Hazing Lawsuits at Texas Universities: A Guide for Gilmer Families

We know the nightmare that is keeping East Texas parents awake at night. You worked hard to give your child opportunities, sent them off to a Texas university with pride and hope, only to receive a call that changes everything. Perhaps they’re in the hospital with inexplicable injuries, or their personality has become withdrawn and secretive. Maybe you’re hearing whispered stories about “traditions” that sound more like abuse. For parents right here in Gilmer, Upshur County, and across the piney woods of East Texas, the dream of a safe college experience can shatter in an instant when hazing rears its ugly head.

Right now, in Houston, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who suffered catastrophic injuries after being hazed by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter in late 2025. This is not a story from a decade ago; this is active litigation happening today. The $10 million lawsuit details a “pledge fanny pack” humiliation rule, forced overconsumption of food leading to vomiting, extreme physical workouts, and being sprayed in the face with a hose in a manner “similar to waterboarding.” Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis—a severe muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown, he was hospitalized for four days, and he faces the risk of permanent kidney damage. This case, detailed in reports from Click2Houston and ABC13, proves that brutal, life-altering hazing is happening right now on Texas campuses.

This guide is written specifically for you—parents and families in Gilmer, Gladewater, Big Sandy, and throughout Upshur County. We will break down what modern hazing truly looks like, explain your rights under Texas law, connect national patterns to the universities where your children study, and provide a clear path forward. Our firm, The Manginello Law Firm (Attorney911), is based in Houston but serves families across Texas, including right here in East Texas. We bring the experience of fighting the current UH Pi Kappa Phi case, insider knowledge of how insurance companies operate, and a deep investigative engine built on Texas-specific data to help your family find answers and accountability.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If you are reading this during a crisis, here is what you need to know right now:

• If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW: Call 911 for any medical emergency. Then, call us at 1-888-ATTY-911. We provide immediate legal help—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.
• In the first 48 hours:
  • Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” have them evaluated by a doctor. Tell the medical staff they were hazed so it is documented.
  • Preserve Evidence: Screenshot group chats, texts, and DMs immediately—before they are deleted. Photograph any injuries from multiple angles. Save any physical items involved (clothing, receipts, objects).
  • Document Everything: Write down everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, and specific acts—while memories are fresh.
  • DO NOT: Confront the fraternity, sorority, or team. Do not sign anything from the university or an insurance company. Do not post details on public social media. Do not let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence.
• Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney: Evidence disappears within days. Universities move quickly to control the narrative. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation to protect your child’s rights and preserve your legal options.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in East Texas

For families in Gilmer, hazing might summon images of old movie clichés. The reality in 2025 is more sinister, digitally enabled, and often disguised as “tradition” or “team building.” Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group. It’s critical to understand that a student’s “consent” under intense peer pressure and fear of exclusion is not a true legal defense in Texas.

The Modern Faces of Hazing

• Alcohol & Substance Hazing: This remains the most common and deadliest form. It’s no longer just “drinking at a party.” It’s forced, coerced consumption during “Big/Little” nights, “lineup” challenges, or trivia games where wrong answers mandate drinking. The national cases of Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha) and Max Gruver (Phi Delta Theta) ended in death this way.
• Physical Hazing: This extends beyond paddling to extreme, punitive “workouts” or “smokings” designed to cause exhaustion and pain, like the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats inflicted on Leonel Bermudez at UH. It includes sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements.
• Sexualized & Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (like the “roasted pig” allegations in the Texas A&M Corps case), degrading costumes, and acts with racist or sexist overtones.
• Psychological & Digital Hazing: This is where hazing has evolved. It’s 24/7 control via GroupMe chats with instant response demands, public shaming on Instagram or TikTok, “geo-tracking” mandates through apps, and the psychological torment of isolation and verbal abuse.

Hazing is not confined to fraternities. It occurs in sororities, athletic teams (as seen in the Northwestern football scandal), Corps of Cadets programs, spirit groups like the Texas Cowboys, marching bands, and other campus organizations. The common thread is a power imbalance where older members exploit new members under the guise of tradition.

Texas Hazing Law: What Gilmer Families Need to Know

The legal landscape for hazing in Texas is defined primarily by the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. This law applies whether your child is at school in Houston, College Station, Austin, or anywhere else in the state. Understanding this framework is your first step toward accountability.

The Core of Texas Hazing Law

Texas law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers the physical or mental health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or maintaining membership in any organization.

Key Provisions for Upshur County Families:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. If it causes bodily injury, it becomes a Class A misdemeanor. If it causes serious bodily injury or death—like the rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure in the UH case—it becomes a state jail felony.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (Sec. 37.155): This is perhaps the most important point for parents. Even if your child “went along with it” or felt pressured to participate, that does not excuse the behavior or bar a civil lawsuit.
• Personal & Organizational Liability: Individuals who haze can be prosecuted. So can organizations (fraternities, sororities, teams) if they authorized the activity or if an officer with knowledge failed to report it. Organizations can face fines up to $10,000.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: The law protects those who report hazing in good faith or seek medical assistance in an emergency, even if they were involved.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

It’s vital to understand the dual legal tracks:

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office). The goal is punishment (jail, fines, probation). Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter in fatal cases. A criminal conviction is not required to file a civil suit.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by the victim and their family. The goal is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. This is where we help families recover costs for medical bills, future care, pain and suffering, and more. Defendants can include the individuals who hazed, the local chapter, the national fraternity/sorority headquarters, the university, and property owners.

Federal Overlays: Title IX and The Stop Campus Hazing Act

Beyond Texas law, federal statutes can apply:

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, or creates a hostile environment based on sex, the university has specific investigative obligations.
• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): This new federal law requires colleges to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs, with provisions phasing in through 2026.

National Cases That Shape Texas Litigation Today

The tragic stories from other states are not just news; they are legal precedents that establish patterns of negligence and foreseeability. When a fraternity at UH or Texas A&M engages in the same dangerous behavior that killed a student at LSU or Bowling Green, it powerfully demonstrates that the national organization and university should have known better.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A pledge died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. The result was a $10 million settlement with the national fraternity and university.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. The case led to Louisiana’s felony hazing “Max Gruver Act” and a $6.1 million verdict for his family.
• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Death from traumatic brain injury after a bid acceptance night. Dozens faced criminal charges, leading to Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.

The Physical & Ritualized Abuse Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): A pledge died from head trauma during a blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

What This Means for Your Family in Gilmer

These cases prove that juries and courts hold organizations financially and criminally responsible for predictable, repeatable hazing conduct. The same national fraternities named above—Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta—have active chapters at Texas universities. Their national headquarters cannot claim ignorance when the same deadly patterns emerge in Texas.

The Texas University Landscape for Gilmer & East Texas Families

Where do families from Gilmer, Ore City, and Upshur County send their kids? Many attend wonderful regional schools like the University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler) or Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Countless others head to the major statewide hubs: Texas A&M in College Station, the University of Texas at Austin (UT), the University of Houston (UH), Baylor University in Waco, and Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas. Hazing is a risk at all of them. We maintain a proprietary Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from public records, tracking over 1,400 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros to understand this ecosystem deeply.

University of Houston (UH) – A Current Case Study

Our active litigation against UH and Pi Kappa Phi makes this a critical example. UH has a large, active Greek system. The allegations in the Bermudez case reveal systemic failure: a “pledge fanny pack” with humiliating items, forced labor, and violent workouts at the chapter house and off-campus locations like Yellowstone Boulevard Park. The university called the conduct “deeply disturbing,” and the chapter was shut down. This case shows that even in a major urban university, dangerous traditions persist, and litigation is necessary to uncover the full truth and hold every responsible party—from the individual members to the national headquarters—accountable.

Texas A&M University – Corps and Greek Life

For many East Texas families, Texas A&M is a proud tradition. Its scale brings complexity. The Corps of Cadets has faced serious allegations, including a 2023 lawsuit where a cadet alleged being bound in a “roasted pig” position. The Greek system is vast. In 2021, a Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) lawsuit alleged pledges suffered severe chemical burns from industrial cleaner, requiring skin grafts. These cases highlight that hazing permeates both military-style and social organizations on the same campus.

