Hazing Lawsuits and Accountability at Texas Universities: A Comprehensive Guide for Southlake Families

We are the Manginello Law Firm, operating as Attorney911, the Legal Emergency Lawyers™. Right now, we are actively litigating one of the most serious hazing lawsuits in the country—the $10 million case against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity on behalf of Leonel Bermudez. This is happening here in Texas, and it shows exactly what families throughout our state are up against.

If you are a parent in Southlake, in nearby Colleyville or Keller, or anywhere across Tarrant and Denton Counties, this guide is for you. We know Southlake families have deep connections to universities across Texas. Your children likely attend or may be considering schools like nearby Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), or major hubs like Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, and Baylor. The culture of hazing does not stop at campus borders; it follows these students home, and the legal fight for accountability begins right here in our community.

This comprehensive resource is written to help you understand what hazing really looks like in 2025, how Texas law protects your child, what has happened at the universities you trust, and most importantly, what your family can do if the unthinkable occurs. We serve families across North Texas and throughout the state, and we bring a level of investigative and legal firepower that matches the powerful institutions we fight every day.

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, and 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, or athletic team.
  • 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. Universities move quickly to control the narrative. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights from the start. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

For Southlake parents, the term “hazing” might conjure images of outdated movie scenes. The reality in 2025 is far more sinister, sophisticated, and dangerously embedded in campus culture. Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—directed against a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group, that endangers their mental or physical health or safety. Crucially, under Texas law, “consent” is not a defense.

Modern Hazing Tactics: Beyond the Stereotypes

Today’s hazing has evolved into several categories, many designed to avoid detection:

• Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains the deadliest form. It includes forced “family tree” or “Bible study” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, and lineups where pledges must chug to excess. The goal is incapacitation, not celebration.
• Physical Hazing: This goes beyond “push-ups.” We see extreme “smokings” with hundreds of squats until collapse, paddling or beatings, sleep and food deprivation, and exposure to extreme elements. In the Bermudez case at UH, this included cold-weather exposure in underwear and lying in vomit-soaked grass.
• Psychological and Humiliating Hazing: This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk”), degrading costumes, racial or sexist role-playing, verbal abuse, and social isolation designed to break down a student’s sense of self.
• Digital Hazing & Coercion: This is the new frontier. Pledges are subjected to 24/7 control via GroupMe or Discord, required to share live locations, forced to post humiliating content on social media, and threatened with expulsion if they don’t respond instantly to messages at all hours. This creates a constant state of anxiety and control.

The locations have also shifted. To avoid university oversight, hazing frequently occurs at off-campus houses, Airbnb rentals, remote parks (like Yellowstone Boulevard Park in Houston), or “retreats.” The organizations behind this behavior are not limited to fraternities; we see it in sororities, athletic teams, spirit groups like the Texas Cowboys, Corps of Cadets programs, and marching bands.

The Texas and Federal Legal Framework: Your Child’s Rights

Understanding the law is the first step toward accountability. For families in Southlake, Texas law governs your case, and powerful federal statutes provide additional avenues for justice.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37)

Texas has a strong anti-hazing statute designed to protect students. Key provisions that Southlake families should know include:

• Broad Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation or affiliation into any organization.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals who fail to report hazing or who retaliate against reporters also face criminal charges.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 per violation.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas Education Code § 37.155 is crystal clear: a victim’s “agreement” to participate is irrelevant under the law. This directly dismantles the common defense that “your child wanted to be there.”
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Students who call for help in a medical emergency, even if they were involved in underage drinking, are protected from prosecution to encourage life-saving action.

The Federal Overlay: Title IX, Clery, and New National Laws

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention programs. This will increase transparency for parents.
• Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, a university’s Title IX office must respond. This can provide a parallel path for investigation and disciplinary action.
• Clery Act: Universities must disclose campus crime statistics. Hazing incidents that involve assault, burglary, or other Clery crimes must be recorded and published.

Civil vs. Criminal Cases: A Dual Path

It’s critical to understand the two tracks of legal accountability:

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office) to punish individuals with jail, fines, or probation. Examples include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by the victim and their family to recover compensation and force institutional change. This is where we hold every responsible party accountable—from the individual member who sprayed the hose to the national headquarters that turned a blind eye to the university that failed to protect its students.

A criminal conviction is not required to file a successful civil lawsuit. Our civil cases depend on proving negligence, gross negligence, and wrongful conduct.

National Hazing Deaths and the Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The tragic stories from other states are not distant news; they are blueprints for the cases we see in Texas. They prove that national fraternities and universities have been on notice for decades. When a Southlake family faces a hazing incident, this national pattern evidence becomes a powerful tool to establish liability.

• Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a night of forced drinking. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The resulting criminal case and civil litigation led to Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.
• Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): Died from alcohol poisoning after a “Bible study” drinking game. His death 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 liquor. His family secured a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from the university).
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother” night, leading to the temporary suspension of all Greek life at FSU.
• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): Died from head injuries during a violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a remote retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania.

