Texas Hazing Lawsuits & Fraternity Abuse: A Complete Guide for Dalhart Families

If Your Child Was Hazed at a Texas University, You Have Rights

We understand the nightmare. One moment, your child is excited about joining a fraternity, sorority, Corps program, or campus organization at a Texas university. The next, you’re getting a call from a hospital, or your child comes home broken—physically, emotionally, or both. The line between “tradition” and abuse has been crossed, and now you’re facing a powerful institution that seems more concerned with its reputation than your child’s wellbeing.

Right now, in Houston, we are actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in the country. In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity, its Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, the UH System Board of Regents, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The allegations are harrowing: forced consumption of food until vomiting, extreme physical workouts leading to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, simulated waterboarding, psychological torment, and a systematic culture of abuse that nearly cost a young man his life. The chapter has been shut down, but the fight for accountability continues.

This is not an isolated incident. It’s part of a pattern that repeats at campuses across Texas—from the University of Texas at Austin to Texas A&M, from SMU to Baylor. And when it happens, families in Dalhart and across the Texas Panhandle need to know they have rights, they have options, and they don’t have to face powerful universities and national fraternities alone.

This guide is for you—the parents, family members, and students in Dalhart, Hartley County, and throughout the Texas Panhandle who are dealing with the aftermath of hazing or trying to prevent it. We’ll explain what hazing really looks like in 2025, break down Texas and federal law, show you how national patterns play out at Texas schools, and give you practical steps to protect your child and hold the right people accountable.

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 (deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, coached witnesses)
• 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 Beyond the Stereotypes

For families in Dalhart who may be less familiar with modern Greek life or campus organizations, it’s crucial to understand that hazing has evolved far beyond the stereotypes of “harmless pranks” or “boys being boys.” Today’s hazing is often systematic, psychologically sophisticated, and digitally enabled.

A Modern Definition: Coercion, Not Consent

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 critical point that Texas law recognizes—and that many organizations try to obscure—is that “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal when there is peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion.

The Four Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common—and most deadly—form of hazing. It’s not just “drinking at a party.” It’s systematic forced consumption:

• “Big/Little” nights where pledges are given handles of liquor to finish
• “Bible study” or trivia games where wrong answers mean forced shots
• Lineups where pledges must chug alcohol rapidly
• Coerced consumption of unknown mixtures or drugs

2. Physical Hazing
This goes beyond “tough workouts” to dangerous physical abuse:

• Paddling, beatings, or being struck with objects
• Extreme calisthenics (“smokings”) until collapse—like the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats that hospitalized Leonel Bermudez
• Sleep deprivation through all-night “study sessions” or 3 AM wake-up calls
  -and deprivation
• Exposure to extreme cold (like being made to stand outside in underwear) or heat

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
Some of the most psychologically damaging forms include:

• Forced nudity or partial nudity
• Simulated sexual acts or degrading positions
• “Roasts” or public humiliation sessions
• Acts with racial, homophobic, or sexist overtones
• Being forced to carry humiliating items (like the “pledge fanny pack” with condoms and sex toys in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case)

4. Digital and Psychological Hazing
The 24/7 nature of smartphones has created new forms of abuse:

• Group chat monitoring with instant response demands at all hours
• Social media humiliation through forced posts or “challenges”
• Geo-tracking requirements via Find My Friends or Life360
• Psychological manipulation, isolation from non-members, and threats

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond Fraternity Row

While fraternities and sororities receive most publicity, hazing occurs in many organizations:

• Corps of Cadets and military-style programs (particularly at Texas A&M)
• Athletic teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer)
• Spirit and tradition organizations (like the Texas Cowboys at UT)
• Marching bands and performance groups
• Academic clubs and honor societies
• Cultural and service organizations

The common thread is power imbalance: older members controlling new members through tradition, social pressure, and the promise of belonging.

