The Definitive Guide to Hazing Law & Litigation for Jewett, Texas Families

Navigating a Hazing Crisis: A Direct Message to Parents in Jewett, Leon County, and Surrounding Communities

We understand the quiet fear that can settle in when your child leaves for college – the hope for new friendships balanced with concerns about their safety in an unfamiliar environment. For families right here in Jewett, Marquez, Centerville, and across Leon County, that concern becomes a profound nightmare when a phone call reveals your son or daughter has been hurt, humiliated, or hospitalized because of a campus organization’s traditions.

Perhaps your child attends Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin, or the University of Houston. Maybe they’re part of a Corps program, a sorority, a spirit group, or a club. What begins as excitement about belonging can quickly cross into dangerous territory: forced drinking sessions that leave them hospitalized, brutal physical “workouts” causing kidney failure, or psychological torment disguised as “bonding.”

Right now, in Texas, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country, representing Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter. The allegations are harrowing: a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items, enforced dress codes, overnight driving duties, and extreme physical abuse including being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.” The result was catastrophic: Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, passing brown urine and requiring a four-day hospitalization with critically high creatine kinase levels. This $10 million lawsuit, filed in late 2025, led to the chapter’s suspension and eventual closure.

This isn’t an isolated incident in a faraway state. This happened at a major Texas university, to a Texas student, and it represents a pattern we see across campuses where Jewett families send their children. Hazing has evolved far beyond stereotypes, and the legal landscape is complex. This guide exists to provide Jewett families with the comprehensive information needed to recognize hazing, understand Texas law, and know your options for accountability.

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, 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 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

For families in Jewett and across Texas, understanding modern hazing requires moving beyond outdated stereotypes. What was once dismissed as “harmless pranks” or “team bonding” has evolved into sophisticated, often dangerous systems of coercion that exploit technology, psychology, and tradition.

A Modern Definition of Hazing

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, maintaining membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. The critical element power imbalance between new members and established members creates an environment where “consent” is legally meaningless under Texas law. When your child faces social exclusion, threats of expulsion from the group, or fear of retaliation, their participation is coerced, not voluntary.

The Five Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and deadly form of hazing. It includes forced consumption during “lineups,” “Big/Little” nights where pledges are given handles of liquor, drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean drinking, and coercion to consume unknown or mixed substances. The national cases of Stone Foltz at Bowling Green (Pi Kappa Alpha) and Max Gruver at LSU (Phi Delta Theta) followed this exact pattern — and we see it at Texas campuses.

2. Physical Hazing
Beyond traditional paddling, physical hazing now includes extreme calisthenics disguised as “workouts” or “smokings” — like the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats forced upon Leonel Bermudez at UH. It encompasses sleep deprivation during “hell weeks,” food/water restriction, exposure to extreme elements, and dangerous physical tests. The chemical burns inflicted on Texas A&M SAE pledges with industrial-strength cleaner represent particularly cruel evolution of physical abuse.

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk,” “roasted pig” positions), degrading costumes, and acts with racial, sexist, or homophobic overtones. The Northwestern University football scandal revealed sexualized hazing within athletic programs, while the Texas A&M Corps “roasted pig” case involved binding and humiliation.

4. Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming in meetings or on social media create lasting trauma. This “subtle” hazing often precedes more violent acts, breaking down resistance and normalizing abuse.

5. Digital/Online Hazing
The smartphone era has created new dangers: 24/7 group chat monitoring where pledges must respond instantly, geo-tracking demands via Find My Friends, social media humiliation through forced TikTok challenges or Instagram story dares, and cyberstalking if pledges resist. Digital evidence disappears quickly — which is why immediate preservation is critical.

Where Hazing Happens in Texas

While fraternities and sororities dominate headlines, hazing permeates many campus organizations:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural councils)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / Military-Style Groups (especially at Texas A&M)
• Athletic Teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer, swimming)
• Spirit Squads & Tradition Clubs (Texas Cowboys, Pep Squads)
• Marching Bands & Performance Groups
• Some Academic, Service, and Cultural Organizations

The common threads are power imbalance, tradition justification, and secrecy. For Jewett families, understanding that hazing isn’t limited to “frat parties” is crucial — your child could be at risk in multiple campus contexts.

