Hazing Litigation Guide for Families in the City of Edna: Understanding Your Rights in Jackson County, Texas

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If you are a parent in the City of Edna and you believe your child is in immediate danger from hazing, your first call should be to 911. Your second call should be to us at 1-888-ATTY-911. We provide immediate help for legal emergencies—that’s why we are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.

In the first 48 hours, your priorities must be:

Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek professional medical evaluation immediately. Injuries like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) or internal trauma may not be immediately apparent.
Preserve Evidence: BEFORE digital evidence is deleted, take screenshots of all group chats (GroupMe, text threads, WhatsApp), photograph any injuries from multiple angles, and save any physical items involved.
Document Everything: Write down everything your child tells you—names, dates, locations, and specific acts—while memories are fresh.
Do NOT:
- Confront the fraternity, sorority, or athletic team directly.
- Sign any documents from the university or an insurance company.
- Post details on public social media.
- Allow your child to delete messages or “clean up” their phone.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24-48 hours. Evidence disappears with shocking speed. Universities and national organizations move quickly to control the narrative. We can help you navigate this crisis, preserve critical evidence, and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Introduction: A Message to Parents in Edna and Jackson County

For families in the tight-knit community of Edna, Texas, sending a child to college is a milestone filled with pride and hope. You’ve supported them through their years at Edna High School, cheered them on at Cowboys games, and envisioned their bright future at a Texas university. The nightmare that hazing represents—a betrayal of trust by the very organizations meant to foster community—feels alien to our values here in Jackson County.

Yet, this danger is real and present for Texas families. Right now, we are actively litigating one of the most serious hazing cases in the country, representing Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the national Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, and its shuttered Beta Nu chapter. The complaint alleges a campaign of abuse that left our client with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure after being forced through extreme workouts, humiliation, and simulated waterboarding. This is not a historical footnote; it is a live, multi-million dollar lawsuit unfolding in Harris County, demonstrating the severe, life-altering injuries hazing can inflict.

This guide is written specifically for you—parents, grandparents, and families in Edna, Louise, Ganado, and across Jackson County. Whether your child attends a local institution like the University of Houston-Victoria, has ventured to a major hub like Texas A&M in College Station, or is part of a spirit group at any Texas campus, you deserve to know the truth about hazing. We will explain what modern hazing really looks like, break down the Texas laws designed to protect your child, expose the national patterns behind local chapters, and outline the practical steps you can take to seek accountability and prevent further harm.

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

Hazing is no longer the simple “prank” or “initiation night” of outdated movies. It is a spectrum of coercive control and abuse that exploits power imbalances, often disguised as tradition, bonding, or team building. Under Texas law (Education Code Chapter 37), hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership.

For Edna families, understanding the modern tactics is crucial for recognition. Hazing today often falls into three escalating tiers:

1. Subtle Hazing: Behaviors that emphasize power imbalance and create a climate of compliance. This includes mandatory “pledge duties” like being on-call 24/7 for errands or chauffeur service, enforced social isolation from non-members, sleep deprivation for late-night “meetings,” and carrying degrading “pledge items” (as in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, where pledges were required to carry a fanny pack containing condoms and sex toys).

2. Harassment Hazing: Acts that cause emotional or physical discomfort, creating a hostile environment. This encompasses verbal abuse and humiliation, forced consumption of unpalatable substances (like the milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns forced on UH pledges), extreme calisthenics branded as “workouts,” and psychological torment.

3. Violent Hazing: Activities with a high potential for catastrophic injury or death. This is the most dangerous category and includes:

Forced/Coerced Alcohol Consumption: The leading cause of hazing deaths nationwide, often structured as “Big/Little” nights, drinking games, or lineups.
Physical Assault: Paddling, beatings, branding, or dangerous “rituals” like the blindfolded tackling that killed Chun “Michael” Deng at a Pi Delta Psi retreat.
Sexualized Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, or sexual assault.
Life-Threatening Physical Tests: Being restrained (like the pledge allegedly hog-tied at UH), exposed to extreme elements, or subjected to exertion until collapse—precisely what led to Leonel Bermudez’s rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.

Hazing occurs in fraternities, sororities, athletic teams, spirit groups (like bands or cheer teams), Corps of Cadets programs, and other campus organizations. The common thread is the use of coercion, under the guise of tradition, to make newcomers endure abuse as the price of belonging.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas Statutes and Your Family’s Rights

Texas has a clear legal framework to address hazing, but understanding its nuances is key for Jackson County families considering their options. The primary authority is the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F.

Texas Hazing Law (Plain English Summary):

Definition: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers a student’s physical or mental health for purposes of initiation, affiliation, or membership in an organization. It can occur on or off campus.
Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes bodily injury and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death. Individuals who fail to report hazing or who retaliate against reporters can also face criminal charges.
Critical Protections: Texas law explicitly states that the victim’s consent is not a defense to hazing. It also provides immunity for good-faith reports to authorities, encouraging life-saving interventions.

Civil Liability vs. Criminal Charges:
It is vital to understand the two parallel legal paths:

Criminal Case: Brought by the state (e.g., Jackson County District Attorney or local police) to punish wrongdoing with jail time, fines, or probation.
Civil Lawsuit: Brought by the injured victim or their family to obtain compensation for damages and hold responsible parties accountable. A criminal conviction is not required to file a civil case. Our work on the Bermudez lawsuit against UH and Pi Kappa Phi is a civil action seeking compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Case?
A thorough investigation seeks to identify every entity with responsibility:

Individual Perpetrators: The students who planned, executed, or facilitated the hazing.
The Local Chapter: The campus organization itself, often through its housing corporation or alumni board.
The National Organization: Headquarters that collect dues, set policies, and supervise chapters. Their knowledge of prior incidents nationwide is a key factor.
The University: Schools can be liable for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or Title IX violations if the hazing is sex-based.
Third Parties: Landlords of off-campus houses, property owners where hazing occurred, or alcohol providers.

Federal Law Overlay: The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024) now requires universities receiving federal funds to report hazing incidents more transparently. Title IX applies if hazing involves sexual harassment or assault, and the Clery Act requires reporting of certain campus crimes.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Scripts That Repeat in Texas

The tragic hazing cases that make national headlines are not isolated incidents; they are part of recurring, predictable patterns. For Edna families, these national stories are a warning and a roadmap, showing how similar conduct at a Texas school can lead to severe legal consequences.

The Alcohol Poisoning Script:
This is the most common fatal pattern. Cases like Timothy Piazza at Penn State (Beta Theta Pi), Max Gruver at LSU (Phi Delta Theta), and Stone Foltz at Bowling Green (Pi Kappa Alpha) all followed a similar script: a “bid night” or “Big/Little” event where pledges were coerced into consuming lethal amounts of alcohol, often with catastrophic delays in seeking help. The Foltz family secured a $10 million settlement, proving the liability of both the national fraternity and the university.

The Physical “Ritual” Script:
Hazing disguised as tradition can be equally deadly. Chun “Michael” Deng died from traumatic brain injury after being repeatedly tackled during a Pi Delta Psi “glass ceiling” ritual at a Pennsylvania retreat. The national fraternity was convicted of criminal charges and banned from the state for a decade.

The Severe Injury Script:
Non-fatal hazing can cause lifelong disabilities. Danny Santulli suffered permanent brain damage at the University of Missouri after a Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) drinking event, requiring 24/7 care for life. His family reached multi-million dollar settlements with numerous defendants.

What This Means for Texas Families:
These national precedents establish critical legal principles: universities and national fraternities can be held financially accountable, “consent” is not a defense, and patterns of prior knowledge are devastating in court. When a chapter at UH, Texas A&M, or UT engages in forced drinking or violent rituals, they are following a script that has already resulted in massive liability elsewhere. Our litigation strategy uses these national patterns to demonstrate foreseeability and gross negligence.

Texas University Focus: Where Edna and Jackson County Students Attend

Parents in Edna often have children at a mix of regional campuses and major state universities. Understanding the specific landscape, policies, and histories of these schools is essential.

University of Houston (UH) & UH-Victoria

For families in the Gulf Coast region, UH and its Victoria campus are common destinations. The University of Houston has a large, active Greek system and has been at the center of recent, severe hazing litigation.

The Flagship Case – Bermudez v. UH & Pi Kappa Phi: This active lawsuit, which we lead, alleges a harrowing series of abuses against pledge Leonel Bermudez in Fall 2025. Hazing occurred at the chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park. It included the degrading “pledge fanny pack,” forced overconsumption of food leading to vomiting, cold-weather exposure, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and an extreme November 3rd workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats. This directly caused rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, resulting in brown urine, a four-day hospitalization, and risk of permanent damage. Following reports, Pi Kappa Phi national suspended the Beta Nu chapter on November 6, 2025, and members voted to surrender their charter on November 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” This case is a stark, current example of the institutional failure and severe injury possible at a Texas public university.
UH’s Greek Ecosystem: UH hosts chapters of nationals with documented hazing histories, including Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike), and Phi Delta Theta. The university maintains reporting channels through the Dean of Students and UHPD.

Texas A&M University (College Station)

As a flagship institution, Texas A&M draws students from across Texas, including Jackson County. Its unique Corps of Cadets culture and powerful Greek life present specific hazing risks.

Corps of Cadets Litigation: In 2023, a former cadet filed a lawsuit alleging severe hazing, including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth. The suit sought over $1 million, highlighting that hazing extends beyond Greek life into military-style organizations.
Fraternity Incidents: The Texas A&M chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) faced a $1 million lawsuit after pledges alleged they were doused with industrial-strength cleaner and other substances, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. This shows the dangerous evolution of hazing tactics beyond alcohol.

University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin sets a standard for transparency with its publicly available online hazing violations log. This very transparency reveals ongoing issues.

Public Violations Log: UT’s website lists sanctioned organizations. For example, the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter was placed on probation in 2023 for hazing that included directing new members to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Other spirit groups and fraternities appear for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Lawsuit: In 2024, an Australian exchange student sued the UT SAE chapter for over $1 million, alleging an assault that resulted in a dislocated leg, broken nose, and fractured tibia at a party. The chapter was already under suspension for prior violations.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) & Baylor University

These private institutions have their own disciplinary processes but are not immune.

SMU: The Kappa Alpha Order chapter was suspended in 2017 for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation. SMU uses anonymous reporting systems like Real Response.
Baylor: The baseball team suspended 14 players following a 2020 hazing investigation. As a private university with a recent history of institutional scandal, Baylor faces particular scrutiny regarding its oversight of student groups.

For Edna Families: A hazing case may involve jurisdiction in the county where the university is located (e.g., Harris County for UH, Brazos County for Texas A&M). However, Texas law allows for venue options, and our firm, with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, is positioned to litigate across the state. The crucial first step is preserving evidence and seeking legal counsel familiar with these specific campuses and their histories.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories, Local Chapters

When your child is harmed by a group displaying Greek letters, you are not just facing a local club. You are up against a national organization with a history, an insurance carrier, and a legal strategy. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database built from public records—allows us to map this landscape thoroughly.

Why National Histories Matter in Court:
If a national fraternity like Pi Kappa Alpha has a documented pattern of “Big/Little” drinking deaths (Stone Foltz at BGSU, others nationwide), then a similar incident at a Texas chapter becomes foreseeable. This undermines defenses that the national headquarters “didn’t know” and can support claims for negligent supervision and punitive damages.

A Snapshot of the Texas Greek Ecosystem (From Public Records):
Our research identifies over 1,400 Greek-related entities across Texas’s 25 metro areas. For families in the South Texas region, this includes organizations registered with the IRS and operating in the broader Gulf Coast area. This is not a mere list; it is an investigative roadmap to finding every potentially liable entity, from housing corporations to alumni chapters. For example, public IRS filings show Texas-registered entities like:

Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc (EIN 46-2267515) in Frisco, TX.
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter (EIN 74-6064445) in Nederland, TX.
Numerous alumni chapters and housing corporations for national brands like Kappa Alpha Psi, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Phi Kappa Phi across the state.

Connecting the Dots for Your Case:
When we take on a hazing case, we don’t start from scratch. We use this intelligence to immediately identify:

The legal name and Employer Identification Number (EIN) of the local chapter’s housing corporation.
The network of related alumni and support organizations in Texas.
The national headquarters’ profile and prior litigation history.
This allows us to build a comprehensive defendant profile and anticipate insurance coverage issues from day one.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Pursuing accountability after a hazing incident is a complex, multi-front process that requires immediate and strategic action. Here is how our firm approaches building a powerful case for families from Edna and across Texas.

The Critical Evidence Timeline:
Digital evidence is paramount and incredibly fragile. Within days—sometimes hours—group chats are deleted, photos are erased, and witnesses are coached.

Digital Communications: We work with digital forensics experts to recover and preserve texts, GroupMe chats, WhatsApp messages, Slack/Discord logs, and social media DMs (Instagram, Snapchat).
Photos & Videos: Evidence posted to social media stories (which disappear) or shared privately must be captured immediately. Surveillance footage from houses or nearby businesses can also be crucial.
Internal Documents: Through discovery, we subpoena chapter “pledge books,” meeting minutes, email correspondence between members and nationals, and risk management reports.
University Records: We use public records requests and litigation discovery to obtain the university’s prior disciplinary files on the organization, incident reports, and internal communications.
Medical Documentation: Comprehensive records are essential to prove the cause and extent of injuries, from ER reports and lab results (like the critical CK levels showing rhabdomyolysis) to long-term psychological evaluations for PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Understanding Damages: What Can Be Recovered
A civil lawsuit seeks to make the victim whole and hold defendants accountable. Recoverable damages include:

Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses, lost wages, costs of therapy, and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Wrongful Death Damages: In the tragic event of a fatality, families can seek funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship, love, and guidance.
Punitive Damages: In cases of gross negligence or malice, courts can award damages intended to punish the defendant and deter future conduct.

Overcoming Institutional Defenses:
We anticipate and counter common defenses:

“The Victim Consented”: Texas law nullifies this. Consent under peer pressure and coercion is not a legal defense.
“It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We use national pattern evidence and prior incident reports to prove the national organization knew or should have known of the risks.
“It Happened Off-Campus”: Liability is based on duty and control, not just geography. Nationals and universities that sponsor and supervise organizations cannot escape responsibility by moving abuse off-site.
“We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”: We demonstrate the gap between paper policies and actual enforcement, showing a culture of deliberate indifference.

Our insider advantage is pivotal. Mr. Lupe Peña, as a former insurance defense attorney for a national firm, knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, deny coverage, and attempt to minimize payouts. We use this knowledge to advocate aggressively from a position of strength.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Edna and Jackson County Families

For Parents: Recognizing Warning Signs

Your child may be reluctant out of fear, shame, or loyalty. Be alert to:

Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, limping) or frequent “accidents.”
Extreme physical or mental exhaustion, drastic sleep pattern changes.
Withdrawal from family, old friends, or previously enjoyed activities.
Anxiety about missing phone messages or mandatory events.
Sudden secrecy about organizational activities.
Personality shifts toward anxiety, depression, or irritability.
Financial requests for unexplained “fines,” dues, or alcohol.

For Students: Your Rights and Safety

Is This Hazing? If you feel coerced, endangered, or humiliated as a condition of membership, it likely is. “Tradition” is not a legal excuse.
You Have the Right to Leave: You can quit an organization at any time. Your safety is more important than membership.
How to Report Safely: You can report to campus police, the Dean of Students, or anonymously through university hotlines. Texas law provides certain immunities for good-faith reporting.
Preserve Evidence: Take screenshots of all relevant chats and photos. Do not delete anything. Tell a trusted adult or friend what is happening.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm Your Case

Deleting Evidence: “Cleaning up” group chats or photos destroys your case and can look like a cover-up.
Confronting the Organization Directly: This triggers their legal defense, leading to evidence destruction and witness coaching.
Signing University Settlement Papers: Universities may offer quick, low-value resolutions that waive your right to sue. Never sign without legal advice.
Posting on Social Media: Public posts can be used by defense attorneys to undermine your credibility.
Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses scatter, and the two-year Texas statute of limitations for personal injury continues to run.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we sue a Texas public university for hazing? Yes. While sovereign immunity offers some protection, exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individual employees. Many cases result in significant settlements, as seen nationally.
How long do we have to file a lawsuit? Generally, two years from the date of injury in Texas. However, the “discovery rule” and fraudulent concealment by defendants can affect this. Immediate consultation is critical.
Will our case be public? Most civil hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. We aggressively protect our clients’ privacy throughout the process.
How much does it cost to hire your firm? We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases. This means there are no upfront costs or hourly fees. We only get paid if we successfully recover money for you.

About Attorney911 | The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC

When your family in Edna is facing the aftermath of hazing, you need advocates who understand both the profound human cost and the complex legal battlefield you are entering. You need attorneys who have faced billion-dollar institutions and secured justice for the injured. At Attorney911, we are those advocates.

Why Our Texas Firm Is Equipped for Your Hazing Case:

1. Active, High-Stakes Hazing Litigation Experience:
We are not theorists. We are currently leading the litigation in Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston et al., a $10 million hazing lawsuit alleging catastrophic injury. This firsthand, ongoing experience with a major Texas university and national fraternity informs every aspect of our strategy and preparation.

2. Insider Knowledge of Insurance Defense Tactics:
Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows precisely how fraternity and university insurance companies value claims, deny coverage, and attempt to minimize payouts. His insight is an invaluable weapon in negotiating a fair settlement or presenting your case to a jury. (Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/).

3. Proven Complex Litigation Capability Against Massive Defendants:
Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, taking on one of the world’s largest corporations. We are not intimidated by the deep pockets of national fraternities or university legal teams. We have the federal court experience and investigative resources to build and try complex institutional cases. (Learn more about Ralph Manginello’s credentials at https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/).

4. Data-Driven Investigation with the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine:
We maintain a proprietary database of over 1,400 Greek organizations in Texas, compiled from IRS filings, university records, and public data. This means we don’t start your investigation from zero. We can immediately identify the network of potentially liable entities, saving critical time and building leverage fast.

5. Empathetic, Client-Centered Advocacy:
We understand that behind every case is a family in crisis—a parent in Edna worrying about their child’s future, a student grappling with trauma. We provide compassionate, clear communication while fighting relentlessly for the accountability and compensation you deserve. Se habla Español — Mr. Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal services.

Call to Action for Edna and Jackson County Families

If hazing has impacted your child at any Texas campus—from the University of Houston-Victoria to Texas A&M, UT Austin, or beyond—you do not have to navigate this nightmare alone. The path to accountability begins with a conversation.

We invite you to contact The Manginello Law Firm for a completely confidential, no-obligation case evaluation. In this free consultation, we will:

Listen carefully to your story and review any evidence you have.
Explain your family’s legal rights and options under Texas law.
Outline the investigation process and what you can realistically expect.
Answer your questions about the legal process, timelines, and costs.

There is no pressure. Our goal is to provide you with the information and clarity you need to make the best decision for your family’s healing and future.

Take the first step toward answers and accountability today.

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

Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. The information presented is current as of late 2025. If you believe your child has been a victim of hazing, we strongly urge you to consult promptly with a qualified attorney to protect your legal rights.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC | Attorney911 – Legal Emergency Lawyers™
Serving Texas from offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont.
We protect the injured and fight for the rights of defendants.