Hazing Injuries & Lawsuits: A Complete Guide for Highland Haven & Central Texas Families

It’s “Big/Little” night at an off-campus house near a Texas university. The music is loud, the atmosphere charged with tradition and expectation. A young student, a new pledge eager to belong, is handed a bottle. The message is clear, though unspoken: finish this, or you’re out. Around them, phones are out, recording. Chants rise. The student drinks, the room cheers. Hours later, that same student is in an emergency room in Austin, Waco, or San Antonio, their body in acute distress from alcohol poisoning or severe physical strain, their future suddenly uncertain. Their parents, back home in Highland Haven, receive a call that changes everything.

This is not a hypothetical. It is the reality of modern hazing, and it is happening right now at universities across Texas where Highland Haven families send their children.

If you are a parent in Highland Haven, Burnet County, or anywhere in Central Texas, this comprehensive guide is for you. We will explain what hazing truly looks like today, how Texas and federal law address it, and what we have learned from devastating national cases. We will focus specifically on the universities your children may attend—from the University of Texas at Austin to Texas State University in San Marcos—and the fraternities, sororities, and organizations present on those campuses. Most importantly, we will discuss the legal pathways to accountability, recovery, and prevention.

This is general information, not specific legal advice. Every case is unique. If hazing has impacted your family, we urge you to contact our firm for a confidential evaluation of your specific situation. We serve families throughout Texas, including here in the Highland Haven and Lake LBJ community.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR HAZING EMERGENCIES

If your child is in danger RIGHT NOW:

• Call 911 for any medical emergency.
• Then call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for immediate legal guidance.

In the first 48 hours, CRITICAL steps include:

1. Get Medical Attention: Even if your child insists they are “fine,” seek evaluation. Internal injuries like rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) may not be immediately apparent.
2. Preserve Evidence: Screenshot group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage), text threads, and social media posts. Photograph any injuries from multiple angles. Save any physical items involved.
3. Document Everything: Write down names, dates, locations, and what your child tells you while memories are fresh.
4. Do NOT: Confront the organization, sign anything from the university or an insurance company, post details on social media, or allow your child to delete digital evidence.

Contact an experienced hazing attorney within 24-48 hours. Evidence vanishes quickly. We can help you secure it and protect your child’s rights. Call 1-888-ATTY-911.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like in Texas

Hazing has evolved far beyond old stereotypes of simple pranks or initiations. It is a systematic pattern of coercion and abuse that leverages power imbalance, tradition, and secrecy. For Highland Haven families, understanding its modern forms is the first step toward recognizing danger.

A Modern Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act—on or off campus—directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, or maintaining membership in a group, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student. Crucially, under Texas law, the victim’s “consent” is not a defense.

The Five Categories of Modern Hazing:

1. Alcohol & Substance Hazing: The most common and deadly. This includes forced consumption during “lineups,” “Big/Little” reveals, drinking games like “Bible Study,” and coercion to use drugs.
2. Physical Hazing: Paddling, beatings, “smokings” (extreme calisthenics), sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme elements, and forced ingestion of harmful substances (spoiled food, excessive quantities of milk or raw eggs).
3. Sexualized & Humiliating Hazing: Forced nudity, simulated sexual acts (“elephant walk,” “roasted pig”), degrading costumes, and acts with racist, sexist, or homophobic overtones.
4. Psychological Hazing: Verbal abuse, threats, isolation from friends and family, “silent periods,” and manipulated confessions designed to break down a person’s sense of self.
5. Digital Hazing: Coercion via 24/7 group chats (GroupMe, Discord), mandatory social media challenges, public shaming online, and geo-tracking demands. Evidence often exists digitally before it is deleted.

Where It Happens: While fraternities and sororities are most associated with hazing, it pervades many groups: Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams, spirit organizations (like cheer, dance, or mascot teams), marching bands, and even some academic or cultural clubs. The common threads are hierarchy, secrecy, and tradition.