Texas Hazing Law: What Jewett Families Need to Know

Texas has specific laws governing hazing, and understanding them is essential for families seeking accountability. The legal framework operates at both state and federal levels, creating multiple avenues for justice.

Texas Education Code — Chapter 37, Subchapter F

Texas law defines hazing broadly under Education Code §37.151 as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student
• Occurs for the purpose of pledging, initiation into, affiliation with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization

Key Provisions for Jewett Families:

§37.152 Criminal Penalties:

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that doesn’t cause 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
• Additional charges for failing to report hazing or retaliating against reporters

§37.153 Organizational Liability:
Fraternities, sororities, and other organizations can be criminally prosecuted if they authorized or encouraged hazing, or if officers knew and failed to report it. Organizations face fines up to $10,000 per violation and university expulsion.

§37.155 Consent is NOT a Defense:
This is critical for families. Texas law explicitly states that the victim’s “consent” to hazing activities does not constitute a defense. Courts recognize that power imbalance and peer pressure negate true voluntary consent.

§37.154 Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting:
Students who report hazing in good faith receive immunity from civil or criminal liability. Many Texas universities extend this to medical amnesty — encouraging 911 calls even when underage drinking is involved.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by the state (district attorney)
• Purpose: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Charges may include: hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases
• Standard: Proof beyond a reasonable doubt

Civil Cases:

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Purpose: Compensation and accountability
• Legal theories: negligence, gross negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress
• Standard: Preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not)

These cases can proceed simultaneously. A criminal conviction isn’t required for civil action, and many families pursue both to achieve full accountability.

Federal Law Overlay

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024):
This federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents transparently, strengthen prevention programs, and maintain public hazing data (phased in by 2026). It creates national standards that Texas universities must follow.

Title IX & Clery Act:
When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger. The Clery Act requires reporting certain crimes in campus safety statistics — hazing incidents often overlap with reportable offenses like assault or alcohol crimes.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

1. Individual Students:
Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up can face personal liability. In the Stone Foltz case, the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter president was ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.

2. Local Chapter/Organization:
The fraternity/sorority or club itself, if incorporated. Chapter officers acting in official capacity often share liability.

3. National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters:
National organizations that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters can be liable based on what they knew or should have known from prior incidents. The Pi Delta Psi national fraternity was criminally convicted in the Michael Deng death case.

4. University or Governing Board:
Texas public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have sovereign immunity limitations but can be sued for gross negligence, Title IX violations, or when suing employees individually. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) face fewer immunity barriers.

5. Third Parties:
Property owners of houses or event spaces, bars/alcohol providers under dram shop laws, security companies, or event organizers may share liability depending on circumstances.

For Jewett families, understanding this multi-defendant landscape is crucial — serious hazing cases typically involve multiple liable parties, each with different insurance coverage and defense strategies.

National Hazing Case Patterns: Lessons for Texas Families

The tragedies that have unfolded on campuses nationwide provide painful but essential lessons for Texas families. These cases establish legal precedents, demonstrate institutional patterns, and show what true accountability requires.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza — Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017):
During a bid-acceptance night, Piazza consumed dangerous amounts of alcohol, suffered multiple falls captured on chapter cameras, and died after hours of delayed medical care. The case resulted in 18 members facing over 1,000 criminal counts, civil settlements, and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. Lesson for Texas: Delay in calling 911 and culture of silence have devastating legal consequences.

Max Gruver — LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017):
Gruver died from alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.495%) after a “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant forced drinking. The case led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act (felony hazing statute) and chapter closure. Lesson for Texas: “Tradition” drinking games are foreseeable death traps that courts recognize as gross negligence.

Stone Foltz — Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021):
Foltz died after being forced to consume an entire bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event. The case settled for $10 million total ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU), with chapter president Daylen Dunson ordered to pay $6.5 million personally. Lesson for Texas: National organizations and individual officers face massive liability when prior warnings go unheeded.

