The Ultimate Guide to Hazing Lawsuits & Accountability in Texas: A Resource for City of New Home Parents & Families

If you are a parent in City of New Home, your worst nightmare likely isn’t about academics or homesickness. It’s the call in the middle of the night that your child is in the hospital because of what happened at a fraternity house, a Corps event, or an off-campus “team building” retreat. Right now, across our state, families are confronting a harsh reality: hazing is not a relic of the past; it’s a present, evolving danger with life-altering consequences.

In late 2025, our firm, Attorney911, filed a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 individual members. The allegations are not vague: they detail a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items, forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and a brutal November 3rd workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats that left Bermudez with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. His urine was brown; he was hospitalized for four days. This is happening in Houston, right now, and it is the clearest proof that when powerful institutions fail, families need aggressive, experienced legal counsel.

For parents in City of New Home, Lynn County, and across the South Plains region, this case is a critical signal. The universities where your children pursue their dreams—whether at Texas Tech a short drive away, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any campus across Texas—can harbor dangerous, hidden cultures. This guide exists to equip you with knowledge: what hazing truly looks like today, the Texas laws designed to protect students, the national patterns that repeat on our campuses, and how a data-driven legal strategy can secure accountability and prevent future harm.

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 are 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).
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity/sorority directly.
  • Sign anything from the university or insurance company.
  • Post details on public social media.
  • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney: Evidence disappears fast. We can help preserve it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

1. Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like on Texas Campuses

Hazing is no longer just about “hell week” or paddling in a basement. For families in City of New Home, understanding the modern evolution of these abuses is the first step in recognizing danger.

The Legal Heart of Hazing: Coercion and Endangerment

Under Texas law, which governs every case in Lynn County and across the state, hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership. Critically, consent is not a defense. The power imbalance between pledges and members, the fear of exclusion, and the pressure of tradition mean that a “yes” given under duress is meaningless in the eyes of the law.

The Modern Hazing Toolkit: From Digital Control to Disguised Abuse

Today’s hazing blends physical danger with psychological warfare and digital surveillance.

• Digital Hazing & 24/7 Control: Pledges are often required to carry phones at all times, respond instantly to GroupMe or WhatsApp demands, share their live location via apps, and submit to social media policing. Sleep deprivation is enforced through constant late-night messages and “mandatory” meetings.
• The “Optional” Trap: Activities are framed as “voluntary” to create legal cover, but not participating means social exclusion, denial of a “Big Brother/Sister,” or being labeled “not committed.” This coercion is still hazing.
• Disguised as “Wellness” or “Tradition”: Extreme, punitive workouts are reframed as “fitness challenges.” Forced drinking games are called “family tree” or “Bible study.” Degrading acts are dismissed as “longstanding tradition.”
• Off-Campus/Retreat Shifting: To avoid campus cameras and jurisdiction, hazing is moved to Airbnbs, remote ranches, or members’ family homes, as seen in the deadly Pi Delta Psi retreat case and allegations in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case at locations like Yellowstone Boulevard Park and a Culmore Drive residence.
• Severe Physical & Alcohol Hazing: This remains the core danger. It includes forced consumption of excessive alcohol (like the handle of liquor in the Andrew Coffey case), extreme calisthenics leading to rhabdomyolysis (as with Leonel Bermudez), beatings, paddling, exposure to elements, and sexualized humiliation.

Who Is at Risk? It’s More Than Just Fraternities.

While fraternities and sororities are frequently involved, hazing persists in:

• Athletic teams (from football to swimming).
• Spirit and tradition groups (like Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets, where a “roasted pig” binding case emerged).
• Marching bands and performing arts groups.
• Academic clubs and honor societies.

For any parent in City of New Home, the takeaway is clear: if your child is joining any group that values secrecy, tradition, and a stark hierarchy between new and old members, the risk exists.

2. The Texas Legal Framework: Criminal Penalties, Civil Liability & Your Rights

When hazing occurs, two parallel legal systems can activate: criminal prosecution by the state and civil lawsuits by victims and families. Understanding both is crucial for families in Lynn County seeking justice and accountability.

Texas Criminal Hazing Law (Education Code Chapter 37)

Texas has specific statutes that make hazing a crime:

• Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing violation (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
• Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
• State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death. The rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure suffered by Leonel Bermudez at UH is a textbook example of serious bodily injury that could trigger felony charges.
• Additional Crimes: Individuals can also be charged with assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter in fatal cases. Organizations (fraternities, teams) can be fined up to $10,000.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: The law protects those who call for help in an emergency, encouraging students to seek medical aid without fear of minor-in-possession charges.

