Hazing in Texas: A Complete Guide for Mineral Wells Families Seeking Accountability

If Your Child Was Hazed in Texas, You’re Not Alone

It starts with excitement—your son or daughter from Mineral Wells gets a bid from a fraternity, sorority, or campus organization at the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, or another Texas school. They talk about brotherhood, sisterhood, tradition, and lifelong connections. Then you notice changes. The late-night calls. The exhaustion that goes beyond normal college stress. The vague explanations for bruises or injuries. The sudden secrecy. The fear in their voice when you ask too many questions.

Right now, in Harris County, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history—the Leonel Bermudez University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. This isn’t a historical case or a statistic from another state. This is happening right now in Texas, to a Texas student, and our firm—Attorney911—represents him. Bermudez, a transfer student pledging Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter at UH in fall 2025, endured what the complaint describes as systematic abuse: forced carrying of a degrading “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms and sex toys, hours-long “study blocks,” overnight chauffeuring duties, and extreme physical hazing including sprints, bear crawls, and being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.” The culmination was a November 3, 2025, workout where he was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. He developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, passing brown urine and requiring four days of hospitalization with critically elevated creatine kinase levels. The chapter was suspended November 6 and voted to surrender its charter November 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” This active, high-stakes case is proof that severe, injurious hazing is not something that happens “somewhere else”—it happens here in Texas, at our universities, to our children.

If you’re a parent in Mineral Wells, Parker County, or anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, this comprehensive guide is for you. Whether your child attends school locally, commutes to a nearby campus, or studies hours away at a major Texas university, you need to understand what modern hazing really looks like, how Texas law protects—or fails—your child, and what legal options exist when institutions and organizations betray their duty of care. We’ll walk you through the reality of hazing in 2025, the legal framework in Texas, what’s happening on specific campuses, how national fraternity histories create liability, and what steps to take if your family faces this crisis.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES IN MINERAL WELLS

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

What Hazing Really Looks Like in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

For families in Mineral Wells and across Texas, understanding hazing requires moving beyond movie stereotypes of harmless pranks. Modern hazing is systematic, often digitally coordinated, and designed to exploit power imbalances while avoiding detection. It’s not “just partying” or “boys being boys”—it’s calculated behavior that frequently crosses into criminal conduct and always creates civil liability.

A Modern, Actionable Definition

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 is the power imbalance—new members cannot truly “consent” when refusal means social expulsion, retaliation, or denial of the belonging they sought. Texas law (Education Code §37.151) defines it as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers mental or physical health for purposes of initiation or affiliation. Consent is explicitly not a defense under §37.155.

The Four Main Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing: This remains the most common and deadliest form. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “lineups,” “Big/Little” nights, “family tree” drinking games, or “Bible study” sessions where incorrect answers mean consumption. The Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha, Bowling Green), Max Gruver (Phi Delta Theta, LSU), and Andrew Coffey (Pi Kappa Phi, FSU) deaths all followed this script. At Texas A&M, a Sigma Alpha Epsilon lawsuit alleged forced consumption leading to severe outcomes.

2. Physical Hazing: This includes paddling, beatings, extreme calisthenics (“smokings”), sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements. In the Bermudez case, the physical hazing included wheelbarrow races, “save-your-brother” drills, lying in vomit-soaked grass, and forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting. At Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets, a lawsuit described a “roasted pig” positioning where a cadet was bound between beds with an apple in his mouth.

3. Psychological and Sexualized Hazing: This includes verbal abuse, threats, isolation, forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk”), and degradation with racial, sexist, or homophobic overtones. The Northwestern University football scandal involved alleged sexualized hazing. This category causes profound, lasting trauma even without physical injury.

4. Digital Hazing: The newest frontier includes 24/7 group chat monitoring (GroupMe, WhatsApp), demands for immediate response at all hours, forced posting of humiliating content on social media, geolocation tracking via apps, and “challenges” shared on TikTok or Instagram. Digital evidence is now the cornerstone of hazing litigation—and also what organizations most aggressively try to destroy.

Where Hazing Happens: It’s Not Just Fraternities

While Greek organizations dominate headlines, hazing occurs in:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural councils)
• Corps of Cadets, ROTC, and military-style groups
• Athletic teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer)
• Spirit squads and tradition groups (like UT’s Texas Cowboys)
• Marching bands and performance ensembles
• Some academic, service, and cultural organizations

The common threads are hierarchy, tradition, secrecy, and the exploitation of new members’ desire to belong.

