Hazing in Texas: A Complete Guide for Flower Mound Families Seeking Accountability

An Immediate Crisis in Our Community

It’s late on a Thursday night in the fall. Your phone rings—it’s your child, a student at the University of North Texas in Denton, just a short drive from our homes here in Flower Mound. Their voice is shaky, distant. They’re calling from the bathroom of an off-campus house, whispering about a “big brother night” that’s gone wrong. They describe being handed a bottle of liquor with a simple instruction: “Finish it to earn your place.” Around them, older fraternity members are filming on their phones, chanting. Your child feels dizzy, nauseous, and scared, but even more terrified of being labeled “weak” or getting the chapter suspended if they call for help.

This is not a hypothetical horror story. For families in Flower Mound, in Denton County, and across North Texas, this scenario represents a real and present danger that has already materialized on campuses throughout our state. Right now, we are fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history—the Leonel Bermudez University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit—and what we’ve uncovered should compel every Texas parent to pay attention.

If you are a parent in Flower Mound, Lewisville, or anywhere in Denton County, this guide is for you. We will explain exactly what modern hazing looks like, how Texas law protects—and sometimes fails—our students, what’s happening on campuses where Flower Mound families send their children, and what legal options exist when institutions meant to protect students instead enable their harm.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for medical emergencies
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• We provide immediate help – that’s why we’re the Legal Emergency Lawyers™

In the first 48 hours:

• Get medical attention immediately, even if the student insists they are “fine”
• Preserve evidence BEFORE it’s deleted:
  • Screenshot group chats, texts, DMs immediately
  • Photograph injuries from multiple angles
  • Save physical items (clothing, receipts, objects)
• Write down everything while memory is fresh (who, what, when, where)
• Do NOT:
  • Confront the fraternity/sorority
  • Sign anything from the university or insurance company
  • Post details on public social media
  • Let your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours:

• Evidence disappears fast (deleted group chats, destroyed paddles, coached witnesses)
• Universities move quickly to control the narrative
• We can help preserve evidence and protect your child’s rights
• Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate consultation

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

For Flower Mound parents who may recall hazing as “pranks” or “initiation rites” from their own college days, the reality in 2025 is dramatically different—and far more dangerous. Modern hazing has evolved into systematic abuse often disguised as tradition, enabled by digital tools, and protected by institutional indifference.

A Clear, Modern Definition

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 understanding for Flower Mound families is this: “I agreed to it” or “they wanted to fit in” does not make it safe or legal when there exists profound power imbalance and peer pressure.

The Five Categories of Modern Hazing

1. Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the most common and deadly form. It’s not “college drinking”—it’s coerced consumption with clear power dynamics. Examples include “lineup” drinking games where pledges must finish drinks before older members, “Big/Little” nights where new members are given entire bottles of liquor, and trivia games where wrong answers mandate drinking. The Leonel Bermudez case at University of Houston included forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed immediately by sprints.

2. Physical Hazing
Beyond traditional paddling, this now includes extreme calisthenics disguised as “workouts.” At UH, Bermudez was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats in a single session under threat of expulsion. Other methods include sleep deprivation through all-night “study sessions,” food and water restriction, exposure to extreme temperatures, and dangerous physical tests like blindfolded tackles.

3. Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
This involves forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. The “pledge fanny pack” in the UH case contained condoms and sex toys as tools of humiliation. Other cases have involved “elephant walks” and “roasted pig” positions that are both physically dangerous and psychologically devastating.

4. Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming. This often establishes the control necessary for physical hazing to follow. Members are taught that reporting equals betrayal.

5. Digital/Online Hazing
This is particularly relevant to Flower Mound’s tech-savvy students. It includes group chat dares shared via GroupMe or Discord, public humiliation through Instagram or TikTok challenges, pressure to create compromising content, and 24/7 availability demands where failure to immediately respond to messages triggers punishment.