Texas Hazing Laws: What Dalhart Families Need to Know

When your child is hazed at a Texas university, three layers of law come into play: Texas state law, federal regulations, and the university’s own policies. Understanding this framework is crucial for knowing your rights.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Anti-Hazing Statute

Texas has one of the more comprehensive state hazing laws in the country. Here’s what Dalhart families need to know:

Definition (Section 37.151):
Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, by one person alone or with others, directed against a student, that:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, AND
• Occurs for the purpose of pledging, initiation into, affiliation with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members include students.

Key Points for Texas Families:

• Location doesn’t matter: Hazing at an off-campus house, Airbnb, or remote retreat is still hazing under Texas law.
• Mental harm counts: Psychological abuse, humiliation, and emotional trauma qualify.
• “Reckless” is enough: They don’t have to intend harm—just be reckless about the risk.

Criminal Penalties (Section 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 causing serious bodily injury or death

Critical Protections:

• Consent is NOT a defense (Section 37.155): Even if your child “agreed,” it’s still hazing.
• Immunity for good-faith reporters (Section 37.154): Students who report hazing or call 911 in emergencies are protected from liability.
• Organizational liability (Section 37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose university recognition.

Federal Laws That Apply to Hazing

1. The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024)
This new federal law requires colleges receiving federal aid to:

• Publicly report hazing incidents
• Strengthen prevention education
• Maintain transparent hazing data (phased in by 2026)

2. Title IX
When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX requires universities to:

• Investigate promptly and fairly
• Protect complainants from retaliation
• Take measures to prevent recurrence

3. The Clery Act
Requires universities to report certain crimes, including assaults and alcohol/drug offenses that often accompany hazing.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by the state (district attorney)
• Purpose: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Charges can include: hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, manslaughter in fatal cases
• Important: A criminal case is not required to file a civil lawsuit

Civil Lawsuits:

• Brought by victims and families
• Purpose: Compensation and accountability
• Targets: Individuals, chapters, national organizations, universities, property owners
• Damages can include: medical bills, future care, lost earnings, pain and suffering, emotional distress

Many families pursue both tracks simultaneously. The criminal case seeks punishment, while the civil case seeks to make the family whole and force institutional change.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What History Tells Us About Texas Cases

The hazing incident at University of Houston is not an anomaly. It’s part of patterns that have played out across the country for decades. Understanding these patterns helps Dalhart families see that what happened to their child was foreseeable—and therefore preventable.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)

• 20-year-old pledge forced to drink an entire bottle of whiskey during “Big/Little” night
• Died from alcohol poisoning
• $10 million settlement ($7 million from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3 million from BGSU)
• Multiple criminal convictions

Max Gruver – Louisiana State University, Phi Delta Theta (2017)

• Pledge forced to participate in “Bible study” drinking game
• Died with blood alcohol level of 0.495%
• Louisiana passed the Max Gruver Act creating felony hazing penalties
• Chapter permanently closed

Andrew Coffey – Florida State University, Pi Kappa Phi (2017)

• Pledge died from alcohol poisoning during “Big Brother Night”
• FSU suspended all Greek life temporarily
• Criminal charges against multiple members

Pattern Lesson for Texas Families: The “Big/Little” or “bid acceptance” drinking night is a repeating script. When national fraternities have seen this pattern kill students at other schools, they can’t claim they didn’t know it was dangerous when it happens at UH, Texas A&M, or other Texas campuses.

The Physical Hazing Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State University, Beta Theta Pi (2017)

• Bid acceptance night with extreme drinking
• Multiple falls captured on chapter security cameras
• Fraternity brothers delayed calling 911 for hours
• 18 members faced over 1,000 criminal charges
• Pennsylvania passed the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)

• Pledge blindfolded and repeatedly tackled during “glass ceiling” ritual at remote retreat
• Died from traumatic brain injury
• National fraternity criminally convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter
• Pi Delta Psi banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years

Pattern Lesson: Off-campus retreats and houses don’t eliminate liability. Delaying medical care dramatically increases harm and liability. Security cameras and smartphones capture evidence that can’t be denied.

