The Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuits & Campus Accountability: A Resource for Eskota, TX Families

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You’re Not Alone—And You Have Rights

For parents in Eskota, Roby, Rotan, and across Fisher County, sending a child to college is a milestone filled with pride and hope. You imagine them gaining an education, building lifelong friendships, and preparing for their future at schools like Texas Tech University, Texas A&M, or UT Austin. The nightmare begins when a phone call or text reveals something has gone terribly wrong. Your child sounds different—exhausted, secretive, or injured. You learn they’ve been subjected to brutal “traditions” as part of joining a campus group. The university’s response feels inadequate. The organization circles its wagons. You’re left wondering: Is this hazing? What are our rights? Who can we trust?

Right now, in Houston, our firm is actively leading one of the most serious hazing lawsuits in Texas. We represent Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, its Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The details are harrowing: forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting; being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”; extreme workouts of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats; and carrying a degrading “pledge fanny pack” 24/7. This systematic abuse caused Bermudez to develop rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure—he was hospitalized for four days after passing brown urine and faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage. This isn’t a historical case from another state. This is happening right now in Texas, and we’re fighting it.

This comprehensive guide exists for one reason: to empower families in Eskota and throughout West Texas with the knowledge, resources, and legal understanding necessary to navigate the complex reality of campus hazing. We’ll explain what modern hazing actually looks like, detail Texas laws that protect your child, examine patterns from national cases that repeat here in Texas, and provide actionable steps you can take immediately if you suspect abuse.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies in Eskota & West Texas

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, 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
  • 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 evidence, 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

Many Eskota families imagine hazing as harmless pranks or excessive partying—echoes of outdated movies. The reality in 2025 is far more systematic, dangerous, and digitally enabled. Hazing today is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group that endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. Crucially, “I agreed to it” does not automatically make it safe or legal when there is peer pressure and power imbalance.

The Five Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common—and deadliest—form. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “Big/Little” nights, “lineup” challenges where pledges must consume alcohol rapidly, and games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean forced drinking. At Texas A&M, Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledges were allegedly covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts.

2. Physical Hazing
Beyond traditional paddling, this now includes extreme “workouts” or “smokings” designed to cause exhaustion or injury, sleep deprivation through mandatory late-night meetings, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme environments. In our UH Pi Kappa Phi case, Bermudez was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats until he couldn’t stand without help.

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (the “roasted pig” position reported in Texas A&M Corps cases), degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. These acts cause profound psychological harm that can last decades.

4. Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, social isolation, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming during meetings or in group chats. This creates a climate of fear where victims believe they cannot escape or report.

5. Digital/Online Hazing
The newest frontier includes GroupMe dares, social media “challenges,” pressure to create compromising content, 24/7 availability demands via messaging apps, and public humiliation through Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat. Digital evidence often provides the clearest proof of hazing.

Where Hazing Actually Happens in Texas

While fraternities receive most attention, hazing occurs across campus organizations:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC (particularly at Texas A&M)
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading)
• Spirit Groups & Tradition Organizations (like Texas Cowboys at UT)
• Marching Bands & Performance Groups
• Academic & Service Organizations

The common thread is social status, tradition, and secrecy that keeps these practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal. For Eskota families with children at Texas Tech in Lubbock, UT in Austin, Texas A&M in College Station, or any Texas campus, understanding this reality is the first step toward protection.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability Framework: What Eskota Families Need to Know

Texas has specific, robust anti-hazing laws that protect students—but navigating them requires understanding both the criminal and civil frameworks. As a West Texas community with deep ties to universities across the state, Eskota families should know these protections extend to their children regardless of where they attend school.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Criminal Framework

Texas law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for purposes of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership that:

• Endangers physical health or safety (beating, forced exercise, forced consumption)
• Substantially affects mental health or safety (extreme humiliation, intimidation)

Key provisions Eskota parents must understand:

§ 37.152 Criminal Penalties:

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing without serious injury (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

§ 37.155 Consent is NOT a Defense:
This is critical: even if your child “agreed” to participate, it’s still a crime under Texas law. Courts recognize that consent under peer pressure and power imbalance isn’t true voluntary consent.

