Hazing in Texas: What Lago Vista Families Need to Know About Fraternity, Sorority & Campus Abuse

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

Introduction: A Parent’s Worst Nightmare Hits Close to Home

Picture this: Your child, a bright student from Lago Vista, excitedly accepts a bid to join a prestigious fraternity or sorority at a Texas university. The first few weeks seem normal—meetings, socials, talk of “brotherhood” or “sisterhood.” Then the texts start coming at all hours. Your child looks increasingly exhausted. They become secretive, defensive when you ask about their new friends. One weekend, they return home with unexplained bruises or a haunted look in their eyes. When you press them, they finally break down: “They made us drink until we vomited.” “They tied us up.” “They beat us with paddles.” “I was too scared to say no.”

This isn’t a dramatic exaggeration. It’s happening right now to Texas students, including those from our community in Lago Vista, Travis County, and across Central Texas. Just ask Leonel Bermudez.

Right now, our firm represents Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Beta Nu chapter, its national headquarters, and 13 fraternity leaders. According to the Click2Houston report on UH Pi Kappa Phi hazing case, Bermudez was subjected to months of systematic abuse that included:

• Being forced to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, a sex toy, and humiliating items
• Undergoing extreme physical hazing including sprints, bear crawls, and wheelbarrow races
• Being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding”
• Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, and peppercorns until vomiting, followed by immediate sprints
• A November 3 workout of 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion

The result? Bermudez developed rhabdomyolysis (severe skeletal muscle breakdown) and acute kidney failure. He passed brown urine, could not stand without help, and was hospitalized for four days with critically high creatine kinase levels. He faces ongoing risk of permanent kidney damage.

This case is unfolding right now in Harris County, less than three hours from Lago Vista. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter was suspended on November 6, 2025, and voted to surrender its charter on November 14. The university called the conduct “deeply disturbing.” But for Leonel Bermudez, the damage is done—and it could have been prevented.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for families in Lago Vista, Lake Travis, Jonestown, Point Venture, and throughout Travis County who need to understand:

• What modern hazing really looks like in 2025
• How Texas and federal law protect (or fail to protect) students
• What we’ve learned from national tragedies that apply to Texas families
• What’s happening at Texas universities where Lago Vista students attend
• What legal options exist when institutions fail our children

Whether your child attends school in Austin, College Station, Houston, or beyond, the patterns are tragically similar. We’re here to help you recognize the signs, understand your rights, and take action when necessary.

Hazing in 2025: What It Really Looks Like Today

Hazing has evolved far beyond the “harmless pranks” of movies. Today’s hazing is sophisticated, often digitally documented, and frighteningly dangerous. For Lago Vista families unfamiliar with modern Greek life or campus traditions, understanding these realities is the first step toward protection.

A Modern Definition of Hazing

Hazing is any forced, coerced, or strongly pressured action tied to joining, maintaining 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 legal or safe when there’s peer pressure and power imbalance.

Main Categories of Hazing Today

Alcohol and Substance Hazing

• Forced or coerced drinking games (“beer pong,” “century club,” “power hour”)
• “Big/Little” nights where pledges are given bottles of hard liquor
• Chugging challenges, “lineups,” or games requiring rapid consumption
• Being pressured to consume unknown or mixed substances
• The Texas A&M Sigma Alpha Epsilon case involved substances including industrial-strength cleaner poured on pledges

Physical Hazing

• Paddling, beatings, or “smackings” with various objects
• Extreme calisthenics (“smokings”) far beyond normal conditioning
• Sleep deprivation through all-night “study sessions” or 3 AM wake-up calls
• Food/water restriction or forced consumption of unpalatable substances
• Exposure to extreme cold/heat or dangerous environments

Sexualized and Humiliating Hazing

• Forced nudity or partial nudity
• Simulated sexual acts (“elephant walks,” “roasted pig” positions)
• Degrading costumes or role-playing with racial/sexist overtones
• Being forced to wear humiliating items (like the “pledge fanny pack” in the UH case)

Psychological Hazing

• Verbal abuse, threats, isolation from non-members
• “Grilling” sessions with personal attacks
• Manipulation or forced confessions
• Public shaming in meetings or on social media

