The Complete Guide to Hazing Litigation: A Resource for Hedley, Texas Families

If you’re a parent in Hedley, Texas, the news can feel distant until it touches your own family. You send your child off to a Texas university with pride—perhaps to Texas A&M in College Station, the University of Texas at Austin, or another respected campus—hoping they find community and success. The nightmare begins with a late-night phone call, a vague text about a “pledge event,” or the chilling sight of your child returning home with unexplained injuries and a broken spirit. Hazing is not a relic of the past; it is a present and dangerous reality on campuses across Texas and the nation.

Right now, our firm, Attorney911, is actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas: the $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, and 13 members of its Beta Nu chapter. As reported by Click2Houston and ABC13, Bermudez, a UH student, suffered catastrophic injuries during his fall 2025 pledge period, including rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after being forced through extreme workouts, humiliating rituals, and simulated waterboarding. This case is not an anomaly. It is a stark example of the systemic abuse that persists within Greek systems, athletic teams, and Corps programs, even at institutions right here in our state.

This guide is written specifically for you—parents, guardians, and families in Hedley and across Donley County. Whether your child attends a local college, a major university hours away, or is considering joining a campus organization, you deserve to know the truth about hazing in 2025: what it looks like, how Texas law protects your child, and what legal recourse you have when institutions fail. We will demystify the legal process, expose the national patterns of abuse, and explain how our Texas-based firm uses a data-driven approach to hold every responsible party accountable.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate legal guidance, 24/7.

In the first 48 hours, your priorities are:

1. Medical Care: Seek immediate medical attention, even for seemingly minor injuries. Conditions like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) can be fatal if untreated.
2. Evidence Preservation: Before anything is deleted:
   • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), texts, and social media DMs.
   • Photograph any injuries from multiple angles.
   • Save physical evidence (torn clothing, paddles, bottles).
   • Write down everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, specific acts.
3. Legal Consultation: Contact an experienced hazing attorney. Evidence disappears quickly, and universities often move to control the narrative. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential case evaluation.

Do NOT:

• Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team directly.
• Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” their phone.
• Sign any documents from the university or an insurance company.
• Post details about the incident on public social media.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing has evolved far beyond stereotypical “pranks.” It is a calculated process of coercion, humiliation, and control designed to test loyalty through abuse. For families in Hedley, understanding these modern tactics is the first step in recognizing the danger your child may be facing.

A Modern, Coercive Definition

Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—occurring on or off campus—that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining membership in any organization. The critical legal point under Texas law is that the victim’s “consent” is not a defense. When a student faces peer pressure, social isolation, and implicit threats of expulsion from a group they desperately want to join, their agreement is not truly voluntary.

The Three Tiers of Modern Hazing

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing & Digital Control
This establishes power imbalances and often precedes more severe abuse. It includes:

• Mandatory Servitude: Acting as a 24/7 on-call driver, personal assistant, or cleaner for older members.
• Social Isolation: Being cut off from non-member friends or requiring permission to socialize.
• Digital Monitoring: Being forced to share live location via apps, respond instantly to all group chat messages at all hours, or having social media posts policed by members.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing
These acts cause emotional and physical discomfort and create a hostile environment.

• Sleep Deprivation: Mandatory late-night/early-morning “meetings,” workouts, or tasks.
• Forced Consumption: Eating excessive amounts of bland food (milk, bread, hot dogs) or disgusting substances until vomiting.
• Verbal Abuse & Humiliation: “Roasting” sessions, demeaning nicknames, public degradation.
• “Voluntary” Extreme Exercise: Punitive “smokings” or calisthenics framed as “conditioning.”

Tier 3: Violent & Life-Threatening Hazing
These activities have a high potential for severe injury, sexual assault, or death. This is what happened to Leonel Bermudez at UH.

• Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” reveal nights with handles of liquor, “lineup” drinking games, trivia where wrong answers mandate drinking.
• Physical Beatings: Paddling, punching, kicking, or being tackled during rituals.
• Dangerous “Tests”: “Glass ceiling” rituals (blindfolded tackling), forced fights, exposure to extreme cold without proper clothing.
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexual assault.
• Kidnapping & Restraint: Being taken to an unknown location, tied up, or bound.