Texas Hazing Law: What Mineral Wells Families Need to Know

Texas has specific anti-hazing statutes in the Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. Understanding this framework helps families recognize their rights and the potential consequences for perpetrators.

The Texas Hazing Statute: Chapter 37

Definition (§37.151): Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that endangers mental or physical health and occurs for purposes of initiation, affiliation, or membership maintenance. The location doesn’t matter—off-campus houses, retreats, and even virtual spaces can be settings for hazing.

Criminal Penalties (§37.152):

• 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 failure to report hazing or retaliation against reporters

Organizational Liability (§37.153): Organizations (fraternities, sororities, clubs) can be prosecuted if they authorized or encouraged hazing or if officers knew and failed to report it. They face fines up to $10,000 per violation and potential campus ban.

Immunity (§37.154): Good-faith reporters to university or law enforcement receive immunity from civil or criminal liability. Many universities extend medical amnesty policies—calling 911 for alcohol emergencies won’t trigger student conduct charges.

Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): This is crucial for Mineral Wells families to understand. Even if your child “agreed” to participate, that doesn’t legalize the conduct or bar a civil case. Courts recognize the coercive power of group dynamics.

University Reporting Duties (§37.156): Texas colleges must provide prevention education, publish policies, and maintain annual reports of hazing violations. UT Austin’s public hazing violations page is a direct result of this requirement.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Tracks to Accountability

Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office) seeking punishment (jail, fines, probation). Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, or manslaughter in fatal cases. The recent Pi Kappa Phi case at UH involves potential criminal referrals.

Civil Cases: Brought by victims or families seeking compensation and accountability. Claims include negligence, gross negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, and emotional distress. These cases can proceed even without criminal charges.

Most serious hazing incidents involve both tracks. The Bermudez case is a civil lawsuit seeking over $10 million; criminal proceedings may follow.

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

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

Title IX: When hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger. Universities must investigate promptly and provide supportive measures.

Clery Act: Requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics. Hazing incidents involving assault, alcohol crimes, or sexual violence may be Clery-reportable.

National Hazing Cases: Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The tragic cases below aren’t just news stories—they’re playbooks that show exactly how hazing works, how institutions respond, and what legal outcomes are possible. These patterns directly inform what Mineral Wells families might experience.

Alcohol Poisoning Pattern: The Deadliest Script

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A bid acceptance night with heavy drinking led to Piazza falling multiple times, captured on chapter cameras. Fraternity members delayed calling 911 for hours. Result: 18 members charged with over 1,000 counts total; new Pennsylvania anti-hazing law; civil settlements.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant drinking. Gruver died with 0.495% BAC. Result: Felony hazing law in Louisiana (Max Gruver Act); civil settlement.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Forced to drink nearly a full bottle of whiskey during “Big/Little” night. Result: Multiple criminal convictions; $10 million settlement ($7M from national Pi Kappa Alpha, ~$3M from BGSU); chapter president personally ordered to pay $6.5 million.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): “Big Brother Night” with handles of liquor. Result: Criminal charges; FSU suspended all Greek life temporarily; civil lawsuit.

Pattern Lesson: Forced drinking games are a repeated, predictable killer. National fraternities know this—they’ve settled multiple death cases—yet chapters continue the same rituals.

Physical and Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): Blindfolded, weighted with backpack, repeatedly tackled during “glass ceiling” ritual at retreat. Help delayed. Result: National fraternity convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter; four individuals jailed; fraternity banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): Forced drinking during “pledge dad reveal” night caused permanent brain damage (cannot walk, talk, or see; needs 24/7 care). Result: Multiple criminal charges; settlements with 22 defendants; chapter closed.

Pattern Lesson: Violent rituals persist even with known risks. Off-campus retreats don’t eliminate liability—they often increase danger through isolation.

Athletic and Program Hazing

Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Allegations of sexualized, racist hazing within the program. Result: Multiple lawsuits; head coach Pat Fitzgerald fired then settled wrongful-termination suit; ongoing litigation.

Western Kentucky University Swim Team (2012-2015): Verbal and physical abuse over years. Result: Program suspended for five years; coaching staff terminated; $75,000 settlement with former member.

