The Complete Guide to Hazing Laws, Fraternity Incidents & Legal Rights for Families in Booker and Lipscomb County, Texas

When Hazing Hits Home in the Texas Panhandle: A Guide for Booker Families

The phone call every parent in Booker fears finally comes. It’s not about a bad grade or a fender bender. Your child’s voice is shaky, distant. They’re hundreds of miles away at a Texas university, and through tears and shame, they describe being forced through something called “hell week.” They talk about being “smoked” with endless push-ups until they vomit, being screamed at for hours, or being pressured to drink far beyond their limit at a fraternity “big brother” event. You hear the unspoken question: “What do I do now?”

Right here in Texas, hazing is not a distant problem or a news story from another state. It is happening right now, with devastating consequences. We know this because at this very moment, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in the country.

The Case That Proves Hazing’s Reality in Texas: Leonel Bermudez vs. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi

In late 2025, we filed a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, its Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. This case, unfolding right in our state, is the flagship proof that extreme hazing is an active, present danger for Texas students.

Leonel, a transfer student, accepted a bid to Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter at UH in the fall of 2025. What followed was months of systematic abuse. He was forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, a sex toy, and other humiliating items. He endured enforced dress codes, overnight chauffeuring duties, and weekly interviews.

The physical abuse was severe: sprints, bear crawls, and “save-your-brother” drills at Yellowstone Boulevard Park in Houston. He was sprayed in the face with a hose in a manner “similar to waterboarding.” He was forced to consume excessive amounts of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then made to sprint immediately after. In early November, he was ordered through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. He left unable to stand without help.

The medical result was catastrophic. Leonel developed rhabdomyolysis—a severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, was hospitalized for four days, and faces an ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage. This is not ancient history; this case is active today. The chapter was suspended by Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters 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.

For a detailed timeline of the abuse, you can read the ABC13 coverage of Leonel Bermudez’s UH hazing lawsuit. For the initial investigation, see the Click2Houston report on UH Pi Kappa Phi hazing case.

If you are a parent in Booker, Lipscomb County, or anywhere in the Texas Panhandle, this case matters. It proves that the institutions our children trust—universities and national fraternities—can fail them catastrophically. This guide is for you. We will explain what hazing looks like today, the Texas laws designed to protect students, where Booker families send their children to college, the organizations operating there, and what legal rights and options you have if the unthinkable happens.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR BOOKER FAMILIES FACING A HAZING CRISIS

• If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW: Call 911 for medical emergencies, then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
• In the first 48 hours: Get medical attention. Preserve evidence—screenshot group chats (GroupMe, texts) and photograph injuries. Write down everything your child tells you. Do not confront the fraternity/sorority or let your child delete anything.
• Contact an experienced Texas hazing attorney: Evidence disappears fast. We can help preserve it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, immediate consultation.

Understanding Hazing in Modern Texas: Beyond the Stereotypes

For families in Booker and the Panhandle, “hazing” might conjure images of outdated fraternity pranks. The reality in 2025 is far more sinister, systematic, and digitally enabled. 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 crucial to understand that under Texas law, a victim’s “consent” is not a defense.

The Three Tiers of Modern Hazing

1. Subtle Hazing: Behaviors that emphasize power imbalance. This includes being “on call” 24/7 for errands, mandatory chauffeuring, sleep interruption, being assigned humiliating nicknames, or social isolation from non-members. It often starts here to test compliance.
2. Harassment Hazing: Causes emotional or physical discomfort. This includes verbal abuse, sleep deprivation, forced food/water restriction, extreme calisthenics (“smokings”), and public humiliation. A common modern tactic is digital harassment through group chats demanding instant responses at all hours.
3. Violent Hazing: Activities with high potential for injury or death. This includes forced alcohol consumption (like the “Big/Little” nights that have killed pledges), forced drug use, physical beatings or paddling, dangerous physical “tests,” sexualized acts, and kidnapping/restraint.

Where Hazing Happens in Texas

It is not confined to social fraternities. Hazing occurs in:

• Fraternities & Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, Multicultural councils)
• Corps of Cadets and ROTC programs
• Athletic Teams (from football to cheerleading)
• Spirit & Tradition Groups (like Texas A&M’s Corps or other campus organizations)
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups
• Some Academic, Service, or Cultural Clubs

The culture of “tradition,” secrecy, and social status keeps these practices alive, even when every member knows they are illegal.

Texas Hazing Law & Liability: A Plain-English Guide for Lipscomb County Families

Texas has some of the nation’s clearest hazing statutes, designed to protect students from exactly the kind of abuse seen in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case. As a Booker parent, understanding this framework is your first step toward accountability.

The Texas Education Code: Chapter 37, Subchapter F

Texas law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers a student’s mental or physical health for the purpose of initiation or affiliation with a group.

Key Provisions for Families:

• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing they knew about.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose university recognition.
• Consent is NOT a Defense: Texas Education Code § 37.155 states unequivocally that a victim’s “consent” is not a defense. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Individuals who report hazing or call for help in a medical emergency in good faith are protected from civil or criminal liability related to that report. This is critical—it means calling 911 can save a life without automatic punishment.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Justice

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office). The aim is punishment: jail time, fines, probation. Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, or even manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by the victim or their family. The aim is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. This is where we help families recover medical costs, compensation for pain and suffering, and force changes in policy.

