Hazing Lawsuits in Texas: A Comprehensive Guide for Tenaha Families

When Tradition Becomes Trauma: What Every Tenaha Parent Needs to Know About Campus Hazing

Imagine your child—a student from our tight-knit Shelby County community—standing in an off-campus fraternity house near their Texas university. It’s “initiation night,” and what began as excitement about joining a campus organization has turned into something darker. They’re being pressured to drink far beyond their limits, endure humiliating acts while others laugh and film with their phones, or participate in dangerous physical challenges disguised as “tradition.” When someone collapses or gets injured, no one wants to call 911 because they’re afraid of “getting the chapter shut down” or facing repercussions. Your child feels trapped between loyalty to their new friends and their own safety, between wanting to belong and knowing something has gone terribly wrong.

This scenario isn’t just theoretical. Right now, in Harris County, we’re actively fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas—representing Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter. The allegations are harrowing: forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, extreme workouts including 100+ push-ups and 500 squats, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and carrying a degrading “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms and sex toys. This hazing led to Bermudez developing rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure—he was hospitalized for four days and faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage. The chapter has been shut down, but the legal fight for accountability continues.

For parents in Tenaha and throughout Shelby County, this case serves as a critical warning: hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or harmless tradition. It’s dangerous, often criminal behavior that can cause catastrophic injuries and lifelong trauma. This comprehensive guide explains what hazing really looks like in 2025, how Texas law protects students, what’s happening at universities where Tenaha families send their children, and what legal options exist when tradition becomes trauma.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

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

In the first 48 hours:

• 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 Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing has evolved far beyond the stereotypical “frat party” images many of us remember. For Tenaha families navigating today’s campus environments, understanding what hazing actually looks like is the first step toward recognizing and addressing it.

A Modern Definition of Hazing

At its core, hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, causes humiliation, or exploits members. What many Tenaha parents might not realize is that “I agreed to it” does not automatically make hazing safe or legal. When there’s peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion, what looks like consent is often coercion in disguise.

The Five Main Categories of Modern Hazing

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common—and most dangerous—form of hazing. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “lineups,” chugging challenges, drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean drinking, and being pressured to consume unknown or mixed substances. The Leonel Bermudez case at University of Houston involved forced consumption rituals that led directly to medical catastrophe.

Physical Hazing
This extends beyond paddling to include extreme calisthenics or “workouts” far beyond normal conditioning, sleep deprivation through mandatory all-night meetings, food and water restriction, exposure to extreme temperatures, and dangerous physical tests. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, Bermudez was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion, then made to lie in vomit-soaked grass.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This category includes forced nudity or partial nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, racial or sexist role-playing, and acts designed to cause maximum embarrassment. The “pledge fanny pack” in the UH case containing condoms and sex toys exemplifies this humiliating approach.

Psychological Hazing
Less visible but equally damaging, this includes verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members, manipulation through “trust exercises,” forced confessions, and public shaming in meetings or group chats. Many Tenaha students experience this as constant criticism and conditional acceptance.

Digital/Online Hazing
The newest frontier includes group chat dares, social media “challenges,” pressure to create or share compromising images, geo-tracking demands through apps like Find My Friends, and public humiliation via Instagram stories, TikTok videos, or Discord servers. This 24/7 digital control is particularly insidious because it follows students back to their dorms—and even back home to Tenaha.

Where Hazing Actually Happens

While fraternities receive most attention, hazing occurs across campus organizations:

• Fraternities and sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural chapters)
• Corps of Cadets, ROTC, and military-style groups
• Athletic teams from football to cheerleading
• Marching bands and performance groups
• Spirit squads and tradition clubs
• Some academic, service, and cultural organizations

The common threads are social status, tradition, and secrecy—factors that keep these practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas and Federal Protections for Tenaha Families

Understanding the legal landscape is crucial for Tenaha families considering their options after a hazing incident. Texas has specific laws, and federal regulations add additional layers of protection and obligation.

Texas Hazing Law Basics: Education Code Chapter 37

Under Texas law—which governs cases involving Tenaha students—hazing is broadly defined as intentional, knowing, or reckless acts, on or off campus, directed against a student for purposes of initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students. The conduct must either endanger physical health and safety or substantially affect mental health and safety.