The Athletic Hazing Pattern

Northwestern University Football Program (2023-2025)

• Multiple former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing
• Head coach Pat Fitzgerald fired, then settled wrongful-termination suit confidentially
• Multiple lawsuits against university
• Lesson: Hazing isn’t limited to Greek life; big-money athletic programs have similar power imbalances and secrecy.

What These National Cases Mean for Dalhart Families

1. Patterns are predictable: The same scripts (Big/Little nights, forced drinking games, physical “tests”) repeat across campuses and organizations.

2. Cover-ups make things worse: Delaying medical care, destroying evidence, and intimidating witnesses increase criminal and civil liability.

3. National organizations know the risks: When a fraternity has had deaths at other schools, they can’t claim ignorance when the same thing happens in Texas.

4. Transparency follows tragedy: Major reforms—both institutional and legislative—usually only happen after litigation exposes the truth.

Texas University Focus: Where Dalhart Families Send Their Children

Dalhart families traditionally send their children to universities across Texas, with particular connections to institutions in the Panhandle, West Texas, and major state universities. Understanding the hazing landscape at these schools is crucial.

West Texas A&M University (Canyon, TX)

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Located just south of Amarillo in Canyon, West Texas A&M University serves many students from Dalhart and the surrounding Panhandle region. With approximately 10,000 students, it has an active Greek life community and traditional campus organizations.

Greek Life & Organizations:

• Fraternities: Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Lambda Chi Alpha, Kappa Sigma, and others
• Sororities: Alpha Omicron Pi, Zeta Tau Alpha, Alpha Delta Pi, and others
• Corps of Cadets: Part of the Texas A&M System Corps of Cadets program
• Athletic Programs: NCAA Division II sports with traditional team dynamics

Documented Incidents & University Response:
While West Texas A&M has had fewer publicized hazing incidents than larger universities, the patterns seen nationwide can and do occur. The university maintains anti-hazing policies aligned with Texas A&M System regulations, but like all institutions, faces challenges in monitoring off-campus activities and underground organizations.

How Cases Proceed:

• Jurisdiction: Randall County courts and the Texas A&M University System office
• Investigating agencies: WTAMU Police Department, Canyon PD, Randall County Sheriff
• Unique factors: Close-knit campus community can create both support systems and pressures against reporting

Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Texas Tech in Lubbock is another common destination for Dalhart students, particularly those interested in engineering, agriculture, and health sciences. With over 40,000 students, it has a substantial Greek life presence and numerous student organizations.

Greek Life Landscape:

• Large IFC community: Multiple fraternity houses and active recruitment
• Sorority life: Active Panhellenic community with chapter houses
• Multicultural organizations: Growing NPHC and multicultural Greek presence
• Spirit organizations: Saddle Tramps, High Riders, and other traditional groups

Recent Hazing Concerns:
Texas Tech has faced hazing allegations in various organizations, with the university typically responding through its Office of Student Conduct. Like many large institutions, the challenge lies in monitoring the approximately 500+ student organizations and their activities, particularly those occurring off-campus.

For Dalhart Families:

• Distance consideration: Lubbock is approximately 2.5 hours from Dalhart, making parental monitoring challenging
• Medical resources: Texas Tech Health Sciences Center provides medical care, but students may be reluctant to seek help there
• Reporting channels: Texas Tech maintains multiple reporting options, including anonymous systems

Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
Many Dalhart students choose Texas A&M for its strong agricultural programs, engineering, and traditional campus culture. The Corps of Cadets and extensive Greek life create multiple environments where hazing can occur.