§ 37.154 Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting:
Students who report hazing or call 911 in good faith are protected from civil or criminal liability. This “medical amnesty” encourages saving lives over preserving secrets.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Different Paths to Accountability

Criminal Cases (Brought by the State):

• Purpose: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical charges: Hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, manslaughter in fatal cases
• Example: In the Max Gruver LSU case, fraternity members faced negligent homicide charges

Civil Cases (Brought by Victims/Families):

• Purpose: Compensation and accountability
• Claims: Negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, emotional distress
• Example: The Stone Foltz family secured a $10 million settlement from Pi Kappa Alpha and Bowling Green State University

These cases can proceed simultaneously, and a criminal conviction isn’t required for a successful civil case. Many hazing cases settle confidentially before criminal proceedings conclude.

Federal Overlay: Stop Campus Hazing Act, Title IX, Clery

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024):
Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents transparently, strengthen prevention programs, and maintain public hazing data by 2026. This will dramatically increase visibility into patterns at Texas schools.

Title IX:
When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger. Universities must investigate promptly and protect victims from retaliation.

Clery Act:
Requires reporting certain campus crimes and maintaining safety statistics. Hazing incidents involving assault, alcohol crimes, or sexual offenses often overlap with Clery reporting requirements.

Who Can Be Liable in a Texas Hazing Lawsuit?

1. Individual Students:
Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, we named 13 individual members including the chapter president, pledgemaster, and risk manager.

2. Local Chapter/Organization:
The fraternity/sorority or club itself if it’s a legal entity. Many maintain separate housing corporations with their own insurance.

3. National Fraternity/Sorority:
Headquarters that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Liability hinges on what they knew or should have known from prior incidents nationwide. In the Pi Delta Psi case, the national fraternity was criminally convicted.

4. University or Governing Board:
Schools may be sued under negligence or civil rights theories. Key questions: Did they have prior warnings? Did they enforce policies? Were they deliberately indifferent?

5. Third Parties:
Landlords of event spaces, alcohol providers (under dram shop laws), security companies, or event organizers.

Every case is fact-specific, but experienced hazing attorneys investigate all potential sources of liability and insurance coverage. For Eskota families, this means understanding that accountability can extend far beyond the individuals directly involved.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What Texas Can Learn from Tragedy

The national landscape of hazing litigation provides crucial precedents and patterns that directly inform how we handle Texas cases. These aren’t distant abstractions—they’re blueprints for how institutions respond, how courts rule, and how families can seek justice.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017):
A bid-acceptance event with extreme drinking led to Piazza suffering fatal falls captured on chapter security cameras. Brothers delayed calling for help for 12 hours. The case resulted in dozens of criminal charges, confidential civil settlements, and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. Takeaway for Texas families: Delay in seeking medical help dramatically increases liability and demonstrates callous indifference.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017):
During a “Bible study” drinking game, Gruver was forced to drink when answering questions incorrectly. His blood alcohol level reached 0.495%. The case led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony. Takeaway: Legislative change often follows public outrage and clear evidence.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021):
Foltz was forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey during a “Big/Little” event. He died from alcohol poisoning. The family secured a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU). The chapter president was personally ordered to pay $6.5 million. Takeaway: Universities and nationals face massive financial exposure, and individual officers can bear personal liability.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013):
During a retreat “glass ceiling” ritual, Deng was blindfolded, weighted with a backpack, and repeatedly tackled. He suffered fatal head injuries while help was delayed. The national fraternity was convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter—banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. Takeaway: Off-campus retreats don’t eliminate liability, and national organizations can face criminal conviction.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025):
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program. Multiple lawsuits led to the head coach’s firing and confidential settlements. Takeaway: Hazing extends far beyond Greek life into major athletic programs with deep institutional protection.

What These Cases Mean for Eskota Families

These national cases establish crucial precedents that Texas courts follow:

• Pattern evidence matters: When a Texas chapter repeats conduct that caused injury elsewhere, it demonstrates foreseeability
• Institutional knowledge is key: What the university or national fraternity knew beforehand determines negligence
• Cover-ups increase liability: Destroying evidence, delaying medical care, intimidating witnesses all worsen legal exposure
• Multi-defendant strategy works: Suing individuals, chapters, nationals, and universities creates maximum accountability

For families in Eskota dealing with hazing at Texas schools, these national cases aren’t just headlines—they’re roadmaps for what successful litigation looks like and what accountability can achieve.

Texas University Focus: Where Eskota Students Attend & What Parents Must Know

Eskota families typically send students to universities throughout Texas, with particularly strong connections to schools in West Texas and major state institutions. Understanding each campus’s specific hazing landscape, reporting mechanisms, and historical issues is crucial for protection and response.