The Texas & Federal Law Framework for Hazing

For Highland Haven families navigating a crisis, understanding the legal landscape is essential. Texas has specific laws, and federal statutes add another layer of potential accountability.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code, Chapter 37)

The Texas Legislature defines hazing broadly and treats it seriously. Key provisions include:

• §37.151 Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health/safety of a student for the purpose of affiliation with a group. Location does not matter—it applies on and off campus.
• §37.152 Criminal Penalties:
  • Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that does not cause injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine).
  • Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing that causes injury requiring medical treatment.
  • State Jail Felony: Hazing that causes serious bodily injury or death.
• §37.155 Consent is NOT a Defense: This is critical. It doesn’t matter if your child “agreed” to participate. The law recognizes the power imbalance and coercion inherent in these situations.
• §37.154 Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting: Individuals who report hazing or call for medical help in good faith are protected from civil or criminal liability related to that report.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Two Paths to Accountability

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office). Aim to punish with jail, fines, probation. Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, or even manslaughter.
• Civil Cases: Brought by the victim or their family. Aim to secure compensation for damages (medical bills, pain and suffering, lost future earnings) and force institutional change. These cases target negligence—the failure to act with reasonable care.

These paths can proceed simultaneously. A lack of criminal charges does not prevent a civil lawsuit.

Federal Law Overlay

• The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs. Public data reporting will be phased in by 2026.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based hostility, federal Title IX obligations are triggered, creating another avenue for investigation and institutional accountability.
• The Clery Act: Requires universities to report certain campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults or alcohol crimes.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

A thorough investigation identifies all responsible parties, which may include:

• The Individual Students who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
• The Local Chapter as an entity, and its officers (President, Pledgemaster, Risk Manager).
• The National Fraternity/Sorority Headquarters for negligent supervision, failure to enforce policies, or ignoring known patterns of misconduct.
• The University for negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or premises liability.
• Third Parties like property owners, landlords of off-campus houses, or alcohol providers.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Anchors That Shape Litigation Today

The following cases are not just tragedies; they are legal precedents that define strategies, establish liability, and show Highland Haven families what is possible in pursuit of justice.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern: Fatalities & Multi-Million Dollar Settlements

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017): A bid-acceptance night with forced drinking led to Piazza’s fatal falls, captured on chapter cameras. Brothers delayed calling 911 for hours. The case resulted in dozens of criminal charges and spurred Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017): Died from alcohol toxicity after a “Bible study” drinking game. His family’s lawsuit led to a $6.1 million verdict, and Louisiana passed the Max Gruver Act, creating felony hazing penalties.

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021): Forced to drink a bottle of alcohol during a “Big/Little” event. His death resulted in a $10 million total settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU). The chapter president was later ordered to pay $6.5 million personally.

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017): Died after a “Big Brother” night where pledges were given handles of liquor. The chapter was closed, and FSU suspended all Greek life.

Physical & Ritualized Violence

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013): Died from traumatic brain injury after a violent, blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. Prosecutors secured convictions against individual members and the national fraternity itself, which was banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.

Danny Santulli – University of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta (2021): Suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking during a “pledge dad reveal.” His family settled with 22 defendants, illustrating the wide net of liability in severe injury cases.

Athletic & Institutional Hazing

Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Allegations of widespread, sexualized hazing led to multiple lawsuits, the firing of the head coach, and confidential settlements, proving hazing is not confined to Greek life.

What These Mean for Texas Families: These cases create a playbook of evidence (security footage, group chats), establish legal theories for suing national organizations, and show that juries will award significant damages for egregious misconduct. They prove that institutions can and will be held accountable.

Texas University Focus: Where Highland Haven Families Send Their Kids

Highland Haven students often attend universities across Central Texas and the state. Each campus has its own Greek ecosystem, history of incidents, and disciplinary approach. Understanding this landscape is critical.