Corps of Cadets Hazing History:
The 2023 lawsuit alleging a cadet was subjected to degrading hazing—including being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth—highlighted ongoing concerns within the Corps. Texas A&M stated it handled the matter internally under its rules, but the case sought over $1 million in damages, showing the serious nature of the allegations.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021):
Two Texas A&M pledges alleged they were covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The fraternity was suspended for two years, and the pledges sued for $1 million.

University Response Framework:

• Student Conduct Office: Investigates hazing allegations
• Corps of Cadets: Has its own disciplinary system
• Transparency challenges: Fewer public hazing reports than UT Austin

For Dalhart Families with Children at A&M:

• Corps participation: Understand the unique culture and risks
• Greek life monitoring: A&M has approximately 60+ fraternity and sorority chapters
• Reporting options: Multiple channels, but students often fear retaliation

University of Texas at Austin

Campus & Culture Snapshot:
UT Austin attracts Dalhart students for its academic prestige, particularly in business, engineering, and liberal arts. With approximately 70+ Greek chapters and hundreds of student organizations, the hazing risk is distributed across many groups.

UT’s Public Hazing Violations Page:
Unlike many universities, UT maintains a public list of hazing violations—a valuable resource for parents. Recent entries include:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; chapter placed on probation with required hazing-prevention education
• Texas Wranglers: Spirit organization sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing
• Multiple fraternities: Various sanctions for alcohol hazing, physical mistreatment, or policy violations

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Assault Case (2024):
An Australian exchange student allegedly assaulted by fraternity members at a party, suffering dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, and broken nose. The student sued the SAE chapter for over $1 million—the chapter was already under suspension for prior violations.

For Dalhart Families:

• Use UT’s transparency: Check the public hazing violations page
• Understand the scale: 50,000+ students means less individual oversight
• Medical resources: UT Dell Medical School and University Health Services

University of Houston

The Leonel Bermudez Pi Kappa Phi Case:
This active litigation represents the most serious current hazing case in Texas. The details show how modern hazing operates:

Timeline of Abuse:

• September 2025: Bermudez accepts bid to Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter
• September-October: Forced dress codes, hours-long “study/work” blocks, weekly interviews, overnight chauffeuring duties, mandatory “pledge fanny pack” with humiliating contents
• October 13: Another pledge hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
• November 3: Bermudez forced through 100+ push-ups, 500 squats under threat of expulsion
• Multiple locations: Pi Kappa Phi house, Culmore Drive residence, Yellowstone Boulevard Park for dawn/late-night hazing

Medical Catastrophe:

• Developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure
• Passed brown urine, hospitalized for four days
• Lab tests showed critically high creatine kinase levels
• Ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage

Institutional Response:

• November 6, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters suspends Beta Nu chapter
• November 14, 2025: Chapter members vote to surrender charter; chapter shut down
• UH statement: Called conduct “deeply disturbing,” promised disciplinary measures up to expulsion and cooperation with law enforcement

Legal Action:
Nixon Peabody

• $10 million lawsuit filed in Harris County
• Defendants: UH, UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national, Beta Nu housing corporation, 13 individual fraternity leaders
• Current status: Active litigation with Attorney911 representing Bermudez

For Dalhart Families:

• UH’s urban campus: Off-campus housing and events are harder to monitor
• Large Greek system: Approximately 40+ fraternity and sorority chapters
• Medical resources: Texas Medical Center proximity helps with serious injuries

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

SMU’s Greek-Centered Culture:
As a private university with affluent student population, SMU has a strong Greek life presence. Recent years have seen hazing allegations involving alcohol, physical abuse, and humiliation. SMU’s challenge is balancing its Greek tradition with student safety.

Baylor’s Historical Context:
Following the football sexual assault scandal, Baylor has been under increased scrutiny regarding institutional accountability. Hazing incidents in baseball and other sports have led to suspensions and investigations. Baylor’s religious identity adds complexity to how hazing is perceived and addressed.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: Public Records Directory for Dalhart Families

As part of our hazing litigation practice, we maintain the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a comprehensive database of Greek organizations across the state. This investigative tool helps us identify all potentially liable entities in hazing cases. For Dalhart families, understanding this ecosystem is crucial.

