A Shenandoah Family’s Guide to Hazing, Texas Law, and University Accountability

When the “College Experience” Turns Dangerous: What Every Shenandoah Parent Needs to Know

Imagine getting a phone call in the middle of the night. Your child, a student at a Texas university, is in the emergency room. The story is confusing—vague mentions of a “fraternity event,” forced drinking, and an injury that couldn’t possibly be an accident. As you drive from your home in Shenandoah, Montgomery County, toward Houston or College Station, a terrifying reality sets in: your child may have been hazed.

Right now, less than an hour from Shenandoah, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after enduring brutal hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. This active, $10 million lawsuit against UH and the national fraternity serves as a sobering reminder that hazing isn’t just dangerous tradition—it’s a life-threatening reality for Texas students.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for parents and families in Shenandoah, The Woodlands, and across Montgomery County who need to understand what hazing looks like today, how Texas law protects students, and what legal options exist when universities and fraternities fail in their duty to keep students safe.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

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

In the first 48 hours:

1. Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine”
2. Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted
3. Write down everything while memory is fresh
4. Do NOT confront the fraternity/sorority or sign anything from the university
5. Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24-48 hours

Evidence disappears fast. Deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, coached witnesses—universities and fraternities 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: Beyond the Stereotypes

For Shenandoah families accustomed to seeing Greek life as social organizations or athletic teams as character-builders, modern hazing can be difficult to recognize. What many dismiss as “tradition” or “team bonding” often crosses into illegal, dangerous territory.

The True Definition of Hazing

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. Under Texas law, “I agreed to it” does not automatically make it safe or legal when there is peer pressure and power imbalance.

Modern Hazing Categories Every Shenandoah Parent Should Recognize

Alcohol and Substance Hazing

• Forced or coerced drinking during “Big/Little” nights or initiation events
• Chugging challenges, “lineups,” and drinking games with rapid consumption rules
• Being pressured to consume unknown or mixed substances
• Example from the UH Pi Kappa Phi case: Pledges were forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed by immediate sprints

Physical Hazing

• Paddling and beatings (still prevalent despite national prohibitions)
• Extreme calisthenics, “workouts,” or “smokings” far beyond normal conditioning
• Sleep deprivation through late-night “meetings” or mandatory activities
• Food/water restriction or forced consumption of unpleasant substances
• Example from the UH case: Leonel Bermudez was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats, leading to rhabdomyolysis

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing

• Forced nudity or partial nudity
• Simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, or humiliating positions
• Acts with racial, sexist, or homophobic overtones
• Example: The “pledge fanny pack” rule at UH requiring humiliation items

Psychological Hazing

• Verbal abuse, threats, and isolation from non-members
• Manipulation, forced confessions, or public shaming
• Social media humiliation through controlled posts or challenges

Digital/Online Hazing

• Group chat dares with immediate response requirements
• Geo-tracking demands via Find My Friends or Life360
• Pressure to create or share compromising images/videos
• Critical for evidence: These digital trails often provide the strongest proof

Where Hazing Actually Happens in Texas

Hazing extends far beyond fraternity stereotypes. Shenandoah families should be aware that their children may encounter hazing in:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural councils)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC / military-style groups (particularly at Texas A&M)
• Spirit squads and tradition clubs (like Texas Cowboys or similar organizations)
• Athletic teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer, swimming)
• Marching bands and performance groups
• Some academic, service, or cultural organizations

Texas Hazing Law: What Shenandoah Families Need to Know

Texas has specific anti-hazing provisions in the Education Code, Chapter 37 that every Montgomery County parent should understand.

