The Complete Guide to Hazing, Lawsuits & Accountability for Alaskan Families & Students

A resource for parents and students in Alaska and nationwide, written by the hazing litigation team at Attorney911.

If This Just Happened: Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

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

In the first 48 hours:

• Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine.”
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
  • Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately.
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects).
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity/sorority.
  • Sign anything from the university or insurance company.
  • Post details on public social media.
  • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours. Evidence disappears fast. Universities move quickly to control the narrative. We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like

Many families imagine hazing as a relic of the past—a harmless prank or a night of heavy drinking. The reality in 2025 is far more sinister, sophisticated, and dangerous. For Alaskan families whose children attend universities in the Lower 48, understanding the modern landscape of campus abuse is critical.

A Clear, Modern Definition of Hazing

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, keeping membership, or gaining status in a group, where the behavior endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. The key element is the power imbalance—the “choice” to participate is often an illusion created by peer pressure, fear of exclusion, and a desire to belong. “I agreed to it” does not automatically make it safe or legal under this dynamic.

The Main Categories of Hazing Today

Alcohol and Substance Hazing:
This remains the single most common and deadly form. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “lineups,” chugging challenges, “Big/Little” nights where pledges are given handles of liquor, and drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mandate consumption. The goal is often rapid incapacitation.

Physical Hazing:
This extends beyond paddling to include extreme calisthenics or “smokings” designed to cause muscle failure, exposure to extreme cold or heat, sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and dangerous physical tests like blindfolded tackles.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing:
This involves forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and acts with racist, sexist, or homophobic overtones. The humiliation is often recorded and shared digitally.

Psychological Hazing:
This includes verbal abuse, threats, isolation from friends and family, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming during meetings or “grill sessions.”

Digital/Online Hazing:
A 21st-century evolution, this involves 24/7 control via group chats (GroupMe, Discord), demands for immediate responses at all hours, public humiliation via Instagram or TikTok challenges, and coerced sharing of compromising media.

Where Hazing Actually Happens

While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing is not exclusive to Greek life. It pervades:

• Corps of Cadets, ROTC, and military-style groups.
• Athletic teams, from football to cheerleading.
• Marching bands and performance groups.
• Spirit squads and “tradition” clubs.
• Some service, cultural, and academic organizations.

In all cases, social status, tradition, and a rigid code of secrecy keep these practices alive, even when every member “knows” hazing is illegal. The conduct has simply moved further underground, to off-campus houses and remote retreats, and the evidence is often digital and ephemeral.

Law & Liability Framework: Understanding Your Rights

The legal landscape surrounding hazing involves layers of state criminal law, civil liability, and federal statutes. For Alaskan families dealing with an incident in another state, understanding these frameworks is the first step toward accountability.

State Hazing Laws: A Patchwork of Protections

Hazing laws vary significantly by state. While Alaska has its own statutes, the incident will be governed by the law of the state where the university is located. For example:

• Texas Penalties: Under Texas Education Code Chapter 37, hazing causing serious bodily injury or death is a state jail felony. Consent is not a defense.
• Ohio’s “Collin’s Law”: Hazing becomes a felony when drugs/alcohol cause physical harm.
• Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act”: Created felony hazing statutes after a pledge death.
• Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law”: Enhanced penalties and reporting requirements.

The critical takeaway: Most states now treat severe hazing as a felony, and virtually all reject the defense that the victim “consented.”

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

Criminal Cases:
Brought by the state (a prosecutor). The aim is punishment—jail time, fines, probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, and in fatal cases, manslaughter. A criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case.

Civil Cases:
Brought by victims or their families. The aim is monetary compensation for damages and institutional accountability. These cases focus on theories like negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, and emotional distress. The burden of proof is lower than in criminal court (“preponderance of the evidence” vs. “beyond a reasonable doubt”).

The two processes can run side-by-side. Often, the public accountability of a criminal case and the discovery process of a civil lawsuit work together to uncover the full truth.

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

Federal laws create additional duties for universities:

The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024):
Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently, strengthen prevention programs, and maintain public hazing data by 2026.

Title IX:
When hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations are triggered, requiring a prompt, equitable investigation by the school.

The Clery Act:
Requires universities to report certain crimes and maintain safety statistics; hazing incidents often overlap with reported assaults or alcohol crimes.