Texas Tech University: The Closest Major University to Eskota

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
As the closest major research university to Eskota (approximately 90 miles north in Lubbock), Texas Tech hosts over 40 fraternities and sororities serving West Texas students. The Greek community is active, with particular strengths in agricultural and engineering-focused organizations that appeal to students from rural communities like Fisher County.

Hazing Policy & Reporting:
Texas Tech prohibits hazing through its Student Code of Conduct and maintains reporting channels through the Office of Student Conduct, Texas Tech Police, and an online reporting form. The university publishes annual security reports that include hazing statistics under Clery Act requirements.

Documented Incidents & Responses:

• Kappa Sigma Investigation (2023): Allegations of severe physical hazing resulting in rhabdomyolysis (the same muscle breakdown condition suffered by Leonel Bermudez at UH). The case highlighted how extreme physical “workouts” can cause permanent kidney damage.
• Multiple Chapter Suspensions (2020-2024): Several fraternities faced temporary suspensions for alcohol-related hazing violations, with some reinstated after implementing new member education programs.

How a Texas Tech Hazing Case Might Proceed for an Eskota Family:

• Initial reporting to Texas Tech Police or Lubbock Police Department depending on location
• Civil jurisdiction likely in Lubbock County courts
• Potential defendants: individual members, local chapter, national fraternity/sorority, and potentially Texas Tech University System
• Medical treatment often occurs at University Medical Center in Lubbock or, for severe cases, may require transfer to larger facilities

What Texas Tech Students & Eskota Parents Should Do:

1. Immediate reporting: Contact Texas Tech Student Conduct (806-742-1250) and Texas Tech Police (806-742-3931)
2. Medical documentation: Utilize University Medical Center Emergency Department for thorough evaluation and documentation
3. Evidence preservation: Texas Tech’s rural setting means digital evidence (group chats, social media) is often the primary proof
4. Legal consultation: Contact a Texas-licensed attorney experienced in hazing cases who understands West Texas courts and Texas Tech’s specific dynamics

Texas A&M University: A Common Destination for Eskota Students

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Many Eskota students choose Texas A&M for its engineering, agricultural, and military programs. The Corps of Cadets and robust Greek life create multiple potential hazing environments. The university’s tradition-heavy culture can sometimes enable dangerous behaviors masked as “team building.”

Hazing Policy & Reporting:
Texas A&M maintains separate hazing policies for general students and Corps members through the Office of Student Conduct and Commandant’s Office respectively. The university emphasizes its “Take Care of Your Buddy” program encouraging intervention.

Documented Incidents & Responses:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges allegedly covered in industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended for two years, and victims filed a $1 million lawsuit.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Case (2023): A cadet alleged being bound between beds in a degrading position with an apple in his mouth during hazing. The lawsuit sought over $1 million, with Texas A&M stating it handled the matter internally.
• Multiple Chapter Suspensions: Several fraternities have faced disciplinary action for alcohol hazing, physical abuse, and endangerment.

How a Texas A&M Hazing Case Might Proceed:

• Complex jurisdiction involving university police, College Station PD, and potentially military authorities for Corps cases
• Brazos County courts typically handle civil litigation
• The university often asserts sovereign immunity as a state institution, requiring skillful navigation of exceptions

What Texas A&M Students & Eskota Parents Should Do:

1. Understand dual reporting systems: General student hazing goes to Student Conduct, Corps hazing to the Commandant’s Office
2. Document everything meticulously: Texas A&M’s institutional culture means thorough documentation is essential
3. Seek independent medical evaluation: Beyond Student Health Services for serious injuries
4. Consult attorneys familiar with Texas A&M: The university’s unique culture and legal posture require specialized knowledge

University of Texas at Austin: Academic Destination for Top Students

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
UT Austin attracts Eskota’s highest-achieving students to its prestigious academic programs. The university hosts approximately 60 fraternity and sorority chapters alongside influential spirit organizations like Texas Cowboys that have faced hazing allegations.

Hazing Policy & Reporting – The Gold Standard for Transparency:
UT Austin maintains a publicly accessible Hazing Violations page (hazing.utexas.edu) listing organizations, conduct details, and sanctions—a transparency model other Texas schools should emulate. Reports can be made to the Office of the Dean of Students, UT Police, or anonymous online forms.