Digital/Online Hazing

• Group chat dares and “challenges” on GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord
• Pressure to create or share compromising images/videos on Snapchat, TikTok
• Social media policing and forced content creation
• Geo-tracking demands via Find My Friends or Life360

Where Hazing Actually Happens

Hazing isn’t limited to fraternity basements. It occurs in:

• Fraternities and sororities (IFC, Panhellenic, NPHC, multicultural)
• Corps of Cadets, ROTC, and military-style groups
• Spirit squads and tradition clubs
• Athletic teams (football, basketball, baseball, cheer, etc.)
• Marching bands and performance groups
• Some service, cultural, and academic organizations

The common threads are social status, tradition, and secrecy—the exact forces that kept Leonel Bermudez and countless others silent until it was almost too late.

Law & Liability Framework: Texas and Federal Hazing Laws

Understanding the legal landscape is crucial for Lago Vista families. Texas has specific statutes, but federal laws also apply, creating multiple layers of potential accountability.

Texas Hazing Law Basics (Education Code Chapter 37)

Texas Education Code Chapter 37, Subchapter F provides the primary legal framework governing hazing. For families in Travis County and throughout Texas, these provisions define your rights and the obligations of universities and organizations.

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

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

Key points for Lago Vista families:

• Can happen on or off campus (location doesn’t matter)
• Can be mental or physical harm
• Intent: Doesn’t have to be malicious; “reckless” is enough (knew the risk and did it anyway)
• “Consent” is not a defense (see § 37.155 below)

§ 37.152 Criminal Penalties

• Class B Misdemeanor (default): Hazing that doesn’t cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, fine up to $2,000)
• Class A Misdemeanor: If hazing causes injury that requires medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: If hazing causes serious bodily injury or death

Also criminal:

• Failing to report hazing (if you’re a member or officer and you knew about it): misdemeanor
• Retaliating against someone who reports hazing: misdemeanor

§ 37.153 Organizational Liability
Organizations (fraternities, sororities, clubs, teams) can be criminally prosecuted for hazing if:

• The org authorized or encouraged the hazing, OR
• An officer or member acting in official capacity knew about hazing and failed to report it

Penalties for orgs:

• Fine up to $10,000 per violation
• University can revoke recognition and ban the org from campus

§ 37.154 Immunity for Good-Faith Reporting
A person who in good faith reports a hazing incident to university or law enforcement is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result from the report. Many universities, including UT Austin, also provide amnesty for students who call 911 in alcohol-related emergencies, even if they were drinking underage.

§ 37.155 Consent Not a Defense
It is not a defense to prosecution for hazing that the person being hazed consented to the hazing activity. This directly rebuts the common defense of “they wanted to do it.”

§ 37.156 Reporting by Educational Institutions
Texas colleges and universities must:

• Provide hazing prevention education to students
• Publish hazing policies
• Maintain and publish annual reports of hazing violations and disciplinary actions

UT Austin already publishes these reports at hazing.utexas.edu—a resource every Central Texas parent should review.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases: Understanding the Difference

Criminal Cases

• Brought by the state (prosecutor in Travis County, Harris County, etc.)
• Aim: punishment (jail, fines, probation)
• Typical hazing-related criminal charges:
  • Hazing offenses under Chapter 37
  • Furnishing alcohol to minors
  • Assault, battery
  • Manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide in fatal cases
  • Obstruction of justice or witness tampering if evidence is destroyed

Civil Cases

• Brought by victims or surviving families
• Aim: monetary compensation and accountability
• Focus on:
  • Negligence and gross negligence
  • Wrongful death
  • Negligent hiring/supervision
  • Premises liability
  • Intentional infliction of emotional distress

Both types can run side-by-side, and a criminal conviction is not required to pursue a civil case. In fact, many families pursue civil cases even when prosecutors decline to file criminal charges.