Texas-Registered Greek Organizations (IRS B83 Records)

The IRS maintains records of tax-exempt Greek organizations in Texas. These include house corporations, alumni chapters, honor societies, and related entities. Here are examples relevant to universities Dalhart families attend:

West Texas A&M & Panhandle Region Entities:

• Frank Heflin Foundation (EIN: 203507402) – Canyon, TX 79015 – Phi Delta Theta alumni fund
• Chi Omega – Upsilon Zeta Building Association (EIN: 752290669) – Amarillo, TX 79118
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Amarillo Alumnae Chapter – Amarillo, TX
• Phi Delta Theta Fraternity – Texas Theta Chapter – Canyon, TX (West Texas A&M)

Texas Tech & Lubbock Area Entities:

• Epsilon Nu Housing Corporation (EIN: 237359384) – Lubbock, TX 79401
• Alpha Omega Epsilon-Beta Alpha Chapter (EIN: 473967233) – Lubbock, TX 79416
• TKE OP Housing (EIN: 475033161) – Lubbock, TX 79423
• Farm House Fraternity Inc. – Texas Tech University Chapter (EIN: 751565336) – Lubbock, TX 79416

Texas A&M & Central Texas Entities:

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc. (EIN: 133048786) – College Station, TX 77845
• Eta Alpha House Corporation of Kappa Delta Sorority (EIN: 742930349) – College Station, TX 77840
• Beta Theta Pi – Eta Chapter House Corp. – College Station, TX
• Delta Sigma Theta – Brazos Valley Alumnae – College Station, TX

University of Houston & Houston Area Entities:

• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter (EIN: 746084905) – Houston, TX 77204
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated – Sigma Gamma Chapter (EIN: 392352450) – Houston, TX 77254
• Beta Lambda Chapter – Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. (EIN: 990483761) – Houston, TX 77084
• Texas District of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Houston, TX

University of Texas at Austin Entities:

• Chi Omega Fraternity – Chi Omega House Corporation (EIN: 740555581) – Austin, TX 78705
• Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi (EIN: 746047117) – Austin, TX 78705
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Rho Corp. – Austin, TX (UT chapter house corporation)
• Delta Tau Delta – Gamma Iota Chapter – Austin, TX (UT chapter house)

Why This Directory Matters for Dalhart Families:

1. Identifies responsible entities: Each of these organizations may carry insurance or have assets that can compensate victims
2. Shows organizational complexity: A single fraternity may have multiple legal entities (national, housing corp, alumni chapter)
3. Aids investigation: We use this data to trace responsibility in hazing cases
4. Demonstrates pattern: The same national brands appear across Texas campuses

Metro Area Greek Organization Counts

According to our Cause IQ data analysis:

Chris

• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro: 510 Greek organizations
• Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metro: 188 Greek organizations
• Austin-Round Rock Metro: 154 Greek organizations
• Lubbock Metro: 59 Greek organizations
• Amarillo Metro: 18 Greek organizations (complete enumeration)
• Statewide Total: 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros

National Brands with Texas Presence

These national organizations have multiple Texas entities and documented hazing histories:

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike):

• Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green ($10 million settlement)
• Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT, Texas Tech, Baylor
• Multiple Texas entities in IRS and Cause IQ data

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE):

• Traumatic brain injury case at University of Alabama
• Chemical burns case at Texas A&M
• Assault case at UT Austin
• Chapters at all major Texas universities

Pi Kappa Phi:

• Andrew Coffey death at Florida State
• Leonel Bermudez case at University of Houston
• Active chapters across Texas

Phi Delta Theta:

• Max Gruver death at LSU (Louisiana felony hazing law)
• Chapters at Texas A&M, UT, other Texas schools

Kappa Sigma:

• Chad Meredith drowning death at University of Miami ($12.6 million verdict)
• Rhabdomyolysis case at Texas A&M
• Widespread Texas presence

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Recovery

When hazing causes serious injury or death, building a strong case requires systematic investigation, strategic legal action, and understanding what recovery is possible. Here’s what Dalhart families should know.