Pattern Lesson: Hazing extends beyond Greek life. Athletic departments with significant resources can harbor systemic abuse, and universities face liability for negligent supervision.

What These Cases Mean for Mineral Wells Families

These national precedents create legal advantages for Texas families:

• Foreseeability: Courts recognize that fraternities/nationals knew or should have known about risks based on prior incidents
• Pattern Evidence: Similar conduct at other chapters supports negligence claims
• Settlement Benchmarks: $1M-$14M ranges for deaths; substantial sums for catastrophic injuries
• Institutional Accountability: Universities can be held liable for deliberate indifference

When your child at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, or Baylor experiences hazing, you’re not facing a novel situation—you’re confronting a well-documented pattern that experienced attorneys know how to litigate.

Texas University Focus: Where Mineral Wells Students Attend

Mineral Wells families in Parker County send students throughout Texas—to nearby universities, major state schools, and private institutions. Understanding each campus’s specific hazing landscape is crucial.

University of Houston: A Case Study in Active Litigation

For Mineral Wells Families: While UH is approximately 250 miles from Mineral Wells, many Parker County students attend, drawn by strong programs and urban opportunities. The active Pi Kappa Phi case demonstrates that serious hazing happens at major Texas commuter schools.

Campus Snapshot: Large urban campus with mix of commuter and residential students. Active Greek life with IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, and multicultural councils.

Official Policy: UH prohibits hazing on and off campus, including forced consumption, sleep deprivation, physical mistreatment, and mental distress. Reporting channels include Dean of Students, Conduct Office, and UHPD.

Documented Incidents:

• 2016 Pi Kappa Alpha Case: Pledges allegedly deprived of food, water, sleep; one suffered lacerated spleen after being slammed onto table. Chapter faced misdemeanor charges and suspension.
• 2025 Pi Kappa Phi (Beta Nu) Case (Active): Leonel Bermudez’s lawsuit details systematic hazing leading to rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
• Other disciplinary actions involve alcohol misuse, policy violations, and “likely to produce discomfort” behaviors.

How a UH Case Proceeds: May involve UHPD and/or Houston Police Department. Civil suits typically filed in Harris County courts. Potential defendants include individuals, local chapter, national fraternity, UH System, and property owners.

What UH Families Should Do:

1. Report to UH Dean of Students Office immediately
2. Document prior complaints about the same organization
3. Preserve digital evidence (GroupMe is common at UH)
4. Contact attorney familiar with Houston jurisdiction and UH procedures
5. Understand that UH’s response in the Pi Kappa Phi case sets precedent

Texas A&M University: Corps Culture and Greek Life

For Mineral Wells Families: Located about 240 miles from Mineral Wells, Texas A&M attracts many North Texas students. Its unique Corps of Cadets culture presents specific hazing risks alongside traditional Greek life concerns.

Campus Snapshot: Flagship campus with strong traditions, Corps of Cadets, and extensive Greek system. Culture emphasizes loyalty, tradition, and hierarchy—factors that can enable hazing.

Official Policy: Prohibits hazing through Student Conduct Code and Corps regulations. Reporting through Student Conduct Office, Corps leadership, and university police.

Documented Incidents:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (~2021): Lawsuits alleged pledges were covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. Chapter suspended.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Case (2023): Lawsuit alleged cadet was bound between beds in humiliating position with apple in mouth during hazing. Sought over $1 million.
• Ongoing disciplinary actions involving forced drinking, physical abuse, and harassment.

How a Texas A&M Case Proceeds: May involve University Police, Brazos County authorities. Civil suits in Brazos County. Defendants can include individuals, chapters, nationals, university, and Corps officials.

What Texas A&M Families Should Do:

1. Understand both Greek life and Corps reporting structures
2. Document traditions that may be framed as “conditioning” or “team building”
3. Recognize that loyalty culture may pressure students to remain silent
4. Seek attorney with experience navigating both university and military-style systems
5. Act quickly—traditions are deeply entrenched and protected

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency and Repeated Violations

For Mineral Wells Families: UT Austin is approximately 200 miles from Mineral Wells, a common destination for high-achieving Parker County students. Its public hazing violations database offers unique transparency—and reveals concerning patterns.

Campus Snapshot: Flagship university with robust Greek life, spirit groups, and campus traditions. Public hazing log demonstrates ongoing issues despite policies.