The hazing alleged in the UH Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit is a textbook example of Tier 3 violence: forced overconsumption of food leading to vomiting, hours of extreme calisthenics (100+ push-ups, 500 squats), being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and lying in vomit-soaked grass. The result was a medical catastrophe: rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas Statutes and Your Family’s Rights

Texas has specific laws designed to combat hazing and protect students. Understanding this framework is crucial for Hedley families seeking accountability.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Anti-Hazing Statute

• Definition (Sec. 37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers physical or mental health for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership.
• Criminal Penalties (Sec. 37.152):
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause serious injury.
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
  • It is also a crime to fail to report hazing or to retaliate against someone who reports.
• Organizational Liability (Sec. 37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (Sec. 37.155): This is a powerful provision that directly counters the common excuse, “They agreed to it.”

Civil Liability vs. Criminal Charges

It is vital to understand the two parallel paths:

• Criminal Case: Brought by the state (DA’s office) to punish the wrongdoer with jail, fines, or probation. A criminal conviction is not required to file a civil suit.
• Civil Lawsuit: Brought by the victim and their family to recover compensation for damages (medical bills, pain and suffering, lost future earnings) and to hold all responsible parties accountable. This is where our firm focuses its efforts, building cases that compel institutional change.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Case?

A robust legal strategy identifies every entity with responsibility.

1. Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As a functional organization that allowed a culture of abuse to flourish.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: They often have deep knowledge of prior incidents across the country, set (and fail to enforce) policies, and collect dues. Their liability is based on negligent supervision.
4. The University: Public universities like UH, Texas A&M, and UT have a duty to protect students. They can be liable for deliberate indifference if they knew of risks and failed to act. The Bermudez lawsuit alleges UH owned/controlled the chapter house and failed to intervene despite systemic hazing.
5. Third Parties: Property owners of off-campus houses, alumni advisors, and housing corporations.

The Federal Overlay: Title IX and the Stop Campus Hazing Act

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, it triggers federal Title IX obligations for the university to investigate and address a hostile environment.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires colleges to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs, with full implementation by 2026.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Blueprint for Texas Litigation

The tragic cases below are not just news stories; they are legal precedents that establish patterns of foreseeable harm. National fraternities and universities cannot claim ignorance when the same dangerous rituals lead to injury and death on campus after campus.

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. The case led to the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania and resulted in hundreds of criminal charges.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. His family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from the university).
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died from alcohol toxicity after a “Bible study” drinking game. His case spurred Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony.

The Physical & Ritualized Violence Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from a traumatic brain injury after a violent, blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter—a landmark for organizational liability.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. His family settled with 22 defendants, highlighting the multi-party nature of these cases.

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, proving hazing is endemic in high-profile sports programs.

What This Means for Hedley Families: These national patterns create a “playbook” that experienced hazing attorneys use to prove that injuries are foreseeable. When a Texas chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha engages in forced drinking, they are repeating the exact conduct that killed Stone Foltz. This history shatters defenses and strengthens claims for punitive damages.

Texas University Focus: Where Hedley Families Send Their Kids

Parents in Hedley and Donley County often have children at regional schools, flagship universities, and everything in between. The hazing risk exists across the spectrum. Below, we focus on the major universities with significant Greek and organizational life, detailing their environments, known incidents, and legal landscapes.

Texas A&M University (College Station)

• Culture Snapshot: Home to a massive Greek system and the storied Corps of Cadets, where tradition can sometimes mask abuse. Families from across the Texas Panhandle, including Hedley, often see Texas A&M as a top choice.
• Documented Incidents:
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being doused with industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits were filed.
  • Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged degrading hazing, including being bound face-down between beds with an apple in his mouth in a simulated sexual position. The lawsuit sought over $1 million in damages.
• Legal Pathway: Cases may involve the Bryan/College Station police, Brazos County courts, and claims against both the national fraternity and Texas A&M University System. The Corps’ unique structure adds layers of potential liability.

