse 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, proving hazing is not confined to Greek life.

What This Means for Coppell Families:
These national cases create a road map. They show how courts and juries view institutional cover-ups, how prior incidents establish “notice,” and how multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements are achieved. The same national fraternities involved in these tragedies—Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta—have chapters on Texas campuses.

The Texas University Landscape: Where Coppell Families Send Their Kids

Coppell is part of the vibrant and educated Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Our families routinely send students to major universities across the state. Here is what you need to know about the hazing landscape at these schools.

University of Houston: A Case Study in Systemic Failure

The Leonel Bermudez case is the most severe recent example, but UH has a history of issues.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2016): A pledge suffered a lacerated spleen after being slammed during hazing; the chapter faced criminal charges and suspension.
• Transparency Gap: Unlike UT Austin, UH does not maintain a easily accessible public log of hazing violations, making it harder for families to see patterns.
• Parents & Students: If involved at UH, reporting channels include the Dean of Students Office and UHPD. Given the current high-stakes litigation, the university is under intense scrutiny.

Texas A&M University: Corps Culture & Greek Life

For Coppell families with students in College Station, the dual risks of Greek life and the Corps of Cadets are real.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges allegedly had industrial-strength cleaner poured on them, causing severe burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits were filed.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound in a simulated sexual position with an apple in his mouth. He sought over $1 million in damages.
• Parents & Students: The combination of deep tradition and institutional loyalty can complicate reporting. The Office of Student Conduct and the Corps’ own command structure are primary reporting paths.

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency & Repeated Violations

UT Austin maintains a public “Hazing Violations” page, offering a unique window into the problem.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Assault Case (2024): An exchange student allegedly suffered a dislocated leg, broken nose, and other injuries at a chapter event; sued for over $1 million.
• Various Spirit Groups: Organizations like the Texas Wranglers have been sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol hazing.
• Parents & Students: Use UT’s public violation log to research any group your child is joining. Report to the Office of the Dean of Students or UTPD.

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

• SMU’s Kappa Alpha Order was suspended in 2017 for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.
• Baylor’s history with institutional failure regarding athlete conduct creates a context where hazing can fester, as seen in a 2020 baseball team hazing incident that led to multiple suspensions.

For families in Coppell, the takeaway is clear: no Texas university is immune. The patterns of forced drinking, physical abuse, and institutional hesitation repeat across campuses.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Why Data-Driven Litigation Matters

When you come to us, you are not starting from zero. We maintain a proprietary investigative database—the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—built from public records to track the organizations behind the letters. This is how we build leverage.

Public Records Directory: The Entities Behind Texas Greek Life
For example, our database includes IRS and organizational records on hundreds of Texas-based Greek entities. This allows us to immediately identify not just a chapter, but the house corporations, alumni associations, and national brand networks that may share liability and insurance coverage.

A Snapshot of Organizations Serving DFW & Texas Families:

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, EIN 742911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Lambda Lambda Chapter, EIN 521278573, Dallas, TX 75241
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc – Sigma Gamma Chapter, EIN 392352450, Houston, TX 77254
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation, EIN 371768785, Missouri City, TX 77459
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M University Chapter, EIN 900293166, College Station, TX 77843

This is just a fractional sample from a directory of over 1,400 Greek-related entities we track across 25 Texas metros. For Coppell families, this means we already know how to find the legal and financial entities behind the organizations at UT Dallas, UNT, TCU, or any campus in the state. We use this data to ensure no responsible party escapes accountability.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy & Damages

Winning a hazing case requires a meticulous, multi-front strategy. Here is how we approach it.

Critical Evidence We Pursue:

1. Digital Communications: Deleted GroupMe chats, Instagram DMs, Snapchat logs. We work with digital forensics experts to recover what groups try to erase.
2. Photos & Videos: Content filmed by members themselves is often the most damning evidence.
3. Internal “Pledge Ed” Manuals & National Files: Documents that show tradition, planning, or prior knowledge.
4. University Discipline Records: Obtained through discovery to prove the school knew of prior problems.
5. Medical & Psychological Records: To document the full physical and emotional impact, from ER reports for rhabdomyolysis to PTSD diagnoses.