Where Hazing Actually Happens Beyond Stereotypes

While fraternities and sororities dominate headlines, hazing occurs in:

• Corps of Cadets and ROTC programs
• Athletic teams from football to cheerleading
• Spirit organizations and tradition groups
• Marching bands and performance ensembles
• Academic honor societies and service organizations

The common thread isn’t the type of group but the dynamics of power, tradition, and secrecy that allow abuse to flourish under the guise of “bonding” or “tradition.”

Texas Law & Liability Framework: What Flower Mound Families Need to Know

Texas has specific laws governing hazing, but understanding how they apply in real cases requires navigating both criminal statutes and civil liability frameworks. For families in Flower Mound whose children attend schools across Texas—from nearby UNT to distant UT Austin—this legal landscape determines both accountability and recovery.

Texas Education Code Chapter 37: The Hazing Statute

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

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

For Flower Mound families, several key points matter:

Location Doesn’t Matter: Hazing at an off-campus house in Denton, a retreat in Oklahoma, or a hotel in Houston all fall under Texas law if the organization has Texas students.

“Reckless” Is Enough: Prosecutors don’t need to prove malicious intent—only that the perpetrators knew the risks and proceeded anyway.

Mental Health Counts: Severe humiliation, psychological torture, and trauma that leads to PTSD, anxiety, or depression qualifies as hazing even without physical injury.

§ 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
• Additional charges: Failing to report hazing or retaliating against reporters are separate misdemeanors

§ 37.155 The Most Important Protection: “Consent Is Not a Defense”
Texas law explicitly states that a victim’s “consent” to hazing activities is not a defense to prosecution. This recognizes the reality that power imbalance, peer pressure, and fear of exclusion make true consent impossible in hazing contexts.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Different Paths to Accountability

Criminal Cases

• Brought by the state (Denton County DA, Travis County DA, etc.)
• Goal: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical charges: Hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, manslaughter in fatal cases
• Flower Mound consideration: Jurisdiction follows where the crime occurred, not where the family lives

Civil Cases

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Goal: Monetary compensation and institutional accountability
• Legal theories: Negligence, gross negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress
• Critical insight: A criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case

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

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

• Report hazing incidents more transparently
• Strengthen hazing education and prevention
• Maintain public hazing data (phased in by 2026)
  This means Flower Mound families will eventually have better access to information about which organizations have hazing histories.

Title IX Implications
When hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger additional reporting requirements and investigation protocols. Universities that fail to respond appropriately face federal funding consequences.

Clery Act Requirements
Colleges must report certain crimes and maintain safety statistics; hazing incidents often overlap with assault, alcohol, and drug crimes that require Clery reporting.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

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

2. Local Chapter/Organization
The fraternity/sorority or club itself as a legal entity. Officers acting in official capacity create organizational liability.

3. National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters
National organizations that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Their liability hinges on what they knew or should have known from prior incidents. Pi Kappa Phi nationals were sued in the UH case despite suspending the chapter.

4. University or Governing Board
Schools may be liable under negligence or civil-rights theories. Key questions: Did they have prior warnings? Did they enforce policies? Did they show deliberate indifference? The University of Houston and UH System Board of Regents are defendants in the Bermudez case.

5. Third Parties

• Landlords/owners of houses or event spaces
• Bars or alcohol providers (under Texas dram shop theories)
• Security companies or event organizers

National Hazing Case Patterns: What They Mean for Flower Mound Families

The tragedies that have unfolded on campuses across America are not isolated incidents—they represent predictable patterns that repeat because institutions fail to learn from history. For Flower Mound parents, understanding these patterns is crucial for recognizing risk and pursuing accountability.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death: The Most Predictable Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
During a bid-acceptance event, 19-year-old Piazza consumed dangerous amounts of alcohol, fell multiple times suffering traumatic brain injuries, and received delayed medical attention while fraternity brothers debated calling for help. Security cameras captured the entire tragedy. The aftermath included 18 members charged with over 1,000 criminal counts, civil litigation, and Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
The 20-year-old pledge was forced to consume nearly a full bottle of whiskey during a “Big/Little” night. He died from alcohol poisoning. The chapter president was later ordered to pay $6.5 million personally to the Foltz family. Total settlements reached approximately $10 million ($7 million from Pi Kappa Alpha national, $3 million from BGSU).

