The Definitive East Texas Hazing Litigation Guide for Cushing, Texas Parents & Families

Finding out your child has been hazed is a parent’s worst nightmare. It’s the call or text from a son or daughter at college, their voice filled with pain, fear, or confusion. They talk about forced drinking, brutal workouts, humiliating acts, and a toxic code of silence. For families in the quiet, close-knit communities of East Texas, like ours here in Cushing in Nacogdoches County, this betrayal often feels like it’s happening in a world far removed from our values. The reality is, it’s happening right now at Texas universities—and the legal system provides a path to justice.

Right now, in Houston, our firm is leading one of the most serious hazing lawsuits in the country. We represent Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who nearly lost his life to fraternity hazing. His story is a critical wake-up call for every Texas family. During his fall 2025 pledge period to the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, Bermudez was subjected to extreme physical abuse, forced “workouts” of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats, and degrading rituals—like being forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” containing humiliating items at all times. The culmination was a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis, a severe muscle breakdown, and acute kidney failure that led to 4 days of hospitalization. His urine was brown. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter has been shut down, and the University of Houston called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”

This isn’t an isolated incident. It’s a pattern. And for families in Cushing, Shelbyville, Martinsville, and across Nacogdoches County whose children attend Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas A&M, the University of Houston, or any other Texas campus, understanding this pattern—and your legal rights—is the first step to protection and accountability.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for you, the parents and families of East Texas. It will explain what modern hazing looks like, the powerful Texas laws designed to protect your child, the major national cases that set the stage, and what’s happening on Texas campuses. Most importantly, it will detail the legal path forward to hold the right people accountable and help your family heal.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR A HAZING CRISIS

• If your child is in medical danger RIGHT NOW: Call 911 immediately. Then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
• In the first 48 hours:
  • Get Medical Care: Insist on a full medical evaluation. Rhabdomyolysis (like in the UH case), internal injuries, and psychological trauma must be documented.
  • Preserve Evidence: Do NOT let your child delete anything. Screenshot all group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, texts), photograph injuries from multiple angles, and save any physical objects involved.
  • Document: Write down everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, specific acts.
  • Do NOT:
    • Confront the fraternity, sorority, or university directly.
    • Sign any documents from the school or an insurance company.
    • Post details on social media.
• Contact an Experienced Hazing Attorney: Evidence vanishes quickly. Universities and nationals move to control the narrative. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation. We serve families across Texas, including right here in Nacogdoches County.

Hazing in 2025: Far More Than “Just Pranks”

For parents who may not be familiar with modern Greek life or campus organizations, hazing has evolved. It’s systematic, often digitally coordinated, and designed to break down individuals through a mix of psychological pressure and physical risk.

Modern hazing is defined by power imbalance and coercion. It’s any intentional or reckless act—mental or physical—required for someone to join, maintain membership, or gain status in a group. The key is that “consent” under intense peer pressure is not a legal defense in Texas.

The hazing faced by Leonel Bermudez at UH exemplifies today’s brutal tactics:

• Forced Physical Endurance: Sprints, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, and “save-your-brother” drills at Yellowstone Boulevard Park in Houston, pushing bodies to the point of catastrophic muscle failure.
• Humiliation & Degradation: The mandated “pledge fanny pack” with condoms, sex toys, and nicotine devices; being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”; lying in vomit-soaked grass.
• Substance Coercion: Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed by immediate punishment sprints.
• Psychological Terror: Threats of expulsion for non-compliance, overnight driving duties, sleep deprivation, and the constant fear of retaliation.

This happens in fraternities, sororities, athletic teams, spirit groups like the Texas Cowboys, Corps of Cadets programs, marching bands, and other campus organizations. The common thread is a toxic tradition of abuse disguised as “bonding.”

The Texas & Federal Legal Framework: Your Child’s Rights

Texas has strong laws against hazing, and federal statutes add another layer of protection and potential liability. Understanding this framework is crucial for Cushing families navigating a crisis.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code, Chapter 37)

The Texas statute is clear and powerful. Hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership in an organization.

Key Provisions for Nacogdoches County Families:

1. Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. If it causes serious bodily injury (like kidney failure) or death, it becomes a state jail felony. Individuals can also be charged for failing to report hazing.
2. No “Consent” Defense: Texas law (§ 37.155) explicitly states that the victim’s consent is not a defense. The courts recognize that “agreeing” under duress and group pressure is not valid consent.
3. Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose its university recognition.
4. Reporter Immunity: Those who report hazing in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability, encouraging students to call for help.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Case: Brought by the state (e.g., Nacogdoches County District Attorney, Harris County DA). The goal is punishment: jail time, fines, probation. Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or even manslaughter.
• Civil Lawsuit: Brought by the victim and their family. The goal is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. This is where we hold every responsible party—from the individual who poured the drink to the national headquarters that ignored red flags—financially and legally responsible.

These cases can proceed simultaneously. A criminal conviction helps a civil case, but it is not required to win a civil lawsuit and secure a settlement or verdict.