Central Texas & Statewide Hubs for Highland Haven Families

Local & Regional Campuses:

• University of Texas at Austin (UT) – Travis County
• Texas State University – San Marcos, Hays County
• Baylor University – Waco, McLennan County
• Concordia University Texas – Austin, Travis County

Major Statewide Universities (Common Destinations):

• Texas A&M University – College Station, Brazos County
• University of Houston (UH) – Houston, Harris County
• Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Dallas, Dallas County
• Texas Tech University – Lubbock, Lubbock County

The Flagship Case: Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi

Right now, in Texas, we are actively litigating one of the most severe hazing cases in the country, proving our firm’s frontline commitment. This case is a stark example of what can happen.

The Case: In late 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters, its Beta Nu chapter housing corporation, and 13 individual fraternity leaders.

The Hazing: Bermudez’s fall 2025 pledge period involved systemic abuse: being forced to carry a degrading “pledge fanny pack” 24/7; enforced dress codes and overnight driving duties; and extreme physical hazing at locations including the UH chapter house, a Culmore Drive residence, and Yellowstone Boulevard Park. This included being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, and a November 3 workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion.

The Catastrophe: Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis—severe skeletal muscle breakdown—and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, could not stand, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels. He faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

The Aftermath: Pi Kappa Phi HQ suspended the Beta Nu chapter on November 6, 2025. On November 14, chapter members voted to surrender their charter, shutting it down. UH called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary and criminal referrals.

This case, covered by Click2Houston and ABC13, is the embodiment of modern hazing cruelty and institutional failure. It is why we fight.

University of Texas at Austin

For Highland Haven Families: As the flagship university just over an hour away, UT Austin is a common destination. Hazing cases here may involve the Austin Police Department and Travis County courts.

Transparency & History: UT maintains a public Hazing Violations log, a resource we use to establish patterns. Entries include:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics. Chapter placed on probation.
• Texas Wranglers (2022): Spirit group sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): The UT chapter has faced litigation, including a 2024 lawsuit by an Australian exchange student alleging assault causing a dislocated leg and broken nose.

Key Takeaway: UT’s public record is a double-edged sword—it shows accountability but also reveals recurring issues. Prior violations are powerful evidence in civil litigation.

Texas State University (San Marcos)

For Highland Haven Families: Located in nearby Hays County, Texas State’s growth and active Greek life make it another frequent choice.

Documented Incidents: While less public than UT’s log, incidents occur. Hazing investigations often involve the University Police Department and can lead to chapter suspensions. The proximity to natural environments like rivers can also lead to dangerous “retreat” hazing.

Legal Context: Cases may be filed in Hays County courts. The university’s response and prior knowledge are always key investigation points.

Baylor University (Waco)

For Highland Haven Families: Baylor’s private, Christian affiliation doesn’t insulate it from hazing. Its history with institutional crises (the football sexual assault scandal) informs how it handles misconduct.

Athletic Hazing: In 2020, 14 Baylor baseball players were suspended following a hazing investigation, highlighting that abuse extends beyond Greek life.

Considerations: As a private institution, Baylor has different legal exposures than public universities, but it can still be sued for negligence and deliberate indifference.

Texas A&M University & The Corps of Cadets

For Highland Haven Families: The Corps culture presents unique hazing risks alongside traditional Greek life.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Lawsuit (2021): Pledges alleged being covered in substances, including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries. The lawsuit sought $1 million.

Corps of Cadets Lawsuit (2023): 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 in damages.

These cases show that the “tradition” defense holds little weight in court when it involves abuse.

Fraternities & Sororities: The National Histories Behind the Local Chapters

When a hazing incident occurs at UT, Texas State, or Baylor, it is rarely an isolated event. National organizations have histories—known patterns of misconduct that establish “foreseeability,” a key legal concept meaning they knew or should have known the risks.

The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Our Investigative Backbone

To build the strongest cases, we go beyond the surface. We maintain a proprietary data engine tracking Greek organizations across Texas. This includes public records like IRS filings for house corporations and alumni chapters, which reveal the legal and financial structures behind the letters.

Public Records Snapshot: Greek Organizations in Texas
The following are examples of entities recorded in public filings, illustrating the vast network behind campus Greek life. This is the kind of data we use to identify all potentially liable parties.

• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc, EIN 133048786, College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc, EIN 475370943, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 Filing – Theta Delta Chapter)
• Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc, EIN 462267515, Frisco, TX 75035 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 741380362, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter, EIN 746084905, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 900293166, College Station, TX 77843 (IRS B83 Filing – Texas A&M Chapter)
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated – Sigma Gamma Chapter, EIN 392352450, Houston, TX 77254 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, EIN 746064445, Nederland, TX 77627 (IRS B83 Filing – Epsilon Kappa Chapter)

Why This Data Matters: It helps us find the insurance policies, the alumni boards, and the corporate entities that share responsibility. We don’t start from zero.

National Patterns = Legal Leverage

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): The national headquarters had been warned repeatedly about the dangers of “Big/Little” alcohol hazing before Stone Foltz’s death at Bowling Green. This pattern evidence is crucial.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Dubbed the “deadliest fraternity” by some media, SAE has a long history of alcohol-related hazing deaths and injuries across the country, including at Texas A&M and UT.
• Phi Delta Theta: The death of Max Gruver at LSU exposed a specific, dangerous “Bible study” drinking game tradition.
• Pi Kappa Phi: The death of Andrew Coffey at FSU is part of this national organization’s history, relevant to our active UH lawsuit.

The Legal Strategy: We use these national histories to show that when a Texas chapter repeats the same dangerous script, the national organization cannot claim ignorance. Its failure to effectively prevent a known, foreseeable risk is negligence.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

Pursuing accountability is a complex, meticulous process. Here is how we approach building a hazing case for Highland Haven families.

The Evidence Pyramid

1. Digital Evidence (Most Critical): Deleted GroupMe chats, Snapchat stories, Instagram DMs, chapter emails, and geolocation data. We work with digital forensics experts to recover what has been erased.
2. Physical & Medical Evidence: Photographs of injuries, medical records diagnosing rhabdomyolysis, alcohol poisoning, PTSD, or fractures. Blood test results are definitive.
3. Institutional Records: Obtained through discovery or public records requests, these include a university’s prior disciplinary files on the chapter, incident reports to campus police, and the national fraternity’s risk management files.
4. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and neighbors. Their accounts piece together the timeline and culture.

Recoverable Damages in a Civil Case

The law allows compensation for both economic and non-economic harms:

• Economic Damages: Past and future medical bills, lost wages, costs of psychological counseling, and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent impairment.
• Wrongful Death Damages (for families): Funeral expenses, loss of companionship, parental grief, and loss of the child’s future financial support.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme recklessness or malice, damages intended to punish the defendant and deter future conduct.

Overcoming Institutional Defenses

We anticipate and counter common defenses:

• “They Consented”: Texas law §37.155 voids this. We demonstrate coercion.
• “Rogue Individuals, Not the Chapter”: We show a culture endorsed by leadership through records and testimony.
• “It Was Off-Campus”: Universities and nationals still have duty if they exercise control or benefit from the organization.
• “We Have an Anti-Hazing Policy”: We prove it was a “paper policy” never meaningfully enforced.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Highland Haven Parents & Students

A Parent’s Action Guide

Warning Signs:

• Unexplained injuries, extreme fatigue, or sudden weight change.
• Personality shifts: withdrawal, anxiety, defensiveness about the group.
• Being constantly on call for group chats at all hours.
• Academic performance plummeting.

If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “Is anything making you uncomfortable in the group?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If injured, seek medical care immediately.
3. Preserve Evidence: Help your child screenshot everything. Take photos.
4. Report Wisely: You can report to the Dean of Students and/or local police, but consult an attorney first to understand the implications.
5. Call a Lawyer: Contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911 before confronting the organization or signing anything from the university.