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

Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024)

• Requires colleges that receive federal aid to:
  • Report hazing incidents more transparently
  • Strengthen hazing education and prevention
  • Maintain public hazing data (phased in by around 2026)
• This means universities like UT Austin, Texas A&M, and UH must improve their tracking and reporting

Title IX

• When hazing involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based hostility, Title IX obligations are triggered
• Universities must investigate and take appropriate action
• Title IX complaints can run parallel to civil litigation

Clery Act

• Requires reporting certain crimes and maintaining safety statistics
• Hazing incidents often overlap with assault, alcohol, or drug crimes that must be reported
• Failure to properly report can lead to federal penalties

Who Can Be Liable in a Civil Hazing Lawsuit?

Individual Students

• Those who planned, supplied alcohol, carried out acts, or helped cover them up
• In the UH Pi Kappa Phi case, 13 individual members are named defendants

Local Chapter/Organization

• The fraternity/sorority or club itself (if it’s a legal entity)
• Chapter officers acting in official capacity

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
• Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters is a defendant in the UH case

University or Governing Board

• The school or regents may be sued under negligence or civil-rights theories
• Key questions: prior warnings, policy enforcement, deliberate indifference
• University of Houston and the UH System Board of Regents are defendants

Third Parties

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

Every case is fact-specific, but experienced hazing attorneys know how to identify all potentially liable parties.

National Hazing Case Patterns: What Texas Families Can Learn

The tragedies that have unfolded across the country are not isolated incidents—they’re patterns. Understanding these patterns helps Lago Vista families recognize risks and understand what successful accountability looks like.

Alcohol Poisoning & Death Pattern

Timothy Piazza – Penn State, Beta Theta Pi (2017)

• Bid-acceptance event with extreme forced drinking
• Severe falls captured on chapter security cameras
• 19 brothers charged with over 1,000 criminal counts total
• Civil litigation and confidential settlements
• Pennsylvania enacted Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law
• Takeaway: Delay in calling 911 and culture of silence can be legally devastating

Andrew Coffey – Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi (2017)

• “Big Brother Night” event with handle of liquor
• Died from acute alcohol poisoning (BAC 0.447)
• Multiple members prosecuted, majority pleaded guilty
• FSU suspended all Greek life temporarily
• Takeaway: Formulaic “tradition” drinking nights repeat across campuses

Max Gruver – LSU, Phi Delta Theta (2017)

• “Bible study” drinking game forcing consumption for wrong answers
• Died from alcohol toxicity (BAC 0.495%)
• Multiple members charged, one convicted of negligent homicide
• Louisiana enacted Max Gruver Act (felony hazing statute)
• $6.1 million verdict for family against individual and insurer
• Takeaway: Legislative change follows public outrage and clear proof

Stone Foltz – Bowling Green State University, Pi Kappa Alpha (2021)

• Forced to drink nearly a bottle of whiskey during “Big/Little” night
• Died from alcohol poisoning
• Multiple criminal convictions
• $10 million total settlement ($7M from Pi Kappa Alpha national, ~$3M from BGSU)
• Former chapter president ordered to pay $6.5 million personally
• Takeaway: Universities face significant financial consequences alongside fraternities

Physical & Ritualized Hazing Pattern

Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi (2013)

• Pledge subjected to violent blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at retreat
• Suffered fatal traumatic brain injury; help delayed
• Multiple members convicted
• National fraternity convicted of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter
• Banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years, fined over $110,000
• Takeaway: Off-campus retreats can be more dangerous, nationals face criminal liability

Athletic Program Hazing & Abuse

Northwestern University Football (2023–2025)

• Former players alleged sexualized, racist hazing within football program
• Multiple lawsuits against university and staff
• Head coach Pat Fitzgerald fired, then settled wrongful-termination suit confidentially
• Takeaway: Hazing extends beyond Greek life to big-money athletic programs

Western Kentucky University Swim Team (2012–2015)

• Investigation revealed hazing dating back years
• Entire swim program placed on five-year suspension
• University settled with former team member for $75,000
• Takeaway: Even non-revenue sports face serious consequences

What These Cases Mean for Lago Vista Families

Common threads in every major case:

1. Forced drinking or dangerous physical acts
2. Humiliation and power imbalance
3. Delayed or denied medical care
4. Cover-ups and destruction of evidence
5. Institutional failures to act on prior warnings

These cases demonstrate that:

• Juries award substantial damages for severe hazing ($6.1M for Gruver, $10M+ for Foltz)
• National organizations are held accountable for patterns across chapters
• Universities pay heavily for failing to protect students
• Individual officers face personal liability (chapter president ordered to pay $6.5M)
• Legislative reform follows tragedy

Texas families facing hazing at UH, Texas A&M, UT, SMU, or Baylor are not alone—they’re operating in a landscape shaped by these national lessons.