Andrew Coffey — Florida State University, Pi Kappa Phi (2017):
Coffey died from acute alcohol poisoning during a “Big Brother Night” where pledges were given handles of liquor. The case led to FSU temporarily suspending all Greek life. Lesson for Texas: Formulaic drinking nights are repeating scripts for disaster that nationals should have eliminated.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng — Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013):
Deng died from traumatic brain injury during a blindfolded, weighted “glass ceiling” ritual at a fraternity retreat. Members delayed calling 911. Pi Delta Psi was criminally convicted as an organization, banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years, and individuals received jail sentences. Lesson for Texas: Off-campus “retreats” don’t eliminate liability — they often increase danger through isolation.

Danny Santulli — University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021):
Santulli suffered severe, permanent brain damage (cannot walk, talk, or see) after forced drinking during a “pledge dad reveal” night. His family settled with 22 defendants in multi-million dollar agreements. Lesson for Texas: Non-fatal injuries can create lifetime care needs exceeding $20+ million — insurance coverage fights become central to recovery.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025):
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program over multiple years. Multiple lawsuits followed, head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired, and the university reached confidential settlements. Lesson for Texas: Hazing extends beyond Greek life into multi-million dollar athletic programs with institutional complicity.

Texas A&M Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Case (2023):
A cadet alleged degrading ha including being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth, seeking over $1 million in damages. Lesson for Texas: Military-style programs have unique hazing traditions that courts are increasingly unwilling to tolerate.

What These Cases Mean for Jewett Families

These national precedents establish that:

• Forced drinking creates foreseeable risk of death/severe injury
• Delay in medical care exacerbates liability
• National organizations have pattern knowledge they can’t disclaim
• Individual officers face personal financial ruin
• Universities face multi-million dollar exposure
• Off-campus location doesn’t eliminate liability

When Jewett families face hazing at Texas universities, they’re operating in a legal landscape shaped by these hard-won lessons. The same national fraternities, same insurance tactics, and same institutional cover-up patterns exist here in Texas.

Texas University Focus: Where Jewett Families Send Their Children

Jewett families have deep connections to Texas higher education. Whether your child attends nearby schools or major universities across the state, understanding campus-specific hazing landscapes is essential. From Leon County, students commonly attend Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Houston, and other institutions within driving distance or through statewide enrollment patterns.

Texas A&M University — College Station

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
As one of Texas’s flagship institutions, Texas A&M hosts robust Greek life and the renowned Corps of Cadets. The university’s tradition-heavy environment occasionally fosters dangerous hazing disguised as “team building” or “character development.” For Jewett families, College Station represents both opportunity and risk — a world-class education potentially shadowed by harmful traditions.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting:
Texas A&M prohibits hazing through Student Rules and Corps regulations. Reporting channels include the Student Conduct Office, Corps leadership, and the University Police Department. The university maintains disciplinary records that can be crucial in civil litigation.

Documented Incidents & Responses:

1. Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021):
   Two pledges alleged being covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The pledges sued for $1 million, and the fraternity received a two-year suspension. This case demonstrates how physical hazing evolves into particularly cruel forms.

2. Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023):
   A cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth. Texas A&M stated it handled the matter internally, but the $1+ million lawsuit signals inadequate institutional response.

3. Kappa Sigma Rhabdomyolysis Case (2023, ongoing):
   Allegations of extreme physical hazing resulting in rhabdomyolysis — the same muscle breakdown condition suffered by Leonel Bermudez at UH. These cases require specialized medical-legal understanding of kidney injury progression.

How a Texas A&M Hazing Case Proceeds:
Jurisdiction typically involves Brazos County courts, with potential defendants including individual students, chapters, national organizations, the university, and property owners. The Corps’s unique status creates additional legal complexities around military-style discipline versus criminal abuse.