Civil Lawsuits: The Path to Accountability & Compensation

A criminal case punishes the wrongdoer; a civil case compensates the victim and holds all responsible parties accountable. They can proceed simultaneously. In a civil hazing lawsuit, families can seek damages from a broad universe of defendants:

1. Individual Members who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter as an entity.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters (like Pi Kappa Phi national in the UH case), which often sets policies, collects dues, and has a history of similar incidents.
4. The University (like the University of Houston and its Board of Regents), which may be liable for negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, or deliberate indifference to known dangers.
5. Third Parties like property owners, landlords of off-campus houses, or alcohol providers.

Key Civil Legal Concepts

• Negligence: Failing to act with reasonable care. Did the national fraternity know its chapters had a pattern of dangerous “workouts” and fail to intervene?
• Gross Negligence: A conscious, voluntary act or omission with likely severe injury. This can overcome certain immunity defenses for public universities.
• Negligent Supervision: Alleging that the university or national organization failed to properly monitor and control the conduct of its students/chapters.
• Premises Liability: Holding property owners responsible for dangerous activities on their land.
• Wrongful Death: When hazing results in a fatality, surviving family members can seek damages for their profound loss.

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

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal funds to publish more transparent hazing data and strengthen prevention programs by 2026.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based abuse, federal Title IX protocols and investigations are triggered.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.

3. National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts That Repeat in Texas

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not isolated. They reveal predictable, repeated scripts that help prove negligence and foreseeability in Texas lawsuits. These patterns show that when a chapter at UH or Texas Tech engages in forced drinking, national headquarters cannot claim they “had no idea” it was dangerous.

The Forced Alcohol Poisoning Script

This is the most common fatal pattern.

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): A bid-acceptance night with extreme drinking, deadly falls caught on chapter house cameras, and a catastrophic delay in calling 911. Result: Dozens of criminal charges, civil suits, and Pennsylvania’ “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.”
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant forced drinking. Gruver died with a 0.495% BAC. Result: Felony hazing convictions and Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A “Big/Little” night where Foltz was forced to drink a bottle of whiskey. He died from alcohol poisoning. Result: Multiple criminal convictions and a $10 million settlement ($7M from PIKE national, ~$3M from BGSU).
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Another “Big Brother” night with a handle of liquor, leading to fatal alcohol poisoning. The chapter was shut down.

The Texas Connection: The alleged “family tree” drinking and forced consumption in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case follows this exact, deadly national script.

The Violent Ritual & Physical Endurance Script

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): A blindfolded, weighted-down pledge was repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at a remote retreat. He died from traumatic brain injury. Result: The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Forced to drink excessive alcohol during a “pledge dad reveal,” Santulli suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage. Result: Settlements with over 20 defendants and ongoing 24/7 care needs.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Texas A&M (2021): Pledges alleged being doused in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. A $1 million lawsuit was filed.

The Texas Connection: The extreme workouts, bear crawls, and “save-your-brother” drills alleged in the UH lawsuit mirror this physical endurance hazing pattern. The hog-tying of another pledge in that case shows the violent ritual element.

The Institutional Cover-Up & Delay Script

A consistent thread in fatal cases is the delay in seeking medical help due to fear of getting the chapter in trouble. This delay dramatically increases injury and death, and it dramatically increases liability. In nearly every major case, members waited, Googled symptoms, or hid the victim instead of calling 911 immediately.

4. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Mapping the Greek Ecosystem for City of New Home Families

At Attorney911, we don’t start from scratch. For the Bermudez case and for every family we represent, we deploy a proprietary Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine built from thousands of public records. This data allows us to immediately identify every entity with potential liability and insurance coverage behind a fraternity or sorority chapter. For parents in City of New Home, this means we already know the landscape long before we meet.

Public Records Directory: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Texas Families

The following is a sample from our constantly updated directory of Texas-registered Greek organizations, compiled from IRS filings (B83 classifications), university rosters, and metro-level business data. This is the type of concrete information we use to build cases.