Texas Focus: Universities Where Lago Vista Students Attend

Lago Vista families send their children to universities across Texas, from nearby Austin to campuses throughout the state. Understanding the specific landscape at each institution is crucial for prevention and response.

University of Texas at Austin: The Closest Major Campus

Campus & Culture Snapshot

UT Austin is the closest major research university to Lago Vista, located just 45 minutes away in Travis County. With over 50,000 students and 60+ fraternity/sorority chapters, it’s a destination for many Central Texas families. The Greek life presence is substantial, with both historic traditions and modern challenges.

Official Hazing Policy & Reporting Channels

UT Austin maintains one of Texas’ most transparent hazing reporting systems:

• Public Hazing Violations page (hazing.utexas.edu) listing organizations, dates, conduct, and sanctions
• Reporting through Office of the Dean of Students, Student Conduct, or UTPD
• Anonymous reporting options available

Documented Incidents & Responses (From UT’s Public Records)

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics; found to be hazing; chapter placed on probation with required hazing-prevention education
• Texas Wranglers (multiple years): Spirit organization sanctioned for forced workouts, alcohol-related hazing, punishment-based practices
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): Australian exchange student alleged assault resulting in dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, broken nose; student sued for over $1 million; chapter already under suspension for prior violations

How a UT Hazing Case Might Proceed

• Jurisdiction split between UTPD (on-campus) and Austin Police Department (off-campus)
• Civil suits typically filed in Travis County courts
• UT’s public violation records provide powerful evidence of patterns and prior notice
• The university’ relative transparency doesn’t eliminate liability—it sometimes demonstrates knowledge of ongoing problems

What UT Students & Parents Should Do

1. Review UT’s hazing violations page before your child joins any organization
2. Document everything—Texas is a one-party consent state for recordings
3. Report immediately to both UTPD and Dean of Students
4. Preserve digital evidence before it’s deleted
5. Consult an attorney experienced in Travis County hazing cases—the jurisdictional nuances matter

Texas A&M University: A Destination for Many Texas Families

Campus & Culture Snapshot

Located in College Station, Texas A&M represents a traditional college experience with strong Greek life and the prominent Corps of Cadets. Many Lago Vista families choose A&M for its reputation, traditions, and network—but those traditions sometimes hide dangerous practices.

Documented Incidents & Responses

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chemical Burns Case (2021)

• Two pledges alleged being covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, raw eggs, spit
• Suffered severe chemical burns requiring skin graft surgeries
• Pledges sued fraternity for $1 million
• Fraternity suspended by university for two years

Corps of Cadets “Roasted Pig” Lawsuit (2023)

• Cadet alleged degrading hazing including simulated sexual acts
• Being bound between beds in “roasted pig” pose with apple in mouth
• Sought over $1 million in damages
• A&M stated it handled matter under its rules

Kappa Sigma Rhabdomyolysis Case (2023, ongoing)

• Allegations of extreme physical hazing resulting in rhabdomyolysis
• Ongoing litigation focused on severe muscle breakdown injury recovery

How an A&M Hazing Case Might Proceed

• University Police Department and College Station PD jurisdiction
• Brazos County courts for civil litigation
• Dual tracks for Greek life cases vs. Corps cases (different oversight structures)
• A&M’s historical handling of hazing through internal processes rather than criminal referrals

What A&M Students & Parents Should Do

1. Understand the dual systems: Greek life and Corps operate under different rules
2. Corps-specific vigilance: “Traditional” discipline often crosses into hazing
3. Medical attention immediately: Rhabdomyolysis can be fatal without treatment
4. Document both physical and digital evidence
5. Seek counsel familiar with A&M’s unique culture and historical responses

University of Houston: Recent Major Case Location

Campus & Culture Snapshot

As Texas’ third-largest university, UH hosts diverse Greek life with multiple councils. The recent Pi Kappa Phi case demonstrates that even urban, commuter-heavy campuses face severe hazing problems.