What Jewett Families Should Know:

• Document everything through Texas A&M’s reporting systems while preserving independent evidence
• Understand that “Corps tradition” arguments fail in court when conduct meets hazing definitions
• Recognize that fraternity insurance often excludes “intentional acts” — requiring creative coverage arguments
• The university’s sovereign immunity as a public institution requires specific legal strategies to overcome

University of Houston

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
UH’s large urban campus serves diverse commuter and residential populations with active Greek life across multiple councils. The university’s location in America’s fourth-largest city creates both opportunity and challenge in oversight of off-campus activities.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting:
UH prohibits hazing through the Student Code of Conduct, with reporting through the Dean of Students Office, Campus Police, and online forms. The university’s public statements following the Pi Kappa Phi case called conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised cooperation with law enforcement.

The Leonel Bermudez / Pi Kappa Phi Case:
Our ongoing representation of Leonel Bermudez against UH and Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter represents one of Texas’s most serious active hazing cases. The allegations include:

• “Pledge fanny pack” rule with degrading contents (condoms, sex toy, nicotine devices)
• Enforced dress codes, hours-long “study/work” blocks, overnight driving duties
• Extreme physical hazing: sprints, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, cold-weather exposure
• Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, peppercorns until vomiting
• The Nov 3 workout: 100+ push-ups, 500 squats under expulsion threats
• Another pledge hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth

Medical consequences included rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, brown urine, four-day hospitalization, and ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage. The chapter was suspended Nov 6, 2025, and members surrendered their charter Nov 14, 2025.

Prior UH Hazing Incidents:

• 2016 Pi Kappa Alpha Case: Pledges allegedly deprived of food, water, and sleep; one suffered lacerated spleen after being slammed onto a table. The chapter faced misdemeanor charges and suspension.
• Multiple fraternity disciplinary cases involving alcohol misuse, policy violations, and conduct “likely to produce mental or physical discomfort.”

How a UH Hazing Case Proceeds:
Harris County courts typically have jurisdiction, with potential involvement of UHPD and Houston Police Department depending on location. Civil suits may name individual students, chapters, nationals, UH, the UH System Board of Regents, and property owners.

What Jewett Families Should Know:

• Off-campus locations like the Culmore Drive residence and Yellowstone Boulevard Park in the Bermudez case don’t eliminate university liability
• National Pi Kappa Phi headquarters’ knowledge of prior incidents at other chapters creates pattern evidence
• UH’s response to the Bermudez case sets precedent for how they handle future incidents
• Digital evidence from GroupMe, WhatsApp, and social media is often decisive in these cases

University of Texas at Austin

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
UT Austin’s prestigious academic environment includes approximately 60 Greek chapters and numerous spirit organizations. The university’s relatively transparent hazing violation reporting provides unique insight into ongoing issues.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting:
UT maintains a public Hazing Violations page listing organizations, dates, conduct, and sanctions — a transparency model other Texas schools should follow. Reporting channels include the Office of the Dean of Students, UT Police, and anonymous systems.

Documented Violations (Public Records):

1. Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; found to be hazing; chapter placed on probation with required hazing-prevention education.

2. Texas Wranglers (multiple years): Spirit organization sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, and punishment-based practices.

3. Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Case (2024): Australian exchange student alleged assault by fraternity members at party, suffering dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, and broken nose. The student sued for over $1 million; chapter already under suspension for prior violations.

4. “Absolute Texxas” Spirit Group (2022): Disciplined for hazing violations including alcohol/drug misconduct, blindfolding, kidnapping, and degrading new member activities.

How a UT Austin Hazing Case Proceeds:
Travis County courts have jurisdiction, with potential defendants including individuals, chapters, nationals, UT Austin, the UT System Board of Regents, and property owners. UT’s public violation records provide powerful pattern evidence in civil suits.

What Jewett Families Should Know:

• UT’s transparency works both ways — their published violations can support your case
• The university’s handbook policies create ministerial duties that may overcome sovereign immunity arguments
• Austin’s off-campus housing market creates jurisdictional complexities
• Prior violations establish “knowledge” that strengthens negligence claims

Southern Methodist University (Dallas)

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
SMU’s private, affluent campus hosts significant Greek life with particular social prestige. The university’s private status affects both transparency and legal liability frameworks.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting:
SMU prohibits hazing through the Student Code of Conduct, with reporting through the Office of Student Affairs, SMU Police, and anonymous systems like Real Response. The university’s internal processes are less transparent than public institutions.