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

• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based discrimination, your child’s school has a legal duty to investigate and address it. This applies to all schools receiving federal funds.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to report and publish crime statistics, including certain hazing-related assaults and alcohol offenses.
• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): A new federal law requiring increased transparency in hazing reporting and prevention programs by 2026, creating more public data on repeat offender organizations.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Playbook Texas Organizations Follow

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not anomalies; they are blueprints. The same patterns of forced drinking, physical abuse, and cover-up repeat from campus to campus. When we take a case at Stephen F. Austin State University or for a Cushing student at Texas A&M, we apply the lessons from these national precedents.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Dead after a bid-acceptance night of forced drinking. Brothers delayed calling 911. Result: Dozens of criminal charges, massive civil suits, and Pennsylvania’s “Timothy’s Law.”
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Result: Felony hazing convictions and Louisiana’s “Max Gruver Act.”
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge died after being forced to drink a bottle of alcohol. Result: $10+ million in total settlements from the national fraternity and university.

The Physical & Ritualized Brutality Pattern

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Killed during a blindfolded “glass ceiling” tackling ritual at a retreat. Result: National fraternity criminally convicted and banned from Pennsylvania.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent, severe brain damage from forced drinking. Result: Confidential multi-million-dollar settlements with over 20 defendants.

What This Means for East Texas

These cases prove that juries and courts will hold organizations accountable. They establish “foreseeability”—if a national fraternity had a chapter that killed someone with forced drinking in Ohio in 2021, they cannot claim they didn’t know the risks when the same thing happens in Texas in 2025. This pattern evidence is the backbone of a strong civil lawsuit.

Texas University Focus: Where Cushing Students Go to School

Cushing families are deeply connected to the university system. Many students live at home and commute to Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) in Nacogdoches. Others head to Texas A&M, the University of Houston, UT Austin, or state schools across Texas. Hazing risks exist at every one.

Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches)

For many in Cushing, SFA is the local campus. Its Greek life and organization culture directly impact our community.

• Hazing Policy: SFA prohibits hazing and requires reporting. Incidents can be reported to the Dean of Students or University Police.
• Local Jurisdiction: A hazing incident at an SFA chapter house or off-campus apartment in Nacogdoches would involve the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office or Nacogdoches Police Department. Civil suits would be filed in Nacogdoches County courts.
• Local Guidance: If your SFA student is being hazed, evidence collection is critical. The geographic proximity means evidence and witnesses are nearby but can also be pressured quickly. Seek immediate legal counsel to navigate the local landscape.

The University of Houston & The Leonel Bermudez Lawsuit

Our active, high-stakes case at UH is a direct example for all Texas families. We are currently litigating against the University of Houston System, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, the local housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders.

• The Playbook Exposed: This case involves classic, escalating hazing: from humiliating rules and enforced labor to violent physical workouts causing organ failure.
• Institutional Response: UH’s public statement and Pi Kappa Phi’s quick chapter suspension show institutions can act. A lawsuit ensures they also face financial and policy consequences.
• For Cushing Families: If your child is at UH or any large urban campus, hazing often moves to off-campus houses (like the Culmore Drive residence in our case) or public parks to avoid detection. Digital evidence—GroupMe chats organizing these events—becomes even more critical.

Texas A&M University & The Corps of Cadets

The culture of tradition at A&M can mask abuse. Notable cases include:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns: Pledges allegedly doused with industrial cleaner, causing severe burns requiring skin grafts. A lawsuit sought over $1 million.
• Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Allegations: A cadet alleged being bound between beds in a degrading, simulated sexual position as hazing.
  For families with children in the Corps or Greek life at A&M, understand that the defense often leans on “tradition.” We know how to separate meaningful tradition from illegal abuse.

University of Texas at Austin

UT maintains a public hazing violations log, offering a window into recurring issues:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): Sanctioned for forcing new members to consume milk and perform extreme calisthenics.
• Various Spirit Groups: Consistently appear on the log for forced physical activity and alcohol hazing.
  This public record is a gift to investigators—it demonstrates a known pattern of misconduct that the university and organizations were already aware of, strengthening claims of negligent supervision.

Baylor University & Southern Methodist University

These private universities have their own disciplinary processes, but Texas hazing law still applies. Past incidents at Baylor (baseball team hazing suspensions) and SMU (Kappa Alpha Order paddling suspension) show no campus is immune. The legal strategy often involves compelling internal disciplinary records through discovery in a lawsuit.

The Greek Organization Landscape: Tracking Responsibility from Cushing to National Headquarters

When hazing occurs, liability doesn’t stop with the 19-year-old pledge master. A web of organizations holds insurance and ultimate responsibility. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine allows us to map this web instantly.

The Texas Greek Universe: A Data-Driven View

Our analysis of public IRS and organizational data identifies over 125 registered Greek-letter entities in Texas alone, with thousands of affiliated chapters and corporations statewide. This isn’t abstract; it’s a directory of potential defendants and their insurance carriers.

For example, our investigation into the UH Pi Kappa Phi case didn’t stop at the undergraduate chapter. We identified and named the Beta Nu housing corporation (EIN 46-2267515, Frisco, TX) and the national Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity headquartered in Charlotte, NC. This is how you build a complete case.