Official Policy: Comprehensive prohibition with public reporting at hazing.utexas.edu. UT publishes organization, date, conduct, and sanctions annually.

Documented Incidents (From Public Log):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: probation and mandatory prevention education.
• Texas Wranglers (Multiple Years): Spirit organization sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing.
• Various fraternities and sororities for alcohol hazing, physical abuse, humiliation.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): Exchange student allegedly assaulted at party, suffering dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, broken nose. Lawsuit seeks over $1 million.

How a UT Case Proceeds: May involve UTPD, Austin Police. Civil suits typically in Travis County. Prior violations on public log significantly strengthen civil cases by establishing pattern and knowledge.

What UT Families Should Do:

1. Check hazing.utexas.edu for organization’s prior violations
2. Report through Dean of Students Office and university police
3. Use public records as leverage in negotiations
4. Document how current incident resembles prior sanctioned conduct
5. Seek attorney who can use UT’s own transparency against them in litigation

Southern Methodist University: Private School Dynamics

For Mineral Wells Families: SMU in Dallas is the closest major university to Mineral Wells at approximately 80 miles. Many Parker County families choose SMU for its academic reputation and proximity. As a private institution, its handling of hazing differs from public universities.

Campus Snapshot: Private university with affluent student body, strong Greek presence, and significant endowment. Lower transparency than public schools but subject to federal laws.

Official Policy: Prohibits hazing through Student Conduct Code. Offers anonymous reporting via systems like Real Response. Less public disclosure than UT.

Documented Incidents:

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink, sleep deprived. Chapter suspended until approximately 2021.
• Various Greek organizations under disciplinary review periodically.
• Limited public details due to private school status.

How an SMU Case Proceeds: May involve SMU Police, Dallas Police. Civil suits in Dallas County. Discovery process crucial to uncover internal reports not publicly posted.

What SMU Families Should Do:

1. Use anonymous reporting systems if fearful of retaliation
2. Understand that private school status may mean less initial transparency
3. Press for internal investigation documents through legal discovery
4. Recognize that endowment and reputation create both resources and pressure to settle quietly
5. Seek attorney experienced with private university litigation tactics

Baylor University: Religious Identity and Institutional Scrutiny

For Mineral Wells Families: Baylor in Waco is approximately 120 miles from Mineral Wells. Its religious identity and history of institutional crises create a unique context for hazing accountability.

Campus Snapshot: Private Baptist university with strong Greek life and athletic programs. History of Title IX and sexual assault scandal shapes institutional response patterns.

Official Policy: Prohibits hazing through Student Conduct Code. Emphasizes Christian community standards alongside legal compliance.

Documented Incidents:

• Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following investigation into hazing. Staggered suspensions during season.
• Periodic Greek life disciplinary actions.
• Context of broader institutional scrutiny post-sexual assault scandal.

How a Baylor Case Proceeds: May involve Baylor Police, Waco Police. Civil suits in McLennan County. University’s religious branding and prior scandals affect both liability and public relations strategy.

What Baylor Families Should Do:

1. Document any dissonance between Christian messaging and actual conduct
2. Understand that prior institutional crises may make Baylor more sensitive to litigation
3. Use Title IX office if hazing involves sexualized components
4. Recognize that “community standards” arguments may be used defensively
5. Seek attorney familiar with both hazing law and religious institution dynamics

Fraternity and Sorority Histories: National Patterns That Create Texas Liability

When a Texas chapter hazes, it’s rarely inventing new rituals—it’s following national scripts with well-documented dangers. This history creates legal liability through foreseeability and pattern evidence.

Why National Histories Matter in Texas Courts

National fraternities and sororities maintain risk management policies precisely because they know hazing patterns from prior incidents. When a Texas chapter repeats these patterns, courts can find that:

1. The national organization knew or should have known the risks
2. Their policies were inadequate or unenforced
3. They benefited from the chapter’s activities (dues, reputation)
4. They failed in their supervisory duty

Major Organizations with Documented Hazing Histories

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Stone Foltz death (BGSU, $10M settlement); David Bogenberger death (NIU, $14M settlement); multiple chapter suspensions nationally and in Texas.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Carson Starkey death (Cal Poly); traumatic brain injury lawsuit (Alabama); chemical burns lawsuit (Texas A&M); assault lawsuit (UT Austin). Known as “the deadliest fraternity” historically.

