The Definitive Guide for City of Graham Parents: Hazing, Fraternities, and Your Legal Rights in Texas

A Nightmare Close to Home: Why Every City of Graham Family Needs This Guide

Imagine your child—a bright student from Young County who worked hard to get into college—is now lying in a hospital bed. Their urine is brown, their muscles are breaking down, and doctors are talking about acute kidney failure and permanent damage. This isn’t a medical mystery show; this is what happened to Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student, during his Pi Kappa Phi pledge period in fall 2025. The alleged hazing included forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns; being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”; 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion; and carrying a degrading “pledge fanny pack” 24/7. The result? Rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, and a four-day hospitalization with ongoing risk of permanent harm. This $10 million lawsuit against UH, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, and 13 fraternity leaders is happening right now in Texas, represented by our firm, Attorney911.

If you’re a parent in City of Graham, Young County, or anywhere in North Texas, this guide is for you. Your children—whether they attend nearby universities, commute to larger campuses, or live at schools hours away—could face similar dangers in fraternities, sororities, Corps programs, athletic teams, or spirit groups. Hazing isn’t just “boys being boys” or “harmless tradition.” In 2025, it’s a sophisticated, often hidden practice that can lead to hospitalization, lifelong disability, or death.

This comprehensive guide will show you:

• What modern hazing really looks like (beyond the stereotypes)
• Texas hazing laws and how they protect—or sometimes fail—students
• Real cases from University of Houston, Texas A&M, UT Austin, SMU, and Baylor
• How national fraternity and sorority histories create predictable patterns of abuse
• What legal options City of Graham families have when hazing happens
• Why early action and evidence preservation are critical

We serve families throughout Texas from our Houston, Austin, and Beaumont offices. Whether your child attends school in Graham, commutes to a nearby campus, or studies hours away at a major university, Texas hazing law and experienced Texas counsel can help.

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’re “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

What Hazing Really Looks Like in 2025: A Guide for City of Graham Families

For parents in City of Graham and Young County who may be unfamiliar with modern college Greek life, hazing has evolved far beyond simple pranks. Today’s hazing is a systematic practice of coercion, humiliation, and endangerment that organizations have become sophisticated at hiding.

The Modern Definition: Coercion, Not Consent

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. Crucially, “I agreed to it” does not make it safe or legal when there’s peer pressure and power imbalance. Texas law explicitly states that consent is not a defense to hazing.

Five Categories of Modern Hazing

Alcohol and Substance Hazing
This remains the deadliest form. It includes forced or coerced drinking during “lineups,” chugging challenges, games like “Bible study” where wrong answers mean drinking, and being pressured to consume unknown or mixed substances. The Leonel Bermudez case includes forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting.

Physical Hazing
Beyond traditional paddling, this now includes extreme calisthenics disguised as “workouts”—like the 100+ push-ups and 500 squats in the UH case. Sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, exposure to extreme temperatures, and dangerous physical tests are common. Another UH pledge was allegedly hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour.

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing
Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (like “roasted pig” positions reported in Texas A&M Corps cases), degrading costumes, and acts with racial or sexist overtones. The “pledge fanny pack” in the UH case containing condoms and sex toys represents this category.

Psychological Hazing
Verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members, manipulation, forced confessions, and public shaming. This creates the coercive environment that makes physical hazing possible.

Digital/Online Hazing
Group chat dares, “challenges” shared on Instagram or TikTok, pressure to create compromising content, and 24/7 availability requirements through apps like GroupMe. Organizations now use digital tools to maintain constant control over pledges.

Where Hazing Happens: Beyond Fraternities

While Greek organizations are most notorious, hazing occurs in:

• Fraternities and sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural)
• Corps of Cadets/ROTC/military-style groups (as seen at Texas A&M)
• Spirit squads and tradition clubs
• Athletic teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer)
• Marching bands and performance groups
• Some academic, service, and cultural organizations

The common thread is social status, tradition, and secrecy—elements that keep these practices alive even when everyone “knows” hazing is illegal.

Texas Hazing Law: What City of Graham Families Need to Know

Understanding the legal framework is crucial for families in Young County and throughout North Texas. Texas has specific laws, but they exist alongside institutional policies that sometimes prioritize reputation over protection.