Documented Incidents & Responses (From Public Violations Page):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: probation and mandatory hazing prevention education.
• Texas Wranglers (Multiple Years): Spirit organization sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, and punishment-based practices.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): Ongoing investigation into assault allegations involving an Australian exchange student who suffered dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, and broken nose.

How a UT Austin Hazing Case Might Proceed:

• Austin Police Department often involved for off-campus incidents
• Travis County courts handle litigation
• UT’s public violation records provide powerful pattern evidence for civil cases

What UT Austin Students & Eskota Parents Should Do:

1. Check the public violations page first: See if the organization has prior incidents
2. Utilize UT’s robust reporting system: Multiple confidential channels available
3. Preserve digital evidence: Austin’s tech-savvy environment means crucial evidence lives in group chats and social media
4. Consider Travis County venue: Juries in Austin may be particularly receptive to institutional accountability claims

Other Texas Universities Eskota Students Attend

West Texas A&M University (Canyon):
Many Fisher County students choose this closer regional option. The university has faced hazing incidents in both Greek life and athletic programs, with particular patterns in agricultural-oriented organizations.

Hardin-Simmons University & Abilene Christian University (Abilene):
Private religious institutions in the Abilene metro area (approximately 75 miles from Eskota) have experienced hazing within athletic teams and social clubs, often complicated by religious institutional protections.

Texas State University (San Marcos):
Growing in popularity with Eskota students, Texas State has faced multiple fraternity hazing incidents resulting in suspensions and ongoing litigation.

For each institution, the principles remain consistent: document immediately, report through proper channels, secure medical care, and consult experienced counsel before making statements or signing agreements.

Fraternities & Sororities: Campus-Specific Rosters & National Patterns of Harm

Understanding which organizations operate at Texas universities—and their national histories of hazing—is crucial for Eskota families. The same national fraternities that caused deaths in Ohio, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania have active chapters at Texas schools your children attend.

Why National Histories Matter for Texas Cases

When a Texas chapter repeats conduct that caused injury or death at another campus, it demonstrates foreseeability—the legal concept that the harm was predictable based on prior knowledge. National headquarters maintain anti-hazing policies precisely because they know these patterns exist. Their failure to prevent recurrence forms the basis for negligence claims.

Major National Organizations with Texas Chapters & Documented Histories

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / “Pike”):

• National History: Stone Foltz death (Bowling Green, $10M settlement), David Bogenberger death (Northern Illinois, $14M settlement)
• Texas Chapters: Active at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Texas Tech, Baylor, SMU
• Texas Incidents: UT Austin probation (2023) for forced milk consumption and calisthenics; UH chapter suspended (2016) for hazing causing lacerated spleen

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ):

• National History: Multiple hazing deaths nationwide; eliminated traditional pledge process in 2014 due to pattern
• Texas Chapters: Active at all major Texas universities
• Texas Incidents: Texas A&M chemical burns case ($1M lawsuit); UT Austin assault investigation (2024); multiple chapter suspensions statewide

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ):

• National History: Andrew Coffey death (Florida State)
• Texas Chapters: Active at UH (Beta Nu chapter now closed), Texas A&M, UT Austin
• Texas Incidents: Our active $10M lawsuit against UH chapter for hazing causing rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ):

• National History: Max Gruver death (LSU) leading to Louisiana felony hazing law
• Texas Chapters: Active at UT Austin, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
• Texas Pattern: Known for “family tree” drinking games that mirror Gruver case circumstances

Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ):

• National History: Multiple hazing suspensions nationwide
• Texas Chapters: Active at Texas Tech, Texas A&M, SMU
• Texas Incidents: SMU chapter suspended (2017) for paddling and forced drinking

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Mapping the Greek Landscape

Our firm maintains what we call the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a comprehensive database of Greek organizations across Texas built from public records. This isn’t theoretical; it’s concrete data we use to investigate cases. For Eskota families, understanding this landscape reveals the scale of the system your child may be navigating.