A Snapshot of Texas Greek Organization Entities:

• Pi Kappa Phi – Beta Nu Housing Corporation Inc., EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035. (IRS B83 Filing).
• Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Texas Gamma Chapter, EIN 92-0575785, Fort Worth, TX 76109. (Cause IQ Metro Listing).
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M University Chapter, EIN 90-0293166, College Station, TX 77843. (IRS B83 Filing).
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc., EIN 13-3048786, College Station, TX 77845. (IRS B83 Filing).
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc. – Theta Delta Chapter, EIN 47-5370943, Houston, TX 77204. (IRS B83 Filing).
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc., EIN 74-1380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147. (IRS B83 & Cause IQ Overlap).
• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, EIN 74-2911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244. (IRS B83 & Cause IQ Overlap).
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Mu Epsilon Chapter, Beaumont, TX. (Cause IQ Metro Listing – Beaumont-Port Arthur).
• Frank Heflin Foundation (Phi Delta Theta alumni), EIN 20-3507402, Canyon, TX 79015. (IRS B83 & Cause IQ Overlap – Amarillo Metro).

Statewide Scale: Our engine tracks over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metro areas, including 188 in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro alone. When your child is harmed by a chapter at a Texas school, we can immediately identify its affiliated housing corporation, alumni foundation, and national headquarters—entities that often hold the insurance policies needed for recovery.

5. Texas University Focus: Where City of New Home Families Send Their Kids

For parents in Lynn County, college choices often include major state universities and regional campuses. Each has its own Greek life ecosystem and history of hazing incidents. Here is what you need to know about the campuses that matter to Texas families.

Texas Tech University (Lubbock, Lubbock County)

As a major university hub for the South Plains and a common destination for high-achieving students from our region, Texas Tech has a significant Greek life presence.

• The Landscape: A large IFC and Panhellenic community situated in Lubbock.
• Our Data Insight: Public records show multiple Greek housing corporations and alumni chapters registered in Lubbock, such as the Epsilon Nu Housing Corporation (EIN 23-7359384) and the Farm House Fraternity Inc. Texas Tech University Chapter (EIN 75-1565336).
• Legal Context: Hazing cases at Texas Tech would involve Lubbock County courts. Our firm’s experience with complex institutional litigation is critical when facing a large public university system and well-funded national fraternities.

University of Houston (Houston, Harris County) – The Flagship Case

The ongoing Bermudez lawsuit is the most serious active hazing case in Texas.

• The Incident: As detailed in the Click2Houston report on UH Pi Kappa Phi hazing and ABC13 coverage, the hazing was systematic, severe, and led to catastrophic injury.
• Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi national suspended the chapter on Nov. 6, 2025; members voted to surrender their charter on Nov. 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” This rapid closure is a common damage-control tactic but does not erase liability.
• Why It Matters for All Texas Families: This case demonstrates our firm’s active, high-stakes litigation against a major university and national fraternity. It proves we know how to investigate complex hazing, identify all defendants (including the UH System Board of Regents and the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu housing corporation), and fight for maximum accountability.

Texas A&M University (College Station, Brazos County)

• The Landscape: Home to a massive Greek system and the storied Corps of Cadets, both with documented hazing issues.
• Documented Incidents: The Sigma Alpha Epsilon chemical burns lawsuit and the Corps of Cadets “roasted pig” bondage allegation are recent examples. The university often handles these matters through internal discipline.
• Legal Strategy: Cases here require an understanding of both standard fraternity hazing and the unique, tradition-bound culture of the Corps. Our investigative approach targets not just the students involved, but the systemic failures that allow such traditions to persist.

University of Texas at Austin (Austin, Travis County)

• Transparency Advantage: UT Austin maintains a public Hazing Violations page, listing sanctioned organizations—a valuable resource for proving prior knowledge.
• Example: Pi Kappa Alpha was sanctioned in 2023 for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Legal Takeaway: This public record is a gift to plaintiffs. We use it to show a pattern of conduct, proving the university and the national organization were on notice about dangerous behaviors long before our client was hurt.

Other Regional & Statewide Campuses

Our data engine covers all Texas universities. Whether your child attends Texas State, Baylor, SMU, UT Tyler, or a community college, we maintain records on the Greek and organizational landscape there. The same national fraternities that have killed pledges at Ohio and Louisiana schools have chapters at every major Texas university.

6. Building a Hazing Case with Attorney911: Evidence, Strategy & Damages

When you choose our firm, you are choosing a team that understands this fight from both sides of the courtroom and employs a meticulous, data-driven strategy.

Our Investigative Advantage: The Inside Track

1. Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows how fraternity and university insurers value claims, use Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) to downplay injuries, and deploy delay tactics. We use their playbook against them.
2. Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. Taking on billion-dollar defendants prepared us for the unlimited legal budgets of national fraternities and university systems.
3. Digital Evidence Forensics: We move swiftly to preserve GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and social media evidence before it’s deleted. As we explain in our video on using your phone to document a case, this digital trail is often the most critical proof of planning, participation, and cover-up.
4. The Data Engine: As shown in Section 4, we begin with a deep map of organizational liability, instantly identifying the housing corporations, alumni funds, and national entities that may be responsible.