The Leonel Bermudez Pi Kappa Phi Case (2025)

This active litigation provides the clearest recent example of Texas hazing:

• Victim: Leonel Bermudez, transfer student fall 2025 pledge
• Hazing Period: September-November 2025
• Key Locations: Pi Kappa Phi house, Culmore Drive residence, Yellowstone Boulevard Park
• Specific Acts:
  • “Pledge fanny pack” humiliation rule
  • Hose spraying “similar to waterboarding”
  • Hog-tying another pledge face-down with object in mouth
  • Forced consumption of milk, hot dogs, peppercorns until vomiting
  • November 3 workout: 100+ push-ups, 500 squats under expulsion threats
• Medical Consequences: Rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, brown urine, 4-day hospitalization
• Defendants: UH, UH System Board of Regents, Pi Kappa Phi national, Beta Nu housing corporation, 13 individual members
• Institutional Response: Chapter suspended Nov 6, charter surrendered Nov 14, UH called conduct “deeply disturbing”
• Media Coverage: ABC13 coverage of Leonel Bermudez’s UH hazing lawsuit and Hoodline summary of the $10M UH hazing lawsuit

How a UH Hazing Case Might Proceed

• UHPD and Houston Police Department jurisdiction
• Harris County courts for civil litigation
• Evidence preservation critical—Houston’s legal community is sophisticated
• Multiple potential defendants (university, national, local chapter, individuals)

What UH Students & Parents Should Do

1. Recognize that urban campuses aren’t immune to severe hazing
2. Medical documentation is crucial—Houston has world-class medical centers
3. Act quickly before evidence disappears in a large metro area
4. Work with attorneys familiar with Harris County courts and UH’s specific dynamics

Southern Methodist University & Baylor University

SMU Specifics

• Private university with affluent student body and strong Greek presence
• Kappa Alpha Order incident (2017): New members reportedly paddled, forced to drink, sleep deprived; chapter suspended until 2021
• Less public transparency than public universities
• Dallas County courts for litigation

Baylor University Specifics

• Religious affiliation with history of scrutiny over handling misconduct
• Baseball hazing (2020): 14 players suspended following investigation
• McLennan County jurisdiction
• Unique dynamics of religious institution liability

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: Public Records Reality

For Lago Vista parents, understanding the scale and structure of Texas Greek life is eye-opening. Our firm maintains a Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracking 1,423 Greek organizations across 25 Texas metros. This isn’t abstract—it’s concrete data that wins cases.

Travis County & Austin Metro Greek Organizations

The Austin-Round Rock metro area contains 154 Greek organizations according to Cause IQ data. These aren’t just social clubs—they’re legal entities with EINs, addresses, and insurance policies. For example:

IRS B83 Registered Organizations in Travis County Area:

• Chi Omega Fraternity – 2711 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78705 (EIN: 740555581) – House corporation
• Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity Inc – 1908 San Gabriel St, Austin, TX 78705 (EIN: 741130606) – Alpha Mu chapter
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – 2307 Vanderbilt Cir, Austin, TX 78723 (EIN: 463831593) – Texas State University chapter
• Sigma Alpha Omega Christian Sorority Inc – PO Box 302701, Austin, TX 78703 – Beta Mu chapter

Cause IQ Metro Organizations Serving UT Austin:

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Rho Corp. – Austin, TX (UT chapter house corporation)
• Delta Tau Delta – Gamma Iota Chapter – Austin, TX (UT chapter house)
• Beta Xi House Corp. of Kappa Kappa Gamma – Austin, TX (UT chapter house corporation)
• Building Corporation – Alpha Delta Pi (Delta) – Austin, TX (UT chapter property)

Why This Directory Matters for Lago Vista Families

When hazing occurs, these organizations—and their insurance policies—are potential sources of accountability. We don’t start from zero. We know:

• Legal names and EINs for filing lawsuits correctly
• Mailing addresses for service of process
• Organizational structures (house corporations vs. alumni chapters vs. nationals)
• Geographic connections across Texas

This data helped us identify all potentially liable entities in the UH Pi Kappa Phi case. It would do the same for a case involving a Lago Vista student at any Texas university.