National Histories Matter: Pattern Evidence

The fraternity that hazes at SFA or Texas A&M is often part of a national organization with a documented history.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ): National pattern of fatal alcohol hazing (Stone Foltz).
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ): Multiple chapters nationwide involved in serious injury lawsuits, including chemical burns at Texas A&M.
• Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ): Responsible for the Max Gruver death at LSU.
  In court, we use this national history to prove the organization knew the risks and failed to take adequate steps to prevent them at your child’s chapter. This is a powerful argument for negligence and punitive damages.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy & Damages

As experienced litigators, we approach hazing cases like complex corporate investigations. We don’t just take a statement; we build an unassailable record.

Critical Evidence We Secure

1. Digital Forensics: Deleted GroupMe, WhatsApp, and text messages can often be recovered. We work with experts to obtain these and authenticate timeline.
2. Internal Chapter Records: Pledge manuals, meeting minutes, “big/little” assignments, and financial records showing alcohol purchases.
3. National Fraternity Files: Through discovery, we obtain prior incident reports, risk management warnings, and communication between nationals and the local chapter.
4. University Records: Prior disciplinary actions against the same group, Clery Act reports, and internal emails about known hazing risks.
5. Medical & Psychological Documentation: Full records establishing the direct link between the hazing and your child’s injuries, including evaluations for PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Recoverable Damages for Your Family

A civil lawsuit seeks to make your family whole and punish wrongdoing. Recoverable damages can include:

• All Medical Expenses: Past, present, and future care, including lifelong therapy or treatment for permanent injuries like kidney damage or TBI.
• Lost Wages & Earning Capacity: If injuries delay or derail your child’s education and career.
• Pain & Suffering: Physical pain, emotional trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme recklessness (like forcing someone to drink until they get kidney failure), courts can award additional damages to punish the defendants and deter future conduct.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the ultimate tragedy, families can recover for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and emotional anguish.

Practical Guide for Cushing & East Texas Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Immediate Steps

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, bruising, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, drastic weight change, or appearing ill.
• Withdrawal from family, secrecy about organization activities.
• Constant, anxious phone use related to group chats.
• Requests for large sums of money with vague explanations.

What to Do:

1. Listen & Believe: Create a safe space for your child to talk.
2. Secure Medical Care: Get a comprehensive exam. Document everything.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot ALL digital communications. Photograph injuries.
4. Contact an Attorney FIRST: Before reporting to the university, call us. We can help you navigate the process to protect your child’s rights and case.
5. Do Not Confront the Organization: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.

For Students: Your Rights & Safety

• You Have the Right to Be Safe: No tradition is worth your life or health.
• “Consent” is Not a Defense: Texas law protects you even if you felt pressured to “agree.”
• You Can Report Anonymously: Use university hotlines or the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE).
• Good Samaritan Protections: Texas law and most university policies protect those who call for help in an emergency from minor alcohol violations.

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy a Hazing Case

• Deleting Evidence: Screenshot everything before considering deletion.
• Confronting the Chapter: This is a legal matter, not a personal one. Let your attorney handle communication.
• Signing University Paperwork: Do not sign any “resolution” or “conduct agreement” without an attorney’s review.
• Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys scour social media for inconsistencies.
• Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses scatter, and the statute of limitations ticks.

Why Attorney911 is the Right Firm for East Texas Hazing Cases

When your family is in crisis, you need advocates who understand both the human toll and the complex legal battlefield. You need attorneys who have faced billion-dollar corporations and aren’t intimidated by national fraternities or university legal teams.

Our Proven Advantages for Your Case:

1. Active, High-Stakes Litigation Experience: We are currently leading the Leonel Bermudez vs. UH & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are in the trenches right now, fighting the same types of defendants you would face. This isn’t theoretical; it’s our daily work.
2. Insider Insurance Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), spent years as an insurance defense attorney for large national firms. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and minimize your claim. We know their playbook because we used to write it.
3. Complex Institutional Litigation Credentials: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We know how to investigate, fund, and try cases against defendants with unlimited legal resources.
4. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We maintain a proprietary database of over 125 Texas Greek organizations, their corporate structures, EINs, and insurance connections. While we can’t publish it all, this investigative head start is invaluable. We know how to find the entities that hold responsibility and insurance coverage.
5. Deep Texas Roots & Understanding: We serve families from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. We understand the values and concerns of East Texas communities like Cushing, Nacogdoches, and Lufkin. Your fight is our fight.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you suspect or know your child has been hazed, time is the most critical factor. Evidence vanishes with every passing hour.

We offer a no-cost, completely confidential consultation to Cushing and Nacogdoches County families. 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 investigation process and what you can expect.
• Answer all your questions about fees (we work on a contingency basis—no fee unless we win).

You are not alone. The path from victim to survivor begins with a single step toward accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911 Today

Call our 24/7 Legal Emergency Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)

Direct Lines: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781

Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com

Website: https://attorney911.com

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

Legal Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. If you have been affected by hazing, consult with an experienced attorney for advice regarding your individual situation.