The Definitive Guide to Hazing Lawsuits in Texas: A Resource for Town of Alba Families

If you are a parent in the Town of Alba, the peaceful image of your child thriving at a Texas university can shatter in an instant. The nightmare often begins with a late-night phone call, a text message filled with panic, or the sight of your child returning home with unexplained injuries and a shaken spirit. What might be dismissed as “roughhousing” or “tradition” can, in reality, be illegal hazing with catastrophic consequences. Right here in Texas, we are actively fighting this battle. Our firm represents Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, where alleged hazing led to life-threatening rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. For families in Wood County, from Town of Alba to nearby Hawkins and Mineola, understanding that this danger exists at campuses across the state is the first step toward protection and accountability.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for Town of Alba parents and families across East Texas. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, detail the Texas laws designed to protect your child, examine the national patterns that play out on our local campuses, and outline the practical steps you can take if the unthinkable happens. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge, because in a hazing crisis, information is your family’s first line of defense.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for immediate legal guidance.

In the first 48 hours:

• Seek medical attention immediately and tell doctors the injuries may be hazing-related.
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted: Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, texts), photograph injuries from multiple angles, and save any physical items.
• Write down everything your child recalls (names, dates, locations, acts) while memories are fresh.
• DO NOT: Confront the fraternity/sorority, sign anything from the university or an insurance company, post details on social media, or allow your child to delete messages.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears rapidly. We can help secure it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is no longer just a stereotype of paddling and silly pranks. For Town of Alba families with students at universities across Texas, understanding the modern, often digitally-facilitated reality is critical. Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining membership in a group. Under Texas law, a victim’s “consent” is not a defense.

The Modern Hazing Spectrum

1. Digital Control & Psychological Hazing:

• 24/7 Group Chat Policing: Pledges required to respond instantly to messages at all hours, facing punishment for delays.
• Social Media Humiliation: Forced to post embarrassing content on TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat as “challenges.”
• Geo-Tracking Demands: Mandated use of location-sharing apps like Find My Friends.
• Sleep Deprivation Via Technology: Constant late-night “check-ins” and mandatory early-morning calls.

2. Harassment & Degradation:

• Forced Servitude: Acting as all-hours chauffeurs, personal cleaners, or errand-runners for older members.
• “Pledge Fanny Pack” Humiliation: As alleged in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, being forced to carry degrading items (condoms, sex toys, nicotine) at all times.
• Verbal Abuse & “Roasts”: Systematic yelling, insults, and intimidation sessions framed as “character building.”
• Strenuous, Punitive Calisthenics: “Smokings” or workouts disguised as fitness but designed to exhaust and punish.

3. Violent & Life-Threatening Hazing:

• Forced Alcohol Consumption: “Big/Little” nights, “family tree” drinking games, lineups, and coerced chugging leading to alcohol poisoning.
• Physical Beatings & Paddling: Still prevalent in some NPHC and traditional fraternity contexts.
• Extreme Physical Endurance: Rituals like the alleged “glass ceiling” tackle (Pi Delta Psi) or the 100+ push-up/500-squat session that hospitalized Leonel Bermudez.
• Dangerous Exposure: Being left outside in extreme cold/heat, forced into vomit-soaked areas, or sprayed with hoses.
• Forced Consumption: Overeating milk, hot dogs, or peppercorns until vomiting, followed by immediate physical exertion.

For parents in Town of Alba, vigilance is key. Warning signs include unexplained injuries, drastic personality changes, extreme fatigue, secretive phone use, withdrawal from family and old friends, and sudden declines in academic performance.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability Framework: What Wood County Families Need to Know

Texas has a robust legal framework to address hazing, primarily found in Chapter 37, Subchapter F of the Texas Education Code. Understanding this law is essential for families in the Town of Alba seeking accountability.

Texas Criminal Hazing Law (Education Code §37.151-§37.156)

• Definition (§37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in any organization.
• Criminal Penalties (§37.152):
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause serious injury (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.
  • Also Criminal: Failing to report hazing or retaliating against someone who reports.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): It does not matter if the victim “agreed” to the activity. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in hazing.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting (§37.154): Individuals who report hazing in good faith to university or law enforcement are immune from civil/criminal liability stemming from the report. This encourages calling 911 in emergencies.