Texas Education Code – Chapter 37, Subchapter F

Definition (§ 37.151):
Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, by one person alone or with others, directed against a student, that:

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

Key Points for Shenandoah Families:

• Can happen on or off campus (location doesn’t matter)
• Can be mental or physical harm
• Intent: Doesn’t have to be malicious; “reckless” is enough
• “Consent is not a defense” (§ 37.155): Even if the victim agreed, it’s still hazing

Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152)

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that doesn’t cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, fine up to $2,000)
• Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death

Additional Criminal Exposure:

• Failing to report hazing (if you’re a member/officer and knew): misdemeanor
• Retaliating against someone who reports: misdemeanor

Organizational Liability (§ 37.153)

Organizations (fraternities, sororities, clubs, teams) can be criminally prosecuted for hazing if:

• The org authorized or encouraged the hazing, OR
• An officer or member acting in official capacity knew about hazing and failed to report it

Penalties for organizations:

• Fine up to $10,000 per violation
• University can revoke recognition and ban the org from campus

Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§ 37.154)

A person who in good faith reports a hazing incident to university or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability. This protection is crucial for encouraging bystanders and victims to come forward.

How Texas Law Compares to Other States

While Texas has strong hazing laws, other states have enacted even tougher legislation following high-profile deaths:

• Pennsylvania (Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law): Upgraded hazing to felonies more easily
• Louisiana (Max Gruver Act): Felony hazing statute with serious prison time
• Ohio (Collin’s Law): Hazing becomes felony when drugs/alcohol cause physical harm
• Florida (Chad Meredith Law): Criminalized hazing after drowning death

National Hazing Case Patterns: Lessons for Shenandoah Families

The national landscape of hazing litigation provides critical context for understanding what’s happening at Texas universities. These cases demonstrate patterns that repeat across campuses and organizations.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)

• Bid-acceptance event with heavy drinking
• Severe falls captured on chapter cameras; hours delayed before medical help
• Dozens of criminal charges; civil litigation; Pennsylvania’s anti-hazing law named after him
• Takeaway for Shenandoah families: Extreme intoxication combined with delay in calling 911 creates devastating consequences

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)

• Pledge forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey during “Big/Little” night
• Died from alcohol poisoning
• $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU)
• Takeaway: Universities face significant financial consequences alongside fraternities

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)

• “Bible study” drinking game with forced consumption for wrong answers
• Died from alcohol toxicity (BAC 0.495%)
• $6.1 million verdict against fraternity members
• Takeaway: Legislative change often follows public outrage and clear proof

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)

• Pledge subjected to violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at retreat
• Fatal head injuries; help delayed
• National fraternity criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years
• Takeaway: Off-campus “retreats” can be as dangerous as parties, and national orgs face serious sanctions

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023-2025)

• Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within football program
• Multiple lawsuits against university and staff
• Head coach fired and later settled wrongful-termination suit confidentially
• Takeaway: Hazing extends beyond Greek life into major athletic programs

What These Cases Mean for Shenandoah Families

Common threads in national cases include forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, and cover-ups. Reforms and multi-million-dollar settlements typically follow only after tragedy and litigation. Shenandoah families facing hazing at Texas universities are operating in a landscape shaped by these national lessons.

Texas University Focus: Where Shenandoah Students Attend

Shenandoah families overwhelmingly send their children to universities within driving distance or major Texas institutions. Understanding the hazing landscape at these schools is crucial for prevention and response.

University of Houston: The Closest Major Institution

For Shenandoah Families: Just 30 miles south on I-45, UH is where many Montgomery County students pursue higher education. The recent Pi Kappa Phi case demonstrates that hazing incidents here directly affect our community.

Campus Culture: Large urban campus with active Greek life spanning multiple councils (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural). The mix of commuter and residential students creates unique dynamics where hazing can occur in both on-campus housing and off-campus apartments throughout Houston.

UH Hazing Policy:

• Prohibits hazing whether on-campus or off-campus
• Forbids forced consumption of alcohol/food/drugs, sleep deprivation, physical mistreatment
• Reporting through Dean of Students, conduct offices, and campus police

Recent Incident – Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi:

• Date: Fall 2025 pledge period
• Organizations: Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter at UH
• Hazing Conduct:
  • “Pledge fanny pack” rule with degrading contents
  • Forced dress codes, hours-long “study/work” blocks, overnight driving duties
  • Extreme physical hazing: sprints, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races
  • Cold-weather exposure in underwear
  • Being sprayed in face with hose “similar to waterboarding”
  • Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, peppercorns until vomiting
  • Nov 3 workout: 100+ push-ups, 500 squats under expulsion threats
• Medical Consequences:
  • Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown)
  • Acute kidney failure requiring four-day hospitalization
  • Passed brown urine, critically high creatine kinase levels
  • Ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage
• Institutional Response:
  • Nov 6, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspends Beta Nu chapter
  • Nov 14, 2025: Chapter members vote to surrender charter
  • UH labels conduct “deeply disturbing,” promises disciplinary measures
• Legal Action: $10 million lawsuit filed in Harris County