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
In a “Bible study” drinking game, Gruver was forced to drink when answering questions incorrectly. His blood alcohol content reached 0.495%. His death led to Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act, making hazing a felony, and a $6.1 million verdict against the fraternity.

What Flower Mound Families Should Understand: These cases share common elements—ritualized drinking events, delayed medical response, and systematic cover-up attempts. The same national organizations involved in these deaths have chapters at Texas schools your children might attend.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing: Violence Disguised as Tradition

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
During a fraternity retreat, Deng was blindfolded, weighted with a heavy backpack, and repeatedly tackled during a “glass ceiling” ritual. He suffered fatal head injuries while members delayed calling 911. The national fraternity was convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter—a rare instance of organizational criminal liability.

Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021)
At a “pledge dad reveal” night, Santulli was forced to consume excessive alcohol. He suffered severe, permanent brain damage, leaving him unable to walk, talk, or see, requiring 24/7 care for life. His family settled with 22 defendants for multi-million dollar amounts.

What Flower Mound Families Should Understand: Off-campus retreats and “special events” often escalate hazing severity because perpetrators believe they’re beyond university oversight. The physical endurance tests that seem like “hard workouts” can cause rhabdomyolysis (as in the UH case) or catastrophic injuries.

Athletic Program Hazing: Beyond Greek Life

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025)
Former players alleged widespread sexualized and racist hazing within the football program over multiple years. Multiple lawsuits led to head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s firing and confidential settlements. The case revealed hazing’s presence in high-profile athletic programs with professional oversight.

Texas A&M Corps of Cadets (2023)
A cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” pose with an apple in his mouth. The lawsuit sought over $1 million, demonstrating that military-style programs have their own hazing traditions.

What Flower Mound Families Should Understand: Hazing isn’t limited to fraternities. Any group with initiation, hierarchy, and tradition can develop abusive practices. This includes spirit groups, bands, and athletic teams at schools throughout Texas.

Texas Focus: Where Flower Mound Families Send Their Children

Flower Mound students attend universities across Texas, from nearby Denton County campuses to flagship institutions hours away. Each campus has its own hazing landscape, policies, and history that parents need to understand.

Local Access: Universities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

University of North Texas (Denton) – 15 miles from Flower Mound
UNT’s proximity makes it a common choice for Flower Mound students. With over 42,000 students and active Greek life, hazing incidents have occurred despite prevention efforts.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting:
UNT prohibits hazing both on and off campus, with reporting through the Dean of Students Office and UNT Police Department. The university follows Texas Education Code requirements and provides anonymous reporting options.

Documented Incidents & Responses:
While UNT doesn’t maintain a public violations log like UT Austin, disciplinary records obtained through public requests show periodic fraternity suspensions for alcohol-related hazing and policy violations. The challenge for Flower Mound families is that private disciplinary actions don’t create public awareness of patterns.

How a UNT Hazing Case Might Proceed:

• Jurisdiction: Denton County courts for both criminal and civil cases
• Investigating agencies: UNT Police Department and Denton Police Department
• Practical consideration: For Flower Mound families, geographical proximity means easier access to attorneys, court appearances, and investigation coordination

What Flower Mound Parents Should Know:

• UNT’s size and commuter population can make oversight challenging
• Off-campus houses in Denton where hazing occurs fall under city police jurisdiction
• The university’s relationship with the Denton community affects how incidents are handled

Texas Woman’s University (Denton) – 15 miles from Flower Mound
While TWU has historically had fewer Greek life incidents, hazing can occur in other organizations, including athletic teams and spirit groups.

Major Texas Universities: Where Flower Mound Students Often Attend

University of Texas at Austin
Many high-achieving Flower Mound students attend UT Austin, drawn by its academic reputation and tradition. UT maintains one of Texas’s most transparent hazing violation logs at hazing.utexas.edu.

Documented Incidents (Selected from Public Log):

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; found to be hazing; chapter placed on probation with required hazing-prevention education
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Organization): Multiple sanctions for alcohol-related hazing and forced physical activities
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Ongoing disciplinary history including suspension for hazing violations

For Flower Mound Families:

• Distance: 200 miles from Flower Mound (3+ hour drive)
• Jurisdiction: Travis County courts, Austin Police Department
• Consideration: Geographical separation means families need representation familiar with Austin courts and procedures

Texas A&M University (College Station)
With its strong Corps of Cadets and Greek life traditions, Texas A&M has faced significant hazing issues that should concern Flower Mound parents.

Notable Cases:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021): Pledges alleged being covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The fraternity was suspended for two years.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): Cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound in “roasted pig” position. Sought over $1 million.
• Animal Science Club Hazing (2022): Non-Greek organization sanctioned for alcohol-related hazing

For Flower Mound Families:

• Corps participation may involve different hazing risks than Greek life
• University’s agricultural and tradition-heavy clubs have their own hazing histories
• Brazos County jurisdiction presents different legal considerations

University of Houston
The ongoing Leonel Bermudez case makes UH particularly relevant. Flower Mound students attending UH enter an environment where recent tragic hazing has occurred.

The Bermudez Case Details:

• Hazing Methods: “Pledge fanny pack” humiliation, forced consumption leading to vomiting, 100+ push-ups/500 squats sessions, hose spraying “similar to waterboarding”
• Medical Consequences: Rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, brown urine, 4-day hospitalization
• Institutional Response: Pi Kappa Phi chapter suspended then closed; UH called conduct “deeply disturbing”
• Legal Action: $10 million lawsuit against UH, Pi Kappa Phi national, housing corporation, and 13 individual members

For Flower Mound Families Considering UH:

• Urban campus with numerous off-campus housing options where hazing occurs
• Harris County jurisdiction for legal proceedings
• Recent high-profile case may have changed university enforcement

Baylor University (Waco) & Southern Methodist University (Dallas)
These private institutions have different reporting requirements and disciplinary processes than public universities. SMU’s location in Dallas makes it geographically convenient for some Flower Mound families but doesn’t eliminate hazing risks.

SMU Considerations:

• Private university status means less transparency in disciplinary records
• Dallas Police Department jurisdiction for off-campus incidents
• Affluent Greek life culture with its own risk factors

Baylor Considerations:

• Religious identity sometimes creates perception of reduced risk (not supported by facts)
• History of institutional handling issues in other abuse contexts
• McLennan County jurisdiction for legal matters

The Greek Ecosystem Around Flower Mound: What’s Really There

Many Flower Mound parents are surprised to learn how many fraternity and sorority organizations operate right in our North Texas backyard. Through our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database built from IRS records, university rosters, and public filings—we maintain detailed awareness of the Greek organizations that impact Texas families.

Public Records: Fraternities, Sororities & Greek Organizations Serving Flower Mound Families

If you are a parent in Flower Mound, you deserve to know who really stands behind the Greek organizations connected to your child. These are not anonymous social clubs—they are legal entities with tax identification numbers, insurance policies, and organizational structures that can be held accountable.

Organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro Area (Including Denton County):
The DFW metro contains approximately 510 Greek-related organizations according to Cause IQ data. These include undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, housing corporations, and educational foundations. Examples from public records include:

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity – EIN: 742911848 – Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Cause IQ metro listing: Fort Worth, TX)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN: 741380362 – Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 filing)
• Denton-Lewisville Guide Right Foundation – EIN: 861205340 – Flower Mound, TX 75028 (IRS B83 filing)
• Kappa Delta Sorority – Gamma Beta Chapter – Denton, TX (Cause IQ listing: Texas Woman’s University chapter)
• Phi Chi Theta – Gamma Iota Chapter – Carrollton, TX (Business fraternity chapter)

University of North Texas (Denton) Greek Organizations:
From official university rosters and IRS filings:

• Alpha Tau Omega Housing Corporation – EIN: 300517788 – Nacogdoches, TX 75965
• Multiple NPHC (Divine Nine) chapters with national oversight
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – EIN: 263170920 – Denton, TX 76204 (Texas Woman’s University chapter)

Texas-Wide Organizational Backbone:
Our IRS B83 data shows 125+ Texas-registered Greek organizations with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), including:

• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation – EIN: 371768785 – Missouri City, TX 77459
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN: 462267515 – Frisco, TX 75035
• Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Texas Gamma Chapter – EIN: 911981478 – Fort Worth, TX 76109

Why This Directory Matters for Flower Mound Families:
When hazing occurs, these organizations—not just individual students—often carry insurance and have assets that can provide compensation for victims. Many parents don’t realize that national fraternities maintain separate legal entities (housing corporations, educational foundations, alumni chapters) that all represent potential sources of accountability. We maintain this directory so families never start from zero in identifying who bears responsibility.

Fraternities & Sororities: National Histories That Predict Local Risk

National fraternity and sorority histories matter because they show patterns that predict future behavior. When a Texas chapter repeats the same dangerous “traditions” that caused deaths elsewhere, that pattern proves the national organization knew the risks and failed to prevent them.

Organizations With Documented Hazing Histories Present at Texas Schools

Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ / “Pike”)

• National History: Stone Foltz death (BGSU, 2021), David Bogenberger death (NIU, 2012), multiple other fatalities
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UT Austin, Texas A&M, Baylor, SMU, Texas Tech
• Pattern: “Big/Little” alcohol hazing events, forced consumption rituals
• Legal Significance: National settled Foltz case for $7 million plus $3 million from university

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ / “SAE”)

• National History: Multiple hazing deaths nationally; traumatic brain injury lawsuit (Alabama, 2023); chemical burns case (Texas A&M, 2021)
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UT Austin, Texas A&M, SMU, Baylor, Texas Tech
• Pattern: Physical violence combined with alcohol hazing
• Texas Incident: Texas A&M chapter suspended for two years after cleaner chemical burns

Pi Kappa Phi (ΠΚΦ)

• National History: Andrew Coffey death (FSU, 2017)
• Texas Presence: Chapter at University of Houston (Beta Nu chapter now closed)
• Current Case: We represent Leonel Bermudez against UH Pi Kappa Phi in $10 million lawsuit
• Pattern: Extreme physical hazing leading to rhabdomyolysis and organ failure

Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)

• National History: Max Gruver death (LSU, 2017) leading to Louisiana felony hazing law
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UT Austin, Texas A&M, Baylor, Texas Tech
• Pattern: “Bible study” drinking games with academic pretense

Kappa Alpha Order (ΚΑ)

• National History: Multiple hazing suspensions nationally
• Texas Presence: Chapters at Texas A&M, SMU, Texas Tech
• SMU Incident: 2017 paddling and alcohol hazing led to multi-year suspension

How National Histories Create Legal Liability

In civil hazing cases, we use national organizations’ own histories against them to prove:

1. Foreseeability
If Pi Kappa Alpha knew “Big/Little” drinking events caused deaths at Bowling Green and Northern Illinois, they should have known the same would happen at UT Austin. Their failure to prevent it constitutes negligence.

2. Pattern and Practice
When multiple chapters of the same national engage in the same dangerous behaviors, it proves the problem isn’t “rogue individuals” but organizational culture.

3. Inadequate Supervision
Nationals that collect dues, provide materials, and maintain oversight relationships with chapters have a duty to supervise. Prior incidents at other chapters put them on notice.