University of Texas at Austin

• Culture Snapshot: A large, tradition-rich campus with a highly visible Greek life. UT maintains one of the more transparent public hazing violation logs in the state.
• Documented Incidents (From UT’s Public Log):
  • Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members were directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. The chapter was placed on probation.
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): An Australian exchange student alleged assault at a party, suffering a dislocated leg, broken nose, and fractures. He sued the chapter for over $1 million.
  • Various spirit groups and other fraternities have been sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol hazing, and psychological abuse.
• Legal Pathway: Transparency is a double-edged sword. UT’s public log provides families with evidence of prior knowledge and patterns, which is invaluable in building a negligence case against the university and the organizations.

University of Houston

• Culture Snapshot: A large, diverse commuter and residential campus in the heart of the nation’s fourth-largest city. Its Greek system is active and has faced serious scrutiny.
• The Flagship Case – Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi: This active, $10 million lawsuit is the exemplar of severe hazing in Texas. The allegations include the “pledge fanny pack” humiliation, forced overeating, extreme physical workouts at Yellowstone Park, and hose spraying “similar to waterboarding.” Bermudez developed life-threatening rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. The chapter was swiftly suspended and then voted to surrender its charter.
• Legal Pathway: This case is proceeding in Harris County courts. It names a wide “defendant universe”: 13 individual members, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu housing corporation, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the University of Houston, and the UH System Board of Regents. It is a master class in identifying all potentially liable parties.

Baylor University (Waco) & Southern Methodist University (Dallas)

• Baylor: While known for its religious affiliation, Baylor has faced hazing issues within its athletic programs, including a 2020 baseball team hazing incident that led to multiple player suspensions.
• SMU: This private university with a affluent student body has seen hazing suspensions, including a 2017 Kappa Alpha Order incident involving paddling and forced drinking.
• Legal Pathway for Private Schools: Sovereign immunity arguments that apply to public universities are weaker here, potentially simplifying some legal hurdles for families.

The Greek Ecosystem: National Histories and Texas Entities

For a parent in Hedley, the letters on a sweatshirt—ΠΚΦ, ΣΑΕ, ΠΚΑ—can seem harmless. But each represents a national organization with a history and a complex financial and legal structure operating within Texas. Our firm’s Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine is built to map this exact ecosystem.

Why Tracking the Organization Matters

Liability doesn’t end with the college students in the chapter house. National fraternities have insurance, assets, and legal departments. They also have documented histories of the same dangerous behaviors. When we take a case, we immediately begin identifying every Texas-registered entity connected to the organization, because these are the entities that often hold insurance policies and true accountability.

Public Records Directory: A Snapshot of the Texas Greek Landscape

Using IRS data, university records, and corporate filings, we maintain intelligence on over 1,400 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros. This means we don’t start from scratch when your family needs help. For example, the Pi Kappa Phi organization involved in the UH case is connected to multiple Texas entities we can immediately identify.

Here is a small sample of the types of organizations we track that are connected to campuses where Hedley students may be present:

Sample Texas-Registered Greek Entities (IRS B83 Data):

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 462267515 – Frisco, TX 75035
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN 746064445 – Nederland, TX 77627 (Epsilon Kappa Chapter)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN 741380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – EIN 521278573 – Dallas, TX 75241 (Lambda Lambda Chapter)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN 364091267 – Waco, TX 76710
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – EIN 900293166 – College Station, TX 77843 (Texas A&M Chapter)

Metro Concentration (Cause IQ Data):

• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro: 510+ Greek organizations
• Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metro: 188+ Greek organizations
• Austin-Round Rock Metro: 154+ Greek organizations

This directory is part of our litigation strategy. By knowing the legal names, EINs, and addresses of these entities from day one, we can efficiently subpoena records, identify insurance coverage, and build a case that reaches every pocket of responsibility.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

When you contact Attorney911 after a hazing incident, we initiate a comprehensive, strategic process designed to secure justice and maximum accountability.

Phase 1: Evidence Preservation & Investigation

The digital footprint is often the most critical evidence. We act swiftly to preserve what others try to delete.

• Digital Forensics: Recovery of deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, text, and social media messages. Analysis of geo-location data and timestamps.
• Internal Chapter Records: Subpoenaing pledge manuals, meeting minutes, financial records, and communications with national headquarters.
• University Files: Obtaining prior conduct reports, Clery Act logs, and internal emails about the organization through discovery and public records requests.
• Witness Interviews: Confidential interviews with other pledges, former members, and bystanders who have information.