IRS B83 Backbone – Texas-Registered Greek Organizations:
Public IRS records show 125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations (house corporations, alumni chapters, honor societies) with Employer Identification Numbers and mailing addresses. Examples relevant to West Texas include:

• EIN 74-6041410: Chi Omega Fraternity, 402 N Steen Dr, Nacogdoches, TX 75965 (IRS B83 filing)
• EIN 90-0293166: Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, 114 Henderson Hall, College Station, TX 77843 (Texas A&M University chapter)
• EIN 90-0927378: Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, 13211 Lost Lake Dr, San Antonio, TX 78249 (Texas Xi chapter)
• EIN 45-1677063: Chi Epsilon Sigma Inc, 5500 Southwestern Medical Ave, Dallas, TX 75235

Cause IQ Metro Data – Organizational Density:

• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro: 510 Greek-related organizations
• Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metro: 188 organizations
• Austin-Round Rock Metro: 154 organizations
• Lubbock Metro: 59 organizations (serving Texas Tech)
• Abilene Metro: 9 organizations (serving Hardin-Simmons, Abilene Christian, McMurry)

What This Means for Eskota Families:
When hazing occurs, multiple entities may share liability: the undergraduate chapter, its housing corporation, alumni associations, and the national headquarters. Each may have separate insurance coverage and legal defenses. Our intelligence engine helps identify all potentially responsible parties—something general practice attorneys often miss.

Campus-Specific Rosters: Where Organizations Actually Operate

Using official university Greek life rosters, we track which organizations operate at specific Texas campuses:

University of Houston (Current before Pi Kappa Phi closure):

• IFC Fraternities: Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Sigma Phi, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Upsilon, Kappa Sigma, Lambda Chi Alpha, Pi Kappa Alpha, Pi Kappa Phi (now closed), Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Theta Chi
• Panhellenic Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta, Phi Mu, Zeta Tau Alpha
• NPHC Organizations: All Divine Nine organizations active

Texas A&M University:

• IFC Fraternities: Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Sigma Phi, Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Tau Delta, Kappa Alpha Order, Kappa Sigma, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Kappa Alpha, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Theta Chi
• Panhellenic Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta, Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, Zeta Tau Alpha

Texas Tech University:

• Multiple chapters of national fraternities and sororities, with particular strength in organizations appealing to West Texas students’ backgrounds and academic interests

These rosters matter because they show whether an organization is officially recognized—which affects university liability—and help identify the full universe of potential defendants in litigation.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages & Legal Strategy

For Eskota families facing the aftermath of hazing, understanding how cases are built—from evidence preservation to damages calculation—provides clarity during a confusing time. This isn’t abstract theory; it’s the practical framework we use in active litigation like the UH Pi Kappa Phi case.

Evidence: The Digital Crime Scene

Modern hazing leaves extensive digital footprints. Preserving this evidence quickly is often the difference between a successful case and one that fails.

Digital Communications (Most Critical Evidence):

• Group Messaging: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage groups, Discord servers, fraternity-specific apps
• Social Media DMs: Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook Messenger
• Recovered Deleted Messages: Digital forensics can often retrieve “disappearing” messages
• In the UH Case: Group chats showed planning of hazing events, coordination among members, and attempts to conceal evidence after Bermudez’s hospitalization

Photos & Videos:

• Content filmed by members during events (often shared in group chats)
• Social media posts/stories showing activities
• Security/doorbell camera footage at houses and venues
• Preservation Tip: Screenshot immediately—don’t assume videos will remain available

Internal Organization Documents:

• Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, “tradition” documents
• Emails between officers about activities
• National policies and training materials showing what should have been prevented

University Records (Obtained via Discovery):

• Prior conduct files, probation/suspension letters
• Campus police incident reports
• Internal emails among administrators about the organization
• Clery Act reports showing patterns

Medical & Psychological Records:

• Emergency room/hospitalization records (crucial for injury documentation)
• Toxicological reports showing blood alcohol levels
• Psychological evaluations diagnosing PTSD, depression, anxiety
• Medical Terminology Matters: In the UH case, Bermudez’s “critically high creatine kinase levels” provided objective proof of rhabdomyolysis

Witness Testimony:

• Other pledges/participants
• Roommates, RAs, bystanders
• Former members who quit due to hazing
• Medical providers who treated injuries

Damages: What Can Be Recovered in a Hazing Case

Understanding damages categories helps families grasp what’s at stake beyond “winning or losing.”