Key provisions of Texas hazing law:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor by default, but becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes injury requiring medical treatment, and a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death—exactly what happened in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case with Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.

• Organizational Liability: Fraternities, sororities, clubs, and other organizations can be criminally prosecuted if they authorized or encouraged hazing, or if officers knew about it and failed to report it. Penalties include fines up to $10,000 per violation and potential university bans.

• Consent is No Defense: Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states that the victim’s “consent” to hazing activities is not a defense to prosecution. This recognizes the power imbalances and coercion inherent in hazing situations.

• Good-Faith Reporting Protection: Individuals who report hazing in good faith to universities or law enforcement are immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result from their report. Many universities extend this to amnesty for underage drinking when seeking medical help.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases
Brought by the state (district attorney or county prosecutor), these cases aim for punishment through jail time, fines, or probation. Hazing-related criminal charges can include specific hazing offenses, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, and in fatal cases, manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide. For Tenaha families, criminal prosecution provides community accountability but doesn’t compensate victims for their losses.

Civil Cases
Brought by victims or surviving families, these cases aim for monetary compensation and institutional accountability. They focus on negligence, gross negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, and emotional distress. Civil cases can proceed even without criminal charges, and successful outcomes can include compensation for medical bills, future care, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and in some cases, punitive damages to punish especially reckless conduct.

Federal Overlay: Additional Protections and Requirements

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024)
This federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently, strengthen prevention education, and maintain public hazing data (phased in by around 2026). For Tenaha students at public universities, this means more consistent reporting standards.

Title IX and Clery Act
When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations are triggered, requiring specific investigation and response protocols. The Clery Act requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics—hazing incidents often overlap with these categories when they involve assaults or alcohol/drug crimes.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Understanding potential defendants helps Tenaha families recognize the full scope of accountability:

• Individual Students: Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up
• Local Chapter/Organization: The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if incorporated) and its officers
• National Fraternity/Sorority: Headquarters that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters—particularly important when they’ve ignored prior incidents
• University or Governing Board: Schools may be liable under negligence or civil rights theories, especially if they had prior warnings
• Third Parties: Landlords of event spaces, bars or alcohol providers (under dram shop laws), security companies

Every case is fact-specific, but experienced hazing attorneys know how to identify all potentially liable parties.

National Hazing Case Patterns: Lessons for Tenaha Families

Major national cases have shaped the legal landscape and provide critical precedents for Texas families. These patterns show how courts and juries respond to hazing tragedies.

Alcohol Poisoning and Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
During a bid-acceptance event, Piazza consumed dangerous amounts of alcohol, suffered multiple falls captured on chapter cameras, and received delayed medical help. The case resulted in dozens of criminal charges, significant civil litigation, and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. For Tenaha families, the lesson is clear: delayed response worsens outcomes and increases liability dramatically.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017)
A “Big/Little” event led to Coffey consuming a handle of liquor and dying from alcohol poisoning. The case produced criminal hazing charges, temporary Greek life suspension at FSU, and policy overhauls. This “Big/Little” drinking script tragically repeated in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case involving our client.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
A “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers meant drinking led to Gruver’s death from alcohol toxicity (BAC 0.495%). The criminal convictions and subsequent civil case drove Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, creating felony hazing statutes. This demonstrates how individual cases can drive legislative change.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
Foltz died after being forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey during a pledge event. The case resulted in multiple criminal convictions and a $10 million settlement ($7 million from Pi Kappa Alpha national, approximately $3 million from BGSU). For Tenaha families, this shows universities can face significant financial consequences alongside fraternities.

Physical and Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
During a fraternity retreat, Deng was subjected to a violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual involving tackling, suffered fatal head injuries, and experienced delayed medical response. Multiple members were convicted, and the national fraternity was banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. This demonstrates that off-campus “retreats” can be particularly dangerous and that national organizations face serious sanctions.

Athletic Program Hazing and Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program over multiple years, resulting in multiple lawsuits, the firing of head coach Pat Fitzgerald, and confidential settlements. This confirms that hazing extends beyond Greek life into big-money athletic programs with systemic abuse issues.