How a UH Hazing Case Might Proceed:

• Jurisdiction: Harris County courts (where Shenandoah families would file)
• Potential defendants: Individual students, chapter, Pi Kappa Phi national, UH, property owners
• Agencies: UHPD and/or Houston Police Department depending on location

Sam Houston State University: The Local Option

For Shenandoah Families: Located in Huntsville (approximately 50 miles north), SHSU represents a common choice for Montgomery County students seeking a traditional college experience closer to home.

Greek Life at SHSU:

• Active IFC and Panhellenic communities
• Multiple fraternity and sorority houses near campus
• NPHC and multicultural organizations present

Recent Hazing Concerns:
While specific incident data varies by year, SHSU has faced hazing allegations in:

• Fraternity initiation rituals
• Athletic team “conditioning”
• Spirit organization traditions

Key Considerations for Shenandoah Families:

• Walker County jurisdiction for legal matters
• SHSU University Police Department handles campus incidents
• Proximity to Shenandoah means students may come home showing signs of hazing

Texas A&M University: The Regional Powerhouse

For Shenandoah Families: Many Montgomery County students attend Texas A&M, drawn by its academic reputation, Corps of Cadets tradition, and strong alumni network in The Woodlands area.

Unique Hazing Risks at Texas A&M:

Corps of Cadets Culture:

• Tradition-heavy, military-style environment with reported discipline issues
• 2023 lawsuit alleging cadet was subjected to degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose
• Plaintiff sought over $1 million; A&M stated it handled matter under its rules

Greek Life Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon lawsuit (2021): Pledges alleged being covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries
• Fraternity suspended for two years; lawsuit sought $1 million

How A&M Handles Hazing:

• Through Student Conduct office and Corps regulations
• Public reporting less transparent than UT’s system
• Civil cases often focus on both Greek life and Corps traditions

University of Texas at Austin: The Flagship Institution

For Shenandoah Families: UT Austin attracts top students from Montgomery County, particularly from areas like The Woodlands with strong academic preparation.

UT’s Hazing Transparency Advantage:
UT maintains a public Hazing Violations page listing organizations, dates, conduct, and sanctions—one of the most transparent systems in Texas.

Recent UT Hazing Violations:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; chapter placed on probation
• Texas Wranglers (spirit organization): Sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing
• Multiple other groups facing probation for hazing violations

Legal Considerations:

• Travis County jurisdiction for lawsuits
• UTPD and Austin PD involvement depending on location
• Prior violations on UT’s public log strongly support civil suits by showing patterns

Other Texas Universities Shenandoah Students Attend

Baylor University:

• Religious identity with history of scrutiny over misconduct issues
• 2020 baseball hazing incident: 14 players suspended following investigation
• Waco jurisdiction for legal matters

Texas State University:

• Growing Greek life presence in San Marcos
• Hays County jurisdiction
• Multiple fraternity suspensions in recent years for hazing violations

The Greek Ecosystem Around Shenandoah: A Data-Driven View

As part of our investigative approach, we maintain what we call the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a comprehensive database tracking Greek organizations across Texas. This data-driven perspective reveals the extensive network behind campus Greek life that Shenandoah families should understand.