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Financial Losses):

• Medical Expenses: Emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, medications, ongoing treatment
• Future Medical Care: Physical therapy, psychological counseling, long-term care for permanent injuries
• Lost Income/Earning Capacity: Missed work, delayed graduation, reduced lifetime earnings if disabled
• Educational Costs: Tuition for semesters missed, lost scholarships, transfer expenses

Non-Economic Damages (Subjective but Real Harm):

• Physical Pain & Suffering: From injuries and recovery
• Emotional Distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Can’t participate in activities they previously enjoyed
• Reputational Harm: Social stigma, difficulty transferring schools

Wrongful Death Damages (When Tragedy Strikes):

• Funeral/burial costs
• Loss of financial support the deceased would have provided
• Loss of companionship, love, guidance for family members
• Parents’ and siblings’ emotional suffering

Punitive Damages (When Conduct is Egregious):

• Designed to punish particularly reckless or malicious conduct
• Available when defendants showed conscious indifference to known risks
• In Texas, subject to statutory caps except in certain intentional tort cases

Case Valuation Realities:

• Fatal hazing cases: $1M–$14M settlements/verdicts nationally
• Severe injury cases: $375K–multi-million depending on permanency
• The Stone Foltz case: $10M total settlement
• The Max Gruver verdict: $6.1M plus prior confidential settlements

Legal Strategy: Why Experience Matters Against Institutional Defendants

Insurance Coverage Battles:
Fraternities, universities, and their officers typically have multiple insurance policies that may cover hazing claims. Insurers often argue:

• Hazing is an “intentional act” excluded from coverage
• The policy doesn’t cover certain defendants
• There’s no coverage for “criminal acts”

Our insurance insider advantage (Mr. Lupe Peña’s former defense firm experience) is crucial here. We know how insurers value claims, set reserves, and fight coverage—because we used to be on their side.

Multi-Defendant Strategy:
Suing individuals, the local chapter, the national organization, and the university creates:

• Multiple sources of insurance coverage
• Leverage through divided loyalties among defendants
• Comprehensive discovery into all aspects of the hazing culture

Pattern Evidence Development:
Showing that the same conduct caused harm at other chapters demonstrates:

• Foreseeability: The harm was predictable
• Notice: The national organization knew or should have known
• Deliberate Indifference: Failure to take meaningful preventive action

Digital Forensics & Evidence Recovery:
Working with experts to:

• Recover deleted messages and social media content
• Authenticate digital evidence for court admissibility
• Trace planning and cover-up attempts through digital footprints

For Eskota families, this means choosing counsel with specific experience in hazing litigation—not just general personal injury practice. The strategies that work in car accident cases often fail against well-funded institutional defendants with sophisticated defense teams.

Practical Guides & FAQs: Immediate Steps for Eskota Families

For Parents: Recognizing & Responding to Hazing

Warning Signs Your Eskota Student May Be Being Hazed:

Physical Signs:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, cuts, or injuries (especially if explanations don’t add up)
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Weight loss/gain from food restriction or stress eating
• Sleep deprivation (late-night calls, 3 AM “meetings”)
• Chemical burns, rashes, or skin damage
• Signs of alcohol poisoning (even if your child doesn’t normally drink)

Behavioral & Emotional Changes:

• Sudden secrecy about organization activities (“I can’t talk about it”)
• Withdrawal from family, old friends, or non-group activities
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability
• Defensive when asked about the organization
• Fear of “getting in trouble” or “letting the chapter down”
• Constant phone checking for group chat messages

Academic Red Flags:

• Grades dropping suddenly
• Missing classes or falling asleep in class
• Skipping exams/assignments for “mandatory” events
• Losing scholarships or academic standing

Questions to Ask (Non-Confrontationally):

1. “How are things going with [organization]? Are you enjoying it?”
2. “Have they been respectful of your time for classes and sleep?”
3. “What do they ask you to do as a new member?”
4. “Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable or that you wish you didn’t have to do?”
5. “Have you seen anyone get hurt, or have you been hurt?”
6. “Do you feel like you can leave if you want to, or would there be consequences?”
7. “Are they asking you to keep secrets from me or the university?”

48-Hour Action Checklist for Eskota Parents:

Hour 1–6 (Immediate Crisis):
✅ Medical: If injured or intoxicated, get to ER immediately (UMC in Lubbock, Hendrick in Abilene, or local emergency care)
✅ Safety: Remove child from dangerous situation
✅ Evidence: Screenshot any messages they show you; photograph visible injuries
✅ Notes: Write down everything they tell you (date, time, what happened, who was there)
✅ Call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate legal guidance

Hour 6–24 (Evidence Preservation):
✅ Digital: Help child preserve all group chats, DMs, texts (do NOT delete anything)
✅ Physical: Secure clothing, receipts, objects used in hazing
✅ Medical records: Request copies of all ER/hospital records
✅ Witnesses: Write down names and contact info for other pledges, bystanders
✅ University: Note any communications from school but do NOT respond yet

