The Definitive Guide to Hazing Lawsuits for Families in City of Joaquin, Shelby County, and Across Deep East Texas

Your Child Was Hazed. What Now? A Texas Lawyer’s Complete Guide to Accountability and Justice

Imagine receiving that call in the middle of the night. Your child, a student from our tight-knit Shelby County community, is in a Houston emergency room. They were at a fraternity “bid acceptance” event, pressured to consume dangerous amounts of alcohol, subjected to extreme physical exertion until they collapsed, and now face kidney failure. The fraternity brothers delayed calling 911 because they were more worried about getting the chapter shut down than your child’s life. This isn’t a hypothetical scenario—it’s exactly what happened to Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston in November 2025, and it’s the reality facing Texas families right now.

For parents in City of Joaquin, Tenaha, Center, and throughout Shelby County, sending a child to college represents hope and opportunity. When that dream turns into a nightmare of hazing abuse, you need more than sympathy—you need a clear path to accountability. This comprehensive guide explains what hazing really looks like in 2025, how Texas law protects your family, and why the recent University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi case proves that institutions can be held responsible when they fail our children.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES IN DEEP EAST TEXAS

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

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like for Texas College Students

Beyond the Stereotypes: Modern Hazing Methods

Hazing has evolved far beyond the “animal house” stereotypes. For families in Shelby County whose children attend Texas universities, understanding these modern methods is crucial for recognition and prevention.

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
The most dangerous and prevalent form involves forced or coerced consumption. At the University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi chapter, Leonel Bermudez was forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then made to immediately run sprints. This pattern of “forced consumption followed by physical exertion” is medically dangerous and becoming increasingly common.

Physical Hazing with Medical Consequences
The “workout” hazing that led to Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure represents a disturbing trend: disguising abuse as physical training. This includes:

• “Smokings” with hundreds of push-ups and squats
• Bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, and “save-your-brother” drills
• Cold-weather exposure in underwear
• Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”

Digital and Psychological Control
Modern hazing extends into digital spaces that Shelby County parents might not recognize:

• 24/7 group chat monitoring with required immediate responses
• Location tracking via Find My Friends or Snapchat Maps
• Social media humiliation through forced TikTok challenges
• Sleep deprivation via constant late-night messages and demands

The “Pledge Fanny Pack” Humiliation
In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, pledges were required to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, a sex toy, nicotine devices, and other humiliating items. This psychological hazing creates constant degradation that extends beyond formal events.

Texas Hazing Law: What Shelby County Families Need to Know

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: Your Legal Foundation

Texas has some of the nation’s clearest anti-hazing statutes, designed specifically to protect students like yours from City of Joaquin attending Texas universities.

Key Provisions for East Texas Families:

1. Broad Definition: Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers physical or mental health for purposes of initiation or affiliation. This covers everything that happened to Leonel Bermudez at UH.

2. Location Doesn’t Matter: The law applies whether hazing occurs on-campus, off-campus at places like Yellowstone Boulevard Park where UH Pi Kappa Phi hazed pledges, or even at remote retreats.

3. Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states that the victim’s “consent” doesn’t matter. This is crucial when fraternities argue “your child agreed to it.”

4. Criminal Penalties Escalate with Harm:

   • Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing (up to 180 days jail)
   • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
   • State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death

5. Organizational Liability: Fraternities, sororities, and universities can face criminal fines up to $10,000 per violation and civil liability.

The Leonel Bermudez Case: Texas Law in Action

Right now, we’re fighting one of Texas’s most serious hazing cases on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. This $10 million lawsuit demonstrates how Texas law applies to real situations:

The Medical Catastrophe: After enduring weeks of hazing including the November 3 workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats, Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, couldn’t stand without help, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels.

The Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters suspended the Beta Nu chapter on November 6, 2025, and members voted to surrender their charter on November 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary measures up to expulsion. This rapid institutional response shows how seriously Texas takes hazing allegations when properly documented and litigated.

The Defendant Universe: Our lawsuit names not just individual fraternity members but the University of Houston, UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. This comprehensive approach is essential for full accountability.

National Hazing Patterns That Affect Your Texas Student

The Alcohol Poisoning Script: Repeated Across Campuses

The forced drinking that nearly killed Leonel Bermudez at UH follows a national pattern that has caused multiple deaths:

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University (2021): Pi Kappa Alpha pledge forced to drink entire bottle of alcohol during “Big/Little” night; died from alcohol poisoning. Result: $10 million settlement ($7M from national fraternity, $3M from university).

Max Gruver – Louisiana State University (2017): Phi Delta Theta pledge forced to participate in “Bible study” drinking game; died with 0.495% BAC. Result: Louisiana enacted the Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State University (2017): Pi Kappa Phi pledge died from alcohol poisoning during “Big Brother Night.” Result: FSU temporarily suspended all Greek life.

Why This Matters for Shelby County Families: The same national organizations operating at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, and Baylor have these deadly patterns in their histories. When they repeat the same dangerous behaviors in Texas, it demonstrates foreseeability and strengthens negligence claims.

Physical Hazing with Permanent Consequences

Danny Santulli – University of Missouri (2021): Phi Gamma Delta pledge suffered permanent brain damage during “pledge dad reveal” night forced drinking. Now requires 24/7 care for life. Result: Settlements with 22 defendants totaling millions.

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College (2013): Pi Delta Psi pledge died from traumatic brain injury during blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at retreat. Result: National fraternity convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter; banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

What These Cases Mean for East Texas

These national precedents establish that:

1. Universities and national fraternities know these activities are dangerous
2. They have a duty to prevent them
3. When they fail, families can recover substantial compensation
4. No family in Shelby County should accept “this was just a tradition” as an excuse

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: Where Shelby County Students Join

Understanding the Organizational Landscape

When your child joins a fraternity or sorority in Texas, they’re entering a complex network of legal entities. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros—this investigative depth matters when building your case.

For Shelby County Families: Local Connections Matter

Students from City of Joaquin, Center, and Tenaha typically attend:

• Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches (40 miles from Center)
• University of Texas at Tyler (90 miles from Shelby County)
• Texas A&M University in College Station (180 miles)
• University of Houston (200 miles)
• Louisiana State University in Shreveport (80 miles)

Each of these campuses has active Greek life with organizations that have public records footprints we can investigate.

Public Records Directory: Greek Organizations Serving East Texas Families

As part of our data-driven approach, we maintain comprehensive records on Texas Greek organizations. These public filings show the legal entities behind the Greek letters:

Stephen F. Austin State University Area Entities:

• Alpha Tau Omega Housing Corporation of Eta Iota Chapter – EIN 300517788 – Nacogdoches, TX 75965
• Phi Kappa Psi Texas Epsilon Chapter – EIN 452729519 – Nacogdoches, TX 75965
• Chi Omega Fraternity – Epsilon Zeta Chapter – EIN 756041410 – Nacogdoches, TX 75965
• Epsilon Tau Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity – EIN 756053083 – Nacogdoches, TX 75961

Major Statewide Fraternity Entities:

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc – EIN 273662583 – Lufkin, TX 75904
• Sigma Phi Lambda Inc (multiple chapters) – EIN 201237505 – Corinth, TX 76210
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Zeta Beta Chapter – EIN 237098953 – Prairie View, TX 77446
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter – EIN 746064445 – Nederland, TX 77627

Why This Directory Matters for Your Case:
These aren’t just names—they’re legal entities with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), registered addresses, and potentially insurance coverage. When we investigate a hazing case, we start with this verified data to identify every potentially liable entity, from local housing corporations to national headquarters.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence Collection for East Texas Families

Digital Evidence: The Modern Paper Trail

In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, group chats and digital communications proved critical. Here’s what Shelby County families need to preserve:

Immediate Actions:

1. Screenshot Everything: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage threads with timestamps visible
2. Social Media Archives: Instagram stories, Snapchat memories, Facebook messages
3. Location Data: Geo-tags on posts showing where events occurred
4. Communication Patterns: Messages showing coercion or threats

Our Video Guide: We explain proper evidence preservation in our educational video “Can You Use Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case?” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

Medical Documentation: Proving the Harm

Leonel Bermudez’s medical records showing rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure with critically high creatine kinase levels became crucial evidence. Your documentation should include:

• ER reports and hospital records
• Lab results (blood alcohol, kidney function, toxicology)
• Follow-up care documentation
• Psychological evaluation for PTSD, depression, or anxiety
• Photographs of injuries over time

Witness Identification: The Human Element

From the UH case, we identified 13 individual defendants plus institutional entities. Your case needs similar thoroughness:

• Other pledges who witnessed or experienced the same treatment
• Roommates or friends who noticed changes
• Emergency responders and medical personnel
• Former members who left the organization

What Your Family Can Recover: Understanding Damages in Hazing Cases

Economic Damages: Quantifiable Losses

Medical Expenses: From emergency care to lifelong treatment. In severe cases like rhabdomyolysis or traumatic brain injury, future medical costs can reach millions.

Lost Educational Opportunity: Tuition for disrupted semesters, lost scholarships, delayed graduation impacting earning potential.

Diminished Earning Capacity: For permanent injuries that affect future work ability.