Texas Education Code: Chapter 37, Subchapter F

Texas law defines hazing broadly as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student that:

• Endangers mental or physical health or safety, AND
• Occurs for pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in any organization with student members

Plain English: If someone makes your child do something dangerous, harmful, or degrading to join or stay in a group—and they meant to do it or were reckless about the risk—that’s hazing under Texas law.

Key Legal Points:

• Location doesn’t matter—on or off campus
• Can be mental or physical harm
• “Reckless” is enough (knew the risk and did it anyway)
• Consent is NOT a defense (Texas Education Code § 37.155)

Criminal Penalties in Texas

• 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 crimes:

• Failure to report hazing by members/officers: misdemeanor
• Retaliation against reporters: misdemeanor
• Organizations can be fined up to $10,000 per violation

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Different Goals

Criminal Cases

• Brought by the state (prosecutor)
• Goal: Punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Common charges: hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, battery, manslaughter in fatal cases

Civil Cases

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Goal: Monetary compensation and accountability
• Focus: negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision, premises liability, emotional distress
• No criminal conviction required to pursue civil case

Federal Overlay: Additional Protections

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024)
Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently, strengthen prevention, and maintain public hazing data (phased in by around 2026).

Title IX/Clery Act
When hazing involves sexual harassment, assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations trigger. Clery requires reporting certain crimes—hazing often overlaps with assaults or alcohol/drug crimes.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Individual Students
Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover up.

Local Chapter/Organization
The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if incorporated), plus officers or “pledge educators.”

National Fraternity/Sorority
Headquarters that set policies, receive dues, and supervise chapters. Liability hinges on what they knew or should have known from prior incidents.

University or Governing Board
Schools may be sued under negligence or civil-rights theories. Key questions: prior warnings, policy enforcement, deliberate indifference.

Third Parties
Landlords/owners of houses/event spaces, bars/alcohol providers (dram shop liability), security companies.

Every case is fact-specific—not every party is liable in every situation.

National Hazing Case Patterns: Lessons for Texas Families

The tragedies that made national headlines aren’t abstract—they show patterns that repeat at Texas campuses. Understanding these cases helps City of Graham families recognize danger signs and understand what’s at stake.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)
Bid-acceptance event with heavy drinking. Severe falls captured on chapter cameras; hours delayed before medical help. Dozens of criminal charges; civil litigation; Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law. Takeaway: Extreme intoxication + delayed 911 + culture of silence = legally devastating.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017)
Big/little event; pledge given handle of liquor; drank to dangerous levels; died. Criminal hazing charges; FSU temporarily suspended Greek life. Takeaway: Formulaic “tradition” drinking nights are repeating scripts for disaster.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)
“Bible study” drinking game; forced to drink for wrong answers; died from alcohol toxicity (BAC 0.495%). Multiple members charged; one convicted of negligent homicide; Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act (felony hazing statute). Takeaway: Legislative change often follows public outrage and clear proof.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)
Pledge night; forced to drink nearly bottle of whiskey; died from alcohol poisoning. Multiple criminal convictions; BGSU settled for nearly $3 million; additional settlements with fraternity/individuals. Former chapter president ordered to pay $6.5 million personally. Takeaway: Universities face significant financial consequences alongside fraternities; individual officers can face massive personal liability.

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)
Pledge at fraternity retreat subjected to violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual. Suffered fatal head injuries; help delayed. Multiple members convicted; fraternity banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years; national organization criminally convicted. Takeaway: Off-campus “retreats” can be as dangerous as parties; national orgs face serious sanctions.

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025)
Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within football program. Multiple lawsuits against university/staff; head coach Pat Fitzgerald fired, later settled wrongful-termination suit confidentially. Takeaway: Hazing extends beyond Greek life; big-money athletic programs can harbor systemic abuse.

What These Cases Mean for City of Graham Families

Common threads: forced drinking, humiliation, violence, delayed medical care, cover-ups. Reforms and multi-million-dollar settlements often follow only after tragedy and litigation. Texas families facing hazing are operating in a landscape shaped by these national lessons—and the same organizations involved in these national cases have chapters at Texas schools.