Houston Metro Greek Organizations: The Local Landscape

The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area, which includes Shenandoah, contains 188 Greek-related organizations according to Cause IQ data. These include:

• Undergraduate chapters at UH, Rice, Texas Southern, and other local universities
• Alumni chapters serving graduates throughout Montgomery and Harris counties
• House corporations that own and manage fraternity/sorority houses
• Honor societies and professional Greek organizations

Example Organizations Operating in Our Region:

From IRS B83 filings (public records of tax-exempt Greek organizations):

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 462267515 – Frisco, TX 75035
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation – EIN 371768785 – Missouri City, TX 77459
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter – EIN 746084905 – Houston, TX 77204
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – Theta Delta – EIN 475370943 – Houston, TX 77204
• Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity Inc – EIN 800209640 – Houston, TX 77248

From Cause IQ metro listings:

• Texas District of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Houston, TX (alumni/house corp.)
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Houston Alumnae – Houston, TX
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Beta Sigma Chapter – Houston, TX (undergrad chapter)
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity – Theta Chi Chapter – Houston, TX (grad chapter)

Campus Rosters: Where Specific Organizations Operate

At University of Houston (from official Greek Life site):

• Fraternities: Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, and 12+ others
• Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, Zeta Tau Alpha, and others
• NPHC Divine Nine: All nine historically Black organizations have chapters

At Texas A&M (official roster):

• Fraternities: Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, and 15+ others
• Sororities: Alpha Chi Omega, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Kappa Alpha Theta, and others

Key Insight for Shenandoah Families: The same national organizations involved in high-profile hazing deaths elsewhere operate chapters at Texas universities your children attend. This creates foreseeability—if nationals know their chapters engage in dangerous behaviors nationwide, they have duty to prevent it here.

National Fraternity Histories: Patterns That Repeat in Texas

Understanding national organizations’ histories is crucial because patterns repeat. When a Texas chapter engages in the same dangerous behaviors that caused deaths or injuries elsewhere, it demonstrates the nationals knew or should have known the risks.

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike)

National Hazing History:

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University (2021): $10 million settlement after forced drinking death
• David Bogenberger – Northern Illinois University (2012): $14 million settlement after alcohol poisoning death

Texas Chapters: Present at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor
Implication for Shenandoah Families: Nationals knew forced drinking during “Big/Little” events was deadly but chapters continued similar practices

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ / SAE)

National Hazing History:

• Multiple hazing-related deaths and severe injuries nationwide
• 2014: Eliminated traditional pledge process in response to pattern of deaths
• University of Alabama case (2023): Traumatic brain injury lawsuit
• Texas A&M case (2021): Chemical burns lawsuit

Texas Chapters: Present at all five major Texas universities
Implication: Despite national “reforms,” dangerous practices continue at Texas chapters

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)

National Hazing History:

• Max Gruver – LSU (2017): $6.1 million verdict after “Bible study” drinking game death
• Louisiana enacted Max Gruver Act (felony hazing statute)

Texas Chapters: Present at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, Baylor
Implication: Drinking game hazing continues despite national awareness of fatal risks

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ)

National Hazing History:

• Andrew Coffey – Florida State University (2017): Death from acute alcohol poisoning during “Big Brother Night”
• Criminal charges against members; FSU temporarily suspended all Greek life

Texas Chapter at UH: Currently involved in $10 million Bermudez lawsuit
Implication: Same national organization, same dangerous patterns

Why National Histories Matter Legally

In civil litigation, these national patterns establish:

1. Foreseeability: Nationals knew or should have known their chapters engaged in dangerous behaviors
2. Prior notice: Multiple incidents put nationals on notice that policies weren’t working
3. Pattern and practice: Systematic failure to enforce anti-hazing policies
4. Punitive damages potential: Repeated warnings ignored show reckless disregard

For Shenandoah families, this means: if your child is hazed by a chapter of a national organization with prior incidents, the national headquarters may share liability for failing to prevent known dangers.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

When hazing causes injury or death, building a strong case requires systematic investigation and strategic legal approach. Here’s what Shenandoah families should understand about the process.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Communications (Most Important):

• GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord: Pledge group chats often contain planning discussions, intimidation, and admissions
• Instagram DMs, Snapchat messages: Where members communicate more privately
• Deleted message recovery: Digital forensics can often recover “disappeared” content
• Example from UH case: Screenshots of messages organizing hazing events, discussing punishment for non-compliance

Photos & Videos:

• Content filmed by members during events (often shared in group chats)
• Social media posts showing injuries or degrading acts
• Security camera or doorbell footage at houses and venues
• Preservation tip: Screenshot immediately—content gets deleted once trouble starts