Non-Economic Damages: The Human Cost

Pain and Suffering: Physical pain from injuries, ongoing discomfort from permanent conditions.

Emotional Distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Loss of Consortium: For families, the damage to relationships and family life.

Wrongful Death Damages

When hazing proves fatal, families can recover:

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

Case Values: Real-World Examples

• Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha): $10 million total settlement
• Max Gruver (Phi Delta Theta): $6.1 million verdict plus confidential settlements
• David Bogenberger (Pi Kappa Alpha): $14 million settlement
• Chad Meredith (Kappa Sigma): $12.6 million jury verdict

These amounts reflect serious injuries and deaths—your case value depends on specific facts, but these precedents show what’s possible with proper representation.

Practical Guide for Shelby County Parents and Students

Warning Signs Your Child Is Being Hazed

Physical Indicators:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Weight changes from food/water manipulation
• Signs of alcohol poisoning or substance use

Behavioral Changes:

• Sudden secrecy about organization activities
• Withdrawal from family and non-Greek friends
• Personality shifts: anxiety, depression, irritability
• Constant phone checking for group messages
• Fear of “letting the chapter down” or “getting in trouble”

Academic Red Flags:

• Grades dropping suddenly
• Missing classes or falling asleep in class
• Losing scholarships or academic standing

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Deleting Evidence: “Cleaning up” group chats or messages looks like obstruction of justice. Preserve everything immediately.

2. Confronting the Organization: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching. Let your attorney handle communications.

3. Signing University Agreements: Schools may pressure you to sign waivers or accept small settlements. Never sign without legal review.

4. Social Media Posts: Public details can be used against you. Keep everything private until your case resolves.

5. Waiting Too Long: Texas has a 2-year statute of limitations generally, but evidence disappears much faster. Act immediately.

We detail these mistakes in our video “Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY

Your Legal Rights in Texas

• Good-Faith Reporting Protection: You won’t get in trouble for calling 911 in a medical emergency, even if underage drinking was involved.
• Consent is Irrelevant: Texas law explicitly states consent isn’t a defense to hazing.
• Organizational Liability: You can sue individuals, chapters, national organizations, and universities.
• Confidentiality Possible: Most cases settle confidentially before trial.

Why Attorney911 for Your East Texas Hazing Case

Our Texas Hazing Litigation Credentials

Currently Fighting the UH Pi Kappa Phi Case: Right now, we’re lead counsel for Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. This isn’t theoretical—we’re actively litigating one of Texas’s most serious hazing cases.

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, use delay tactics, and fight coverage. This insider knowledge is invaluable when negotiating with the same insurers who defend hazing cases.

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation against billion-dollar defendants. We’re not intimidated by national fraternities or university legal teams with unlimited budgets.

Data-Driven Investigation: Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks 1,423 Greek organizations across Texas. We don’t start from scratch—we start with verified public records showing organizational structures, EINs, and historical patterns.

Dual Civil/Criminal Capability: Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand both criminal hazing charges and civil liability. We can advise on coordinated strategies when cases involve both tracks.

Serving East Texas Families with Local Understanding

While our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families throughout East Texas including Shelby County, Nacogdoches County, and surrounding areas. We understand:

• The community values of East Texas families
• The educational pathways from Shelby County to Texas universities
• The medical resources available in our region
• The court systems where your case might be heard

Spanish-Language Services Available: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish and can consult with Spanish-speaking families directly. Servicios legales en español disponibles.

Your Next Step: Free Confidential Consultation

What to Expect When You Call

Immediate Response: When you call 1-888-ATTY-911, you’ll speak directly with our team, not a call center. We understand the urgency of hazing cases.

Comprehensive Case Review: We’ll listen to your story, review any evidence you’ve preserved, and explain your legal options in plain English.

Realistic Assessment: We’ll give you honest feedback about case strengths, potential challenges, and realistic timelines.

No Pressure Decision: Take time to decide. We won’t pressure you to hire us immediately.

Contingency Fee Basis: We work on contingency—no fee unless we recover compensation for you. Learn more in our video “How Do Contingency Fees Work?” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Contact Attorney911 Today

Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com (Ralph Manginello), lupe@atty911.com (Lupe Peña – Spanish services)

Serving: City of Joaquin, Center, Tenaha, Shelbyville, Logansport, and throughout Shelby County and East Texas

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of Leonel Bermudez UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston investigation: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/
• ABC13 detailed timeline: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Hoodline case summary: https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Evidence preservation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Statute of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client mistakes to avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Contingency fees explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website:

• https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC.

Hazing laws, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors.

If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com | lupe@atty911.com (Spanish services)