Texas Hazing Lawsuits, Greek Life Risks & Campus Abuse: A Complete Guide for Families in Euless, Tarrant County, and Across Texas

The Nightmare That Strikes Texas Families

It starts with a phone call no parent wants.

Your child, a student at the University of Houston, Texas A&M, or another Texas university, sounds different. There’s exhaustion in their voice that goes beyond normal college stress. They’re evasive about their weekend plans. You notice unexplained bruises in their last video call. Then comes the late-night message: they’re in the ER with “dehydration” after a fraternity event.

For parents in Euless, this scenario isn’t hypothetical. Right now, we’re fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas: the $10 million lawsuit filed on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who nearly died from hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. His story—involving forced “pledge fanny packs,” violent workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park, hose spraying “similar to waterboarding,” and consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting—culminated in rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure that left him hospitalized for four days with brown urine and critically high creatine kinase levels.

This guide is for families in Estrée Island (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,) and across Tarrant County who need to understand the harsh reality of modern hazing, Texas law, and what happens when tradition crosses into abuse. Whether your child attends school locally or at a campus hours away, Texas families have rights—and powerful institutions can be held accountable.

Immediate Help for Hazing Emergencies

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:
The Health Crisis:
• 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 in Texas

Beyond Stereotypes: The Modern Hazing Reality

For parents in City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,), understanding hazing means moving past outdated stereotypes of harmless pranks. Today’s hazing is a calculated system of control that operates in plain sight yet leaves minimal public evidence until someone gets hurt.

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 legal concept parents must understand: “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal when there’s peer pressure and power imbalance.

The Five Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the deadliest form. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “Big/Little nights,” “bid acceptance” parties, or drinking games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean shots. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, Bermudez was forced to consume milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting. National data shows alcohol poisoning from such rituals causes most hazing deaths.

2. Physical Hazing
From paddling and beatings to extreme calisthenics disguised as “workouts,” physical abuse persists. The UH case involved 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion. At Texas A&M, chemical burns from industrial cleaner poured on pledges required skin graft surgeries. Physical hazing often leaves visible injuries but victims fear reporting.

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk,” “roasted pig” positions), and degrading costumes. The psychological trauma can be as damaging as physical injury. In the Texas A&M Corps case, a cadet alleged being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth.

4. Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation, sleep deprivation, and social media humiliation. The “pledge fanny pack” requirement at UH—forcing pledges to carry condoms, sex toys, and humiliating items 24/7—was psychological warfare designed to break down resistance.

5. Digital/Online Hazing
Group chat dares, TikTok challenges, and Instagram humiliation campaigns. Pledges today face 24/7 digital control through GroupMe, WhatsApp, and Discord, with threats of social exclusion for non-compliance. Screenshots from these chats become critical evidence.

Where Hazing Happens in Texas

While fraternities dominate headlines, hazing occurs across campus organizations:

• Fraternities and Sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural groups)
• Corps of Cadets / ROTC (especially at Texas A&M with its military tradition)
• Athletic Teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer—as seen in the Northwestern University scandal)
• Spirit Groups and Tradition Clubs (like Texas Cowboys at UT)
• Marching Bands and Performance Groups
• Some Academic and Service Organizations

The common thread: tradition, secrecy, and social status maintain these practices even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas and Federal Law Explained

Texas Hazing Law: Education Code Chapter 37

For families in City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,), Texas law provides clear—though sometimes limited—protections. The Texas Education Code Chapter 37 defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that:

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

Key Texas Provisions:

• §37.152 Criminal Penalties:

  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing without serious injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine)
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death

• §37.153 Organizational Liability:
  Organizations can be fined up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized or encouraged hazing, or if officers knew and failed to report it.

• §37.155 Consent Not a Defense:
  This critical provision states that victim “consent” is not a defense to hazing charges. Texas recognizes that consent under peer pressure isn’t truly voluntary.

• §37.156 Reporting Requirements:
  Texas colleges must provide hazing prevention education, publish policies, and maintain annual reports of violations.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: What Euless Families Should Know

Criminal Cases:

• Brought by the state (DA or prosecutor)
• Aim: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical charges: hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases
• Example: In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, criminal referrals were promised by the university

Civil Cases:

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Aim: Monetary compensation and accountability
• Focus: negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress
• Key fact: A criminal conviction is NOT required to pursue a civil case

Dual-Track Reality:
Most serious hazing cases proceed on both tracks simultaneously. The UH case demonstrates this: while criminal investigations proceed, the civil lawsuit seeks $10 million for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.

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

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

• Report hazing incidents more transparently
• Strengthen hazing education and prevention
• Maintain public hazing data (phased in by 2026)

Title IX Implications:
When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger. Universities must investigate and potentially provide remedies regardless of criminal outcomes.

Clery Act Requirements:
Hazing incidents overlapping with reportable crimes (assault, alcohol offenses) must appear in annual security reports. Failure to report can mean federal fines and loss of funding.

Who Can Be Liable in a Texas Hazing Lawsuit?

1. Individual Students:
Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up. In the UH case, 13 individual fraternity leaders/members were named.

2. Local Chapter/Organization:
The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if incorporated). Chapter officers face particular scrutiny.

3. National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters:
Organizations that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Liability hinges on what they knew or should have known from prior incidents. Pi Kappa Phi’s national headquarters is a defendant in the UH case.

4. University or Governing Board:
Schools may be sued under negligence or civil-rights theories. The University of Houston and UH System Board of Regents are defendants in Bermudez’s lawsuit.

5. Third Parties:
Landlords of off-campus houses, bars that overserved alcohol (under Texas dram shop law), security companies, or event organizers.

National Hazing Case Patterns: Lessons for Texas Families

Alcohol Poisoning & Death: The Deadliest Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
During a bid-acceptance event, Piazza consumed dangerous amounts of alcohol, suffered multiple falls caught on chapter cameras, and died after hours of delayed medical help. Dozens faced criminal charges; Pennsylvania enacted the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. For Texas families: this case shows how delay in calling 911 and a culture of silence can be fatal.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
Forced to participate in a “Bible study” drinking game where incorrect answers meant drinking, Gruver died with a 0.495% BAC. His death led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act creating felony hazing charges. Takeaway: Legislative change often follows tragedy.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
During a “Big/Little” event, Foltz was forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey and died from alcohol poisoning. The family reached a $10 million settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU). For Euless families: This shows both national organizations and universities face significant financial consequences.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Patterns

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
During a fraternity retreat, Deng was blindfolded, weighted with a backpack, and repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual. He died from traumatic brain injuries after delayed medical care. Pi Delta Psi was banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years and the national fraternity was criminally convicted. Takeaway: Off-campus retreats are particularly dangerous, and national organizations face severe sanctions.

Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021)
During a “pledge dad reveal” night, Santulli was forced to consume excessive alcohol, suffered severe permanent brain damage, and now requires 24/7 care. His family settled with 22 defendants for confidential multi-million-dollar amounts. For Texas parents: This demonstrates catastrophic non-fatal injuries can also lead to massive liability.

Athletic Program Hazing: Beyond Greek Life

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within the football program over multiple years. Multiple lawsuits led to head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s firing and a confidential settlement. Takeaway: Hazing extends beyond Greek life to big-money athletic programs with systemic abuse issues.

What These Cases Mean for Euless Families

Common threads in successful hazing litigation:

1. Forced drinking patterns that organizations should have foreseen
2. Delayed medical care and cover-up attempts
3. Prior warnings or incidents that were ignored
4. Systemic failures in supervision and enforcement

Texas families facing hazing at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, or Baylor operate in a legal landscape shaped by these national precedents. The settlements and verdicts—ranging from $375,000 to $14 million—show courts take hazing seriously when properly presented.

Texas Focus: Where Euless Families Send Their Kids

Understanding Your Child’s Campus Environment

For families in City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,), college choices often include both local institutions within commuting distance and major statewide hubs. Understanding each campus’s Greek life landscape and hazing history is crucial.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Euless Families

Before diving into specific universities, parents should understand the scale and structure of Greek life in Texas. Through our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, we maintain detailed records on over 1,423 Greek-related organizations across 25 Texas metros, including 125+ Texas-registered entities with IRS EINs.

In the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro (which includes City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,)), Cause IQ data shows 510 Greek organizations operating. Just a sample from public filings includes:

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity – EIN: 742911848 – Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Cause IQ metro listing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN: 741380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 filing)
• Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity – Gamma Psi Chapter – Fort Worth, TX (TCU chapter, Cause IQ listing)
• Sigma Nu Fraternity – Lambda Epsilon Chapter – Fort Worth, TX (TCU chapter, Cause IQ listing)

Statewide, IRS B83 records show entities like:

• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – EIN: 746064445 – Nederland, TX 77627 (house corporation)
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN: 364091267 – Waco, TX 76710 (chapter entity)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Multiple EINs across Texas campuses including UT Tyler, Texas Tech Health Sciences, Texas A&M

These aren’t accusations—they’re public records showing organizational footprints. When hazing occurs, identifying every related entity (house corporations, alumni chapters, national headquarters) is crucial for locating insurance coverage and assets.

Where Euless Families Send Their Kids: Campus Connections

Local/Regional Campuses within reach of City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,) families:

• University of Texas at Arlington – Just minutes from City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,) with active Greek life
• Texas Christian University – Fort Worth, 20 miles from City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,)
• University of North Texas – Denton, 30 miles from City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,)
• Texas Woman’s University – Denton
• Southern Methodist University – Dallas, 25 miles from City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,)

Major Statewide Hubs where Euless students often enroll:

• University of Texas at Austin (2.5 hours from City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,))
• Texas A&M University (3 hours from City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,))
• University of Houston (4 hours from City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,))
• Baylor University (1.5 hours from City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,))
• Texas Tech University (5 hours from City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,))

Now, let’s examine the five major Texas universities in detail, with particular attention to those most relevant to Euless families.

University of Texas at Arlington: The Local Reality for Euless Families

Campus & Culture Snapshot

For many Euless families, UT Arlington represents the most accessible four-year university, located just minutes away in neighboring Arlington. With over 40,000 students, UTA has grown into a major research institution with evolving Greek life. Parents should know: proximity doesn’t guarantee safety from hazing risks.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels

UT Arlington prohibits hazing under University policy and Texas law. Reporting channels include:

• Office of Student Conduct
• UTA Police Department
• Online reporting forms
• Dean of Students Office

Critical for Euless parents: The close distance means you might notice warning signs more easily but also means jurisdictional issues can involve both UTA PD and Arlington Police Department depending on incident location.

Documented Incidents & Responses

While UTA hasn’t had cases as publicized as the flagship UT Austin campus, hazing incidents have occurred:

Sigma Chi Incident (2020):
A pledge was hospitalized with alcohol poisoning from hazing. The resulting lawsuit alleged negligent supervision and failure to implement risk management policies. The case settled in August 2021 with confidential terms.

University Response Pattern:
UTA typically places organizations on interim suspension during investigations, then determines sanctions ranging from probation to permanent removal. Like many universities, detailed outcomes often remain in internal conduct files rather than public reports.

How a UTA Hazing Case Might Proceed for Euless Families

Jurisdictional Realities:

• Incidents on campus: UTA Police Department jurisdiction
• Incidents at off-campus houses: Arlington PD or Tarrant County Sheriff
• Civil lawsuits: Filed in Tarrant County courts where your family lives

Potential Defendants:

• Individual students (often from across DFW, including Euless)
• Local chapter (if incorporated)
• National fraternity/sorority headquarters
• University of Texas System (sovereign immunity considerations apply)
• Property owners of off-campus houses

For Euless families specifically: Your geographic proximity means evidence preservation might be more feasible (you can help your child document injuries, secure physical evidence), but it also means social pressure and retaliation risks might feel more immediate to your child.

What UTA Students & Euless Parents Should Do

1. Document Everything Immediately:
   UTA’s urban setting means security cameras might capture comings/goings. Note dates, locations, and witnesses.

2. Understand Dual Jurisdiction:
   If hazing occurred at an off-campus house, both university conduct process and criminal legal system may be involved. Don’t assume UTA’s process addresses criminal liability.

3. Preserve Digital Evidence:
   Group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), social media posts, texts between your child and members. Watch our video on using your phone to document evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

4. Medical Attention at Local Facilities:
   Euless families can access Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford or other local ERs. Crucial: Tell medical staff “this was hazing” so it’s documented in records.

5. Consult Local Legal Expertise:
   While we’re Houston-based, our federal court experience and Texas-wide practice mean we understand Tarrant County courts and can collaborate with local counsel when beneficial.

University of Texas at Austin: Flagship Campus, Familiar Risks

Campus & Culture Snapshot

UT Austin’s Greek life is among Texas’s largest, with ~60 fraternity/sorority chapters. For Euless families with students at UT, distance adds complexity: you’re 2.5 hours away when crisis strikes.

Official Hazing Policy & Transparency Advantage

UT Austin stands out for public transparency. Their Hazing Violations page (hazing.utexas.edu) lists organizations, dates, conduct, and sanctions—a resource parents should check regularly.

Recent entries include:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: probation and mandatory hazing-prevention education.
• Texas Wranglers (spirit organization): Sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.

Documented Incidents & Legal Actions

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

“Absolute Texxas” Spirit Group (2022):
This non-Greek spirit organization was disciplined for hazing violations including alcohol/drug misconduct, blindfolding, kidnapping, and degrading new members. Takeaway for parents: Hazing extends beyond traditional Greek life.

How a UT Austin Hazing Case Proceeds

For Euless families with UT students:

• Criminal jurisdiction: Austin PD for off-campus incidents, UT Police for on-campus
• Civil venue considerations: Travis County courts or possibly federal court
• Travel considerations: Being 2.5 hours away means you need local Austin resources for immediate response

UT’s transparency advantage: Public violation records can establish pattern evidence showing the university or organization knew about recurring problems.

What UT Austin Students & Euless Parents Should Do

1. Check the Public Database:
   Before your child joins any organization, review UT’s hazing violations page together.

2. Preserve Evidence Despite Distance:
   Guide your child through remote evidence preservation:

   • Screenshot group chats immediately
   • Photograph injuries with timestamps
   • Save all communications

3. Understand Travis County Systems:
   While we handle cases statewide, we know Travis County courts and procedures for when lawsuits must be filed there.

4. Use University Resources Wisely:
   UT’s relatively robust reporting systems can be leveraged, but understand their limitations: university conduct process ≠ legal justice.

Texas A&M University: Corps Culture and Greek Life Intersection

Campus & Culture Snapshot

Texas A&M’s unique Corps of Cadets tradition creates a distinct hazing risk environment. For Euless families, College Station is a 3-hour drive—close enough for regular visits, far enough that emergencies strain response.

Corps of Cadets Hazing Reality

The 2023 lawsuit alleging a cadet was bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth sought over $1 million. A&M stated it handled the matter under Corps regulations, but the civil case proceeded separately.

Critical understanding: Corps traditions exist in a quasi-military hierarchy that can normalize abuse as “discipline.”

Greek Life Incidents at A&M

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021):
Two pledges alleged forced strenuous activity followed by having substances including industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, and spit poured on them, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. They sued for $1 million; the fraternity received a two-year university suspension.

Takeaway for parents: Hazing methods evolve beyond alcohol to include chemical and physical abuse.

How A&M Hazing Cases Proceed

Dual Systems:

• Corps cases: Internal Corps adjudication AND potential civil litigation
• Greek cases: University conduct process AND civil lawsuits
• Criminal jurisdiction: Brazos County law enforcement

For Euless families:
The 3-hour distance means immediate response requires local Brazos County resources. We maintain connections with experts and investigators in the College Station area for this reason.

What Texas A&M Students & Euless Parents Should Do

1. Recognize Corps-Specific Risks:
   Understand that “military tradition” doesn’t excuse illegal hazing. The Uniform Code of Military Justice and Texas law both prohibit abuse.

2. Document Everything in Detail:
   Corps environments often involve systematic abuse over time. Keep a detailed log of incidents, dates, witnesses, and injuries.

3. Medical Attention at Local Facilities:
   Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in College Station is the primary trauma center. Insist medical records specify “hazing-related injuries.”

4. Understand University-Law Enforcement Divide:
   A&M’s University Police Department has jurisdiction on campus, but Brazos County Sheriff handles off-campus locations. Both may need to be involved.

Southern Methodist University: Private University Challenges

Campus & Culture Snapshot

SMU’s affluent, Greek-dominated culture presents specific challenges. Located in Dallas just 25 miles from City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,), SMU is geographically close but socially distant from many Euless families’ experiences.

Documented Incidents

Kappa Alpha Order Incident (2017):
New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink alcohol, and deprived of sleep. The chapter received multi-year suspension and recruitment restrictions.

SMU’s Private Status Implications:
As a private university, SMU isn’t subject to Texas Public Information Act requests. This means less transparency but doesn’t prevent discovery in litigation.

How SMU Hazing Cases Proceed

Jurisdictional Notes:

• Criminal: Dallas PD or University Park PD
• Civil: Dallas County courts
• Private university status affects sovereign immunity arguments

For Euless families:
Geographic proximity helps with evidence preservation and meeting with attorneys, but SMU’s institutional resources mean they mount vigorous defenses.

What SMU Students & Euless Parents Should Do

1. Leverage Geographic Proximity:
   Being nearby means you can help with evidence preservation, visit medical providers together, and attend meetings with university officials.

2. Understand Private University Tactics:
   SMU may use confidentiality agreements and private arbitration clauses. Review any documents before signing.

3. Use Anonymous Reporting Options:
   SMU offers Real Response and other anonymous systems, but understand these may trigger internal investigations that compromise evidence.

4. Document Financial Aspects:
   SMU’s high costs mean damages calculations should include tuition reimbursement for semesters affected by hazing trauma.

Baylor University: Religious Identity and Accountability Challenges

Campus & Culture Snapshot

Baylor’s religious identity and recent history with athletic scandals create a complex accountability environment. At 1.5 hours from City of Euless (Earth > North America > United States > Texas > Tarrant County > City of Euless,), Baylor represents a middle-distance challenge for families.

Documented Incidents

Baylor Baseball Hazing (2020):
14 players suspended following hazing investigation, with staggered suspensions affecting the early season. While not resulting in publicly known litigation, it demonstrated systemic issues.

Broader Context:
Baylor’s recent history with football sexual assault scandals means the university faces particular scrutiny about institutional responses to abuse allegations.

How Baylor Hazing Cases Proceed

Unique Considerations:

• Religious affiliation may affect public relations strategies
• McLennan County legal environment differs from urban counties
• Baylor’s past scandals create both vulnerability and defensiveness

For Euless families:
The 90-minute drive allows for reasonable involvement while still requiring strategic planning for emergency response.

What Baylor Students & Euless Parents Should Do

1. Understand the Baylor Bubble:
   Waco’s relative isolation creates insular social dynamics. Your child may feel particularly trapped or loyal to the institution.

2. Document Against “Faith-Based” Defenses:
   Baylor may frame issues as “spiritual formation” or “character building.” Detailed documentation showing coercion and harm counters this.

3. Medical Documentation in Waco:
   Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Hillcrest is the primary trauma center. Ensure records explicitly connect injuries to hazing.

4. Consider Transfer Options Early:
   The emotional toll of staying at Baylor after hazing may warrant discussing transfer possibilities as part of recovery planning.

Fraternities & Sororities: National Histories, Local Consequences

Why National Histories Matter for Euless Families

When your child is hazed by a fraternity at UTA, UT Austin, or any Texas campus, you’re not just dealing with local students—you’re confronting national organizations with decades of documented hazing patterns.

Legal Concept: Foreseeability
Courts ask: Should the national organization have predicted this hazing based on prior incidents at other chapters? When Pi Kappa Alpha has alcohol hazing deaths at Bowling Green (Stone Foltz) and elsewhere, then similar “Big/Little” drinking occurs at a Texas chapter, that’s foreseeable.

Major National Organizations in Texas with Documented Histories

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / Pike):

• Stone Foltz death (BGSU, 2021): $10 million settlement
• David Bogenberger death (Northern Illinois, 2012): $14 million settlement
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, Baylor, UTA
• Legal Significance: Pattern of alcohol hazing during “Big/Little” events creates clear foreseeability

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ / SAE):

• Traumatic Brain Injury case (University of Alabama, 2023 ongoing)
• Chemical Burns case (Texas A&M, 2021): $1 million lawsuit
• Assault case (UT Austin, 2024): Over $1 million lawsuit
• Texas Presence: Chapters at all major Texas universities
• National Pattern: Multiple deaths and injuries leading to elimination of pledge process in 2014

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ):

• Andrew Coffey death (Florida State, 2017)
• Leonel Bermudez case (UH, 2025): $10 million lawsuit we’re litigating
• National Response Pattern: Chapter suspensions and closures after incidents

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ):

• Max Gruver death (LSU, 2017): Led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act
• Texas Presence: Multiple Texas chapters

How National Histories Strengthen Texas Cases

Evidence of Prior Notice:
In discovery, we subpoena national headquarters for:

• Prior incident reports from other chapters
• Risk management communications about known hazing methods
• Training materials that acknowledge specific risks

Insurance Coverage Implications:
National organizations typically carry liability policies. Pattern evidence showing they knew about risks but failed to act can defeat insurance coverage exclusions for “intentional acts.”

Punitive Damages Potential:
When national organizations ignore clear patterns, Texas courts may award punitive damages to punish reckless disregard for student safety.

Building a Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

Modern Evidence Collection: What Wins Cases in 2025

Digital Communications (THE Most Critical Evidence):

• Group chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, fraternity apps
• Social media: Instagram stories, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook
• Email chains: Chapter communications, national correspondence
• Digital forensics: Recovering deleted messages through expert analysis

In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, group chat evidence showed planning of events, assignments of “pledge duties,” and communications about cover-up strategies.

Photos & Videos:

• Injury documentation with timestamps
• Event footage (often filmed by participants)
• Security camera/Ring doorbell footage from houses
• Social media posts showing activities

Internal Organization Documents:

• Pledge manuals and “tradition” documents
• Meeting minutes
• Risk management reports to nationals
• Financial records showing alcohol purchases

University Records (Obtained via Discovery):

• Prior conduct files on the same organization
• Incident reports
• Clery Act reports
• Internal emails among administrators

Medical & Psychological Records:

• ER/hospital records explicitly stating “hazing-related”
• Toxicology reports
• Psychological evaluations diagnosing PTSD, depression, anxiety
• Future treatment plans and cost projections

Damages: What Texas Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses):

• Medical expenses: Past and future care, including lifelong needs for catastrophic injuries
• Lost income & earning capacity: Semesters lost, delayed career entry, reduced lifetime earnings for permanent disabilities
• Educational costs: Tuition reimbursement for affected semesters, lost scholarships
• Therapy & counseling: Past and future mental health treatment

Non-Economic Damages (Subjective but Real Harm):

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life: Can’t participate in college experiences, activities they loved
• Reputational harm: Social stigma, digital footprint of the incident

Wrongful Death Damages (When Tragedy Strikes):

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of financial support the deceased would have provided
• Loss of companionship, love, guidance
• Parents’ and siblings’ grief and emotional suffering

Punitive Damages (When Defendants’ Conduct is Egregious):

• To punish especially reckless or malicious behavior
• To deter future hazing
• Available when defendants had prior warnings and ignored them

Insurance Coverage Strategy: Overcoming Defense Tactics

Fraternity and university insurers typically employ several strategies we’re prepared to counter:

Defense 1: “The policy excludes intentional acts”

• Our response: Even if hazing was intentional, the national organization’s negligent supervision or university’s deliberate indifference may be covered separate negligent acts.

Defense 2: “This was a rogue chapter”

• Our response: Discovery showing nationals knew about patterns, collected dues, maintained control demonstrates the relationship wasn’t truly severed.

Defense 3: “The incident was off-campus/not our property”

• Our response: Texas law and case precedent (Pi Delta Psi retreat case) establish liability can extend beyond owned properties based on sponsorship and control.

Our advantage: Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney means we know insurers’ valuation methods, reserve-setting practices, and negotiation tactics from the inside.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Euless Families

For Parents: Recognizing & Responding to Hazing

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Hazed:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, cuts
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Sudden weight loss/gain
• Sleep deprivation (late-night calls, 3 AM wake-ups)
• Secretive behavior about organization activities
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal
• Constant phone monitoring for group chat demands
• Financial strain from unexpected “dues” or purchases

How to Talk to Your Child:

1. Choose the right time: When they’re not rushed or stressed
2. Use open questions: “How are things with [organization]?” not “Are they hazing you?”
3. Listen without judgment: If they open up, don’t interrupt with anger
4. Emphasize safety: “Your health matters more than any group”

Critical First 48-Hour Checklist:

1. Medical attention: ER if injured or intoxicated
2. Evidence preservation: Screenshot everything BEFORE deletion
3. Documentation: Write down everything they tell you (dates, names, locations)
4. Secure physical evidence: Clothing, objects, receipts
5. Contact attorney: Call 1-888-ATTY-911 within 24-48 hours

For Students: Self-Assessment & Safety Planning

Is This Hazing? Decision Questions:

• Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
• Is this dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would the university approve if they knew details?
• Are older members making new members do things they don’t do themselves?
• Am I being told to keep secrets or lie?

If You’re in Immediate Danger:

• Call 911 – Good-faith reporter protections exist in Texas
• Get to a safe location (dorm, public area, friend’s place)
• You won’t get in trouble for seeking medical help

How to Exit Safely:

1. Tell someone outside the org first (parent, RA, friend)
2. Send email/text to chapter leadership: “I resign my membership effective immediately”
3. Do NOT go to “one last meeting” – This is when pressure/retaliation happens
4. If threatened, report to campus police and Dean of Students

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

MISTAKE 1: Letting evidence be deleted

• Why it’s wrong: Digital evidence wins modern hazing cases
• Right approach: Screenshot group chats immediately; use our evidence preservation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

MISTAKE 2: Confronting the organization directly

• Why it’s wrong: Triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching
• Right approach: Document everything, then call an attorney

MISTAKE 3: Signing university “resolution” forms

• Why it’s wrong: May waive legal rights for minimal compensation
• Right approach: Have an attorney review ANY documents before signing

MISTAKE 4: Posting on social media

• Why it’s wrong: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
• Right approach: Document privately; let your lawyer control public messaging

MISTAKE 5: Waiting for university to “handle it”

• Why it’s wrong: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statutes of limitations run
• Right approach: Preserve evidence NOW; consult lawyer immediately

Hazing FAQs for Texas Families

“Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under specific circumstances. Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have sovereign immunity limitations, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity protections. Every case is fact-specific—contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for analysis of your situation.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas Education Code §37.152 makes hazing a Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report hazing.

“Can my child bring a case if they ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Yes. Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states: “It is not a defense to prosecution that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to the hazing activity.” Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure and power imbalance isn’t true voluntary consent.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or discovery in Texas, but exceptions exist for minors, fraud, or cover-ups. Time is critical—watch our statute of limitations video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c. Call us immediately to preserve your rights.

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

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

About The Manginello Law Firm + Call to Action

Why Attorney911 for Texas Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how universities, national fraternities, and their insurance companies fight back—and how to win anyway.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation:

Insurance Insider Advantage (Mr. Lupe Peña):
Mr. Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers:

• Value (and undervalue) hazing claims
• Use delay tactics to pressure families
• Deploy coverage exclusion arguments
• Negotiate from a position of insider knowledge

As Mr. Peña says: “We know their playbook because we used to run it.” This insider perspective is invaluable when facing well-funded institutional defendants.

Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions (Ralph Manginello):
Our involvement in the BP Texas City explosion litigation proves we’re built for complex, resource-intensive cases against billion-dollar defendants. We’re not intimidated by national fraternities with unlimited legal budgets or universities with deep-pocketed insurers.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Experience:
We’ve recovered millions for families in complex wrongful death cases, working with economists to value lifetime care needs and lost earning capacity. We don’t settle cheap—we build cases that force real accountability.

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise:
Ralph’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation. We can advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure, and navigate the interplay between university conduct processes and criminal investigations.

Investigative Depth & Expert Network:
We deploy:

• Digital forensics experts to recover deleted messages
• Medical experts specializing in rhabdomyolysis, TBI, PTSD
• Greek life culture experts
• Economists and life-care planners
• Institutional policy experts

Spanish-Language Services:
Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish and can serve Hispanic Texas families directly. Se habla Español—contact Lupe at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish.

Our Approach: Investigation, Accountability, Prevention

We investigate hazing cases with three goals:

1. Thorough Investigation: Uncovering not just what happened, but why it kept happening—the institutional failures, prior warnings ignored, and systemic patterns.

2. Real Accountability: Holding every responsible party accountable, from individual members to chapter officers to national organizations and universities.

3. Future Prevention: Using settlements and verdicts to force policy changes that protect future students. As we said in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case: “We’re almost in 2026. This has to stop.”

How We’re Currently Fighting for Texas Families

Right now, we’re leading the Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit—a $10 million case alleging severe hazing that caused rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. This isn’t historical—it’s active litigation happening in Texas courts today.

We’re using our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—tracking 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros—to identify every liable entity behind the UH chapter, from the housing corporation to alumni organizations to national headquarters.

Call to Action for Euless Families

If hazing has impacted your family, whether your child attends UTA down the road or UT Austin hours away, you don’t have to face this alone.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.

What to expect in your free consultation:

• We listen to your story without judgment
• Review any evidence you have (photos, texts, medical records)
• Explain your legal options: criminal report, civil lawsuit, both, or neither
• Discuss realistic timelines and expectations
• Answer questions about costs (contingency fee—we don’t get paid unless we win)
• No pressure to hire us—take time to decide
• Everything you tell us is confidential

Contact Information:

• 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 (Ralph Manginello), lupe@atty911.com (Mr. Lupe Peña)

Spanish Services: Hablamos Español—contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish.

For Euless families specifically: Whether your child attends school in our backyard or across the state, Texas hazing law and experienced Texas counsel can help. We serve families throughout Texas from our Houston, Austin, and Beaumont offices.

Don’t wait until evidence disappears or witnesses graduate. Call us today.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

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

Click2Houston (KPRC 2) Report:
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/11/21/only-on-2-lawsuit-alleges-severe-hazing-at-university-of-houstons-pi-kappa-phi-chapter-fraternity/

ABC13 Eyewitness News (KTRK) Coverage:
https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

Hoodline Summary:
https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational YouTube Videos

Using Your Phone to Document Evidence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

Texas Statutes of Limitations Explained:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c

Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY

How Contingency Fees Work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website & Practice Areas

Main Website & Contact:
https://attorney911.com

Wrongful Death Practice:
https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/

Criminal Defense Practice:
https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/criminal-defense-lawyers/

Ralph Manginello Profile:
https://attorney911.com/attorneys/ralph-manginello/

Lupe Peña Profile:
https://attorney911.com/attorneys/lupe-pena/

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 (Ralph Manginello), lupe@atty911.com (Mr. Lupe Peña)