Documented Incidents:

1. Kappa Alpha Order (2017): New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink alcohol, and deprived of sleep; chapter suspended with recruiting restrictions until approximately 2021.

2. Multiple fraternity disciplinary cases involving alcohol hazing, physical abuse, and policy violations — details often kept confidential due to private university status.

How an SMU Hazing Case Proceeds:
Dallas County courts typically have jurisdiction. As a private university, SMU has fewer sovereign immunity protections than public institutions, potentially simplifying litigation. However, confidentiality agreements and internal processes may obscure evidence.

What Jewett Families Should Know:

• Private university status means less public transparency but potentially easier liability establishment
• SMU’s affluent donor base can influence institutional responses
• National fraternity headquarters often exert more control at prestigious private campuses
• Discovery demands in litigation can overcome confidentiality barriers

Baylor University (Waco)

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Baylor’s religious identity and history of Title IX scrutiny create unique dynamics around hazing response. The university’s cultural context affects both prevention efforts and institutional accountability.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting:
Baylor prohibits hazing through the Student Conduct Code, with reporting through the Student Conduct Administration, Baylor Police, and Title IX Office. The university’s religious mission influences policy enforcement and public messaging.

Documented Incidents:

1. Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following hazing investigation; staggered suspensions affected team performance.

2. Multiple Greek life disciplinary cases involving alcohol, physical hazing, and policy violations — details often limited due to private university status and religious context.

How a Baylor Hazing Case Proceeds:
McLennan County courts have jurisdiction. Baylor’s private religious status creates unique legal considerations, though fundamental negligence principles still apply. The university’s prior sexual assault scandal established patterns of institutional response that may inform hazing cases.

What Jewett Families Should Know:

• Religious mission doesn’t eliminate legal duty of care
• Baylor’s prior institutional crises may affect their hazing response protocols
• Internal “Christian community” resolutions may conflict with legal accountability
• National fraternity/sorority relationships at religious institutions have unique dynamics

Fraternities & Sororities: Campus-Specific & National Histories

For Jewett families, understanding that campus chapters connect to national organizations with documented hazing histories is crucial. These national patterns create legal “foreseeability” — the concept that organizations should have anticipated and prevented harm based on prior incidents.

Why National Histories Matter in Texas Courts

When a Texas chapter repeats hazing methods that caused deaths or severe injuries at other campuses, courts recognize that:

1. The national organization had prior knowledge of dangerous traditions
2. Their anti-hazing policies were inadequate or unenforced
3. They failed to implement meaningful safeguards
4. This failure constitutes negligence supporting liability

Major National Organizations at Texas Campuses

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike):

• National History: Stone Foltz alcohol poisoning death (BGSU, $10M settlement); David Bogenberger death (NIU, $14M settlement); multiple chapter suspensions nationwide
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Baylor
• Legal Significance: National pattern of “Big/Little” alcohol hazing creates clear foreseeability for Texas incidents

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ / SAE):

• National History: Carson Starkey death (Cal Poly); traumatic brain injury lawsuit (Alabama); chemical burns case (Texas A&M); assault case (UT Austin)
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU
• Legal Significance: Multiple Texas incidents establish state-specific pattern; national’s “elimination of pledging” response indicates knowledge of systemic issues

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ):

• National History: Andrew Coffey alcohol poisoning death (FSU); multiple chapter suspensions
• Texas Presence: Chapter at UH (Beta Nu — now closed following Bermudez case)
• Legal Significance: Active litigation in Texas establishes current accountability precedent

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ):

• National History: Max Gruver alcohol poisoning death (LSU, $6.1M verdict); chapter closures nationwide
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor
• Legal Significance: Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act response shows legislative recognition of felony hazing need

Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ):

• National History: Multiple hazing suspensions including SMU chapter (2017); physical abuse patterns
• Texas Presence: Chapters at Texas A&M, SMU
• Legal Significance: Tradition-based physical hazing establishes particular foreseeability

Phi Gamma Delta (ΦΓΔ / FIJI):

• National History: Danny Santulli catastrophic brain injury (Missouri, multi-defendant settlements); multiple alcohol hazing incidents
• Texas Presence: Chapters at Texas A&M, UT Austin
• Legal Significance: Non-fatal catastrophic injury cases establish lifetime care damage models

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Our Investigative Advantage

At Attorney911, we maintain a proprietary database tracking over 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. This includes:

IRS B83 Texas Organizations Backbone:
125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations with EINs, legal names, and mailing addresses from public filings. Examples relevant to universities Jewett families attend:

• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 746064445, Nederland, TX 77627 (EPSILON KAPPA CHAPTER)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX 75035
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 746084905, Houston, TX 77204
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc, EIN 475370943, Houston, TX 77204 (THETA DELTA)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 900293166, College Station, TX 77843 (TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY)

Cause IQ Metro Organizations:
188 Greek-related organizations in the Houston metro alone, including:

• Texas District of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (Houston alumni/house corp.)
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority — Houston Alumnae Chapter
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority — Beta Sigma Chapter (Houston undergrad)

Cross-Validated Brands:
Organizations appearing in both IRS and Cause IQ data, like:

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity (Fort Worth, EIN 742911848)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation (Fort Worth, EIN 741380362)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (multiple Texas chapters)

This investigative depth means when Jewett families consult us, we don’t start from zero. We already know the organizational structures, insurance relationships, and historical patterns that may affect their case.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages & Strategy

For Jewett families considering legal action, understanding what makes a strong hazing case is essential. Successful litigation requires meticulous evidence collection, strategic defendant selection, and sophisticated damage calculation.

Critical Evidence Categories

1. Digital Communications (Most Important):

• GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, Slack, fraternity-specific apps
• Instagram DMs, Snapchat messages, TikTok communications
• Preservation Priority: Screenshot everything immediately before deletion. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages when possible. Our video on using your phone to document evidence (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs) explains best practices.

2. Photos & Videos:

• Content filmed by members during hazing events
• Social media posts/stories showing activities
• Security camera/doorbell footage from houses and venues
• Medical documentation of injuries over time

3. Internal Organization Documents:

• Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, “tradition” lists
• Emails/texts about planned activities
• National policies, training materials, risk management guides
• Membership rosters, meeting minutes

4. University Records:

• Prior conduct files, probation/suspension letters
• Campus police incident reports
• Clery Act reports, Title IX filings
• Internal emails about the organization

5. Medical & Psychological Records:

• Emergency room/hospitalization records (critical for rhabdomyolysis cases like Bermudez)
• Surgical notes, rehabilitation records
• Toxicology reports (blood alcohol levels)
• Psychological evaluations (PTSD, depression, anxiety diagnoses)

6. Witness Testimony:

• Other pledges/members (often afraid initially but may cooperate as case progresses)
• Roommates, RAs, bystanders
• Former members who quit or were expelled
• Medical personnel, first responders

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable):

• Medical Expenses: Past and future care, including lifelong needs for catastrophic injuries
• Lost Income/Earning Capacity: Missed work, delayed career entry, reduced lifetime earnings
  Implementing life care plans for severe injuries

Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical Pain & Suffering: From injuries and treatment
• Emotional Distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Inability to participate in college experience, activities
• Reputational Harm: Social stigma, digital footprint damage

Wrongful Death Damages (For Families):

• Funeral/burial costs
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of companionship, guidance
• Parents’/siblings’ emotional suffering

Punitive Damages:
When defendants show reckless indifference or intentional misconduct, Texas courts may award punitive damages to punish and deter. The egregious facts in cases like Bermudez’s support such claims.

Overcoming Common Defense Strategies

Defense: “The Pledge Consented”
Our Response: Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states consent is not a defense. We demonstrate coercion through group chat evidence, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion.

