The Complete Guide to Fraternity & Sorority Hazing Litigation for Families in Camp Wood, Texas

If you’re a parent in Camp Wood, Real County, your worst nightmare might begin with a late-night phone call. Your child, who left for college full of promise, is now in a hospital hours away. The story is fragmented—talk of a “pledge event,” forced drinking, an extreme workout. The university sends vague emails about “cooperating with an investigation.” The fraternity brothers have clammed up. You’re left in the dark, scared, and angry in your Camp Wood home, wondering how a quest for friendship and belonging on a distant campus could lead to catastrophic injury or worse.

This scenario is not hypothetical. Right now, in Harris County, our firm is leading one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas: the $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The allegations are harrowing: a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items, forced overconsumption of food leading to vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and brutal physical workouts that caused Bermudez to develop rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown. He was hospitalized for four days and faces a risk of permanent kidney damage. This is happening in our state, at our universities, to students who could be from families just like yours in Real County.

This comprehensive guide is written for you—parents and families in Camp Wood, Real County, and across the Texas Hill Country. If your child has been hurt, humiliated, or threatened in connection with a fraternity, sorority, Corps of Cadets program, athletic team, or any campus organization, you need to know the reality of modern hazing, the legal landscape in Texas, and the path to accountability. We will demystify the process, expose the patterns of institutional failure, and explain how experienced Texas hazing attorneys investigate, build cases, and fight for families from small communities to big cities.

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’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

In the first 48 hours:

• Get Medical Attention: Insist on a full medical evaluation, even if injuries seem minor. Conditions like rhabdomyolysis or internal trauma can be delayed.
• Preserve Evidence BEFORE It’s Deleted:
  • Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text messages, and social media DMs.
  • Photograph any visible injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save physical items (torn clothing, paddles, alcohol bottles, receipts).
• Document Everything: Write down who, what, when, and where while memories are fresh.
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity or sorority directly.
  • Sign anything from the university or an insurance company.
  • Post details on public social media.
  • Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears quickly. Universities move fast to control narratives. We can help you navigate this crisis. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a confidential, immediate consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like (Beyond the Stereotypes)

Hazing is not just “boys will be boys” or harmless pranks. It is a calculated pattern of coercion, humiliation, and abuse designed to assert power and create group loyalty through trauma. For parents in Camp Wood whose children may be experiencing this far from home, understanding its modern forms is critical.

A Modern Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining membership in any organization. The key is the power imbalance and the coercive environment. “I agreed to it” is not a defense under Texas law.

The Four Pillars of Modern Hazing:

1. Alcohol & Substance Coercion: This remains the single most deadly form. It includes forced “power hours,” “family tree” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights where a pledge is given a handle of liquor, and pressurized consumption of unknown mixtures or drugs.
2. Physical & “Endurance” Hazing: This has evolved from simple paddling to disguised “conditioning.” Think 3 AM “smokings” with hundreds of push-ups until collapse (as in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case), bear crawls on gravel, sleep deprivation for days, or being locked in freezing or sweltering spaces.
3. Psychological & Sexualized Humiliation: This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walks”), degrading costumes, racial or homophobic slurs, and public shaming rituals designed to break down a person’s dignity. The “pledge fanny pack” at UH, containing condoms and sex toys, is a prime example.
4. Digital Hazing & 24/7 Control: This is the newest frontier. Pledges are monitored 24/7 via GroupMe or Discord, required to share live locations, forced to post embarrassing content on TikTok or Instagram, and given tasks at all hours. The digital trail, however, often becomes the best evidence.

Where Hazing Happens: While fraternities and sororities are most publicized, hazing is pervasive in:

• Corps of Cadets and ROTC units (as seen in Texas A&M cases).
• Athletic teams (from football to swimming).
• Marching bands and performance groups.
• Spirit and tradition organizations (like Texas Cowboys or Aggie Bonfire crews).
• Academic and cultural clubs.

The culture of “tradition,” secrecy, and social status keeps these practices alive, even when every member “knows” it’s wrong and illegal.

Texas Law & Liability: The Legal Framework for Camp Wood Families

When hazing impacts your family, the legal path involves both criminal and civil systems. Understanding this framework is the first step toward accountability.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code, Chapter 37)

Texas has specific, strong statutes that define and punish hazing.

