The Ultimate Guide to Hazing in Texas: A Resource for Families by Attorney911

If you are a parent in Katy, your worst fear is receiving a call that your child is hurt, especially when it happens in a place they were supposed to be safe. The reality is that hazing—systematic abuse disguised as tradition—remains a terrifying part of the college experience at campuses across Texas, from the University of Houston to Texas A&M and beyond. Right now, in our own backyard, we are fighting for a family whose nightmare became reality.

This comprehensive guide is written for families in Katy, Cypress, Fulshear, and across West Houston who need to understand the modern dangers of hazing, the Texas laws designed to protect students, and the difficult path to accountability. We will walk you through what hazing looks like in 2025, the complex legal landscape, and exactly what you can do if your family is affected.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for medical emergencies.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate help—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

In the first 48 hours:

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

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears fast. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a confidential, immediate consultation.

The Reality of Hazing Today: Our Fight at the University of Houston

To understand the stakes, you need to know what is happening right now. We currently represent Leonel Bermudez, a young man whose life was nearly destroyed during his fall 2025 pledge period to the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at the University of Houston.

This is not a story from a decade ago. This is an active, high-stakes lawsuit we filed in Harris County, seeking over $10 million in damages. The facts, as detailed in media reports from Click2Houston and ABC13, are a blueprint for modern hazing:

• Humiliation as Control: Pledges were forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, a sex toy, nicotine devices, and other degrading items. Failure meant punishment.
• Systematic Abuse: The hazing included forced dress codes, mandatory overnight chauffeuring, sleep deprivation, and hours-long “study” blocks. At an off-campus residence on Culmore Drive and during workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park, the abuse escalated.
• Extreme Physical and Psychological Torture: Acts included being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” lying in vomit-soaked grass, forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, and being forced through sessions of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats.
• Catastrophic Medical Consequences: After a brutal November 3rd workout, Leonel’s body broke down. He developed rhabdomyolysis—a severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, could not stand, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels. He faces an ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

This case is not an isolated incident. It is the result of a system that failed. The lawsuit names the University of Houston, the UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, its local housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The chapter was suspended and its members voted to surrender their charter. The university called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

For families in Katy, this case is critically relevant. The University of Houston is a major destination for local students. The patterns that led to this disaster—power imbalance, secrecy, institutional failure—exist at Greek organizations and campus groups statewide. This is the fight we are in right now, and it shows the level of serious litigation required to secure justice.

Hazing in 2025: It’s More Than “Just Partyin’”

Hazing has evolved. It’s no longer just about late-night paddlings; it’s a 24/7 digital and psychological siege. For Katy parents, understanding the modern forms is the first step to recognizing the signs.

Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains the most common and deadly form. It’s not “kids having a drink.” It’s forced, coerced consumption through games like “Big/Little” reveals, “family tree” drinking, or lineups where pledges must finish a bottle.

Physical Hazing: This includes “smokings” (extreme calisthenics to the point of collapse), paddling, beatings, sleep deprivation, and exposure to extreme elements. The goal is breaking a person down through exhaustion and pain.

Psychological and Digital Hazing: This is where modern hazing thrives. It involves:

• 24/7 Digital Control: Mandatory GroupMe chats where pledges must respond instantly at all hours. Location-sharing requirements. Social media policing.
• Humiliation: Forced embarrassing social media posts, TikTok challenges, or being roasted in group chats.
• Isolation and Manipulation: Cutting off pledges from non-member friends, forced secrecy, and psychological games that create dependency on the abusers.

Sexualized Hazing: This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, and degrading rituals that cross the line into sexual assault. It is among the most traumatic forms of abuse.

The common thread is coercion and an imbalance of power. The phrase “they agreed to it” is meaningless in this context. When the choice is between submitting to abuse or facing social exile, there is no real choice.

Law & Liability: The Texas Legal Framework for Hazing

Texas has specific laws to combat hazing, primarily found in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. Understanding these laws is crucial for Katy families.