Critical Mistakes That Can Damage a Case

We strongly advise against:

• Deleting Evidence: Even embarrassing messages are crucial.
• Confronting the Fraternity Directly: This triggers evidence destruction and witness coaching.
• Signing University “Resolution” Forms: These often contain waivers of your right to sue.
• Posting on Social Media: Defense attorneys will scour and use your posts.
• Waiting Too Long: Evidence disappears, witnesses scatter, and the statute of limitations ticks.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Can we sue the university?”
Yes, under theories of negligent supervision or deliberate indifference. Public universities have some immunity, but exceptions exist, especially for gross negligence.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally, two years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but complex rules can affect this. Do not delay. Our video explains statutes of limitations in more detail.

“Will our name be public?”
Most cases settle confidentially. We aggressively protect our clients’ privacy throughout the process.

“How much does it cost?”
We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases. You pay no upfront fees; we only get paid if we recover money for you. Learn how contingency fees work.

“What about criminal charges?”
We can advise you on interacting with law enforcement and navigate the parallel civil and criminal processes. Our attorney Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association gives us unique insight.

Why Attorney911 for Your Highland Haven Hazing Case

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need more than a generic personal injury firm. You need advocates who understand the intricate power dynamics of universities and national Greek organizations, and who have the proven skill to hold them accountable.

We Are Texas Hazing Litigators. Right Now, we are leading the litigation in the Leonel Bermudez v. UH/Pi Kappa Phi case—a $10 million lawsuit alleging some of the most severe hazing abuses seen in recent years. This isn’t theoretical expertise; it’s active, frontline experience.

Our Unmatched Advantages:

1. Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense attorney for a national insurance firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers evaluate claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because Mr. Peña used to help write it. Learn more about Mr. Peña’s background.
2. Complex Institutional Litigation Experience: Managing partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few Texas attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation, facing down billion-dollar defendants with endless legal resources. We are not intimidated by national fraternities or major universities. See Ralph Manginello’s credentials.
3. The Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: We don’t start investigations from scratch. We maintain detailed data on Greek organizations across Texas—their corporate structures, insurance affiliations, and histories. We identify every potentially liable entity from day one.
4. Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph’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.
5. A Network of Specialized Experts: We work with medical specialists in trauma and rhabdomyolysis, digital forensics experts to recover deleted evidence, economists to calculate lifetime damages, and psychologists to document emotional harm.
6. Spanish-Language Services: Se habla Español. Mr. Peña provides fluent Spanish-language legal counsel, ensuring all Texas families have access to justice.

We approach each case with empathy for the profound trauma your family has endured and with a fierce determination to secure the accountability and compensation needed to rebuild lives and force systemic change.

Your Next Step: A Confidential, No-Obligation Consultation

If your child has been injured, humiliated, or threatened as part of hazing at any Texas university—from UT Austin to Texas State, Baylor to Texas A&M—you have options. The path to accountability begins with information.

We invite Highland Haven and Central Texas families to contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) for a free, completely confidential consultation.

In your consultation, we will:

• Listen with compassion to your family’s experience.
• Review any evidence you have gathered.
• Explain the legal landscape and your potential claims.
• Discuss the realistic timelines, processes, and strategies.
• Answer all your questions about costs and our contingency fee structure.
• Provide honest, straightforward advice on your best path forward.

You are under no pressure to hire us. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge so you can make the best decision for your family.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm / Attorney911 Today

Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com or lupe@atty911.com (Se habla Español)

Serving Texas from offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. We stand ready to help families in Highland Haven, Burnet County, and across Texas find justice, recovery, and peace of mind.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Hazing laws and university policies are complex and can change. Every case is unique and depends on specific facts and evidence. If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney to review your specific situation and rights.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Website: https://attorney911.com

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