Critical Evidence That Wins Hazing Cases

1. Digital Communications (Most Important Evidence)

• Group chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, fraternity apps
• Social media: Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook Messenger
• Recovered messages: Digital forensics can often retrieve deleted content
• What it shows: Planning, coordination, admissions, threats, cover-up attempts

2. Photos & Videos

• Event footage: Smartphone videos of hazing activities
• Injury documentation: Photos taken immediately and over subsequent days
• Location evidence: Pictures of houses, rooms, props used
• Social media posts: Even “joking” posts can establish what happened

3. Internal Organization Documents

• Pledge manuals: Written instructions or traditions
• Meeting minutes: Officer discussions about activities
• National policies: Risk management manuals showing what should have been prevented
• Financial records: Dues payments, alcohol purchases, party budgets

4. University Records

• Prior conduct files: Previous hazing violations by same organization
• Campus police reports: Incident documentation
• Clery Act reports: Annual crime statistics
• Internal emails: Administrator discussions about the organization

5. Medical Documentation

• Emergency records: ER visits, hospitalization reports
• Lab results: Blood alcohol levels, drug screens, kidney/liver function
• Psychological evaluations: PTSD, depression, anxiety diagnoses
• Future care plans: Long-term treatment needs for permanent injuries

6. Witness Testimony

• Other pledges: Often afraid initially but may cooperate as case progresses
• Former members: Those who quit or were expelled frequently have valuable information
• Roommates/RAs: May have observed changes or heard discussions
• Medical personnel: Documentation of what they were told happened

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses):

• Medical expenses: Past and future care, including lifelong needs for catastrophic injuries
• Lost income: Current lost wages and diminished future earning capacity
• Educational costs: Lost tuition, scholarships, delayed graduation
• Therapy & counseling: Psychological treatment for trauma

Non-Economic Damages:

• Pain and suffering: Physical pain from injuries
• Emotional distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment: Inability to participate in activities they loved
• Reputational harm: Social stigma and embarrassment

Wrongful Death Damages (When Applicable):

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of companionship and support
• Parents’ and siblings’ emotional suffering
• Lost financial contribution the deceased would have made

Punitive Damages (When Available):

• Purpose: Punish especially reckless or malicious conduct
• When awarded: When defendants knew risks but proceeded anyway, covered up evidence, or showed callous indifference
• Texas caps: Generally limited, but exceptions exist for certain intentional conduct

Case Strategy: Overcoming Common Defenses

Fraternities, universities, and their insurers use predictable defenses. Here’s how we counter them:

Defense: “The Victim Consented”

• Our response: Texas law §37.155 explicitly states consent is NOT a defense to hazing. Power imbalance and peer pressure negate true consent.

Defense: “This Was Rogue Individuals”

• Our response: National organizations have duty to supervise. Prior incidents at other chapters show they knew the risks. Inadequate training and enforcement makes them liable.

Defense: “It Happened Off-Campus”

• Our response: Location doesn’t eliminate duty. Organizations that sponsor, fund, and recognize these groups remain responsible for their activities.

Defense: “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”

• Our response: Policies without enforcement are meaningless. We subpoena records showing prior violations that weren’t adequately addressed.

Defense: “Insurance Doesn’t Cover Intentional Acts”

• Our response: Even if hazing was intentional, negligent supervision may be covered. We identify all potential insurance sources and fight coverage denials.