Texas Hazing Law (Plain English Summary):
Hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act (on or off campus) directed against a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student.

Key Provisions for Families:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a crime. It can range from a Class B misdemeanor to a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law is clear. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it is not a legal defense for those who haze. The power imbalance is recognized.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Students who call 911 or report hazing in good faith are protected from certain legal consequences to encourage life-saving action.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose university recognition.

Civil Liability vs. Criminal Charges:

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA or county attorney) to punish with jail, fines, or probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by victims and families to seek compensation and accountability. This is where we help families recover damages for medical bills, trauma, lost education, and future care. A criminal conviction is not required to file a civil case.

Who Can Be Held Responsible in a Civil Case?

1. Individual Members: Those who planned, executed, or facilitated the hazing.
2. Chapter Leadership: The president, pledgemaster, risk manager, and other officers.
3. The Local Chapter & Its Entities: The chapter itself and its housing corporation (if incorporated).
4. The National Organization: Headquarters that collect dues, set policies, and often have a known history of similar incidents at other campuses.
5. The University: Schools can be liable for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations if the hazing is sexual in nature.
6. Third Parties: Property owners of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol.

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

Going up against national fraternities and universities requires more than just a compelling story. It requires hard data to uncover every liable entity. At Attorney911, we maintain a proprietary investigative engine built on public records. This means when a family from Katy comes to us, we don’t start from zero.

For example, our research into Texas Greek life identifies hundreds of legally registered organizations. This is critical because liability and insurance coverage often trace back to these formal entities. When we investigate a case at UH or Texas A&M, we can immediately identify related housing corporations, alumni chapters, and national structures.

A Snapshot of Texas Greek Organizations (From Public IRS & State Filings):
To illustrate the scale and structure we track, here are examples of Texas-registered Greek organizations, showing the network behind the letters:

• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (EIN: 746064445), Nederland, TX 77627 – Related to chapters statewide.
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN: 462267515), Frisco, TX 75035 – The housing entity for the now-closed UH chapter.
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc (EIN: 741380362), Fort Worth, TX 76147 – A foundation supporting Kappa Sigma chapters.
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (EIN: 364091267), Waco, TX 76710 – A registered chapter of a national sorority.
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (EIN: 900293166), College Station, TX 77843 – An academic honor society with chapters across Texas campuses.

In the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area alone, public data aggregators track nearly 200 Greek-related organizations, from undergraduate chapters to graduate alumni associations. This ecosystem is what we map for every case.

Where Katy Families Send Their Kids: The Texas Campus Landscape

Katy is part of the vibrant Greater Houston area, and its families are deeply connected to the state’s higher education system. Students from Katy ISD and surrounding communities attend a wide range of Texas universities, each with its own Greek life landscape and hazing risks.

Major Universities for Katy-Area Students:

1. University of Houston (UH): As our flagship case shows, UH has a significant Greek system with active Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic, and National Pan-Hellenic Council chapters. Its proximity makes it a primary choice for many Katy students.
2. Texas A&M University: A major destination with a massive Greek life presence and the unique culture of the Corps of Cadets, which has faced its own serious hazing allegations.
3. University of Texas at Austin: One of the largest and most transparent Greek systems in the state, publicly posting hazing violations.
4. Baylor University & Southern Methodist University (SMU): These private institutions have storied Greek traditions and have dealt with high-profile hazing incidents within fraternities and athletic teams.
5. Other Regional Choices: Katy students also attend Texas State University, Texas Tech, Sam Houston State, and community colleges like Houston Community College and Lone Star College, many of which have active Greek organizations.

Building a Case with Attorney911: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

When you choose our firm, you are choosing a team with a strategic, evidence-based approach forged in complex litigation against institutional giants like BP. Here’s how we build a hazing case:

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation:
The first 72 hours are critical. We guide families to secure:

• Digital Evidence: All group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), social media posts, DMs, and emails. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted data.
• Photographic Evidence: Injuries, locations, and any objects used.
• Medical Records: Complete documentation from ER visits, hospital stays, and follow-up care. A diagnosis like “rhabdomyolysis” must be clearly linked to the hazing events.
• Witness Information: Names and contact details for other pledges, members, or bystanders.