Fraternities & Sororities: National Histories Meet Local Chapters

The same national organizations involved in tragedies across the country operate chapters at Texas universities. This isn’t coincidence—it’s pattern.

Why National Histories Matter Legally

When a Texas chapter repeats behavior that caused death or injury elsewhere, that demonstrates foreseeability. Courts ask: “Should the national organization have known this could happen here?” The answer is yes when:

• The same national had similar incidents at other chapters
• The hazing method (forced drinking, physical abuse) is documented in their history
• Prior warnings or “best practices” were ignored

Organization-Specific Patterns

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike)

• Stone Foltz: Bowling Green State, alcohol poisoning death, $10M settlement
• David Bogenberger: Northern Illinois University, alcohol poisoning death, $14M settlement
• Local Presence: Chapters at UT Austin, Texas A&M, UH, SMU, Baylor
• Pattern: “Big/Little” alcohol hazing recurring across decades

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)

• Multiple deaths nationally leading to 2014 elimination of traditional pledge process
• Texas A&M chemical burns case: 2021, $1M lawsuit, skin grafts
• UT Austin assault case: 2024, exchange student injuries, $1M+ lawsuit
• University of Alabama TBI case: 2023, traumatic brain injury lawsuit
• Local Presence: Chapters at all five major Texas universities

Pi Kappa Phi

• Andrew Coffey: Florida State University, alcohol poisoning death
• Leonel Bermudez: University of Houston, rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure
• Pattern: Physical endurance hazing combined with humiliation

Phi Delta Theta

• Max Gruver: LSU, “Bible study” drinking game death, $6.1M verdict
• Local Presence: Chapters at UT Austin, Texas A&M, UH

Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI)

• Danny Santulli: University of Missouri, permanent brain damage
• Settlements with 22 defendants, multi-million dollar total
• Pattern: Alcohol hazing during “pledge dad reveal” events

The Legal Significance for Lago Vista Cases

When we represent a hazing victim from Lago Vista, we:

1. Identify the national organization behind the local chapter
2. Research their national incident history through court records, media reports, internal documents
3. Establish foreseeability by showing this wasn’t the first time
4. Demonstrate pattern to overcome “rogue chapter” defenses
5. Use this evidence in settlement negotiations and at trial

This approach worked in the Foltz, Gruver, and Santulli cases. It’s working now in the Bermudez case. And it’s available to any Texas family facing similar circumstances.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Damages, and Strategy

When hazing causes harm, building a strong case requires immediate action, thorough investigation, and strategic thinking. Here’s what Lago Vista families should understand about the process.

Critical Evidence Categories

Digital Communications (Most Important)

• Group chats: GroupMe, WhatsApp, Discord, fraternity-specific apps
• Text messages: iMessage, SMS between members
• Social media: Instagram DMs, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook Messenger
• Deleted messages: Digital forensics can often recover them
• Our video on using your phone to document evidence explains best practices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

Photos & Videos

• Content filmed during hazing events
• Injury documentation (photograph immediately and over several days)
• Location evidence (houses, rooms, props)
• Social media posts/stories showing events

Internal Organization Documents

• Pledge manuals, “tradition” documents
• Emails/texts planning events
• National policies and training materials
• Meeting minutes or notes

University Records

• Prior conduct files on the same organization
• Incident reports to campus police
• Clery Act reports
• Internal emails among administrators

Medical & Psychological Records

• Emergency room and hospitalization records
• Toxicology reports (blood alcohol levels)
• Psychological evaluations (PTSD, depression, anxiety)
• Future treatment plans and costs

Witness Testimony

• Other pledges experiencing same hazing
• Former members who quit or were expelled
• Roommates, RAs, bystanders
• Medical providers and first responders

Types of Damages in Hazing Cases

Economic Damages (Quantifiable)

• Medical expenses: Past and future care
• Lost income/earning capacity: Impact on career trajectory
• Educational costs: Tuition for missed semesters, lost scholarships
• Therapy and counseling: Long-term mental health treatment

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Damage to reputation and relationships

Wrongful Death Damages (When Applicable)

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of companionship, love, guidance
• Parents’ and siblings’ emotional suffering

Punitive Damages

• Awarded to punish especially reckless or malicious conduct
• Available when defendants knew risks and proceeded anyway
• Often involve cover-ups or destruction of evidence

Navigating Insurance Coverage Fights

Fraternities, sororities, and universities carry insurance—but insurers often fight coverage. This is where Mr. Lupe Peña’s background as a former insurance defense attorney becomes invaluable. Insurers typically argue:

• Hazing is an “intentional act” excluded from coverage
• The policy doesn’t cover certain defendants
• Claimants waited too long to report

We counter by:

• Identifying all potential policies (chapter, national, university, individual homeowners)
• Arguing negligent supervision is covered even if hazing was intentional
• Pursuing bad faith claims when insurers wrongfully deny coverage
• Using our insider knowledge of insurance tactics to anticipate and overcome defenses

Practical Guides & FAQs for Lago Vista Families

For Parents: Warning Signs and Action Steps

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Being Hazed

• Unexplained bruises, burns, cuts, or injuries
• Extreme exhaustion beyond normal college stress
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, irritability
• Constant phone use for group chat monitoring
• Fear of “getting in trouble” or “letting the chapter down”
• Academic performance dropping suddenly
• Financial red flags (unexpected large expenses)

How to Talk to Your Child

1. Ask open questions: “How are things going with [organization]?”
2. Listen without judgment: Create safe space for honesty
3. Emphasize safety: “Your health matters more than any group”
4. Offer unconditional support: “We’re here no matter what”

If Your Child Is Hurt

1. Get medical attention immediately—even if they resist
2. Document everything: Photos, notes, screenshots
3. Preserve evidence: Don’t let them delete messages
4. Write down details while memory is fresh
5. Contact an attorney within 24-48 hours

Dealing with the University

• Document every communication
• Ask specifically about prior incidents involving the same organization
• Don’t sign anything without legal review
• Understand that university interests may conflict with your child’s

For Students: Recognizing Hazing and Safe Exits

Is This Hazing? Decision Guide

• Am I being forced or pressured to do something dangerous or humiliating?
• Would I do this if there were no social consequences?
• Is this activity illegal or against university policy?
• Are older members making new members do things they don’t have to do?
• Am I being told to keep secrets or lie about activities?

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

How to Exit Safely

• Immediate danger: Call 911 or campus police
• Safe location: Go to dorm, friend’s place, public area
• Formal resignation: Email chapter president: “I resign effective immediately”
• Do NOT go to “one last meeting” where pressure or retaliation might occur
• Report retaliation to Dean of Students and police immediately

Your Legal Rights in Texas

• You cannot be punished for calling 911 in an emergency (good-faith reporter immunity)
• Hazing is a crime—you’re the victim, not perpetrator
• You can file civil lawsuit even without criminal charges
• You can request no-contact order through university if harassed

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case

Watch our video on client mistakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY

1. Letting evidence be deleted

   • Wrong: “I don’t want them to get in more trouble”
   • Right: Preserve everything immediately—it’s not obstruction if you’re preserving evidence of a crime

2. Confronting the organization directly

   • Wrong: “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind”
   • Right: Let your attorney handle all communication after documenting facts

3. Signing university “resolution” forms

   • Wrong: Trusting the university will handle it fairly
   • Right: Never sign anything without attorney review—you may waive legal rights

4. Posting on social media

   • Wrong: “I want people to know what happened”
   • Right: Defense attorneys screenshot everything—inconsistencies hurt your case

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

   • Wrong: Believing internal processes equal accountability
   • Right: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statutes of limitations run

6. Talking to insurance adjusters

   • Wrong: “They just need my statement to process the claim”
   • Right: Recorded statements are used against you—politely decline and refer to attorney

Frequently Asked Questions

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

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law makes hazing a Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. The Leonel Bermudez case at UH involved injuries that could support felony charges.

