The Complete Guide to Hazing Lawsuits & Campus Accountability for Families in Farwell, Texas

For parents in Farwell and across the Texas Panhandle, the call often comes late at night. Your student’s voice sounds different—strained, scared, or maybe they’re not calling at all, and you’re hearing from a hospital instead. The story unfolds in fragments: a “tradition,” a “big brother night,” forced drinking, extreme workouts, and suddenly, your child is in the ER with a diagnosis you’ve never heard before. What you’re facing is not a college prank. It’s hazing, a serious crime with potentially life-altering consequences. And right now, across Texas, families like yours are discovering they have powerful legal rights to hold accountable the fraternities, sororities, athletic programs, and universities that failed to protect their children.

Our firm, Attorney911, is currently fighting one of the most severe hazing cases in Texas: we represent Leonel Bermudez in his $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 individual fraternity leaders. The details are harrowing: a “pledge fanny pack” rule with humiliating contents, forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and brutal workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park that led Bermudez to develop rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown, he was hospitalized for four days, and he faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage. This is happening now, in Texas.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for you—parents and families in Farwell, Parmer County, and the surrounding High Plains region. We’ll explain what modern hazing really looks like, break down Texas and federal law, show you the national patterns playing out on Texas campuses, and provide the practical steps you need to take if hazing has impacted your family. Whether your student attends nearby West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas Tech in Lubbock, or any of the major universities across the state where Panhandle families send their children, the legal principles of accountability remain the same.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES:

• If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:
  • Call 911 for medical emergencies.
  • Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). We provide immediate help—that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™.
• In the first 48 hours:
  • Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine.”
  • Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
    • Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately.
    • Photograph injuries from multiple angles.
    • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects).
  • Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where).
  • Do NOT:
    • Confront the fraternity/sorority.
    • Sign anything from the university or insurance company.
    • Post details on public social media.
    • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence.
• Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours:
  • Evidence disappears fast (deleted group chats, destroyed evidence, 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

Hazing has evolved far beyond the stereotypical “hell week” of paddlings. For Farwell families, understanding these modern methods is the first step in recognizing danger. Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining or maintaining status in a group that endangers physical or mental health, humiliates, or exploits. Critically, a student saying “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal under Texas law when power imbalance and peer pressure are at play.

The Modern Hazing Playbook:

• Alcohol & Substance Hazing: Forced “lineup” drinking, “Big/Little” nights with handles of liquor, games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean drinking. This remains the most common cause of hazing deaths.
• Physical Hazing: “Smokings” with hundreds of push-ups or squats until collapse (like in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case), paddling, sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, and exposure to extreme elements.
• Sexualized & Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk,” “roasted pig” positions), degrading costumes, and acts with racist or sexist overtones.
• Psychological & Digital Hazing: 24/7 group chat monitoring with instant response demands, public shaming on social media, cyberstalking via location-sharing apps, and “voluntary” challenges that are socially mandatory.

Hazing isn’t confined to fraternities. It occurs in sororities, Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams (from football to cheerleading), spirit groups like the Texas Cowboys, marching bands, and even some academic clubs. The common threads are tradition, secrecy, and a power imbalance that exploits new members’ desire to belong.

Texas Hazing Law & Federal Frameworks: Your Legal Rights

For Farwell families, navigating the legal landscape begins with understanding the powerful statutes designed to protect students. Texas has specific, robust anti-hazing laws, and federal statutes create additional layers of accountability.

Texas Education Code – Chapter 37 (Your Strongest Tool)

Texas law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers a student’s mental or physical health or safety for the purpose of joining or maintaining membership in a group. Key provisions every Panhandle family must know:

• § 37.155: Consent is NOT a Defense. Even if your child “agreed,” it’s still a crime. The law recognizes that consent under peer pressure is not valid.
• Criminal Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor, but it becomes a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death—a charge we’ve seen in cases involving catastrophic outcomes.
• Organizational Liability: The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be fined up to $10,000 and lose university recognition.
• Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Students who call for help in an emergency are protected from liability, encouraging life-saving intervention.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office). Aim is punishment (jail, fines, probation). Charges can include hazing, assault, furnishing alcohol to minors, or manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by victims and families. Aim is compensation for damages and institutional accountability. This is where we hold every responsible party—from the individual member who poured the drink to the national headquarters that turned a blind eye—financially and publicly responsible. You can pursue a civil case even if no criminal charges are ever filed.

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

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to publicly report hazing incidents and strengthen prevention, with full implementation by 2026.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based hostility, it triggers the university’s Title IX obligations for investigation and response.
• Clery Act: Requires reporting of certain crimes on campus; hazing incidents often overlap with assault or alcohol crimes that must be disclosed.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

A thorough investigation seeks to identify every entity with responsibility. This can include:

1. Individual Students who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter as a legal entity.
3. The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters that sets policy, collects dues, and supervises chapters. Their prior knowledge of similar incidents at other chapters is crucial.
4. The University (and its Board of Regents) for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference, or premises liability. This applies to public universities like Texas A&M and UT, and private ones like Baylor and SMU.
5. Third Parties like landlords of off-campus houses, alcohol providers, or security companies.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Script Texas Chapters Follow

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not isolated. They reveal predictable patterns that repeat—including here in Texas. Understanding these patterns helps prove that injuries were foreseeable and preventable.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern:

• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Bid-acceptance night with extreme drinking, fatal falls captured on chapter cameras, delayed help. Result: Dozens of criminal charges, civil settlements, and Pennsylvania’ Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.’
• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a bottle of whiskey during a “Big/Little” event. Fatal alcohol poisoning. Result: $10 million settlement ($7M from national Pike, ~$3M from university), criminal convictions.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): “Bible study” drinking game. Fatal alcohol toxicity. Result: $6.1 million verdict, felony hazing law in Louisiana (Max Gruver Act).

The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern:

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Blindfolded, weighted “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. Fatal traumatic brain injury. Result: National fraternity criminally convicted, banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

The Athletic Program Hazing Pattern:

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Systemic, sexualized hazing allegations. Result: Multiple lawsuits, head coach fired, confidential settlements demonstrating that hazing pervades billion-dollar athletic programs.

What This Means for Farwell Families: These are not “rogue” incidents. They are the documented, foreseeable outcomes of specific traditions and power structures. When the same fraternity that caused Stone Foltz’s death at BGSU has a chapter at a Texas school, that national history becomes critical evidence in a Texas lawsuit.

Texas Universities: A Focus for Panhandle Families

Families in Farwell and Parmer County send their students to a range of institutions, from nearby regional campuses to major universities across the state. Hazing is a risk at all of them. Our firm maintains a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, tracking over 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. Here’s what you need to know about schools relevant to our community.

West Texas A&M University (Canyon) & Regional Campuses

For many Farwell families, West Texas A&M in nearby Canyon is a primary destination. It’s part of the Texas A&M System and has active Greek life.

• Campus Snapshot: A key regional university in the Panhandle with traditional Greek life and strong athletic programs.
• Greek Life & Records: Our public records directory shows Greek entities serving the Amarillo-Canyon metro, including the Frank Heflin Foundation (EIN 203507402, Canyon, TX 79015), a Phi Delta Theta alumni fund, and the Chi Omega Upsilon Zeta Building Association in Amarillo. These IRS-registered organizations are part of the network behind campus chapters.
• Relevance to Farwell: Proximity means many local students commute or live on campus. Incidents here directly impact our community, and local courts may have jurisdiction.

Texas Tech University (Lubbock)

As a major university in the region, Texas Tech draws many Panhandle students. It has a large Greek system and a history of hazing incidents.

• Documented Issues: Lawsuits and allegations have involved severe physical hazing leading to conditions like rhabdomyolysis—the same life-threatening muscle breakdown Leonel Bermudez suffered at UH.
• Greek Ecosystem: Our data shows numerous Texas-registered entities linked to Tech, including the Epsilon Nu Housing Corporation in Lubbock (EIN 237359384) and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi for Texas Tech Health Sciences Center (EIN 820644459, Lubbock, TX 79430).

Texas A&M University (College Station)

As Texas’s largest public university, A&M has a complex landscape of Greek life and the Corps of Cadets, both with documented hazing issues.

• Corps of Cadets Hazing: In a 2023 lawsuit, a cadet alleged degrading hazing including being bound in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million, highlighting the systemic risks in tradition-heavy military-style programs.
• Fraternity Hazing – Sigma Alpha Epsilon: In a 2021 case, Texas A&M SAE pledges alleged being doused with substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The chapter was suspended, and lawsuits followed.
• Public Records Context: The College Station-Bryan metro has 42 Greek organizations tracked by Cause IQ. IRS records show entities like “KAPPA SIGMA – MU CAMMA CHAPTER INC” (EIN 133048786, College Station, TX 77845) operating there.

University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin maintains one of the most transparent hazing databases in the country, publicly listing violations—a resource that can be used to prove a chapter’s known dangerous pattern.

• Public Hazing Log: UT’s website shows repeated sanctions. For example, Pi Kappa Alpha was sanctioned in 2023 for forcing new members to consume milk and perform extreme calisthenics.
• Fraternity Lawsuits – Sigma Alpha Epsilon: In a 2024 case, a student alleged assault at an SAE party resulting in a dislocated leg, broken nose, and fractured tibia. The chapter was already on suspension for prior violations, showing pattern of disregard for safety.
• Greek Density: The Austin-Round Rock metro has 154 Greek organizations. IRS B83 filings show house corporations and alumni chapters, like the “Building Corporation of Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi” (EIN 746047117, Austin, TX 78705), which are separate legal entities that can hold insurance and liability.

University of Houston (The Flagship Case)

The ongoing Bermudez vs. UH & Pi Kappa Phi case is a live example of the extreme dangers and complex litigation we handle.

• The Case in Detail: Leonel Bermudez’s pledging in Fall 2025 involved the degrading “fanny pack,” forced overeating, hose spraying “like waterboarding,” and the November 3rd workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats that induced rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter was suspended November 6 and voted to surrender its charter November 14. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing.”
• Media Coverage: This case has been covered by Click2Houston, ABC13, and Hoodline.
• Houston Greek Network: The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro has 188 Greek organizations. Defendants in the Bermudez case include the “Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc” (EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX 75035), illustrating how housing corporations and nationals are integrated into the liability chain.

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

These private universities have active Greek systems and their own hazing histories.

• SMU – Kappa Alpha Order: In 2017, the chapter was suspended for paddling, forced drinking, and sleep deprivation.
• Baylor – Baseball Team Hazing: In 2020, 14 players were suspended following a hazing investigation, showing abuse extends beyond Greek life.

For Farwell Families: The school’s location does not limit your ability to seek justice. We serve families statewide. If your child was hazed at any Texas campus, the legal principles of investigation, evidence, and holding national organizations accountable apply universally.

Fraternities & Sororities: Connecting National Histories to Texas Chapters

When a Texas chapter hazes, it’s rarely inventing new cruelty. It’s following a national playbook. This history is not just background—it’s legal evidence of foreseeability. Nationals have anti-hazing policies because they know the deadly patterns.

Organizations with Documented National Hazing Patterns:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): Stone Foltz death ($10M settlement), David Bogenberger death ($14M settlement). The “Big/Little” alcohol hazing script is a known, repeated danger.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Traumatic brain injury lawsuit at Alabama, chemical burn lawsuit at Texas A&M, assault lawsuit at UT Austin. A pattern of physical abuse and alcohol hazing across multiple states and Texas campuses.
• Pi Kappa Phi: Andrew Coffey death at Florida State. Now, the Bermudez case at UH showing similar physical brutality and coercion.
• Phi Delta Theta: Max Gruver death at LSU ($6.1M verdict). The “Bible study” drinking game pattern.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: How We Map Liability

Unlike firms that start from zero, we use a proprietary data engine built from public records to immediately identify the web of organizations behind a chapter. For a Farwell family, this means we can quickly locate:

• The Local House Corporation (a Texas-registered non-profit that owns the house, like EIN 462267515 for Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu).
• Alumni Chapter Entities that may control funds and oversight.
• National Headquarters and their insurers.
• University-Related Entities like boards of regents.

This data, drawn from IRS B83 filings, Cause IQ metro reports, and campus rosters, allows us to build a comprehensive defendant map from day one. For example, we can trace a chapter at Texas Tech back to its national brand, its local housing corp in Lubbock, and its alumni support network across Texas—all potential sources of liability and insurance coverage.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Attorney911’s Strategy

Pursuing a hazing case against a university or national fraternity is complex litigation. It requires an investigative depth and a strategic understanding of how these institutions fight back. Here’s how we build these cases for Texas families.

Critical Evidence We Pursue:

1. Digital Communications: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Discord chats are the modern minute-book of hazing. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages. Our video on using your phone to document evidence explains initial steps.
2. Internal Organization Records: Pledge manuals, “tradition” documents, emails between actives, and national HQ communications showing knowledge or lax enforcement.
3. University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same chapter obtained via discovery or public records requests. UT’s public log is a prime example.
4. Medical Documentation: ER records, lab tests (like creatine kinase levels proving rhabdomyolysis), psychological evaluations for PTSD, and future care plans.
5. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and bystanders.

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Civil lawsuits seek to make families whole and hold institutions accountable. Recoverable damages include:

• Economic Damages: All medical bills (past and future), lost wages, lost educational costs (tuition, scholarships), and diminished future earning capacity if there’s permanent disability.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, humiliation, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: For fatal hazing, families can recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious conduct or cover-ups, courts may award damages to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

Overcoming Institutional Defenses

We anticipate and dismantle the standard defenses:

• “The Pledge Consented”: Texas law § 37.155 states consent is no defense. We demonstrate the coercive power dynamic.
• “It Was a Rogue Chapter”: We subpoena national records to show prior incidents and prove pattern knowledge.
• “It Happened Off-Campus”: Liability is based on control and foreseeability, not just property lines. The Pi Delta Psi conviction for a retreat death proves this.
• “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”: We show the gap between paper policies and actual enforcement or cover-up culture.
• Insurance Coverage Fights: Fraternity and university insurers often deny claims. Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense attorney. He knows their tactics for denying coverage and undervaluing claims from the inside. This insider knowledge is invaluable in securing full compensation.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Farwell Parents and Students

For Parents: Warning Signs & Immediate Steps

Warning Signs Your Student Is Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries (bruises, burns, limping).
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight change.
• Secretive about activities, sudden withdrawal from family/friends.
• Constant, anxious phone use for group chats.
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability.
• Sudden financial needs for unexplained “fines” or purchases.

What to Do Immediately:

1. Prioritize Health: Get medical attention. Tell doctors it’s hazing-related.
2. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot ALL group chats and social media. Photograph injuries. Save any physical items. Do not delete anything.
3. Document: Write down everything your child tells you with dates, times, and names.
4. Seek Legal Counsel BEFORE Reporting: Contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911. We can advise on how to report to campus or police while protecting evidence and your rights.
5. Avoid Common Mistakes: Do not confront the organization, sign anything from the university, or post details online. Watch our video on client mistakes that can ruin a case.

For Students: Is This Hazing? Your Rights & Safety

• If you feel pressured, unsafe, or humiliated to belong, it’s likely hazing.
• You have the right to leave and report. Texas law protects good-faith reporters.
• If someone is in danger, call 911 first. Most schools have medical amnesty policies.
• Preserve evidence: Take screenshots, photos, and notes. Tell a trusted adult.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can we sue a university in Texas?”
Yes. While public universities have some sovereign immunity, exceptions exist for gross negligence or deliberate indifference. Private schools like Baylor and SMU have fewer protections. Every case is fact-specific.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally, two years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but exceptions exist. Learn more in our statute of limitations video. Time is critical—evidence vanishes quickly.

“What if it happened off-campus at a house or Airbnb?”
Location does not absolve liability. Universities and nationals can be liable based on their sponsorship and knowledge of activities.

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

“How much does a lawyer cost?”
We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases. This means you pay no upfront fees. We only get paid if we win your case. See how contingency fees work.

Why Attorney911 for Your Texas Hazing Case

When your family is facing a hazing crisis, you need attorneys who are not intimidated by powerful institutions and who understand the specific landscape of Texas Greek life and university systems. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) brings a unique combination of insider knowledge, complex litigation experience, and a deep commitment to victim advocacy.

Our Competitive Advantages for Hazing Litigation:

• Insider Insurance Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for national insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and undervalue your claim. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas lawyers involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We have faced the deepest-pocketed, most aggressive institutional defendants and won. National fraternities and universities do not intimidate us.
• Proven Multi-Million Dollar Results: We have a track record of securing significant settlements and verdicts in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. We work with economists, life-care planners, and medical experts to build undeniable proof of damages.
• Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We don’t start from scratch. Our proprietary database of Texas Greek organizations, built from IRS, university, and public records, allows us to immediately identify all potentially liable entities—saving crucial time as evidence disappears.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the interplay between criminal hazing charges and civil lawsuits. We can effectively advise clients navigating both systems.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish, ensuring we can serve all Texas families with comfort and clarity (Se habla Español).

Our Commitment to Farwell & Panhandle Families

We are a Texas-based firm with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, serving families across the state. We understand that a hazing incident at Texas Tech, West Texas A&M, or any campus impacts the entire family and community back home in Farwell, Hereford, Dimmitt, and across Parmer County. Our mission is to get you answers, secure the resources needed for recovery, and force the institutional changes that will prevent this from happening to another Panhandle family.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to navigate this alone. The universities and national organizations have teams of lawyers. You deserve experienced advocates on your side.

Contact Attorney911 today for a free, confidential case evaluation. In your consultation, we will:

• Listen compassionately to your story.
• Explain your legal rights and options under Texas law.
• Discuss the investigation process and what to expect.
• Answer your questions about timelines, costs, and privacy.
• There is no pressure to hire us. Our goal is to inform and empower you.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911). You can also visit our website at https://attorney911.com or email Ralph Manginello directly at ralph@atty911.com.

For Spanish-speaking families, contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com.

Let us help you turn this crisis into accountability and prevention. Enough is enough.

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 | lupe@atty911.com (Español)