These cases can run simultaneously. You do not need to wait for a criminal conviction to pursue a civil case.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Our investigative approach is to identify every potentially liable entity to ensure full accountability and access to insurance coverage. This can include:

1. The Individual Students who planned, executed, or assisted in the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter as a legal entity.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters that sets policies, collects dues, and supervises chapters. Their knowledge of prior incidents at other chapters is crucial.
4. The University (or its Board of Regents) for negligent supervision, especially if they had prior knowledge of risks.
5. Third Parties like landlords of off-campus houses, bars that furnished alcohol, or security companies.

Where Booker and Panhandle Families Send Their Children: The Campus Connection

Parents in Booker, Lipscomb, and across the Panhandle have children at universities close to home and across the state. Hazing risks exist at all of them. Our investigation and data tracking cover this entire ecosystem.

Local & Regional Campuses for Booker Area Families

Based on Texas’s university network, students from Booker often attend:

• West Texas A&M University (Canyon, TX): The closest public university to Booker, a major destination for Panhandle students with active Greek life and athletic programs.
• Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX): A primary university for the region, with a massive Greek system and over 40,000 students.
• University of North Texas (Denton, TX) & Texas Woman’s University (Denton, TX)
• Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce, TX)
• Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls, TX)
• Amarillo College & other Panhandle community colleges which feed into university Greek systems.

Major Statewide Hubs Attended by Texas Panhandle Students

Booker families also send children to Texas’s flagship institutions, where Greek life and tradition run deep:

• University of Texas at Austin (UT)
• Texas A&M University (College Station)
• University of Houston (UH)
• Southern Methodist University (SMU)
• Baylor University (Waco)
• Texas State University (San Marcos)
• Texas Tech University (Lubbock)

The same national fraternities and sororities that operate at UH (like Pi Kappa Phi) also have chapters at these schools. The patterns of behavior are often replicated across campuses.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: A Public Records Directory for Booker Parents

If your child is hazed, you deserve to know who stands behind the organization responsible. We maintain a proprietary Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine built from public records. This is not speculation—it’s data. Below is a sample of the thousands of Greek-related entities we track across Texas.

Why Share This? To show Booker families that when you work with us, you are not starting from zero. We already know the legal names, EINs, and addresses of the organizations that may hold insurance and liability. This is part of how we build leverage for your family.

Panhandle & Regional Greek Organizations (From IRS B83 & Cause IQ Data)

These entities are registered with the IRS and operate in the broader region serving Panhandle campuses:

• Frank Heflin Foundation, EIN 203507402, Canyon, TX 79015 (Phi Delta Theta alumni fund affiliated with West Texas A&M)
• Kappa Alpha Order – Gamma Sigma Chapter, Canyon, TX (West Texas A&M University chapter)
• Chi Omega – Upsilon Zeta Building Association, EIN 752290669, Amarillo, TX 79118 (Chi Omega chapter housing entity)
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Amarillo Alumnae Chapter, Amarillo, TX (Graduate chapter)
• Phi Delta Theta Fraternity – Texas Theta Chapter, Canyon, TX (West Texas A&M chapter)
• Alpha Tau Omega – Zeta Kappa Chapter, Canyon, TX (West Texas A&M chapter)
• Lambda Chi Alpha – Iota Xi Zeta Chapter, Amarillo, TX (West Texas A&M chapter)
• Delta Kappa Gamma Society – Zeta Zeta Chapter, Canyon, TX (Educators’ society, part of widespread Greek-affiliated network)

Statewide Fraternity & Sorority Entities (Sample)

The national organizations behind campus chapters have Texas-based legal structures:

• Beta Upsilon Chi, EIN 742911848, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Christian fraternity with chapters statewide)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc., EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (Kappa Sigma housing foundation)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 746064445, Nederland, TX 77627 (National fraternity with Texas district operations)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, EIN 364091267, Waco, TX 76710 (National sorority with Texas chapters)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, EIN 237279532, Prairie View, TX 77446 (National fraternity with Texas graduate chapters)

The Scale: Our data engine tracks over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metro areas. In the Amarillo metro alone, there are 18 such organizations. In the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, there are over 510. This network is vast, but it is not invisible to us.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

When a family from Booker comes to us after a hazing incident, we deploy a proven, methodical strategy refined through years of complex litigation against powerful institutions.

Step 1: Immediate Evidence Preservation & Investigation

The first 72 hours are critical. We guide families to preserve:

• Digital Evidence: Group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), social media posts/stories, deleted message recovery via forensics.
• Medical Evidence: Full ER/hospital records, psychological evaluations for PTSD, documentation of injuries like rhabdomyolysis (as in the UH case).
• Institutional Records: Prior complaints against the chapter, university conduct files, national fraternity risk management reports (obtained through discovery).

We have a video guide on this critical first step: Our video on using your phone to document evidence.

