The Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuits in Texas: A Resource for Big Lake Families

Introduction: A Nightmare Closer Than You Think

Imagine getting a call in the middle of the night. Your child, a student at a Texas university you trusted, is in the emergency room. What began as excited talk about joining a fraternity, sorority, or campus organization has ended with a diagnosis of acute kidney failure, traumatic injury, or worse. The details that emerge are horrifying: forced drinking, brutal physical workouts, sleep deprivation, and psychological torment—all under the banner of “tradition” and “brotherhood.”

This is not a hypothetical scenario. Right now, in Texas, we are actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. Leonel Bermudez, a student at the University of Houston, endured a fall 2025 pledge period with the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter that allegedly included extreme humiliation, violence, and abuse, culminating in rhabdomyolysis (severe skeletal muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure that required a four-day hospitalization. This $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit, which we filed on Bermudez’s behalf, names the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, the chapter’s housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders as defendants.

If you are a parent, family member, or student in Big Lake, Reagan County, or anywhere in West Texas, this reality hits close to home. Your children and neighbors attend Texas universities. They join campus organizations seeking friendship and opportunity. This guide exists to provide you, our Big Lake community, with the comprehensive knowledge you need to recognize hazing, understand Texas law, and know your rights if the unthinkable happens. We will walk through what modern hazing looks like, the legal framework in Texas, patterns from national tragedies, the specific landscape at major Texas universities, and the practical steps to protect your family and seek accountability.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

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

In the first 48 hours:

• Seek medical attention immediately.
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it disappears:
  • Screenshot all group chats, texts, and direct messages immediately.
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save any physical items (clothing, objects, receipts).
• Write down everything you remember and are told (who, what, when, where).
• DO NOT:
  • Confront the organization directly.
  • Sign anything from a university or insurance company.
  • Post details on public social media.
  • Allow messages to be deleted.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney promptly. Evidence vanishes, universities move to control narratives, and time limits apply. We can help you navigate this crisis. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Understanding the Greek Ecosystem: What Big Lake Families Are Up Against

Families in Big Lake and across West Texas often send their students to universities hours away. To understand the scope of the challenge, it’s critical to know the scale and structure of the organizations involved. We maintain a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from public records, to track the entities that may share liability in a hazing case.

The Texas Greek Universe in Numbers

Our analysis of IRS filings, university rosters, and organizational data reveals a vast network across the state:

• 1,423+ Greek-related organizations operate across 25 Texas metropolitan areas.
• 125+ Texas-registered entities are listed in IRS “B83” filings for fraternities, sororities, and related groups.
• 96 major university campuses in Texas host these organizations.

For a family in Big Lake, this means your student likely encounters this system whether they attend a regional school like Angelo State University in San Angelo (Tom Green County) or a major hub like Texas Tech University in Lubbock. The same national brands implicated in hazing deaths elsewhere have chapters and affiliated entities throughout Texas.

A Snapshot from the Public Records Directory

Below is a sample from our directory of Texas-registered Greek organizations. These are public records that illustrate the formal, legal entities behind the social organizations on campus. Knowing these names, Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), and locations is the first step in a thorough investigation.

Organizations Registered in Texas (IRS B83 Filings):

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 133048786, 3007 Earl Rudder Fwy S, College Station, TX 77845
• Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Inc, EIN 161675890, 115 Wild Wick Way, The Woodlands, TX 77382
• Sigma Phi Lambda Inc, EIN 201237505, 4251 FM 2181 Ste 230 PMB 480, Corinth, TX 76210
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 462267515, 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 746064445, 1855 Highway 69 N, Nederland, TX 77627
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 746084905, 4300 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX 77204
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc, EIN 475381060, 601 University Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (University of Texas at Tyler chapter), EIN 352335400, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX 75799
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity (Prairie View Alumni), EIN 237279532, PO Box 2142, Prairie View, TX 77446

These entities—house corporations, alumni chapters, educational foundations—often hold insurance policies, own property, and can be named in lawsuits. When hazing occurs, our strategy includes identifying every possible liable entity within this complex hierarchy, from the individual members to the national headquarters.

Hazing in 2025: Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing is not just “boys being boys” or harmless initiation pranks. It is a calculated pattern of abuse that exploits power dynamics and often escalates to violence. Modern hazing has evolved with technology and become more secretive, but its core remains the coercion of new members through fear, humiliation, and danger.