Internal Organization Documents:

• Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, tradition lists
• Emails/texts from officers about “what we’ll do to pledges”
• National policies and training materials showing what should have been prevented

University Records (Obtained via discovery):

• Prior conduct files, probation/suspension letters
• Incident reports to campus police or conduct offices
• Clery Act reports showing pattern of similar incidents
• UT Austin advantage: Public hazing violations page provides starting point

Medical & Psychological Records:

• Emergency room and hospitalization records
• Surgery and rehabilitation notes
• Toxicology reports (critical for alcohol poisoning cases)
• Psychological evaluations for PTSD, depression, anxiety
• From UH case: Medical records showing critically high creatine kinase levels confirming rhabdomyolysis

Witness Testimony:

• Other pledges (often afraid initially but may cooperate as case progresses)
• Former members who quit or were expelled
• Roommates, RAs, bystanders who observed changes or heard discussions

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable):

• Medical bills: ER, hospitalization, surgery, ongoing treatment, medications
• Future medical care: Physical therapy, psychological counseling, lifelong care for permanent injuries
• Lost earnings: Missed semesters, delayed workforce entry, reduced earning capacity for permanent disabilities
• Educational costs: Tuition for withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships

Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical pain and suffering from injuries
• Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life (can’t participate in activities they loved)
• Reputational harm if incident becomes public

Wrongful Death Damages (for families):

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of financial support deceased would have provided
• Loss of companionship, love, and guidance
• Grief and emotional suffering of family members

Punitive Damages (when available):

• Purpose: Punish particularly reckless or malicious conduct
• Awarded when defendants ignored prior warnings, engaged in cover-ups, or showed callous indifference
• Texas caps: Statutory limits apply in many cases

Insurance Coverage Fights

Critical Insight from Mr. Peña’s Experience:
As a former insurance defense attorney, Mr. Peña knows fraternity and university insurers use similar tactics to auto insurers:

• Arguing hazing is “intentional act” excluded from coverage
• Using Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) to downplay injuries
• Delaying to pressure families into low settlements
• Claiming multiple policy exclusions apply

Our Approach:

• Identify all potential policies: national fraternity insurance, chapter policies, university umbrella coverage, individual members’ homeowners policies
• Navigate exclusions by arguing negligent supervision (even if hazing was intentional, failure to prevent it was negligent)
• Prepare for bad faith claims if insurers wrongfully deny coverage

Practical Guides for Shenandoah Families

For Parents: Recognizing & Responding to Hazing

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

Physical Signs:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, cuts, or injuries
• Extreme fatigue, exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Weight loss or gain (from food/water restriction or stress)
• Sleep deprivation (constant late nights, calls at 3 AM)
• Injuries to hands, back, legs from paddling or forced exercise
• Chemical burns, rashes, or skin damage

Behavioral & Emotional Changes:

• Sudden secrecy about organization activities (“I can’t talk about it”)
• Withdrawal from family, old friends, or non-group activities
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability, anger
• Defensive when asked about the organization
  numbers from “letting the chapter down”
• Talking about “just having to get through this”

Academic Red Flags:

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

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Immediate Safety: If your child is in physical danger, call 911 or campus police
2. Medical Attention: Get them evaluated immediately—prioritize health over “getting in trouble”
3. Document Everything:
   • Write down dates, times, and what your child told you
   • Screenshot texts, group chats, or photos immediately
   • Photograph visible injuries from multiple angles
   • Save physical items (damaged clothing, receipts, props)
4. Reporting Decisions (with legal guidance):
   • Campus authorities: Dean of Students, Office of Student Conduct
   • Local police if crimes occurred (assault, furnishing alcohol to minor)
   • National Anti-Hazing Hotline: 1-888-NOT-HAZE (anonymous)
5. Legal Consultation: Contact an experienced hazing attorney early—even if unsure about lawsuit

For Students: Self-Assessment & Safety Planning

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something I don’t want to do?
• Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Am I being told to keep secrets, lie, or hide this from outsiders?
• 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:

• Immediate danger: Call 911 or campus police
• Want to quit: Send email/text to chapter president: “I resign my membership effective immediately”
• Do NOT go to “one last meeting” where they might pressure or retaliate
• Protect against retaliation: Document threats, report to Dean of Students and police

Evidence Collection for Students:

1. Screenshots of group chats with timestamps and participant names
2. Voice memos/recordings (Texas is one-party consent state)
3. Photos of injuries immediately and over several days
4. Save everything digital—don’t delete even if embarrassed
5. Medical documentation: Tell providers you were hazed so it’s in records

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Letting Your Child Delete Messages

• What parents think: “I don’t want them to get in more trouble”
• Why it’s wrong: Looks like cover-up; can be obstruction of justice
• What to do instead: Preserve everything immediately

2. Confronting the Fraternity/Sorority Directly

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

3. Signing University “Release” Forms

• What universities do: Pressure families to sign waivers or “internal resolution” agreements
• Why it’s wrong: You may waive right to sue; settlements often far below case value
• What to do instead: Do NOT sign anything without attorney review

4. Posting Details on Social Media

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

5. Waiting “to See How the University Handles It”

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

Why Attorney911 for Shenandoah 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 Shenandoah, The Woodlands, and across Montgomery County.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Cases

Insurance Insider Advantage (Mr. Lupe Peña):

• Former insurance defense attorney at a national firm
• Knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies value (and undervalue) hazing claims
• Understands their delay tactics, coverage exclusion arguments, and settlement strategies
• “We know their playbook because we used to run it”

Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions (Ralph Manginello):

• One of the few Texas firms involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation
• Federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas)
• Not intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their defense teams
• “We’ve taken on billion-dollar corporations and won”

Active Texas Hazing Litigation:

• Right now, we’re leading the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case
• $10 million lawsuit against University of Houston and national fraternity
• This isn’t theoretical—we’re actively fighting one of Texas’s most serious hazing cases

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Experience:

• Proven track record in complex wrongful death cases with economist collaboration
• Experience valuing lifetime care needs (brain injury, permanent disability cases)
• “We don’t settle cheap. We build cases that force accountability”

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise:

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

Investigative Depth:

• Network of experts: medical, digital forensics, economists, psychologists
• Experience obtaining hidden evidence (group chats, chapter records, university files)
• Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Proprietary database tracking 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros
• “We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does”

Our Data-Driven Approach

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine:
We maintain what we believe is Texas’s most comprehensive database of Greek organizations, built from:

1. IRS B83 Public Filings: 125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations with EINs, legal names, addresses
2. Texas University Rosters: 96 campuses with Greek life presence
3. Cause IQ Metro Analysis: 129 organizations across 15 Texas metros
4. National Hazing Database: Verified incidents from 2013-2025

Why This Matters for Your Case:

• We don’t start from zero—we already know the organizational landscape
• We can identify all potentially liable entities: nationals, house corporations, alumni groups
• We understand the patterns and histories that establish foreseeability
• We know how to trace insurance coverage through complex organizational structures

Call to Action for Shenandoah Families

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus—whether at UH just down I-45, Texas A&M, UT Austin, or any other institution—we want to hear from you. Families in Shenandoah, The Woodlands, and throughout Montgomery County have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a Confidential Consultation

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation:

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

Contact Information:

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com
• Hablamos Español: Contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish

Final Word to Shenandoah Families

Hazing has ended too many young lives and shattered too many families. The recent case at University of Houston—happening just miles from our community—shows this isn’t an abstract problem. It’s here, affecting students from Shenandoah and surrounding areas.

You don’t have to navigate this alone. Whether your child attends UH, Texas A&M, Sam Houston State, or any Texas campus, experienced legal guidance can make the difference between being silenced and achieving accountability.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. Let’s discuss what happened, explore your options, and work together to protect your child’s future—and potentially prevent this from happening to another Shenandoah family.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit:

Click2Houston (KPRC 2) 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 Coverage:
https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

Hoodline Summary of $10M Lawsuit:
https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational YouTube Videos:

Using Your Cellphone to Document Evidence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

Texas Statutes of Limitations Explained:
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:
https://attorney911.com

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