Step 2: Identifying All Liable Parties

Using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we map the entire organizational structure:

1. The individual members involved.
2. The local chapter corporation (like the Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc., EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX).
3. The national headquarters.
4. The university and its board.
5. Third-party property owners or alcohol providers.

Step 3: Overcoming Institutional Defenses

We anticipate and dismantle the standard defenses:

• “The Victim Consented”: We cite Texas law § 37.155 and use evidence of coercion and power imbalance.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We subpoena national records to show prior incidents and patterns across the country, proving foreseeability.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: We establish the university’s and national’s duty of care and control over members, regardless of location.
• “Insurance Doesn’t Cover This”: With Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney, we navigate coverage disputes and bad-faith claims. He knows the insurers’ playbooks.

Step 4: Calculating Full Damages

Hazing causes profound harm. We work with experts to quantify:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (emergency, hospital, therapy), future medical care, lost educational opportunities, and diminished future earning capacity.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages (if applicable): Funeral costs, loss of companionship, grief, and economic support.

Our goal is not just a settlement; it is recovery that acknowledges the true cost of what was taken and funds our client’s future healing.

Practical Steps for Booker Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Plan

Watch For:

• Unexplained injuries, exhaustion, or drastic weight change.
• Secretive behavior about organization activities.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Personality shifts: withdrawal, anxiety, depression.
• Sudden academic decline or loss of interest in old friends.

If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “How are things with your fraternity/sorority? Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If there’s immediate danger, call 911.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot messages and photograph injuries. Write down what they tell you.
4. Seek Medical Care: Get a full medical evaluation. Tell the doctor about the hazing for the record.
5. Consult an Attorney Before Reporting: We can help you navigate reporting to the university or police in a way that protects your child’s rights and preserves evidence. Do not sign anything from the university first.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

• You Have the Right to Leave. You cannot be legally punished for quitting a dangerous situation.
• Texas Law Protects Good-Faith Reporters. If you call 911 for someone in medical distress, you have protections.
• “Consent” is Meaningless in Hazing. Don’t let them use “you agreed to it” to silence you.
• Document Everything. Screenshot, save, photograph. Tell a trusted adult outside the organization.

Critical Mistakes to Avoid

We’ve seen cases weakened by avoidable errors. Please watch: Our video on mistakes that can ruin your injury case.

• DO NOT delete texts or group chats.
• DO NOT confront the organization directly.
• DO NOT sign university “resolution” agreements without an attorney.
• DO NOT post details on social media.
• DO NOT give a statement to the university or an insurance adjuster without counsel.
• DO NOT wait. Evidence vanishes and statutes of limitations run. Learn about Texas statutes of limitations here.

Why Texas Hazing Families in Booker Choose Attorney911

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a generic personal injury lawyer. You need a firm that understands how universities and national fraternities fight—and how to win. From our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas, including those in Booker, Lipscomb County, and the entire Panhandle.

Our Proven Advantage for Texas Hazing Cases

1. Insider Insurance Knowledge (Mr. Lupe Peña): Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers devalue claims, use delay tactics, and argue coverage exclusions. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
2. Complex Institutional Litigation Experience (Ralph Manginello): We are one of the few Texas firms that helped litigate the BP Texas City Explosion cases. We are not intimidated by billion-dollar institutions, unlimited defense budgets, or complex cover-ups. We’ve faced them before.
3. Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation: We are not theorists. We are currently leading the Leonel Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are in the fight right now, uncovering evidence, taking depositions, and pushing for accountability in a live Texas hazing case.
4. Data-Driven Investigation: We don’t guess. We use our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—tracking over 1,400 Greek entities—to quickly identify every liable party and source of insurance for your case.
5. Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: Founding attorney Ralph Manginello is a member of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA). We understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil lawsuits and can advise clients on both fronts.
6. Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish. Se habla Español. We serve the full diversity of Texas families.

We work on a contingency fee basis: We explain how contingency fees work in this video. This means there is no cost to you unless we win your case.

Take the Next Step: Free & Confidential Consultation for Booker Families

If hazing has impacted your child and your family, you do not have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved have teams of lawyers; you deserve experienced advocates on your side.

We invite you to contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. During this consultation, we will:

• Listen carefully to your story.
• Review any evidence you have.
• Explain your family’s legal rights under Texas law.
• Outline the potential paths forward.
• Answer your questions about process, timing, and costs.
• There is no pressure to hire us—this is about empowering you with information.

Contact Us Today

Call our Legal Emergency Lawyers™ 24/7: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com
Email Mr. Lupe Peña (Se habla Español): lupe@atty911.com

We represent hazing victims and their families across Texas. Whether your child was injured at a Panhandle school, a major state university, or anywhere in between, we have the expertise, data, and determination to fight for the justice and accountability your family deserves.

Legal Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. The outcome of any legal matter depends on the specific facts and circumstances. We encourage you to seek counsel from a qualified attorney for advice on your specific situation. Reading this guide does not make you a client of The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC.

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 Detailed Timeline: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Hoodline 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:

• Documenting Evidence with Your Phone: 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 & Contact:

• Attorney911: https://attorney911.com