The Three Tiers of Modern Hazing

1. Subtle Hazing: Behaviors that emphasize power imbalance and set the stage for worse abuse. This includes forced servitude (being an on-call driver, cleaning members’ rooms), social isolation, deception oaths, and constant digital monitoring via group chats.
2. Harassment Hazing: Actions that cause emotional or physical discomfort, including verbal abuse, sleep deprivation, strict dress codes, forced food/water consumption, and public humiliation (like the “pledge fanny pack” filled with degrading items in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case).
3. Violent Hazing: Activities with a high potential for catastrophic injury or death. This includes forced alcohol consumption (the leading cause of hazing deaths), physical beatings/paddling, extreme calisthenics leading to conditions like rhabdomyolysis, sexualized acts, kidnapping, and exposure to dangerous environments.

The alleged conduct against Leonel Bermudez at UH spanned all three tiers: the humiliating “fanny pack” rule, sleep deprivation and forced labor, and ultimately the violent physical hazing—including being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding” and forced through a workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats—that caused his life-threatening medical crisis.

Where Hazing Happens

While fraternities are often the focus, hazing pervades many campus groups:

• Sororities
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading)
• Military-Style Corps (like the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets)
• Spirit & Tradition Organizations
• Marching Bands
• Academic and Cultural Clubs

The common thread is a hierarchical structure, a culture of secrecy, and the twisted notion that suffering builds loyalty.

Texas Law & Legal Liability: A Framework for Justice

Texas has specific laws governing hazing, and understanding them is crucial for families seeking accountability.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Anti-Hazing Statute

• Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of initiation or affiliation that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student. It can occur on or off campus.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes bodily injury and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals who fail to report hazing can also be charged.
• Critical Provision – Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas law (Sec. 37.155) explicitly states that the consent of the victim is not a defense. This legally dismantles the common excuse that “they wanted to do it.”
• Organizational Liability: The organization itself can be fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing or if an officer knew and failed to report it.

Civil Lawsuits: The Path to Compensation and Accountability

A criminal case is brought by the state to punish wrongdoing. A civil lawsuit, which we handle, is brought by the victim or their family to recover damages and force institutional change. These are not mutually exclusive; both can proceed simultaneously. In a civil hazing case, we can seek damages from:

• The individual students who planned and carried out the abuse.
• The local chapter as an entity.
• The national fraternity/sorority headquarters, which often has deep pockets and insurance.
• The university, for negligent supervision or failing to act on known dangers.
• Alumni boards and housing corporations that own and control properties where hazing occurs.

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

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, it triggers federal Title IX obligations for the university.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs. This will create more public data by 2026.

National Tragedy, Texas Reality: Lessons from Landmark Cases

The hazing that affects Texas students is part of a national epidemic. Understanding these patterns is key to proving liability, as courts recognize that national organizations are on notice about the dangers of their rituals.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Stone Foltz, Bowling Green State University (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): A 20-year-old pledge died after being forced to drink an entire bottle of alcohol. His family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from the national fraternity, ~$3M from the university). This case shows the direct financial consequences for organizations.
• Max Gruver, LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died from alcohol poisoning after a “Bible study” drinking game. His death led to the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana, making hazing a felony. The case resulted in a $6.1 million verdict for his family.

The Physical & Ritualized Abuse Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng, Baruch College (Pi Delta Psi, 2013): A pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a violent, blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted of manslaughter and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years. This proves organizations can be held criminally liable.

The Catastrophic Injury Pattern

• Danny Santulli, University of Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): An 18-year-old pledge suffered permanent, severe brain damage after forced drinking. His family has reached multi-million dollar settlements with over 20 defendants. This case exemplifies the lifelong cost of non-fatal hazing.

These national patterns—forced drinking, violent rituals, institutional cover-ups—are not abstract. They are the same patterns we see in Texas. When a national fraternity like Pi Kappa Phi (involved in the UH case and the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State) has a history, it makes them foreseeably liable for failing to prevent it from happening again in Houston, College Station, or Austin.

Where Big Lake Students Go: The Hazing Landscape at Texas Universities

Students from Big Lake and Reagan County attend colleges across Texas. The following overview highlights the hazing environment at some of the major destinations, using publicly available information and documented cases.