What These Cases Mean for Tenaha Families

Common threads in these cases—forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, and cover-ups—appear consistently. The reforms and multi-million-dollar settlements typically follow only after tragedy and litigation. Tenaha families facing hazing at Texas universities are not alone; they’re operating in a legal landscape shaped by these national lessons where courts increasingly recognize institutional responsibility and substantial damages.

Texas Universities: Where Tenaha Families Send Their Children

Tenaha families have educational connections throughout Texas. Some students attend nearby regional universities, while others go to major statewide institutions. Understanding the hazing landscape at these schools is essential for prevention and response.

Regional Universities Near Tenaha

Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches)
Just 45 minutes from Tenaha in neighboring Nacogdoches County, SFA serves many Shelby County students. With active Greek life including fraternities and sororities documented in IRS B83 filings, hazing risks exist here as they do at larger institutions. The Delta Phi Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity Alumni Housing (EIN 900239693) and Epsilon Tau Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity (EIN 756053083) are among the Texas-registered Greek organizations in Nacogdoches that illustrate the organizational infrastructure behind campus Greek life.

Texas A&M University-Commerce
Located in Hunt County about two hours from Tenaha, TAMU-Commerce serves East Texas students with Greek organizations including Sigma Chi Fraternity Zeta Eta Chapter (EIN 756060974) registered in Commerce, Texas. For Tenaha families, understanding that even regional universities have complex Greek organizational structures—with housing corporations, alumni associations, and national affiliations—is crucial when evaluating hazing risks.

Major Texas Universities Where Tenaha Students Often Attend

University of Houston
Many Tenaha students attend UH, drawn by its urban opportunities and academic programs. The recent Pi Kappa Phi case we’re litigating demonstrates severe hazing risks at this institution.

Campus Culture: Large urban campus with mix of commuter and residential students, active Greek life across multiple councils (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural).

Hazing Policy: UH prohibits hazing on and off-campus, specifically banning forced consumption, sleep deprivation, physical mistreatment, and mental distress as initiation activities. Reporting channels include the Dean of Students, Conduct Office, and UHPD.

Documented Incidents: Beyond our active Pi Kappa Phi case, UH has faced previous hazing issues including a 2016 Pi Kappa Alpha case where a pledge suffered a lacerated spleen during events involving deprivation of food, water, and sleep. The chapter faced misdemeanor charges and suspension.

Jurisdiction for Tenaha Families: Civil cases may be filed in Harris County courts, with potential defendants including individual students, the UH Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu housing corporation (EIN 462267515), Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, and the University of Houston System.

Texas A&M University
As Texas’s flagship land-grant university, A&M attracts Tenaha students with its traditions, academic programs, and Corps of Cadets.

Corps of Cadets Culture: The military-style environment has faced hazing allegations, including a 2023 lawsuit where a cadet alleged degrading treatment including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Lawsuit: Around 2021, pledges alleged being covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The fraternity was suspended, and pledges filed a $1 million lawsuit.

Greek Infrastructure: The Texas Greek ecosystem around A&M includes entities like the Sigma Chi Fraternity Eta Upsilon Chapter at Texas A&M (listed in Cause IQ’s College Station metro data) and the Gentlemen of Aggie Tradition (EIN 880537463) registered in College Station.

University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin’s prestige draws ambitious Tenaha students, but its Greek life has faced consistent hazing issues.

Public Transparency: UT maintains a public Hazing Violations page listing organizations, conduct, and sanctions—more transparency than many universities.

Documented Cases: Recent entries include Pi Kappa Alpha (2023) where new members were directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics, resulting in probation and required hazing prevention education. Other sanctioned groups include Texas Wranglers and spirit organizations for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.

Organizational Network: IRS B83 data shows Austin-based Greek entities like Chi Omega Fraternity (EIN 740555581) and Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc. (EIN 475370943), while Cause IQ metro data identifies Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Rho Corp. and Delta Tau Delta – Gamma Iota Chapter in Austin.

Baylor University
Though farther from Tenaha, Baylor’s religious affiliation and academic programs attract some Shelby County students.

Baseball Hazing Incident (2020): Fourteen players suspended following hazing investigation, with staggered suspensions through the season.

Institutional Context: Baylor’s history with Title IX and sexual assault scandals creates particular sensitivity around abuse and misconduct investigations.