University of Texas at Austin (UT)

UT maintains one of the most transparent hazing violation logs in the state. A review shows repeated sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced consumption and calisthenics. This public record is a powerful tool in litigation, as it demonstrates a pattern and university knowledge of ongoing issues within specific organizations.

Baylor University & Southern Methodist University (SMU)

As private universities, Baylor and SMU have their own disciplinary processes. Baylor has faced hazing scandals within its baseball program. SMU has suspended chapters, like Kappa Alpha Order, for paddling and alcohol hazing. The legal strategies may differ from public universities, but the goal of accountability remains the same.

The Greek Organizations Behind the Letters: A Data-Driven View

For parents, it’s a bewildering alphabet soup: ΠΚΑ, ΣΑΕ, ΦΔΘ, ΚΑ. Each represents a national organization with its own history, risk management failures, and insurance policies. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from IRS filings and commercial data, allows us to map this landscape. We don’t start from scratch; we begin with data.

Public Records: Greek Organizations Connected to Texas Campuses

To show the scale and depth of our investigative work, here is a sample from our directory of Texas-registered Greek entities. These are public records that we use to identify every potentially liable organization, from housing corporations to alumni chapters.

Sample IRS B83 Filings (Texas Greek Organizations):

• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation, EIN 37-1768785, Missouri City, TX 77459
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX 75035
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 74-6084905, Houston, TX 77204
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 90-0293166, College Station, TX 77843 (Texas A&M Chapter)

Cause IQ Metro Data (East Texas / Statewide Context):
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metro, which many East Texas students attend, has over 510 Greek-related organizations. The Houston Metro has 188. This network includes undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, and housing corporations—all of which can be part of the liability chain in a hazing case.

Why National Histories Matter in Your Texas Case

When we take a case involving Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) at Texas A&M, we already know that SAE has a national history of alcohol-related deaths and injuries—a pattern that includes a traumatic brain injury lawsuit at the University of Alabama and the chemical burn case at Texas A&M itself. This “pattern evidence” is crucial. It proves that the national organization was on notice about the risks of its chapters’ activities but failed to implement effective oversight. This can break through insurance coverage defenses and support claims for punitive damages.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

If hazing has harmed your child, building a strong case requires immediate, strategic action and investigative depth. This is where our experience from the UH Pi Kappa Phi case and our background in complex litigation against billion-dollar corporations becomes critical.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

1. Digital Communications: The #1 source of evidence. We use digital forensics to recover deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, and iMessage threads that show planning, coercion, and boasts about the hazing.
2. Medical Records: Documentation linking injuries directly to the hazing events. In the UH case, it was hospital records showing critically high creatine kinase levels proving rhabdomyolysis.
3. University Records: Through discovery, we obtain prior conduct reports on the same organization, showing the university knew or should have known about a dangerous pattern.
4. National Fraternity Files: We subpoena the national headquarters for their risk management files, incident reports from other chapters, and communications with the local chapter.
5. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, and roommates are often crucial to piecing together the full story.

The Damages Families Can Recover

A civil lawsuit seeks to make your family whole and hold institutions accountable. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses (ER, hospitalization, surgery, therapy), lost wages, and lost future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, PTSD, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the unspeakable event of a death, families can recover funeral costs, loss of companionship, and emotional suffering.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct, courts may award damages to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

Our Strategic Advantages for Gilmer Families

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense lawyer for large companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and underpay claims. We use this insight to counter their tactics from day one.
• Complex Institutional Litigation: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas lawyers involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by the deep pockets and powerful defense firms hired by national fraternities and universities.
• The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We don’t begin your case with a blank slate. We start with our proprietary database of Texas Greek organizations, giving us a map of the entities we need to investigate for liability and insurance coverage.

Practical Steps & FAQs for Gilmer Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue or sleep patterns that are completely disrupted.
• Sudden withdrawal from family, old friends, or non-Greek activities.
• Secretive behavior about phone use (constant group chat monitoring).
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, or uncharacteristic anger.
• Requests for large sums of money with vague explanations.