These federal frameworks can provide powerful leverage, as universities risk losing federal funding for non-compliance.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Liability rarely stops with the individual who administered the act. A thorough investigation aims to hold every responsible party accountable:

• Individual Students: Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up.
• The Local Chapter: The fraternity/sorority or club itself as a legal entity, including its officers and pledge educators.
• The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters: Organizations that set policies, collect dues, and supervise chapters. Liability hinges on what they knew or should have known from prior incidents elsewhere.
• The University: Schools may be sued for negligence, gross negligence, or deliberate indifference, especially if they had prior warnings and failed to act.
• Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol (under “dram shop” laws), security companies, or event organizers.

Every case is fact-specific, but the pattern is clear: institutions that enable or ignore a culture of abuse share in the liability.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Anchor Stories That Shape Litigation

Major hazing cases have not only resulted in tragic loss but have also reshaped laws, university policies, and legal strategies nationwide. These “anchor stories” provide the precedent and emotional resonance that drive accountability. For Alaskan families, they demonstrate that what happened to your child is part of a predictable, preventable national pattern.

The Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017):
A bid-acceptance night devolved into extreme drinking. Piazza suffered multiple falls captured on the fraternity’s own security cameras. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case led to hundreds of criminal charges, sweeping civil litigation, and Pennsylvania’s stringent anti-hazing law. Takeaway: Delay in seeking medical help and a culture of silence are legally devastating.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017):
During a “Bible study” drinking game, Gruver was forced to drink when he answered questions incorrectly. He died from acute alcohol toxicity. The case spurred Louisiana’s felony hazing statute, the “Max Gruver Act.” Takeaway: Legislative change often follows public outrage over a clear, preventable tragedy.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021):
Foltz was forced to drink nearly a full bottle of whiskey during a “Big/Little” night. He died of alcohol poisoning. Multiple members were criminally convicted. His family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU). Takeaway: Universities and nationals face immense financial and reputational consequences.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013):
At a fraternity retreat, Deng was blindfolded, weighted with a backpack, and repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual. He suffered fatal head injuries while help was delayed. The national fraternity was criminally convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter—a landmark case for organizational liability. Takeaway: “Retreats” are common hazing venues, and national organizations can face severe sanctions.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025):
Former players alleged widespread, sexualized hazing within the football program over years. Multiple lawsuits led to the firing of the head coach and confidential settlements. Takeaway: Hazing is endemic in high-profile, high-pressure athletic programs, not just Greek life.

What These Cases Mean for Your Family

The threads connecting these cases are universal: forced consumption, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, and institutional cover-ups. Multi-million-dollar settlements and reforms typically follow only after tragedy and relentless litigation. Your family is not alone. The legal landscape you are navigating was built on these precedents.

The Flagship Case: Attorney911 in Action – Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi

Right now, our firm is actively litigating one of the most severe hazing cases in the country. This isn’t a historical example; it’s proof of what we do every day. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student whose fall 2025 pledge period to the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter nearly killed him.

What Happened at UH

According to the lawsuit filed in Harris County, Bermudez was subjected to months of systematic abuse after accepting a bid in September 2025. The hazing included:

• Humiliation: A “pledge fanny pack” rule requiring him to carry condoms, a sex toy, and nicotine devices 24/7.
• Forced Labor: Hours-long “study blocks,” overnight chauffeuring duties, and weekly interviews under threat of expulsion.
• Physical Torture: Sprints, bear crawls, “save-your-brother” drills, and cold-weather exposure in underwear.
• “Waterboarding” Tactics: Being sprayed in the face with a hose while pinned down.
• Forced Consumption: Eating massive quantities of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, then being forced to sprint.
• The Nov. 3 Workout: Forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats while reciting the creed under threat of expulsion.

The Medical Catastrophe

The extreme physical hazing caused Bermudez to develop rhabdomyolysis—a severe skeletal muscle breakdown. His muscles released toxins that shut down his kidneys. He passed brown urine, could not stand, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels, confirming acute kidney failure. He faces an ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

Who We Are Holding Accountable

Our lawsuit names a full universe of defendants:

• The Institution: The University of Houston and the UH System Board of Regents.
• The National Organization: Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters.
• The Local Entities: The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu housing corporation.
• The Individuals: 13 fraternity leaders and members, including the chapter president, pledgemaster, and risk manager.

The Institutional Response

After reports surfaced, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters suspended the chapter on November 6, 2025. On November 14, the chapter members voted to surrender their charter, shutting it down. The University of Houston called the alleged conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised cooperation with law enforcement.