• Definition (§37.151): Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the physical or mental health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership. Location does not matter—it applies on and off campus.
• Criminal Penalties (§37.152):
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Basic hazing (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
  • It is also a crime to fail to report hazing you are aware of, or to retaliate against someone who reports.
• Organizational Liability (§37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if it authorized or encouraged the hazing.
• Consent is NOT a Defense (§37.155): This is crucial. Even if your child “went along with it,” the law recognizes that consent under peer pressure and duress is meaningless. The UH Pi Kappa Phi case proceeds under this exact principle.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Justice

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office). The goal is punishment—fines, probation, or jail time for individuals. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter in fatal cases. A criminal conviction helps a civil case but is not required to sue.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by the victim and their family. The goal is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. This is where families recover costs for medical bills, therapy, lost future earnings, and pain and suffering. It is also where organizations are forced to change through financial pressure and court orders.

The Web of Liability: Who Can Be Held Responsible?

A robust civil case casts a wide net to ensure accountability and identify viable sources of compensation.

1. The Individual Perpetrators: The members who planned, executed, or supplied the means for the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As a legal entity, it can be sued for creating a dangerous environment and failing to control its members.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: This is often where the deepest pockets and greatest leverage lie. Nationals collect dues, set policies, and are supposed to supervise chapters. When they fail—despite knowing the risks from incidents at other schools—they can be held negligent.
4. The University: Public universities like UH, Texas A&M, and UT have a duty to protect students. They can be liable for negligent supervision if they knew or should have known about a pattern of hazing and did nothing effective to stop it. Sovereign immunity has limits, especially in cases of gross negligence.
5. Third Parties: Property owners of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol (under Texas dram shop law), and security companies may also share liability.

For a family in Camp Wood, this means your legal team must be skilled at investigating and suing large, complex institutions—not just individual students.

National Hazing Cases: The Patterns That Repeat in Texas

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not isolated. They are templates that repeat, showing clear patterns of failure. Understanding these patterns is key to proving that what happened to your child was foreseeable and preventable.

The Alcohol Poisoning Template:

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): A bid-acceptance night of forced drinking led to fatal falls. Brothers delayed calling 911 for over 12 hours. Result: Dozens of criminal convictions, sweeping civil settlements, and new Pennsylvania law.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): A “Bible study” drinking game where wrong answers mandated drinking. Died with a 0.495% BAC. Result: Felony convictions, the Max Gruver Act in Louisiana, and a $6.1 million verdict for the family.
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a bottle of liquor on “Big/Little” night. Died of alcohol poisoning. Result: $10 million in total settlements ($7M from Pike national, $3M from BGSU), chapter closure, and individual members held personally liable.

The Texas Connection: The “Big/Little” dynamic, the drinking games, the delayed response—these are the exact patterns we see in Texas cases. The national fraternities involved here (Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta) have active chapters at every major Texas university.

The Physical & Ritualized Abuse Template:

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Pledge blindfolded and brutally tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual at a remote retreat. Dies from brain injury; help is delayed. Result: The national fraternity was criminally convicted. Banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Pledge drank lethal amounts of alcohol during a “pledge dad reveal.” Suffered catastrophic, permanent brain damage. Result: Multi-million dollar settlements with 22 defendants, chapter closure.

The Texas Connection: The use of off-campus retreats to hide abuse, the extreme physical tests, the life-altering (not just fatal) injuries—these mirror allegations in Texas A&M Corps cases and the extreme physical exertion that caused rhabdomyolysis in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case.

What This Means for Your Camp Wood Family:

These national cases are not just news stories. They are legal precedent. They prove that:

• National fraternities know these rituals are deadly.
• Universities often fail to intervene effectively.
• Juries and courts will hold powerful institutions accountable with multi-million dollar judgments.
• The same organizations your child may have joined at a Texas school have already been sued for the same conduct elsewhere.

The Texas University Landscape: Where Camp Wood Families Send Their Kids

Families in Real County and the Texas Hill Country send their children to universities across the state. Whether it’s a nearby regional school or a flagship campus hours away, understanding the hazing landscape at these institutions is critical.

For Camp Wood Families: The University Connection

While Camp Wood itself is not a college town, its students attend a wide range of Texas institutions. Many head to the major hubs like Texas A&M, UT Austin, or Texas Tech. Others may choose regional campuses like Sul Ross State University in Alpine or Texas State University in San Marcos. The hazing risks exist across this spectrum. The legal principles and our firm’s investigative strategies apply whether the incident occurred in Lubbock, College Station, or Houston.