Texas University Focus: Where City of Graham Students Attend

City of Graham families send children to universities throughout Texas—from nearby campuses to major hubs hours away. Understanding each campus’s specific hazing landscape is crucial.

University of Houston: The Active Case Campus

Campus & Culture Snapshot
Large urban campus with active Greek life and multiple fraternity/sorority chapters. The recent Pi Kappa Phi case shows hazing’s severe reality here.

Hazing Policy & Reporting
UH prohibits hazing on or off campus, including forced consumption, sleep deprivation, physical mistreatment, and mental distress. Reporting channels: Dean of Students, conduct offices, campus police (UHPD).

Recent Major Incident: Leonel Bermudez Case
Our active $10 million lawsuit details extreme hazing in Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter. Allegations include:

• “Pledge fanny pack” with degrading contents
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, peppercorns until vomiting
• Hose spraying “similar to waterboarding”
• 100+ push-ups, 500 squats under expulsion threats
• Hog-tying another pledge for over an hour
• Result: rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, 4-day hospitalization

Chapter suspended Nov 6, 2025; members voted to surrender charter Nov 14. UH called conduct “deeply disturbing.”

How a UH Hazing Case Might Proceed
Jurisdiction: UHPD and/or Houston Police. Civil suits in Harris County courts. Potential defendants: individual students, chapter, Pi Kappa Phi national, UH, property owners.

What UH Students & City of Graham Parents Should Do

• Report to Dean of Students AND UHPD
• Document prior complaints if known
• Contact attorney experienced in Houston-based hazing cases to uncover prior discipline and internal files
• Act quickly—evidence disappears within days

Texas A&M University: Corps and Greek Life Intersection

Campus & Culture Snapshot
Tradition-heavy environment with strong Greek life and Corps of Cadets culture. Both have documented hazing issues.

Hazing Policy & Reporting
Separate policies for Greek life and Corps. Student Conduct office handles investigations; Corps has additional military-style discipline system.

Documented Incidents

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Lawsuit (2021): Pledges allegedly covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts. Fraternity suspended; pledges sued for $1 million.
• Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): Cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts and being bound between beds in “roasted pig” pose with apple in mouth. Sought over $1 million.
• Other Cases: Multiple Greek organizations on disciplinary probation for hazing violations.

What City of Graham Families at A&M Should Know

• Corps hazing often framed as “tradition” or “discipline”
• Greek life violations frequently involve alcohol and physical abuse
• Early reporting to BOTH Student Conduct and Corps leadership (if applicable)
• Document everything—Corps and Greek organizations often have sophisticated cover-up procedures

University of Texas at Austin: Transparency and Patterns

Campus & Culture Snapshot
Massive Greek system with approximately 60 fraternity/sorority chapters. UT maintains relatively transparent public hazing violations log.

Hazing Policy & Reporting
UT publishes hazing violations online—one of Texas’s most transparent systems. Includes organization names, dates, conduct, and sanctions.

Recent Violations (From Public Log)

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Sanction: probation + hazing prevention education.
• Texas Wranglers (Spirit Group): Multiple violations for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing.
• Other Groups: Various fraternities sanctioned for alcohol hazing, physical abuse, humiliation rituals.

Unique Advantage for Austin-Area Families
UT’s public log provides pattern evidence for civil cases. Repeated violations show organizational knowledge and foreseeability.

What UT Students & Parents Should Do

• Check UT’s hazing violations log for your child’s organization
• Report to Dean of Students AND UTPD
• Use public violation history as leverage in negotiations
• Document everything—UT’s transparency means they may be more responsive to documented evidence

Southern Methodist University: Private Campus Challenges

Campus & Culture Snapshot
Private, affluent campus with strong Greek presence. SMU’s private status affects transparency around hazing incidents.

Hazing Policy & Reporting
SMU prohibits hazing and offers anonymous reporting through systems like Real Response. Private university means less public disclosure.

Documented Incidents

• Kappa Alpha Order (2017): New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink, sleep-deprived. Chapter suspended until around 2021.
• Other Greek Organizations: Multiple groups on probation for hazing violations in recent years.

Special Considerations for SMU Families

• Private university = less public accountability
• May require litigation to obtain internal reports
• Wealthy defendant organizations = well-funded defense
• Early legal intervention critical to preserve evidence

Baylor University: Religious Identity and Scrutiny

Campus & Culture Snapshot
Religious identity with history of scrutiny over football/Title IX issues. Baylor’s culture affects how hazing is addressed.

Hazing Policy & Reporting
“Zero tolerance” policy alongside religious branding. History shows gap between policy and enforcement.

Documented Incidents

• Baseball Hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following hazing investigation.
• Greek Life Violations: Multiple organizations disciplined for hazing involving alcohol, physical abuse.

What Baylor Families Should Consider

• Religious branding may affect reporting comfort
• Prior scandals create institutional sensitivity
• May require careful navigation of religious and legal considerations
• Early consultation with attorney familiar with Baylor’s unique environment

The Greek Organization Landscape: National Histories Matter for City of Graham Families

When your child joins a fraternity or sorority at any Texas university, they’re joining an organization with a national history—and often, a national pattern of hazing incidents. These histories matter legally because they show foreseeability: national headquarters knew or should have known their chapters were engaging in dangerous behaviors.

Why National Histories Create Legal Liability

National fraternities/sororities have thick anti-hazing manuals and risk policies precisely because they’ve seen deaths and catastrophic injuries. When a Texas chapter repeats the same script that got another chapter shut down or sued in another state, that shows the national organization either:

1. Failed to enforce its own policies
2. Didn’t provide adequate training/supervision
3. Knew about patterns but didn’t intervene effectively

This pattern evidence supports negligence claims and can justify punitive damages.

National Organizations with Documented Hazing Histories

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State (2021): $10 million settlement ($7M national + $3M university)
• David Bogenberger – Northern Illinois (2012): $14 million settlement
• Texas Presence: Chapters at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, Baylor
• Pattern: “Big/Little” alcohol hazing events

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)

• University of Alabama (2023): Traumatic brain injury lawsuit
• Texas A&M (2021): Chemical burns, skin grafts, $1 million lawsuit
• UT Austin (2024): Assault lawsuit (>$1 million)
• Texas Presence: Chapters at all major Texas universities
• Pattern: Physical violence, dangerous substances

Pi Kappa Phi

• Andrew Coffey – Florida State (2017): Hazing death
• Leonel Bermudez – UH (2025): Our active $10 million lawsuit
• Pattern: Physical endurance tests, forced consumption

Phi Delta Theta

• Max Gruver – LSU (2017): Hazing death, Louisiana’s Max Gruver Act
• Pattern: Drinking games disguised as “education”

Other Organizations with National Incidents:

• Phi Gamma Delta (Danny Santulli – Missouri: permanent brain damage)
• Sigma Chi ($10M+ settlement at College of Charleston)
• Kappa Alpha Order (SMU suspension)
• Various NPHC organizations (paddling, physical beatings)

The Texas Connection: Same Organizations, Same Patterns

The fraternities and sororities with national hazing histories have chapters at:

• University of Houston: Pi Kappa Phi (active case), SAE, Pike, Phi Delt, etc.
• Texas A&M: SAE (chemical burns case), Pike, multiple others
• UT Austin: SAE (assault case), Pike (sanctioned 2023), etc.
• SMU & Baylor: Multiple organizations with national incident histories

When City of Graham families ask, “Could this happen here?”—the answer is that the same national organizations with documented hazing problems operate at Texas campuses. Their national histories create legal responsibility when local chapters repeat predictable patterns.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

When hazing causes injury or death, building a strong case requires immediate action, strategic evidence collection, and understanding what compensation may be available. For City of Graham families, knowing this process helps make informed decisions during crisis.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Communications (Most Important)

• GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, fraternity apps
• Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok messages
• Recovered deleted messages via digital forensics
• City of Graham tip: Screenshot everything immediately—don’t wait

Photos & Videos

• Content filmed by members during events
• Social media posts/stories showing hazing
• Security/doorbell camera footage
• Injury documentation (multiple angles, over time)

Internal Organization Documents

• Pledge manuals, initiation scripts
• Emails/texts about “traditions” or “what we do to pledges”
• National policies and training materials
• Obtained via: discovery in lawsuit, subpoenas

University Records

• Prior conduct files, probation/suspension letters
• Incident reports to campus police/conduct offices
• Clery Act reports
• Texas public records requests can obtain some documents

Medical & Psychological Records

• ER/hospitalization records
• Toxicology reports (blood alcohol, drug tests)
• Psychological evaluations (PTSD, depression, anxiety)
• Critical: Have medical providers document “hazing” as cause

Witness Testimony

• Other pledges, members, roommates, RAs
• Former members who quit/were expelled
• Early interviews before memories fade or witnesses are coached

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Economic Damages (Quantifiable)

• Medical bills: ER, hospitalization, surgery, therapy, future care
• Lost earnings: Missed work, reduced future earning capacity
• Educational impact: Lost scholarships, delayed graduation, transfer costs

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress: PTSD, depression, anxiety, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death damages (if applicable): funeral costs, loss of companionship, family grief

Punitive Damages (When available)

• Punish especially reckless/willful conduct
• Require showing prior warnings ignored, particularly cruel conduct, cover-up attempts
• Texas has caps on punitive damages in many cases

Realistic Settlement Ranges (Based on National Cases)

• Death cases: $1M–$14M settlements/verdicts
  • Stone Foltz (Pi Kappa Alpha): $10M total
  • David Bogenberger (Pi Kappa Alpha): $14M
  • Chad Meredith (Kappa Sigma): $12.6M verdict
• Severe injury cases: $375K–multi-million
  • Danny Santulli (Phi Gamma Delta): Multi-million total (22 defendants)
  • Joseph Snell (Omega Psi Phi): $375K verdict
• Individual officer liability:
  • Daylen Dunson (Pi Kappa Alpha president): Personally ordered to pay $6.5M

Important: These are national examples, not guarantees. Every case depends on specific facts, evidence, jurisdiction, and many other factors.

Insurance Coverage Complexities

National fraternities and universities often have insurance policies that may cover hazing claims, but insurers frequently argue:

• Hazing is “intentional conduct” excluded from coverage
• Policies don’t cover certain defendants or locations
• Claimants missed notice requirements

Experienced hazing attorneys:

• Identify all potential coverage sources (national policies, chapter policies, university policies, individual homeowner’s policies)
• Navigate exclusion arguments
• Pursue “bad faith” claims if insurers wrongfully deny coverage
• Use coverage disputes as leverage in settlement negotiations

Practical Guides for City of Graham Parents, Students, and Witnesses

For Parents: Recognizing and Responding to Hazing

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Hazed

Physical Signs:

• Unexplained bruises, burns, cuts
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Weight changes (from food/water restriction)
• Sleep deprivation (late-night calls, 3 AM “meetings”)
• Injuries to hands/back/legs from paddling/exercise
• Chemical burns or skin damage
• Signs of alcohol poisoning (even if child doesn’t normally drink)

Behavioral & Emotional Changes:

• Sudden secrecy about organization activities
• Withdrawal from family, old friends
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability
• Defensive when asked about the organization
• Fear of “getting in trouble” or “letting the chapter down”
• Constant phone use for group chat monitoring

Academic Red Flags:

• Grades dropping suddenly
• Missing classes, falling asleep in class
• Skipping assignments for “mandatory” events

Questions to Ask (Non-Confrontationally)

1. “How are things going with [organization]? Are you enjoying it?”
2. “Have they been respectful of your time for classes and sleep?”
3. “What do they ask you to do as a new member?”
4. “Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?”
5. “Have you seen anyone get hurt, or have you been hurt?”
6. “Do you feel like you can leave if you want to?”
7. “Are they asking you to keep secrets from me or the university?”

If You Suspect Hazing: Immediate Steps

1. Safety first: If child is in danger, call 911
2. Medical attention: Get professional evaluation immediately
3. Documentation:
   • Write down dates/times/details
   • Screenshot texts/chats if shown
   • Photograph injuries
4. Reporting decisions: Consult attorney before reporting to university
5. Legal consultation: Contact experienced hazing attorney within 24–48 hours

For Students: Self-Assessment and Safety Planning

Is This Hazing? Decision Guide
Ask yourself:

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something unsafe/degrading?
• Would I do this if I had a real choice (no social consequences)?
• Is this dangerous, degrading, or illegal?
• Would my parents/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, lie, or hide this?