What This Means for Texas Families: These cases show the same deadly scripts: forced drinking, dangerous rituals, delayed help, and institutional failure. They also show that justice is possible through determined civil litigation. The same national organizations involved in these cases—Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi—have active chapters at Texas universities. Their national history is your local warning.

The Texas University Landscape: A Guide for Southlake Families

Southlake students attend a wide array of Texas universities. Each campus has its own culture, Greek ecosystem, and history with hazing. Our firm maintains intelligence on all of them. Here is what parents need to know about the major hubs connected to our community.

Texas Christian University (TCU) – In Our Own Backyard

For many Southlake families, TCU in Fort Worth is a local institution. Its Greek life is prominent and deeply woven into the campus social fabric.

• Campus & Culture Snapshot: TCU is a private university with a strong Greek system. Over 40% of undergraduates participate in fraternities and sororities. The culture emphasizes tradition, which can sometimes mask harmful practices.
• Documented Incidents: TCU has not been immune to scandal. Kappa Alpha Order was suspended in 2017 for paddling and alcohol-related hazing. Other chapters have faced disciplinary action for behavior that violates student conduct codes. The university utilizes anonymous reporting systems, but true transparency often only comes through litigation.
• Local Legal Path: A hazing case at TCU would likely involve the Fort Worth Police Department and Tarrant County courts—the same system that serves Southlake families. Potential defendants include individual students, the local chapter, the national fraternity/sorority, and possibly the university itself for negligent supervision.

The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) – A Commuter Hub with Greek Life

UTA serves many students from the Mid-Cities and Southlake area. Its Greek community, while different from a residential college, still carries risks.

• Campus & Culture: As a large commuter school, UTA’s Greek life is active but can operate with less day-to-day oversight from the university. Off-campus houses and apartments are common venues for events.
• Legal Jurisdiction: Incidents at UTA may fall under the jurisdiction of the Arlington Police Department and, again, Tarrant County courts. The proximity to home means Southlake families may be navigating a legal system close to home, but against opponents with national resources.

Major University Hubs Across Texas

Wherever your child attends school, the patterns are distressingly similar.

1. University of Houston (UH) – The Site of Our Active $10M Lawsuit
Our current flagship case, Bermudez v. University of Houston et al., provides a stark, real-time example. Leonel Bermudez, a UH student, pledged Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu chapter). The hazing included a degrading “pledge fanny pack,” forced consumption of food until vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and extreme physical workouts. This culminated in rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, leading to brown urine and a four-day hospitalization. We filed a $10 million lawsuit against UH, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the housing corporation, and 13 individual members. The chapter has been shut down. This case, covered by Click2Houston and ABC13, is the proof that the most severe hazing is happening right now in Texas, and we are leading the fight.

2. Texas A&M University – Corps Culture and Greek Life
Texas A&M is unique for its Corps of Cadets, which has its own documented hazing issues, including lawsuits alleging degrading treatment. The Greek system is also vast. Notably, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) chapter was sued for an incident where pledges were allegedly doused with industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts.

3. The University of Texas at Austin – A Model of Transparency?
UT Austin publishes a public “Hazing Violations” log, one of the more transparent in the state. It shows repeated sanctions against chapters like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced consumption and calisthenics. This public record is a gift to investigators—it proves the university knew about patterns of misconduct.

4. Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Affluent and Greek-Centered
SMU’s Greek life is central to its identity. Past incidents, like the Kappa Alpha Order suspension, show that even at prestigious private institutions, dangerous traditions persist behind closed doors.

5. Baylor University – Seeking Reform After Scandal
Baylor has been under intense scrutiny for institutional failure regarding sexual assault. This environment informs how the university handles—or mishandles—hazing reports, particularly within athletic teams, which have faced their own hazing suspensions.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories Matter

When a local chapter hazes, they are rarely inventing a new practice. They are following a national playbook of “traditions” that have caused death and injury across the country. This is why we dig into national histories. For a Southlake family, proving that a national fraternity knew its chapters repeatedly engaged in forced drinking (for example) is key to holding that multi-million dollar corporation liable.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): National history includes the Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green ($10M settlement). Local chapters at UT, Texas A&M, and others have been disciplined for hazing.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Often called the “deadliest fraternity” by media, SAE has been involved in multiple fatalities nationwide. Its chapters at Texas A&M and UT Austin have faced serious lawsuits and suspensions.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The national organization we are currently suing in the Bermudez case. It has a history that includes the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State.
• Kappa Alpha Order: Known for its “Old South” theme, its chapter at SMU was suspended for paddling and alcohol hazing.