Texas Tech University (Lubbock, Lubbock County)

For many West Texas families, Texas Tech is a primary destination. Its substantial Greek life and spirited campus culture come with documented risks.

• Documented Incidents: University disciplinary records and news reports have cited fraternities for hazing violations involving forced drinking, strenuous physical activity, and coercion.
• Notable Organizations: Chapters of nationally recognized fraternities with hazing histories operate here, including Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Kappa Sigma.
• Big Lake Connection: As a major regional university, Texas Tech draws students from across the South Plains. A hazing incident in Lubbock directly impacts families in Reagan County.

Angelo State University (San Angelo, Tom Green County)

Closer to home, Angelo State is part of the Texas Tech University System and has its own active Greek community.

• Campus Context: ASU has Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic chapters. While smaller than Tech, the dynamics of power, tradition, and secrecy that enable hazing exist here too.
• Local Relevance: For Big Lake families, ASU represents a nearby campus where hazing risks are present. University policies and local law enforcement in San Angelo would be involved in any incident.

The Major Statewide Hubs

While farther from Big Lake, these universities attract Texas students and have significant, well-documented hazing issues.

University of Houston (Harris County)

• The Flagship Case: The ongoing Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit is the most severe current example. The allegations include the “pledge fanny pack,” simulated waterboarding, forced overeating until vomiting, and extreme workouts causing rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure. The chapter was swiftly suspended and then voted to surrender its charter.
• Prior History: UH has suspended other chapters for hazing, including Pi Kappa Alpha in 2016 after a pledge suffered a lacerated spleen.

Texas A&M University (Brazos County)

• Corps of Cadets: A 2023 lawsuit alleged a cadet was subjected to degrading hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position. The university stated it handled the matter internally.
• Fraternity Incidents: A Sigma Alpha Epsilon lawsuit alleged pledges were doused with an industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. The chapter was suspended.

University of Texas at Austin (Travis County)

• Public Transparency: UT maintains a public “Hazing Violations” log. Recent entries include Pi Kappa Alpha (2023) for forcing new members to drink milk and perform strenuous calisthenics, resulting in probation.
• Spirit Groups: Organizations like the Texas Cowboys have faced sanctions for hazing, demonstrating it exists outside formal Greek life.

Southern Methodist University (Dallas County) and Baylor University (McLennan County) also have faced hazing scandals, from fraternity paddling incidents to athletic team suspensions. These private institutions present different legal challenges but similar patterns of abuse.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories Matter

When a chapter at a Texas school hazes, it is rarely an isolated “bad apple.” It is often following a script written by decades of dangerous tradition within its national organization. For a civil lawsuit, this “pattern and practice” evidence is powerful.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): National history includes the Stone Foltz death (2021) and the David Bogenberger death (2012), which led to a $14 million settlement. Their “Big/Little” drinking tradition is a known, repeated danger.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Has been involved in multiple deaths and severe injury cases nationwide, leading the organization to abolish the traditional “pledge” status in 2014. Yet incidents continue, including the chemical burns case at Texas A&M.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The national organization is a defendant in our UH Bermudez case. It was also involved in the alcohol poisoning death of Andrew Coffey at Florida State University in 2017.
• Phi Delta Theta: The Max Gruver death at LSU is a defining case in hazing litigation and legislation.

In court, we use this national history to prove that the organization was on notice. They knew their rituals were dangerous, they knew their chapters were violating policies, and their failure to implement effective oversight and enforcement directly contributed to the harm.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

If your family is facing this crisis, knowing what a thorough legal response entails can empower you.

The Evidence That Wins Cases

1. Digital Evidence: The #1 source. This includes GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Discord chats planning events, discussing punishments, or bragging about acts. Screenshots are vital, but digital forensics can often recover deleted messages. Social media posts and location data are also critical.
2. Photographic & Video Evidence: Pictures of injuries, venues, and the hazing in progress. In the UH case, locations included the chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park.
3. Medical Records: Documentation is essential. In Bermudez’s case, hospital records showing critically high creatine kinase levels proved the rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury diagnosis.
4. University & National Records: Through discovery, we obtain prior conduct reports, risk management files, and communications between chapters and nationals that show a pattern of ignored warnings.
5. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, and bystanders who can corroborate the events.