Hour 24–48 (Strategic Decisions):
✅ Legal consultation: Speak with experienced hazing attorney
✅ Reporting decision: Decide whether/how to report with lawyer’s guidance
✅ University response: If school contacts you, refer them to your attorney
✅ Insurance: Do NOT talk to any insurance adjuster without lawyer present
✅ Evidence backup: Upload all screenshots and photos to cloud storage

For Students: Self-Assessment & Safety Planning

Is This Hazing? Decision Guide:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something I don’t want to do?
• Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would the university or my parents approve if they knew exactly what was happening?
• Are older members making new members do things they don’t have to do themselves?
• Am I being told to keep secrets, lie, or hide this from outsiders?

If you answered YES to any, it’s likely hazing.

How to Exit Safely:

• Immediate danger: Call 911 or campus police
• Quitting/de-pledging: Send an email/text to chapter leadership: “I am resigning my membership effective immediately”
• Do NOT go to “one last meeting” where pressure or retaliation might occur
• Protection from retaliation: Document any threats; report to Dean of Students and police; seek protective order if necessary

Evidence Collection for Students:

1. Screenshots of group chats with timestamps and participant names visible
2. Voice memos/recordings (Texas is a one-party consent state)
3. Photos/videos of injuries, locations, objects used
4. Medical documentation telling providers “I was hazed” so it’s in the record
5. Witness information for others who saw what happened

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Hazing Case

1. Letting Your Child Delete Messages or “Clean Up” Evidence

• What parents think: “I don’t want them to get in more trouble”
• Why it’s wrong: Looks like obstruction of justice; makes case nearly impossible
• Instead: Preserve everything immediately, even embarrassing content

2. Confronting the Fraternity/Sorority Directly

• What parents think: “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind”
• Why it’s wrong: They immediately lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
• Instead: Document everything, then call a lawyer before any confrontation

3. Signing University “Release” or “Resolution” Forms

• What universities do: Pressure families to sign waivers or internal agreements
• Why it’s wrong: You may waive your right to sue; settlements are often far below value
• Instead: Do NOT sign anything without an attorney reviewing it first

4. Posting Details on Social Media Before Talking to a Lawyer

• What families think: “I want people to know what happened”
• Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
• Instead: Document privately; let your lawyer control public messaging

5. Letting Your Child Go Back to “One Last Meeting”

• What fraternities say: “Come talk to us before you do anything drastic”
• Why it’s wrong: They pressure, intimidate, or extract damaging statements
• Instead: Once considering legal action, all communication goes through your lawyer

6. Waiting “To See How the University Handles It”

• What universities promise: “We’re investigating; let us handle this internally”
• Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute runs
• Instead: Preserve evidence NOW; consult lawyer immediately

7. Talking to Insurance Adjusters Without a Lawyer

• What adjusters say: “We just need your statement to process the claim”
• Why it’s wrong: Recorded statements are used against you; early settlements are lowball
• Instead: Politely decline: “My attorney will contact you”

Frequently Asked Questions from Eskota Families

“Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities (Texas Tech, Texas A&M, UT) have sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals personally. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity protections. Every case depends on specific facts.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law classifies hazing as a Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report hazing.

“Can my child bring a case if they ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Yes. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure and fear of exclusion isn’t true voluntary consent.

“How long do we have to file a hazing lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if the harm wasn’t immediately known. In cases involving cover-ups, the statute may be tolled (paused). Time is critical—call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately.

“What if the hazing happened off-campus or at a private house?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, and foreseeability. Many major hazing cases occurred off-campus and still resulted in multi-million-dollar judgments.

“Will this be confidential, or will my child’s name be in the news?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. You can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability.

About The Manginello Law Firm: Why Texas Families Choose Us for Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing case, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway. From our Houston office, we serve families throughout Texas, including Eskota, Fisher County, and all West Texas communities. We understand that hazing at Texas universities affects families across our state, whether your child attends Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas A&M in College Station, or any campus where accountability is needed.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

Insurance Insider Advantage (Mr. Lupe Peña):
Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value (and undervalue) hazing claims, their delay tactics, coverage exclusion arguments, and settlement strategies. We know their playbook because we used to run it.

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience (Ralph Manginello):
Our firm was one of the few Texas firms involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation—taking on billion-dollar corporations with unlimited legal budgets. That same experience applies directly to hazing cases against national fraternities and university systems with deep pockets and sophisticated defense teams.