Pi Kappa Phi: Andrew Coffey death (FSU); active Bermudez lawsuit (UH). National has faced multiple hazing deaths.

Phi Delta Theta: Max Gruver death (LSU, led to felony hazing law). Pattern of drinking game hazing.

Kappa Alpha Order: Multiple suspensions including SMU chapter. Tradition-heavy culture with documented physical hazing.

Beta Theta Pi: Timothy Piazza death (Penn State, led to major state law reform). Pattern of alcohol hazing with delayed help.

Texas-Specific Organizational Presence

Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—compiled from IRS filings, university rosters, and metro databases—we track the entities behind these organizations:

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

These are actual Texas-registered entities from public filings. Their listing does not imply wrongdoing but demonstrates the network of organizations involved in Texas Greek life.

DFW Metro Area (Contains Mineral Wells/Parker County):

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, EIN 742911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Cause IQ: Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, Fort Worth)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (Cause IQ: Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation, Fort Worth)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, EIN 521278573, Dallas, TX 75241 (IRS B83 filing)
• Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delta) National Headquarters, Dallas metro area (Cause IQ listing)
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc – Sigma Gamma Chapter, EIN 392352450, Houston, TX 77254 (IRS B83)

Statewide Texas Entities (Present at Multiple Campuses):

• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 900293166, College Station, TX 77843 (Present at UT Tyler, Texas Tech Health Sciences, Lamar, others)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, EIN 364091267, Waco, TX 76710 (Present in Houston, Beaumont metros)
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc, EIN 475370943, Houston, TX 77204 (Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, others)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 746064445, Nederland, TX 77627 (Texas District entity, Cause IQ Houston listing)

Mineral Wells families should understand: These organizations have legal identities, tax statuses, insurance policies, and national networks. When hazing occurs, identifying the correct legal entities is the first step toward accountability.

How National Histories Strengthen Texas Cases

1. Foreseeability Evidence: Showing that the same organization had similar incidents elsewhere proves they knew the risks
2. Policy Enforcement Gaps: Demonstrating that anti-hazing manuals weren’t meaningfully enforced
3. Pattern and Practice: Establishing that hazing wasn’t “rogue individuals” but organizational culture
4. Punitive Damages Basis: Showing reckless disregard for known dangers

In the Bermudez case, Pi Kappa Phi’s national history—including the Andrew Coffey death—directly informs the litigation strategy and liability arguments.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

For Mineral Wells families considering legal action, understanding the litigation process demystifies what can feel overwhelming. Here’s how experienced hazing attorneys build cases.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Communications (Most Important):

• GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord messages
• Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok content
• Fraternity-specific apps and communication channels
• Deleted messages can often be recovered through digital forensics

Photos and Videos:

• Content filmed during hazing events
• Injury documentation (immediate and progressive)
• Location evidence (houses, venues, parks like Yellowstone Boulevard in UH case)
• Social media posts/stories documenting activities

Internal Organization Documents:

• Pledge manuals, “tradition” documents, initiation scripts
• Risk management materials from nationals
• Chapter meeting minutes, financial records showing alcohol purchases
• Communications between local chapter and national headquarters

University Records:

• Prior conduct files for the organization
• Incident reports to campus police or conduct offices
• Clery Act reports and annual security reports
• Internal emails among administrators about the organization
• Obtained through discovery, public records requests, or subpoena

Medical and Psychological Records:

• Emergency room/hospitalization records
• Toxicology reports, lab results (like creatine kinase levels in rhabdomyolysis)
• Surgical and rehabilitation notes
• Psychological evaluations (PTSD, depression, anxiety diagnoses)
• Therapy records documenting trauma

Witness Testimony:

• Other pledges/victims
• Former members who quit or were expelled
• Roommates, friends, significant others
• Advisors, coaches, faculty
• Emergency responders, medical personnel

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable):

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost earnings/earning capacity
• Educational costs (withdrawn semesters, transfer expenses)
• Therapy and rehabilitation costs
• Life care plans for catastrophic injuries

Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Damage to reputation and relationships

Wrongful Death Damages (When Applicable):

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of companionship, love, guidance
• Parents’ and siblings’ emotional suffering

Punitive Damages (When Conduct Warrants):

• To punish especially reckless or malicious conduct
• To deter future hazing
• Available when defendants show conscious indifference or intentional misconduct

Texas-Specific Considerations: Texas has modified comparative fault (51% bar rule) and caps on certain damages. However, hazing cases often involve gross negligence or intentional conduct that can overcome these limitations.