Southern Methodist University
SMU’s private university status and strong Greek presence present unique considerations for Tenaha families.

Kappa Alpha Order Incident (2017): New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink, and deprived of sleep, leading to chapter suspension until around 2021.

Private University Dynamics: SMU’s hazing prevention includes anonymous reporting systems like Real Response, but private status affects transparency compared to public institutions.

The Greek Organizational Network: What Tenaha Families Need to Understand

Behind every fraternity or sorority chapter on campus lies a complex network of legal entities, insurance policies, and organizational relationships. Understanding this structure is crucial for holding the right parties accountable.

Public Records: Texas Greek Organizations Serving Tenaha Families

Attorney911 maintains a comprehensive Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracking over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros. This data-driven approach means we don’t start from zero when Tenaha families need help—we already understand the organizational landscape.

Examples of Texas-Registered Greek Organizations (IRS B83 Data):

• Delta Phi Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity Alumni Housing (EIN 900239693) – Dallas, TX
• Sigma Phi Lambda Inc. (EIN 201237505) – Corinth, TX – Beta Chapter
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc. (EIN 273662583) – Lufkin, TX
• Alpha Tau Omega Housing Corporation of Eta Iota Chapter (EIN 300517788) – Nacogdoches, TX
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation (EIN 371768785) – Missouri City, TX
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc. (EIN 462267515) – Frisco, TX
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Zeta Eta (EIN 756060974) – Commerce, TX – Texas A&M University-Commerce chapter
• Chi Omega Fraternity (EIN 756041410) – Nacogdoches, TX – Epsilon Zeta chapter
• Phi Delta Theta Fraternity (EIN 900927378) – San Antonio, TX – Texas Xi chapter

Shreveport Metro Area Organizations (Relevant for East Texas Families):
While not in Texas, many Tenaha families have connections to universities in the Shreveport area, where Greek organizations like those at Louisiana State University Shreveport operate with similar structures and risks.

Why National Histories Matter for Tenaha Cases

When a Texas chapter repeats hazing patterns that have caused deaths or injuries at other campuses, that history becomes crucial evidence. National organizations like Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta, and Pi Kappa Phi have documented patterns of hazing incidents across multiple states. This creates “foreseeability”—the legal concept that they knew or should have known these risks based on prior incidents.

For example, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters should have recognized the dangers in the UH Beta Nu chapter’s activities because:

1. Their own national had the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State in 2017
2. They maintain risk management policies specifically addressing alcohol hazing
3. The patterns (Big/Little events, forced consumption, extreme workouts) mirror prior incidents

This pattern evidence supports negligence claims and can justify punitive damages when organizations ignore known dangers.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages for Tenaha Families

When hazing causes injury or death, building a strong case requires systematic evidence collection, strategic legal arguments, and thorough damages analysis. For Tenaha families navigating this process, understanding what matters most improves outcomes.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Communications

• GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, and fraternity-specific apps
• Instagram DMs, Snapchat messages (screenshot immediately—they disappear)
• Text messages planning events or discussing “traditions”
• Recovered deleted messages through digital forensics

Photos and Videos

• Content filmed during hazing events (often shared in group chats)
• Social media posts showing injuries or degrading acts
• Security camera footage from houses, apartments, or venues
• Doorbell camera recordings capturing comings and goings

Internal Organization Documents

• Pledge manuals, initiation scripts, “tradition” documents
• Emails or texts from officers about activities
• National policies, training materials, and risk management guidelines
• Meeting minutes or agendas referencing new member activities

University Records

• Prior conduct files on the same organization
• Probation or suspension letters
• Campus police incident reports
• Clery Act reports and annual security disclosures

Medical and Psychological Records

• Emergency room and hospitalization records
• Surgery notes, rehabilitation documentation
• Toxicology reports showing blood alcohol levels
• Psychological evaluations diagnosing PTSD, depression, or anxiety

Witness Testimony

• Other pledges or new members
• Former members who quit or were expelled
• Roommates, RAs, coaches, trainers
• Bystanders or neighbors who observed activities

Damages: What Tenaha Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses)

• Medical bills (ER, hospitalization, surgery, therapy)
• Future medical care (ongoing treatment, medications, specialized care)
• Lost earnings from missed work
• Educational losses (withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships)
• Diminished earning capacity for permanent injuries

Non-Economic Damages

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

Wrongful Death Damages (for Families)

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

Punitive Damages (When Available)

• Awarded to punish especially reckless or malicious conduct
• Available when defendants had prior warnings and ignored them
• Capped in Texas but significant in cases showing callous indifference

Insurance Coverage Complexities

National fraternities and universities typically have insurance policies that may cover hazing claims, but insurers often argue:

• Hazing is an “intentional act” excluded from coverage
• Certain defendants aren’t covered under policy language
• The incident occurred outside policy periods or locations

Our insider knowledge from Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney is invaluable here. We understand how insurers value claims, use Independent Medical Exams to reduce settlements, and deploy delay tactics. This knowledge helps Tenaha families navigate coverage disputes and bad faith claims when insurers wrongfully deny coverage.

Practical Guides and FAQs for Tenaha Families

For Parents: Recognizing and Responding to Hazing

Warning Signs Your Tenaha Student May Be Hazed

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, burns, or cuts
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Sudden weight loss or gain
• Sleep deprivation (constant late nights, 3 AM calls)
• Secretive behavior about organization activities
• Withdrawal from family and non-Greek friends
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability
• Constant phone use monitoring group chats
• Financial requests for unexplained expenses

Questions to Ask (Non-Confrontationally)

• “How are things going with [organization]? Are you enjoying it?”
• “Have they been respectful of your time for classes and sleep?”
• “What do they ask new members to do?”
• “Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable or you wish you didn’t have to do?”
• “Have you seen anyone get hurt, or have you been hurt?”
• “Do you feel like you can leave if you want to?”
• “Are they asking you to keep secrets?”

If You Suspect Hazing

1. Prioritize Safety: If immediate danger, call 911
2. Document Everything: Write down what your child tells you with dates/times
3. Preserve Evidence: Screenshot messages, photograph injuries
4. Seek Medical Care: Even if they insist they’re “fine”
5. Report Strategically: Contact Dean of Students, consider campus police
6. Consult an Attorney Early: Before talking to university or insurance representatives

For Students: Self-Assessment and Safety Planning

Is This Hazing? Ask Yourself:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something I don’t want to do?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences?
• Is this activity dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would my parents or university approve if they knew exactly what’s happening?
• Are older members making new members do things they don’t do themselves?
• Am I being told to keep secrets or lie about activities?

How to Exit Safely

• Tell someone outside the organization first (parent, RA, friend)
• Send written resignation to chapter leadership
• Don’t go to “one last meeting” where pressure or retaliation might occur
• If fearing retaliation, report concerns to Dean of Students and campus police
• Document any threats or harassment

Evidence Collection for Students

• Screenshot all group chats with timestamps visible
• Photograph injuries immediately and over several days
• Record conversations (Texas is one-party consent state)
• Save all physical items (clothing, props, receipts)
• Write down names and contact info for witnesses

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Hazing Case

1. Letting Your Child Delete Messages
What families think: “I don’t want them in more trouble”
Why it’s wrong: Looks like cover-up, may be obstruction of justice
Better approach: Preserve everything immediately

2. Confronting the Organization Directly
What families think: “I’ll give them a piece of my mind”
Why it’s wrong: They lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
Better approach: Document everything, consult attorney first

3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms
What universities do: Pressure families to sign waivers
Why it’s wrong: May waive right to sue, settlements often undervalue cases
Better approach: Don’t sign anything without attorney review

4. Posting Details on Social Media
What families think: “I want people to know”
Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys screenshot everything, inconsistencies hurt credibility
Better approach: Document privately, let attorney control messaging

5. Waiting “to See How University Handles It”
What universities promise: “We’re investigating internally”
Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute runs
Better approach: Preserve evidence now, consult attorney immediately

6. Talking to Insurance Adjusters Without Counsel
What adjusters say: “We just need your statement”
Why it’s wrong: Recorded statements used against you, early settlements lowball
Better approach: “My attorney will contact you”

Frequently Asked Questions for Tenaha Families

“Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under specific circumstances. Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals personally. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity protections. Every case is fact-specific—contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for case analysis.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law classifies hazing as Class B misdemeanor by default, but becomes a state jail felony if hazing causes serious bodily injury or death—like the rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report hazing.