Active Texas Hazing Litigation:
We’re not theorizing about hazing cases—we’re actively litigating one of the most serious cases in Texas right now. Our representation of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi gives us current, practical understanding of how these cases unfold in Texas courts.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Results:
We have a proven track record in complex wrongful death cases, working with economists to value lifetime care needs for brain injuries and permanent disabilities. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that force real accountability.

Dual Civil/Criminal Hazing Expertise:
Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation. We can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure and navigate the intersection of these legal tracks.

Investigative Depth & Expert Networks:
We maintain a network of experts: medical specialists, digital forensics professionals, economists, psychologists, and Greek life culture experts. We know how to obtain hidden evidence—group chats, chapter records, university files—and present it compellingly.

What Makes Hazing Cases Different

Hazing litigation presents unique challenges that general personal injury practices often miss:

Powerful Institutional Defendants:
National fraternities and universities have experienced defense lawyers, public relations teams, and institutional priorities that often conflict with victim justice. We’ve faced these opponents before and know their strategies.

Insurance Coverage Fights:
Multiple insurance policies with overlapping coverages, exclusions, and competing interests require sophisticated navigation. Our insurance insider knowledge is invaluable here.

Digital Evidence Complexity:
Modern hazing evidence lives in disappearing messages, encrypted apps, and social media. Preserving and authenticating this evidence requires specific technical knowledge.

Cultural Understanding:
Greek life, Corps traditions, and athletic team dynamics have unique social pressures and secrecy norms. Understanding these cultures helps us uncover truth and prove coercion.

Victim Privacy Concerns:
Balancing public accountability with protecting victims from further trauma requires careful, ethical handling we’re experienced in providing.

Our Approach: Empathetic, Thorough, Strategic

We know hazing cases are among the most difficult experiences a family can face. Our approach reflects that understanding:

1. Listen First:
We start by hearing your complete story without judgment. We understand the fear, guilt, and confusion families experience.

2. Investigate Thoroughly:
We pursue every lead—digital evidence, witness statements, institutional records, pattern evidence from other chapters.

3. Build Multiple Theories:
We don’t rely on single legal theories. We develop negligence, gross negligence, negligent supervision, premises liability, and civil rights claims where applicable.

4. Preserve Privacy:
We fight for confidential settlements and sealed records when appropriate, protecting your family from unnecessary public exposure.

5. Pursue Prevention:
We view accountability as prevention. Successful cases change policies, close dangerous chapters, and protect future students.

Call to Action for Eskota & West Texas Families

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus—whether Texas Tech, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any university—we want to hear from you. Families in Eskota, Roby, Rotan, and throughout Fisher County have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We’ll listen to what happened, review any evidence you have, explain your legal options, and help you decide on the best path forward.

What to expect in your free consultation:

• We listen to your story without judgment
• Review evidence (photos, texts, medical records)
• Explain options: criminal report, civil lawsuit, both, or neither
• Discuss realistic timelines and expectations
• Answer questions about costs (contingency fee—we don’t get paid unless we win)
• No pressure to hire us on the spot—take time to decide
• Everything you tell us is confidential

Contact Information:

• 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

Spanish-language services available:

• Hablamos Español—Contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish
• Servicios legales en español disponibles

Whether you’re in Eskota or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The path to accountability begins with a conversation. Call us today.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

Attorney911 Main Website & Contact:

• Full-service Texas personal injury and criminal defense law firm
• 24/7 free consultations
• Offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont
• Practice areas include hazing litigation, wrongful death, catastrophic injury
• Contingency fee basis for personal injury cases
• Spanish-language services available
• URL: https://attorney911.com

Educational YouTube Videos from Attorney911:

1. “Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case”

   • Attorney Ralph Manginello identifies common mistakes that can damage personal injury claims
   • Critical for hazing victims navigating the legal process
   • URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY

2. “Is There a Statute of Limitations on My Case?”

   • Explains Texas statutes of limitations for personal injury cases
   • Essential for understanding legal deadlines
   • URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c

3. “How Do Contingency Fees Work? Injury Lawyer Explains!”

   • Explains the contingency fee model—no upfront costs, no fee unless we win
   • URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

4. “Can You Use Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case?”

   • Explains how to properly use smartphones to document evidence
   • Critical for preserving hazing evidence before it disappears
   • URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

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