Overcoming Common Defense Tactics:
We know the playbook because Associate Attorney Mr. Lupe Peña used to be an insurance defense lawyer for large institutions. We anticipate and counter their arguments:

• “The Victim Consented”: We cite Texas law (§37.155) and use evidence of coercion and power imbalance.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We subpoena national headquarters’ records to show a pattern of similar incidents at other chapters, proving foreseeability.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: We establish liability through sponsorship, control, and the organization’s knowledge of where its activities occur.
• “Insurance Doesn’t Cover This”: We navigate complex policy exclusions and argue for negligent supervision coverage.

Damages: What Families Can Recover
Our goal is to make your family whole and force change. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and educational costs.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship for parents and siblings.
• Punitive Damages: In egregious cases, to punish the defendants and deter future conduct.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Coppell Parents & Students

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Recognize the Signs: Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, sudden secrecy, personality changes, withdrawal from family, constant anxiety about group chats.
2. Talk Openly: Ask non-judgmental questions: “Are you being treated with respect?” “Is anything making you uncomfortable?”
3. Prioritize Safety: If there is immediate danger, call 911. Get medical care.
4. Preserve Evidence: Follow the 48-hour checklist above. Your child’s phone is a critical evidence locker.
5. Seek Legal Counsel Early: Before reporting to the university, consult with us. We can help you navigate the process to protect your child’s rights and your potential claim.

For Students: Your Safety & Rights

• You Have the Right to Leave. No tradition is worth your life or health.
• “Consent” Under Pressure is Not Real Consent. Texas law protects you.
• You Can Report Anonymously. Use campus hotlines or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE).
• Amnesty Policies Exist. Most Texas schools have “good faith” reporting protections if you call for help in an emergency, even if underage drinking was involved.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

We have a dedicated video explaining these pitfalls: Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case.

1. Deleting messages or photos.
2. Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly, giving them a heads-up to destroy evidence.
3. Signing a university “internal resolution” agreement without an attorney.
4. Posting about the incident on social media.
5. Waiting too long. The statute of limitations in Texas is generally two years from the date of injury. Learn more in our video: Is There a Statute of Limitations on My Case?

Frequently Asked Questions

• “Can we sue the university?” Yes, depending on the facts. Public universities have certain immunities, but exceptions exist for gross negligence or Title IX violations.
• “What if it happened at an off-campus house?” Location does not absolve the sponsoring organization or university if they knew or should have known about the activities.
• “Will this be public?” Most cases settle confidentially. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability.
• “How much does this cost?” We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. See how it works: How Do Contingency Fees Work?

Why Choose Attorney911 for Your Hazing Case in Texas

Facing a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need a firm with proven experience taking on billion-dollar institutions, insider knowledge of how insurance companies fight, and a deep understanding of campus culture and Texas law.

Our Proven Advantages for Hazing Litigation:

1. Insurance Insider Knowledge: Associate Attorney Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance firm. He knows how fraternity and university insurers devalue claims, fight coverage, and use delay tactics. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
2. Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by deep-pocketed national fraternities or university legal teams. We have faced Goliaths before.
3. Active, High-Stakes Texas Hazing Litigation: We are not theorizing about hazing law; we are practicing it at the highest level in the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case. This real-time experience directly benefits our clients.
4. Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine means we start your case with a map of the liability landscape—something other firms cannot offer.
5. Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal exposure witnesses or participants may face, allowing us to navigate both legal tracks effectively.
6. Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña (he/him) is a fluent Spanish speaker, ensuring we can serve all Texas families with comfort and clarity.

We combine this expertise with genuine empathy. We know this is one of the most traumatic experiences a family can endure. Our mission is to get you answers, secure the resources needed for recovery, and force the institutional changes that will protect the next generation of Texas students.

Take the Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation for Coppell Families

If hazing has impacted your family, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path to accountability starts with a conversation.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) Today.

• Call our 24/7 line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Website: https://attorney911.com

In your free, confidential consultation, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Outline our investigative approach and what you can expect.
• Answer all your questions about the process and our contingency fee structure.

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Whether your child attends school in Denton, College Station, Austin, Houston, or beyond, we have the knowledge, resources, and dedication to help.

You have the right to answers. You have the right to accountability. You have the right to ensure no other family suffers as yours has.

Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911. Let’s start building your path forward.

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
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com