If you answered YES to any, it’s likely hazing.

How to Exit Safely

• Immediate danger: Call 911, get to safe location
• Wanting to quit:
  • Tell someone outside the org first (parent, friend, RA)
  • Send email/text to chapter president: “I resign effective immediately”
  • Do NOT go to “one last meeting”
• Fear retaliation: Report threats to Dean of Students AND campus police

Evidence Collection (For Students)

1. Screenshots of group chats (full threads with timestamps)
2. Voice recordings (Texas is one-party consent state)
3. Photos of injuries, locations, objects used
4. Save everything digital—don’t delete even if embarrassed
5. Medical documentation: Tell providers you were hazed
6. Witness information: Names/contact info for others who saw what happened

For Former Members/Witnesses: Doing the Right Thing

If you participated in or witnessed hazing and now regret it:

• Your testimony and evidence can prevent future harm
• You may need your own legal advice about potential exposure
• Cooperating can be important step toward accountability
• Guilt is normal—taking responsibility is how you move forward

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

MISTAKES CITY OF GRAHAM FAMILIES MUST AVOID:

1. Letting your child delete messages or “clean up” evidence

   • Looks like cover-up; can be obstruction of justice
   • Instead: Preserve everything immediately

2. Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly

   • They immediately lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses
   • Instead: Document everything, call attorney first

3. Signing university “release” or “resolution” forms

   • May waive right to sue; settlements often far below value
   • Instead: Do NOT sign anything without attorney review

4. Posting details on social media before talking to lawyer

   • Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility
   • Instead: Document privately; let lawyer control public messaging

5. Letting your child go back to “one last meeting”

   • They pressure, intimidate, extract damaging statements
   • Instead: Once considering legal action, all communication through lawyer

6. Waiting “to see how the university handles it”

   • Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute runs
   • Instead: Preserve evidence NOW; consult lawyer immediately

7. Talking to insurance adjusters without a lawyer

   • Recorded statements used against you; early settlements are lowball
   • Instead: Politely decline: “My attorney will contact you”

Frequently Asked Questions for City of Graham Families

Q: Can I sue a university for hazing in Texas?
A: Yes, under certain circumstances. Public universities (UH, Texas A&M, UT) have sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals personally. Private universities (SMU, Baylor) have fewer immunity protections. Every case depends on specific facts—contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for case-specific analysis.

Q: Is hazing a felony in Texas?
A: It can be. Texas classifies hazing as Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if causing serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report hazing.

Q: Can my child bring a case if they “agreed” to the initiation?
A: Yes. Texas Education Code § 37.155 explicitly states consent is not a defense to hazing. Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion isn’t true voluntary consent.

Q: How long do we have to file a hazing lawsuit?
A: Generally 2 years from date of injury or death in Texas, but the “discovery rule” may extend this if harm/cause wasn’t immediately known. In cover-up cases, statute may be tolled (paused). Time is critical—call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately.

Q: What if the hazing happened off-campus or at a private house?
A: Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and national fraternities can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, knowledge, and foreseeability. Many major hazing cases (Pi Delta Psi retreat, Sigma Pi unofficial house) occurred off-campus with multi-million-dollar judgments.

Q: Will this be confidential, or will my child’s name be in the news?
A: Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. You can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability.

Q: What does it cost to hire Attorney911 for a hazing case?
A: We work on contingency fee basis for personal injury cases—no upfront costs, no fee unless we win. We advance case expenses and are reimbursed from recovery. This makes justice accessible to families who couldn’t otherwise afford representation against wealthy fraternities and universities.

Q: Do you handle cases outside of Texas?
A: We’re Texas-based but serve hazing victims nationwide through co-counsel arrangements with local attorneys in other states and consultation for families anywhere in the U.S. If your case has Texas connections (national org HQ in Texas, Texas-based insurance, etc.), we may serve as lead counsel.

Why Attorney911 for City of Graham 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. From our Houston office, we serve families throughout Texas, including City of Graham, Young County, and all of North Texas.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Cases

Insurance Insider Advantage (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
• Argue coverage exclusions for “intentional acts”
• Deploy defense strategies against hazing victims

We know their playbook because we used to run it.

Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions (Ralph Manginello)

• One of few Texas firms involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation (against billion-dollar defendant)
• Federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas)
• Not intimidated by national fraternities, universities, or their defense teams
• 25+ years of complex litigation experience

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Experience

• Proven track record in complex wrongful death cases
• Experience valuing lifetime care needs (brain injury, permanent disability)
• Collaboration with economists, life care planners, vocational specialists
• We don’t settle cheap— we build cases that force accountability

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise

• Ralph’s membership in Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA)
• Understands how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation
• Can advise witnesses/former members with dual exposure
• Knows defense strategies from both sides

Investigative Depth: The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine
We maintain a proprietary database of 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros, including:

IRS B83 Texas Organizations (Sample):

• KAPPA SIGMA – MU CAMMA CHAPTER INC (EIN: 133048786) – College Station, TX 77845
• 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 CHI FRATERNITY EPSILON XI CHAPTER (EIN: 746084905) – Houston, TX 77204
• TEXAS BETA PSI CHAPTER OF ALPHA DELTA KAPPA SORORITY INC (EIN: 746088185) – Shavano Park, TX 78249

Texas Universities City of Graham Families Attend:

• Nearby/Regional: Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls), Texas A&M University-Commerce, University of North Texas (Denton)
• Major Hubs: Texas A&M (College Station), UT Austin, University of Houston, Baylor (Waco), SMU (Dallas)

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro Organizations (City of Graham’s Metro):

• 510+ Greek organizations in DFW metro
• Examples: Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity (Fort Worth), Delta Delta Delta (Arlington), Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation (Fort Worth)

This intelligence means we start with knowledge, not guesswork. We know how to trace liability through house corporations, alumni chapters, national headquarters, and insurance coverage.

Evidence Mastery from Complex Cases

Our experience with trucking accidents (electronic logs, maintenance records), maritime cases (Jones Act claims), and refinery disasters (BP litigation) translates directly to hazing investigations:

• Digital forensics for deleted group chats
• Subpoena strategies for hidden university files
• Expert networks: medical, psychological, economic, Greek life culture
• We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does

Empathy and Victim Advocacy

We know this is one of the hardest things a family can face. Our approach balances:

• Thorough investigation to uncover the full truth
• Aggressive advocacy against powerful defendants
• Compassionate support for your family’s emotional needs
• Privacy protection throughout the process

Our goal isn’t just compensation—it’s answers, accountability, and preventing future harm.

Call to Action for City of Graham Families

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus—whether nearby Texas A&M-Commerce, regional University of North Texas, or major universities like UT Austin or University of Houston—we want to hear from you.

Families in City of Graham, Young County, and throughout North Texas have the right to answers and accountability.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm for a Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

What to expect in your free consultation:

1. We’ll listen to your story without judgment
2. Review any evidence you have (photos, texts, medical records)
3. Explain your legal options: criminal report, civil lawsuit, both, or neither
4. Discuss realistic timelines and expectations
5. Answer questions about costs (contingency fee—we don’t get paid unless we win)
6. No pressure to hire us on the spot—take time to decide
7. 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 (Lupe Peña)

Spanish Language Services:
Hablamos Español – Contact Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish
Servicios legales en español disponibles

Serving All of Texas from Multiple Offices

• Houston (Primary): Harris County
• Austin: Travis County
• Beaumont: Jefferson County
• Plus: Co-counsel arrangements nationwide

Whether you’re in City of Graham or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911.
Immediate help. FAST WINS.
Legal Emergency Lawyers™

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 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

Plain Text Links to Key Resources:

News Coverage of Leonel Bermudez UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:
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/
https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
https://hoodline.com/2025/11/university-of-houston-and-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity-face-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-hazing-and-abuse/

Attorney911 Educational Videos:
Evidence Preservation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs
Statute of Limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c
Client Mistakes to Avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
Contingency Fees Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website:
https://attorney911.com
Wrongful Death Practice: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/wrongful-death-claim-lawyer/
Criminal Defense: https://attorney911.com/law-practice-areas/criminal-defense-lawyers/