The Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuits in Texas: Protecting Your Family in La Grange and Across Fayette County

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You’re Not Alone

Imagine receiving a late-night phone call. Your son, a student at Texas A&M or the University of Houston, sounds terrified. Between choked sobs, he describes being forced to drink until he vomited, then being made to sprint until he collapsed. He says older fraternity members threatened him with worse if he told anyone. You’re in La Grange, nearly two hours away, feeling completely helpless as your child faces a crisis you never anticipated.

This isn’t a hypothetical scenario. Right now, in Houston, we’re representing Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. According to coverage by Click2Houston and ABC13, Bermudez suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after enduring weeks of brutal hazing including forced consumption of milk and hot dogs, “waterboarding” with a hose, and extreme physical workouts that left him hospitalized for four days.

If you’re a parent in La Grange, Fayette County, with a child at any Texas university, this reality is closer than you think. The drive from La Grange to College Station is just over an hour. To Austin, about 90 minutes. Your children are entering environments where national fraternities with decades of hazing histories operate chapters at every major Texas campus.

This comprehensive guide explains what Texas parents in La Grange and throughout Central Texas need to know about hazing in 2025: what it really looks like, Texas law, national patterns, and how families can seek accountability when universities and fraternities fail to protect students.

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:

1. Get medical attention immediately, even if they insist they’re “fine”
2. Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
   • Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately
   • Photograph injuries from multiple angles
   • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects used)
3. Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where)
4. DO NOT:
   • Confront the fraternity/sorority directly
   • Sign anything from the university or insurance company
   • Post details on public social media
   • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence

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

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

For families in La Grange who may be unfamiliar with modern Greek life, hazing has evolved far beyond “harmless pranks” or “team bonding.” Today’s hazing is systematic, digitally monitored, and often disguised as “tradition” or “character building.”

The Three Tiers of Modern Hazing

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing (Often Dismissed as “Just Tradition”)

• 24/7 digital control: Pledges required to respond instantly to GroupMe messages at all hours
• Servitude duties: Acting as designated drivers at 2 AM, cleaning members’ apartments, running personal errands
• Social isolation: Being told to cut contact with non-members, requiring permission to visit family
• “Voluntary” activities: Framed as optional but with clear social consequences for non-participation

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing (Creates Hostile Environment)

• Sleep deprivation: Mandatory 3 AM “meetings,” overnight chauffeuring duties
• Food/water manipulation: Forced consumption of disgusting mixtures, deprivation as punishment
• Public humiliation: Wearing degrading costumes around campus, performing embarrassing acts
• Extreme exercise: “Smokings” with hundreds of push-ups, wall-sits until collapse

Tier 3: Violent Hazing (High Risk of Injury or Death)

• Forced alcohol consumption: “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, drinking games with wrong answers
• Physical beatings: Paddling, punching, “gladiator” fights between pledges
• Sexualized abuse: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, sexual assault
• Dangerous environments: Locked in freezing rooms, forced swimming while intoxicated

Digital Hazing: The 24/7 Control System

What many La Grange parents don’t realize is that hazing now follows students everywhere through their phones:

• Group chat monitoring: Pledges must respond within minutes, any time of day or night
• Location tracking: Required to share live location via Find My Friends or Life360
• Social media control: Told what to post, required to “like” all chapter content
• Digital humiliation: Forced to post embarrassing TikTok videos, participate in online “challenges”

The Pi Kappa Phi case at UH exemplified this control. According to the ABC13 report, pledges carried “pledge fanny packs” 24/7 containing condoms and sex toys, with failure resulting in severe punishment. This isn’t isolated – it’s a pattern repeated across Texas campuses.

Texas Hazing Law: What La Grange Families Need to Know

Texas has specific anti-hazing statutes in the Education Code, but many parents in Fayette County don’t understand how these laws actually protect their children.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Hazing Framework

§ 37.151 Definition:
Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that:

• Endangers mental or physical health or safety AND
• Occurs for pledging, initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership

Key provisions for La Grange families:

• § 37.155: Consent is NOT a defense – Even if your child “agreed,” it’s still hazing
• § 37.152: Criminal penalties escalate with injury:
  • Class B misdemeanor: Basic hazing (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine)
  • Class A misdemeanor: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
  • State jail felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death
• § 37.153: Organizational liability – Fraternities can be fined up to $10,000 per violation
• § 37.154: Good-faith reporter immunity – Calling for help protects from liability

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Dual Paths

Criminal Cases (Brought by the State):

• Goal: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical charges: Hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, manslaughter in fatal cases
• Jurisdiction: Could be campus police, Fayette County Sheriff, or city police where incident occurred

Civil Cases (Brought by Victims/Families):

• Goal: Compensation and accountability
• Claims: Negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, emotional distress
• Jurisdiction: County where injury occurred or defendants are located

Important: A criminal case is NOT required to file a civil lawsuit. Many hazing cases proceed civilly even when prosecutors decline criminal charges.