Understanding Potential Damages

A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and hold perpetrators accountable. Recoverable damages can include:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (emergency care, hospitalization, ongoing therapy), lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, humiliation, PTSD, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship and guidance for the family.
• Punitive Damages: In egregious cases, damages intended to punish the defendant and deter future conduct.

Overcoming Institutional Defenses

We anticipate and counter common defenses:

• “They Consented”: Texas law explicitly rejects this. We demonstrate the coercive power imbalance.
• “It Was Off-Campus”: Liability is not determined by zip code. If the organization sponsored, knew about, or should have known about the activity, location is irrelevant.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We use national pattern evidence and internal communications to show the national organization’s knowledge and inadequate supervision.
• “We Have an Anti-Hazing Policy”: We show the gap between paper policy and real-world enforcement, highlighting prior unaddressed violations.

Practical Guidance for Big Lake Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, constant exhaustion, or drastic weight change.
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities or fear of talking about them.
• Personality shifts: increased anxiety, depression, or withdrawal.
• Financial drain for unexplained “fines,” dues, or purchases.
• Being on constant call via group chat, receiving messages at all hours.

What to Do:

1. Prioritize Safety & Health: Get medical care immediately.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot everything. Photograph injuries. Save physical items.
3. Document: Write down a timeline with everything your child tells you.
4. Seek Legal Counsel Early: Before reporting to the university or police, consult with us. We can help you navigate the process to protect your child’s rights and preserve evidence.
5. Be Cautious with the University: While reporting is important, remember the university’s primary interest may be limiting its own liability. Have an attorney review any documents before you sign.

For Students: Your Safety and Rights

• Trust Your Instincts: If it feels dangerous, coercive, or wrong, it probably is hazing.
• You Have the Right to Leave: No matter what they’ve told you, you can quit. Your safety is more important than any membership.
• Preserve Evidence: Take screenshots. Save emails. Take photos.
• Seek Help: Confide in a trusted family member, resident advisor, or counselor. You can report anonymously through campus channels or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE).
• Know the Law: In Texas, you have legal protections as a victim. “Consent” is not a defense for the people who harmed you.

Why Attorney911 for Your Texas Hazing Case

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who understand both the profound human trauma and the complex legal battlefield. At The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911), we bring a unique combination of experience, insider knowledge, and relentless dedication to hazing cases.

Our Proven Advantage

• Active, High-Stakes Litigation: We are not theorists. We are currently leading the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit—a major, active Texas hazing case. We know what it takes to fight universities and national fraternities right now.
• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, fight coverage, and employ delay tactics. We use their playbook against them.
• Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal resources. A national fraternity or major university does not intimidate us.
• Data-Driven Investigation: We employ our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—the same directory of 1,400+ organizations referenced earlier. We don’t start from scratch; we start with data, identifying all potentially liable entities from day one.
• 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 clients navigating both systems.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. We are committed to serving all Texas families.

We approach each case with the gravity it deserves, combining thorough investigation with compassionate client advocacy. We fight not just for compensation, but for accountability and change to prevent the next tragedy.

A Final Word to Big Lake and West Texas Families

Hazing thrives in silence and fear. It relies on victims and witnesses believing they are alone, that they “agreed” to it, or that powerful institutions cannot be challenged.

You are not alone. The law in Texas is on your side. What happened to Leonel Bermudez at UH, and what has happened to students across the country, is not acceptable. It is not a rite of passage. It is abuse.

If hazing has touched your family, whether your student is at Texas Tech, Angelo State, or any campus in Texas or beyond, we urge you to take action. Let us help you secure the evidence, understand your options, and pursue the justice and security your family deserves.

Contact us today for a free, completely confidential consultation. We will listen to your story, answer your questions, and help you plan the path forward.

Call Attorney911 Now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)

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

Se habla Español. We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.

Legal Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. We encourage you to seek qualified legal counsel to discuss your individual situation. The information is current as of late 2025.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

• Attorney911 Main Website & Contact: https://attorney911.com
• Click2Houston coverage of UH Pi Kappa Phi case: 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 coverage of Leonel Bermudez lawsuit: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Video: Using Your Cellphone to Document Evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
• Video: Texas Statutes of Limitations Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
• Video: Client Mistakes That Can Ruin a Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Video: How Contingency Fees Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc