The Complete Guide to Hazing, Legal Rights, and Accountability for Krugerville, Texas Families

If your child has left for college in Denton County or anywhere in Texas, you’ve entrusted them to a new community. Now, imagine a late-night call. Your student’s voice is strained, talking about “mandatory” events, extreme exhaustion, or an “accident” during a fraternity event. They might be hours away at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas A&M in College Station, or the University of Texas at Austin, but the fear and confusion feel immediate here in Krugerville. What you’re hearing may not be an accident—it may be hazing.

Right now, our firm is leading one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas: the $10 million lawsuit on behalf of Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 individual members. The allegations are harrowing: forced consumption of food until vomiting, hours-long workouts leading to rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure, hog-tying of another pledge, and psychological torment—all while the young man was supposed to be safely pursuing his education. This is not a historical case; it is active litigation we are handling right now, and it demonstrates exactly what is at stake for Texas families.

This guide is written specifically for parents and families in Krugerville, Denton County, and across North Texas. If your child has been hurt, humiliated, or threatened in connection with a fraternity, sorority, Corps of Cadets program, athletic team, spirit group, or any campus organization, you are not alone. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, your legal rights under Texas law, the patterns of abuse at universities your child may attend, and how an experienced legal team can help you seek answers, accountability, and justice.

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

For Krugerville families, hazing might conjure images of outdated movie scenes. Modern hazing is more insidious, often masked as “team building,” “tradition,” or “bonding.” It is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining status in a group. Crucially, under Texas law, “consent” is not a defense. The power dynamics and fear of exclusion mean what looks like agreement is often coercion.

Alcohol & Substance Hazing: This remains the most common and deadly form. It includes forced funneling, “lineup” drinking games, “Big/Little” nights where pledges are given handles of liquor (as in the Stone Foltz and Andrew Coffey deaths), and trivia games where wrong answers mean shots. The goal is often rapid, dangerous intoxication.

Physical Hazing: This extends beyond paddling to “smokings” or extreme calisthenics designed to cause pain and exhaustion. In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, Leonel Bermudez was forced through 100+ push-ups and 500 squats, leading to rhabdomyolysis. It includes sleep deprivation, food/water restriction, exposure to extreme temperatures, and violent rituals like the “glass ceiling” tackling that killed Chun Deng.

Psychological & Digital Hazing: This is where hazing has evolved. It involves 24/7 control via group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp), where pledges must respond instantly at all hours. It includes public shaming on social media, forced embarrassing posts, cyberstalking via location-sharing apps, and isolation from non-member friends and family. The humiliation is both in-person and permanently recorded online.

Sexualized & Humiliating Hazing: This includes forced nudity, simulated sexual acts, wearing degrading costumes, and acts with racist, sexist, or homophobic overtones. These are not “pranks”; they are traumatic violations designed to break down identity and enforce submission.

Hazing is not confined to fraternities. It occurs in sororities, the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M, athletic teams, spirit groups like the Texas Cowboys, marching bands, and other campus organizations. The common thread is the abuse of power in the name of tradition.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas and Federal Laws

Understanding the legal landscape is critical for Krugerville families seeking accountability. Texas has specific statutes, and federal laws provide additional avenues for redress.

Texas Hazing Law (Education Code, Chapter 37):
Texas defines hazing broadly and treats it seriously. Key provisions include:

• §37.151 Definition: Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation, affiliation, or membership.
• §37.152 Penalties: Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if it causes bodily injury and a State Jail Felony if it causes serious bodily injury or death.
• §37.155 Consent Not a Defense: A victim’s “agreement” to the activity is irrelevant under the law, recognizing the coercive environment.
• §37.153 Organizational Liability: The organization itself (fraternity, sorority, team) can be fined up to $10,000 and lose university recognition if it authorizes or knowingly permits hazing.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases:

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office) to punish wrongdoing with jail time, fines, and probation. Charges can include hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors, assault, and even manslaughter.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by victims and families to obtain compensation for damages and hold all responsible parties accountable. These are separate from criminal proceedings; you do not need to wait for a criminal conviction to file a civil suit. A civil case can target individuals, the local chapter, the national organization, the university, and property owners.

Federal Law Overlay:

• Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024): Requires colleges receiving federal aid to report hazing incidents more transparently and strengthen prevention programs. This will increase public data by 2026.
• Title IX: If hazing involves sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, the university has specific obligations to investigate and address it.
• Clery Act: Requires universities to disclose campus crime statistics, which can include hazing-related assaults and alcohol crimes.