Defense: “National Didn’t Know”
Our Response: We subpoena national records showing prior incidents at other chapters, proving pattern knowledge and foreseeability.

Defense: “It Happened Off-Campus”
Our Response: Location doesn’t eliminate liability when organizations sponsor, control, or benefit from activities. The Pi Delta Psi retreat case established this precedent.

Defense: “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”
Our Response: We demonstrate policies were window-dressing — unenforced, with minimal consequences for prior violations.

Defense: “University Sovereign Immunity”
Our Response: We leverage exceptions for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and individual employee liability. Public universities like UH and Texas A&M often settle despite immunity arguments.

Defense: “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”
Our Response: We argue negligent supervision (covered) versus intentional hazing (possibly excluded), pursuing multiple policy sources and bad faith claims when insurers wrongfully deny.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Jewett Families

For Parents: Recognizing & Responding to Hazing

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, burns (especially with inconsistent explanations)
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities (“I can’t talk about it”)
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability, withdrawal
• Constant phone use for group chats, anxiety about missing messages
• Academic decline, missed classes, dropping grades
• Financial pressures from unexpected “fines” or forced purchases

How to Talk to Your Child:

1. Choose the right time: Private, calm, when they’re not rushed
2. Use open questions: “How are things with [organization]?” not “Are they hazing you?”
3. Express concern, not accusation: “I’ve noticed you seem exhausted lately…”
4. Emphasize safety over status: “Your health matters more than any group”
5. Assure support: “Nothing you tell me will change how much I love you”

If Your Child Is Hurt:

1. Medical care first: Even if they resist, insist on evaluation
2. Document everything: Photos of injuries, screenshots of messages, notes of what they say
3. Preserve physical evidence: Clothing, objects used in hazing, receipts
4. Contact an attorney within 24-48 hours: Evidence disappears quickly

Dealing with the University:

• Document all communications (emails, calls, meetings)
• Ask specific questions about prior incidents involving the organization
• Don’t sign anything without legal review
• Remember: university interests often conflict with family interests

Watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin your case (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY) for critical guidance on what NOT to do.

For Students: Self-Assessment & Safety Planning

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

• Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
• Is this dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would my parents/university approve if they knew exactly what’s happening?
• Am I being told to keep secrets or lie about activities?
• Are older members making new members do things they don’t have to do themselves?

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

How to Exit Safely:

1. Immediate danger: Call 911, get to safe location
2. Plan your exit: Tell someone outside the organization first (parent, RA, friend)
3. Formal resignation: Email/text chapter president: “I resign my membership effective immediately”
4. Avoid “one last meeting”: Where pressure/retaliation may occur
5. Document threats: Screenshot any retaliation for possible protective order

Evidence Collection Tips:

• Screenshot group chats with timestamps visible
• Photos of injuries (include ruler/coin for scale)
• Voice memos of meetings (Texas is one-party consent state)
• Save everything — don’t delete out of embarrassment
• Medical documentation: tell providers you were hazed for accurate records

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Deleting Evidence:
What families think: “I don’t want them in more trouble”
Why it’s wrong: Looks like cover-up; obstruction of justice; case becomes impossible
Instead: Preserve everything immediately

2. Confronting the Organization Directly:
What families think: “I’ll give them a piece of my mind”
Why it’s wrong: They lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
Instead: Document everything, lawyer first

3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms:
What universities do: Pressure quick “internal resolution” with minimal compensation
Why it’s wrong: You may waive legal rights; settlements are often lowball
Instead: NO signatures without attorney review

4. Social Media Posts Before Legal Advice:
What families think: “People should know what happened”
Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
Instead: Document privately; let lawyer control messaging

5. Waiting “To See How University Handles It”:
What universities promise: “We’re investigating internally”
Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute runs
Instead: Preserve evidence NOW; consult lawyer immediately

6. Talking to Insurance Adjusters Unrepresented:
What adjusters say: “We just need your statement”
Why it’s wrong: Recorded statements used against you; early settlements are lowball
Instead: “My attorney will contact you”

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can we sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under specific circumstances. Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have sovereign immunity limitations, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing employees individually. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity barriers. Every case requires specific analysis — contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for case evaluation.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas Education Code §37.152 makes hazing a state jail felony when it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report hazing.