Federal Overlay: Stop Campus Hazing Act & Title IX

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024):

• Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing transparently
• Phased implementation through 2026
• Will create public databases of hazing incidents

Title IX (When Hazing Involves Sexual Elements):

• Triggers federal investigation requirements
• Can compel universities to take specific preventive measures
• Creates additional liability pathways

National Hazing Case Patterns: Lessons for Texas Families

The hazing incident at UH follows patterns seen nationwide. Understanding these patterns helps La Grange families recognize that what happened to their child wasn’t “isolated” – it was predictable and preventable.

Alcohol Poisoning Pattern: The Deadliest Script

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University (2021):

• Pi Kappa Alpha “Big/Little” night
• Forced to drink entire bottle of alcohol
• Died from alcohol poisoning
• $10 million settlement ($7M from national Pike, $3M from university)

Max Gruver – Louisiana State University (2017):

• Phi Delta Theta “Bible study” drinking game
• Wrong answers = forced drinking
• Died with 0.495% BAC
• Louisiana enacted Max Gruver Act (felony hazing statute)

Andrew Coffey – Florida State University (2017):

• Pi Kappa Phi “Big Brother” night
• Pledge given handle of liquor
• Died from acute alcohol poisoning
• FSU suspended all Greek life temporarily

Pattern Recognition: Each followed the same script: tradition night + forced drinking + delayed medical care = tragedy. This same script plays out at Texas campuses every semester.

Physical Hazing Pattern: Brutality Disguised as Tradition

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College (2013):

• Pi Delta Psi “glass ceiling” ritual
• Blindfolded, weighted with backpack, repeatedly tackled
• Died from traumatic brain injury
• National fraternity convicted of aggravated assault
• Banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years

Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Case (2023):

• Cadet allegedly bound between beds in “roasted pig” position
• Apple placed in mouth, simulated sexual acts
• Sought over $1 million in damages
• Highlights hazing beyond Greek life

The Cover-Up Pattern: Delayed Help Makes Things Worse

Timothy Piazza – Penn State University (2017):

• Beta Theta Pi bid acceptance night
• Fell down stairs multiple times, captured on chapter cameras
• 12-hour delay before calling 911
• 18 members charged with 1,000+ criminal counts
• Pennsylvania enacted Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law

This pattern of delayed medical care appeared in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case too, where Bermudez deteriorated for days before hospitalization.

Texas Universities: Where La Grange Families Send Their Kids

As parents in La Grange and Fayette County, your children likely attend universities within a few hours’ drive. Understanding the hazing landscape at these schools is crucial.

The Local Connection: Fayette County’s Educational Pathways

From La Grange, students typically attend:

• Blinn College (30 minutes – Brenham campus)
• Texas State University (90 minutes – San Marcos)
• University of Texas at Austin (90 minutes)
• Texas A&M University (75 minutes – College Station)
• University of Houston (2 hours)

Each has distinct Greek ecosystems and hazing histories.

Public Records: The Greek Organizations Behind Texas Campuses

We maintain a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracking 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. For La Grange families, understanding who stands behind these organizations matters.

IRS-Registered Greek Entities in Texas (Sample):

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 462267515) – Frisco, TX 75035
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc (EIN 273662583) – Lufkin, TX 75904
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc (EIN 475370943) – Houston, TX 77204 (Theta Delta chapter)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter (EIN 746084905) – Houston, TX 77204
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (EIN 746064445) – Nederland, TX 77627 (Epsilon Kappa chapter)

Austin-Round Rock Metro Greek Organizations (Our Region):

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Rho Corp. – Austin, TX (University of Texas chapter)
• Delta Tau Delta – Gamma Iota Chapter – Austin, TX (UT chapter house)
• Building Corporation – Alpha Delta Pi – Austin, TX (UT chapter property)
• Beta Xi House Corp. of Kappa Kappa Gamma – Austin, TX (UT chapter)

These aren’t just social clubs – they’re legal entities with insurance, assets, and liability.