The Damages We Fight to Recover

In a civil hazing lawsuit, we seek to make the victim whole and punish reckless conduct. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, future care), lost wages, lost educational expenses (tuition for withdrawn semesters), and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship, love, and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of gross negligence or intentional conduct, we may seek punitive damages to punish the defendants and deter future hazing.

Overcoming Common Defense Tactics

We anticipate and dismantle the standard defenses:

• “They Consented”: We cite Texas law (§ 37.155) where consent is no defense, and use evidence of coercion and power imbalance.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We use our data engine and discovery to unearth prior incident reports at that chapter and others in the same national organization, proving foreseeability.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: We establish liability through sponsorship, control, and the organization’s knowledge that hazing would occur at unofficial locations.
• University “Sovereign Immunity”: We argue exceptions for gross negligence, willful misconduct, and Title IX violations, as seen in successful cases against other public universities.

7. Practical Guide for City of New Home Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Immediate Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation.
• Sudden secrecy about group activities.
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Requests for money for unexplained “fines” or “supplies.”

What To Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: If injured or intoxicated, go to the ER immediately. Tell doctors the truth about hazing.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot ALL group messages. Photograph injuries. Save any physical objects. Do not delete anything.
3. Document: Write down everything your child tells you with dates and names.
4. Consult a Lawyer BEFORE Reporting: Before you notify the university or fraternity, speak with us. We can advise on how to report while protecting evidence and your child from retaliation. Call 1-888 288-9911.
5. Avoid Critical Mistakes: Do not confront the organization, sign university settlement offers, or post on social media. These actions can severely damage a case.

For Students: Your Rights & Safety

• You Have the Right to Leave: You can de-pledge or quit any group at any time, for any reason.
• Calling 911 is Protected: Texas law and most university policies offer amnesty for those who seek help in an emergency.
• Document Secretly: If you feel safe doing so, take screenshots, photos, or voice memos. Texas is a one-party consent state for recordings.
• You Are Not Alone: Contact the National Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE anonymously, or reach out to our firm confidentially.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Hazing Case

We detail this in our video on client mistakes that hurt injury cases. The top errors include:

• Deleting group chats or messages.
• Giving a statement to the university or insurance adjuster without a lawyer.
• Returning to a “meeting” where you might be pressured or threatened.
• Waiting too long and allowing evidence to vanish and the statute of limitations to near. Learn about Texas statutes of limitations.

8. Why Choose Attorney911 for Your Texas Hazing Case

When your family is in crisis, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates who are strategists, investigators, and relentless fighters.

We Are Texas Hazing Litigation Specialists.
Our entire firm is built for complex fights against powerful institutions. From the BP Texas City disaster to multi-million dollar wrongful death cases, we have the proven experience. The ongoing Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit is not just a case we reference—it’s a case we are actively litigating right now. We are in the trenches, fighting the same battles your family may face.

Our Unique Combine of Skills:

• Ralph Manginello: Federal court experience, HCCLA criminal defense background, and a 25-year record of holding corporations accountable.
• Mr. Lupe Peña: A former insurance defense attorney who knows the exact tactics insurers will use to deny your claim. He brings insider knowledge to plaintiff-side advocacy.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. Hablamos Español.
• A Network of Experts: We work with medical specialists, digital forensics analysts, economists, and life-care planners to build an undeniable case.

We operate on a contingency fee basis: you pay nothing unless we win your case. As we explain in our video on contingency fees, this allows families from City of New Home, Lubbock, Houston, and all over Texas to access justice against the wealthiest opponents.

Contact Attorney911 for a Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child and your family, you are not alone, and you do not have to navigate this nightmare without expert guidance. The institutions involved will have teams of lawyers working to protect themselves. You deserve a team that fights only for you.

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. We understand the communities, courts, and campuses that matter to you.

Take the first step toward answers and accountability. Contact us today.

• Call 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Local: (713) 528-9070
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com
• Email Lupe Peña (Se habla Español): lupe@atty911.com

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / 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 Eyewitness News Timeline: 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 a Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Main Firm Website & Contact:

• Attorney911 – Legal Emergency Lawyers™: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is fact-specific. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice on your specific situation, please contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) for a confidential consultation. Results depend on the facts of each case.