4. Punitive Damages Potential
When nationals ignore obvious patterns, continue dangerous traditions, or prioritize membership growth over safety, Texas courts may award punitive damages to punish and deter.

For Flower Mound families, this means: the fraternity that harmed your child at UT Austin likely has a long history of similar incidents across the country. That history becomes powerful evidence in your case.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and What Flower Mound Families Can Expect

Pursuing a hazing case requires systematic investigation, strategic legal positioning, and understanding of what differentiates these cases from ordinary personal injury claims. Our approach combines traditional investigative rigor with digital forensics and institutional knowledge.

Critical Evidence Categories

1. Digital Communications (The Most Important Evidence)

• Group Chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, fraternity-specific apps
• Social Media: Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook messages
• Recovered Data: Even deleted messages can often be recovered through digital forensics
• Metadata: Timestamps, participant lists, location data

In the UH case, group chats revealed planning of hazing events, discussions of covering up injuries, and coordination among members after Bermudez was hospitalized.

2. Photos & Videos

• Content filmed by participants during events
• Social media posts showing “fun” that was actually hazing
• Security camera footage from houses and venues
• Geotagged images proving location

3. Internal Organization Documents

• Pledge manuals and “tradition” documents
• Emails between chapter officers and national representatives
• Risk management reports and incident documentation
• Membership records showing hierarchical relationships

4. University Records

• Prior conduct violations and disciplinary history
• Campus police incident reports
• Clery Act reports and annual security disclosures
• Internal emails among administrators about the organization
• Title IX investigation materials if applicable

5. Medical & Psychological Documentation

• Emergency room records (critical for timing and causation)
• Hospitalization records showing extent of injuries
• Toxicology reports documenting blood alcohol levels
• Psychological evaluations diagnosing PTSD, depression, anxiety
• Long-term treatment plans for permanent injuries

6. Witness Testimony

• Other pledges who experienced similar treatment
• Former members willing to describe organizational culture
• Roommates, friends, or significant others who observed changes
• Medical personnel who treated injuries

Damages: What Can Be Recovered in a Hazing Case

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses)

• Medical Expenses: Past and future treatment, including potential lifelong care for catastrophic injuries
• Lost Income & Earning Capacity: Missed education, delayed career entry, reduced lifetime earnings
• Educational Costs: Tuition for semesters missed, lost scholarships, transfer expenses
• Other Expenses: Therapy, medications, medical equipment

Non-Economic Damages (Quality of Life Impacts)

• Physical Pain & Suffering: From injuries and recovery
• Emotional Distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Inability to participate in previously enjoyed activities
• Reputational Harm: Social stigma and digital footprint consequences

Wrongful Death Damages (For Families)

• Funeral & Burial Costs
• Loss of Financial Support: The deceased’s potential lifetime contributions
• Loss of Companionship & Society: For parents, siblings, spouses
• Mental Anguish: Family’s grief and trauma

Punitive Damages (When Available)

• Designed to punish especially reckless or malicious conduct
• Available in Texas under certain circumstances
• Often triggered when defendants had prior warnings and ignored them

The Role of Insurance and Coverage Fights

National fraternities and universities typically carry insurance policies, but insurers often fight hazing claims using “intentional act” exclusions. Our experience as former insurance defense attorneys gives us unique insight into these tactics. We know how to:

• Identify all potential insurance coverage sources
• Navigate coverage disputes and “reservation of rights” letters
• Pursue bad faith claims against insurers who wrongfully deny coverage
• Structure settlements to maximize recovery within policy limits

For Flower Mound families, this means: the financial recovery often depends less on the defendants’ assets than on their insurance coverage and our ability to access it.