Practical Guides for Dalhart Families: What to Do Now

For Parents: Warning Signs and Immediate Actions

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns
• Extreme fatigue or sleep deprivation
• Sudden weight loss or gain
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal
• Secretive about activities or constantly on phone for group chats
• Fearful of “getting in trouble” or “letting the chapter down”
• Financial strain from unexpected expenses
• Declining grades or missing classes

How to Talk to Your Child About Hazing:

1. Choose the right time: When they’re not rushed or distracted
2. Ask open questions: “How are things going with [organization]?”
3. Listen without judgment: If they open up, don’t interrupt with anger
4. Emphasize safety: “Your wellbeing is more important than any group”
5. Offer unconditional support: “We’ll figure this out together”

If You Suspect Hazing Is Occurring:

1. Document everything: Write down dates, times, what your child says
2. Preserve evidence: Screenshot texts, photograph injuries, save physical items
3. Seek medical care: Even if injuries seem minor, get professional evaluation
4. Consult an attorney BEFORE reporting: Understand your options and risks
5. Report strategically: With attorney guidance, report to appropriate authorities

For Students: Safety Planning and Rights

Is This Hazing? Self-Assessment:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something dangerous or degrading?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences?
• Am I being told to keep secrets from university officials or my parents?
• Are older members making me do things they don’t have to do?

How to Exit Safely:

1. Tell someone you trust: Parent, RA, counselor, or professor
2. Send formal resignation: Email chapter president: “I resign effective immediately”
3. Do NOT attend “one last meeting”: This is where pressure or retaliation happens
4. Document any retaliation: Save threats, take screenshots, report to university
5. Seek support: University counseling centers can help with transition

Your Legal Rights in Texas:

• Good-faith reporter protection: You won’t get in trouble for calling 911 in an emergency
• Statute of limitations: Generally 2 years from injury to file civil lawsuit
• Confidentiality options: Many cases settle with confidentiality provisions
• No-contact orders: Available if you’re harassed after reporting

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Deleting Evidence

• Mistake: Letting your child delete embarrassing messages or photos
• Why it’s wrong: Looks like cover-up, destroys crucial evidence, can be obstruction of justice
• Right approach: Preserve EVERYTHING, even if embarrassing

2. Confronting the Organization Directly

• Mistake: Calling the fraternity president or showing up at the house
• Why it’s wrong: They immediately lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
• Right approach: Document first, let your attorney handle all communication

3. Signing University “Resolution” Agreements

• Mistake: Signing whatever the Dean of Students puts in front of you
• Why it’s wrong: May waive your right to sue or accept inadequate settlement
• Right approach: Have attorney review EVERY document before signing

4. Posting on Social Media

• Mistake: Venting on Facebook or Instagram about what happened
• Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
• Right approach: Keep details private; let your attorney control public messaging

5. Waiting “to See What the University Does”

• Mistake: Giving the university months to “investigate internally”
• Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute runs
• Right approach: Preserve evidence immediately, consult attorney within days

Frequently Asked Questions for Dalhart Families

“Can we sue a Texas public university for hazing?”
Yes, under certain circumstances. While public universities have some sovereign immunity protections, exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals in personal capacity. The key is building a case that shows the university knew or should have known about the risk and failed to act.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law makes hazing a state jail felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report hazing. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH involves conduct that could support felony charges.

“What if the hazing happened at an off-campus house?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and national fraternities can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, and knowledge. Many major cases (Pi Delta Psi retreat, Sigma Pi unofficial house) occurred off-campus and still resulted in multi-million-dollar judgments.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if the harm or its cause wasn’t immediately known. In cases involving cover-ups, the statute may be tolled (paused). Time is critical—evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and organizations destroy records.

“Will my child’s name be in the news?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. You can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability.

“What will this cost our family?”
We work on contingency—you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you. We cover case expenses upfront and are only reimbursed if we win. This makes justice accessible to families who couldn’t otherwise afford to take on powerful institutions.