“What if my child ‘agreed’ to the activities?”
Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion negate true voluntary consent.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if harm wasn’t immediately apparent. In cases involving cover-ups, the statute may be tolled (paused). Time is critical — call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately. Watch our statute of limitations video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c) for more details.

“What if hazing happened off-campus?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, knowledge, and foreseeability. The Pi Delta Psi retreat case and Sigma Pi unofficial house cases established this precedent.

“Will my child’s name be public?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize family privacy while pursuing accountability, requesting sealed records and confidential terms when possible.

“How much will this cost?”
We work on contingency — no fee unless we win. Watch our contingency fee explanation video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc) for details. Initial consultations are always free.

Why Attorney911 for Jewett Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing crisis, 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 Jewett, Leon County, and surrounding communities.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

Insurance Insider Advantage (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 claims, deploy delay tactics, argue coverage exclusions, and pressure families into low settlements. We know their playbook because we used to run it. His background is detailed at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/.

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience (Ralph Manginello):
Ralph is one of the few Texas attorneys involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation against billion-dollar defendants. He has federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas) and isn’t intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their defense teams. We’ve taken on corporate giants and won. His credentials are at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/.

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

Dual Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise:
Ralph’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 interplay between legal tracks.

Investigative Depth & Expert Network:
Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks over 1,423 Greek organizations across Texas. We work with digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages, medical experts to document injuries, psychologists to assess trauma, and economists to calculate damages. We investigate like your child’s life depends on it — because it does.

Active Texas Hazing Litigation:
We are currently representing Leonel Bermudez in the $10 million University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi case — one of Texas’s most serious active hazing lawsuits. We’re not theorizing about hazing law; we’re practicing it daily.

Our Approach: Empathy Meets Accountability

We understand this is one of the hardest things a family can face. The mix of anger, fear, guilt, and confusion is overwhelming. Our job is to:

• Listen without judgment
• Investigate thoroughly
• Explain options clearly
• Fight relentlessly
• Protect your family’s privacy
• Pursue accountability that prevents future harm

We’re not about bravado or quick settlements. We’re about thorough investigation, strategic litigation, and real results that honor what your family has endured.

Your Next Step: Confidential Consultation

If you or your child has experienced hazing at any Texas campus, we want to hear from you. Families in Jewett, Leon County, and throughout Texas have the right to answers and accountability.

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation

1. We Listen: Your story, your concerns, your questions — without judgment or interruption
2. Evidence Review: We’ll examine any evidence you’ve preserved (photos, texts, medical records)
3. Options Explained: Criminal reporting, civil lawsuit, both, or neither — with realistic assessments
4. Timeline Discussion: What to expect, how long it may take, critical deadlines
5. Cost Clarification: Contingency fee basis — no fee unless we win
6. No Pressure: Take time to decide what’s right for your family

Contact Attorney911 Today

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

Serving Jewett & All of Texas

From our Houston office, we serve families throughout Texas. Whether your child attends school in College Station, Austin, Houston, Dallas, Waco, or anywhere in Texas, we can help. Hazing doesn’t respect county lines, and neither does our commitment to Texas families.

You don’t have to navigate this crisis alone. The institutions involved have experienced lawyers and insurance adjusters working to protect their interests. You deserve the same level of representation protecting yours.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today. Let’s discuss how we can help your family find answers, achieve accountability, and begin healing.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston report: 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:

• Using your phone to document evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas statutes of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client mistakes that can ruin your case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How contingency fees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website & Practice Areas:

• Main website: https://attorney911.com
• Wrongful death practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/
• Criminal defense: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/criminal-defense-lawyers/
• Ralph Manginello profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/
• Lupe Peña profile: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/

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