Practical Guidance for Flower Mound Parents & Students

For Parents: Warning Signs and Immediate Actions

Physical Warning Signs:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries with inconsistent explanations
• Extreme fatigue or exhaustion beyond normal academic stress
• Significant weight loss or gain in short periods
• Injuries to hands, back, or legs that suggest paddling or forced exercise
• Chemical burns, rashes, or skin damage
• Signs of alcohol poisoning or unusual substance use

Behavioral & Emotional Red Flags:

• Sudden secrecy about organizational activities (“I can’t talk about it”)
• Withdrawal from family, old friends, or non-organizational activities
• Personality changes: new anxiety, depression, irritability
• Defensive reactions when asked about the group
• Fear of “getting the chapter in trouble” or “letting brothers/sisters down”
• Constant phone monitoring for group chat messages
• Missing classes or declining academic performance

Financial Indicators:

• Unexpected large expenses for “dues,” “fines,” or mandatory purchases
• Buying excessive alcohol or gifts for older members
• Sudden financial stress without clear explanation

How to Talk to Your Child:

1. Choose a private, calm setting without distractions
2. Use open-ended questions: “How are things really going with [organization]?”
3. Express concern without accusation: “I’ve noticed you seem exhausted lately…”
4. Emphasize safety over status: “No group is worth your health or safety”
5. Offer unconditional support: “You can always come to us, no matter what”

If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Prioritize Safety: If immediate danger exists, call 911
2. Document Everything: Write down dates, times, what your child shares
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot messages before deletion
4. Seek Medical Attention: Even if injuries seem minor, create a medical record
5. Consult an Attorney Before Reporting: Once you report, the organization may destroy evidence

For Students: Recognizing Hazing and Protecting Yourself

Self-Assessment Questions:

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

If You’re Experiencing Hazing:

1. Your Safety Comes First: Leave immediately if you feel endangered
2. Medical Emergencies: Call 911 without fear of “getting in trouble”—Texas has good-faith reporter protections
3. Preserve Evidence: Screenshot messages, photograph injuries, save physical items
4. Trusted Adults: Tell someone outside the organization (parent, RA, professor)
5. Exit Strategy: You have the legal right to leave at any time—send written resignation

Digital Evidence Preservation:

• Group Chats: Capture full threads with timestamps and participant names
• Photos/Videos: Save originals with metadata intact
• Social Media: Screenshot posts before they disappear
• Backups: Upload evidence to cloud storage or email to yourself

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

1. Deleting Evidence: “Cleaning up” messages looks like obstruction of justice
2. Confronting the Organization: Gives them time to destroy evidence and prepare defenses
3. Signing University Agreements: May waive your right to pursue legal action
4. Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys monitor everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
5. Waiting for “Internal Resolution”: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statutes run
6. Talking to Insurance Adjusters: Recorded statements are used against you
7. Letting Your Child Return for “One Last Meeting”: Opportunity for pressure and intimidation

Why Attorney911 for Flower Mound Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway. At Attorney911, we bring unique qualifications to hazing litigation that directly benefit Flower Mound families.

Our Competitive Advantages

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

• Value (and undervalue) hazing claims
• Use delay tactics to pressure families
• Deploy “intentional act” exclusions to deny coverage
• Structure lowball settlement offers

This insider perspective means we anticipate defense strategies before they’re deployed.

Complex Institutional Litigation Experience (Ralph Manginello)
Our managing partner was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation—taking on billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. That same capability applies when suing national fraternities and universities. We’re not intimidated by institutional power.

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Results
We have recovered millions for families in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. We work with economists to properly value lifetime care needs, lost earning capacity, and non-economic damages—ensuring settlements reflect true harm, not insurance company formulas.

Criminal + Civil Hazing Capability
Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand both sides of hazing cases. We can:

• Advise witnesses and former members with criminal exposure
• Navigate dual-track criminal and civil proceedings
• Protect your rights in interactions with law enforcement

Investigative Depth and Expert Network
We maintain the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database tracking 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. This means we don’t start from zero in your case. We already know:

• Organizational structures and insurance carriers
• Prior incident patterns
• University disciplinary histories
• Legal entities behind chapter letters

Our expert network includes:

• Medical specialists (rhabdomyolysis, TBI, kidney injury)
• Digital forensics experts for message recovery
• Greek life culture and tradition experts
• Economists for damage calculation
• Psychologists for trauma assessment

Spanish-Language Services
Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish, ensuring Hispanic families in Flower Mound and throughout Texas receive equal access to justice and understanding.