University-Specific Hazing Environments

Texas A&M University (75 minutes from La Grange):

• Corps of Cadets Culture: Military-style discipline with hazing risks
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Lawsuit (2021): Pledges allegedly covered in industrial cleaner causing chemical burns requiring skin grafts
• Corps Lawsuit (2023): “Roasted pig” bondage alleged, seeking $1+ million
• Greek Life: 60+ fraternities/sororities with varying oversight

University of Texas at Austin (90 minutes from La Grange):

• Public Hazing Violations Page: UT publishes disciplinary actions
• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members forced to consume milk, perform extreme calisthenics – probation imposed
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): Australian exchange student allegedly assaulted, suffering dislocated leg, broken nose
• Transparency Advantage: Public records help establish pattern evidence

Texas State University (90 minutes from La Grange):

• Growing Greek System: Expanding fraternity/sorority presence
• Geographic Risk: Near Austin metro Greek organizations
• Similar Patterns: Shares national organizations with UT and A&M

Blinn College (30 minutes from La Grange – Brenham):

• Feeder to A&M: Many students transfer to Texas A&M
• Early Greek Exposure: Introduction to fraternity/sorority culture
• Limited Oversight: Smaller campus resources for monitoring

Fraternities & Sororities: National Histories Matter for La Grange Families

When a fraternity hazes at UT or A&M, it’s rarely their first offense. National organizations have decades of documented hazing incidents that establish patterns of foreseeable harm.

Why National Histories Create Liability

National fraternities know their chapters’ tendencies because they’ve seen them before:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Stone Foltz death (2021), multiple other alcohol hazing deaths
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Multiple hazing deaths nationwide, traumatic brain injury lawsuit at Alabama
• Pi Kappa Phi: Andrew Coffey death (2017), now the UH case we’re litigating
• Phi Delta Theta: Max Gruver death (2017) leading to felony hazing law

When these nationals fail to implement meaningful oversight, they become liable for “negligent supervision.”

The Insurance Reality: Why Nationals Fight So Hard

National fraternities maintain insurance policies covering chapters. When hazing occurs, insurers often:

1. Deny coverage claiming intentional acts exclusion
2. Delay payments hoping families will accept low settlements
3. Fight jurisdiction arguing local chapters are independent

Our advantage: Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney. He knows exactly how these companies operate. As he stated in the ABC13 coverage of the UH case: “If this prevents harm to another person… Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy & Realistic Expectations

For La Grange families considering legal action, understanding the process is crucial. Hazing cases are complex institutional battles requiring specific expertise.

Evidence That Wins Cases (Start Preserving NOW)

Digital Evidence (Most Critical):

• Group chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord
• Social media: Instagram stories, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook
• Deleted messages: Digital forensics can often recover them
• Location data: Google Maps history, Find My Friends logs

Watch our video on using your phone to document evidence for best practices.

Physical Evidence:

• Injuries: Photograph immediately and over several days
• Objects: Paddles, alcohol bottles, costumes, props
• Locations: Photos of houses, rooms, off-campus venues

Institutional Records (Obtained via Discovery):
年 University files: Prior discipline, incident reports, warning letters
年 National fraternity records: Risk management files, prior incident reports
年 Insurance policies: Coverage documents, reservation of rights letters

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable):

• Medical expenses: ER, hospitalization, surgery, ongoing therapy
• Lost educational costs: Tuition for semesters missed, lost scholarships
• Future earning capacity: Reduced lifetime earnings if permanently disabled

Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical pain and suffering: From injuries and treatment
• Emotional distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment: Can’t participate in college life, activities

Wrongful Death Damages (If Applicable):

• Funeral/burial costs
• Loss of companionship for parents and siblings
• Grief and emotional suffering

Realistic Timeline & Process

1. Immediate Response (Days 1-7): Evidence preservation, medical care, initial consultation
2. Investigation Phase (Months 1-6): Gathering records, interviewing witnesses, building case
3. Demand & Negotiation (Months 6-12): Presenting case to defendants, settlement discussions
4. Litigation (Year 1-3+): Filing lawsuit, discovery, depositions, potential trial

Learn more about Texas statutes of limitations in our educational video.