These national organizations maintain insurance policies, risk management manuals, and lawyers for a reason: they know the dangers. When they fail to control their chapters, they must be held fully accountable alongside the individuals who carried out the acts.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

At Attorney911, we approach hazing cases with the same rigor we applied to the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are facing billion-dollar institutions, and we prepare accordingly. For a Southlake family, this means building an unassailable case from the ground up.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

In the digital age, evidence is both more abundant and more fragile. We immediately secure:

• Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text threads showing planning, coercion, and bragging after the fact. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages.
• Social Media & Photos: Instagram stories, Snapchats, TikTok videos, and photos that visually document the hazing, the injuries, and the participants.
• Internal Organization Documents: Pledge manuals, “big book” traditions, emails from national headquarters, and risk management reports.
• University Records: Obtained through discovery or public records requests, these show prior complaints, disciplinary history, and what the school knew and when.
• Medical Records: Critical to proving the extent of injury, from ER reports diagnosing alcohol poisoning or rhabdomyolysis to psychological evaluations for PTSD.
• Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders who can corroborate the events.

Understanding Damages: What Can Be Recovered

The goal of a civil lawsuit is to make the victim whole and force change. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, costs of psychological care, and diminished future earning capacity if the injury is permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the ultimate tragedy, families can recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme recklessness or intentional conduct, courts can award damages to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

We work with life-care planners, economists, and medical experts to build a comprehensive picture of the harm, ensuring we seek full and fair compensation.

Practical Guide for Southlake Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Immediate Steps

Warning Signs Your Child Is Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight changes.
• Secrecy about organization activities; sudden withdrawal from family and old friends.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Personality shifts toward anxiety, depression, or irritability.
• Decline in academic performance.
• Requests for money for unexplained “fines” or “mandatory” purchases.

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “Are you being asked to do anything that makes you uncomfortable?” “Is your safety being respected?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If there is immediate danger, call 911.
3. Preserve Evidence: Gently encourage your child to screenshot messages and photograph injuries. Write down everything they tell you with dates.
4. Seek Medical Care: A medical exam documents injuries and can save a life.
5. Consult a Lawyer BEFORE Reporting: Once you report to a university, their legal team swings into action to protect the institution. Having your own counsel first ensures your child’s rights are protected from the start. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: No tradition is worth your life or permanent injury.
• “Consent” is Not a Defense: You cannot legally agree to be assaulted or endangered.
• How to Exit Safely: You can quit anytime. Send a simple text or email: “I resign my membership/pledgeship effective immediately.” Do not attend a “final meeting.”
• Report Anonymously: Use campus hotlines or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE).
• Call 911 Without Fear: Texas law and most university policies provide amnesty for those who call for help in a medical emergency.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

1. Deleting Digital Evidence: This is the #1 mistake. Those messages are your most powerful proof.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers their cover-up protocol.
3. Signing University Settlement Papers: Never sign anything from a university or insurance adjuster without an attorney.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys scour social media for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses scatter, and statutes of limitation run out.

We have a video detailing common client mistakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY. Act quickly and strategically.

Why Attorney911 for Southlake Hazing Cases

When your family is facing a hazing crisis, you need more than a lawyer; you need a strategic ally with proven experience against the toughest opponents. Here is why Southlake families choose us:

• We Are Fighting the Biggest Texas Hazing Case Right Now: We represent Leonel Bermudez in the $10 million lawsuit against UH and Pi Kappa Phi. We are not theorizing about hazing litigation; we are in the trenches, taking depositions, and fighting it daily. This is our current practice.
• Insider Knowledge of Insurance Companies: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers undervalue claims, use delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to help write it. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/.
• Experience with Billion-Dollar Defendants: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by large institutions, national fraternities, or their high-powered law firms. We have faced them before. Learn about Ralph’s experience: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/.
• A Data-Driven Investigative Engine: We maintain a proprietary database of Texas fraternity and sorority entities, pulling from public IRS and corporate records. We don’t start from scratch; we know how to find the housing corporations, alumni associations, and national organizations that hold liability and insurance.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal side of hazing cases, allowing us to advise families through parallel proceedings.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña is fluent in Spanish, ensuring all families in our diverse community have access to expert legal counsel. Hablamos Español.

We combine this expertise with genuine compassion. We know this is the most painful experience a family can endure. Our mission is to secure justice for your child, obtain the resources needed for their recovery, and force the systemic changes that will protect future students from Southlake and beyond.

Your Next Step: A Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family, whether your child is at a university across the state or right here in the Metroplex, you do not have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved have teams of lawyers working to minimize their exposure. You deserve an equal advocate.

We invite you to contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) for a free, completely confidential consultation. In this meeting, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have preserved.
• Explain your legal options in clear terms.
• Outline our investigative strategy.
• Discuss our contingency fee structure—you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Distance is no barrier; we have the technology and resources to represent you effectively wherever you are.

Call the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach us directly at (713) 528-9070 or via our website at https://attorney911.com. For Spanish-language services, contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com.

Let us help you turn this crisis into a pursuit of accountability, recovery, and lasting change.

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and law. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.