Strategic Considerations for Mineral Wells Families

Jurisdiction Issues: Depending on where hazing occurred and where defendants are located, cases might be filed in county, district, or federal court. The Bermudez case is in Harris County district court.

Insurance Coverage Fights: Fraternity and university insurers often argue hazing is excluded as “intentional conduct.” Experienced attorneys know how to navigate these arguments and identify all potential coverage sources.

Settlement vs. Trial: Most cases settle confidentially. However, trial readiness is crucial for leverage. Public trials bring accountability but also publicity.

Multi-Defendant Coordination: Suing individuals, local chapters, national organizations, universities, and third parties requires complex litigation management.

Statute of Limitations: Generally two years from injury in Texas, but discovery rule and tolling exceptions may apply. Do not wait—evidence disappears.

Practical Guides for Mineral Wells Families, Students, and Witnesses

For Parents: Recognizing and Responding

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, burns
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal
• Constant phone monitoring for group chat messages
• Financial changes: unexplained expenses, requests for money
• Academic decline: missed classes, dropping grades
• Physical symptoms: frequent illness, weight changes, sleep disturbances

How to Talk to Your Child:

• Use open, non-judgmental questions: “How are things with [organization]?”
• Express concern, not accusation: “I’ve noticed you seem exhausted lately.”
• Emphasize safety over status: “Your health matters more than any group.”
• Offer unconditional support: “You can always come to me, no matter what.”
• Listen without interrupting; let them share at their pace

If Your Child Is Injured:

1. Medical care first: ER if needed, even if they resist
2. Document injuries: Photos from multiple angles, with date references
3. Preserve evidence: Screenshot messages before they’re deleted
4. Write everything down: Who, what, when, where while fresh
5. Contact attorney before reporting: Strategic timing matters

Dealing with the University:

• Document all communications (emails, calls, meetings)
• Ask specific questions about prior incidents with the organization
• Request copies of policies and past disciplinary actions
• Do not sign anything without attorney review
• Remember: university’s interests may not align with your child’s

When to Contact an Attorney:

• Serious physical or psychological injury
• University minimizing or delaying response
• Evidence being destroyed or threatened
• Criminal charges may be involved
• You want an independent investigation

For Students: Safety and Rights

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

• Do I feel pressured or coerced?
• Would I do this if I could truly say no without consequences?
• Is this dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would the university approve if they knew details?
• Am I being told to keep secrets?
• Are older members making us do things they don’t do?

If You’re in Immediate Danger:

• Call 911 or campus police
• Get to a safe location (dorm, friend’s place, public area)
• You won’t get in trouble for seeking help in medical emergencies

How to Exit Safely:

• Tell someone outside the organization first (parent, RA, friend)
• Send written resignation to chapter president: “I resign effective immediately”
• Do not attend “one last meeting” where pressure might occur
• Document any retaliation or threats

Protecting Yourself from Retaliation:

• Save all communications (screenshots with timestamps)
• Report threats to university and police
• Consider protective order if harassment continues
• Remember Texas law protects against retaliation

Your Legal Rights in Texas:

• You cannot be punished for calling 911 in good faith
• “Consent” is not a defense against hazing charges
• You can sue even without criminal charges
• You can request no-contact orders through university

For Witnesses and Former Members: Coming Forward

If You Witnessed Hazing:

• Your testimony can prevent future harm
• You may have legal protections as a reporter
• Consider the moral imperative to come forward
• Consult attorney about your specific exposure

If You Participated and Regret It:

• Acknowledge your role but focus on preventing future harm
• Cooperating can be part of making amends
• Get your own legal advice about exposure
• Your honesty now can help victims heal

How to Provide Information:

• Write down everything you remember
• Preserve any evidence you have (messages, photos)
• Be honest about what you did and saw
• Understand that coming forward may be difficult but important

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Letting Evidence Be Destroyed: Deleting messages, washing clothing, returning paddles. Preserve everything immediately.

2. Confronting the Organization Directly: They’ll lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses. Let your attorney handle communication.

3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms: Often waive legal rights or settle for far below case value. Never sign without attorney review.

