Hazing & Campus Abuse Lawsuits in Denton: A Complete Guide for Texas Families

For Parents in Denton: When “Tradition” Becomes Trauma

If your child came home from the University of North Texas, Texas Woman’s University, or any Texas campus with unexplained injuries, sudden anxiety, or stories that don’t quite add up, you’re not alone. Right here in Denton, we’ve seen how the dream of college life can turn into a nightmare of forced drinking, physical abuse, and psychological torment—all disguised as “tradition” or “brotherhood.”

What happened to Leonel Bermudez at the University of Houston could happen at any Texas school, including those where Denton families send their children. Bermudez, a student just trying to find his place, suffered through unimaginable hazing as a Pi Kappa Phi pledge in fall 2025. He was forced to carry a humiliating “pledge fanny pack” 24/7, endure hours of extreme physical abuse at Yellowstone Boulevard Park, and was sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding.” The culmination was a November 3 workout where he was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. Days later, he was hospitalized for four days with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure—his urine was brown, a medical emergency that could have caused permanent kidney damage.

This isn’t an isolated incident. It’s a pattern we see across Texas campuses, and it’s why we’ve built the most comprehensive hazing litigation practice in the state. If you’re a parent in Denton, The Colony, Corinth, or anywhere in Denton County wondering if what your child experienced was “just hazing” or something far more serious, this guide will give you the facts, the law, and the path forward.

The University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi Case: Why It Matters for Denton Families

The $10 Million Wake-Up Call

In November 2025, our firm filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters, the Beta Nu housing corporation, the UH System Board of Regents, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The details, reported in exclusive coverage by Click2Houston and ABC13, reveal a systematic pattern of abuse:

• Humiliation Rituals: The “pledge fanny pack” containing condoms, a sex toy, nicotine devices, and other degrading items
• Physical Torture: Bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, lying in vomit-soaked grass, forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting followed by immediate sprints
• Psychological Warfare: Threats of expulsion, simulated waterboarding, another pledge hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
• Medical Catastrophe: Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure, passing brown urine and requiring multi-day hospitalization with critically high creatine kinase levels

The Institutional Response

What happened after the university and fraternity learned about this abuse matters just as much:

• November 6, 2025: Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters suspended the Beta Nu chapter
• November 14, 2025: Chapter members voted to surrender their charter, effectively shutting down the chapter
• University Statement: UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary measures up to expulsion and cooperation with law enforcement

Why This Case Is Your Blueprint

For Denton families, this case demonstrates several critical truths:

1. This happens at major Texas universities—not just “problem schools”
2. National fraternities know about these patterns but often fail to intervene until it’s too late
3. Universities have legal responsibilities to prevent and respond to hazing
4. Only aggressive litigation forces real accountability and institutional change

The Greek Ecosystem Around Denton & North Texas

1,423 Organizations Across Texas: We Track Them All

Through our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we maintain detailed records on every Greek organization in the state. In the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area alone—which includes Denton—Cause IQ data shows 510 Greek-related organizations. When your child joins a fraternity or sorority in Texas, they’re not just joining a campus club—they’re connecting to a complex network of legal entities, insurance policies, and national organizations.

Public Records: Who Really Stands Behind the Greek Letters

If your child was hazed at UNT, Texas Woman’s, or any Texas campus, you deserve to know who the responsible organizations are. Here are just a few examples from our public records directory:

Organizations Serving Denton Families:

• Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity (Mu Gamma Chapter)
  • EIN: 262025321 | 920 W Prairie St, Denton, TX 76201-5816 | IRS B83 Filing
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (Texas Woman’s University Chapter)
  • EIN: 263170920 | 411 Texas St Room 219, Denton, TX 76204 | IRS B83 Filing
• Kappa Delta Sorority (Gamma Beta Chapter at Texas Woman’s University)
  • Cause IQ Metro Listing: Denton, TX | Chapter at Texas Woman’s Univ.
• Kappa Theta Pi – Mu Chapter Corporation
  • EIN: 331294470 | 1180 Marquette Dr, Frisco, TX 75033-0998 | IRS B83 Filing

Major Texas Greek Hubs Relevant to Denton Families:

• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc
  • EIN: 462267515 | 10601 Big Horn Trl, Frisco, TX 75035-6629 | IRS B83 Filing
    23/04/2025
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc
  • EIN: 741380362 | PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147-0061 | IRS B83 Filing
• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity
  • EIN: 742911848 | 12650 N Beach St Ste 114 PMB 305, Fort Worth, TX 76244-4245 | IRS B83 Filing
• Zeta Sigma House Corporation of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity Inc
  • EIN: 752620706 | 704 Cristler Ave, Dallas, TX 75223-1349 | IRS B83 Filing

Cross-Validated Brands: Tracking National Patterns

Our data shows how the same national organizations appear across Texas through different legal entities. For example:

• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority appears in both IRS records (EIN 364091267 in Waco, 752609909 in Commerce) and Cause IQ metro listings (Beta Sigma Chapter in Houston, Mu Epsilon Chapter in Beaumont)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi has multiple Texas chapters with separate EINs, all tracked in our system
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity appears in IRS records (EIN 746064445 in Nederland) and Cause IQ listings (Texas District alumni/house corp in Houston)

This cross-validation matters because when a national fraternity or sorority has hazing problems in one Texas city, they likely have similar patterns elsewhere—including at schools attended by Denton students.

Where Denton Families Send Their Kids: Campus Connections

Local Campuses in Denton County

1. University of North Texas (UNT) – Denton, TX

   • Over 40,000 students, active Greek life with multiple councils
   • Local jurisdiction: Denton Police Department, UNT Police Department
   • Courts: Denton County courts

2. Texas Woman’s University (TWU) – Denton, TX

   • Significant Greek presence despite smaller student population
   • Same local jurisdiction as UNT
   • Unique challenges as a women-focused institution

Regional & Statewide Hubs Denton Families Choose

1. University of Texas at Austin

   • Major destination for Denton’s top students
   • 60+ Greek chapters, active Panhellenic and IFC systems
   • Public hazing violations log provides transparency

2. Texas A&M University

   • Corps of Cadets tradition creates unique hazing risks
   • Multiple documented hazing lawsuits including chemical burn cases
   • Strong alumni network influences institutional response

3. University of Houston

   • Urban campus with mix of residential/commuter Greek life
   • Site of our flagship Bermudez case
   • Harris County courts have experience with complex institutional cases

4. Southern Methodist University

   • Private university with affluent Greek scene
   • Dallas County jurisdiction with different procedural rules
   • Lower public transparency but discoverable internal records

5. Texas Tech University

   • Lubbock campus draws North Texas students
   • Known for spirited Greek traditions that can cross into hazing
   • Lubbock County courts handle these cases

Why Campus Choice Matters Legally

The university your child attends determines:

• Which police department has jurisdiction (campus vs. local)
• Which county courts will hear the case
• What state laws apply (all Texas, but local rules vary)
• How transparent the university is about past violations
• What insurance policies may cover the organization

Organizations Behind the Letters at Texas Campuses

National Fraternities with Documented Hazing Histories

When your child joins these organizations at UNT, UT Austin, or any Texas school, they’re connecting to national patterns of abuse:

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)

• National Pattern: Stone Foltz death at Bowling Green ($10M settlement), David Bogenberger death at Northern Illinois ($14M settlement)
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UT Austin, Texas A&M, UH, and most major Texas schools
• Legal Significance: Pattern evidence shows nationals knew about dangerous “Big/Little” drinking traditions

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)

• National Pattern: Multiple hazing deaths, traumatic brain injury lawsuit at Alabama, chemical burn case at Texas A&M
• Texas Presence: Virtually every major Texas campus including UNT
• Legal Significance: Known for alcohol-focused hazing despite national “pledge education” reforms

Pi Kappa Phi

• National Pattern: Andrew Coffey death at Florida State, our Bermudez case at UH
• Texas Presence: Multiple Texas chapters including recently closed UH Beta Nu
• Legal Significance: Demonstrates how same patterns recur across chapters