This case is live, active, and personal to our firm. It exemplifies the brutal reality of modern hazing and the comprehensive legal approach required to fight it. We are pursuing justice for Leonel Bermudez right now. For a detailed look at the media coverage of this case, you can read the Click2Houston report and the ABC13 coverage.

The Greek Ecosystem & National Histories: Why the “Nationals” Matter

When harm occurs in a local chapter, the liability often extends hundreds of miles away to a national headquarters. For families in Alaska, understanding this interconnected system is key to understanding who shares responsibility.

The Structure of National Greek Life

Most fraternities and sororities on campuses from the University of Alaska to Harvard operate under a franchise model:

• National Headquarters: Sets policies, collects dues, provides insurance, and grants charters.
• Alumni/Corporate Entities: Often separate legal entities (housing corporations, alumni chapters) that own property and manage finances.
• The Undergraduate Chapter: The group of students on campus.

When a hazing incident occurs, nationals often claim the local chapter was “rogue” and violated clear policies. However, litigation repeatedly uncovers that nationals had constructive knowledge of dangerous patterns because the same incidents happen at chapters nationwide.

National Organizations with Documented Hazing Histories

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): The organization involved in the Stone Foltz death. Its “Big/Little” tradition has been a repeated catalyst for fatal alcohol poisoning.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Has faced numerous hazing-related deaths and lawsuits, including a traumatic brain injury case at the University of Alabama and a chemical burns case at Texas A&M.
Phi Delta Theta: The fraternity involved in Max Gruver’s death at LSU.
Pi Kappa Phi: The national organization we are currently suing in the Bermudez case at UH, also involved in the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State.

This pattern evidence is crucial in court. It shows that the national organization was on notice that its rituals and lack of oversight created foreseeable risks. They cannot claim ignorance.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

Pursuing a hazing case is a complex, multi-front investigation that requires speed, expertise, and resources. Here is how we approach building a case for families.

Evidence: The Digital Paper Trail

In 2025, evidence is often digital and ephemeral. Preservation must begin immediately:

• Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord, and fraternity-specific apps are ground zero. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages.
• Photos & Videos: Content filmed by members during events, often shared in private chats or social media.
• Internal Documents: Pledge manuals, “tradition” scripts, emails between chapter officers.
• University Records: Prior conduct files, probation letters, and Clery Act reports obtained via discovery or public records requests.
• Medical Records: ER reports, toxicology screens, and psychological evaluations documenting PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Our video guide on using your cellphone to document a legal case offers critical first steps for evidence preservation.

Recoverable Damages: Understanding What Is at Stake

Civil lawsuits seek to make the victim whole and hold institutions accountable. Recoverable damages can include:

Economic Damages:

• All past and future medical expenses (ER, surgery, therapy, lifelong care).
• Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity.
• Educational costs (lost tuition, missed semesters).

Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical pain and suffering.
• Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• For wrongful death cases: funeral costs, loss of companionship, and family’s emotional suffering.

Punitive Damages:
In cases of gross negligence or intentional conduct, courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendants and deter future behavior.

The Role of Insurance and Institutional Strategy

National fraternities and universities carry liability insurance. A major part of the legal battle becomes:

1. Identifying all potential insurance policies.
2. Fighting coverage denials (insurers often claim hazing is an “intentional act” excluded from coverage).
3. Navigating settlements within policy limits.

This is where our insider advantage is critical. Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how these insurers value claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Parents and Students

For Parents: A Step-by-Step Guide

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme exhaustion or sleep deprivation.
• Drastic personality changes: withdrawal, anxiety, depression.
• Secretive behavior about group activities.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Sudden financial strain (paying for “fines,” alcohol, gifts for older members).

How to Talk to Your Child:
Approach with calm, open-ended questions. “How are things going with the group? Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?” Emphasize that their safety is your only concern and that you will support them without judgment.

If Your Child Is Hurt:

1. Safety First: Get medical care immediately.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help them screenshot chats, photograph injuries, save clothing.
3. Document: Write down everything they tell you with dates and names.
4. Seek Counsel: Contact a hazing attorney before reporting to the university. We can help you navigate the process to protect your child’s rights.

For Students: Is This Hazing?

Ask yourself:

• Do I feel unsafe, humiliated, or coerced?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences for saying no?
• Am I being told to keep secrets from the university or my family?
• Are older members making me do things they don’t have to do?