A Close Look at Major Texas Campuses

University of Houston (UH) – A Case Study in Active Litigation

The ongoing Leonel Bermudez vs. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case is the most current and severe example of hazing litigation in Texas. As covered in the Click2Houston report and ABC13 coverage, the case alleges a system of abuse:

• Systemic Humiliation: The mandated “pledge fanny pack.”
• Physical Torture: Sprints, bear crawls, being sprayed with a hose, forced overeating until vomiting.
• Medical Catastrophe: Rhabdomyolysis leading to acute kidney failure and hospitalization.
• Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi national suspended and then closed the chapter. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

For Parents: This case demonstrates that even at a large commuter-friendly school like UH, dangerous, traditional hazing persists. It also shows that when faced with a serious, well-documented lawsuit, national organizations will act to shut down chapters.

Texas A&M University – Corps Culture and Greek Life

Texas A&M presents a unique environment with its deeply traditional Corps of Cadets and powerful Greek system.

• Corps of Cadets Hazing: Lawsuits have alleged severe physical and sexualized hazing, including being bound in “roasted pig” positions. The culture of tradition can sometimes cloak abuse.
• Fraternity Incidents: The Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) chapter faced a lawsuit where pledges alleged being doused with industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts.
• For Camp Wood Families: Students attracted to A&M’s tradition and community must be aware that these very institutions can sometimes harbor abusive subcultures. Evidence preservation is critical, as these groups often have a strong “code of silence.”

University of Texas at Austin – Transparency and Persistent Problems

UT Austin maintains a public Hazing Violations Log, offering more transparency than most schools. A review shows repeated sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced calisthenics and alcohol consumption. This public record is a goldmine for proving a chapter’s prior knowledge and pattern of behavior in a lawsuit.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

These private, affluent campuses have active Greek life with national chapters that have troubled histories. SMU’s Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended for paddling and forced drinking. Baylor has faced hazing scandals within its baseball program. The private status of these schools affects transparency but not liability.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: The Data Behind the Letters

At The Manginello Law Firm, we don’t start from scratch. We maintain a proprietary data engine built from public records to map the complex ecosystem of Greek life in Texas. This allows us to immediately identify every potentially liable entity behind a chapter involved in hazing.

For families in Camp Wood, this means we already know the landscape. Below is a sample from our directory of Texas-registered Greek organizations—the house corporations, alumni chapters, and legal entities that often hold insurance and responsibility.

Public Records Directory: A Sample of Texas Greek Organizations

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc | EIN: 46-2267515 | Frisco, TX 75035
• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation | EIN: 37-1768785 | Missouri City, TX 77459
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Gamma Chapter Inc | EIN: 27-3662583 | Lufkin, TX 75904
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Sigma Incorporated | EIN: 88-2755427 | San Marcos, TX 78666
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc (Theta Delta Chapter) | EIN: 47-5370943 | Houston, TX 77204
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc | EIN: 74-1380362 | Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (Texas A&M Chapter) | EIN: 90-0293166 | College Station, TX 77843

This data, compiled from IRS B83 filings and other public sources, helps us trace liability from the local act to the national organization and its financial structures. When we take a case, we are already several steps ahead in the investigation.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Pursuing a hazing case is a complex investigative and legal undertaking. It requires a strategy designed to overcome institutional resistance and uncover the truth.

The Evidence Pyramid: What Wins Cases

1. Digital Communications (The Crown Jewel): Deleted GroupMe chats, Snapchat messages, Instagram DMs. We use digital forensics to recover what has been erased. These messages show planning, boasting, threats, and cover-ups.
2. Photo & Video Evidence: Often captured by perpetrators themselves. Videos of hazing rituals, photos of injuries, social media stories geotagged at event locations.
3. Medical Records: Objective proof of harm. ER reports, lab results (like the critical CK levels showing rhabdomyolysis), psychiatric evaluations for PTSD, and long-term treatment plans.
4. Internal Organizational Records: Obtained through subpoena. National fraternity risk management files, prior incident reports for the chapter, emails between local officers and national HQ.
5. University Discipline Records: Prior violations, probation letters, and conduct hearing outcomes that prove the school knew of problems.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders. We know how to approach witnesses who may be fearful or guilty.

Understanding Damages: What Can Be Recovered

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

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses, lost wages, cost of long-term care or therapy, and diminished future earning capacity if the injury is permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, mental anguish, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the unthinkable event of a fatality, families can seek funeral costs, loss of financial support, and damages for grief, loss of companionship, and emotional trauma.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious misconduct, courts may award damages to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

Overcoming Institutional Defenses

We anticipate and dismantle the standard defenses:

• “They Consented”: Irrelevant under Texas law (§37.155).
• “It Was Off-Campus”: Liability is based on duty and control, not just geography.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We subpoena national records to prove pattern and knowledge.
• “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”: We show the gap between paper policy and actual enforcement.