“Can my child bring a case if they ‘agreed’ to initiation?”
Yes. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure and power imbalance isn’t true voluntary consent.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if harm or cause wasn’t immediately known. In cover-up cases, the statute may be tolled (paused). Time is critical—call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately.

“What if hazing happened off-campus?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, knowledge, and foreseeability. Many major cases (Pi Delta Psi retreat, Sigma Pi unofficial house) occurred off-campus with multi-million-dollar judgments.

“Will my child’s name be public?”
Most cases settle confidentially before trial. You can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability.

Why Attorney911 for Tenaha Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how fraternities, sororities, Corps programs, and universities operate—and how to hold them accountable. From our work on the Leonel Bermudez University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi case to our broader Texas hazing litigation experience, we bring specific capabilities that matter for Tenaha families.

Our Unique Qualifications for 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, deploy delay tactics, argue coverage exclusions, and negotiate settlements. This insider knowledge—knowing their playbook because we used to run it—gives Tenaha families a critical advantage.

Complex Litigation Against Powerful Institutions
Ralph Manginello is one of the few Texas attorneys involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing billion-dollar corporate defendants with unlimited legal resources. That same capability applies when taking on national fraternities with deep pockets and universities with institutional protection. We’re not intimidated by powerful defendants—we’ve beaten them before.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Experience
We’ve recovered millions for families in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, working with economists to value lifetime care needs, lost earning capacity, and non-economic damages. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that force real accountability.

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise
Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation. We can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure, navigate cooperation agreements, and handle cases where criminal and civil proceedings overlap.

Investigative Depth and Resources
Our network includes digital forensics experts who recover deleted messages, medical experts who document hazing injuries, psychologists who diagnose trauma, and Greek life experts who understand organizational dynamics. For Tenaha families, this means we investigate thoroughly—because your child’s wellbeing depends on it.

Texas-Specific Geographic Mastery
From our Houston, Austin, and Beaumont offices, we serve families throughout Texas, including Tenaha and all of Shelby County. We understand Texas courts, Texas laws, and Texas university systems intimately. When you work with us, you get Texas hazing specialists who know this landscape better than national firms parachuting in.

Our Approach for Tenaha Families

We recognize that hazing cases involve more than legal strategy—they’re deeply personal crises that affect entire families. Our approach balances:

1. Thorough Investigation: We pursue every lead, from deleted group chats to hidden university files
2. Strategic Case Building: We identify all potentially liable parties and insurance coverage sources
3. Client-Centered Communication: We keep you informed and involved at every step
4. Accountability Focus: We seek outcomes that provide compensation AND prevent future harm
5. Privacy Protection: We work to protect your family’s privacy throughout the process

For Tenaha families specifically, we understand your community values, your connections to Texas universities, and the particular challenges of navigating hazing situations from a smaller community perspective. We’re here to help you through this with expertise and empathy.

Call to Action for Tenaha Families

If hazing has impacted your family—whether your child attends a university near Tenaha or anywhere in Texas—you don’t have to face this alone. The path forward begins with a conversation.

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation

When you contact Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911:

We’ll Listen Without Judgment
Tell us what happened in complete confidence. We understand this is difficult, and we’re here to help, not judge.

Review Your Evidence
We’ll examine any evidence you have—photos, messages, medical records—and explain what matters legally.

Explain Your Legal Options
We’ll outline possible paths: criminal reporting, civil lawsuit, both, or neither. We’ll explain the pros and cons of each approach.

Discuss Realistic Expectations
We’ll talk about timelines, potential outcomes, and what the process actually looks like—no unrealistic promises.

Answer Cost Questions
We work on contingency—we don’t get paid unless we win. You pay nothing upfront, and the consultation is completely free.

No Pressure to Hire
Take time to decide. We want you to feel confident in your choice of legal representation.

Contact Attorney911 Today

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

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

Whether you’re in Tenaha, Center, Joaquin, or anywhere in Shelby County, if hazing has touched your family, reach out today. Let us help you find answers, seek accountability, and work toward preventing this from happening to another family in our Texas community.

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