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

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from date of injury or death in Texas, but the discovery rule may extend this if harm wasn’t immediately known. In cover-up cases, the statute may be tolled. Time is critical—call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately. Learn more in our video on statutes of limitations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHwg8tV02c

“What if hazing happened off-campus?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and nationals can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, and knowledge. The Pi Delta Psi case (fatal retreat) and Sigma Pi case (unofficial house) both involved off-campus hazing with multi-million dollar outcomes.

“Will my child’s name be in the news?”
Most cases settle confidentially before trial. You can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability.

Why Attorney911 for Hazing Cases: Our Unique Qualifications

When your Lago Vista 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.

Insurance Insider Advantage

Mr. Lupe 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”
• Set reserves and negotiate settlements

As Mr. Peña says in the ABC13 coverage of the UH case: “If this prevents harm to another person…Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

We know their playbook because we used to run it.

Complex Litigation Against Massive Institutions

Ralph Manginello is one of the few Texas attorneys involved in BP Texas City explosion litigation—taking on billion-dollar defendants with unlimited legal budgets. That same experience applies when suing national fraternities and universities.

Our federal court experience (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas) means we’re not intimidated by institutional defendants. As Ralph told Click2Houston about the UH case: “We’re almost in 2026. This has to stop.”

Multi-Million Dollar Wrongful Death Experience

We’ve recovered millions for families in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. We understand how to:

• Work with economists to value lifetime care needs
• Calculate lost earning capacity for young victims
• Present compelling damages evidence to juries
• Negotiate from strength against deep-pocketed defendants

Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise

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

• Advise on criminal exposure for witnesses or former members
• Navigate dual-track criminal and civil proceedings
• Protect your rights in interactions with law enforcement
• Understand how criminal outcomes affect civil cases

Investigative Depth and Resources

We deploy a network of experts for hazing cases:

• Medical experts (rhabdomyolysis, traumatic brain injury, PTSD)
• Digital forensics specialists to recover deleted messages
• Greek life culture experts to explain dynamics and coercion
• Economists for lifetime care and earning capacity calculations
• Psychologists for trauma assessment and treatment planning

We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does.

Spanish-Language Services

Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish—crucial for serving Texas Hispanic families affected by hazing. Se habla Español.

Call to Action: Your Next Steps as a Lago Vista Family

If you or your child experienced hazing at any Texas campus—whether here in Travis County at UT Austin, at Texas A&M, UH, or any school nationwide—we want to hear from you. Families in Lago Vista, Lake Travis, Jonestown, and throughout Central Texas have the right to answers and accountability.

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

We’ll listen to what happened, explain your legal options, and help you decide on the best path forward.

What to Expect in Your Free Consultation:

1. We 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 what to expect
5. Answer your 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

Spanish Services:
Hablamos Español – Contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com for consultation in Spanish

Understanding Contingency Fees

Worried about costs? We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Learn how contingency fees work in our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Important Reminder

Whether you’re in Lago Vista or anywhere across Texas, if hazing has impacted your family, you don’t have to face this alone. The institutions may have powerful lawyers, but you have rights. The traditions may be entrenched, but they’re not invincible. The silence may feel overwhelming, but it can be broken.

As we’re proving in the Leonel Bermudez case at UH, accountability is possible. Prevention is possible. Justice is possible.

Call us today. Let’s start the conversation.

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

Plain Text Links to Key Resources

News Coverage of UH Pi Kappa Phi Case:

• Click2Houston report: 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/
• ABC13 coverage: https://abc13.com/post/waterboarding-forced-eating-physical-punishment-lawsuit-alleges-abuse-faced-injured-pledge-uhs-pi-kappa-phi-fraternity/18186418/
• Hoodline summary: 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IYsoxOSxY
• Contingency fees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc

Attorney911 Main Website:

• https://attorney911.com