Our Approach: Thorough, Empathetic, Strategic

1. Immediate Response: We act within hours, not days, to preserve evidence before it disappears
2. Comprehensive Investigation: We leave no stone unturned—digital forensics, public records requests, witness interviews
3. Strategic Positioning: We build cases for trial to maximize settlement leverage
4. Client-Centered Communication: We keep you informed at every stage, respecting your need for clarity during crisis
5. Accountability Focus: We pursue institutional change, not just financial recovery

Taking Action: Your Next Steps as a Flower Mound Family

If hazing has impacted your family, time is your most critical resource. Evidence disappears quickly—group chats are deleted, witnesses are coached, and universities begin controlling narratives.

Free Confidential Consultation

We offer no-cost, no-obligation consultations to Flower Mound families. In your consultation, we will:

1. Listen Carefully to your experience without judgment
2. Review Any Evidence you’ve preserved (photos, messages, medical records)
3. Explain Your Legal Options clearly and honestly
4. Discuss Realistic Timelines and what to expect
5. Answer All Your Questions about process, costs, and potential outcomes
6. Provide Immediate Guidance on evidence preservation and safety planning

Our Fee Structure: No Recovery, No Fee

We work on a contingency fee basis for hazing cases. This means:

• No upfront costs or retainers
• No hourly billing that creates financial stress
• We only get paid if we recover compensation for you
• If we don’t win, you owe us nothing

This structure ensures access to justice regardless of financial circumstances.

Contact Attorney911 Today

Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070
24/7 Availability: We understand emergencies don’t wait for business hours
Spanish Services: Hablamos Español – Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com

Serving Flower Mound and All of Texas:
While our offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families throughout Texas, including Flower Mound, Lewisville, Denton, and all North Texas communities. Distance doesn’t prevent us from providing comprehensive representation—we utilize technology for seamless communication and have relationships with local experts across the state.

Whether your child attends UNT just minutes away or UT Austin hours from home, we have the knowledge and resources to hold responsible parties accountable wherever they’re located.

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

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

1. Click2Houston (KPRC 2) — “‘Urine was brown’: Pledge sues over severe hazing at University of Houston’s shut down Pi Kappa Phi fraternity”

• Published: November 21, 2025 | Authors: Bryce Newberry & Holly Galvan Posey
• URL: 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/

1. ABC13 Eyewitness News (KTRK) — “Waterboarding, forced eating, physical punishment: Lawsuit alleges abuse faced by injured pledge at UH’s Pi Kappa Phi fraternity”

• Published: November 22, 2025 | Author: Nick Natario
• URL: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/

1. Hoodline — “University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Face $10M Lawsuit Over Alleged Hazing and Abuse”

• Published: November 22, 2025 | Author: Alyssa Ford
• URL: 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:

1. “📱 Can You Use Your Cellphone to Document a Legal Case? | Attorney911 Explains”

• Content: How to properly use your smartphone to document evidence after an injury or hazing incident.
• URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

1. “Is There a Statute of Limitations on My Case? | Attorney911 with Injury Lawyer Ralph Manginello”

• Content: Explains Texas statutes of limitations for personal injury cases.
• URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c

1. “Client Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case | Attorney911 with Ralph Manginello”

• Content: Identifies common mistakes that can damage or destroy personal injury claims.
• URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY

1. “📢 How Do Contingency Fees Work? Injury Lawyer Explains!”

• Content: Explains the contingency fee model for personal injury cases.
• URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website:

1. Attorney911 — Main Website & Contact

• Content: Full-service Texas personal injury and criminal defense law firm. 24/7 free consultations.
• URL: https://attorney911.com

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