Civil Liability: Suing for Damages

A criminal case, pursued by the state, aims for punishment. A civil lawsuit, filed by the victim or family, aims for compensation and accountability. They can proceed simultaneously. Potentially liable parties in a civil hazing case include:

1. Individual Perpetrators: The students who planned, executed, or facilitated the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As an organization, if it authorized or tolerated the conduct.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: For negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, or having prior knowledge of dangerous patterns. In the Bermudez case, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters is a defendant.
4. The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations (if the hazing is sex-based). The University of Houston and its Board of Regents are named defendants in our ongoing lawsuit.
5. Housing Corporations & Alumni Boards: Entities that own properties where hazing occurs or that support the chapter.
6. Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses or bars that overserve alcohol.

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

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based discrimination, federal Title IX obligations require the university to investigate and address it.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain crimes, including aggravated assault and hazing incidents that constitute crimes, in annual security reports.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): A new federal law requiring increased transparency in hazing reporting and strengthened prevention programs at federally-funded colleges, with provisions phasing in through 2026.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Script Texas Chapters Often Follow

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not anomalies; they are patterns. The same scripts—forced drinking, brutal rituals, institutional cover-ups—repeat across the country. For Town of Alba families, these cases establish critical legal precedents about foreseeability and institutional liability.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injuries after a bid-acceptance night of extreme drinking. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. Result: Dozens of criminal charges, a landmark Pennsylvania anti-hazing law, and massive civil settlements.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died of alcohol poisoning after a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: The Max Gruver Act made hazing a felony in Louisiana.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Died after being forced to drink a bottle of liquor. Result: $10 million in total settlements from the national fraternity and university; chapter leaders held personally liable.
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died after a “Big Brother” night. His case shares a national organization with the active UH lawsuit we are handling.

The Physical & Ritualized Violence Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from head injuries after a blindfolded, violent “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. Result: National fraternity criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. Result: Settlements with 22 defendants, illustrating the multi-party liability typical in hazing cases.

What These Patterns Mean for Texas

These cases prove that national fraternities are often on notice about lethal traditions within their chapters. When a Texas chapter replicates these patterns—like the alleged forced drinking leading to rhabdomyolysis at UH—it strengthens arguments that the harm was foreseeable and that the national organization and university failed in their duty to prevent it.

Texas University Focus: Where Town of Alba Students Are at Risk

Families in Town of Alba and Wood County send their children to a variety of Texas universities. While nearby Jarvis Christian University in Hawkins is in your own county, many students head to larger institutions across the state. Each campus has its own Greek ecosystem and history of hazing incidents.

The Local & Regional Landscape for Alba Families

Closest to Home:

• Jarvis Christian University (Hawkins, Wood County): A historically Black university where NPHC (Divine Nine) fraternities and sororities have a presence. Hazing in these organizations, while strictly prohibited by nationals, has historically involved physical paddling and endurance tests.

Major Statewide Hubs Attended by East Texas Students:

• University of Texas at Tyler & Texas A&M University-Commerce: Many East Texas students choose these regional universities. Both have active Greek life susceptible to the same national patterns.
• Texas A&M University (College Station): A prime destination with a massive Greek system and the Corps of Cadets, both with documented hazing issues.
• University of Texas at Austin, University of Houston, Baylor, & SMU: As major Greek life campuses, they are common choices for high-achieving students from across Texas, including Wood County.

University of Houston: A Current Case Study in Institutional Failure

Our firm’s active litigation against UH provides a stark, local example. In Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi, we allege:

• Systemic Hazing: Pledges were subjected to a “pledge fanny pack” rule, forced labor, sleep deprivation, and violent physical hazing at the chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park.
• Extreme Physical Abuse: Acts included being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced overeating until vomiting, and an extreme Nov. 3 workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats.
• Catastrophic Injury: Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, passed brown urine, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels, facing permanent kidney damage.
• Institutional Response: While UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended then closed the chapter, the lawsuit alleges the university and national organization failed their duty to prevent known, foreseeable harm.

This case, covered by Click2Houston and ABC13, is a live demonstration of the severe harm occurring on Texas campuses right now.

Texas A&M University: Corps and Greek Life Incidents

Texas A&M has faced significant hazing allegations in both its Greek system and its storied Corps of Cadets.

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being doused with industrial-strength cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended, and a $1 million lawsuit was filed.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged being bound between beds in a degrading, simulated sexual position as part of hazing. The case sought over $1 million in damages.

University of Texas at Austin: Public Transparency and Recurring Issues

UT Austin maintains a public hazing violations log, showcasing recurring problems:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Multiple Spirit Groups: Organizations like the Texas Wranglers have been disciplined for forced workouts, alcohol hazing, and psychological abuse.