Practical Guide for La Grange Parents & Students

Warning Signs Your Child Is Being Hazed

Physical Signs:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries with inconsistent explanations
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Weight changes from food manipulation
• Chemical burns or skin damage

Behavioral Changes:

• Sudden secrecy about organization activities
• Withdrawal from family and old friends
• Personality shifts: anxiety, depression, irritability
• Constant phone obsession (monitoring group chats)
• Fear of “letting the chapter down” or “getting in trouble”

Academic Red Flags:

• Grades dropping suddenly
• Missing classes or falling asleep in class
• Losing scholarships or academic standing

Questions to Ask (Non-Confrontationally)

1. “How are things going with [fraternity/sorority]? Are they respectful of your time?”
2. “What do they ask you to do as a new member?”
3. “Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable or that you wish you didn’t have to do?”
4. “Do you feel like you could leave if you wanted to, or would there be consequences?”

48-Hour Action Checklist for Parents

HOUR 1-6 (IMMEDIATE CRISIS):
✅ Get medical attention if injured/intoxicated
✅ Remove from dangerous situation
✅ Screenshot any messages shown to you
✅ Photograph visible injuries
✅ Write down everything they tell you
✅ Call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911

HOUR 6-24 (EVIDENCE PRESERVATION):
✅ Help child preserve ALL digital evidence (don’t delete anything)
✅ Secure physical evidence (clothing, objects, receipts)
✅ Request medical records from any treatment
✅ Document witness names and contact info
✅ Note any university communications (but don’t respond yet)

HOUR 24-48 (STRATEGIC DECISIONS):
✅ Consult with experienced hazing attorney (1-888-ATTY-911)
✅ Decide on reporting to campus/local police (with attorney guidance)
✅ Refer university contacts to your attorney
✅ Do NOT talk to insurance adjusters without counsel
✅ Backup all evidence to cloud storage

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Letting evidence be deleted – Looks like cover-up, ruins case
2. Confronting the fraternity directly – Triggers evidence destruction, witness coaching
3. Signing university “resolution” forms – Often includes liability waivers
4. Posting on social media – Defense attorneys screenshot everything
5. Waiting for university investigation – Evidence disappears, statutes run
6. Talking to insurance adjusters – Recorded statements used against you

Watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin your case.

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases

When your family in La Grange faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how universities and national fraternities fight back – and how to win anyway.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

Insurance Insider Advantage (Mr. Lupe Peña):

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

Complex Institutional Litigation (Ralph Manginello):

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

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Experience:

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

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise:

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

Investigative Depth:

• Network of experts: medical, digital forensics, economists, psychologists
• Experience obtaining hidden evidence (group chats, chapter records, university files)
• Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine with 1,423 Greek organizations tracked

The UH Pi Kappa Phi Case: Proof of Our Active Litigation

Right now, we’re leading the Leonel Bermudez hazing lawsuit against:

1. University of Houston and UH System Board of Regents
2. Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters
3. Beta Nu Housing Corporation
4. 13 individual fraternity leaders/members

As reported by Click2Houston and Hoodline, the hazing included:

• “Pledge fanny pack” humiliation with condoms and sex toys
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, peppercorns until vomiting
• Hose spraying “similar to waterboarding”
• Extreme workouts causing rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure
• Four-day hospitalization with risk of permanent kidney damage

This is what we do: take on powerful institutions when they fail to protect students.

Your Next Steps: Free Confidential Consultation

If hazing has affected your family in La Grange, Fayette County, or anywhere in Texas, you don’t have to face this alone.

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation

1. We Listen: Your story, without judgment, in complete confidence
2. Evidence Review: We’ll examine what you’ve preserved (photos, texts, medical records)
3. Options Explained: Criminal reporting, civil lawsuit, both, or neither – with pros/cons of each
4. Realistic Assessment: Timelines, challenges, potential outcomes based on similar cases
5. Cost Discussion: Contingency fee basis – we don’t get paid unless you recover
6. No Pressure: Take time to decide what’s right for your family

Immediate Contact Information

Call Now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
24/7 Cell: (713) 443-4781
Email: ralph@atty911.com (Ralph Manginello), lupe@atty911.com (Mr. Lupe Peña)
Website: https://attorney911.com

Spanish Services Available:
Hablamos Español – Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish.

Serving La Grange & All of Texas

From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families throughout Texas, including:

• Fayette County: La Grange, Flatonia, Schulenburg, Winchester
• Central Texas: Bastrop, Giddings, Brenham, Columbus
• Major University Communities: College Station, Austin, San Marcos, Houston

Whether your child attends Texas A&M, UT Austin, Texas State, Blinn, or any Texas campus, we understand the unique challenges of hazing cases and have the experience to help.

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

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

News Coverage of UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston coverage: 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: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Hoodline summary: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Evidence preservation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Statute of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client mistakes to avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Contingency fees explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Main Website:

• Attorney911: https://attorney911.com