If you answered yes, it is hazing. Your “consent” under pressure is not a legal defense for them. Watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin your injury case to understand what to avoid.

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy a Case

1. Deleting Evidence: It looks like a cover-up and destroys your credibility.
2. Confronting the Organization First: This gives them a head start to destroy evidence and lawyer up.
3. Signing University Paperwork Prematurely: You may unknowingly waive your right to sue.
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys will scour your accounts for inconsistencies.
5. Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, and statutes of limitations expire.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can we sue a university for hazing?”
Yes, under theories of negligence or deliberate indifference. Public universities have certain immunity hurdles, but exceptions exist, especially for gross negligence. Private universities have fewer protections.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
This is governed by the statute of limitations, which varies by state and type of claim. In Texas, for personal injury, it’s generally two years from the date of injury. However, complex rules regarding discovery of harm and tolling can apply. Time is of the essence. Learn more in our video on statutes of limitations.

“What if it happened off-campus at a private house?”
Location does not eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on their sponsorship and knowledge of the event. Landlords may also share liability.

“Will this be confidential?”
Most civil cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize your family’s privacy throughout the process while aggressively pursuing accountability.

“How do we pay for a lawyer?”
We work on a contingency fee basis. This means we cover all upfront costs of the case, and our fee is a percentage of the recovery we secure for you. If we do not win, you do not pay attorney fees. We explain this fully in our video on how contingency fees work.

Why Attorney911 for Your Hazing Case

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need a team that understands the intricate power dynamics of Greek life, the defensive playbooks of national institutions, and the sophisticated litigation required to win. From our home base in Texas, we serve families across the nation, including those in Alaska facing crises at universities in the Lower 48.

Our Unmatched Qualifications for Hazing Litigation

Insurance Insider Knowledge – Mr. Lupe Peña:
Mr. Peña is a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm. He knows firsthand how fraternity and university insurance companies undervalue claims, use delay tactics, and fight coverage. This insider knowledge is invaluable in negotiating from a position of strength and anticipating every defense move.

Complex Institutional Litigation – Ralph Manginello:
Ralph is one of the few attorneys in Texas involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on a billion-dollar corporation. He has deep federal court experience and is not intimidated by the deep pockets and aggressive defense teams of national fraternities and universities. His membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means he understands the interplay between criminal and civil hazing cases.

A Proven Track Record of Serious Injury & Wrongful Death Results:
We have recovered multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. We work with life-care planners, economists, and medical experts to build cases that fully account for a lifetime of need, not just quick settlements.

A Comprehensive, Investigative Approach:
We treat hazing cases as institutional investigations. We subpoena national fraternity records to find prior incidents, utilize digital forensics to recover deleted messages, and work with expert witnesses to explain the psychology of coercion and the foreseeability of harm.

Our Commitment to Alaskan Families

We understand that sending a child to a university in the Lower 48 is a leap of faith for Alaskan families. When that trust is shattered by hazing, you need an advocate who can bridge the distance and fight for you where it matters—in the courts where the harm occurred. While we are based in Texas, our expertise is national. The same fraternities, the same insurance companies, and the same institutional cover-up tactics exist on campuses from Washington to Florida.

We serve families through:

• Direct Representation: For cases with a strong connection to Texas (like our Bermudez case).
• Co-Counsel Arrangements: We partner with reputable local attorneys in your child’s university state to bring our specialized hazing expertise to bear.
• Comprehensive Consultation: We provide case evaluation, evidence preservation guidance, and strategic advice to families anywhere in the U.S.

Call to Action: You Don’t Have to Face This Alone

If your child has been hazed, injured, or humiliated in connection with a fraternity, sorority, athletic team, or other campus organization, the path forward can feel overwhelming. The institution may be pressuring you. Your child may be afraid. Time is ticking as evidence vanishes.

Take the first step toward accountability and peace of mind.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will listen to your story, review any evidence you have, explain your legal options in clear terms, and help you make the best decision for your family’s future. There is no pressure to hire us, and everything you tell us is protected.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911).
Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com | lupe@atty911.com

Hablamos Español. Mr. Lupe Peña provides full consultation services in Spanish.

You have the right to answers. You have the right to accountability. Let us help you fight for it.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of the Leonel Bermudez / UH Pi Kappa Phi Hazing Lawsuit:

• Click2Houston Report: 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: 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 YouTube Videos:

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

Attorney911 Main 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 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 | lupe@atty911.com