What to Do:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “I’ve noticed you seem really tired/stressed. Is everything okay with your [fraternity/sorority/team]?”
2. Prioritize Health: If injured, seek medical care immediately and tell the doctor what happened.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot everything before it’s deleted. Photograph injuries.
4. Contact Us Early: Call 1-888-ATTY-911. Early legal guidance prevents fatal mistakes and ensures evidence is preserved before the organization circles the wagons.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: No tradition is worth your life or permanent health.
• You Can Leave: You have the legal right to quit (de-pledge) at any time, for any reason.
• Reporting Protections: Texas law and most university policies offer amnesty for those who report hazing or call for medical help in an emergency.
• Document: If you feel safe doing so, take screenshots and notes. Our video on using your phone to document evidence offers practical guidance.

Critical Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case

We urge families to avoid these common errors:

• Deleting Evidence: “Cleaning up” group chats or texts is often seen as destruction of evidence.
• Confronting the Organization First: This gives them a head start to destroy evidence and coach witnesses.
• Signing University Paperwork Blindly: Universities may offer quick “resolutions” that ask you to waive your legal rights.
• Waiting Too Long: Texas has a statute of limitations. Evidence and witness memories fade. Watch our video on statutes of limitation to understand the urgency.
• Talking to Insurance Adjusters Alone: Their goal is to settle for as little as possible. Let us handle all communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue a public university like Texas A&M or UT?
A: Yes, but it is complex. Public universities have some sovereign immunity, but it is not a blanket shield. Exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individual employees. Many families successfully reach substantial settlements with public universities, as seen in the Bowling Green State ($3M) and LSU cases.

Q: How much does it cost to hire your firm?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis for injury and wrongful death 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 how contingency fees work.

Q: What if the hazing happened off-campus at an Airbnb?
A: Location does not absolve liability. National fraternities and universities can still be held responsible for activities they sponsor or know about, even at third-party locations. The Pi Delta Psi case that led to a death occurred at a remote mountain retreat.

Why Gilmer Families Choose The Manginello Law Firm (Attorney911)

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who combine deep legal expertise with genuine compassion and a fierce commitment to justice. You need attorneys who understand East Texas values and the profound trust you place in a university when you send your child from Gilmer to College Station, Austin, or Houston.

We are Texas-based hazing litigation specialists. While our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across the entire state, including Upshur County, Gregg County, Smith County, and every community in East Texas. We understand the geographic and emotional landscape you are navigating.

We are fighting the biggest hazing case in Texas right now. Our active representation of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters is not just a credential; it is proof of our current, hands-on experience in the most complex hazing litigation. We are in the trenches today, uncovering evidence, taking depositions, and facing off against institutional defense teams.

We bring an unmatched strategic advantage. Our team’s unique composition is designed to win these difficult cases:

• Ralph Manginello: With over 25 years of experience, federal court admission, and a background that includes the BP Texas City explosion litigation, Ralph knows how to build and try cases against the most well-funded defendants. His membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means he understands the criminal defense side, which is invaluable when hazing allegations also involve criminal charges.
• Mr. Lupe Peña: Lupe’s previous career as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm is our secret weapon. He knows the exact playbook that fraternity and university insurers will use to minimize your claim. He understands how they value cases, set reserves, and exploit delays. He now uses that insider knowledge exclusively to benefit injured families.

We investigate with a data-driven depth that other firms cannot match. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, featuring detailed records on thousands of Greek entities, means we begin our investigation with a map, not a blank page. We know how to find the housing corporations, alumni associations, and national hierarchies that share liability.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If hazing has impacted your child and your family, you do not have to navigate this alone. The path forward begins with a conversation.

We invite you to contact The Manginello Law Firm for a free, completely confidential consultation. In this meeting, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence or information you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law in clear, straightforward terms.
• Outline the investigation process and what you can realistically expect.
• Answer all your questions about the legal process, timelines, and our contingency fee structure.
• There is no pressure. Our goal is to provide you with the information and support you need to make the best decision for your family.

Contact us today. We are here to help Gilmer families find truth, achieve accountability, and secure the resources needed for healing and recovery.

Call the Legal Emergency Lawyers™ 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)

Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
Text/Cell: (713) 443-4781
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
Website: https://attorney911.com

Se habla Español. Mr. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the 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 Eyewitness News Report: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:

• Using Your Phone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Texas Statutes of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Client Mistakes to Avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Main Firm 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