4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys monitor everything. Inconsistencies hurt credibility. Keep details private.

5. Waiting for University Investigation: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statutes run. Take independent action immediately.

6. Talking to Insurance Adjusters Unrepresented: Recorded statements are used against you. “My attorney will contact you.”

7. Letting Your Child Return for “One Last Meeting”: Pressure, intimidation, and coached statements result. Once legal action is considered, all communication goes through counsel.

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases

When your Mineral Wells 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.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

Insurance Insider Advantage: Mr. Lupe 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, fight coverage exclusions, and negotiate settlements. We know their playbook because we used to run it.

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Ralph Manginello is one of the few Texas attorneys involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation—taking on billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal resources. That same experience applies directly to suing national fraternities, university systems, and their insurers. We’re not intimidated by institutional power.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Results: We have recovered millions for families in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. We work with economists, life care planners, and medical experts to build cases that force accountability, not just accept lowball settlements.

Criminal + Civil Dual Capability: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand both sides of hazing cases. We can advise on criminal exposure, navigate parallel proceedings, and represent clients across the legal spectrum.

Investigative Depth and Expert Network: We deploy digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages, medical experts to document injuries, Greek life culture experts to explain dynamics, and economists to quantify damages. We investigate thoroughly because lives depend on it.

Texas-Specific Geographic Mastery: Based in Houston with offices in Austin and Beaumont, we understand Texas courts, Texas laws, and Texas university systems. We serve families throughout Texas, including Mineral Wells and Parker County.

The Bermudez Case: Active Proof of Our Commitment

We don’t just talk about fighting hazing—we’re doing it right now. The Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi case demonstrates our approach:
Merely 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035, and the 13 individual members allegedly overseeing the abuse show our comprehensive approach to identifying all responsible parties.

We’ve secured national media coverage (Click2Houston, ABC13, Hoodline) because we believe sunlight is disinfectant. We’re pushing for accountability that will prevent future harm. This active litigation proves we have the skill, resources, and determination to take on powerful institutions.

How We Approach Hazing Cases Differently

Evidence Preservation First: We act within 24-48 hours to secure digital evidence before it’s deleted, contact witnesses before they’re coached, and document injuries before they heal.

Comprehensive Defendant Identification: We use tools like our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine to identify all potentially liable entities—not just the obvious ones.

Strategic Narrative Control: We help families navigate media, university communications, and community response while protecting their privacy and case integrity.

Maximizing Recovery, Not Just Settling: We build cases for trial to create leverage, then negotiate from strength. We don’t settle cheap; we pursue accountability.

Victim-Centered Approach: We prioritize your child’s healing and your family’s wellbeing throughout the legal process. We’re advocates, not just litigators.

Call to Action for Mineral Wells Families

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus—whether it’s the University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, or another institution—we want to hear from you. Families in Mineral Wells, Weatherford, Springtown, and throughout Parker County have the right to answers and accountability.

Your Free, Confidential Consultation

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

What to expect:

• 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 questions about costs (contingency fee—we don’t get paid unless we win)
• No pressure to hire us—take time to decide with your family
• Everything you tell us is confidential

Contact Information

Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070
Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com

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

Firm Information

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC
Operating as Attorney911 | Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Federal Court Admissions: United States District Court, Southern District of Texas

Additional Educational Resources

Attorney911 YouTube Educational Videos:

• Evidence Preservation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Statute of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Contingency Fees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Practice Area Information:

• Wrongful Death Practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/
• Criminal Defense Practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/criminal-defense-lawyers/

Attorney Profiles:

• Ralph Manginello: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/
• Lupe Peña: https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/

Final Message to Mineral Wells Families

Hazing thrives in silence and secrecy. It preys on young people’s desire to belong and institutions’ desire to protect reputations. But when families speak up, when evidence comes to light, and when experienced legal counsel holds organizations accountable, change happens.

The Bermudez case is already creating change at UH and within Pi Kappa Phi. Your family’s case could create change at another Texas campus. More importantly, it could help your child heal and prevent others from suffering similar harm.

Whether you’re in Mineral Wells proper, Whitt, Millsap, Garner, or anywhere in Parker County, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The institutions may have resources, but you have rights. The organizations may have tradition, but you have truth. They may have secrecy, but we have the law.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. Let’s discuss how we can help your family find answers, secure accountability, and work toward healing.

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