Phi Delta Theta

• National Pattern: Max Gruver death at LSU (led to Louisiana felony hazing law)
• Texas Presence: Chapters throughout Texas university system
• Legal Significance: “Bible study” drinking games are foreseeable, preventable risks

Why National History Matters in Your Case

When we represent Denton families, we use these national patterns to prove:

• Foreseeability: The national organization knew or should have known this could happen
• Negligent Supervision: Their policies were inadequate or unenforced
• Punitive Damages: Their reckless disregard for student safety justifies punishment beyond compensation

Texas Hazing Law Explained for Denton Families

Criminal Hazing Under Texas Education Code

Texas takes hazing seriously. Here’s what Denton parents need to know:

§ 37.151 Definition:
Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed against a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership that endangers mental or physical health or safety. Location doesn’t matter—on or off campus is covered.

§ 37.152 Penalties:

• 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

§ 37.155 Critical Protection:
“Consent is not a defense.” Even if your child “agreed” to participate, it’s still hazing under Texas law. This rebuts the most common defense fraternities use.

Civil Liability: Beyond Criminal Charges

While criminal cases punish wrongdoers, civil cases compensate victims and force institutional change. In Texas hazing cases, we typically pursue:

1. Negligence Claims

• The organization failed to exercise reasonable care
• This failure caused your child’s injuries
• Example: Nationals knew about drinking traditions but didn’t enforce policies

2. Gross Negligence/Punitive Damages

• For particularly reckless conduct
• Requires showing conscious indifference
• Example: Continuing dangerous traditions after prior injuries

3. Negligent Supervision

• Universities or nationals failed to properly monitor chapters
• Requires showing they knew or should have known about risks

4. Premises Liability

• Property owners (housing corporations, universities) failed to maintain safe facilities
• Example: Allowing dangerous activities in chapter houses

Federal Laws Overlaying Texas Cases

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024)

• Requires universities receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents
• Mandates prevention programming
• Phased implementation through 2026
• Creates discoverable paper trail for litigation

Title IX

• Applies when hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based hostility
• Triggers specific investigation and response requirements
• Can waive sovereign immunity for public universities

Clery Act

• Requires crime reporting including certain hazing-related offenses
• Creates annual safety reports that can show patterns
• Failure to report can be separate violation

Building a Hazing Case: Our Denton-Tested Strategy

The Evidence That Wins Cases

In the digital age, hazing leaves traces. We know how to find and preserve them:

Digital Forensics (Most Critical Today)

• GroupMe/WhatsApp/Signal Chats: We recover deleted messages showing planning, boasting, or cover-ups
• Social Media: Instagram stories, Snapchat memories, TikTok videos of events
• Location Data: Phone GPS, Find My Friends screenshots proving where events occurred
• Digital Timelines: Building minute-by-minute reconstruction from digital breadcrumbs

Medical Documentation

• ER records showing blood alcohol levels, toxicology reports
• Specialist evaluations for rhabdomyolysis, kidney damage, traumatic injuries
• Psychological assessments for PTSD, anxiety, depression
• Long-term care plans for permanent disabilities

Institutional Records

• University conduct files on prior violations
• National fraternity risk management reports
• Insurance policies and coverage determinations
• Alumni association communications

Witness Networks

• Other pledges who experienced similar abuse
  Mexican/ Former members with guilt or concerns
• Roommates, RAs, or friends who noticed changes
• Medical providers who treated injuries

Our Investigative Advantage in Denton Cases

Lupe Peña’s Insurance Insider Knowledge
As a former insurance defense attorney at a national firm, Mr. Peña knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers:

• Value (and undervalue) hazing claims
• Use Independent Medical Exams to reduce settlements
• Deploy delay tactics to pressure families
• Fight coverage under “intentional act” exclusions

Ralph Manginello’s Complex Litigation Experience
From BP Texas City explosion litigation to federal court battles, Mr. Manginello has faced billion-dollar defendants before. He understands how to:

• Manage discovery against institutions with unlimited legal budgets
• Work with economist experts to value lifetime care needs
• Navigate sovereign immunity issues with public universities
• Prepare cases for trial when insurers won’t settle fairly

Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine
While other lawyers start from scratch, we begin with 1,423 Greek organizations already mapped across 25 Texas metros. For your Denton case, this means:

• Immediate identification of all potentially liable entities
• Access to prior incident patterns at the same chapter or national
• Understanding of local jurisdictional nuances in Denton County courts

Damage Recovery: What Denton Families Can Seek

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses)

• Past and future medical expenses (ER, hospitalization, therapy, medications)
• Lost educational costs (withdrawn semesters, transfer expenses)
• Diminished earning capacity (for permanent injuries affecting career)
• Out-of-pocket expenses (travel for treatment, medical equipment)

Non-Economic Damages (Quality of Life)

• Physical pain and suffering from injuries
• Emotional distress, PTSD, anxiety, depression
• Loss of enjoyment of life (can’t participate in activities they loved)
• Humiliation and damage to reputation

Wrongful Death Damages (For Families)

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of financial support your child would have provided
• Loss of love, companionship, and guidance
• Parents’ and siblings’ emotional trauma

Punitive Damages (When Justified)

• To punish particularly reckless or intentional conduct
• To deter future hazing at the institution
• Available under Texas law in appropriate cases

Practical Steps for Denton Parents & Students

If This Just Happened: 48-Hour Crisis Response

HOUR 1-6 (Immediate Safety)

1. Medical Emergency? Call 911 if your child is injured, intoxicated, or in danger
2. Remove from Danger Get them to a safe location away from the organization
3. Call Attorney911 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate legal guidance
4. Document Injuries Take photos from multiple angles with good lighting

HOUR 6-24 (Evidence Preservation)

1. Digital Evidence Help your child screenshot ALL group chats, texts, DMs before deletion
2. Medical Records Go to ER or urgent care even if they insist they’re “fine”
3. Write Everything Down While memories are fresh: who, what, when, where
4. Preserve Physical Evidence Clothing, receipts, objects used in hazing

HOUR 24-48 (Strategic Decisions)

1. Legal Consultation Meet with experienced hazing attorney
2. Reporting Decision With lawyer’s guidance, decide whether/when to report to campus or police
3. University Communications Don’t respond to university without legal advice
4. Insurance Contacts Don’t talk to any insurance adjuster without lawyer present

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Deleting Evidence
What seems embarrassing today is vital evidence tomorrow. Screenshot everything immediately. Watch our video on using your phone to document evidence.

2. Confronting the Organization
Anger is understandable, but confrontation gives them time to destroy evidence and prepare defenses. Let us handle communications.

3. Signing University Papers
Universities often push “internal resolution” agreements that waive your right to sue. Don’t sign anything without legal review.

4. Social Media Posts
Defense lawyers monitor everything. Inconsistencies between social media and legal claims destroy credibility.

5. Waiting Too Long
Texas has a 2-year statute of limitations for most hazing cases, but evidence disappears much faster. Learn more in our statute of limitations video.

For Denton Students: Is This Hazing?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I being pressured or coerced?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences?
• Is it dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would my parents/university approve if they knew details?
• Am I being told to keep secrets?

If you answered yes to any, it’s likely hazing. Texas law protects you even if you “consented.”

Common Questions from Denton Families

“Can we sue UNT/TWU for hazing that happened off-campus?”
Yes. Location doesn’t eliminate university liability if they sponsored the organization, knew about risks, or failed to enforce policies. The Pi Delta Psi case showed retreat hazing creates liability.

“What if my child was drinking underage?”
Texas’ good-faith reporter protections encourage calling for help in emergencies. Underage drinking doesn’t justify hazing or eliminate your rights.

“How much does a hazing lawsuit cost?”
We work on contingency—no fee unless we win. Learn how this works in our contingency fee video.

“Will this be public?”
Most cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability.

“How long will it take?”
Complex cases against institutions take time—often 1-3 years. We move quickly to preserve evidence and prevent delay tactics.

“What if the chapter is already suspended?”
Suspension doesn’t eliminate liability. Often, nationals and housing corporations still have insurance coverage and assets.

Why Attorney911 for Denton Hazing Cases

Our Texas Hailing Litigation Credentials

Right Now in Texas: We’re leading the $10 million