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Case?
A thorough investigation seeks to identify every entity with responsibility:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. Local Chapter: The fraternity/sorority chapter as an entity.
3. National Organization: The fraternity/sorority headquarters that sets policies, collects dues, and supervises chapters.
4. The University: For negligent supervision, deliberate indifference to known risks, or premises liability.
5. Alumni/Housing Corporations: Entities that own or control the property where hazing occurred.
6. Third Parties: Bars that overserved alcohol, landlords of off-campus houses, or security companies.

National Hazing Case Patterns: The Precedents That Shape Texas Litigation

The tragic cases that make national headlines are not isolated. They establish legal precedents and reveal patterns that repeat across the country, including at Texas schools. For Krugerville families, these cases show what is possible in terms of accountability and reform.

The Alcohol Poisoning Pattern:

• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Pledge forced to drink a bottle of liquor; died of alcohol poisoning. Result: $10+ million in settlements, criminal convictions, and the chapter president personally ordered to pay $6.5 million.
• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Bid acceptance night with extreme drinking; fell multiple times; help delayed for hours. Result: Dozens of criminal charges, sweeping civil litigation, and Pennsylvania’s “Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law.”
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): “Bible study” drinking game led to fatal alcohol toxicity. Result: $6.1 million verdict against individual members and the creation of Louisiana’s felony hazing “Max Gruver Act.”

The Physical & Ritualized Violence Pattern:

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Pledge died from traumatic brain injury after a blindfolded “glass ceiling” tackling ritual at a retreat. Result: National fraternity convicted of felony charges and banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Pledge suffered permanent, catastrophic brain damage from forced drinking. Result: Confidential multi-million dollar settlements with 22 defendants.

The Institutional Failure Pattern:

• Northwestern University Football (2023-2025): Widespread allegations of sexualized and racist hazing. Result: Multiple lawsuits, firing of the head coach, and a confidential settlement, demonstrating hazing’s reach into major athletic programs.

These cases prove that juries and courts will hold organizations and individuals financially and criminally responsible. They also show the common defense tactics—blaming the victim, calling it “tradition,” claiming it was “rogue” behavior—and how experienced attorneys overcome them.

Texas Focus: Where Krugerville Families Send Their Kids

Krugerville families are part of the vibrant North Texas educational corridor. Your children likely attend or consider universities in our immediate area and the major statewide hubs. Each campus has its own Greek life ecosystem, history of incidents, and disciplinary landscape. Understanding this context is vital.

The Local & Regional Landscape for Krugerville

University of North Texas (UNT) – Denton, TX
Just a short drive from Krugerville, UNT is a primary destination for local students. Its Greek life is active and governed by university policy prohibiting hazing. The office of Student Conduct and Community Standards handles reports. For a Krugerville family, a hazing incident at UNT would involve the Denton Police Department and courts in Denton County. Our firm’s investigative approach would immediately seek prior conduct records for the involved organization from UNT’s administration.

Texas Woman’s University (TWU) – Denton, TX
Also in Denton, TWU hosts sororities and student organizations. Hazing is strictly prohibited under the Student Code of Conduct. A case here would similarly be anchored in Denton County jurisdiction, making legal navigation straightforward for local families.

Major Statewide Hubs
Krugerville students also attend Texas’s flagship institutions, each with documented hazing challenges:

University of Texas at Austin (UT): UT maintains a public Hazing Violations Log, a transparency tool that reveals patterns. Entries include Pi Kappa Alpha (2023) for forced milk consumption and strenuous calisthenics, and others for forced drinking and degrading acts. This public record is a powerful tool for proving an organization’s prior knowledge of risky behaviors.

Texas A&M University: The combination of a large Greek system and the Corps of Cadets presents unique risks. Notable incidents include a Sigma Alpha Epsilon lawsuit where pledges suffered severe chemical burns from industrial cleaner, and a Corps of Cadets lawsuit alleging degrading sexualized hazing. The university’s dual disciplinary systems (Student Conduct and Corps regulations) complicate the response.

Southern Methodist University (SMU): As a private university in Dallas, SMU has faced its own scandals, including a Kappa Alpha Order chapter suspension for paddling and forced drinking. The legal strategies for private universities differ from public ones, particularly concerning sovereign immunity.

Baylor University: Baylor’s history with institutional failure regarding athlete misconduct informs its hazing response. The suspension of 14 baseball players in 2020 for hazing highlights that these issues penetrate even programs at religious-affiliated schools.

University of Houston (UH): This is the site of our firm’s active, flagship litigation. The allegations in the Bermudez case—systematic physical abuse, humiliation, and life-threatening injury—represent the severe end of the hazing spectrum. UH’s response, labeling the conduct “deeply disturbing” and cooperating with the chapter’s closure, is part of the legal narrative we are building.

For a Krugerville family, an incident at any of these schools means navigating that university’s specific bureaucracy, local law enforcement, and potentially multiple counties’ court systems. Our role is to handle that complexity for you.

The Greek Ecosystem: Public Records & National Patterns

When hazing occurs, it is not an isolated act by a few “bad apples.” It often exists within a structured ecosystem of organizations, many of which are registered legal entities. Our firm maintains a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine, built from public IRS data, university listings, and metro-level records. This allows us to immediately identify all potentially liable parties behind a set of Greek letters.

The Network Behind the Letters:
A fraternity chapter at UT or UNT is often supported by a web of legally registered organizations: a housing corporation that owns the house, an alumni chapter, an educational foundation. These entities have Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), mailing addresses, and often carry insurance. For example, public IRS B83 records show Texas-registered Greek organizations like:

• Beta Upsilon Chi, EIN 74-2911848, 12650 N Beach St, Fort Worth, TX 76244
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc, EIN 74-1380362, PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, EIN 26-3170920, 411 Texas St, Denton, TX 76204 (Texas Woman’s University Chapter)

In the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area, to which Krugerville and Denton County belong, Cause IQ data indicates over 510 Greek-related organizations. This includes undergraduate chapters, alumni associations, and honor societies. When we take a case, we don’t start from zero; we map this existing directory to the specific organizations connected to your child’s incident.

National Histories Matter:
The national fraternity involved in a Texas case often has a documented history of similar incidents elsewhere. This pattern evidence is crucial for establishing that the national organization knew or should have known of the risks.

• Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike): National pattern of fatal alcohol hazing (Stone Foltz, David Bogenberger).
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): Numerous hazing deaths and injuries nationwide, including lawsuits at Texas A&M and UT Austin.
• Pi Kappa Phi: National pattern includes the Andrew Coffey death at Florida State and is now at the center of our UH lawsuit.

When a chapter repeats a known, dangerous pattern, it undermines the national’s defense that it was an unforeseeable, “rogue” event. We use this history to build claims for negligent supervision and training.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Building a winning hazing case requires an investigative approach that acts with urgency and depth. Evidence vanishes within days—messages are deleted, witnesses are coached, and institutions circle the wagons.

Critical Evidence to Preserve:

1. Digital Evidence: The #1 priority. This includes screenshots of GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Discord chats showing planning, execution, and cover-up attempts. Social media posts, Instagram Stories, and TikTok videos can be evidence. Even deleted messages can often be recovered through digital forensics.
2. Medical Documentation: Immediate medical records are essential. In the UH case, Leonel Bermudez’s hospital records proving rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury are the foundation of the damages claim. This includes ER reports, lab results (like creatine kinase levels), and follow-up care plans.
3. Physical Evidence: Photographs of injuries (with dates), damaged clothing, paddles or other props, and receipts for forced purchases.
4. Institutional Records: Through discovery and public records requests, we obtain the university’s prior disciplinary files on the organization, incident reports, and communications with the national headquarters. We also subpoena the national fraternity’s risk management files and prior incident history.

Our Legal Strategy:
Our approach is grounded in our unique firm strengths:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as an insurance defense lawyer. He knows how fraternity and university insurers undervalue claims, use “Independent Medical Exams” to downplay injuries, and argue coverage exclusions. We anticipate and counter these tactics from day one.
• Complex Litigation Experience: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello’s experience in the BP Texas City explosion litigation means we are unfazed by billion-dollar defendants and legions of defense lawyers. We have the resources and tenacity for long, complex fights against universities and national organizations.
• Dual Civil/Criminal Understanding: 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.

Recoverable Damages:
The goal of a civil lawsuit is to make the victim whole and hold defendants accountable. Recoverable damages can include:

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost educational costs (tuition, scholarships), and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the ultimate tragedy, families can seek funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship, love, and guidance.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious, reckless conduct, courts may award damages intended to punish the defendant and deter future behavior.

Practical Guides & FAQs for Krugerville Families

For Parents: Warning Signs and Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns.
• Extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, or drastic weight change.
• Personality shifts: sudden anxiety, depression, or withdrawal.
• Secrecy about organization activities; being “on call” 24/7 for messages.
• Constant need for money with vague explanations (for fines, alcohol, etc.).
• Decline in academic performance.

What to Do If You Suspect Hazing:

1. Talk Calmly: Ask open-ended questions. “How are you handling the time commitment? Has anything made you uncomfortable?”
2. Prioritize Safety: If there’s immediate danger, call 911.
3. Preserve Evidence: Gently encourage your child to save, not delete, any group chats or messages. Take photos of injuries.
4. Seek Medical Care: A medical evaluation documents harm and can reveal internal issues like dehydration or organ stress.
5. Consult a Lawyer Before Reporting: Once you involve the university, the organization may destroy evidence. An attorney can guide you on strategic reporting to preserve your rights. Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911.

For Students: Is This Hazing?

If you are being pressured to do something that is dangerous, degrading, or illegal to belong to a group, it is hazing. If you feel you cannot safely say “no,” it is hazing. Your “consent” under pressure is not real consent in the eyes of Texas law.

• To Exit Safely: Tell a trusted person first (parent, RA). Send a clear text/email to the chapter leadership: “I resign my membership, effective immediately.” Do not attend a “final meeting.”
• To Report: You can report to campus police, the Dean of Students, or anonymously through the National Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE). Texas law offers some immunity for good-faith reporters.

Critical Mistakes That Can Harm a Case

• Deleting digital evidence.
• Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly, giving them a chance to cover up.
• Signing university-offered settlement or waiver forms without an attorney’s review.
• Posting about the incident on social media, which defense attorneys will scour for inconsistencies.
• Waiting too long. Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury, but evidence decays daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we sue the university?
A: Yes, under certain theories like negligent supervision or deliberate indifference. Public universities have some sovereign immunity, but exceptions exist, especially for gross negligence. Each case must be evaluated individually.

Q: What if it happened off-campus at a private house?
A: Location does not absolve liability. Nationals and universities can still be responsible if they sponsored, funded, or knew about the event. The Pi Delta Psi case that led to a death occurred at a remote retreat.

Q: Will this ruin my child’s future or put their name in the paper?
A: We fight to protect our clients’ privacy. Most cases settle confidentially before trial. Our goal is accountability and recovery for your child, not sensational publicity.

Q: How much does it cost to hire your firm?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases. This means you pay no upfront fees. We only get paid if we win a settlement or verdict for you.

Why Attorney911 for Krugerville Hazing Cases

When your family faces the trauma of hazing, you need advocates who understand both the profound human cost and the complex legal battle ahead. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC (Attorney911) is not a high-volume personal injury mill. We are Texas-based complex litigation specialists who choose to take on the difficult cases against powerful institutions.

Our Proven Advantage for Hazing Litigation:

1. We Are Litigating a Major Texas Hazing Case Right Now. We are lead counsel in the Leonel Bermudez v. University of Houston & Pi Kappa Phi lawsuit. We are not theorizing about hazing law; we are actively applying it in federal court against a major university and national fraternity. This current experience directly benefits every client we represent.
2. Insider Knowledge of Insurance Defense Tactics. Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña (he/him), spent years defending insurance companies. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers will try to deny, delay, and minimize your claim. We use this insider knowledge to build unassailable cases from the start.
3. Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants. Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We do not intimidate easily. We have the resources, expert network, and trial-ready mindset to face universities and national fraternities with deep pockets.
4. Data-Driven Investigation. We don’t start from scratch. We apply our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine—a proprietary database of over 1,400 Greek organizations in Texas—to immediately identify all potentially liable entities, from local house corporations to national alumni boards.
5. Compassionate, Client-Centered Advocacy. We remember that behind every case is a family in crisis. We are Spanish-speaking (Se habla Español), we communicate regularly, and we fight not just for compensation, but for the accountability that can prevent future harm.

Your Next Step: A Free, Confidential Consultation

If you are a parent in Krugerville, Denton County, or anywhere in Texas, and you believe your child has been victimized by hazing, time is of the essence. Evidence disappears, witnesses scatter, and universities begin their internal processes.

We offer a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation to listen to your story, review any evidence you have, and explain your legal options clearly and honestly. There is no pressure. We will help you understand the path forward.

Contact The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / 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

We serve families throughout Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Whether your child was hurt at UNT in Denton, Texas A&M in College Station, UT in Austin, or any other campus, we have the expertise to help. You don’t have to navigate this nightmare alone. Call us.

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