We have a video specifically on using your phone to document legal evidence that outlines best practices.

2. Investigating the Institutional Pattern:
We don’t just look at the single incident. We investigate the pattern. This means:

• Subpoenaing the national fraternity’s records for prior complaints and incidents at the same chapter or others.
• Obtaining the university’s conduct files on the organization through discovery or public records requests.
• Researching publicly reported hazing histories of the organization nationwide to establish “foreseeability.”

3. Calculating Full Damages:
Our goal is to secure compensation that reflects the true, lifelong impact. This includes:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, costs of psychological counseling, and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for pain and suffering, severe emotional distress, PTSD, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the ultimate tragedy, families can seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound grief and loss of companionship.

Practical Steps for Katy Parents and Students

For Parents – Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight change.
• Sudden secrecy about group activities or being “on call” 24/7 for the organization.
• Personality changes: withdrawal, anxiety, depression, or defensiveness.
• Dropping grades or missing class for “mandatory” events.
• Constant, anxious phone use monitoring group chats.

For Students – If You’re Being Hazed:

• Your safety comes first. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
• You have the right to leave. “Quitting” is not failure; it is self-preservation.
• Preserve evidence. Screenshot everything. Take photos. Do not delete.
• Tell someone you trust. A parent, a resident advisor, a counselor.
• Report it. You can report to campus police, the Dean of Students, or anonymously through university hotlines. Texas law offers protections for good-faith reporters.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case:
We’ve detailed common errors in our video on client mistakes that can ruin an injury case. In hazing, the biggest are:

1. Deleting group chats or texts.
2. Confronting the organization before talking to a lawyer.
3. Signing anything from the university or an insurance adjuster without legal advice.
4. Posting about the incident on social media.
5. Waiting too long to act, allowing evidence to vanish and memories to fade.

Why Choose Attorney911 for Your Katy Family’s Hazing Case

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who know how to fight powerful institutions and win. The Manginello Law Firm brings a unique combination of insider knowledge and proven litigation power.

Mr. Lupe Peña’s Insurance Defense Insider Knowledge: Before joining our firm, Mr. Peña spent years as an attorney for a national insurance defense firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it. This is an invaluable advantage when negotiating for a fair settlement or preparing for trial.

Ralph Manginello’s Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Ralph is one of the few plaintiff attorneys in Texas who was involved in the landmark BP Texas City explosion litigation. Taking on a billion-dollar corporation taught us how to investigate root-cause institutional failures, manage massive discovery, and stand firm against endless defense resources. National fraternities and major universities operate the same way.

A Proven Record in Wrongful Death and Catastrophic Injury: We have recovered millions for clients in the most serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. We understand how to work with economists and life-care planners to build a case that reflects the true lifetime cost of an injury, whether it’s a traumatic brain injury or permanent organ damage.

Full-Service Legal Capability: With Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA), we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise clients and witnesses navigating both systems.

We Serve Katy and All of Texas: From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we are positioned to help families across the state. We understand the specific campuses, court jurisdictions, and legal communities that impact your case. We also offer Spanish-language legal services.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path is difficult, but with experienced guidance, you can seek accountability and secure the resources needed for recovery.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) today. In a free, confidential consultation, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have.
• Explain your legal options and the process ahead.
• Answer your questions about how we work, including our contingency fee structure—you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also reach us directly at (713) 528-9070, or visit our website at https://attorney911.com. For Spanish-language services, you can contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com.

Time is critical. Texas generally has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, but evidence disappears much faster. Don’t wait. Call us now to protect your family’s rights and future.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston Investigation: 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/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Using Your Phone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Understanding Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes to Avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website:

• Homepage & Contact: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. The outcome of any case depends on its specific facts and applicable law. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.