Why Attorney911 for Dalhart Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing case, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway. From our Houston office, we serve families throughout Texas, including Dalhart and the surrounding Panhandle region. Here’s what sets us apart:

Proven Experience Against Powerful Institutions

BP Texas City Explosion Litigation:
Our firm was one of the few in Texas involved in the BP Texas City refinery explosion litigation. That experience taught us how to take on billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets—the same type of institutional power that universities and national fraternities wield.

Federal Court Complex Litigation:
We’re admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and have handled complex multi-defendant cases. Hazing litigation often involves federal claims (Title IX, civil rights) alongside state claims.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Experience:
We have recovered millions for families in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. We know how to work with economists to value loss of life, future care needs, and lifelong impacts.

Insider Knowledge of Insurance Company Tactics

Lupe Peña’s Defense Background:
Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies:

• Value (and undervalue) hazing claims
• Use delay tactics to pressure families
• Fight coverage under exclusions
• Deploy “independent” medical exams to minimize injuries

Strategic Advantage:
We know their playbook because we used to run it. This insider knowledge is invaluable when negotiating with insurers who assume most families don’t understand their tactics.

Comprehensive Investigative Resources

Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine:
We maintain a proprietary database of 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. This includes IRS records, university rosters, and organizational charts that help us identify every potentially liable entity.

Expert Network:
For hazing cases, we deploy:

• Medical experts (rhabdomyolysis, traumatic brain injury, PTSD)
• Toxicologists (alcohol poisoning)
• Greek life culture experts
• Economists (lost earnings, future care costs)
• Digital forensics specialists (recovering deleted messages)
• Psychologists (emotional trauma assessment)

Evidence Preservation Protocol:
We act quickly to preserve evidence before it disappears. Within 48 hours, we can:

• Secure group chat backups
• Send spoliation letters preventing evidence destruction
• Identify and interview key witnesses
• Obtain emergency court orders if necessary

Dual Civil/Criminal Capability

Ralph Manginello’s HCCLA Membership:
Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association signals elite criminal defense capability. This is crucial because hazing often involves:

• Criminal charges against perpetrators
• Witnesses with potential criminal exposure
• Parallel criminal and civil proceedings
• Constitutional issues (search and seizure, statements to police)

Comprehensive Guidance:
We can advise on both the civil lawsuit for compensation and the criminal case for accountability. This integrated approach ensures one legal strategy doesn’t undermine the other.

Empathetic, Family-Centered Approach

We understand this is one of the hardest things a family can face. Our approach balances:

• Aggressive litigation against institutions that harmed your child
• Compassionate support for your family through the process
• Respect for privacy in sensitive matters
• Commitment to prevention so other families don’t suffer similarly

Call to Action for Dalhart Families

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus—whether West Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, UT Austin, UH, or any other school—we want to hear from you. Families in Dalhart, Hartley County, and throughout the Texas Panhandle have the right to answers and accountability.

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation

When you contact Attorney911, you’ll receive:

1. A confidential, no-obligation consultation with an experienced hazing attorney
2. Careful listening to your story without judgment
3. Review of any evidence you’ve preserved (photos, texts, medical records)
4. Clear explanation of your legal options: criminal report, civil lawsuit, both, or neither
5. Realistic assessment of timelines, challenges, and potential outcomes
6. Answers to all your questions about costs (contingency fee—we don’t get paid unless we win)
7. No pressure to hire us—take time to decide with all the information
8. Complete confidentiality—everything you tell us is protected

Contact Us Today

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Dalhart and All of Texas

24/7 Emergency Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070
Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com

Email:

• Ralph Manginello: ralph@atty911.com
• Lupe Peña: lupe@atty911.com

Hablamos Español:
Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish
Servicios legales en español disponibles

Office Locations:

• Houston, Texas (Primary)
• Austin, Texas
• Beaumont, Texas

Whether you’re in Dalhart or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The institutions involved have lawyers protecting their interests. You should too.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. Let us help you get answers, hold the right people accountable, and prevent this from happening to another family.

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 Texas 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