Our insider knowledge from Attorney Lupe Peña, who spent years as an insurance defense attorney, is invaluable. We know how fraternity and university insurers think, how they value claims, and how to combat their tactics.

Practical Guides for Camp Wood Families, Students, and Witnesses

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

1. Prioritize Health & Safety: Get immediate medical care. Document injuries with photos.
2. Preserve Digital Evidence: Help your child screenshot EVERYTHING—group chats, texts, social media posts. Do not delete.
3. Document the Story: Write a detailed timeline with names, dates, locations, and what happened.
4. Secure Physical Evidence: Keep any clothing, objects, or receipts related to the incident.
5. Contact an Attorney BEFORE Reporting: We can guide you on how to report to the university or police in a way that protects your rights and evidence. Do not sign any university-offered resolution agreements without legal review.
6. Avoid Common Pitfalls: Do not confront the fraternity. Do not post on social media. Do not give statements to insurance adjusters. Watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin your case.

For Students: Is This Hazing?

If you feel pressured, coerced, endangered, or humiliated as part of joining a group, it is hazing. Your “consent” under pressure is not real consent. Your safety comes first.

• To Exit Safely: Tell a trusted adult (parent, RA, professor). Send a clear, written resignation to the chapter president. You have the right to quit.
• To Report: You can report anonymously through university hotlines or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE). For pursuing accountability and compensation, you will need to work with an attorney and possibly report formally.

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy a Case

• Deleting Evidence: The fastest way to lose. Preserve all digital communications.
• Waiting Too Long: Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury, but evidence and memories fade fast. Act now.
• Handling It “Internally” with the University: Universities often prioritize limiting their liability. Their internal process is not designed to get you full compensation.
• Going It Alone: Facing well-funded national fraternities and university legal teams without experienced counsel puts you at a severe disadvantage.

Why Attorney911 is the Right Firm for Texas Hazing Cases

When your family in Camp Wood faces a hazing crisis, you need advocates who are not intimidated by powerful institutions and who understand the unique dynamics of these cases. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) brings a combination of insider knowledge, proven litigation experience, and a deep commitment to victim advocacy that is unmatched in Texas.

Our Proven Competitive Advantages:

1. Active, High-Stakes Litigation Experience: We are not theorists. Right now, we lead the $10 million Leonel Bermudez vs. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. This recent, active case is proof of our serious commitment to hazing litigation. We are in the trenches, fighting one of the most severe hazing cases in the country.
2. Insider Insurance Knowledge: Attorney Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him) spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers strategize to deny or minimize claims. We use their playbook against them. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/.
3. Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced corporations with limitless legal budgets and won. National fraternities and large universities do not scare us. See Ralph’s full profile at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/.
4. Data-Driven Investigation: We employ the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database of over 1,400 Greek organizations in Texas. We don’t start from zero; we start with data, identifying all potentially liable entities from day one.
5. Dual Civil & Criminal Capability: Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal side of hazing. We can adeptly navigate cases where criminal charges are also pending, advising clients through the entire legal maze.
6. Full-Service Resources: With expertise in wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and complex litigation, we have the network of medical experts, economists, life-care planners, and digital forensic specialists needed to build an unassailable case.
7. Statewide Service for Texas Families: Based in Houston with offices in Austin and Beaumont, we serve families across Texas. Whether you’re in Camp Wood, College Station, or Corpus Christi, we are here to help. We also offer Spanish-language legal services through Mr. Peña.

We operate on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases: you pay nothing unless we win your case. Watch our video explaining how contingency fees work.

Your Next Step: A Confidential Consultation

If hazing has turned your child’s college dream into a nightmare, you do not have to navigate this alone. The institutions involved will have lawyers. You should too.

We invite families in Camp Wood, Real County, and all of Texas to contact us for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. In this meeting, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Outline the potential paths forward, including civil litigation.
• Answer your questions about process, timelines, and costs.
• Help you make an informed decision about how to protect your child and your family’s future.

Time is of the essence. Evidence disappears, witnesses become reluctant, and statutory deadlines loom.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 Today:

• Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct: (713) 528-9070
• 24/7 Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com
• Se habla Español.

From our home in Texas to yours in Camp Wood, we are here to fight for accountability, justice, and the safety of all students.

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:

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

Attorney911 Website:

• Main Website & Contact: https://attorney911.com

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and law. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC is licensed to practice in Texas.