The Complete Texas Hazing Litigation Guide for Families in Town of Avery

If you are a parent in Town of Avery, the call you never want to receive is the one where your college student whispers, “I think I’m in trouble,” or worse, doesn’t call at all. The reality for Texas families is that hazing—the violent, coercive, and degrading rituals tied to campus groups—is not a relic of the past. It is a present and active danger at universities across our state, including the schools where Town of Avery students enroll. Right now, our firm is leading one of the most serious hazing lawsuits in Texas history, representing Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. This $10 million case involves allegations of extreme physical abuse that led to rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, and a four-day hospitalization. For families in Town of Avery and across Red River County, this isn’t a distant news story; it’s proof of what can happen and a demonstration of the legal fight required to secure accountability.

This guide is written for you—Town of Avery parents, students, and community members. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, break down Texas hazing law, detail the patterns of abuse at major universities, and show you how experienced legal counsel investigates these cases. Our goal is to provide the knowledge and resources you need to protect your child and understand your rights.

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).
• In the first 48 hours:
  • Get medical attention immediately.
  • Preserve evidence: Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, texts), photograph injuries, save physical items. Do not delete anything.
  • Write down everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, acts.
  • Do NOT: Confront the organization, sign anything from the university or an insurer, or post details on social media.
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney. Evidence disappears within days. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, immediate, and confidential consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing is no longer just about silly pranks or “boys being boys.” It is a calculated pattern of coercion and abuse designed to test loyalty through humiliation and endurance. For Town of Avery families, understanding its modern forms is the first step in recognizing danger.

The Three Tiers of Modern Hazing

Tier 1: Subtle Hazing & Digital Control.
This is the gateway, establishing power imbalance. It includes forced servitude (cleaning, errands, being “on call”), social isolation, and sleep deprivation. Today, it’s enforced through 24/7 digital monitoring: pledges must respond instantly to GroupMe messages, share their live location via apps, and submit to social media policing. The “pledge fanny pack” rule in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case—requiring humiliating items be carried at all times—is a textbook example of this degrading control.

Tier 2: Harassment Hazing.
This causes intentional emotional and physical discomfort. It includes verbal abuse, forced consumption of unpalatable food (like the milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns forced on UH pledges), “smokings” or extreme calisthenics, and public humiliation. A recent evolution is the “voluntary-but-mandatory” framing, where activities are labeled “optional” but refusal means social exclusion or denial of membership.

Tier 3: Violent & Life-Threatening Hazing.
This is criminal conduct with a high probability of serious injury or death. It includes:

• Forced/Alcohol Hazing: Coerced drinking games, “big/little” nights with handles of liquor.
• Physical Assault: Paddling, beatings, “glass ceiling” tackling rituals, extreme exposure to elements.
• Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts.
• Dangerous “Tests”: As seen in the UH case, this includes being sprayed in the face with a hose “like waterboarding,” lying in vomit-soaked grass, hog-tying, and forced workouts of hundreds of squats and push-ups that can induce rhabdomyolysis.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond Fraternity Row

While fraternities and sororities are a primary concern, hazing is a systemic campus issue. Town of Avery students may face risks in:

• Athletic Teams: From football to cheerleading.
• Military & Corps Programs: Like the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.
• Spirit & Tradition Groups: Such as band, drill teams, or campus-specific organizations.
• Academic & Honors Societies.
  The common thread is a hierarchy where existing members wield power over new members in the name of “tradition” or “team bonding.”

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: What Town of Avery Families Need to Know

Texas has clear, strong statutes against hazing. Understanding this framework is crucial for any family considering action.

The Texas Education Code: Chapter 37, Subchapter F

Definition (§37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or maintaining membership in an organization.

Key Points for Parents:

• Location Doesn’t Matter: Hazing “on or off campus” is illegal. The UH Pi Kappa Phi hazing occurred at chapter houses, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park—all covered under the law.
• “Consent” Is NOT a Defense (§37.155): Even if your child felt pressured to “agree,” it is legally irrelevant. The power imbalance and coercion inherent in hazing invalidate consent.
• Criminal Penalties (§37.152): Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury (like kidney failure) or death.
• Organizational Liability (§37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000.
• Immunity for Reporting (§37.154): Those who report hazing in good faith, or call for medical help in an emergency, are protected from liability.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

Criminal Case: Brought by the state (DA or county attorney). Aim is punishment: jail time, fines, probation. In the UH case, law enforcement investigations are ongoing.

Civil Lawsuit: Brought by the victim and family. Aim is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. This is the path Leonel Bermudez has taken with our firm. The two can proceed simultaneously, and you do not need a criminal conviction to file a civil suit.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

A robust legal strategy identifies every responsible party, which we track through our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine.

1. Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. Local Chapter Officers: The president, pledgemaster, risk manager—like the 13 individual defendants in the UH lawsuit.
3. The Local Chapter & Its Housing Corporation: The on-the-ground entity. We have their EINs and addresses in our database.
4. The National Headquarters: They collect dues, set policy, and are responsible for chapter oversight. Pi Kappa Phi Nationals is a defendant in the UH case.
5. The University: Schools like UH, Texas A&M, and UT have a legal duty to protect students. They can be liable for negligent supervision or deliberate indifference.
6. Alumni Boards & Property Owners: Entities that own chapter houses or facilitate events.

The National Hazing Crisis: Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The tragic cases below are not isolated; they are a playbook that dangerous chapters follow. Town of Avery families should see them as stark warnings of foreseeable harm.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death: The Most Common Pattern

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Died from traumatic brain injury after a forced drinking “gauntlet.” Help was delayed for hours. Result: Dozens of criminal charges, a multi-million dollar civil settlement, and a new Pennsylvania law.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Died after being forced to drink a bottle of liquor. Result: $10 million settlement, criminal convictions, and the chapter president ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act” making hazing a felony.

Physical & Ritualized Violence

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Died from brain injuries during a blindfolded “glass ceiling” tackling ritual at a retreat. Result: National fraternity convicted of manslaughter and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli (Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent brain damage from forced drinking. Result: Settlements with 22 defendants for lifelong care costs.

Athletic & Program Hazing

• Northwestern University Football (2023): Systemic, sexualized hazing led to multiple lawsuits, coach firations, and confidential settlements.
  These national patterns—forced drinking, violent rituals, institutional cover-ups—are the exact patterns we are litigating in Houston and see in Texas. The same national organizations operate here.

Texas University Focus: Where Town of Avery Students Attend

Town of Avery students often attend universities across the state, from nearby regional campuses to major flagship schools. Here is what you need to know about the hazing landscape at Texas’s largest Greek life institutions.

University of Houston: A Current Case Study in Failure

For Town of Avery Families: UH is a major destination for students from across Texas. The ongoing Bermudez lawsuit is a critical template for understanding institutional liability.

Snapshot: A large, diverse commuter and residential campus with active Greek life across IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, and Multicultural councils.

The Bermudez Case – What Happened:
Leonel Bermudez, a fall 2025 pledge to Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter, was subjected to months of systematic abuse culminating in life-threatening injuries. Key facts from the lawsuit and media reports:

• Humiliation: Forced 24/7 carry of a “pledge fanny pack” with condoms, sex toys, and nicotine.
• Servitude: Mandatory dress codes, overnight driving duties, hours-long “study” blocks.
• Physical Torture: Sprints, bear crawls, cold-weather exposure, being sprayed with a hose, forced consumption of food until vomiting.
• The Final Workout (Nov. 3): 100+ push-ups, 500 squats under threat of expulsion.
• Medical Catastrophe: Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, was hospitalized for four days, and faces permanent kidney damage risk.
• Defendants: UH, UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi Nationals, the Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual members.
• Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi suspended the chapter Nov. 6; members voted to surrender their charter Nov. 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

Legal Jurisdiction for Town of Avery Families: A hazing case at UH would involve Harris County courts. Evidence preservation is critical, as digital messages are often deleted quickly.

Texas A&M University: Corps Culture & Greek Life

For Town of Avery Families: Texas A&M’s unique Corps of Cadets and robust Greek system present specific hazing risks that parents should understand.

Snapshot: A tradition-heavy campus where Greek life and the Corps are deeply intertwined. Hazing allegations have arisen from both.

Documented Incidents:

• 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 lawsuit was filed.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023): A cadet alleged being bound between beds in a simulated sexual position as part of hazing. The lawsuit sought over $1 million in damages.

What to Know: Texas A&M has its own disciplinary structures for both Greek life and the Corps. Families must navigate these parallel systems while building a civil case.

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency & Repeated Violations

Snapshot: UT Austin has one of the most transparent hazing reporting systems in the country, publicly listing violations on its website.

Documented Patterns (From UT’s Public Log):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for forcing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics.
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group): Repeated sanctions for alcohol-related hazing and forced physical activity.
• Various fraternities and sororities appear for sleep deprivation, verbal abuse, and coercion.

Key Takeaway: UT’s public database is a powerful tool for proving “prior notice” in a lawsuit. If an organization has a history of violations, the university and national headquarters have a heightened duty to intervene.

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

SMU Snapshot: A private university with a prominent Greek system. Incidents like the 2017 Kappa Alpha Order paddling case show that hazing persists despite university policies.
Baylor Snapshot: Following past institutional scandals, Baylor faces continued scrutiny. A 2020 baseball team hazing incident that led to 14 player suspensions demonstrates that hazing permeates athletics as well.

For families at private institutions, litigation strategies may differ regarding sovereign immunity, but the core claims of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress remain powerful.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Data Behind the Letters

When you hire our firm, you are not starting from zero. We maintain a proprietary database built from public records to map the entire Greek ecosystem in Texas. This is how we build an unshakable case.

Public Records Directory: Organizations Serving Texas Campuses

The following are real entities recorded in IRS (EIN) and organizational databases. This illustrates the complex network behind campus Greek life.