The Pattern Across Campuses

The through-line at SMU, Baylor, and other schools is the same: national fraternity patterns manifest locally, often exacerbated by a culture of secrecy and institutional reluctance to impose harsh penalties until tragedy strikes or lawsuits are filed.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Mapping the Organizations Behind the Letters

At Attorney911, we don’t start from scratch. We maintain a proprietary data engine built from public records to identify every entity with potential liability. For Town of Alba families, this means we already know how to find the organizations behind the fraternity or sorority that harmed your child.

Public Records Directory: Greek Organizations Serving Texas Families

Our directory includes over 1,400 Greek-related entities across 25 Texas metros. Below is a snapshot of the types of organizations we track, demonstrating the complex network behind a simple set of Greek letters.

Sample Texas-Registered Greek Entities (From IRS B83 Filings):

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc | EIN: 46-2267515 | Frisco, TX 75035
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation | EIN: 37-1768785 | Missouri City, TX 77459
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc | EIN: 13-3048786 | College Station, TX 77845
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M University | EIN: 90-0293166 | College Station, TX 77843
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. – Sigma Gamma Chapter | EIN: 39-2352450 | Houston, TX 77254
• Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Texas Gamma Chapter | EIN: 91-1981478 | Fort Worth, TX 76109

Texas Universities Attended by Town of Alba Students:

• Regional/Nearby: Jarvis Christian University (Hawkins), University of Texas at Tyler, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches).
• Major Statewide Hubs: University of Houston, Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin, Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, Texas Tech University.

This intelligence is crucial. When hazing occurs, liability often extends beyond the undergraduate members to include the housing corporation that owns the property, the alumni chapter that provides funding, and the national headquarters that collects dues and sets policy. We use this data to ensure no responsible entity escapes accountability.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Legal Strategy

Pursuing a hazing case requires a meticulous, strategic approach. As we are doing in the Bermudez lawsuit, the goal is to build an undeniable record that forces accountability and achieves justice for your family.

Critical Evidence in Modern Hazing Cases

1. Digital Communications: The #1 source of evidence. We secure and analyze:

   • Group Chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord logs showing planning, execution, and cover-up attempts.
   • Social Media: Instagram stories, Snapchat saved memories, TikTok videos, and Facebook posts that document events.
   • Deleted Message Recovery: Through digital forensics, we can often recover “disappearing” messages.

2. Medical Documentation: Comprehensive records are essential to prove the direct link between hazing and injury.

   • ER reports, hospitalization records, lab results (like the CK levels proving rhabdomyolysis).
   • Records from follow-up specialists and mental health professionals diagnosing PTSD, anxiety, or depression.

3. Institutional Records: Obtained through discovery or public records requests.

   • The university’s prior disciplinary files on the same chapter.
   • Incident reports filed with campus police.
   • The national fraternity’s risk management files and communications with the local chapter.

4. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders can provide crucial accounts, especially as they become free from the group’s control.

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

Recoverable Damages for Hazing Victims and Families

A successful civil lawsuit can recover compensation for the profound harms caused by hazing:

• Economic Damages:

  • All past and future medical expenses (ER, surgery, therapy, lifelong care for permanent injuries).
  • Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity (if injuries prevent certain careers).
  • Educational costs (lost tuition, missed semesters, transferred schools).

• Non-Economic Damages:

  • Physical pain and suffering.
  • Severe emotional distress, psychological trauma (PTSD, depression, anxiety).
  • Loss of enjoyment of life and humiliation.

• Wrongful Death Damages (for families):

  • Funeral and burial costs.
  • Loss of companionship, love, and financial support.
  • The family’s own emotional anguish.

• Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious, reckless conduct, courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Town of Alba Parents and Students

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

1. Prioritize Health & Safety: Get immediate medical care. Health comes first.
2. Preserve Evidence, Quietly: Help your child screenshot everything—group chats, texts, social media. Photograph injuries. Do not delete anything. Do not post about it online.
3. Document the Story: Write down a detailed timeline with your child: who, what, when, where.
4. Consult a Lawyer BEFORE Reporting: Speak with an experienced hazing attorney to understand your options. We can guide you on how to report to the university or police in a way that protects your rights and evidence. Call 1-888-ATTY-911.
5. Avoid Common Pitfalls: Do not confront the organization directly. Do not sign any documents from the university or an insurance adjuster. Do not let the university process be your only path to justice.

For Students: Is This Hazing? What Are My Rights?

• Trust Your Instincts: If you feel coerced, degraded, or endangered to belong, it’s hazing.
• Your Safety is Paramount: You have the right to leave any dangerous situation. Call 911 if there is a medical emergency; Texas law provides protections for good-faith reporters.
• You Can Leave: You have the legal right to de-pledge or resign membership at any time, for any reason.
• Evidence is Power: Secretly screenshot, photograph, and record (Texas is a one-party consent state) what is happening.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Hazing Case

We detail this in our video on client mistakes that can ruin an injury case. Key errors include:

• Deleting digital evidence.
• Confronting the fraternity/sorority before speaking to a lawyer.
• Providing a recorded statement to a university or insurance investigator without counsel.
• Signing a university “resolution agreement” that waives your right to sue.
• Waiting too long and allowing the statute of limitations to expire.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can we sue the university, even a public one like UH or Texas A&M?”
Yes. While public universities have certain sovereign immunity protections, exceptions exist for gross negligence, intentional acts, and violations of statutes like Title IX. Significant settlements, like the $3 million from Bowling Green State in the Stone Foltz case, prove it is possible.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years from the date of injury. For wrongful death, it’s generally two years from the date of death. However, specific circumstances can affect this deadline. Do not wait. Watch our video on Texas statutes of limitations and contact us immediately to protect your rights.

“What if it happened off-campus at a rental house?”
Location does not shield liability. Universities and national organizations can still be responsible for off-campus conduct of recognized groups. Many of the most severe hazing cases, like the Pi Delta Psi retreat, occurred off-campus.

“How much does it cost to hire Attorney911?”
We work on a contingency fee basis for injury cases. This means you pay no upfront fees or hourly costs. We only get paid if we successfully recover money for you through a settlement or verdict. Learn more in our video explaining how contingency fees work.

Why Town of Alba Families Choose Attorney911 for Hazing Cases

When your family is in a legal emergency caused by hazing, you need more than a general personal injury firm. You need attorneys with the specific insight, tenacity, and proven skill to take on powerful universities and national fraternities. That is why we are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

Our Unique, Unmatched Advantages in Hazing Litigation

1. Insurance Insider Knowledge – Mr. Lupe Peña’s Defense Background:
Mr. Peña (he/him) spent years as an attorney at a national insurance defense firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies fight claims, lowball settlements, and use delay tactics. We know their playbook because we used to run it. This insider perspective is invaluable in maximizing recovery for our clients.

2. Proven Experience Against Billion-Dollar Institutions – Ralph Manginello’s Complex Litigation Record:
Ralph Manginello is one of the few plaintiff attorneys in Texas who was involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on one of the world’s largest corporations. We are not intimidated by the deep pockets and aggressive defense teams hired by national fraternities and major universities. We have the federal court experience and investigative resources to build winning cases against institutional giants.

3. Active, High-Stakes Texas Hazing Litigation – The Bermudez Case:
We are not just talking about hazing law; we are actively practicing it at the highest level. Our leadership in the $10 million Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit is current, public proof of our commitment and capability. We understand the medical complexities like rhabdomyolysis, the tactics of institutional cover-ups, and the strategies to secure justice.

4. Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise – HCCLA Membership:
With Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA), we understand both sides of hazing cases. We can effectively advise clients when criminal charges are also in play and navigate the interplay between criminal and civil proceedings.

5. A Data-Driven investigative Approach – The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine:
As demonstrated earlier, we begin with intelligence, not guesswork. Our proprietary directory of Texas Greek entities allows us to immediately identify all potential defendants and sources of insurance coverage, giving our clients a significant strategic advantage from day one.

6. Spanish-Language Services – Se Habla Español:
Mr. Peña is fluent in Spanish. We are committed to serving the diverse families of Texas in the language they are most comfortable with.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family in Town of Alba, Wood County, or anywhere in Texas, you do not have to navigate this crisis alone. The path to accountability begins with a conversation.

We invite you to contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLD (Attorney911) for a free, completely confidential case evaluation. In this consultation, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas and federal law.
• Outline the potential strategies we would employ.
• Answer your questions about the process, timelines, and our contingency fee structure.
• There is no pressure to hire us. Our goal is to ensure you have the information needed to make the best decision for your family.

Time is of the essence. Evidence disappears, witnesses become reluctant, and deadlines approach. Let us help you secure the evidence and build the case that demands justice and prevents this from happening to another family.

Contact Attorney911 Today:

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

We serve families throughout Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Wherever you are in the Town of Alba or across the state, we are here to help.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. Hazing laws and university policies are subject to change. If you need legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney to discuss the details of your situation.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 | https://attorney911.com