Phase 2: Identifying Liability & Insurance Coverage

We map the complete defendant universe, as seen in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case. Our insider knowledge is key here. Mr. Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and undervalue claims. This allows us to anticipate their tactics, fight coverage exclusions, and negotiate from a position of unmatched strength.

Phase 3: Calculating Damages

Hazing causes profound and often lifelong harm. We work with experts to document the full extent of damages, which may include:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses (ER care, hospitalization, surgery, therapy, lifelong care for catastrophic injuries), lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound grief and loss of companionship suffered by the family.

Phase 4: Settlement or Trial

We prepare every case as if it will go to trial. This readiness is what forces serious settlement offers. However, we are fully prepared to take cases to a jury to secure public verdicts that drive institutional change, as seen in cases like Chad Meredith v. Kappa Sigma ($12.6 million verdict).

Practical Guides & FAQs for Hedley Families

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight change.
• Secrecy about organization activities; fear when their phone buzzes.
• Sudden withdrawal from family, old friends, or academic decline.
• Unexplained financial charges for alcohol, costumes, or “fines.”

What to Do:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’m concerned about you. Is there anything happening in your [fraternity/sorority/team] that makes you feel unsafe or humiliated?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If they are in immediate danger, call 911.
3. Preserve Evidence: Follow the steps in the “Immediate Help” section above.
4. Contact an Attorney: Before reporting to the university or police, consult with us. We can help you navigate these systems strategically to protect your child and your case.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: No tradition justifies abuse.
• “Consent” is Not a Defense in Texas: You cannot sign away your right to safety.
• How to Exit Safely: You can resign your membership at any time. Do so in writing (email/text). Do not attend “one last meeting” where you may be pressured or threatened.
• Reporting: You can report anonymously to university hotlines or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE). For legal action and true accountability, contact a lawyer.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

We strongly advise families to avoid these common errors:

1. Deleting Evidence: Letting your child “clean up” group chats or social media.
2. Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers their legal defense and evidence destruction.
3. Signing University Resolution Papers: Often presented as “helpful,” these can waive your right to sue.
4. Posting on Social Media: Inconsistencies can be used against you; let your attorney control the narrative.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, memories fade, and the statute of limitations runs.

Watch our video on common client mistakes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue a public university in Texas?
A: Yes. While sovereign immunity provides some protection, exceptions exist for gross negligence, intentional acts, and Title IX violations. We know how to navigate these complex arguments.

Q: How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
A: In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years from the date of injury. However, specific circumstances can affect this. Do not wait. Watch our video on statutes of limitation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c.

Q: What if it happened off-campus at a rental house?
A: Location does not absolve liability. The university and national organization can still be responsible based on their knowledge, sponsorship, and control over the members and activities.

Q: How much does it cost to hire Attorney911?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases. This means you pay no upfront fees or out-of-pocket costs. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery we obtain for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. Learn more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc.

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

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who are not intimidated by powerful institutions and who understand the hidden mechanisms of fraternity, sorority, and university liability. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including those right here in Hedley and Donley County.

Our Proven Litigation Advantages:

• Insider Insurance Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) is a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows the exact tactics insurers for fraternities and universities will use to minimize your claim. This insider perspective is invaluable.
• Complex Institutional Litigation: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing billion-dollar defendants. We apply the same rigorous, fearless approach to taking on national fraternities and university systems.
• Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—tracking thousands of entities—means we begin your case with knowledge, not guesswork. We know how to find the responsible organizations and their insurance policies.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Insight: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits, allowing us to advise families and witnesses comprehensively.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. Se habla Español.

We are currently leading the charge in the Leonel Bermudez v. UH Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit, fighting for justice against a major university and a national fraternity. This is the level of dedication and expertise we bring to every case.

Call to Action for Hedley Families

If you suspect your child has been hazed—whether at a Texas university, a community college, or any campus organization—you do not have to navigate this alone. The path to accountability and healing begins with a conversation.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.

In your free consultation, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your family’s legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Outline the investigation process and discuss realistic outcomes.
• Answer all your questions about the legal process and our contingency fee structure.

Take the first step toward justice and prevention today.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct Line: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Email: ralph@atty911.com | Lupe Peña (Spanish): lupe@atty911.com
Website: https://attorney911.com

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