Fraternity & Sorority Entities with Texas Presences:

• Pi Kappa Phi – Beta Nu Housing Corporation Inc., EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc., EIN 13-3048786, College Station, TX 77845
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Sigma Incorporated, EIN 88-2755427, San Marcos, TX 78666
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc. (Theta Delta Chapter), EIN 47-5370943, Houston, TX 77204
• Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi, EIN 74-6047117, Austin, TX 78705
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc., EIN 74-1380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (University of Texas at Tyler), EIN 35-2335400, Tyler, TX 75799
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. – Sigma Gamma Chapter, EIN 39-2352450, Houston, TX 77254

Why This Directory Matters:
It allows us to immediately identify every potentially liable entity—the housing corporation that owns the property, the alumni foundation that may hold insurance, the national brand that collects dues. We use this data to serve discovery requests that leave no stone unturned.

Building a Hazing Case: The Attorney911 Method

Our approach is built on 25+ years of complex litigation experience, including taking on billion-dollar defendants in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. Hazing cases demand the same rigor.

Step 1: Immediate Evidence Preservation & Investigation

Digital evidence is everything. We move immediately to:

1. Forensic Data Recovery: Securing deleted group chats from GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Discord.
2. Social Media Archiving: Preserving stories, posts, and DMs from Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok that often show hazing in “real time.”
3. Internal Document Subpoenas: Obtaining chapter meeting minutes, pledge manuals, risk management reports, and communications with national headquarters.
4. University Record Requests: Using public information laws and discovery to get prior conduct files on the organization.

Step 2: Identifying All Liable Parties & Insurance Coverage

Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we map the full defendant universe. A critical advantage is Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny claims, argue exclusions, and lowball settlements. We anticipate these tactics and build our case to overcome them from day one.

Step 3: Quantifying the Full Scope of Damages

Hazing causes profound, lasting harm. We work with medical experts, life care planners, psychologists, and economists to document:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, ongoing therapy), future medical care, lost earning capacity, and educational costs.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, severe emotional distress (PTSD, depression, anxiety), humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the unfathomable event of a death, we seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and the family’s grief.

A Practical Guide for Town of Avery Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Action Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, drastic weight change.
• Secrecy about group activities, withdrawing from family and old friends.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Personality changes: new anxiety, depression, or irritability.

What to Do if You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’m worried about you. Is anything happening with your group that makes you feel unsafe or humiliated?”
2. Prioritize Medical Care: If there’s any injury or intoxication, go to the ER.
3. Preserve Evidence Together: Help your child screenshot ALL digital communications. Photograph injuries. Write down a timeline.
4. Contact an Attorney Before Reporting: We can guide you on how to report to the university or police in a way that protects your child’s rights and the evidence.
5. Do Not Confront the Organization: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.

For Students: Is This Hazing? Your Rights & Safety.

Ask Yourself:

• Am I being pressured or forced to do something dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would I do this if there was no threat of being kicked out or shamed?
• Am I told to keep secrets from the university, my parents, or outsiders?
  If you answer “yes,” it is hazing.

Your Legal Rights in Texas:

• You have the right to leave any organization, at any time.
• You have immunity under Texas law for reporting hazing or calling for medical help in good faith.
• “Consent” is not a defense for the people hazing you.

How to Exit Safely & Report:

• Tell a trusted person outside the group first (parent, RA, counselor).
• You can report anonymously to the National Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE.
• For legal protection and to discuss options confidentially, call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Why Choose The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911?

When your family is facing a hazing crisis, you need more than a lawyer; you need advocates who understand the institutional forces arrayed against you and have a proven record of defeating them.

Our Proven Advantage for Texas Hazing Cases:

1. Active, High-Stakes Litigation Experience: We are not theorists. Right now, we are lead counsel for Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. We are in the fight.
2. Insider Insurance Knowledge: Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows how fraternity and university insurers value claims, craft exclusions, and employ delay tactics. We use this insider knowledge to maximize your recovery.
3. Complex Institutional Litigation Credentials: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced billion-dollar defendants with limitless legal budgets. National fraternities and major universities do not intimidate us.
4. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,400 Greek organizations in Texas. We know the entities, their EINs, their relationships, and their histories before we even begin discovery.
5. Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise families navigating both tracks.
6. Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. We are committed to serving the diverse families of Texas.

We are a Texas-based firm with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, serving families across the state, including those in Town of Avery and throughout Red River County. We take cases on a contingency fee basis: you pay nothing unless we win.

Contact Attorney911 for a Free, Confidential Hazing Case Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family, time is your most critical resource. Evidence disappears, witnesses are coached, and the institution begins its narrative control.

We are here to help you take back control.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for an immediate, free, and completely confidential consultation. You will speak directly with our team. We will listen to your story, explain your legal options, and help you decide the best path forward for your family.

Se habla Español. Contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC | Attorney911
Legal Emergency Lawyers™
https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. The outcome of any case depends on its specific facts and applicable law. We encourage you to seek legal counsel for advice on your individual situation.